Nan reaches back through time to her days in Ireland; she’s pregnant and being taken to a convent. Going farther back, she recalls how she first came to Ireland, visiting relatives who had a farm there: her uncle Jack, her aunt Rosie, and her cousin Seamus. She meets Finbarr and his dog Alby. Nan loves life in Ireland so much that she returns there every summer as she grows up, growing closer with Finbarr. In between summers, she lives with her family of two parents and three sisters including the beautiful Colleen.

Returning to Ireland, she spends more time with Finbarr and admits to him that she would like to become a writer. As war looms, Finbarr enlists and comes to say goodbye to Nan, giving her a Claddagh ring. She promises to send him a photo of her, reveling in the joy of being loved by a soldier.

Agatha reels from the loss of her husband, still hoping for reconciliation. She walks with her maid Honoria and Teddy towards Teddy’s school and recounts episodes of her education. Honoria tries to convince Agatha to move on from Archie. Teddy walks ahead of them and meets a man who gives her a carved figure of a dog.