Summary

In the garden of Jack's country manor house, Miss Prism sits at a table while Cecily waters the garden. Prism discourages the chore and tells her to leave it to Moulton, the gardener. They are supposed to be studying German. Cecily hates German because she believes that German lessons make her look plain afterwards. Prism reminds her that her German lessons are important to her Uncle Jack, who evidently acts very serious and responsible around them. Cecily wishes he would allow his younger brother Ernest to visit, but Prism rejects the idea that he would have a good influence on either her or Cecily because Jack has said he is nothing but trouble. Cecily begins to write in her diary, and Prism tells her not to do so. Instead, she should just rely on her memory. At this point, Prism admits...