Fay Compton

Fleur begs her father to go to Robin Hill and intercede on her behalf. Once in Irene's company, Soames becomes overcome with feelings about the past. Defending his mother, Jon turns against Soames and shuns Fleur. Heartsick and blaming her father, Fleur shuts herself away until her mother returns home and counsels her to be more practical about marriage.

Having already declared their love for each other, Fleur and Jon wonder about the secret that divides their families. Soames arranges a house party to distract Fleur and pairs her with the dashing Michael Mont for tennis. To please his father, Jon reluctantly agrees to accompany his mother on a three-month holiday abroad, but Irene cuts the trip short when she realizes that the separation from Fleur has only strengthened Jon's feelings for her. Crushed to discover that the flirtatious Profond has turned his attentions to another married woman, Winifred berates Dartie for his years of drinking and gambling.

With the war preparations looming, Winifred takes Dartie back, but he soon returns to his old habits. Winifred goes to her mother for comfort, and Emily responds in the only way she knows. When the Forsytes all gather to see Val and Jolly off to South Africa, only Jolyon manages an honest display of emotion. Soames continues to employ detectives to follow Irene, but even his employees no longer believe that he is only interested in evidence for a divorce. He tracks Irene down in Paris and makes another futile attempt to bring her home. As Irene and Jolyon begin to build a future together, Soames lets go of his obsession with Irene and moves on. With Annette, his dream of a son and heir seems finally within his grasp.

Seven years pass and Soames, at 45, has found some hope of happiness with Annette, a young French girl. But he cannot marry again because he is still married to Irene. After a terrible row with Dartie, who has begun stealing her jewelry to give to his girlfriends, Winifred takes Soames' advice to seek a divorce as quickly and quietly as possible. Soames pursues his own divorce, but a visit to Irene at her Chelsea flat leaves him desperate to have her back again. Alarmed, she flees to Paris, followed by Soames' hated cousin Jolyon, who is falling in love with Irene himself. In the younger generation, love stirs between the opposing sides of the family. The boys, Val and Jolly, impulsively enlist to fight in the Boer War.