- Maisie's mother says, in her characteristically cruel way, that she has washed her hands of Maisie and tells Maisie that Sir Claude is now responsible for her.
- Maisie senses that "something beyond her knowledge had taken place in the house." Then, she realizes "that her mother was no longer in love" (XI.4).
- There is a new man in Ida's life, and Maisie soon meets him: a millionaire named Mr. Perriam, who visits Ida's house while Sir Claude is away.
- Maisie tries to figure out who is on her side and realizes that her stepparents and Mrs. Wix are looking out for her, but her biological parents aren't.
- Our heroine also has the feeling that things are about to change.
- Sir Claude and Mrs. Wix start to have late-night conversations, during which the "perfect gentleman" asks his friend the governess for advice about how to get out of the bad marriage he's in (XI.20).
- Mrs. Wix and Maisie fantasize about getting Sir Claude into Parliament, and Mrs. Wix tells Maisie that this will be just the thing needed to "save" Sir Claude (XI.20).
- Maisie asks what Sir Claude needs to be saved from, and Mrs. Wix responds: "awful misery" (XI.22).