# The Reading of the Will explained — Cousin Henry

> Chapter companion for Cousin Henry by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Cousin Henry, now the acknowledged heir, struggles with the hidden will that would disinherit him. He considers destroying it or revealing it, but cannot bring himself to do either. A thorough search of the house fails to uncover the will, as the searchers do not open the books. Isabel, disgusted with Cousin Henry, refuses his offer to pay her legacy and decides to leave Llanfeare immediately. Mr. Apjohn reads the prior will, explaining that there are no funds to pay Isabel's legacy, and she prepares to depart.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Conscience

Cousin Henry's internal torment over the hidden will, his inability to destroy or reveal it, and his fear of discovery.

### Inheritance and Primogeniture

The central conflict over the rightful heir to Llanfeare, the hidden will, and the legal reading of the prior will.

### Pride and Self-Sacrifice

Isabel's refusal to accept money from Cousin Henry, choosing poverty over dependence on a man she despises.

## Character check-ins

### Cousin Henry

Torn between hiding, destroying, or revealing the will; watches the search in terror; feels victimized and resentful.

### Isabel Brodrick

Refuses Cousin Henry's offer of the legacy; resolves to leave Llanfeare; feels the house has become odious.

### Mr. Apjohn

Leads the search for the will; reads the prior will; explains the lack of funds for Isabel's legacy.

### Mrs. Griffith

Expresses opinion that the old Squire may have destroyed the will.

## Key lines

> He would have been willing—he thought that he would have been willing—to abandon Llanfeare altogether, if only it could have been abandoned without any of the occurrences of the last month.

Cousin Henry wishes he could simply walk away from Llanfeare and all the trouble it has caused him.

_Reveals his deep regret and desire to escape the situation._

> We take presents from those whom we love and esteem, not from those we despise.

Isabel tells Cousin Henry that she will not accept anything from someone she holds in contempt.

_Shows Isabel's moral stance and her disdain for Cousin Henry._

> Why could he not go away? Why must he stand there fixed at the window? He had done nothing—nothing, nothing; and yet he stood there trembling, immovable, with the perspiration running off his face, unable to keep his eyes for a moment from what they were doing!

Cousin Henry is paralyzed with fear while watching the search, despite telling himself he is innocent.

_Highlights his guilt and anxiety during the search for the will._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters/viii-the-reading-of-the-will
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cousin_henry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters