Harding’s Luck · Chapter
VI: Buried Treasure explained
Dickie and Mr.
What happens
Dickie and Mr. Beale establish a new, honest life with the money from the wrought-iron box and gold pieces. Dickie learns woodcarving and dog-keeping, and resolves to return to the Jacobean world only after securing Beale's happiness. He successfully dreams himself back to the past, where he confirms the reality of the magic and begins learning trades to bring back to the present.
Themes in this chapter
Loyalty and Sacrifice
Dickie delays his return to the magical world to ensure Mr. Beale's happiness, demonstrating loyalty and self-sacrifice.
Education and Self-Improvement
Dickie learns woodcarving at the Goldsmiths' Institute and studies dog-keeping and shipbuilding to improve his and Beale's circumstances.
Magic and Escapism
Dickie confirms that his journeys to the past are real magic, not dreams, and uses them to gain skills for his present life.
Characters to notice
- Dickie Harding
Resolves to establish Mr. Beale in an honorable calling before returning to the dream world; learns woodcarving and dog-keeping; successfully returns to the Jacobean world.
- Mr. Beale
Confesses his past to Dickie and is forgiven; starts a dog-trade; feels a longing for the open road but remains steady.
- Amelia
Engaged as a daily housekeeper for Dickie and Mr. Beale.
- Sebastian
Teaches Dickie shipbuilding in the dream world; mentioned as continuing his instruction.
- Dickie Arden
Identifies himself as the rightful Lord Arden in the dream world; takes fencing lessons and learns about dogs from the kennelman.
- True
Remembered by Dickie as the dog that cuddled up to him during his tramp life.
Key passages
“But I been a beast all the same”
Mr. Beale admits he has behaved badly in the past.
Mr. Beale confesses his past misdeeds to Dickie, who forgives him.
“I will only stay a month, a month here and a month there, that will keep things even.”
Dickie plans to split his time equally between the real world and the dream world.
Dickie resolves to balance his two lives to avoid growing up unevenly.
“It’s all very smart, but don’t you never feel the fidgets in your legs?”
Mr. Beale admits he still longs for the open road despite their comfortable new life.
Beale expresses his restless desire to travel, even as he stays steady for Dickie.