News of the sudden arrival of Commander Powell throws the household into chaos. Walter and Ellen leave for the shipyard to meet him as Charles, nervous about the impression he will make on the Commander, desperately struggles to put the house in order. The day is a series of calamities, but Charles' unflagging efforts somehow pull everything and everyone together, just in time for the discovery that the Commander's ship has been rerouted to another city. On behalf of the Commander, Walter thanks Charles for his efforts, unaware of just how good a job he did.