He Knew He Was Right · Chapter
Monkhams explained
Nora Rowley leaves Twickenham for Monkhams, hosted by Lady Peterborough (Caroline Spalding).
What happens
Nora Rowley leaves Twickenham for Monkhams, hosted by Lady Peterborough (Caroline Spalding). She reflects on her past with Mr. Glascock and her current engagement to Hugh Stanbury. Trevelyan's health remains uncertain, delaying their marriage. Nora has a tense farewell with Trevelyan, who insists on being acknowledged as wronged. The chapter explores Nora's feelings of inferiority and her conviction that she chose rightly in rejecting wealth for love.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Professional Identity
Nora contrasts her life with Hugh (emblematic beefsteak) with the wealth and rank she could have had as Lady Peterborough, exploring class identity and personal values.
Madness and Obsession
Trevelyan's mental state is described as neither fully mad nor sane; his obsession with being wronged persists despite his physical decline.
Characters to notice
- Nora Rowley
Leaves Twickenham for Monkhams; reflects on her choice of Hugh over Mr. Glascock; has a strained farewell with Trevelyan.
- Hugh Stanbury
Accompanies Nora to the train; discusses the delay of their marriage due to Trevelyan's condition.
- Louis Trevelyan
In declining health; maintains his belief that he was wronged; refuses to say a kind goodbye to Nora.
- Emily Trevelyan
Urges Nora to say goodbye to Louis; shows understanding of his ambiguous mental state.
- Caroline Spalding
Now Lady Peterborough; warmly welcomes Nora to Monkhams; drives her in the carriage.
- Mr. Glascock
Mentioned as Nora's former suitor; now Lord Peterborough; his wealth and rank are contrasted with his modest personal demeanor.
Key passages
“I had always a sort of conviction that it would be better, though I had a longing to play the other part. Then you came, and you have saved me.”
Nora tells Hugh that she always believed marrying for love was the right choice, though she was tempted by wealth and status. She credits him with saving her from that temptation.
Nora expresses her relief at choosing Hugh over a life of aristocratic luxury.
“I will recognise no one as my friend who will not acknowledge that I have been sinned against during the last two years;—sinned against cruelly and utterly.”
Trevelyan insists that anyone who does not agree that he was deeply wronged over the past two years cannot be considered his friend.
Trevelyan's stubborn refusal to see his own fault, even on his sickbed.