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In the midst of this vexed moment, a timid Polly enters Mr. Doran’s room in great distress and threatens to end her life out of unhappiness. She proceeds to fling her arms around Mr. Doran’s neck, crying, “O Bob! Bob! What am I to do? What am I to do at all?” Mr. Doran attempts to comfort Polly, assuring her that everything will be alright, but he continues to angst over the situation internally. He adamantly feels that he is not entirely to blame for the situation because Polly also used to flirt with him. With Polly in his arms, Mr. Doran begins to remember how he was bewitched by Polly’s beauty and kindness. He then recalls how the two of them used to sit in the kitchen together when he returned home late and how they used to linger on the third landing before kissing each other goodnight. He also reminisces about how she used to knock on his door late at night under the guise of asking him to relight her candle. He has many fond and pleasurable memories of Polly but he still acknowledges that “the sin was there,” which causes him to worry again. Mr. Doran still wavers about his decision as he holds Polly and reflects on their many encounters.
Mr. Doran continues to comfort Polly and contemplate his own future until he is broken out of his reverie by the arrival of Mary who calls Mr. Doran down to meet with Mrs. Mooney. He finishes getting dressed as he continues to console Polly but his efforts do not do much to lift her spirits. Mr. Doran leaves Polly in his room to go meet with her mother and Polly remains on his bed, crying and moaning the phrase “O my god” softly to herself. Mr. Doran heads downstairs and his unease is heightened when he passes Jack on the stairs carrying two bottles of Bass. His run-in with Jack increases his frazzled state because he recalls the violent way that Jack defended his sister’s honor after one of the boarders made an insinuating comment about her. With that image in mind, Mr. Doran goes to find Mrs. Mooney.
After Mr. Doran leaves his room, Polly rests on the bed and continues to cry for a while. She eventually ceases her sobbing and neatens her appearance with the help of Mr. Doran’s mirror. After she has erased any evidence of her tears, she nestles back into Mr. Doran’s bed, dreaming of her possible future with him and recalling the other times that she has been a resident of this bed. Finally, Mrs. Mooney interrupts the reverie by calling to her daughter. Mr. Doran, according to Mrs. Mooney, wants to speak with Polly.
