The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

The day after her father’s blind date, Rosalind tries to think of a way to save him from “the burden of dating” altogether (71). Tommy interrupts her plotting and invites her to run some training drills with him. She declines, and they get into an argument because he’s bitter about her crush on Cagney, a boy she met that summer. Despite his jealousy, Rosalind doesn’t realize that Tommy has feelings for her.

Aunt Claire leaves with a promise to check in about Martin’s dating progress in a few weeks. After she drives off, Martin suggests abandoning the whole idea, but Jane reminds him that he promised to try. Rosalind calls a MOPS, a Meeting of Penderwick Sisters, and the girls gather at a fallen tree in Quigley Woods. Skye suggests that they find three more dates that their father will find torturous, allowing him to fulfill his promise while ensuring that he never wants to date again. Skye opposes her own plan because it seems unkind, but her sisters outvote her. Batty thinks that Martin should try dating Iantha, but Rosalind reminds him that they’re trying to find people he would strongly dislike.