What Moves the Dead

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of suicide.

In the morning, Easton talks to Roderick about Madeline. Roderick reveals that Madeline’s maid died three months ago. When Easton urges Roderick to take action, he angrily asks what he is supposed to do. His anger fades, and he admits that he has thought about burning down the house, but Denton enters and suggests that Easton meant that Roderick should hire another doctor. Denton knows that he cannot diagnose or treat Madeline’s condition; he understands why Madeline is losing hair but not why it is regrowing so quickly. Roderick refuses to bring in another specialist because he does not want Madeline to undergo examinations and tests.

After visiting Hob and feeding apples to him and Denton’s horse, Easton goes to the house’s library, hoping to find books that might have information about hares. Unfortunately, all of the books have been ruined by the damp, moldy conditions of the house. Easton jokes that the Ushers should have stayed in Gallacia, and Roderick agrees. Before Roderick’s mother died, she had lived in Gallacia to avoid the Ruravian house of Usher. Roderick knows that Madeline won’t leave, and he fears that the house will kill both her and himself.