The test of their marriage having past, they can now connect as a couple again. In fact, this is the most physically intimate moment of their relationship that we see. It is based on a vision of San Tomé that, for the moment, seems to serve both his ideal of material redemption and her ideal of social altruism. In this romantic alliance Charles is the dominant force (his head is higher) and claims Emily possessively (his arm around her) as a requirement, his spurs even providing a symbolic jingle of conquest.