The Lifted Veil

Latimer, his family, and the Filmores complete their tour in Europe and return to their estates in England. That autumn, Bertha and Alfred announce their engagement. Despite this, Bertha continues to spend a lot of time with Latimer, who awaits the event that will break up her engagement and cause Bertha to marry him instead. In November, Latimer notices Alfred leaving the house on a hunting trip. The brothers exchange resentful and sarcastic words, with Latimer saying of his brother's stubbornness and selfishness, “This man needed no pity, no love; those fine influences would have been as little felt by him as the delicate white mist is felt by the rock it caresses” (25). While his brother is away, Latimer walks to the Filmores’ estate to go on a walk with Bertha.

During their walk, Latimer asks Bertha how she can love someone like Alfred. Bertha is amused and responds that she doesn’t love Alfred: “A little quiet contempt contributes greatly to the elegance of life” (26). Upset and forgetting his resolve to keep his powers of insight a secret, Latimer asks Bertha whether she will love him (Latimer) when they are first married. Bertha notices the strange remark and suggests that Latimer go home to rest.