# IX: Anne explained — Man and Wife

> Chapter companion for Man and Wife by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

Anne Silvester arrives alone at the Craig Fernie Inn, only to be met with suspicion by the stern landlady Mistress Inchbare, who refuses to let her rooms because she is a young woman traveling alone. Anne claims her husband is coming, but is left humiliated. Later, Arnold Brinkworth arrives with a letter from Geoffrey Delamayn, but Anne, suspicious and distressed, refuses to take it and demands he leave, fearing that his presence might provoke jealousy in Blanche.

## Themes in this chapter

### Gender and Power

Anne is powerless against Mistress Inchbare's moral judgment simply because she is a young woman traveling alone, illustrating the gendered restrictions of the era.

### Betrayal and Deception

Anne's suspicion of Geoffrey's motives and her refusal to accept the letter hint at the betrayal and deception central to the plot.

### Hypocrisy of Society

Mistress Inchbare's 'savagely-respectable' demeanor and her refusal to accommodate Anne under the guise of protecting the inn's reputation exemplify societal hypocrisy.

## Character check-ins

### Anne Silvester

Arrives alone at the inn, is refused lodging by Mistress Inchbare, and later confronts Arnold Brinkworth with suspicion and distress.

### Arnold Brinkworth

Arrives at the inn bearing a letter from Geoffrey Delamayn for Anne, but is met with her suspicion and refusal to accept the letter.

### Mistress Inchbare

The stern, Presbyterian landlady who refuses to let rooms to Anne because she is a young woman traveling alone.

### Mr. Bishopriggs

The headwaiter at the inn, who assists Arnold and mistakes the situation for a newlywed couple's honeymoon.

### Blanche Lundie

Mentioned by Anne as a potential source of jealousy if she learns of Arnold's visit.

## Key lines

> Ye’re ower-well-looking, my young leddy, to be traveling alone.

You are too attractive, young lady, to be traveling by yourself.

_Mistress Inchbare uses Anne's appearance as a pretext to deny her lodging, reflecting societal suspicion of unattached women._

> I have already told you, my husband is coming here to join me.

I have already explained that my husband will be arriving to meet me.

_Anne repeats her fabricated story to justify her presence, highlighting her vulnerable and deceptive position._

> What do you want here?

Why have you come here?

_Anne confronts Arnold with suspicion, fearing he is a spy or part of a betrayal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/ix-anne
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/man_and_wife_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters