Tenant of Wildfell Hall Part III

Gilbert is unhappy and worried that there is gossip about Helen... but then she gets news that her husband is very ill. In spite of her anger towards him, she feels it is her duty to go and see him. He has been drinking very heavily and his health is seriously damaged. He was injured in a fall from a horse, and now, he is dying of gangrene. He is frightened of death but Helen wants him to repent. She tries to be kind to him, but he is very ill and afraid. He dies, and she inherits Grassdale Manor on behalf of her son. The estate is in poor shape because Arthur was extravagant and a bad landlord, but Helen's uncle dies soon afterwards and leaves her a fortune. Gilbert visits, and hears that there is a wedding in the local church. He is upset that Helen is now pretty well off and he is only a gentleman farmer. He feels that he has no hope of marrying her and now it appears that she is marrying someone else. He goes to the church, but he finds that it is her brother who is there, getting married. Frederick is marrying Esther Hargreave, the sister of Millicent who has been a long term friend of Helen's. He speaks to Helen and finds that she still loves him, and they plan to marry. Some of Huntingdon's friends reform, shocked by his horrible death. Millicent's husband gives up drinking and Lord Lowborough gets a divorce from his wife and she is left badly off. He gives up drinking and opium and he reforms. He then marries a plain middle aged woman who makes him happy. Helen and Gilbert are also a happy couple and young Arthur grows up under their care.