Bertha is very angry with Gladys, asking George to reason with their daughter. Gladys is also angry and in tears when his father visits her room. She doesn't want to go to Newport. Her very future depends on it.

George has received a letter from Oscar, but he wanted to be very sure of his response before doing so. What he says will depend on what Gladys wants him to say. Oscar gave her the reasons why she should accept, and the top on her list is getting away from her mother. Marriage is not the place to look for freedom, George says.

He asks if she loves him, and she does not. Her reasoning is unsound, and thankfully, her father wants her to marry for love, not Oscar. He offers her a compromise. He promises to accept her choice whenever she comes to him, saying she's in love. Of one thing he is sure, she can do better than Mr. Oscar van Rhijn. She agrees to go to Newport.

The staff is busy at the van Rhijn house, as a discussion about the unreliability of alarm clocks ensues.

Upstairs, Marian tells her aunts that Peggy will return tomorrow. An interruption sets off Agnes when she discovers that Marian has stooped to taking a packed lunch to school on Thursdays. Marian says she's doing a good job, and Agnes will not be ashamed. Agnes is already ashamed.

Marian is a great teacher, and she encourages Francis not to give up.

After school, Francis is eager to give Marian a ride home, and Dashiell agrees. It's a great opportunity to call on Agnes. He's impressed that Marian is the only person in New York to stand up to Agnes, which she must find a novel sensation.

Oscar visits with George, who doesn't let him down easy. He's also annoyed that Oscar didn't speak with him first. Oscar brought a presentation, complete with financial records. Oscar proclaims he's madly in love with Gladys, which really sets off George, who doesn't believe him for a second. He wants more than a marriage of convenience for his child.

Agnes and Marian meet with Peggy, and Peggy says she'd really like to be busy again. Agnes promises to speak with Armstrong, telling her how it will be. Peggy just has to talk with her parents.

Ward, Bertha, and Larry visit with Mrs. Blane about refurbishing the house. The rooms are quite small, which Larry finds inhospitable. Her husband was quite frugal, and the small rooms saved on heat, and the hand-me-down furnishings saved on money.

Larry gets the job but will need a day off for the Newport Lawn Tennis tournament, and he invites her along when she wistfully speaks about missing sport. Ward thinks it's great, but Bertha not so much.

Ward has an idea for her opera war. Joshua Winterton is old money and got married after a short engagement to nobody has met. His wife is young and likes to play, so she may find the Academy crowd a little stuffy. He's got lots and lots of money.

Reverend Forte visits with Agnes, Ada, and Marian, sharing his story and news of his wife's death. When he speaks of it, he looks at Ada. They seem to have a spark.

Oscar is adrift as his bid for Gladys has failed. Ada is so pleased that they entertained Reverend Forte, but Agnes would have enjoyed it more if she could have gotten a word in edgewise. Did Ada take chatter pills? Agnes says criminals have answered more questions on the dock than the poor Reverend. She can't read the room, suggesting if they ask him over again, he'll politely decline.

George and a colleague discuss the unions, particularly the one in Pittsburgh. George has no intention of yielding, so he sends the fellow to the city to see if they can buy off Mr. Henderson. If he's a man of principle, it will just make their endeavor more expensive.

Mr. McNeil visits the Russell house with a message for Mr. Watson. George arrives home at that moment and invites Mr. McNeil into the library. George is very curious about what is afoot, but Mr. McNeil politely declines and leaves, apologizing for taking up his time.

Armstrong says that Peggy will not stop her writing no matter what Agnes thinks. She was trying to protect Agnes, she says. Armstrong is shocked that if she cannot behave, then Agnes will let her go. Armstrong cries, but all she needs to do is be kind to Ms. Scott. Agnes says it's not a discussion but an order.

Peggy visits her father to share the news about returning to the van Rhijn house. She needs to get away from her parents, which upsets Arthur. It's all his fault. Before she leaves, he gives her some cash like any good dad would. He acts as if she's saying goodbye forever.

More visits at the van Rhijn house as Aurora stops in. They're considering buying a house in Newport. Agnes notes a letter from Lena Astor. She wants to visit to discuss plans to save the Academy. Mr. McAllister will join them to come up with a plan to combat the Met. Interesting.

Aurora invites Marian to Newport. She wants to introduce her to Edward Morgan, whose parents have a house in Newport and one on East 56th. Agnes thinks that's a fine idea and a potential match, and she knows his mother, to boot.

Marian hopes Aurora will invite Oscar as well to lift his spirits.

Mrs. Blane is thrilled with Larry's drawings. She will be living at the house as much as possible. She longs for disruption after spending so many years with her boring husband. They laugh together, which is exactly what the house has been missing. She's ordered champagne. They're celebrating her new life and his place in it.

Armstrong feels overburdened with sewing tasks, but Peggy offers to help. Armstrong rudely dismisses her, having learned nothing from Agnes's command.

Edward is a bit of a wet rag, and Marian jumps at the chance to walk off with Oscar. Marian waves to Larry instead, offering a good opportunity to do so.

Edward makes an embarrassment of himself, waving Marian down while she chats with Oscar, Larry, and Mrs. Blane. The man cackles while Marian and Gladys discuss him. Gladys shares the news that her father wants her to marry for love. Marian is to marry for birth, position, and money. Edward butts in again, asking if she's ignoring him.

To top things off, he's drinking too much and arrives at the latest conversation double-fisting champagne. When Dashiell wanders up, Edward continues his embarrassing ways, and Aurora sends Marian off with him to avoid the drunkard.

Church and Bannister agree to live in peace with one another and let bygones be bygones.

Dick Sears wins, which makes Marian happy since she told Dashiell to place a bet on him. Nobody gave Edward tips, he laments. Oscar gives him one -- go home and sleep it off.

Later, when Larry helps Mrs. Blane out of the carriage, she gets flustered when he takes her hand. She sends her driver away, and Larry and Mrs. Blane kiss on her doorstep. Oh, the scandal!

Church tells Watson that Mr. NcNeil visited looking for him under the name Mr. Collier.

When Larry gets home the next morning, Bertha smells a woman's scent on him. An argument erupts. He's happy. He doesn't want a suitable young woman. He wants a sexual partner as well as someone he enjoys.

Things in Pittsburgh didn't go well. Henderson is steadfast that he cannot be bought off. George wants to bring him to New York and treat him like a king.

Peggy will get a lead on another story, and discussing how things don't always go as planned reveals the publisher lost a son, as well. He's happy to have her back, no matter the circumstances.

George surprises Bertha in Newport, and she's thrilled. It will be a short visit, but she's happy nonetheless. He will need her help with the luncheon he plans for Henderson.

They're so in love that it's crazy she doesn't want the same thing for her kids.

Bridget gave Peggy some of Armstrong's sewing, and Armstrong wonders if it's a trick. Armstrong is the one playing tricks, and Peggy warns her not to begin a bigger quarrel.

Watson tells Church about his daughter, and Church is so sorry that he asked him to wait on his daughter. Apparently, the McNeil's cannot entertain if it becomes common knowledge that her father is dressing Mr. Russell.

Mr. McAllister's party begins. Bertha has been tasked with finding buyers for the Met's boxes. He will always be on Mrs. Astor's side, whether helping her win the opera war or helping her accept defeat. Bertha still wants his help.

Oscar meets Mauve Beacon. It seems he has found his latest mark. She has been living in Europe, so she will have no preconceived notions of the man, either.

At the party, Mrs. Blane interrupts Larry and Marian, and Larry's smile could light up a dark room.

Apparently, Mauve's father may not be her father, but J. Gould, who has taken an interest in her. She's got a lot of money at her disposal. Aurora asks that he only pursue her if his heart is in it. He says his heart is all in it.

Marian and Dashiell spend some time together, and when she sees the beautiful dancers, he asks her to join him, but Edward pops in to ask, which gives her the best excuse to accept Dashiell's request.

Bertha and George are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Winston, and Bertha is shocked. Mrs. Winston is her former lady's made, Turner.

For once, Bertha is unsure of what to say next.