Mr. Incoul’s Misadventure · Chapter
V: A Yellow Envelope explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. and Mrs. Incoul, after a simple wedding, travel to Baden-Baden. Maida finds a yellow envelope in their villa addressed to the Gräfin von Adelsburg, which sparks her first real awareness of her husband's wealth. At the Kursaal, she overhears that Lenox Leigh may be in Baden, causing her dread and longing. She turns to her husband for protection, while Mr. Incoul, bored by Blydenburg, notices her movement.
Themes in this chapter
Wealth and Power
Maida's realization of her husband's immense wealth through the yellow envelope and her past hesitation over expenses.
Love and Illusion
Maida's internal conflict: she wishes to forget her past love for Lenox Leigh and begin anew with Mr. Incoul.
Social Class and Reputation
Mr. Incoul's refusal to let Maida attend the Countess of Ex's ball due to the Countess's dishonorable reputation.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Incoul
Orders Maida not to attend the Countess of Ex's ball; arranges the trip to Germany; notices Maida's movement at the Kursaal.
- Miss Maida Barhyte
Finds the yellow envelope; begins to understand her husband's wealth; overhears Lenox Leigh's name and feels dread and longing.
- Mr. Blydenburg
Joins the Incouls in Baden; bores Mr. Incoul with talk of Tirynth excavations.
- Lenox Leigh
Mentioned by an American as possibly being in Baden; Maida overhears and is affected.
- Mrs. Barhyte
Described as eager for the wedding to proceed; speaks with Mr. Incoul about Maida.
- The Prince
Appears on the terrace at Baden; raises his hat to Mrs. Incoul.
- Milly
Addressed by Mr. Incoul at the end of the excerpt.
Key passages
“She is not a woman whom I care to have you know”
Mr. Incoul forbids Maida from attending the Countess of Ex's ball because he considers the Countess dishonorable.
Demonstrates Mr. Incoul's control over Maida's social interactions.
“For the first time since the wedding she could have kissed the man whose name she bore.”
Maida feels a surge of respect and affection for Mr. Incoul after he asserts his authority.
Highlights Maida's complex emotions toward her husband.
“If she could only forget, she thought, only forget and begin anew. If she could but tell him all!”
Maida wishes she could erase her past with Lenox Leigh and confess everything to Mr. Incoul.
Reveals Maida's guilt and desire for a fresh start.
“She felt that, did she see him, the love which she had tried to banish would return unfettered from its exile.”
Maida fears that seeing Lenox Leigh would rekindle her suppressed love for him.
Shows Maida's vulnerability and the power of her past romance.