Part 3 Chapter 23 Summary

It is the beginning of August, and the situation has deteriorated. The graveyard is too dangerous to use, and adult bodies are dumped into one of the old wells. Two babies are born. One dies, but the widowed Mrs. Wright's girl survives and is christened "Hope." The community faces heat, discomfort, food shortages and growing despair. Mrs. Wright's baby is christened, and the Collector is named godfather. As a rainstorm approaches and the Padre's voice drones on, the Collector's mind wanders. He feels everyone's eyes on him, searching for signs of weakness. He thinks about how he has started doing his own laundry, though Miriam and his daughters have offered to do this for him. He considers the role of women in society, and he wonders whether they should be treated differently and allowed access to education. He convinces himself against...