Containing a Scene Which We Doubt Not Will Affect All Our Readers
- Tom sleeps late the next morning, until a loud noise from downstairs wakens him.
- Partridge explains that there's a big fight going on downstairs.
- Tom goes to talk to Mrs. Miller.
- Mrs. Miller cries that Nancy has been ruined by Mr. Nightingale.
- It turns out that Nancy is pregnant.
- Nancy has also just received a letter from Mr. Nightingale, in which he explains that he has to marry this rich girl his father has chosen.
- So Nancy and Mr. Nightingale can never be together.
- But he thinks that Nancy can easily keep her pregnancy a secret.
- And Mr. Nightingale promises that he will provide for the baby and for Nancy.
- Tom asks if it is possible to do what Mr. Nightingale suggests? Can't they keep the pregnancy a secret?
- But it's too late to try what Mr. Nightingale wants, because Nancy received the letter in a crowded room.
- She fainted, and the guests all read the letter. (Jerks.)
- What Mrs. Miller is really worried about is that Nancy will kill herself.
- She's already tried twice.
- Mrs. Miller thinks it's her fault that she turned a blind eye to Mr. Nightingale's flirtations.
- She thought his intentions were honorable, and that Nancy might wind up married to a real gentleman.
- Mrs. Miller goes to help Nancy while Tom looks after Betsy.
- Betsy says that, if her sister dies, her mother will die. And if her mother dies, Betsy will want to die, too.
- She won't be afraid to go "with those [she loves]" (14.6.7).
- Tom tells Mrs. Miller he's going to speak to Mr. Nightingale.