# XXIII explained — Memoirs of a Midget > Chapter companion for Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de la Mare. ## What happens The narrator confides in Mrs. Bowater about her meeting with the Stranger, leading to a tense interrogation about his social standing. She receives a letter from Fanny announcing she will not return for the holidays, causing deep disappointment. However, a gift from Sir Walter Pollacke—an ivory copy of Hypnos—and an invitation to tea from Lady Pollacke lift her spirits. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Self-Deception The narrator's internal conflict about the Stranger's gentility and her own snobbery; Mrs. Bowater's rigid questioning exposes the social deceptions at play. ### Solitude and Self-Discovery The narrator feels adrift and alone after Fanny's absence, but her reflections on the gift and invitation lead to a deeper understanding of her own desires. ### Class and Social Hierarchy Mrs. Bowater's insistence on determining whether the Stranger is a 'gentleman' highlights the rigid class distinctions of the era. ## Character check-ins ### Unknown (Narrator) Struggles with Mrs. Bowater's questions about the Stranger's gentility; feels adrift after Fanny's letter but is cheered by Sir Walter's gift and Lady Pollacke's invitation. ### Mrs. Bowater Interrogates the narrator about the Stranger with unusual rigidity; delivers news that Fanny will not return for the holidays; scrutinizes Sir Walter's gift with suspicion. ### Fanny Bowater Sends a letter announcing she will not come home for the holidays, causing the narrator bitter disappointment. ### Sir Walter Pollacke Sends the narrator a gift of an ivory copy of Hypnos as a token of appreciation for her enthusiasm. ### Lady Pollacke Sends an invitation to tea, mentioning Mrs. Monnerie and Mr. Pellew. ### Mr. Anon Referred to as the Stranger; the narrator confides in Mrs. Bowater about their meeting, but his name and address remain unknown. ## Key lines > Vanity of vanities, when one old loitering gentleman did not so much as lift an eyelid at me⁠—he was so absorbed in own thoughts⁠—I felt a pang of annoyance. The narrator admits her vanity when an elderly man fails to notice her, causing a flicker of irritation. _Reveals the narrator's self-awareness and desire for attention._ > What a ridiculous figure I should cut, tippeting along behind my landlady. The narrator imagines the absurdity of being chaperoned by Mrs. Bowater to meet the Stranger. _Highlights the narrator's fear of social embarrassment and loss of autonomy._ > If father hadn't died, I'd have had nothing of all this. The narrator acknowledges that her father's death has paradoxically led to her current happiness. _A moment of painful self-awareness about the cost of her new life._ > Oh, Fanny! ... Surely a promise is a promise, whoever you make it to! The narrator feels betrayed by Fanny's broken promise to return for the holidays. _Expresses the narrator's deep disappointment and sense of abandonment._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/xxiii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters