Splendors and Glooms Chapter 43 Summary

The Maze in the Tower

  • That night, the children sneak outside with their big, bulky coats and Ruby. They try to leave, but they keep finding themselves turned around—they're walking in circles for some reason.
  • As the children try in vain to leave Strachan's Ghyll, Cassandra sits by the window and watches them while clutching the phoenix-stone. She's casting a spell that will bring the children back. Ugh.
  • When she grasps the stone, though, she suddenly stumbles by a candle and her nightdress catches fire. She falls to the ground and rolls, putting it out immediately and thwarting the stone's curse … for now.
  • She goes up to the Tower Room and tries to summon Clara, who at first refuses to tell her why they are leaving. Then, she says one word: Grisini.
  • This angers Madama, and she decides to summon Grisini, furious with him for meddling with the children and letting them know that he's at Strachan's Ghyll.
  • Outside, the children are beginning to realize that they can't leave—a spell has been cast over them so they keep going in circles. With heavy hearts, they turn around to go back to Strachan's Ghyll.