Mrs. Moore chastises him for being self-satisfied, and reminds him that God is love, and that God wants him to be kind. Ronny is uncomfortable about religion, and Mrs. Moore regrets that the conversation has shifted away from Adela.
Aziz does not attend the party, which occurs on the anniversary of his wife's death. When he recovers from his grief, he borrows Hamidullah's pony, and goes to play polo with a British subaltern. He has an enjoyable time, but encounters an angry man named Dr. Panna Lal, who is irritated that Aziz was not home that morning. Aziz tries to be polite, but is irritated by the man, and insults him. The encounter leaves him in bad spirits, but he is immeasurably cheered when he returns home and receives an invitation from Mr. Fielding to take tea with him the day after tomorrow.
Book I, Chapters 7-11 .
Dr. Aziz goes to the college to take tea with Fielding, Adela, and Mrs. Moore. The group gets along very well--Fielding and Aziz in particular seem destined to be friends--and chats lightly about India. The ladies agree to call on Aziz, but he suddenly recalls that his bungalow is shamefully unkempt, and suggests that they meet at the Marabar Caves. Adela and Mrs. Moore are delighted. Mrs. Moore leaves with Fielding to look at the college, and Adela chats with Aziz and another visitor, the Brahman Professor Godbole. Ronny arrives to take Adela and Mrs. Moore to a polo match; he is rude to the Indians, and stiffly accuses Fielding of having been negligent in leaving Adela alone with them. The tea-party breaks up unpleasantly; everyone is irritated, all their nerves on edge. Before they go, Professor Godbole sings a haunting song, but Ronny walks off in the middle of it. .
After having observed Ronny in his tropical environment, Adela has decided not to marry him, and tells him so at the polo match. He is hurt, but still acts kindly to her, and Adela is touched by his understanding.