Ms. Dawson is confronted by women accusing her of clinging to Mr. Slater despite being unable to bear children. She shocks them by revealing, "I am the first woman carrying his child." The argument turns cruel when someone locks her in a dark room and taunts, "If I locked you in here, would Quentin come looking for me or for you?" She bangs and calls for help. Quentin arrives but is told the woman left early. Those present hush the incident—"She must never find out about this"—leaving Ms. Dawson trapped in darkness and her fate uncertain.