- Mr. Olmstead and Georgie return to Placid. Georgie rides Long Ears, whom she has now accepted for who he is—a faithful mule.
- They ride into town on the day of the funeral, just in time to see the mourners leaving the cemetery.
- Georgie is looking for Ma, who takes her in her arms, whispering, "One came home!" (20.20) in reference to the fact that Agatha and Pa Burkhardt didn't.
- Also at the funeral is Georgie's Aunt Cleo, whom she has never met.
- As Ma, Aunt Cleo, and Georgie leave, Georgie notices that Ma blushes when she looks at Sheriff McCabe.
- Back at home, Aunt Cleo gives Georgie an excuse to stay upstairs while the mourners take over the house.
- Ma comes up some time later, and they talk. Ma tells Georgie that Agatha hasn't written: this was Georgie's last hope.
- Later, Georgie compares the blue-green ribbon to the cloth from which the dress was cut. It's a definite match.
- She's beginning to think it must have been Darlene Garrow, not Agatha, who was killed.
- She goes over all the evidence for and against Agatha's death again, wondering if her trip was a total waste.
- She starts crying when she realizes how glad she is to be home.