# XXV explained — Amaryllis at the Fair > Chapter companion for Amaryllis at the Fair by Richard Jefferies. ## What happens Amaryllis prays daily at her window-niche, bringing flowers from the woods and fields, and pours out a heartfelt prayer for her mother's health and happiness, her father's relief from debt and overwork, and for the family's financial stability. After praying, she recalls a recurring dream of fire in the thatch, which she interprets as a possible omen of disaster. She then goes downstairs to find two visitors: Amadis Iden and Alere Flamma. ## Themes in this chapter ### Family Conflict and Misunderstanding Amaryllis prays for her mother to understand her father's intentions and for her grandfather to be kinder, revealing underlying family tensions. ### Social Class and Money The chapter is dominated by concerns over debt, creditors, inheritance, and the lack of money for basic comforts. ### The Passage of Time and Loss Amaryllis notes her father's aging, her mother's declining health, and the grey hairs and lost youth, emphasizing the toll of time. ## Character check-ins ### Amaryllis Iden Spends time in prayer at the window-niche, bringing flowers; prays for her parents' well-being; recalls a recurring dream about fire in the thatch; goes downstairs to greet visitors. ### Mrs. Iden Subject of Amaryllis's prayer; Amaryllis wishes for her health, happiness, and relief from financial strain. ### Mr. Iden Subject of Amaryllis's prayer; she prays for his debts to be paid, his work to lessen, and for him to receive the farm; also appears in Amaryllis's dream fighting the fire. ### Grandfather Iden Mentioned in Amaryllis's prayer; she asks that he be kinder to her father and give him the farm. ### Amadis Iden Arrives as a visitor from Iden Court, carrying a portmanteau. ### Old Flamma Arrives as a visitor from London, carrying an old carpetbag. ## Key lines > Though the portfolio was pushed aside and dust had gathered on the table, except where her arm touched it, Amaryllis came daily, and often twice a day, to her flowers to pray. Amaryllis neglected her drawing portfolio and instead visited her flowers daily, sometimes twice a day, to pray. _Shows her shift from art to prayer and devotion._ > Her prayer was deeper than words and was not put in language, but came rushing through her heart;⁠— Her prayer was wordless and emotional, flowing directly from her heart. _Highlights the intensity and sincerity of her supplication._ > When Amaryllis rose from her knees her face was quite white, emotion had taken away her colour, and tears were thick on her cheek. After praying, Amaryllis was pale and tear-streaked from the emotional intensity. _Illustrates the physical toll of her deep concern for her parents._ > If it did not come true of the house itself, perhaps it would of the family, and of their affairs; perhaps it signified that the fire of debt, and poverty, and misfortune would burn them, as it were, to the ground. She feared the dream of fire might symbolize the destructive impact of debt and poverty on her family. _Connects the recurring dream to her anxieties about financial ruin._ > Soon afterwards she went downstairs, and on the lower flight paused, to listen to voices⁠—not those of her mother and Iden⁠—creditors, doubtless, come to cry aloud, “Pay me that thou owest!”⁠—the very sum and total of religion. She paused on the stairs, fearing the voices were creditors demanding payment, which she bitterly equates with the essence of religion. _Reveals her cynical view of the relentless pressure from creditors._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters