Memoirs of a Midget · Chapter
XXVI explained
The narrator keeps a tryst with Mr.
What happens
The narrator keeps a tryst with Mr. Anon in the garden, where he recounts a fantastical vision of a hidden, happy race of little people. The encounter turns tense when he declares his love, and the narrator rebuffs him. Later, Mrs. Bowater accompanies the narrator, and a confrontation with Mr. Anon ensues over her presence.
Themes in this chapter
Otherness and Identity
The narrator's reflections on her small stature and her comparison with 'ordinary' people highlight her sense of otherness.
Nature and the Sublime
The garden setting, the changing weather, and Mr. Anon's vision of a hidden paradise evoke the sublime in nature.
Deception and Self-Deception
The narrator feigns innocence about Mr. Anon's presence, and Mrs. Bowater pretends to sleep while observing.
Characters to notice
- Unknown (Narrator)
The narrator reflects on her small stature, keeps a tryst with Mr. Anon, and rebuffs his declaration of love.
- Mrs. Bowater
Accompanies the narrator to the tryst for propriety, shares reflections on life and marriage, and later confronts the narrator about Mr. Anon.
- Mr. Anon
Meets the narrator in the garden, recounts a story of a hidden race of little people, declares his love, and is angrily rebuffed.
- Fanny Bowater
Her letter is hidden under a stone in the garden; the narrator seeks to recover it.
- Dr. Phelps
Mentioned in the narrator's thoughts about humanity dwindling into littleness.
Key passages
“I suppose one must keep one's promises, Mrs. Bowater, even to a stranger. Would half-past six be too early to keep mine, do you think?”
The narrator asks Mrs. Bowater if it is appropriate to keep her promise to meet Mr. Anon at half-past six.
Shows the narrator's concern with propriety and her commitment to the tryst.
“Only that you might stay. … I love you.”
Mr. Anon whispers that he loves the narrator, hoping she will stay with him.
Mr. Anon's declaration of love marks a turning point in the chapter.
“That contaminating scarecrow; who's she?”
Mr. Anon angrily refers to Mrs. Bowater as a contaminating scarecrow.
Reveals Mr. Anon's contempt for Mrs. Bowater and his jealousy.