Mr. Bell writes to her to say that Mr. Thornton came to Oxford for the interment. Edith's husband Captain Lennox is also there and means to go to Milton afterwards to take Margaret and his mother-in-law back to London. Mr. Bell also gives her some financial advice in the letter, assuring her that she need not worry about being dependent on her relations. He says that he has made her sole heiress of his considerable wealth and properties and, anticipating that she will protest this, writes that he has no other family and that she will be making an old man happy.
Dear Sir- The accompanying book I am sure will be valued by you for the sake of my father, to whom it belonged.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Hale
The next morning, Margaret is feeling stronger and tells her disapproving Aunt that she wishes to visit a few friends to say good-bye. Aunt Shaw insists on coming with her, but Margaret talks her into staying in the carriage at the Higgins', knowing she would be shocked by the house and children and ruin the visit. When Margaret arrives, Nicholas is out so she talks a while with Mary, who is distraught at the news that Margaret is leaving. Margaret asks if she can take something to remember Bessy by and, at Mary's tearful assent, chooses the little cup that stood on the table by Bessy's bed.
After leaving the Higgins' house, Margaret steels herself to call on Mrs. Thornton, whom she hasn't seen since the disastrous visit during which Mrs. Thornton castigated her behaviour and they exchanged angry words. She and Aunt Shaw are shown into the drawing room and eventually Mrs. Thornton joins them. Her attitude towards Margaret has thawed, as she genuinely regrets the girl's loss of family. Also, as Margaret is going away, she will no longer be- Mrs. Thornton feels- an enticement and distraction for John. When she sees Margaret's pale, drawn face and hears her shaky voice, Mrs. Thornton's manner becomes almost gentle. Margaret introduces her aunt to Mrs. Thornton and then says that she is leaving Milton the following day and wishes to both thank Mrs. Thornton for her kindness and apologise for the angry words she spoke at their last meeting. She also asks that Mrs. Thornton believe that, though she cannot explain her actions, she did not behave in the unseemly fashion which Mrs. Thornton thinks. Disarmed by Margaret's gentle, grief-laden voice and manner, Mrs. Thornton finds herself believing this and, accepting Margaret's apology, says that they will speak no more of it.
The following morning, Captain Lennox arrives to escort them to London, bringing with him the news that Edith has had a baby boy. Dixon tells Margaret that Nicholas Higgins is in the kitchen, wanting to see her. She immediately goes to meet him; he tells her how sorry he is about her father and says the reason he didn't come sooner to see her was because he figured her aunt wouldn't let him in the door. He also tells her that it was Mr. Thornton who informed him the other day that she would be moving to London and advised him to visit as soon as possible if he wanted to see her. Margaret gives Higgins her father's Bible, saying that Mr. Hale would want him to have it and read it, for his sake. She also gives Nicholas some money, which he refuses to take. She tells him though, that it's not for him but for Boucher's children, asking him to accept it for her sake. He does so and they say their good-byes. Margaret is unhappy to think that they will probably never meet again, but comforted by the thought that at least the Higgins family will remember and miss her as a friend.