Barnaby travels with his wife (Nell) and daughter (Julie) to visit his mother; he is initially disappointed that his father is not home to balance out all of the feminine energy. After dinner, his daughter's bedtime rolls around, and Barnaby's mother asks him to drive her maid, Greta, home. He agrees to do it but is disturbed by the concept of being in close proximity to a woman who is not his wife. He is attracted to her temporarily, which makes him feel guilty. Nell, who is pregnant, makes snippy comments to him once he is home; he realizes that she is jealous that he spent alone time with another woman, even though nothing transpired between them. Barnaby tells his daughter a story to get her to go to bed. He speaks with his mother for a moment, then talks to Nell again, insisting that he does not like Greta. Nell becomes vindictive and tells him that Greta had better stay away from him. Once again, Barnaby speaks with his mother; she tells him that Greta is rumored to have been married at one point, though she is now separated. She also has a two year-old boy. Barnaby goes back to his bedroom and tells Julie another story, then gets into bed with Nell.