Can You Forgive Her? · Chapter
XXXII: Containing an Answer to the Love Letter explained
Alice writes her answer to George Vavasor's proposal, accepting it but requesting a twelve-month delay before marriage.
What happens
Alice writes her answer to George Vavasor's proposal, accepting it but requesting a twelve-month delay before marriage. She offers him financial support from her own money. Kate Vavasor objects to the financial arrangement but is temporarily silenced by George's letter. Alice informs her grandfather of her engagement, while her father, Mr. John Vavasor, expresses strong disapproval.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
Alice accepts George's proposal without passionate love, framing marriage as a practical arrangement based on affection and shared ambition.
Wealth and Financial Dependence
Alice offers her money to support George's political career, highlighting the financial underpinnings of their engagement.
Duty vs. Desire
Alice struggles between her sense of duty to George and her own desire for time to recover from past conflicts.
Characters to notice
- Alice Vavasor
Writes to accept George's proposal, stipulating a twelve-month delay and offering financial support.
- Kate Vavasor
Supports Alice's decision but objects to her offering money to George before marriage.
- George Vavasor
Receives Alice's letter; responds briefly, deprecating the delay but accepting her terms.
- Mr. John Vavasor
Expresses strong disapproval of Alice's engagement to George, refusing to receive him as a son-in-law.
- Squire Vavasor
Alice tells him of her engagement; he is the first family member she informs.
Key passages
“Why should I keep him in suspense? If it is to be so, there can be no good in not saying so at once.”
Alice decides to send her answer promptly, believing that prolonging uncertainty serves no purpose.
Reflects Alice's pragmatic approach to her decision.
“He also is not passionate, she said. But in so saying she deceived herself. He was a man in whom Love could be very passionate;—and was, moreover, one in whom Love could hardly be renewed.”
Alice mistakenly believes John Grey is not passionate, but the narrator reveals he is deeply passionate and unlikely to love again.
Highlights Alice's self-deception about John Grey's feelings.
“I have told him that I cannot bring myself to marry him instantly;—that he must allow me twelve months to wear off, if I can in that time, much of sadness and of self-reproach which has fallen to my lot.”
Alice requests a year-long delay before marriage to recover from her past sorrows and guilt.
Shows Alice's need for emotional healing before committing fully.
“I have told him that any portion of my money is at his service which may be needed for his purposes before that twelve months is over.”
Alice offers George access to her inheritance to fund his political ambitions immediately.
Demonstrates Alice's financial commitment to George's career.