Bertram Cope’s Year · Chapter
XXI: Cope, Safeguarded, Calls Again explained
Cope returns from Freeford with Lemoyne, and his engagement to Amy Leffingwell becomes known.
What happens
Cope returns from Freeford with Lemoyne, and his engagement to Amy Leffingwell becomes known. He makes a tense visit to Mrs. Phillips' house on a stormy night, accompanied by Lemoyne, who acts protectively and possessively. The evening includes singing, piano playing, and interactions with other guests, including the French historian M. Pelouse. Mrs. Phillips and Foster observe Lemoyne's familiarities with Cope, and Amy remains distant, paired with George Pearson.
Themes in this chapter
Performance and Artifice
Lemoyne and Cope perform a song with elaborate expressiveness; Lemoyne consciously acts on the social stage.
Unrequited and Ambiguous Desire
Lemoyne's proprietary gestures toward Cope and Mrs. Phillips' emotional reaction to Cope's singing suggest unspoken tensions.
Social Manipulation and Patronage
Mrs. Phillips orchestrates the evening with 'types' to entertain her French guest, and Foster and Randolph discuss Cope's situation.
Characters to notice
- Bertram Cope
Returns from Freeford engaged to Amy; visits Mrs. Phillips with Lemoyne, singing and displaying animation.
- Arthur Lemoyne
Accompanies Cope, acts proprietary and protective, sings and plays piano, draws notice for familiarities.
- Medora Phillips
Hosts the evening, observes Lemoyne's behavior, feels emotional during Cope's singing.
- Amy Leffingwell
Engaged to Cope but remains distant during the visit, paired with George Pearson.
- Joe Foster
Wheels in to hear the singing, later comments on Lemoyne's familiarities to Randolph.
- George F. Pearson
Present as a 'young American business man,' in evening dress, rivals Lemoyne for attention, praises Amy's violin playing.
Key passages
“If Cope came back from Freeford with the moral support of one family, Amy Leffingwell came back from Fort Lodge with the moral support of another.”
Cope and Amy each returned to Churchton backed by their respective families.
Sets up the engagement announcement.
“Cope had written from Freeford, explaining to Randolph the broken dinner-engagement: at least he had said that immediate concerns of importance had driven the date from his mind, and that he was sorry.”
Cope apologized to Randolph by letter for missing dinner, citing urgent matters.
Shows Cope's attempt to mend social obligations.
“Lemoyne felt the big bare room... as a stage; and he surmised that he, the newcomer, was expected to exhibit himself on it.”
Lemoyne saw the room as a performance space and knew he was meant to entertain.
Highlights Lemoyne's self-awareness and theatricality.
“Mrs. Phillips noticed these minor familiarities and remarked on them to Foster, who had lately wheeled his chair in.”
Mrs. Phillips observed Lemoyne's intimate gestures toward Cope and mentioned them to Foster.
Indicates scrutiny of Lemoyne's behavior.