In the Days of the Comet · Chapter
III: The Revolver explained
Willie Leadford, consumed by jealousy and wounded pride, resolves to kill Nettie Stuart and her lover Edward Verrall.
What happens
Willie Leadford, consumed by jealousy and wounded pride, resolves to kill Nettie Stuart and her lover Edward Verrall. He buys a revolver, overhears a preacher linking the comet to divine judgment, and walks to Checkshill with murderous intent. Upon arriving, he encounters old Mrs. Verrall and delivers a venomous outburst, but ultimately hesitates, weeping and lying down in the bracken before proceeding.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Jealousy
Willie's obsessive love for Nettie turns to murderous jealousy, driving him to buy a revolver and plan revenge.
War and Conflict
Willie's internal rage mirrors international tensions; he dreams of battles and slaughter.
Memory and Retrospection
Willie recalls gathering blue hyacinths with Nettie, contrasting past tenderness with present hatred.
Characters to notice
- Willie Leadford
Narrator, consumed by jealousy and rage, buys a revolver and walks to Checkshill intending to kill Nettie and Verrall.
- Nettie Stuart
Object of Willie's obsessive love and jealousy; he plans to kill her and her lover.
- Edward Verrall
Nettie's lover, whom Willie intends to murder.
- Mrs. Verrall
Encountered by Willie in the gardens; he delivers a hostile outburst toward her.
- Mr. Gabbitas
Preacher linking the comet to the end of the world; Willie briefly hears him.
- Parload
Mentioned as the one who first showed the comet to Willie.
Key passages
“I was thinking of Nettie and her lover. I was firmly resolved he should not have her—though I had to kill them both to prevent it.”
Willie is obsessed with Nettie and her lover, determined to stop them even if it means murder.
Willie's murderous intent is clear from the start.
“I had some little difficulty in finding a gunsmith. In Clayton there were some rook-rifles and so forth in a cycle shop, but the only revolvers these people had impressed me as being too small and toylike for my purpose.”
Willie searches for a suitable revolver, finding the ones at a cycle shop too small for his lethal plans.
His practical approach to buying a weapon contrasts with his emotional turmoil.
“I turned away from the door and stumbled for a little distance, sobbing loudly, and lay down out of sight among the bracken, and so presently became calm again.”
Willie breaks down weeping before the green door, then hides in the bracken to compose himself.
His hesitation and emotional collapse reveal inner conflict.
“The thing that never entered my head in those days was that a large proportion of the rich were rich in absolute good faith.”
Willie later realizes he wrongly assumed all rich people were deliberately oppressive.
Reflects on his youthful prejudice against the wealthy.