Chapter 2 opens with Petiron working on a composition. He hums as he does so. Robinton, who had been napping in the next room, picks up the tune and begins humming it himself. Petiron is angered by this, and yells at Robinton not to do that again. Merelan, in turn, is angered at Petiron for doing that. Robinton had, even at that young age, been humming on-key, but Petiron failed to notice. Merelan shows Washell Robinton's talent. Robinton at this point has begun to compose simple variations on tunes.