Chapters 13 and 14 Summary

Chapter 13 opens with a description of the nuns' Holy Week activities. It is during this time that Cecily receives cards from Larry. She returns the cards because they are addressed to her baptismal name, an act Catherine says is unkind. She encourages Cecily to write the man back and tell him of her everyday life. Meanwhile Philippa feels heat from others about her refusal to take on the Japanese postulants. Because of her refusal the addition of the postulants will be delayed one year, a delay with which no one is happy.

As spring begins, there is an outbreak of colds and sickness at the abbey. Sister Polycarp, Kate, is diagnosed with chicken pox and unfortunately passes the disease on to Philippa. The two are put in isolation together. Because of her age Philippa has a much worse case than Sister...