Chapter 3 Summary

As the Judge launches into a spirited speech on their predicament, he is caught up in feelings for Dolly whom he says is a pagan spirit, a quality that he has never seen exhibited in the typically reticent Dolly. The Judge continues his rant and confides that he has never had that one special person in the world with whom he can share everything. The Judge also declares that the tree house inhabitants are all fools with common eccentricities and this experience in the tree will allow them to share with each other without fear of ridicule.

The Judge tells the group that he has been the butt of his sons' disdain especially since an incident in which the Judge enters into a pen pal relationship with a girl in Alaska. Catherine shares that she had once received a marriage proposal from a...