The story shifts back in time to the day Mrs. Poulteney dismissed Sarah. Mrs. Fairley called for Sarah to tell her that Mrs. Poulteney was waiting for her and wanted to see her immediately. Mrs. Fairley had never liked Sarah or the favors she received from Mrs. Poulteney. Mrs. Fairley had always been jealous of Sarah and was relishing witnessing Sarah’s punishment and subsequent departure. When Sarah enters the room where Mrs. Poulteney is waiting for her, Mrs. Fairley closes the door and stands on the other side so she can eavesdrop.

Mrs. Poulteney is unusually quiet; she takes her time to say what she must. After a long delay, Mrs. Poulteney points to an envelope and tells Sarah that inside are her wages for the month. She then informs Sarah that she must leave no later than the next morning. When Sarah asks why she is being dismissed, Mrs. Poulteney acts offended by the question. Sarah informs Mrs. Poulteney that she can keep her money because it is coated in hypocrisy. Sarah wants no more to do with the old widow. Before leaving the room, Sarah tells Mrs. Poulteney to use the money to buy instruments of torture for whomever she next invites to stay in her home. Mrs. Poulteney nearly faints at Sarah’s boldness. When Sarah opens the door, Mrs. Fairley looks in and sees Mrs. Poulteney looking pale, and she accuses Sarah of having murdered Mrs. Poulteney.

Then the story skips forward to the scene the next day, when Charles enters the barn. Charles finds Sarah sleeping and turns to leave. But when he reaches the door, as if against his will, he calls out Sarah’s name and she awakens. She is obviously pleased he has come. Charles is torn in his emotions and does not know if he should run away or stay. Sarah comes to him and admits that she purposefully let Mrs. Fairley see her walk out of the woods. She also suggests that she cannot control the strong emotions she has for him.

Charles notices a disparity between the stories in the book Dr. Grogan lent him (about women with repressed emotions) and Sarah’s story. The other women did not confess what they had done until forced to do so. But Sarah has told Charles the truth on her own volition.

When Sarah comes near him, Charles cannot resist kissing her. But he breaks away from her almost as quickly as he embraced her. It is at that moment that he hears someone at the door. He expected Dr. Grogan to show up later and is surprised to find Sam and Mary.

Sam does not explain what he is doing there, but Charles does. He immediately tells Sam that he is helping Sarah, through Dr. Grogan’s advice, to get out of town. Sam is to tell no one what he has seen. Sam promises, and he and Mary leave. After Sarah tells Charles how much she will miss him, she and Charles also leave. Charles assures Sarah that he will see to her financial needs through Mrs. Tranter. He also tells Sarah that Dr. Grogan might be attempting to place her in an institution, so she should leave immediately and discreetly. Charles then apologizes for having kissed her, and they part.