Again, the parallels between Walter Hargrave and Gilbert Markham are striking. Like Gilbert, Walter is in awe of the beauty of the scene when he comes across Helen with her son (and flowers are present as well). But this is where the similarity ends. As a friend of Arthur’s, Walter is tainted in Helen’s eyes, especially since he seems to be in the know about Arthur’s planned-on return date. Her optimism at this point strains belief—she still thinks she can change Arthur by scolding him as a mother would.