Mr. Stoddard is very reserved, and does not say a word as he passes Mr. Walton. The next week Mr. Walton goes to visit Mr. Stoddard at Oldcastle Hall.
Mr. Stoddard lives in a tower in the Hall. The butler lets Mr. Walton in by a secret door opened by pushing on a brick. The tower room is filled with books.
Mr. Walton and Mr. Stoddard visit for awhile before realizing someone else is in the room: Ethelwyn Oldcastle. As before, she is reading an old book.
On his way home, Mr. Walton passes Jane, the daughter of Old Rogers, who works at the Hall. She looks like she has been crying. Mr. Walton finds out that she and the miller have been told they cannot marry.
The miller's father, Mr. Brownrigg, has threatened to take away the mill if his son marries Jane Rogers. Mr. Walton goes to visit Mr. Brownrigg to speak to him, but the man will not change his mind.
