Overview: Alice comes to stay at Matching to keep Glencora company. We are introduced to the bigwig end of the Liberal Party, especially the delightful presence of the Duke of St Bungay. Lady Monk, who is Burgo's aunt, plots with him so that he may steal away with Glencora just after Christmas. Even though Glencora tells Plantagenet outright why they should not go to Monk's he seems both obtuse and trusting in insisting that they will go. Alice writes to John Grey breaking off her engagement and George wastes no time in making his desires for Alice known. Having seen how unhappy Glencora is Alice follows her heart and agrees to marry George. Her family strongly disapproves. Glencora succeeds in getting a cold, thus missing the meeting at Monkshade and putting off, for awhile, her moment of decision. As the episode proceeds we become aware that Alice and Glencora's money is at least as important to George and Burgo as their love.