# Doubts explained — Cousin Henry

> Chapter companion for Cousin Henry by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Cousin Henry, after being questioned by Mr. Apjohn about the hidden will, is consumed by paranoia and dread. He contemplates destroying the will to secure his inheritance and avoid facing Mr. Cheekey's interrogation, but hesitates due to fear of committing felony. He returns home, resolves to destroy the will, but postpones the act, feeling a temporary lift in spirit.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Conscience

Cousin Henry's internal struggle with the knowledge of the hidden will and his contemplation of destroying it illustrates the torment of a guilty conscience.

### Isolation and Paranoia

Cousin Henry's seclusion at Llanfeare and his belief that everyone—from Mr. Apjohn to the servants—is against him highlights his growing paranoia and isolation.

### Inheritance and Primogeniture

The central conflict revolves around the rightful inheritance of Llanfeare, with Cousin Henry's moral dilemma over destroying the will to secure the estate.

## Character check-ins

### Cousin Henry

Torn between destroying the will to secure Llanfeare and fear of the legal consequences; paranoid about Mr. Apjohn's knowledge and Mr. Cheekey's impending interrogation.

### Mr. Apjohn

Perceived by Cousin Henry as a cunning enemy who has uncovered his secret and is orchestrating his ruin through the indictment.

### Mr. Cheekey

The feared tormentor who is to be unleashed on Cousin Henry in court to extract the truth about the will.

### Mrs. Griffith

Mentioned as one of the people Cousin Henry lives in terror of, along with others.

## Key lines

> I know nothing about it

Cousin Henry denies any knowledge of the will's location when questioned by Mr. Apjohn.

_This lie sets off his internal crisis and fear of exposure._

> To burn the will he was capable. He could surely take the paper from its hiding-place and hold it down with the poker when he had thrust it between the bars.

Cousin Henry believes he has the resolve to destroy the will by burning it, even planning to swallow the ashes.

_Highlights his desperation and the moral boundary he is considering crossing._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters/xx-doubts
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cousin_henry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters