Chapters 17 and 18 Summary

Beatrice learns that John will soon be able to come home but tells Dr. Rose that Celia is now ill and asks that John remain in his care for a short time more. The entail is complete with arrangements for the first child born to either Julia or Richard—boy or girl—to inherit. John's fortune pays for the entail and Beatrice borrows more from Mr. Llewellyn to pay legal fees, keeping the true cost from Harry.

Once the entail has been paid and Julia and Richard established as joint heirs, Harry and Beatrice try to decide how to tell Celia and John. Beatrice and Celia retire to the parlor after dinner that night. Beatrice says that Harry now knows Celia is barren and that he has come up with the idea of settling the estate on the pair...