Blanche appears at the door, and M. de Croissy gestures to her to approach, even as Mother Marie insists that none should see her. Blanche falls sobbing to the floor. In the chapel M. de Croissy lies in state as night falls. Blanche and Sister Constance stand watch over the deceased. When the clock strikes, Constance leaves to find those who replace her.
Blanche tries to pray, but seeing the corpse, is overcome by fear and begins to leave.
Mother Marie appears and reprimands her for leaving before her replacement arrives. At first Mother Marie begins to reprimand her for her fear, but then decides to excuse Blanche from further prayers so that she might sleep and face her failure the next day with sorrow instead of shame. Constance and Blanche discuss Constance's hope that Mother Marie will be named the next mother superior. We do not die for ourselves alone, but for each other. Or sometimes even instead of each other.