Soon after this, Osborne comes to visit on a day when both Dr and Mrs Gibson are away. As he is shown into the drawing room, Molly is shocked to see how ill he appears- much worse than the last time she'd seen him. He tells her that he was hoping to find her father at home- he wants Dr Gibson to check him over again. He tells Molly that he thinks there may be something seriously wrong, but sometimes feels so much better that he thinks perhaps that he just fancies himself ill. Alarmed by his appearance and evident weakness, Molly tells him that her father won't be home until late the next day. Osborne says that he's been trying to hide his ill health from his father, and wishes that Roger was home. He then begins to speak of his wife and son, telling Molly about them for the first time. He gives her a paper with their address on it; in Roger's absence, he wants someone he trusts to know how to reach Aimee if something should happen to him.
While out shopping with Miss Phoebe, Molly sees Mr. Preston. She manages to give him Cynthia's letter without Phoebe seeing, but one of the other town ladies sees her- Mrs. Goodenough. Molly hopes that this is the end of the entire affair, but unfortunately it is not.