Lady Audley’s Secret

George and Robert go to the beach to find Maldon. Maldon does not seem to recognize George at first because of his beard, but when Maldon realizes it’s George, he seems frightened. George yells at Maldon for letting his daughter die. Robert suspects Maldon had a history of mistreating his daughter.

A little boy runs up and starts talking to Maldon. George tells the boy, “I am your father…Will you love me?” The boy says he does not know George and that he only loves his grandpa. Maldon admits that Little Georgey has a temper, since he’s been spoiled.

Maldon tells George how after George abandoned the family, they moved to Southampton, where Helen taught piano until her health declined.

George says Little Georgey should stay with Maldon. George says he will return to Australia as soon as possible. Maldon seems eager for him to leave. Robert thinks George should stay.

George asks the landlady more questions about his wife. She says Helen didn’t die in poverty and George wonders where Maldon got the money, but is too weary with grief to ask more questions. He and Robert leave, and George makes Robert the legal guardian of Georgey.

George discovers that the next ship to Australia does not leave for another month.  In the meantime, Robert hatches a plan for them to vacation in Russia together. Before leaving, Robert writes to Alicia and receives a letter back asking them to buy a pair of sable fur coats for her “childish and silly” stepmother.