Crispin takes his bread to a corner of the church, as far away from his new master as he can safely go. His master sits down in a doorway, apparently still worried that Crispin might run away. The stranger asks if Crispin expected to remain free. Crispin refuses to answer.

Apparently determined to start a conversation, the stranger asks if Crispin thinks men will ever live without masters. Crispin has been told all his life that it is the serf’s holy duty to obey his superiors, so he says, “God…has willed it otherwise." Apparently unsatisfied with this response, the stranger points out that Adam and Eve lived without kings or lords. This argument does not seem exactly wrong to Crispin, but it is totally alien to his worldview. He cannot think of a response, so he remains silent.

Next, the stranger tries to get Crispin to smile, but Crispin is too overwhelmed and upset. This annoys the stranger, who says that humor and laughter are the only reasons to live. He is so eager to make this point that he actually shouts it. Crispin flinches, afraid he may be beaten.

The stranger calms himself and says that he will be a much better master than most. He offers Crispin the chance to ask questions. He points out that Crispin does not even know his new master’s name. Crispin shrugs, saying that it is not important. It upsets the big man that Crispin is afraid even to ask such a simple question. They both fall silent.

After a while, the stranger takes some small balls out of his bag and begins to juggle. Crispin has never seen juggling before, and he does not even know the word until his master tells it to him. He watches in fascination, thinking that he is seeing magic. His master explains that it is not magic but a skill—one that keeps him well-fed. He seems to hope that Crispin will be impressed, but Crispin is too shell-shocked to show any such emotion.

As the conversation continues, the stranger asks Crispin’s name. When Crispin says it, his master scoffs and says, “That’s too fine and noble a name for such rubbish as you.” Then, when he learns that Crispin does not even know his own surname, the man adds that Crispin is as ignorant as an animal.

Crispin's master explains that people need skills and knowledge to live on their own. He promises to teach Crispin what he needs to know. To begin, he demands that Crispin ask a question. Under direct order, Crispin still struggles to come up with anything. Eventually he just asks the question his master suggested before. He learns that the man is named Orson Hrothgar, but everyone calls him Bear.

Crispin asks where Bear is going, and Bear explains that he will eventually go to a city called Great Wexly, where “large things are brewing.” He is supposed to meet a man there in March. Until then, he and Crispin are going to wander and make their living as it comes. Then, apparently seeing no reason to delay this wandering, Bear says it is time to go.