Peter's wife, Marion, is becoming increasingly jealous of the time her husband is spending at his parent's home. What with children to look after and her unhealthy aversion to disease, she hasn't been to the house in months. She finds it hard to understand their way of coping; it seems insensitive, even morbid. But she is the only one who has felt able to answer June's letters.

When June arrives unannounced, they are shocked but overjoyed. Slowly it emerges that June's marriage has failed. Miles wants his daughter to stay with them, but as far as June can see, her father hasn't changed: 'You'd like to look me in the eye and say, "I told you so! I told you so!"' Eventually, the old bitterness and unresolved differences drive her away for the second time. Ten days later, when things are calmer, Peter returns to the house with the news that Marion is pregnant and hands his father June's telephone number. She wants to be reconciled with him. Miles reacts with deliberate and conspicuous indifference, but when Jessie and Peter leave him for a few moments, he tries shakily and unwisely to move his wheelchair towards the telephone.