Summary

Now, Thirsk observes, there are most likely only four people left in the village -- Mr. Quill, Mistress Beldam and her husband, and himself. He still has no idea where Mr. Quill is, and he wonders whether someone in the village has advised him to flee. He remembers Master Kent's statement that Mr. Quill "slept elsewhere" (186) the previous night, and he wonders if this was a hint that Mr. Quill is safe and outside the village bounds. Thirsk also realizes that he is not sure of Mistress Beldam's whereabouts, either, and entertains the fear that she killed Mr. Quill after he followed her into the woods.

Thirsk spends the night in the manor house, in the room where Master Jordan slept the night before. Master Jordan has been using Mistress Beldam's velvet shawl as a pillow, and Thirsk inhales its scent and tries to...