David spends another pleasant evening with Charles, and they have sex. David is uncomfortable afterward because he knows that “he had, in his confused state, let Charles believe that he might be interested in being his husband after all” (95). Time passes; Edward does not return to New York or send word, and David continues to see and sleep with Charles. He feels conflicted because he knows that he is not being kind to Charles.

In March, David learns from officials at the orphanage that Edward has returned to New York. They also give him a letter from Edward, in which he explains that he feels ashamed of the lack of communication and would like to see David.

David rushes to Edward’s boarding house, where Edward greets him, “kissing him wherever he could, as eager as a pup” (101). Edward explains everything that has happened to him. He arrived safely in Vermont, where he reunited happily with his sisters. Once the baby arrived, he was busy and preoccupied, although he thought fondly of David. He also misremembered that he gave David the address where he was staying, so he didn’t realize that David had no way to contact him.

As Edward prepared to journey back to New York, his other sister, Belle, was unexpectedly abandoned by her husband.