As Mrs Van Hopper recovers the companion grows more unhappy. She has fallen in love with Maxim, but he is too old, too well off and grand, to pay much attention to a "child" like her... and she's afraid that her employer will find out that she has been spending her time with him...
Then Mrs Van Hopper gets a wire to say that her daughter has to return to America, and she decides to go back with her, so she urges her companion to get their things packed and to plan for a voyage to the US. The companion is very upset, since she knows she may not even have time to say goodbye to him. She manages to find a few minutes to go to his suite and tells him that they are going to America and wont be back in Europe for some time.. and he takes her breath away by asking her to marry him. She is shocked as she never seriously believed that he might be attracted to her, and while she regards herself as a cut above Mrs Van Hopper socially, she knows that she's not on the same level as him, in terms of class. Amazed but happy, she accepts his proposal. He suggests that they marry quickly and privately in France and go on honeymoon to Italy.
Mrs Van Hopper is not pleased to find that her companion is leaving her at such short notice and is making a marriage far above what might be expected. She reminds her that she has always been shy and awkward and asks how she thinks she'll manage to become the hostess in a grand home like Manderley. She further upsets her by a spiteful parting remark that Maxim is clearly marrying again so suddenly because he is desperately missing his wife and wants someone to look after him and be a companion to him in England.....
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