After the baby is born, Armand is "the proudest father"; in fact, he is so happy that he becomes more lenient with his slaves.
As Désirée talks with her mother who pays her a visit, she answers her mother's question about Armand's first reactions upon seeing their baby, declaring that Armand is so proud because his baby is a boy. Apparently, however, Madame Valmondé has seen something in the baby for her to have asked this question. This is something that Désirée already has noticed; for, when the baby was nearly three months old, Désirée sensed that there was something subtle "menacing her peace." There were many far-off neighbors who came to see the baby, and her husband does not look her in the eye anymore.
He absented himself from home; and when there, avoided her presence and that of her child, without excuse. And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves. Désirée was miserable enough to die.
When a quadroon (one-fourth African) boy who fans her one day, Désirée notices that he bears a strong likeness to her baby, and she begins to understand what has caused others to peer at the child.
“Armand,” she panted once more, clutching his arm, “look at our child. What does it mean? tell me.”
Her husband bluntly tells her that the baby is not white; she is not white. Poor Désirée believes him because she was a foundling. But, the irony of the story is that it is Armand who is not white. Even though the story of Armand's baby ends badly, when the baby is first born, Armand is happy and sees a happy future.
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