Day Four, Afternoon Summary

Stevens has finally arrived at Little Compton, the town where Miss Kenton lives, and is having tea at the Rose Garden Hotel. Stevens begins to doubt his meeting with Miss Kenton, since he did not receive a letter confirming that she would meet with him. He had asked that she send word to the hotel if a meeting was not possible and no such message has arrived.

There is still another hour or so before the planned meeting time with Miss Kenton, so Stevens sips his tea and watches the pouring rain outside the hotel window. The rain comes as a surprise to Stevens, who spent a pleasant day's drive after refueling his car.

Stevens remembers the previous day. The doctor from the village picks Stevens up at the Taylor cottage as promised and brings along enough fuel to...