Lucy decides to end her engagement with Cecil. She confronts him about their differences and her belief that they are not suited for each other. Lucy is more angry than sorry, and her voice shows it. She tells Cecil that her education is not good enough, she won't be able to talk to his friends, and she doesn't think she'll behave as his wife should. Cecil is bewildered and not even angry, but he tries to understand her reasons.
Lucy becomes frustrated with Cecil's dignified behaviour, as she had hoped for a petty reaction to make the breakup easier. She accuses him of not allowing her to be herself and shielding her from the truth. Cecil, realizing the truth in her words, thanks her for showing him his true self and asks for her forgiveness. They part ways amicably, with Cecil believing in Lucy's ideals and strength.
As Lucy contemplates her decision, she believes she could never marry and must be one of the women who care for liberty and not for men. She pushes away thoughts of George, who had helped her come to this realization. Lucy joins the "armies of the benighted," who follow neither their hearts nor their brains and march towards their destiny guided by catch-words. This army is full of pleasant and pious people, but they have sinned against passion and truth, leading to a life of hypocrisy, cynicism, and discomfort. Lucy enters this army when she lies to George about not loving him and lies to Cecil about not loving anyone else. The night receives her, much like it had received Miss Bartlett thirty years before.
