Chapter 18 Summary

Ellen finally joins her guests. Her aunt points out the fact that someone has sent her a bouquet. She takes one look at it and orders her maid to take it away. The flowers had come from the Count. The guests take their leave. Newland and Ellen are alone.

Newland tells Ellen of his visit to Florida, and May's suspicion that he is in love with someone else. Newland tells Ellen that May was half right. He was in love with another woman, just not the one that May suspected. He sits next to Ellen and tells her that she is the woman he wishes to marry if it was possible. She tells him that it was he that made it impossible, for she dropped the matter of the divorce only after his insistence. Newland promises to rectify everything. He can still break...