Angela is sick and delirious, and she calls out for lemonade. In her illness, she has eschewed cigarettes, which Frank finds disconcerting. On his way to O’Connell’s shop to beg for bread, Frank passes by a pub and notices that a delivery has arrived that includes some lemonade. He steals some of it to satisfy Angela’s craving and thirst. As he arrives at O’Connell’s, there is a fresh delivery of bread that Frank also steals, promising to make up for the action by revealing it during confession.

With Angela still severely ill, Frank and his brothers decide to beg at the homes of rich people. They have no success in receiving charity, so they decide to steal whenever they can, including as much coal as they can stuff into the pram they have brought Alphie along in. Finally, Guard Dennehey learns of the situation and arrives at the McCourt home, where he is shocked by the conditions he discovers.

Angela is taken to the hospital with pneumonia, and the boys go to Aunt Aggie’s, where they will stay until Angela recovers. The time spent at Aunt Aggie’s house is horrendous for the boys. Aggie is angry, resentful, and intolerably cruel to the boys, quick to hurl insults at Frank anytime she can.