Chapters 21-25 Summary

Mrs. Beauchamp picks some cucumbers as an excuse for visiting and presents herself as a fellow stranger in the country in need of friendship. Charlotte breaks into tears over her own unworthiness, but Mrs. Beauchamp admits to wanting to help her since the first time she sees Charlotte. She urges the girl not to indulge in gloomy thoughts. They will have dinner together and the Charlotte can confide anything in her without fear. As Charlotte tells her repugnant story, Mrs. Beauchamp mourns that her father has married vile La Rue. When Charlotte says that she has often written her parents but never received a response, Mrs. Beauchamp offers to bypass John in posting the next letter and urges Charlotte to keep up her spirits.

Charlotte is too agitated to write clearly, but in the morning makes another try, confessing herself a...