A Pair of Blue Eyes · Chapter
XXIV explained
Stephen waits for Elfride at the churchyard at the appointed hour, but she never arrives.
What happens
Stephen waits for Elfride at the churchyard at the appointed hour, but she never arrives. After hearing her laugh with another man at her house, he retreats in despair and later finds that she has returned his deposit-note for two hundred pounds, signaling a complete change in her attitude toward him.
Themes in this chapter
Jealousy and Possessiveness
Stephen's gnawing pain upon hearing Elfride's laugh with another man highlights his jealousy.
Fate and Coincidence
The missed meeting and the return of the deposit-note suggest a fateful turn in Stephen's relationship with Elfride.
Characters to notice
- Stephen Smith
Waits anxiously for Elfride at the churchyard, hears her laugh with another man, and discovers she has returned his money.
- Elfride Swancourt
Fails to meet Stephen as promised; her laugh is heard from the house with another man.
- John Smith
Mentioned as the owner of the riverside cottage from which Stephen departs.
- Martin Cannister
Referenced as the sexton who shaped the graves in the churchyard.
- Felix Jethway
His tomb is noted in the churchyard, reminding Stephen of Elfride's past.
Key passages
“There are disappointments which wring us, and there are those which inflict a wound whose mark we bear to our graves.”
Some disappointments are temporary, while others leave a permanent scar.
Reflects Stephen's deep emotional pain from Elfride's absence.
“Bodily activity will sometimes take the sting out of anxiety as completely as assurance itself.”
Physical movement can relieve anxiety as effectively as certainty.
Explains Stephen's decision to travel to Birmingham to distract himself.