Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
by Grady Hendrix
Contents
Chapter 4
Overview
Fern is plunged into Wellwood House’s nightly rituals and power dynamics at dinner, where Miss Wellwood’s rigid control and favoritism contrast with the girls’ petty rules and restrictions. After Daisy’s health scare, Dr. Vincent imposes a house-wide ban on salt, triggering resentment and underscoring how collective punishment keeps the girls compliant. In the Cong room and later in her bedroom with defiant Rose and silent Holly, Fern’s failed attempt to connect leaves her feeling isolated enough to break down.
Summary
Fern is placed in the dinner line in the front hall and meets Daisy and Flora, learning how quickly the girls size each other up and whisper about Miss Wellwood’s many portraits of her father. In the formal dining room, everyone waits to sit until Miss Wellwood sits first, and Fern realizes she has no plate set out. Fern watches the other girls’ different portions and restrictions, including Flora being denied eggs for weight control.
Conversation at the table turns tense when a girl brings up astrology and Miss Wellwood forbids it on religious grounds. Rose challenges Miss Wellwood with Bible contradictions and, when threatened with punishment, storms out while giving a radical political speech. The mood shifts again when Hagar, the intimidating kitchen worker, appears; Myrtle complains the food tastes bland, Hagar snaps back that she cooks as instructed, and she exits after elbowing Myrtle.
Dr. Vincent arrives to address the house: after Daisy “went toxic” from salty snacks, he announces a sweeping ban on salt for everyone until attitudes and health improve. The girls protest the collective punishment, but Dr. Vincent dismisses them, and Fern notices Miss Wellwood privately receives a better meal and a salt cellar. Hagar finally brings Fern a plate, grumbling that she can stretch hash but cannot make more eggs.
After dinner, the house shifts into its evening routine: Miss Wellwood takes coffee in her office, the girls disperse, and later gather in the Congregation Room to watch TV, smoke “bippies,” trade massages, and gossip about movies and baby “sun signs.” Fern tries to join a conversation by talking enthusiastically about Patty Duke and her own theater experience back home, but the others respond with a cutting remark that makes Fern feel even more alien and exposed.
At lights out, Fern returns to her room and learns she shares it with Rose and Holly, a much younger-looking girl with a large birthmark who refuses to speak and clings to a stuffed dog. Overwhelmed by the sense that everything familiar—her room, clothes, and life—has been taken from her, Fern lies awake homesick. Rose repeatedly passes gas in the dark, escalating Fern’s frustration until Fern breaks down crying.
Who Appears
- Fern (Neva)New girl; struggles with rules, isolation, and homesickness; breaks down crying at night.
- Miss WellwoodMatron; enforces strict table discipline, religion, and routines; shows favoritism in her own meal.
- RoseFern’s roommate; confronts Miss Wellwood, storms out of dinner, and needles Fern at bedtime.
- Dr. VincentHouse doctor; blames lack of self-control and bans salt for all girls as punishment.
- HagarKitchen worker; resentful and intimidating; follows orders, clashes with Myrtle, serves Fern late.
- DaisyYoung resident; friendly at first; her “toxic” swelling triggers Dr. Vincent’s salt crackdown.
- FloraDaisy’s friend; restricted diet without eggs; mocks Fern’s attempt to talk about home.
- HollyChildlike, pregnant roommate with a birthmark; refuses to speak and clings to a stuffed dog.
- MyrtleOutspoken girl at dinner; complains about bland food and salt ban; gets elbowed by Hagar.
- HazelResident who explains house rules and portions; calls the Home the “nut hatch.”
- BrionyHigh-status resident; sits near Miss Wellwood and ceremonially turns on the TV in the Cong.
- Mrs. DeckleStaff member; positions Fern in the dinner lineup and manages the girls’ movements.
- Nurse KentCalls lights out; sends the girls to their rooms for the night.