# XXVI explained — Memoirs of a Midget

> Chapter companion for Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de la Mare.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters/xxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_a_midget_se/chapters