Lady Audley’s Secret

The next morning, Lady Audley emerges from her chambers dressed in fine clothing, but with a pale face and dark-circles beneath her eyes. At the breakfast table, Alicia wonders if Robert will come visit today. Lady Audley is startled at the casual mention of the name of a man she knows is dead.

Alicia rambles on about Robert’s poor manners. Sir Michael listens thoughtfully, understanding that Alicia insults Robert because she loves him. Sir Michael mentions that he heard Sir Harry is going to the Continent for a yearlong tour. Alicia says Sir Harry mentioned he would travel if his other plans didn’t work out. Alicia says Harry is a good man, unlike Robert. Sir Michael mentions Robert’s troubling behavior, as described by Lady Audley, but Alicia counters that Robert is too lazy to go mad.

Sir Michael contemplates how his beloved wife told him about Robert’s sanity while she was in a state of agitation. He begins to think he has no evidence to suggest Robert is insane, and that for Lady Audley to accuse him of madness, she would have to be mad herself. Then again, he thinks, Robert has been troubled since George’s disappearance, and Robert showed some unreasonableness in not courting Alicia, even though she has expressed her feelings and would be a perfect match for him.

The more Sir Michael thinks, the more he becomes convinced Robert must be mad not to love the pretty, affectionate Alicia, when so many suitors seem to. The narrator points out, however, that love is a mystery, only understood by the individual who suffers from it. Sir Michael cannot see that what some may look for in a partner, others are repulsed by.

Robert does not love Alicia. He appreciates her pretty looks and her affection for him, but he has lost all romantic interest since he met Clara. He is so attached to Clara he cannot even think about another woman. He feels as if all of society is pushing him to love Alicia, but he simply cannot.

After breakfast, Lady Audley locks herself in her room. From her cabinet, she takes out a bottle labeled “Opium–Poison” but decides she doesn’t need to use it now. She anxiously looks in the direction leading to Mount Stanning. Lady Audley tells her maid she has a headache and will lie down.

Lady Audley dreams that every person in the house is knocking on her door to tell her about the fire. When she awakens, she dresses herself in her best silk, despite her misery. She finds Sir Michael asleep, so she asks Alicia to take a walk with her.

Despite her troubled mind, Lady Audley’s appearance is completely composed. She asked Alicia to walk with her because she could not bear to wait inside any longer. She wishes time would stand still. She is still troubled by the dream she had during her nap, about a river connecting Audley Court and Mount Stanning. Then she wishes news of the fire would come and her agony would be over. She continues wishing someone would come and tell Sir Michael that Robert is dead.

Alicia imagines catching a cold on the walk and Robert coming to take care of her in her dying state. Alicia leaves Lady Audley to get dressed for dinner. Night begins to fall, casting shadows over Audley Court. Lady Audley is completely alone until she hears a footstep. She runs to see who it is. She stumbles back and falls to her knees upon discovering it is Robert. He helps her up and leads her inside.