Phineas is taken to the school's infirmary where he is cared for by Doctor Stanhope. Gene isolates himself in his room, musing over what he has done. He feels mostly guilty, while a part of him rejoices that his friend has been handicapped and injured. One night he decides to put on Finny's clothes and stare at himself in the mirror while wearing the pink shirt. He marvels at how "[i]ts high, somewhat stiff collar against my neck, the wide cuffs touching my wrists, the rich material against my skin excited a sense of strangeness and distinction; I felt like some nobleman, some Spanish grandee....[S]tanding there in Finny's triumphant shirt...I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again." Chapter 5, pg. 54 Having already injured his friend, he now seeks to assume Finny's identity. He had always felt lesser than Finny. Now, by becoming Finny, he wishes to rid himself of the old inferiority that was Gene.
Doctor Stanhope approaches Gene after a few days and says that although he will no longer be able to play sports since the fall from the tree had shattered his leg, Phineas will at least be able to walk again. He asks that Gene visit his friend in the infirmary to which he hesitantly agrees since he's afraid of being accused of jouncing the limb and causing the accident. His guilt consumes him upon entering the room where Finny lays in bed, looking slightly haggard and tired. Finny is cheerful, however, and asks Gene why he looks so unwell. After realizing that Finny is not going to accuse him at all, and that this is the furthest thing from his friend's mind, a tearful Gene tries to explain that he had caused the accident. Doctor Stanhope returns before he is able to finish, declaring that their visiting time is over. Soon after Finny is carried by ambulance to his home near Boston. The Summer Session ends and all of the boys return to their homes before beginning school again in fall. Gene goes back to his family in the South.
Before beginning school again, Gene is still bothered by feelings of guilt for having caused the accident and decides to visit his friend before returning to Devon School, especially since he has hours to wait before catching his next train. After a taxi ride from the train station, he is well received at Finny's home and is asked how his time at home was spent. Gene tells Finny a story about a fire near his home while Finny jokes about Gene's Southern roots, asking where his cornbread was and how was life in "Dixie." Then, all jokes aside, Gene tries again to make Finny realize that he purposely caused the accident by shaking the tree limb so that he would fall. Finny insists that he has no idea what Gene is talking about and commands him to sit down or he will hit him and then threatens to kill him. After hearing these words Gene says, "'You see! Kill me! Now you know what it is! I did it because I felt like that! Now you know yourself!'" Chapter 5, pg. 62 He is happy to see some piece of himself in Finny, something that reflects the same inferiority and hostility he had been feeling all along. At this threat, Gene is happy again that they are somewhat equal in their hatred for each other, even though they are also close friends. Finny suddenly declares that he is tired and, having calmed down, Gene changes the subject and prepares to leave. The subject of the accident is not mentioned again and they revert back to their old friendly conversational tones until Gene goes back to wait for the train to Devon. Phineas won't be returning for a couple more months until his leg heals.
