Lo: the Gloriousness
- Briony begins to crave the swamp again. We're not sure what it is about the swamp that is so addictive to her, but she compares the craving to the arsenic addiction her ex tutor Fitz the Genius used to have.
- To keep from being bored and thinking about the swamp, Briony focuses on getting Rose ready for a trip to the firehouse.
- While helping Rose get dressed, Briony entertains thoughts of killing her sister. Sweet.
- Rose is excited about going to the firehouse to see Robert, a fireman who was nice to her when the Library was on fire. She has trouble agreeing to do simple things like put on her shoes.
- Do boys wear aprons? According to Rose they don't, but Briony thinks Eldric looks beautiful in his.
- Eldric informs Briony that he is cooking breakfast because Pearl's baby died and she won't be coming in.
- After their eggs (which Eldric cooks but does not join them to eat), they put on their well worn (read: hole filled) cloaks (fancy coat) and head out.
- Brownie follows them. Briony tells him to go away.
- They pass a group of boys throwing stones at Nelly's cell, which makes Briony think about them throwing stones at her cell when she is found out.
- Petey Todd picks on Rose, which is pretty stupid considering Briony is a witch and an all around big bad girl. You could say a fight ensues, or you could say Briony beats Petey up real bad—we're leaning toward the latter.
- While the fight is happening, Rose runs to get Robert to break it up.
- When they find out what's happened, Eldric and Cecil grab Petey together and pull him over to Briony angrily. Both boys are defensive of Briony, but it is quickly revealed that it was she who both started and finished the fight.
- Cecil has a needy moment where he whispers to Briony about his jealousy of Eldric. He claims that he and Briony "had an understanding" (10.104), but Briony pretty much ignores him.
- Rose seems to be doing pretty well with her crush, Robert, who has agreed to walk her home. She is all smiles.
- Here comes more romance for lucky witch Briony… Eldric cleans up her head wound, flirts, and offers to teach her to box. They talk about being bad boys, which gives Briony the brilliant idea to make the swamp water that is being drained run backward.
- Briony realizes this idea, though it started as playful banter, is the answer to her Boggy Mun problems and Rose's swamp cough. The best part is Briony doesn't have to be hanged. Yay.
- An excited, no-longer-doomed Briony suggests she and Eldric form a bad boy club. They agree to start a fraternity and speak confusedly in Latin.