# VII: Dickie Learns Many Things explained — Harding’s Luck

> Chapter companion for Harding’s Luck by E. Nesbit.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/harding_s_luck_se/chapters/vii-dickie-learns-many-things
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/harding_s_luck_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/harding_s_luck_se/chapters