Shirley

It is revealed that Mr. Sympson has come to Fieldhead because he thinks Shirley should marry, and he proposes an engagement with a local man whose family has come to visit. Shirley, however, does not want anyone else to decide who she will marry and is vehemently against the idea, promising only to marry for love. Three more men come forward to propose while Sympson is at Fieldhead. While she was away during the summer, Shirley and the Sympsons had met Sir Phillip Nunnely, a baronet of a nearby estate, who has also come to Fieldhead. Mr. Sympson now hopes they will marry but, although Shirley likes him, she does not want to marry him.

Yorke tells Louis to write to Robert and tell him that he should propose before Sir Phillip does. Louis had not known Robert or Shirley had intentions to marry one another and is surprised. Louis then falls ill, and Shirley comes to visit but he denies her admittance. When he is recovering, Louis asks Shirley to read to him. The narrator tells the story of an early woman named Eva and details her genius, paralleling a story Shirley had previously told about Eve, the first woman in the Christian doctrine. Henry tells a story of how Shirley had attempted to leave his father’s house when they were younger but Louis had stopped her by giving her lessons which she enjoyed. The three of them recall old poems the pupils had learned years ago and recite them to one another. The Sympsons return along with Sir Phillip, and Henry teases Shirley about it.

Shirley goes out with her cousins. They ask her if she is ill, and this continues for weeks, despite Shirley’s denials. No one, including Shirley, knows what has caused this change, but she is often seen riding to see her solicitor. Henry is so worried for Shirley he cannot do his schoolwork and tells Louis that Shirley has made her will. Both Louis and Henry think Shirley is being reckless, though Louis does not think that she is actually dying. Louis still worries and tries to speak with her, but she refuses to discuss her health, asserting that she is well. She finally admits that she is nervous because she was bitten by a dog who was supposed to be rabid and was later shot. She makes Louis promise to keep her from hurting anyone and kill her if she does catch rabies. She feels comforted by talking with Louis. They talk more, alluding to how their relationship has changed since Louis has come to Fieldhead and how he wishes she would visit the schoolroom more often. Just as the bell for dinner rings, Shirley mentions that Louis should write to Robert, who has been out of town for several weeks without explanation.

Louis is alone at Fieldhead and he wanders the grounds, seeing Shirley everywhere in her home. He writes in a journal about his feelings for Shirley and also notes how Caroline would be a perfect match for Robert.

Robert finally returns to Yorkshire after the leaders of the mob have been tried, and Yorke meets him on his way home and berates him for not proposing to Shirley. Robert confesses to Yorke that he thought marrying Shirley would be practical and that he liked her but did not love her romantically. He tells him that weeks ago, before leaving, he had seen Shirley and proposed to her, but she rejected him, telling him they both knew he did not love her and he just wanted her for her money. Shirley began to cry and told him that she respected him, but no longer does. He thought her respect for him was love, but she resolutely corrects him. She believes that they could be friends again after a time, once he understands her better.

Robert tells Yorke that he will never propose again unless he is sure he loves the woman. He reiterates to Yorke that their relationship was one of business, not romance. He alludes to his feelings for Caroline and knows he cannot leave her again. He also tells Yorke that his time out of town has led him to think kindlier of his workers. Close to Briarfield, Robert’s horse stops to drink and Robert urges Yorke to go on without him. Robert hears a strange voice beside him just before he is shot. The gunman is a man avenging the rioters Robert had arrested.