The next morning, Archer takes a train to Boston. As luck would have it, a letter from his office had arrived for him in Newport, providing a cover for his sudden need to travel. He does not tell his family that he is going to Boston, only that he needs to be in New York. Although he does not convey all the details of his travel, he will make a point to stop in New York on his way back to the summer home.

When he reaches Boston, Archer takes breakfast before sending a note to the Parker House. When the messenger returns, telling Archer that Madame Olenska was out, Newland feels angry at himself for not having written to her as soon as he arrived. After he finishes his meal, he decides to walk over to the hotel to confirm the accuracy of the messenger’s information. On his way, he sees Ellen sitting on a park bench. She appears to be deep in thought. When he comes near, she looks up. It is the first time Archer has ever seen Ellen surprised.

As soon as he is close enough to talk to her, Archer blurts out that he is in Boston on business. Ellen says she is, too. She adds that she has just turned down a large sum of money. Archer immediately feels disturbed. He senses that Ellen’s husband is still attempting to bribe her to take him back. Archer wants to know if her husband is there in Boston. Ellen tells him that her husband only sent an emissary with the offer. She has a few hours in which to make her final decision.

Archer suggests that they take a steamboat out into the bay, where the weather might be cooler. He insinuates that since they are together, they might as well enjoy themselves. He thinks they deserve this little pleasure because they sacrificed their love for one another by his marrying May. Ellen asked him not to say such things. Archer does not want to apply too much pressure because he fears Ellen might slip away from him, so he softens his tone. He will not yet mention anything about his love for her, but he still asks her to give him a few hours of the day. Ellen finally agrees, but she needs to leave a note for her husband before they leave.

Before they get on the boat, Archer asks Ellen about the last time he saw her at Mrs. Mingott’s summer home. He tells her he had walked down toward the pier and waited for her to turn around in recognition of his presence. He said he had felt disappointed when she did not know he was there. Ellen confesses that she knew he was there. Not only did she not turn around, she had gone down to the pier as soon as she had recognized his carriage coming onto the driveway. She had wanted to get as far away from him as she could.