Iris helps Mrs Quirke (the local midwife) when Mrs. McBride gives birth prematurely. Dadda sees that the McBrides are ill and calls the doctor but both die, leaving behind seven children. Iris takes the girls and the boys stay with Father Melia at the rectory. The doctor notifys the Board of Health and the epidemics gentleman calls the tallyman, worried about overcrowding. Dadda makes sure no families are broken up. Realising no one can take all of the children, Father Melia puts them in an orphanage, having been assured that they will be raised together. This illusion is shattered once the papers are in order, making the orphanage the McBrides' legal guardians. The Matron tells Father Melia and Iris that Arthur (the youngest) will be transferred to Doctor Barnardo's and the older boys will go abroad. Horrified, Father Melia and Iris want to remove the children but are refused permission. Ruby and Billy, suspicious that May didn't get a reference, write to Richard Brazendale and he replies, revealing May walked out but would be given a reference if she visited his office. They met secretly, and Richard ended their romance, but later sent a key and a note with an address, asking her to meet him. Curious, she went and he offers her a flat. Guessing he wanted her to be his mistress, she was furious, feeling that would make her little better than a prostitute and walks out.