Rowland's recovery and new life

After his discharge, Rowland is penniless and homeless. He begins by fishing, trading, and selling his catch. He saves enough to buy second-hand clothes and a barber's services. He finds work as a tally clerk, then as an envelope addresser. He passes a Civil Service examination and, two years later, is appointed to a lucrative government position. He declares that his future is his own and that he has overcome his past mistakes. This period shows Rowland's complete rehabilitation and his rise from the depths of despair.