Part 4, Chapter 3 Summary

Nancy Rufford, a Catholic with a sheltered convent education, has never really thought about divorce. When Leonora is confined to her bed with headaches and Edward has left the house early to oversee his estate, Nancy breakfasts alone and reads the papers. She learns about a divorce suit that has ended up in court. Mr. and Mrs. Brand are acquaintances of the Ashburnhams; Mr. Brand has been accused of being in love with Miss Lupton, an acquaintance of Nancy. Nancy knows at this point that Leonora and Edward do not love each other, and realizes that Edward is thus free to love someone else. Nancy's heart surges with the thought that she might be the person Edward loves instead of Leonora.

When Leonora recovers, Nancy asks her about the divorce proceedings. Leonora explains that because the Brands are Protestant, their marriage...