# Chapter XIII explained — Cakes and Ale

> Chapter companion for Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham.

## What happens

The narrator, now a medical student in London, unexpectedly encounters Mrs. Driffield on the Vauxhall Bridge Road. She greets him warmly, and they walk to her home in Limpus Road, where he meets Edward Driffield again. The Driffields have established themselves in a furnished house, and Edward is now a literary editor. The narrator is invited to visit on Saturdays, marking the beginning of a new phase in their acquaintance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Memory and Nostalgia

The narrator reflects on his past in Blackstable and the changes in his perception of the Driffields.

### Social Class and Snobbery

The narrator's initial embarrassment about the Driffields' unpaid bills and his observation of their 'decayed respectability' highlight class sensitivities.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Now a medical student, he is surprised by the encounter and initially embarrassed by the Driffields' past, but soon adopts a more relaxed attitude.

### Rosie Driffield

She is cheerful and unashamed about their flight from Blackstable, and the narrator notices for the first time that she is pretty.

### Edward Driffield

He has shaved his beard, now wears a moustache and imperial, and appears more distinguished. He is now literary editor of a weekly paper.

### Mrs. Hudson

The narrator has been living with her for nearly two years, but she does not appear in this chapter.

## Key lines

> I was embarrassed. With my lamentably Victorian notions of honesty I had been much shocked by the Driffields’ behaviour in running away from Blackstable without paying their bills.

I felt ashamed because I had strict, old-fashioned ideas about honesty, and I was shocked that the Driffields had left Blackstable without settling their debts.

_The narrator's moral discomfort reflects the theme of hypocrisy and reputation._

> I noticed as we walked along that sometimes the men who passed us stared at Mrs. Driffield. It occurred to me presently that they must think her pretty too. I began to walk with a certain swagger.

I saw that men on the street looked at Mrs. Driffield, and I realized they found her attractive as well. This made me walk with more confidence.

_The narrator's pride in being seen with an attractive woman hints at his youthful vanity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cakes_and_ale_se/chapters/xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cakes_and_ale_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cakes_and_ale_se/chapters