In Warmouth, Charlie receives art lessons from a friend of Mrs. Bird and is found to be a “prodigy” (262). One morning, Charlie gets a letter from his sister informing him of his father’s illness and of the loss of their house. He tells Mrs. Bird that he must return to Philadelphia. She is sorry to see him go. When Charlie returns, he finds that his father has mentally and physically deteriorated because of the attack. He also learns that Mr. Walters has proposed to Esther, but she has not accepted because she doesn’t want to be seen as marrying him for his money.

Mr. Balch and Mr. Walters meet to discuss the arrangements for the Garie children. Mr. Balch proposes that they send Clarence to a boarding school in Sudbury. However, Clarence will have to hide the fact that his mother is Black and pass as white. Although Mr. Walters has his reservations about this scheme, Mr. Balch says it is the best way to ensure that Clarence will have career opportunities in the future. They explain the plan to Clarence. Soon after, Mr. Balch takes Clarence to the school in Sudbury. The schoolmaster, Mr. Eustis, and the teacher Miss Ada Bell welcome Clarence warmly.

Charlie decides to get a job in order to support his family because his father can no longer work. He applies for a job at a law office, but when he arrives for the interview, accompanied by Esther, he is told that they cannot hire him because he is Black. Charlie then applies for a job with an engraver named Mr. Blatchford, a known abolitionist, who is open to Charlie becoming his apprentice. Charlie is very excited. When he tells Kinch the news, Charlie adds that Kinch should start taking greater care with his appearance in the way that Charlie has.

On Charlie’s first day of employment, he arrives at Mr. Blatchford’s office. However, the workers revolt and refuse to work with a Black person. Mr. Blatchford cannot afford to lose his workers, and so he tells Charlie that he cannot employ him. Charlie leaves and stands crying in front of a shop window. Just then, a Mr. Burrell, who had observed the scene at the engraver’s office, walks by and comforts Charlie. Mr. Burrell says that he will try to help Charlie find a position. Charlie returns home and weeps.

Mr. Burrell goes home to have lunch with his wife and their small child. After her husband tells her about Charlie’s misfortunes, Mrs. Jane Burrell insists that he employ Charlie at his small engraving office. Mr. Burrell asks his two employees if they would object to him hiring a Black person, and they say that they would not. That evening, Mr. and Mrs. Burrell go to Mr. Walters’s house and tell Esther that they want to hire her brother. She is very grateful.