Summary

In Chapter four, Mr. Bellingham and Ruth take a lovely, pleasant walk to Ruth’s childhood home as they planned the week before. However, they arrive later than expected. Ruth and Mr. Bellingham explore Ruth’s beautiful home and the land surrounding it. They run into the property’s caretaker who has known Ruth since childhood and chat for a while. The caretaker tries to warn Ruth about Mr. Bellingham indecent intentions. However, because the caretaker is embarrassed and confused about how to address the delicate subject, he speaks too vaguely and euphemistically and Ruth does not understand. Ruth has a happy afternoon and evening and does not realize how late it is when the church bells strike eight p.m.

They are walking down the road in the dark when Mrs. Mason pulls up beside them. Mrs. Mason immediately assumes the worst...