Part 1 - Jane Studdock mopes around her & her husband's home by herself, feeling frustrated and undirected. A picture she sees in a newspaper reminds her of a horrifying dream she had which involved one man's head being taken off and another man apparently being revived from the dead.
Part 2 - Mark Studdock (Jane's husband) is on the way to a meeting of Bracton College, of which he is a fellow. We learn a little bit of the history of the college, and of the office politics which run the place. Mark is excited to find himself apparently being subtly invited into the "progressive element."
Part 3 - We are given a short description of Bragdon Wood and its history and legends, including Merlin's Well, under which the great wizard himself is supposed to be buried, neither dead nor alive.
Part 4 - The Fellows of Bracton College hold a faculty meeting, through much careful manipulation & maneuvering, the progressive element manage to get the sale of Bracton Wood to N.I.C.E. passed, which idea would have been greeted with horror by the more traditional elements of the school.
Part 5 - Jane is invited to the home of Dr. & Mrs. Dimble. She discusses some of her marriage troubles with Mrs. Dimble. Dr. Dimble talks about Arthurian legend and Merlin. Something in the discussion reminds Jane once again of her terrible dream, and she tells the Dimbles all about it. Dr. Dimble appears to take her dream quite seriously, and offers her someone to talk with about it.
I am currently planning to cover about a chapter a week. I doubt this will be too much for any of you. If, however, it proves to be too slow, we'll consider two chapters.
I look forward to your thoughts.
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