A Popular Schoolgirl · Chapter
The Rivals explained
Ingred's jealousy of Bess Haselford spoils her enjoyment of a walking tour.
What happens
Ingred's jealousy of Bess Haselford spoils her enjoyment of a walking tour. A botanical dispute over bugle versus self-heal ends with Miss Strong confirming Bess is correct, humiliating Ingred. Later, Ingred fails to warn Bess about a dangerous mare with a foal, but when Bess wanders into the forbidden meadow, Ingred risks her own safety to rescue her. The chapter ends with the group enjoying tea at the Pelican Inn.
Themes in this chapter
Competition and Emulation
Ingred's jealousy of Bess's popularity, musical talent, and social standing drives much of the chapter's conflict.
Personal Growth and Self-Control
Ingred struggles with her temper and jealousy, but ultimately acts selflessly to rescue Bess.
Resilience in Adversity
Both girls show quick thinking and courage when threatened by the mare.
Characters to notice
- Ingred Saxon
Struggles with jealousy of Bess; humiliated in botanical dispute; rescues Bess from the mare.
- Bess Haselford
Correctly identifies bugle; wanders into dangerous meadow; rescued by Ingred.
- Miss Strong
Settles the botanical argument; warns about the mare; leads the walking party.
- Kitty Saunders
Giggles at Ingred's mistake; reports cowslips.
- Linda Slater
Takes the disputed flower to Miss Strong for identification.
- Verity Richmond
Walks with Ingred in silence; is tired.
- Francie Hall
Giggles with Kitty at Ingred's expense.
Key passages
“Ingred had been very passionate as a child, and, though she had learnt to put on the curb, sometimes that uncomfortable lower self would take the bit between its teeth and gallop away with her.”
Ingred had a hot temper as a child, and even though she learned to control it, sometimes her worse nature broke free.
Introduces Ingred's internal struggle with jealousy.
“She considered it rough luck that her supplanter should be at the same school and in the same form as herself, and decided that Bess had ousted her from both house and favor.”
She thought it was unfair that the girl who replaced her at Rotherwood was in her class, and felt Bess had taken her home and her popularity.
Explains Ingred's resentment toward Bess.
“Nobody likes to be sat upon too hard, however, and even the proverbial worm will turn at last.”
No one enjoys being treated harshly, and even the meekest person will eventually fight back.
Foreshadows Bess's defiance in the botanical argument.
“She saw strangers in her territory; her primeval instinct was to protect her foal, and she came tearing across the field with wild eyes and lip turned back from gleaming teeth.”
The mare saw intruders and, driven by a primal urge to defend her foal, charged at them furiously.
Climactic moment of danger during the rescue.
“The love of travel is in the blood of both Celt and Anglo-Saxon; our forefathers visited shrines for the joy of the journey as well as for religious motives.”
The desire to travel is deeply rooted in British heritage; ancestors made pilgrimages both for faith and for the pleasure of the trip.
Reflects on the timeless appeal of travel.
