Part 1, Chapter VII and VIII Summary

In Chapter VII: Has God Inflicted This Upon Us?, Karl waits restlessly in Pastor Jackson's living room while waiting for Ulrika and Kristina to return from Dr. Farnley's office. As two hours pass, he is anxious about what is taking so long, but just as he decides to go to the doctor's office, Kristina and Ulrika return. After explaining their delay was due to so many people waiting to see the doctor, Ulrika pulls Karl aside to talk to him privately. Explaining whether Kristina lives or dies depends on Karl, Ulrika shares the doctor's message that Kristina's illness is due to her miscarriage and childbirths before, and she will die if she goes to childbed again so he must refrain from impregnating her. Angry that Ulrika tells him how to care for his wife, Karl...