- Beale Farange, Maisie's father, says he'll soon be going to America with the Countess and, much to Maisie's surprise, invites her along.
- She initially accepts the invitation, and her father says it's hers to take or leave.
- While Maisie waits with Beale for the Countess to appear, she and her father discuss her mother and her future.
- Beale seems to have finally gotten tired of bad-mouthing his ex-wife.
- But, he has nothing but awful things to say about Mrs. Beale and Sir Claude.
- When Maisie says that she plans to live with the two of them, Beale says they have made her into "a monster" (XIX.35).
- When the Countess appears after a long wait, her ugliness horrifies Maisie, and she wants to run away, even though the Countess is perfectly nice.
- This confirms Maisie's sense that she can't possibly go with her father, even though this means she will never see him again.
- The Countess gives Maisie cab fare as she's leaving.