# VI: Cope Dines—and Tells About It explained — Bertram Cope’s Year

> Chapter companion for Bertram Cope’s Year by Henry Blake Fuller.

## What happens

Cope writes a long letter to Arthur Lemoyne describing his recent dinner at Mrs. Phillips' mansion. He details the social scene, the other guests, the three young women living in the house, and his interactions with Randolph and Mrs. Phillips. He reflects on his teaching, his social opportunities, and his longing for Lemoyne's presence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Manipulation and Patronage

Cope strategically cultivates influential people like Mrs. Phillips and Randolph, aware of social caste and the benefits of patronage.

### Unrequited and Ambiguous Desire

Cope's letter to Lemoyne is filled with longing and intimate details, suggesting a deep emotional bond and unspoken desire.

### Performance and Artifice

Cope hires a dress suit, recites poetry, and dances to perform his social role; the evening is a series of staged entertainments.

## Character check-ins

### Bertram Cope

Writes a letter to Arthur Lemoyne describing his dinner at Mrs. Phillips' and his social life.

### Arthur Lemoyne

Recipient of Cope's letter; Cope expresses missing him and discusses his own social activities.

### Medora Phillips

Hostess of the dinner; a rich widow of forty-odd, vivacious and active.

### Basil Randolph

A middle-aged guest at the dinner; Cope finds him easy, pleasant, and a little shy.

### Hortense Dunton

One of the three girls living in Mrs. Phillips' house; an artist who paints portraits.

### Amy Leffingwell

One of the three girls; a musician who plays the violin and is an instructor at the school of music.

## Key lines

> If there were only one more, muttered Cope, looking at the pile of sheets under the gas-globe, I should probably learn that Chaucer derived from Beaumont and Fletcher.

Cope sarcastically comments on a student's poor grasp of literary chronology.

_Shows Cope's frustration with his students' ignorance._

> I danced—once—with each of the three girls, and twice with my hostess; then I let Ryder and the two young businessmen do the rest.

Cope describes his limited dancing at the party, deferring to others.

_Highlights Cope's social strategy and self-awareness._

> I wish you had been there instead of Ryder. If you are really going to be twenty-seven in November—as I figure it—you might yourself have served as a connecting link between youth and age.

Cope tells Lemoyne he would have preferred his company over Ryder's.

_Expresses Cope's emotional reliance on Lemoyne._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/vi-cope-dines-and-tells-about-it
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters