Part I, Chapters 9-12 Summary

It is Charlotte's birthday. They invite not only many friends and family, but also the entire village. The party begins at the church, then winds its way down the new road, to the building site for the new house. Everyone is very impressed with the beauty of the estate and the changes that have been recently made. The head mason comes out and gives a speech about foundations. He describes how a foundation is visible only when it is first laid, and then it is forgotten about and hidden forever, or as long as the building endures. He discusses how some things seem to be permanent but that they may not be. The mason reveals that there will be a time capsule under the foundation and encourages those present to place some token into the time capsule...