Cakes and Ale · Chapter
XIX explained
Six months after the success of 'The Cup of Life', the narrator receives a telegram from Mrs.
What happens
Six months after the success of 'The Cup of Life', the narrator receives a telegram from Mrs. Barton Trafford urgently requesting his presence. At her flat, he learns from Allgood Newton that Rosie Driffield has run away with Lord George Kemp. The group, concerned for Edward Driffield's welfare, persuades the narrator to travel to Blackstable to gather information about the situation.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Reputation
The characters' concern for Edward Driffield's reputation and the careful management of the scandal reflects the social importance of appearances.
Love and Sexuality
Rosie's elopement with Lord George Kemp highlights the complexities of love and infidelity.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Receives a telegram from Isabel Trafford and learns of Rosie's elopement; agrees to go to Blackstable to investigate.
- Mrs. Barton Trafford
Sends the telegram and orchestrates the narrator's mission to Blackstable.
- Allgood Newton
Relates the story of finding Edward Driffield agitated and learning of Rosie's departure.
- Edward Driffield
His wife has run away; he is distraught and has not been seen since.
- Rosie Driffield
Has run away with Lord George Kemp, leaving Edward.
- Lord George Kemp
Identified as the man Rosie has run away with; a Blackstable man.
Key passages
“Please come and see me at five o’clock this afternoon without fail. Important. Isabel Trafford.”
Isabel Trafford urgently requests the narrator's presence at her home that afternoon.
The telegram sets the chapter's plot in motion.
“Then you don’t know that Mrs. Driffield has run away from her husband?”
The narrator is informed that Rosie Driffield has left Edward.
This revelation shocks the narrator and drives the chapter's action.
“She’s run away with Lord George Kemp.”
Edward Driffield reveals that Rosie has eloped with Lord George Kemp.
This is the central fact of the chapter.