The Nightingale: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

Back in Carriveau, Vianne is in a classroom with her students. Under every student’s desk, there is a gas mask, and everyone is constantly thinking about the war, especially Vianne herself. She does her best to put on a brave face for the children, but it is difficult when war is all around them. Vianne is worried about Sophie, who looks frightened whenever the topic of war comes up. Like Vianne, Sophie is worried about Antoine and whether or not he is safe.

After school, Vianne finds Rachel—who also teaches at the school—and the two friends walk home together. On their way home, Vianne and Rachel spot a group of women who look ragged and exhausted. Upon seeing them, Rachel tells Vianne that she’s heard that refugees have been spotted in Carriveau. Vianne is worried that Isabelle hasn’t arrived in Carriveau yet. The group of women reminds Vianne that Isabelle’s road to Carriveau is dangerous, and she worries that something may have happened to her. She expresses this fear to Rachel who tells her not to worry. After all, Isabelle is a resourceful girl who knows how to look after herself.

In the evening, Vianne goes outside to do some gardening. While outside, the women she saw earlier come to her gate and ask for water. Vianne tells them they can come in, but the women refuse. They tell Vianne that they are out in front of the others. Vianne isn’t sure what to make of this remark, but she goes inside and gets the women food and water.

When Vianne returns to the women, she sees that one of them is holding a deceased baby. The women thank Vianne for her kindness and then warn her to lock her doors and not let anyone in. Vianne does as she is told and before long a huge crowd of people come walking up the road. As they pass by, Vianne’s house shakes, and she hears people outside in her garden. Vianne and Sophie wonder if Isabelle is in the crowd and pray that she is not.

Unfortunately, Isabelle and Gaëtan are in the crowd. When they reach Vianne’s home, Isabelle knocks on the door. However, no one answers. Because they cannot get inside, Isabelle and Gaëtan go to the backyard, where they plan to spend the night. Once there, Gaëtan tells Isabelle that she should stay with Vianne where she will be safe. In response, Isabelle says to Gaëtan that she doesn’t care about her safety and that Vianne will not want her anyway. Instead, Isabelle wants to be like Edith Cavell and make a difference in the outcome of the war.

Isabelle begs Gaëtan to take her with him to war. Gaëtan flirts with Isabelle and tells her that he promises to take her if she will kiss him. Isabelle kisses Gaëtan and says that they are lucky to have run into each other. Gaëtan disagrees but says no more, and then the two of them go to bed.

The next morning, Vianne wakes up and goes outside to find her garden destroyed and Isabelle crying all by herself. Surprised, Vianne tends to her sister and takes her inside. For the time being, she does not press Isabelle on what is wrong. Isabelle bathes, eats, and then goes to bend. When she wakes up, Vianne hands Isabelle a note from Gaëtan that says, “You are not ready.” Vianne tells Isabelle that she found the note stuck to her.

Vianne and Isabelle switch the subject to discuss updates on the war. Isabelle informs Vianne that she plans to leave Carriveau to join the war effort. Vianne protests, but Isabelle does not care. Together, Vianne and Isabelle listen to a news report on the radio, which reveals that France has surrendered to the Germans. Although the news deeply upsets Isabelle, Vianne assumes that the French government is doing the right thing. She tells Isabelle that she is wrong to be up in arms. As Isabelle is raging over the news of France’s surrender, Sophie comes home. When Isabelle sees Sophie, she is shocked by how much Sophie has grown. Sophie and Isabelle immediately take a liking to each other.