When the three strange ladies, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, leave the children alone on Camazotz, they each give them words of advice and warning. Mrs. Which tells them explicitly to go down into the town, and to go together. She reiterates the warning that they not let anyone separate them, and tells them to be strong.

The other two ladies give the children warnings and advice similar to that given by Mrs. Which, but their directives are more detailed, and directed to each of the children individually, in turn. Mrs. Whatsit warns the children that although the three ladies will be nearby and watching, the children will not be able to see them or ask for help, and they will not be able to come to them. She leaves each of the children a "little talisman," to help them through the hard times. To Calvin, she points out his gift of being able to communicate with all kinds of people, and strengthens this trait within him. To Meg, she ironically emphasizes her faults, which she says will "come in very handy on Camazotz." To Charles Wallace, she gives "the resilience of (his) childhood," and the specific warning to stay with the others at all costs, as his pride and arrogance may betray him.

Mrs. Who is the last to give the children warnings, and advice. She tells Charles Wallace to "remember that (he does) not know everything," admonishing him, like Mrs. Whatsit, to be on guard against letting his pride lead to his downfall. To Calvin, she leaves a hint in the form of a quote from Shakespeare's play The Tempest; the quote speaks of "a spirit too delicate," and warns that it might lead to capture and confinement by those set on evil. And finally, to Meg, she leaves her glasses, warning her "not (to) use them except as a last resort," and to "save them for the final moment of peril" (Chapter 6).