In round 1, instead aof a ch4 space at the end, you are told to only ch2, and then hdc in the top of the first dc from your beginning. This puts your working loop right at the center of a space that is equal to a ch4 space.

On rounds 2-8 you are told to ch3, then dc in the last ch4 space made, which is the one you just made by chaining 2 and making that hdc into the top of the first dc (which is actually a ch3), then dc in each stitch to the corner. You then make a shell (2dc, ch4, 2dc) in the corner, then dc to the next corner, shell, etc. The last shell was actually started at the beginning of your round by a ch3 and dc in the space you created with the hdc on the previous round. That is where you will make the last 2 dc, then hdc in the first dc of that round (actually this will be a ch3 (which is usually a substitute for the first dc of a round).

I think that the way I described it is probably more confusing than the actual instructions, but hopefully there is something in there that will help.

Don 't read ahead, but just do it, one step at a time. It will all come out ok, assuming the directions don't have a misprint. You will discover for yourself just what Donna is describing here.