After he embraces Tess, Angel reflects on what to do. He respects and cares for Tess; in his eyes, “[S]he was no insignificant creature to toy with and dismiss; but a woman living her precious life” (172). He knows that if he continues to spend time with her, it will be hard to resist his attraction to her, and he decides to take a few days away from the dairy to gain some perspective and talk with people he trusts about the possibility of marrying Tess. When Tess and the others learn that Angel has left the dairy, they become very upset and think that he is likely only a few months away from leaving for good.

Angel arrives back at his home to see his parents and his brothers, who have successful careers as clergymen and academics. After spending so much time around farmers and laborers, Angel now seems out of place with his conservative family, and they worry that he is losing his social graces. For his part, Angel is annoyed with what he perceives as his family’s narrow-mindedness and snobbery.