Cakes and Ale · Chapter
IX explained
The narrator spends his Christmas holidays at the Driffields' house, playing whist with Mrs.
What happens
The narrator spends his Christmas holidays at the Driffields' house, playing whist with Mrs. Driffield, Lord George Kemp, and Mr. Galloway. He enjoys the company and the game, despite the social differences with Lord George, and feels dismay as the holidays end.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Snobbery
The narrator's initial coldness toward Lord George due to social differences, but he grows to like him despite his vulgarity.
Freedom vs. Convention
The narrator's secret visits to the Driffields' house represent a break from the conventional expectations of his uncle and the vicarage.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Spends nearly every day at the Driffields' house during the Christmas holidays, playing whist and enjoying the company.
- Rosie Driffield
Hosts the whist games, plays with natural card sense, and shows a mischievous look at Lord George.
- Lord George Kemp
A regular at the Driffields' whist games, chaffs everyone, and shares a secret with the narrator about their visits.
- Edward Driffield
Sings comic songs and reads books for review while the others play whist.
- Mr. Galloway
Plays whist with the group and is part of the conspiracy of silence about the visits.
Key passages
“I don’t know what we shall do without you,” said Mrs. Driffield. “We shall have to play dummy.””
Mrs. Driffield expresses that they will miss the narrator and will have to play with a dummy hand in his absence.
Shows the narrator's importance to the whist games.
“We’ll have a lovely time then,” said Mrs. Driffield. “The weather ought to be all right. We can ride in the mornings and then after tea we’ll play whist.”
Mrs. Driffield looks forward to the Easter holidays, planning rides and whist games.
Highlights the anticipated continuation of their activities.