In Miss Wellwood’s office, Neva is forced to compose herself and answer questions “properly” while Miss Wellwood explains that Neva has arrived on a busy day. Miss Wellwood schedules Neva for a full clinic examination with Dr. Vincent the next day and an interview with the Home’s social worker, Miss Keller, while also outlining limited schooling through Mrs. Conradi and a future bookmobile.

Miss Wellwood then presents the House rules: absolute cooperation, no sharing family names or hometowns, no using Christian names, and no discussing personal pasts. Mail will be controlled and “sanitized,” contact with outsiders is forbidden, curtains stay closed, and girls may only leave under strict privileges; the front door will be used only for the hospital and final departure.

When Neva tries to frame her presence as simply being pregnant, Miss Wellwood harshly defines it as sin and punishment, invoking Genesis and accusing Neva of breaking commandments. Miss Wellwood promises that if Neva obeys, she can give the baby to a “deserving family,” leave, cut all ties to Wellwood House, and return home as if nothing happened. Cornered by that bargain, Neva accepts her assigned identity and answers, “I’m Fern… From Baltimore,” clutching her father’s wedding ring.

Outside the office, Mrs. Deckle briskly directs Fern to her room without escort. Fern struggles upstairs through a hallway suddenly crowded with pregnant girls who seem unashamed, and Fern realizes this visible “disgrace” may be why her father left without saying goodbye.

In Room 3, Fern finds a stifling, shared space with three beds and other girls’ belongings, and she cannot open the window. Overwhelmed and isolated, Fern lies down, determined to obey every rule just to get rid of the baby and reclaim her old life. Rose enters, warns Fern that “everyone lies” in the Home, and then casually lifts the stuck window, letting fresh air into the room.