Harding’s Luck · Chapter
VII: Dickie Learns Many Things explained
Dickie resolves to give up his own desires and help Edred and Elfrida find the treasure, and to help Mr.
What happens
Dickie resolves to give up his own desires and help Edred and Elfrida find the treasure, and to help Mr. Beale live his life. He attempts a magical journey using the moonseeds, rattle, and white seal, but instead of returning to the familiar dream world, he wakes in a small, dark panelled room. He is comforted by his nurse, who explains that a month has passed and he is visiting his cousins in London. He has lessons alone with his tutor, Mr. Parados, and after being punished for drawing a caricature, he joins his cousin Elfrida in the garden. They play and talk, and Dickie is struck by a strange feeling when she recites the Gunpowder Plot rhyme.
Themes in this chapter
Loyalty and Sacrifice
Dickie resolves to give up his own desires for the treasure and for a better life, choosing instead to help Edred and Elfrida and Mr. Beale.
Duality of Identity
Dickie navigates two lives—his real-world self and his dream identity as Dickie Arden—and struggles with memory and recognition in the dream world.
Magic and Escapism
The moonseeds, rattle, and white seal are used for magical travel; Dickie attempts to escape his reality through the dream world.
Characters to notice
- Dickie Harding
Resolves to help Edred and Elfrida and Mr. Beale; attempts magic and wakes in a new dream setting; feels frightened but is comforted by his nurse; has lessons with his tutor and is punished for drawing a caricature; plays with Elfrida in the garden.
- True
Asleep against Dickie's knee during the magic scene; wakes and nuzzles Dickie's hand.
- Mouldiwarp
Appears as the courtly Mouldierwarp, speaks to Dickie about steadfast heart and patient purpose, then vanishes.
- Elfrida
Dickie's cousin; is sewing a sampler but joins Dickie to play ball and hide-and-seek; recites the Gunpowder Plot rhyme.
- Mr. Parados
Dickie's tutor, called Parrot-nose; gives lessons, canes Dickie for drawing a caricature, and sets him to write lines.
- Dickie Arden
The identity Dickie assumes in the dream world; son of Sir Richard Arden; has a tutor and cousins Edred and Elfrida.
Key passages
“And now for seven months' work, and not one good dream”
Dickie thinks he will have to work for seven months without any pleasant dreams.
Dickie's resigned acceptance of his sacrifice.
“I am a bad boy, and I ask the pardon of my good tutor. The fifth day of November, 1608”
Dickie is forced to write a line admitting he is bad and apologizing to his tutor, dated November 5, 1608.
Punishment for drawing a caricature of his tutor.
“Please to remember The Fifth of November, The gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.”
Elfrida recites the traditional rhyme about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.
Dickie is surprised the rhyme is so old and recalls his father's warning about treason.