When the girls and their mothers visit the Castle of Rean, Sophie tells them that she is starving and dying of thirst, as her stepmother forbids her to drink during the day. Fedora announces that she is about to leave on a journey and to the great joy of the girls, asks them to look after Sophie while she is away. Fedora suspects Sophie to have stolen some barley water from her cabinet and punishes her. Later, while talking with Mrs Louchet, Sophie understands that it is her daughter, Palmyre, who stole the barley water. The exemplary litle girls hurry to clear Sophie's name. Mrs de Fleurville takes advantage of Fedora's embarrassment and gets to take Sophie home that same day.
