# From London to Baden explained — Can You Forgive Her?

> Chapter companion for Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Alice travels with the Pallisers to Baden, where she grows closer to Mr. Palliser by engaging with his statistical interests, while Lady Glencora rebels against his rigid planning. In Baden, Lady Glencora is drawn to a gambling table, wins and loses money, and is confronted by her husband, leading to a tense scene in which Alice feels unfairly blamed and threatens to return to England alone.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Financial Dependence

The Pallisers' wealth is evident in their travel and lifestyle, yet Lady Glencora's gambling highlights the precariousness of financial risk and the burden of affluence.

### Duty vs. Desire

Mr. Palliser insists on plans and duty, while Lady Glencora desires spontaneity and freedom, leading to conflict over the gambling incident.

## Character check-ins

### Alice Vavasor

Travels with the Pallisers, bonds with Mr. Palliser over statistics, and tries to stop Lady Glencora from gambling. Feels unjustly blamed by Mr. Palliser and threatens to leave.

### Lady Glencora Palliser

Resists her husband's plans, gambles at Baden, wins and loses money, and is confronted by Mr. Palliser. Shows defiance and affected laughter.

### Plantagenet Palliser

Makes plans for the journey, is angered by his wife's gambling, and blames Alice for the incident. Shows stern disapproval.

## Key lines

> “After all,” Alice had said to herself more than once, “I doubt whether the burden is not greater than the pleasure.”

Alice reflects that the weight of wealth and status may outweigh its joys.

_Alice's internal observation on the cost of high society life._

> “I like to have a plan,” said Mr. Palliser. “And so do I,” said his wife⁠—“if only for the sake of not keeping it.”

Mr. Palliser values planning, while Lady Glencora enjoys plans only to break them.

_Illustrates the couple's contrasting attitudes toward order and spontaneity._

> “Is it nothing that I find my wife playing at a common gambling-table, surrounded by all that is wretched and vile⁠—established there, seated, with heaps of gold before her?”

Mr. Palliser is outraged that his wife was gambling in a disreputable setting.

_Mr. Palliser's condemnation of the gambling scene and his wife's behavior._

## Links

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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters