This chapter begins with the unexpected arrival of Diana, Susan, and Arthur Parker. Diana is a talkative woman, slight rather than sickly. Diana immediately examines Mr. Parker’s ankle to see how it is healing before discussing the two families that she has secured to stay at the hotel. She describes the Antiguans as a proper, respectable family named the Griffiths. Diana heard through the grapevine that the Griffiths were looking for a place to rest because of their poor health. Diana proudly describes how she ensured that the Griffiths would come to Sanditon. A young woman named Miss Lambe, who Diana knows is a woman of great fortune but bad health, is traveling with the Griffiths. Since Diana, Arthur, and Susan feel so deeply for anyone experiencing sickness, they decided that they should go to Sanditon to help the Griffiths in any way they can.

Mr. Parker is overjoyed that Diana has brought these families to Sanditon, and he praises her selfless attitude despite her health problems. Charlotte, however, thinks Diana is self-important and selfish. Diana acknowledges that, despite being an extremely sick woman, she finds it in herself to help people. Diana believes that the world is divided between people who act to help others and those who do not.