Sara wants to get more involved in Peter's life as she sees his sole focus of farm work around Rose Cottage no life for a boy. First, she convinces him to attend church services with the family, despite he not being brought up with formal religion, and despite having no Sunday clothes. Second, she wants him to have some play time with the rest of the children. These two items do not sit well with Hetty, who already feels that Peter is too young to do the farm work at Rose Cottage, and who does not feel clothing Peter is her job but that of his poor mother, Maude Craig. And third, she thinks he should return to school. Some of the children - particularly Edward Ray and Felicity - tease Peter not only because he is a poor farmhand but because his father is in jail. One person who does relate to what Peter is going through is Peg Bowen, also an outsider. It isn't until Peter does a selfless deed that these negative attitudes start to change.
—Huggo