Sugar denies any part in helping Agnes escape but soon afterwards a body is discovered which William identifies as having been his wife. Mrs. Fox,now fully recovered,guesses that Sugar is a former prostitute and keeps her secret, telling her that Mrs. Castaway has died. Sugar visits the brothel but her old friends have all left and it is being run by lesbians.Sugar falls pregnant but William tells her that he does not want a child with her and she throws herself downstairs to induce a miscarriage. William grows distant from her,initially obsessed with Agnes but later visiting brothels and courting Agnes's friend Constance. Finally he sacks her,despite the great bond she has with Sophie so she and the little girl run away together. As they leave Sugar drops her manuscript and the pages are scattered down the street.