# The Threesome explained — Catriona

> Chapter companion for Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson.

## What happens

David Balfour navigates a tense domestic situation with Catriona and her father James More in Leyden. Misunderstandings arise from David's attempt to maintain propriety in front of James More, leading Catriona to believe David is pulling away. David reflects on James More's manipulative and self-serving nature, while Catriona's hurt and confusion deepen. The chapter explores their emotional estrangement and David's internal conflict about his feelings and future plans.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

David's deliberate distance from Catriona, despite his love, is a sacrifice to protect her reputation and manage her father's suspicions.

### Deception and Manipulation

James More's constant lies and manipulative behavior, including borrowing money and feigning emotion, highlight the theme of deception.

### Exile and Belonging

James More's melancholic songs and longing for his homeland underscore the pain of exile and the search for belonging.

## Character check-ins

### David Balfour

David struggles with his feelings for Catriona and his attempts to manage James More's suspicions, leading to a painful misunderstanding with Catriona.

### Catriona Drummond

Catriona misinterprets David's formal behavior as rejection, feeling hurt and confused after their earlier intimacy.

### James More Macgregor

James More is portrayed as self-centered and manipulative, borrowing money from David and displaying a false magnanimity while neglecting Catriona.

## Key lines

> My shrewdness (of which I have a good deal, too) seems not so great with the ladies.

David admits that despite his intelligence, he is not adept at understanding women.

_David reflects on his failure to read Catriona's emotions correctly._

> I saw him to be perfectly selfish, with a perfect innocency in the same; and I would harken to his swaggering talk... as I might to the babbling of a parrot.

David perceives James More as utterly self-centered, yet unaware of his own selfishness, and finds his boasting as meaningless as a parrot's chatter.

_David's critical assessment of James More's character._

> And altogether I suppose there were never two poor fools made themselves more unhappy in a greater misconception.

David concludes that he and Catriona are both miserable due to a complete misunderstanding of each other's intentions.

_The central irony of the chapter: both are hurt by misreading the other's actions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/catriona_se/chapters/xxvi-the-threesome
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/catriona_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/catriona_se/chapters