Henry has, in the past, incurred debts that the squire had paid off, been "sent away from Oxford", and generally made a poor impression on his occasional visits to Llanfeare.

Isabel rejects her uncle's suggestion that she solve his dilemma by marrying Henry, as she cannot stand her cousin.

Finding the document hidden in a book of sermons by accident, Henry vacillates between keeping silent and revealing its location.

He is neither good enough to give up the estate nor evil enough to burn the document, fearing disgrace, a long jail sentence and, not least, eternal damnation.

Because he did not destroy the will, Henry is permitted to return to his job in London with his reputation intact and £4000, the amount Isabel was bequeathed in the previous will.