East Lynne

The narrative resumes almost a year later; Isabel and Francis have been living abroad and are staying in the town of Grenoble, France. Isabel has been very unhappy and regretful: “[S]he look[s] like the ghost of her former self” (336). Archibald has begun the proceedings to divorce Isabel; she is anxious for the divorce to be finalized because she is pregnant and wants to be remarried to Francis so that their child will be legitimate. Francis receives word that the divorce has been finalized but hides this information from Isabel. He also learns that he has received his inheritance (wealth and a title) and tells Isabel that he is going to England, even though Isabel fears he won’t return in time for them to marry before she gives birth.

Six months pass before Francis returns to France; by then, Isabel has given birth to their son. When Francis returns, he is unapologetic, explaining that he has no intention of marrying Isabel now that his money and title give him a good chance of marrying a rich woman. He also reveals that there was never any evidence that Barbara and Archibald were in love and that he deliberately misled Isabel to seduce her.