# XXXIV: An Extravagance explained — Phoebe, Junior > Chapter companion for Phoebe, Junior by Margaret Oliphant. ## What happens Mr. May receives a draft for fifty pounds from his son James, which he uses to buy a carved bookcase at auction despite his financial troubles. He dismisses Cotsdean's urgent plea for payment, rationalizing his extravagance as innocent and deserved. Meanwhile, the household dynamic shifts as Ursula feels the loneliness of their old life, and Clarence and Reginald discuss money. ## Themes in this chapter ### Wealth and Power Mr. May's purchase of the bookcase with James's money illustrates the seductive power of even a small surplus, and his rationalization of extravagance as a gentleman's due. ### Appearance vs. Reality Mr. May convinces himself that his purchase is innocent and laudable, while ignoring the underlying financial risk and his duty to Cotsdean. ### Family Duty and Sacrifice Ursula's sense of duty and sacrifice is highlighted as she contemplates the return to a lonely life under her father's sway, contrasting with his self-indulgence. ## Character check-ins ### Reginald May Mr. May enjoys the new comforts and social life, buys a bookcase with James's money, and dismisses Cotsdean's concerns. ### Ursula May Ursula is troubled by the changes in the household, feeling lonely and anxious about returning to the old life. ### Janey Janey is chatty and delighted to have the drawing-room to themselves, but her questions annoy Ursula. ### Clarence Copperhead Clarence discusses his lavish spending with Reginald, boring him with tales of his expensive possessions. ### Cotsdean Cotsdean comes to the parsonage urgently seeking Mr. May, but is dismissed with a note. ## Key lines > He was enjoying himself in his way, and he had not done that for a long time. He dearly liked the better way of living, the more liberal strain of housekeeping and expenditure; he liked the social meetings in the evening, the talk after dinner with the three young men, the half-fatherly flirtation with Phoebe, which she too enjoyed much, avowedly preferring him, with pretty coquetry, to the others. Mr. May was relishing a lifestyle of comfort and social engagement that he had long missed, including evening gatherings and flirtatious attention from Phoebe. _Highlights Mr. May's newfound pleasure in luxury and social validation._ > It is so seldom that poor people have this delicious sense of a little, ever so little surplus! and it would be hard to say how he could entertain the feeling that it was an overplus. The rare feeling of having a small amount of extra money to spend freely is intoxicating for someone usually in financial straits. _Emphasizes the theme of wealth and the psychological impact of even a modest surplus._ > Instead of blaming himself, therefore, for his self-indulgence, Mr. May sympathized with himself, which is a much less safe thing to do; and accordingly, it soon began to appear to him that his self-denial all this time in not giving himself what he wanted had been extreme, and that what he had now done, in conceding himself so harmless a gratification, was what he ought to have done years ago. Rather than feeling guilty, Mr. May justified his purchase by convincing himself that his past self-denial had been excessive and that this indulgence was long overdue. _Illustrates the theme of appearance vs. reality and self-deception._ > He forgot all about Cotsdean and the note in his pocket, and set to work with the most boyish simplicity of delight to arrange his books in his new shelves. Mr. May became so absorbed in the joy of organizing his books that he completely ignored Cotsdean's urgent message. _Shows Mr. May's willful neglect of his financial responsibilities._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxiv-an-extravagance - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/phoebe_junior_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters