As spring approaches and the river ice breaks, the steamer resumes service to town, bringing correspondence and visitors. Mrs. Woodlawn plans to write a letter to invite cousin Annabelle in Boston to visit. Annabelle is around Caddie’s age, and when the children ask what she is like, Mrs. Woodlawn says she has “been reared as a lady, and will be nicely finished” (179). Her mother’s emphasis on those aspects of Annabelle’s character upsets Caddie, but Tom groans about Annabelle being “that kind of girl” (179), which makes Caddie feel better.

As the winter session of school draws to an end, Miss Parker plans a “‘speaking’ day” (180), and Caddie and Warren are assigned pieces to recite. Caddie feels confident about her performance, but everyone is “a little doubtful of Warren” (181) because he is not a skilled public speaker.

While the children prepare for the big day, Caddie assures Warren that he will do well. Tom makes a joke of Warren’s short piece and changes the words to something absurd. Warren finds Tom’s joke hilarious and practices Tom’s version nearly as often as the real one.

On the day of the performance Caddie recites her piece just as she and her mother practiced, and Caddie wishes her mother could see her be so ladylike and polished.