The Woman in White: The Third Epoch: Part 3, Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Walter arrives in London late that night and is relieved to see Marian and Laura safe and well. It is clear that Marian has not told Laura the reason for their move or about Sir Percival’s death, and Laura seems perfectly happy and content. When Laura has gone to bed, Walter and Marian sit down to talk, and Marian tells him that she has seen Count Fosco.

Marian tells Walter that, a few days ago, she looked out of the living room window and saw Count Fosco across the street talking to the owner of the asylum from which Laura had escaped. Fortunately, Laura was involved in her drawing and did not see the Count. Marian thought that he had not seen her, but then she received a note from Count Fosco which asked her to meet him. She agreed to meet him downstairs in the shop beneath their house so that Laura would not see him or hear his voice.

Marian tells Walter that Count Fosco was sickeningly kind towards her. He informed her that he had no interest in pursing them until his own interests were threatened. He takes Sir Percival’s death—which he believes to have been caused by Walter—as a sign that Walter will next come after him and so, now perceiving himself to be under attack, he means to take action. He told Marian that he had originally planned to lead the owner of the asylum to them and have her and Walter arrested. Count Fosco then told Marian that he changed his mind at the last moment because of his strong feelings for Marian; sentiments which she is repulsed by. He could not bear to cause her grief by separating her from Laura again.

Marian tells Walter that after Count Fosco left, she decided to leave the house immediately and find a new one in an unknown neighborhood. Walter can see that her meeting with Count Fosco has shaken her and he promises that he has not forgotten the vow he made in Mr. Kyrle’s office: that he will restore Laura’s identity and kill the men who are behind the conspiracy. He decides that he should tell Laura about her husband’s death. Marian trusts his judgement and agrees.

After Marian’s meeting with Count Fosco, they do not see or hear from him again. Walter returns to his work at the engravers shop and privately continues his investigations, but keeps this from Marian and Laura so that he does not worry them anymore. He enquires about the house Count Fosco has rented and learns that the Count has let the house until the following summer. He also goes to see Mrs. Clements again—as he promised he would—and tells her the truth about Anne’s death. This interview reminds him that he still does not know who Anne’s father is, and he sets about trying to solve this mystery.

Walter writes to Major Donthorne at Varneck Hall—where Mrs. Catherick worked as a maid in her youth—and asks if he knows Sir Percival, and asks some other questions about the Fairlie family. Walter does not know if Major Donthorne is still alive or not and is pleasantly surprised to receive an enthusiastic and helpful letter from the Major. The Major writes that he has never met Sir Percival and that Sir Percival has never been to Varneck Hall, where he lives. Mr. Philip Fairlie though, Laura’s father, was a close friend of the Major’s and came to Varneck Hall often. He was there in the year when Mrs. Catherick worked there and came again with his wife, Laura’s mother.

Walter remembers Mrs. Catherick’s letter, in which she describes Mrs. Fairlie, Laura’s mother, as a “plain woman” and Mr. Philip Fairlie as an extremely handsome man. Walter deduces from this, and Mrs. Catherick’s apparent dislike of Mrs. Fairlie, that she was jealous of her. Anne’s physical resemblance to Laura also convinces him that Mr. Philip Fairlie was Anne’s father and that Anne and Laura were sisters. Walter thinks sadly about the way in which Laura and Anne paid for the mistakes and secrets of their parents. He remembers Anne’s wish that she could be buried in the tomb with Mrs. Fairlie, and thinks mournfully that she finally got her wish.