Stella memorizes everyone’s name and begins collecting information on them for Baker. Personally, she agrees with the women who think the Colony is better than their homes. One woman describes how her perpetually drunk husband had her committed to the Colony after she got drunk one single time. Another woman laments that there is no place to send bad husbands. Most of the women were just trying to live their lives before authorities picked them up and accused them of depravity; the women protest that they weren’t treated fairly. Stella listens to everything but finds nothing against the rules to report.

Stella and Ruth meet, and when Ruth learns how young Stella is, she is shocked. Stella reflects that Ruth would be more shocked if she learned why Stella is here. Stella doesn’t want to leave the Colony, however; she genuinely wants to be redeemed, to help Baker, and to make friends. No one ever sits with her at mealtimes unless there are no other open seats.

Baker is pleased to learn about the escalation of political violence overseas. President Roosevelt’s addition of 100,000 men to the armed forces has renewed the country’s concern over the risk of recruits becoming infected with venereal diseases; this development means that her job is secure, for the “American Plan” is back on track. She plans to request additional funds to build two new dorms, but she must get the staff to support this idea first, so she invites them all to a meeting with coffee and pastries. There, she assures them that if the board approves her request, there will be enough money to address all of their concerns and wishes. She knows that the residents complain of being mistreated, but she feels certain that force, deprivation, and control are sometimes best for them.

One morning, Maynard addresses her dorm, speaking of recent disciplinary issues. When she reads aloud the names of the women who have enough demerits for additional rehabilitation, they are all shocked. Ruth is appalled to learn from others that the women are beaten as punishment; Lucy assures her that this is true and asserts that Maynard enjoys beating the women. Quietly, Lucy cautions Ruth to avoid Stella, as the girl has been seen in on conversations while pretending that she isn’t. Lucy knows that Stella is convinced that Baker means well, though Lucy knows that Baker’s intentions are anything but good. The other women look around suspiciously.

The women go to breakfast, and Maynard clearly relishes telling those who will be punished that they have only five minutes to eat. Suddenly, Frances throws her tray at the wall and attacks Maynard, hauling the housemother around the floor and ripping off her wig. When Baker arrives, Frances becomes docile again and actually winks at Ruth, who decides that Frances is not “as nutty as they think she is” (113). Another woman agrees and says that Frances told her that there was no room at the mental hospital, and Frances would rather be here anyway.

Stella feels very guilty as Maynard tells her to meet with Baker later today and to bring her notepad. In the laundry, Lucy glares at Stella, accusing her of being a spy. Stella dreams that one day, she’ll live a “normal life” with a husband and children; she believes that she will have a good family to make up for the terrible one she grew up in. Suddenly, Stella feels a pain in her abdomen, and soon her whole body begins to ache. At lunch, she tries to eat, but her stomach is roiling. When Maynard orders her to eat, she vomits. Maynard orders her to clean up, change her clothes, and return within five minutes. Stella rushes but has no time to rinse the vomit from her hair. Maynard declares her late by 15 seconds and issues Stella six demerits. When Stella takes her soiled uniform to the laundry, Lucy insists that she hand it over, as Lucy has a special solution to clean it. Lucy says that Ruth has described Stella as a puppy who is “lookin’ for scraps” (122), and Lucy is inclined to agree. Stella is feverish and weak. Lucy wants to know why Stella is here, and Stella tells her that she couldn’t stop her “hateful, mean daddy” (123) from doing what he did to her. Then she collapses.

Baker reassures herself that she is in control. She knows that Stella’s work triggered the recent group punishment, and Maynard hinted that Stella may have given Baker false reports to curry favor with her. Baker is aware of the rumors that Maynard enjoys giving out beatings, and she keeps this information as an “ace” in her pocket; Baker instinctively dislikes Maynard.

Maynard tells Baker that Stella accrued six demerits today, as if she is seeking to undermine the girl. When Baker has Stella brought to her office, the girl is very ill, and Baker tells Maynard to remove the demerits. She then dismisses Maynard and calls the nurse. She asks Stella to continue reporting on the other women regardless of the housemother, then tells Stella that she wants her to write a letter about her experience at the Colony. The letter will go to some “very important” people. Nurse Crawford arrives, and Baker charges her with giving Stella special care. Baker plans to ask the housemothers to select a few more residents to write letters, and she imagines her establishment being held up as a model for others.

Ruth is due for more shots. At this point, her hair is falling out, and her eyes have become dull; she has even developed a strange rash. She cannot reconcile the fact that women are locked up and men are not; she realizes that women who do not conform to society’s expectations are accused of lacking respectability: a charge that is never leveled against men. She approaches Lucy to learn more about the Colony, and Lucy invites Ruth to come with her the next time she escapes. Lucy believes that the medicine is poison, and that the people in charge are trying to make the women ugly. 

The next morning, Maynard announces a schedule change, and Ruth is put on kitchen duty. Ruth makes small adjustments to the Colony’s recipes and is happy when everyone responds favorably. After several improved meals, the teachers and residents credit her for the change. When it is time for duties to rotate again, Ruth is kept in the kitchen. There, she learns that she must prepare a special diet for Stella on Dr. Graham’s orders.

Stella tells Dr. Graham that her stomach hurts, just where her surgery scar is. He diagnoses an infection and prescribes rest, a special diet, and regular cleaning. Over two days, he pokes repeatedly at her stomach, which only grows more painful. Finally, he drains the built-up fluid and tells the nurse to start Stella on medication. For days, she cannot eat, and the new food that Dr. Graham ordered for her is unappetizing. Stella wonders if her condition is God’s punishment for her sins. As her health continues to fail, the doctors decide to force-feed her. They restrain her arms and legs and shove a tube down her throat. Dr. Graham pours a mixture of milk and raw eggs down the tube, and she vomits all over him. He tells Nurse Crawford that he will manage the weekly report to Baker. The nurse asks Ruth to prepare some soup with chicken and rice, and this meal finally tempts Stella to eat.