Lady Bendham, Miss Sedgeley. At first William is disgusted by the prospect, however, once his father explains the great connections and patronage the union will bring, William becomes more interested and eager for the proposal. Determined to force away any remaining affections for Agnes, instead he looks down on her weakness in scorn. Miss Sedgeley's reacts to the proposal of marriage in a similar manner, that it will be a ‘unpleasant home'. Given her position she has no other option but to agree to the union. However, she resolves to ‘make a bad wife, not caring a pin for her husband, and will dress and visit as she pleases. The marriage is kept a secret and the families return to the village the following summer. Henry and Rebecca both experience joy at their reunion, while William and Agnes, are uneasy in on another's company. Agnes's tears and sobs instead of caresses annoy William and he storms off, promising never to see her again. Still Agnes hopes after reflection he will turn up the following night, and she waits, but he does not appear. She writes to him, pleading to see him one more time, to which he response sharply he will keep his word of never seeing her again. A month passes, one morning Henry is walking through the woods, when he hears a groan, through the mist he sees the figure of a female, who runs away. He spots a new born baby boy left on the ground, covering the baby, decides to bring it to Rebecca. While walking he notices a cord around the baby's neck, realising that the parent had considered killing the baby, before leaving it in the wood. Explaining to Rebecca how he found the baby, they decide to hide it at Rebecca's, so it will not be taken, or the mother prosecuted. The mother of the child is Agnes, believing the baby to be dead, by her hand, she is tormented. Rebecca manages to hide the baby for weeks, until her father and sisters find out. They assume the child is Rebecca, and regardless of her denials threaten to throw her out, unless she confesses who the father is. After much interrogation and threats, Rebecca reluctantly names Henry as the father. Rebecca's father immediately leaves for William Snr house, where he relays the news of Henry's sinful conduct, to William Snr. He is astonished