Huntingdon has abducted young Arthur and Helen returns to him. In spite of his dissolute behaviour, she nurses him till his death. She agrees to marry faithful Gilbert Markham.

Helen decides to reveal some of her life to Gilbert and gives him her diary to read. He learns about Helen's meeting, marriage and breakdown of marriage to Huntingdon. Later Gilbert sees Huntingdon's carriage come to fetch young Arthur.

A beautiful widow takes up residence in the near-derelict Wildfell Hall. Befriended by a young farmer, she will not tell him about her past, until malicious gossip spreads.