Chapter 2, The Marriage Summary

When Latimer returned home after his walk with Bertha, he found that Alfred was dead - he had been thrown from his horse while hunting and was killed immediately by a concussion. Latimer felt that Alfred's death formed a bond with his father since they had finally both experienced true sorrow.

Latimer began to feel affection towards his father, which grew over the next few months, even though his father continued to regard him with bitterness. Eventually, Latimer's father warmed to him and tried to make him successful at filling his brother's place in society. His father also suggested that he marry Bertha and the two of them live with him.

After Alfred's death, Bertha treated Latimer somewhat cautiously. Latimer was torn between wanting to be respectful of his brother's memory and wanting to know what Bertha was feeling...