Chapter 9 Summary

As Qwill and Melinda dine at the Old Stone Mill, they discuss Mayor Blythe, who was the local high school principal until he got involved with some of his female students a few years back. They also discuss Mrs. Cobb's arrival, Birch's repairs and Koko sitting on the third step of the staircase. When Qwill tells Melinda that he is considering having a dinner party he asks her to act as hostess. She becomes very excited as she expresses the need for a string trio, fancy food and actors to play butlers and footmen. She will plan everything, and Qwill will only have to pay the bills. When Qwill arrives home, he hears Koko severely scolding. Qwill thenl finds a stepstool situated unaccountably in the center of the kitchen. When he tells Mrs. Cobb the next morning, she says she also heard someone...