Joseph concludes that the villagers’ fear of his granddaughters will not fade and decides the family must leave their home. Anne refuses, arguing that their confinement is not due to any supposed transformation but is a punishment for being “too free” as girls. Racked with guilt, Joseph allows the sisters to spend time in the garden while the village attends Pete’s wedding. He instructs Thomas to escort him partway and then return to watch over the girls. During the wedding service, a loud, mocking barking sound from outside disrupts the ceremony. The congregation rushes out after Pete, who has left his own wedding to pursue the source of the noise. Making his way around the churchyard after the crowd disperses, Joseph decides that he and his granddaughters must pack and flee immediately.

Following the disruption at the wedding, the villagers find Pete by the river, where he claims Anne bit his hand. He shows them a neat row of puncture wounds and insists he saw her transform from a dog back into a girl. Tubb organizes the search and sends Pete, Robin, and Richard downriver. There they find the five Mansfield sisters and Thomas. Thomas defends the sisters, stating they have been with him all morning.