Part 2, Chapters 24, 25 and 26 Summary

Conchis picks up the story of his past where he left off, at the moment of his desertion from the British army. He tells Nicholas how he makes it safely back to England, lies to his parents about how and why he was there, and over the course of two weeks becomes as physically intimate with Lily as is possible in those semi-Victorian times (see "Quotes", p. 144). Eventually he leaves, taking refuge with a Greek uncle from his mother's side of the family, who uses his money and influence to gain passage for Conchis to Argentina. In the days before he leaves, Conchis confesses everything to Lily, who is unable to understand his situation and who dies shortly after he leaves. At that point, Conchis seems to have finished, and he and Nicholas sit in silence for a long...