The chapter opens with a warning from the Governess that she has a year and a half before the midterms, and that she cannot handle all five of her daughters. The Governess tells her that she will have to set a "wall" between herself and her daughters if they fail the exam. She tells her daughter that she was the first to ask for help, and she rejected her. If she fails the exam, she says, she will not be able to help her daughters the next time they need help. She says that she hopes her job is not on the line, because if she fails this exam, there will be no more help for her in the future. She asks her daughter if she would like to play a board game with them, but she says she is not able to because she is studying so hard