Act 2, Scene 1 Summary

Mary has followed through on her plan to escape the school and has arrived at the home of her grandmother, Mrs. Tilford. Agatha, Mrs. Tilford's maid, questions Mary on her unexpected appearance at the house. It is obvious that Agatha is used to Mary's cunning behavior and the woman is suspicious of the girl in spite of her protestations that she has become homesick and misses her grandmother.

Agatha summons Mrs. Tilford, who is also wary of Mary's sudden appearance and declares that the child will be driven back to school immediately. At the mention of this fate, Mary launches into claims of mistreatment at the hands of Karen and Martha. Mrs. Tilford passes off such exaggerations and reprimands Mary for her malicious behavior. Mary is relentless in her goal to damage the credibility of the two headmistresses and makes accusations...