John Dowell the narrator wonders if Nancy Rufford ever really loved Edward Ashburnham. Leonora Ashburnham insists that she did not.
Before Nancy leaves for India, Leonora and Edward argue about whether it is wrong for Edward to ask her to love him from afar. John Dowell the character asks Leonora why she and Edward are going through the rigmarole of sending Nancy all the way to India if he (John) is going to marry her. Leonora explains to John that Nancy needs to see more of life before "taking such an important step."
Edward asks John the character to accompany him and Nancy on the cart ride to the train station to begin her journey to India. Edward confides to John that he is "so desperately in love with Nancy Rufford.....
