Lost Man’s Lane · Chapter
The Text Witnesseth explained
Amelia Butterworth returns from her errands and rides home with William Knollys, who expresses resentment toward the neighborhood and hints at an impending change in their fortunes.
What happens
Amelia Butterworth returns from her errands and rides home with William Knollys, who expresses resentment toward the neighborhood and hints at an impending change in their fortunes. Once at the house, she contrives to obtain the family Bible from Lucetta under the pretense of settling a dispute about a verse, but her true purpose is to examine a marked passage in Corinthians associated with funerals, deepening her suspicions about the family's secrets.
Themes in this chapter
Detection and Investigation
Miss Butterworth uses a pretext to examine the family Bible for a marked passage, advancing her covert investigation into the Knollys family secrets.
Secrecy and Deception
Miss Butterworth conceals her true motive for requesting the Bible, and William's hints about a sudden change in fortune suggest hidden dealings.
Family Loyalty and Sacrifice
Lucetta's resigned demeanor and her thoughts of her lover highlight the personal sacrifices she makes for her family's sake.
Characters to notice
- Amelia Butterworth
Returns from town, feigns a quarrel with Mrs. Carter to gain access to the family Bible, and discovers a marked funeral passage in Corinthians.
- Lucetta
Brings the Bible to Miss Butterworth; appears resigned and brooding over her lover.
- William Knollys
Drives Miss Butterworth home, expresses bitterness toward the neighborhood and hints at an imminent change in the family's circumstances.
- Mr. Trohm
Mentioned by William as someone with whom Miss Butterworth supposedly discussed Lucetta and the family.
- Deacon Spear
Mentioned by William in passing as a man of Miss Butterworth's 'own sort.'
Key passages
“I have a grim will when I choose to exert it.”
I can be stubbornly determined when I decide to be.
Miss Butterworth asserts her resolve as she begins her covert actions.
“We have played poor and pinched and starved all I'm going to. I'm going to have a new horse, and Lucetta shall have a dress, and that mighty quick too.”
I'm done with pretending to be poor and deprived. I plan to buy a new horse and a dress for Lucetta very soon.
William reveals his impatience with their shabby lifestyle and hints at a secret source of money.
“Behold I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”
Listen, I reveal a secret: not everyone will die, but we will all be transformed.
The marked Bible verse from Corinthians, associated with funerals, deepens the mystery surrounding the Knollys family.