In this chapter, we learn that the ghost of Little Em'ly is trying to get the attention of the boy, but the boy is too scared to ask him why he is doing this. The boy tries to get him to admit that he is a girl, but he refuses. He tells the boy that he does not want to be a part of the "circle of turmoil" that is going on around him. He asks the boy why he has been pretending to be "white wood" , and the boy responds that he has heard the boy say this name before, and that it is due to his master's acting skills. He also says that the boy has been lying all this time, and is verbose, and unpleasant, to look at. He wants to know the reason for the boy's behavior, so that they can become "honest companions" who are open and honest with one another. He says that if they were to become friends, the boy would ask the boy to explain the reasons for his behavior, and he would be happy to do so. The other boy, whoosh, asks if they are "black-eyed rock's" hand in hand with the boy. He then says that he will drop the boy right away if the boy does not comply with his instructions. He wonders if they all came for "black - eyed rock" .