Chapter 8 Summary

Joss Merlyn goes on a drinking binge that keeps him incoherent for five days. During that time, Patience cares for him as though he is an infant. Mary stays out of the way, once again taking long walks on the moors. Once, Mary wanders out toward Trewartha Marsh and comes across Jem's farm. Jem invites her to make him lunch and teases her for coming to see him alone. Jem tells Mary that he plans to take a couple of ponies to Launceston on Christmas Eve and invites her to go alone. One of the ponies is an animal he stole from Squire Bassat's farm. At first Mary refuses, still reeling from a dark story Jem told her about the Christmas his mother died. However, when Jem accuses her of being afraid, she agrees.

Mary returns to Jamaica Inn and finds that Joss...