- Maisie pretends to be stupid to keep from having to hurl insults and then learns to keep secrets to protect herself.
- Still, Maisie feels guilty—like she is the one who has made "everything" in her world "bad" (II.2).
- Aww, poor kiddo.
- We meet Maisie's "first governess," Miss Overmore, who is pretty and refined (II.2).
- Maisie and Miss Overmore develop an understanding, learning to communicate without words.
- Maisie starts to show precocity by speaking in ways that startle adults like Miss Overmore.