A Pair of Blue Eyes · Chapter
XL explained
Knight and Stephen, both grieving, travel to Endelstow and learn from Unity the full story of Elfride's marriage to Lord Luxellian and her subsequent death.
What happens
Knight and Stephen, both grieving, travel to Endelstow and learn from Unity the full story of Elfride's marriage to Lord Luxellian and her subsequent death. They attend her funeral and witness Lord Luxellian's profound grief, realizing they have lost her to another.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
Elfride's marriage to Lord Luxellian is portrayed as a practical arrangement that eventually grew into love, contrasting with her earlier romantic attachments.
Jealousy and Possessiveness
Knight and Stephen argue over who had the greater claim to Elfride, each asserting his own right to call her 'his darling.'
Fate and Coincidence
The two men meet again in grief, and their shared loss underscores the ironic twists of fate that led to Elfride's death.
Characters to notice
- Stephen Smith
Travels with Knight to Endelstow, grieving and arguing over who had the greater claim to Elfride.
- Henry Knight
Bitter and remorseful, he blames himself for Elfride's death and confronts Stephen about their respective relationships with her.
- Unity
Now married to Martin Cannister, she recounts the story of Elfride's decline, marriage to Lord Luxellian, and death.
- Lord Luxellian
Seen kneeling in grief beside Elfride's coffin in the vault, he is the bereaved husband.
- Elfride Swancourt
Deceased; her life and death are the central subject of the chapter, as told by Unity.
Key passages
“Has she broken her heart? ... Can it be that I have killed her? I was bitter with her, Stephen, and she has died!”
Knight wonders if his harsh treatment caused Elfride's death and expresses deep guilt.
Knight's remorse over his past cruelty to Elfride.
“Your darling! ... Any man can say that, I suppose; any man can. I know this, she was my darling before she was yours; and after too.”
Stephen challenges Knight's claim to Elfride, asserting his own prior and enduring love.
The rivalry between Knight and Stephen over Elfride's affections.
“Come away. We have no right to be there. Another stands before us—nearer to her than we!”
Knight tells Stephen they must leave the vault because Lord Luxellian, as her husband, has a closer claim to her.
The final acknowledgment that Elfride belonged to another in death.