When the two fathers, Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis, meet for the first time, both of them are bereft, both of them are grieving. Jarvis, however, has mellowed and changed. When Kumalo first appears, Jarvis is very kind and considerate of the old man's suffering. It is important to note that at this moment, Jarvis does not know that Kumalo is related to Absalom. But more important is that earlier, Jarvis would not have acted so kindly to any black man. Now he has changed and can recognize the great suffering in Kumalo's face even before he knows who Kumalo really is.
After Kumalo confesses that it was his son who killed Arthur, Mr. Jarvis tells Kumalo that there is no anger in him. Thus, the anger that Jarvis previously held has been modified by reading and understanding his son's views. Jarvis mentions his son to Kumalo, and the old minister says that there was a brightness in Arthur, a statement that touches Mr. Jarvis.
After they have talked, Jarvis performs a small act of kindness for Kumalo. When the niece says that she doesn't care what happened to the servant girl, Jarvis translates it simply that the niece does not know. He has gained a compassion and understanding that will lead him to perform the charitable acts in the remaining parts of the novel.
