# Lady Lundie Does Her Duty explained — Man and Wife

> Chapter companion for Man and Wife by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

Lady Lundie, feigning illness after receiving Blanche's letter about the interrupted bridal tour, receives a visit from Mrs. Glenarm. Mrs. Glenarm reveals that Geoffrey Delamayn confessed to a flirtation with Anne Silvester, claiming she is secretly married to Arnold Brinkworth. Lady Lundie connects this to Blanche's suspicious return, realizing the deception, and resolves to investigate the truth herself to protect Blanche's interests.

## Themes in this chapter

### Betrayal and Deception

Lady Lundie discovers the deception surrounding Blanche's marriage and Anne Silvester's claims, leading her to plan a secret investigation.

### Hypocrisy of Society

Lady Lundie's performative illness and moral outrage contrast with her own manipulative plans, highlighting societal hypocrisy.

### Gender and Power

Lady Lundie uses her position as a widow and stepmother to exert control, while Anne Silvester's vulnerability as a woman is exploited by men.

## Character check-ins

### Lady Lundie

Feigns illness and receives Mrs. Glenarm; learns of Anne Silvester's alleged secret marriage to Arnold Brinkworth and resolves to uncover the truth.

### Mrs. Glenarm

Visits Lady Lundie, reveals Geoffrey Delamayn's confession about Anne Silvester and her own engagement to Geoffrey.

### Blanche Lundie

Her letter about the interrupted bridal tour is discussed; Lady Lundie believes she is innocent and deceived.

### Arnold Brinkworth

Implied to be the man Anne Silvester is secretly married to, according to Geoffrey Delamayn's claim.

### Anne Silvester

Allegedly secretly married to Arnold Brinkworth; claimed Geoffrey Delamayn at Swanhaven, shaking Mrs. Glenarm's faith.

### Geoffrey Delamayn

Confessed to a flirtation with Anne Silvester and claimed she is privately married to Arnold Brinkworth.

## Key lines

> What does a right-minded woman do, when she has reason to believe that she is cruelly distrusted by the members of her own family? A right-minded woman feels it so acutely that she falls ill.

A proper woman, when she feels distrusted by her family, reacts by becoming sick.

_Satirical commentary on Lady Lundie's feigned illness as a social performance._

> I have done Blanche an injustice! ... They have put her off with the excuse that she innocently sends to me. I see it as plainly as I see you! Mr. Brinkworth and Sir Patrick are in league to keep us both in the dark.

Lady Lundie realizes Blanche is innocent and that Arnold and Sir Patrick are conspiring to hide the truth from them.

_Lady Lundie's deduction that Blanche is being deceived by the men._

> I can search out the truth, without depending on people compromised in this black business, whose interest it is to deceive me. And I will do it today!

Lady Lundie resolves to investigate the matter independently, distrusting those involved.

_Her determination to uncover the secret marriage and protect Blanche._

## Links

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