Acts of Faith. Summary

Bridget Riley is scrubbing the floors of her Irish convent school when her friend finds her. Maire has gossip about a new girl at school. Maire heard the sisters talking about a girl they are calling Anne Smith. The nuns said the girl would have to be taught the Catholic prayers and that they were not going to tell the headmistress that the girl wasn't Catholic. Bridget can't believe that they would allow a Protestant to take refuge in the convent. She jokes to Maire that Sister Margaret, the headmistress, would rather see Hitler win the war than let a Protestant stay in the convent. The new girl is going to be Bridget and Maire's roommate.

Miriam Cohen is sitting on the bed in her new room waiting for her roommates to come in. Miriam looks around the room...