Part Two, "The Prayers of the Saints," begins with "Florence's Prayer." Florence kneels at the altar, trying to remember how to pray. Her thoughts stray back to her childhood and the bitterness that she felt towards Gabriel because, being a boy and their mother's favorite, he was given everything their mother could afford. Despite all the sacrifices made by his mother and all of the deprivations suffered by Florence for his good, Gabriel wasted his education and continually caused trouble in and around town. As Gabriel grew, so did his vices. Playing hooky and causing mischief turned into drinking and gambling. Finally Florence had had enough. She bought a train ticket to New York City, said goodbye to her dying mother and bewildered brother, and left.
In New York, Florence married Frank, mistakenly believing that she could control him. After an evening of especially bitter arguing, Frank walked out, never to return. Florence learned much later from the woman Frank had moved in with that he had been killed oversees during WWI and was buried in France.
Back in the present, Florence hears Gabriel's voice, which triggers thoughts of her childhood friend and Gabriel's first wife, Deborah. Many years ago, Florence had received a letter from Deborah, telling of Deborah's suspicions of Gabriel's infidelity. Deborah believed that Gabriel had had an affair and fathered a child whom he had not claimed as his own. Florence advised Deborah to confront Gabriel with her suspicions and now wonders if she ever did. Florence carries the letter in her purse, hoping that she will live long enough to use the letter to bring about Gabriel's destruction. She becomes suddenly angry with God that she is dying while her brother is allowed to live and that their dead mother will see her fall into Hell. Florence begins to weep.
