XLIX explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Hypocrisy and Self-Deception

  Mrs. Gamp's outrage at Betsey Prig's denial of Mrs. Harris highlights her own self-deception about the imaginary friend.

• Deception and Trust

  The quarrel between the nurses exposes the fragility of trust, while John and Martin exploit the rift to gain leverage.

Characters to notice

• Sarah Gamp

  Deeply offended by Betsey Prig's denial of Mrs. Harris, she ends their partnership and becomes more pliable to John and Martin's plans.

• Betsey Prig

  Her quarrel with Mrs. Gamp over Mrs. Harris leads to a permanent split, exposing her unreliability.

• John Westlock

  Consoles Mrs. Gamp and subtly steers the conversation to secure her cooperation regarding Mr. Chuffey.

• Martin Chuzzlewit

  Present with John Westlock, he fills Mrs. Gamp's glass and observes the unfolding drama.

• Poll Sweedlepipe

  The barber who interrupts the quarrel and escorts the gentlemen into Mrs. Gamp's room.

Key passages

• “You were always so kind to her, too! said John, consolingly. That's the cutting part. That's where it hurts me, Mr. Westlock, Mrs. Gamp replied; holding out her glass unconsciously, while Martin filled it.”

  John comforts Mrs. Gamp by reminding her of her past kindness to Betsey, which makes the betrayal feel worse.

  John uses flattery to manipulate Mrs. Gamp's emotions.

• “Chose once, but chose no more, cried Mrs. Gamp. No pardnership with Betsey Prig agen, sir!”

  Mrs. Gamp declares she will never again work with Betsey Prig.

  This marks the end of their professional relationship.

• “I don't know as it ever would have done, sir, Mrs. Gamp replied, with a solemnity peculiar to a certain stage of intoxication. Now that the marks, by which Mrs. Gamp is supposed to have meant mask, is off that creetur's face, I do not think it ever would have done.”

  Mrs. Gamp, slightly drunk, says that now Betsey's true nature is revealed, the partnership could never have worked.

  Her intoxication adds to the comic yet revealing nature of the confession.

• “Rely upon it, whispered John, looking cautiously towards her, that you shall question this old clerk, though you go as Mrs. Harris herself. We know quite enough to carry her our own way now, at all events; thanks to this quarrel, which confirms the old saying that when rogues fall out, honest people get what they want.”

  John tells Martin that the quarrel gives them the upper hand to question Mr. Chuffey, even if they have to pretend to be Mrs. Harris.

  This reveals John's strategic thinking and the advantage gained from the nurses' conflict.