Mrs. Dimble arrives to Jane’s house and relates how the Dimbles have been turned out of their own home. The N.I.C.E. has procured the property around them, including Mrs. Dimble’s famed garden, and there are large trucks and angry, brutish men stationed everywhere. She tells Jane that her maid, Mrs. Maggs (Ivy), has also been turned out. Cecil is temporarily sleeping at Northumberland; soon, they will go to the manor at St. Anne’s to live. Mrs. Dimble then asks Jane about her visit to see Miss Ironwood (Grace). Jane says that she isn’t sure if she likes Grace but that she doesn’t want to talk about the subject at the moment. The two then go to bed, though Mrs. Dimble’s routine of praying before beds annoys Jane. Jane then has a nightmare and is awakened by Mrs. Dimble. In the nightmare, Jane sees a man being attacked on a dark road. The proud man puts up a good fight but is outnumbered and eventually overpowered. He is hit on the head with something and killed. Once Jane has calmed down, they go back to sleep.

While waiting for the Committee at Belbury to begin, Mark meets Reverend Straik, also known as the Mad Parson.