The Governess tells Isabel that he has witnessed a terrible epidemic in the town, and that he will return to help the sick children as soon as he can. Isabel asks why the painting never got sent, and the Governess replies that she was afraid of him for so long, but now she can see that he wasn't really that bad. She asks him if he has any idea what is going on in town right now, and he replies that people are "going insane," burning their possessions, and destroying the buildings.