The Governess wakes up to find that his wife has been poisoned and will die within the next few hours. He immediately puts her in the bed, puts the antidote in the hot water, undresses her, and puts her into the water. He tells the Governess to boil the water and tells her to stand guard for him at the door. He then tells her that he is keeping her with him, but that before he accepts her, he must maintain a "sense of decency"