The chapter opens with the husband kissing his wife as she wakes, describing the kiss as part of a carefully maintained illusion he has kept for four years. He explains that he manages small, routine gestures so she will not question larger truths he is hiding. He reflects on how the morning ritual—embracing, exchanging "I love you"—preserves appearances.

As he dresses, he notes the bright February sky and feels a surge of hope, sensing that his time in this "stultifying, unsatisfying" situation is nearing its end. He then casually tells his wife he will speak to "George," whom he identifies to her as his financial advisor, though he admits to the reader that George is fictional. He claims George recommends increasing their pension contributions by one or two thousand pounds, part of a fabricated plan for a shared future.

His wife hesitates, saying cash is tight after paying for his knee surgery. The husband reacts internally with tension but presses the point, calling her "darling" and urging her to prioritize their future and the security of pensions. He emphasizes how hard they both work and the need for a safety net, manipulating her emotions and their imagined life together.

He details the fantasy he has sold her: selling her current house, moving to the Algarve, her painting while he potters, and her children visiting, leaving behind their present drudgery. He admits the picture is so exquisite that he almost wishes it were real, even as he confirms to the reader it is a lie used to secure compliance.

She sighs and agrees to try, and he notes this as acquiescence. In closing, he calls her his "darling wife who would do anything" for him, revealing his satisfaction at her willingness to provide money and his confidence in her devotion, even as he continues to deceive her.