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What Maisie Knew Chapter XVII Summary

  • Mrs. Beale again tells Maisie that she sees Sir Claude even when he doesn't come to see Maisie.
  • Mrs. Beale starts bringing Maisie messages from Sir Claude.
  • Maisie feels that she is entering "a new phase"; she has temporarily forgotten about Mrs. Wix (XVII.4).
  • Mrs. Beale finally starts to take Maisie's education seriously, if only for a short time. The two read together and sit in on lectures at an institution that Sir Claude has arranged for them to attend.
  • Mrs. Beale arranges to take Maisie to a fair at Earl's Court, where Sir Claude has promised to meet them.
  • Maisie reveals that she still doesn't understand what the big deal is about Sir Claude and Mrs. Beale—that they're committing adultery.