Archer spends Friday and Saturday at the home of the Chiverses, having fun on an ice boat and on a long tour of Reggie’s farm. On Sunday he goes to Skuytercliff, only to find that Ellen is not there. He discovers that she went to church with Mrs. van der Luyden, and he goes out looking for them. He is walking down the lane when he sees a woman in a red coat and eventually identifies her as Ellen.

Upon greeting her, he tells her that he came to see what made her run away. Ellen shrugs off his question, telling him that she was cold and wanted to run to warm up. Confused, Archer follows her to a small guesthouse on the van der Luyden estate. The door is unlocked; a small fire has been built inside. Mr. van der Luyden’s servant had prepared the small house because Ellen wanted to be alone. She complains to Archer that it is difficult to ever find time for herself. In the rich homes she visits, servants are always barging in with food or tea or questions.

Archer again questions Ellen. He asks if she is unhappy. Ellen responds that she is happy now that he is there. Archer feels frustrated that he cannot get a straight answer from her. He tells her that if she truly wanted him to help her, he will have to know what is wrong. Again he asks her what she was running away from. When Ellen becomes silent, Archer turns away from her because he does not want to stare. He walks to a nearby window and looks out at the wintery scene. Then in the distance he sees a male figure walking toward the guesthouse. He exclaims that he finally understands why Ellen is there. Archer has identified the figure as that of Julius Beaufort. Ellen says she did not know Beaufort was coming, but Archer does not want to hear any more. He storms out of the cottage. When he passes Beaufort, he points out the way, telling the man that Ellen is waiting for him.

On his way home, Archer reflects Beaufort could have been there for no other reason than to see Ellen. Beaufort is not that friendly with the van der Luydens, so he could not use the excuse that they had asked him to their estate. Archer imagines that at best, Beaufort might be served dinner. Then the van der Luydens would insinuate that it was time for him to leave.

Ellen must be drawn to Beaufort, Archer concludes. Beaufort understands the European culture because he is from England. Ellen had once told Archer that he did not speak the same language as she did; therefore, she found it frustrating to try to converse with him. Archer imagines that Ellen has never said this to Beaufort. Beaufort’s way of living is probably more to Ellen’s taste. Archer is reluctant to admit it, but it could be that Beaufort is very similar to Ellen’s husband. Although she had found her husband distasteful, possibly she was drawn to the same type of man. She might claim to want to revolt against her past, but there is something that had originally charmed her about her husband and maybe that charm is still very alluring.

When he gets home, Archer feels restless. He cannot settle down to the same old boring routine. He needs something to distract him. So after a few days home, he packs his bags again and catches a boat to Florida.