- Mrs. Beale tells Maisie that Sir Claude has made a deal with Ida, his soon-to-be ex-wife: Ida will stop expecting Sir Claude's financial support if Sir Claude takes on the responsibility of supporting Maisie.
- It's not yet clear, though, whether this will work out.
- Mrs. Wix concludes that Mrs. Beale is using Maisie as a pawn to allow her to hold onto Sir Claude.
- Maisie and Mrs. Wix discuss the possibility of Mrs. Beale taking care of Maisie, instead of Sir Claude.
- Both decide, though, that this is unacceptable; Maisie will live with Sir Claude, with "Him alone or nobody" (XXVIII.54).