Pimpernel and Rosemary · Chapter
XXXII explained
Rosemary wakes after a stormy night, uncertain if she saw Peter outside her window.
What happens
Rosemary wakes after a stormy night, uncertain if she saw Peter outside her window. The cricket match is postponed due to weather. Elza returns the compromising articles, refusing to buy Philip and Anna's safety at the cost of betraying their people. Jasper's jealousy and possessiveness escalate into a violent confrontation, revealing his knowledge of Rosemary's enduring love for Peter.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Elza sacrifices her son's safety for a higher moral principle; Rosemary sacrifices her own peace to uphold her marriage.
Honor vs. Compromise
Elza rejects the compromise of publishing articles to save Philip, choosing honor over expediency.
Marriage and Unrequited Love
Jasper's possessiveness and Rosemary's enduring love for Peter create a toxic marriage dynamic.
Characters to notice
- Rosemary Fowkes
Struggles with Jasper's cruelty and her own guilt; supports Elza's decision to destroy the articles.
- Jasper Tarkington
Confronts Rosemary with his knowledge of her love for Peter; alternates between tenderness and violent possessiveness.
- Elza Imrey
Returns the articles to Rosemary, choosing honor and sacrifice over her son's safety.
- Peter Blakeney
Mentioned as the object of Rosemary's love; possibly seen in the garden during the storm.
- Maurus Imrey
Described as sleepless and wandering in mind, but physically stronger.
Key passages
“They don’t know how much easier it is to die than to live. And how much better! For me how much better! But the best of all would be to see you dead, my dear, for then you could not go on hurting me, as you do—as you would do even if I were in my grave—”
Jasper expresses a death wish and a desire for Rosemary's death to end his suffering.
Reveals Jasper's deep bitterness and emotional torment.
“Take them, darling. Thank you for letting me decide. This is the one thing which we none of us would have forgiven, if you had published these articles without consulting us.”
Elza returns the articles, affirming that publishing them would have been unforgivable.
Highlights Elza's moral clarity and sacrifice.