- The narrator reminds us that Catherine is a pretty average seventeen-year-old and is rather naive.
- Mrs. Morland isn't very savvy and gives Catherine some less than useful advice about her first trip to a big town, telling her to dress warm and stuff like that.
- Catherine's sister Sally (short for Sarah) does not care that Catherine is leaving – probably because she gets a room to herself for once.
- Mr. Morland gives Catherine a small amount of money and tells her to ask for more later if she wants it. So much for Catherine's unlimited shopping spree.
- The Allens and Catherine travel to Bath. It's pretty boring.
- They arrive in Bath and go to their lodgings.
- Mrs. Allen is obsessed with fashion, and is also a bit dimwitted, just FYI. She takes Catherine shopping for days. Catherine gets her hair cut and styled too.
- Finally, the Allens and Catherine attend their first ball in Bath (a Bath ball?) and it's very crowded.
- Mr. Allen goes off to play cards.
- Catherine and Mrs. Allen struggle through the crowd till they find a bench where they can watch all the fashionable people dance.
- Mrs. Allen isn't much of a conversationalist and Catherine starts getting bored.
- They all go for tea, which is like party refreshments, but it's still really crowded and Catherine starts getting annoyed by all the people.
- She finds it uncomfortable since she doesn't know anyone there.
- Mrs. Allen and Catherine have to sit at a table with strangers during tea and it's really awkward. Mrs. Allen keeps wishing they knew someone there and commenting on the fashion.
- Finally Mr. Allen comes back from his card game and they all make their way to an exit.
- Catherine gets noticed by some guys on the way out and overhears two of them say she is pretty. Catherine is way excited.