The next day, Jean is anxious to know whether Sir John has gone to London. However, she’s kept busy by Mrs. Coventry’s nerves, Lucia’s illness, and Bella’s requests. She dares not send Gerald to the Hall. 

That evening, she dresses simply in white, drawing remarks that she looks like a bride. After dinner, she sends Bella to her mother and hurries to the Hall. A servant reports that Sir John intended to leave in the morning but only caught the late train, looking flushed and unwell. He’s expected back by noon the next day or by evening at the latest. Jean returns for a restless night.

At dawn, Jean watches the Hall gate from a hillside. A rider from the station brings news of a serious accident near the city of Croydon involving the noon London train; he’s unsure whether Sir John was aboard and has come to alert Gerald. Gerald departs at once. Jean shuts herself in her room. 

After dark, Bella brings a letter from Gerald: Sir John is safe—he wasn’t on the train—but several witnesses believe that Edward was, and many bodies remain beneath the collapsed bridge. While Jean relaxes at Sir John’s safety, she shows no grief over Edward, her expression hinting at triumph.

Gerald returns at dawn with little news. A telegram to Edward’s regiment confirms that he left for London and was seen at the station, though it’s unclear whether he boarded. Sir John has fallen ill and, on Gerald’s advice, will wait to return until the bridge is repaired. Later, a messenger reports that a body has been found and identified as Edward’s by his uniform and a ring.

Jean, alone in the garden, mutters that, with Edward out of the way, she’s safe—then, she turns to find Edward before her, unharmed. He explains that the dead man was his comrade Courtney, who wore an identical uniform and a ring Edward had given him. After seeing Courtney off, Edward went to Ascot to make inquiries about Jean and learned all about her. He tells her to be gone before six o’clock, when he will tell the family everything.

Jean packs and waits. At five o’clock, Edward sends Jean an envelope containing a check exceeding a year’s wages, with no note. The unexpected generosity brings out “a tear of genuine shame” (120).

At six o’clock, a servant orders a carriage for the station. Jean departs without meeting the family, dismisses the carriage, and waits for the half-past-six train from London, fearing that Edward has already reached Sir John. When the train arrives, Sir John steps out pale and tired, leaning on the Reverend Paul Fairfax. Upon seeing Jean, he hastens to her, and she clings to him in relief.

Back at the Hall, Sir John shuts out visitors. After a brief dinner, he summons the housekeeper and steward. With Jean calm beside him, Mr. Fairfax marries them, addressing her as Lady Coventry. Jean laughs and glances at Gerald’s portrait “with eyes full of exultation” (122). A message from Mrs. Coventry arrives; suspecting the reason, Jean refuses to be left behind and goes with Sir John.

Edward asks the family to wait until after dinner for explanations and to leave Jean undisturbed, saying she has received bad news. Over the meal, Gerald confesses his love for Jean and asks Edward’s forgiveness. Edward, restraining his anger, warns that suffering lies ahead when the truth comes to light.

When the servants withdraw, Edward produces a packet of letters and compels Gerald to listen. He summarizes Sydney’s account: Jean targeted him for marriage, staged a false suicide when he resisted, and won her place in the Coventry household through Sydney’s credulous mother. He then reads Jean’s letters to her accomplice, Hortense. In one letter, Jean catalogues each family member’s weakness and how she has exploited it, her plan to humiliate Gerald and Lucia, and her long-standing intention to marry Sir John for his title. Another letter shows that she intercepted a letter from Sydney, forged a replacement in his hand, and was nearly caught by Dean. The final letter records Jean boasting that Gerald has offered marriage and that she means to reject him for revenge once Sir John is secured. Edward then adds that Jean isn’t the daughter of Lady Howard, worked as an actress, and is divorced—each revelation is scandalous in its own way.

At that moment, Jean enters on Sir John’s arm. Sir John silences Edward, refuses to examine the letters, and declares his complete trust in his new wife. While he speaks, Jean quietly takes the packet and drops it into the fire; by the time anyone moves, the evidence is ash. She faces the family with composure and announces that, as Lady Coventry, she’s beyond their power, leaving them stunned.

Sir John confirms the marriage and asks the family to receive Jean, saying he has no fear of regret: “If I am blind, let me remain so till time opens my eyes” (138). Jean delivers a cool parting remark to Gerald and Lucia and then addresses Bella and Edward more warmly, admitting that she’s unworthy of Sir John and promising to devote herself to his happiness. The family remains cold, plainly enduring her presence for Sir John’s sake.

Sir John orders the carriage. As they depart, Jean fixes Gerald with a final look and “sa[ys] in her penetrating voice, ‘Is not the last scene better than the first?’” (139).