Summary № 4

Robbie contemplates his feelings towards Cecilia. He writes Cecilia an apology letter for breaking the vase. He has trouble doing this, finding the right words, even reaching into his deepest desires and typing sexual wishes to her. Robbie asks Briony to run ahead and pass the note to Cecilia. Briony obliges and runs ahead and into the home with Robbie’s apology note. As she runs off, Robbie realizes he has mistakenly placed the wrong letter in the envelope. Briony passes the letter to her sister, but she have read at first. The girl was shoked, she tells Lola about it, and they describes Robbie as a "Maniac". Then Briony enters the library and discovers Robbie and Cecilia pinned up in the corner. Her perception is that of an attack and that her sister is being held there against her will. Briony is sure that Robby is a criminal. 

Twins runs away from home and when search parties are organized, Briony is searching for the twins on her own. She finds Lola,who was in the process of being raped. Briony realizes Lola doesn’t know who it was, creating an opening for her to plant the notion that it had to be “the maniac.”As they walk to the house, Briony tells everyone thaat she know exactly that Robbie is guilty. Robbie is arrested and soon jailed for rape. Everybody breakes with Robbie, except his mother and Cecilia.