Chapter 2, The Engagement Summary

The second part of The Lifted Veil occurs after a few months have passed and Latimer has returned to England with his father. Bertha and Alfred became formally engaged in the fall and decided to wed during the following spring. Latimer had still not asked Bertha about her feelings for him, and, although he was confident that the actual wedding would not occur, he was still nervous about the engagement.

When Latimer was not with Bertha, he took long walks and despaired for his future. One morning, Latimer ran into Alfred who had going hunting. Alfred invited Latimer to come hunting with him occasionally in order to cheer up Latimer. Latimer deeply resented this because he felt it betrayed Alfred's narrowness and conceit since Alfred evidently could not understand Latimer's suffering. Although Latimer had earlier been afraid that his...