- Sir Claude explains to Maisie that he doesn't love her mother, adding that Mrs. Beale doesn't love her father, either.
- This prompts Maisie to ask whether he's been seeing Mrs. Beale after all.
- Sir Claude says no, but he's written to her. But, here again, James is hinting at greater intimacy between Maisie's two stepparents. You guessed it: foreshadowing.
- Shortly after this conversation with Sir Claude, Maisie hears from Mrs. Wix that he has been secretly seeing Mrs. Beale. Mrs. Wix is convinced of this.
- Maisie has a hard time accepting that Sir Claude would have lied to her.
- But soon enough, she gets proof that he has been seeing Mrs. Beale when he takes her to her father's house to see her.
- Before they arrive at Mrs. Beale's, Sir Claude says that he doesn't think Mrs. Wix's plan for all of them to live together will work out.
- But, he says Maisie can stay with Mrs. Beale, and he will come to visit her often. Maisie accepts.
- Maisie realizes that this means she won't get to see Mrs. Wix or say goodbye—but only after it's too late.