- Someone's been sneaking food, and we know it's a rat of a different size. If you didn't like the Van Daans before, you really don't like them now. Mr. Van Daan's been pilfering food from the storage box and stuffing his own face.
- This leads the even-tempered Mrs. Frank to go postal. She flips out in a "righteous rage" and demands that Mr. Van Daan hit the road. We almost agree with her.
- But, if Mr. Van Daan goes outside, he'll surely die.
- Mr. Frank tries to soothe everyone by saying Mr. Van Daan won't steal again. He appeals to Mrs. Frank's sense of goodness and logic. Mr. Van Daan will die if the group kicks him out.
- He reminds the group, "We don't need the Nazis to destroy us. We're destroying ourselves" (89). It's a harsh, sad realization to come to.
- The group continues to argue, Anne and Margot calling for their mother to come to her senses, while Mr. Dussel is only too happy to get rid of the Van Daans because there will be more food for himself with them gone.
- He begins to count potatoes in a greedy fashion, re-proportioning them in an almost gleeful way.
- The craziness is interrupted by the arrival of Miep, who tells them joyous news about D-Day, the invasion of France by the Allied forces.
- The group goes from crazed insanity to jubilant in about ten seconds. There is great rejoicing.
- Mr. Van Daan however, is feeling totally guilty and Mrs. Frank regains her composure by forgiving him.
- Perhaps the most interesting part of the forgiveness is Anne's realization how she has treated her mother, "Look at me, the way I've treated Mother… so mean and horrid to her" (2.3.93).
- The good times are fleeting however, as the Gestapo have found the stolen radio and Mr. Dussel is sure they will trace it back to the group in the annex.
- Anne says the group is totally depressed, "Everyone is low. Even poor Pim can't raise their spirits."
- But another shining example of morality comes into play here. Anne miraculously still has something to believe in: "I have often been downcast myself, but never in despair. I can shake off everything if I write" (2.3.94).