Eilis returns home, and her mother shows her Rose’s room. Eilis lets it sink in that her sister is actually gone before excusing herself to take a nap. Afterward, she and her mother write notes of thanks to those who visited or attended the wake and funeral. Her mother is very controlling about what goes into the letters and wants Eilis to mention that since she is home, her mother now needs no company. Eilis hates keeping Tony a secret from her mother, but her mother refuses to even acknowledge Eilis’s time in America. Eilis thinks of Tony and hopes to be back soon. She tries to see her friends, but her mother keeps her occupied with letters and cleaning out Rose’s room. She insists Eilis take clothes, but Eilis refuses. One day, they go out to lay a wreath from Eilis on Rose’s gravestone, and Eilis thinks of how her relationship with her mother has changed and how much influence Rose had on that relationship, keeping their mother both engaged and at a healthy distance. As they walk through town, Eilis senses eyes on her and realizes everyone knows she is back.

Eilis finally invites her friends over. Nancy tells her that she is marrying George Sheridan and that

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