ione holds a jumble sale in the village to buy a bullock for farmers in india who are dying. the title "the other darker ned" refers to the character she sees in her head who is a resemblance of her friend ned. she becomes so shaken by the image that she decides to stop at nothing to hold the jumble sale. she is extremely successful and manages to buy two bullocks, get ned, and his girlfriend (professor muffet's secretary) to stop quarrelling and fall in love.