My Pleasure Reading. The Thorn Birds. pp. 647 - 723

The chapter “Dan” continued to tell us about the Cleary. The relationship between Rain and Justine was developing by leaps and bounds – they obviously fell in love with each other but neither of them wanted to reveal this secret.  The life in Drogheda  took its normal course - None of Meggie's other surviving brothers ever marry, and Drogheda gradually became a place filled with old people. 8 years have passed since Dan has been living in Rome and finally he was going to take holy orders. Learning about it, Meggie refused to come to Rome and see her loss to God, as well as she was frightened that Ralph and Dan didn’t need her anymore. Being ordained, Dan expressed his intention to spend 2 months in Greece to think of about his future life and relationships with his mother. At the same time, Justine returned to London for her actress ambition and spending more time with Rain. (by this time he had already made a declaration of love to her, but she refused, being afraid to become open to injury). To everybody’s unfortunate, Dan drowned, trying to rescue two drowning women. Getting to know about it, Meggie came to Rome to Ralph to impart it and ask for help to find him and bury in Drogheda. Losing her temper, she revealed that Dan was Ralph’s son too. The chapter called “Dan” concludes with the funeral procession headed by inconsolable mother and father…Unable to stand pain, Ralph died on Meggie's arms.