Two days before Becka and Agnes’s Pearl Girl ceremony, Aunt Lydia arrives at their quarters. She tells them Commander Judd has raided Ardua Hall looking for incriminating evidence and having found none, he is determined to marry Nicole as soon as possible to increase his personal prestige. Agnes and Nicole must leave first thing in the morning. There is no Gilead plane to take them, so they will have to take another route. Aunt Lydia will get them their Pearl Girl things tonight.

Though she has a pass identifying Nicole as Aunt Immortelle, there is no time to reschedule the stay at the Retreat House. Aunt Helena will realize that Becka is still there, so Aunt Lydia asks Becka to conceal herself for at least 48 hours after the other two have gone. Nicole objects that this is too much pressure on Becka and asks why she cannot go alone, but Agnes reminds her that Pearl Girls always travel in twos.

Becka suggests that they make it appear that Nicole has escaped over the Wall, and Nicole to writes a note saying that she has decided that she is not suited to be an Aunt and has run away with an Economan.