Riceyman Steps · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Riceyman Steps by Arnold Bennett.
Chapter 1
Riceyman Steps
On an autumn afternoon in 1919, a hatless, limping man in his forties ascends Riceyman Steps in Clerkenwell, stopping on the half-landing to observe the bustling industrial scene below. He is secretly watching a confectioner's shop where a woman who has begun to inflame him works. He dreams of sharing with her his romantic vision of Clerkenwell's history, from its green springs and nunneries to Nell Gwynn's palace. When rain falls, he follows a potential customer into his own secondhand bookshop.
Chapter 2
The Customer
A dapper, well-dressed customer enters Henry Earlforward's bookshop in Riceyman Steps, seeking a Shakespeare edition. Henry shows him various options and eventually sells him a Globe edition for three-and-six. The customer reveals himself as Dr. Raste, who inquires about Elsie, the young charwoman employed by Henry, explaining that a shell-shocked lad in his service is romantically interested in her. Henry, though inwardly agitated, gives a terse, noncommittal response.
Chapter 3
III: The Bookseller at Home
Henry Earlforward is shown in his private den at the back of his bookshop, a cluttered and dusty space. He reflects on his routine, his inheritance from his uncle T. T. Riceyman, and the dramatic story of the Clerkenwell Underground Railway construction. His calm is disturbed by the possibility that his charwoman Elsie might leave to marry, and by his growing interest in the lady across the way, Violet Arb.
Chapter 4
IV: Elsie
Elsie, Mr. Earlforward's charwoman, reveals that she also works for Mrs. Arb, the new proprietress of the confectioner's shop across the street. Mr. Earlforward, intrigued, offers a cookery book for Mrs. Arb but is pleased to learn she will only pay sixpence. He later takes the book with him on his evening walk, contemplating a visit to Mrs. Arb's shop.
Chapter 5
The Gift
Mr. Earlforward visits Mrs. Arb's shop under the pretense of offering a cookery book, but the visit becomes a significant social exchange. Mrs. Arb criticizes the neighborhood's lack of culture and vitality, revealing her discontent with her business and surroundings. Mr. Earlforward, captivated by her energy and originality, impulsively gives her the book as a gift, marking a deepening of their acquaintance.
Chapter 6
Mrs. Arb’s Case
After Mr. Earlforward leaves, Mrs. Arb is overcome with loneliness and anxiety about her ability to manage her inherited business and finances. She reflects on her past life with her late husband, Mr. Arb, and her inheritance of the confectioner's shop. To avoid solitude, she persuades Elsie to stay late, offering extra pay and a slice of ham.
Chapter 7
Under an Umbrella
Elsie meets her lover Joe under an umbrella in a sheltered corner near Mrs. Arb's shop. Despite the rain and her duties, she stays to help Mrs. Arb, disappointing Joe on his birthday. She comforts him, wipes his tears, and persuades him to buy the braces she has chosen as a gift, promising to see him tomorrow. After he leaves, Elsie returns to Mrs. Arb, who remarks on her long absence.
Chapter 8
VIII: The Carving-Knife
Mrs. Arb and Elsie work together cleaning the living room. A young man, later revealed to be a shell-shocked suitor of Elsie, bursts into the shop and grabs a carving knife, threateningly demanding Elsie. Mrs. Arb, terrified, decides to sell her business. She runs to Mr. Earlforward for help, who calmly investigates and finds Elsie has fled with the man. Mr. Earlforward offers to stay the night to protect Mrs. Arb, and she insists on sitting up with him.
Chapter 9
IX: Sunday Morning
On Sunday morning, Henry Earlforward and Violet Arb discuss Elsie's unexplained absence. They then walk together to St. Andrew's Church, sharing observations about the Square, the church, and their growing intimacy.
Chapter 10
X: Riceyman Square
Henry Earlforward and Violet Arb walk around Riceyman Square, discussing its decrepit state. They observe St. Andrew's Church and the surrounding houses, noting one well-maintained property. At the corner, they see 'Percy's Hotel' and then spot Elsie through a window. Dr. Raste emerges from her house, and after a brief exchange, Violet decides to visit Elsie.
Chapter 11
Elsie's Home
The chapter describes the crowded, impoverished household where Elsie lives, detailing the lives and grievances of its inhabitants: a meat-salesman's family, a french-polisher's family, and a spinster dressmaker. On a Sunday morning, Joe arrives and, after a confrontation, strikes Elsie, causing her to fall. Dr. Raste is summoned, finds only a bruise, and the household gradually returns to uneasy peace.
Chapter 12
XII: The Benefactress
Mrs. Arb visits Elsie in her crowded, grimy home in Riceyman Square to check on her after her absence. Elsie, ashamed and apologetic, admits her trouble was due to her young man, and Mrs. Arb advises her to give him up for the sake of a quiet life and good name. Elsie tearfully agrees, and after Mrs. Arb leaves, a boy offers her bread and jam, leading to an emotional outburst.
Chapter 13
XIII: The Passion
Mr. Earlforward and Mrs. Arb take a Sunday morning walk through Clerkenwell, exploring historic squares and streets. Mr. Earlforward is deeply enamored with Mrs. Arb, admiring her combination of forcefulness and femininity. He struggles with physical pain from his leg but refuses to take a cab, driven by his miserly passion. They discuss Elsie's situation, the decline of the neighborhood, and various sights, deepening their intimacy.
Chapter 14
A Man's Private Life
Mrs. Arb visits Mr. Earlforward's shop and home while he is out, discovering the chaotic and dirty state of his living quarters. She observes the piles of books, dust, and disorganization, yet also finds evidence of his neat personal appearance. The chapter culminates in a brief, charged encounter with Mr. Earlforward, where their mutual attraction and the impending decision about their future together become palpable.
Chapter 15
The Day Before
On the day before their wedding, Henry Earlforward and Violet Arb discuss practical matters in his bookshop. Henry files off Violet's old wedding ring and goes to buy a new one. Elsie moves in as a live-in servant, and Violet negotiates her wages at £20 a year. The chapter captures the couple's dynamic of enchantment, thrift, and unspoken tensions.
Chapter 16
II: Elsie’s Retreat
Elsie settles into her new servant's bedroom at the Earlforward house, finding solace in its privacy despite its bareness. She unpacks her few possessions, including her late husband's medals and a letter from Joe, which she treasures as a talisman. Her solitude is interrupted by Mr. Earlforward's gentle reprimand about the candle. She goes to bed, missing the warmth of the child she used to sleep with.
Chapter 17
Waxworks
Henry and Violet visit Madame Tussaud's on their wedding day. Henry is anxious about expenses, but Violet pays for the entry. They explore the waxworks, tableaux, and cinematograph, with Henry feeling both protective and superior. Violet is frightened by the Chamber of Horrors but clings to Henry, deepening their romantic bond.
Chapter 18
IV: Vacuum
Henry and Violet return from their wedding trip to find their home being cleaned by a professional vacuum-cleaning crew, a surprise arranged by Violet. Henry is shocked by the expense and the transformation of his familiar, grimy space, and he struggles to reconcile his miserly instincts with his wife's initiative and generosity.
Chapter 19
V: The Priestess
Violet Earlforward explores her new home, reflecting on her first honeymoon and her second marriage to Henry. She discovers an old slipper tied to the bedstead—a gift from Elsie—which inspires her to embrace grace and impulsiveness. Henry presents her with a safe as a wedding gift. Later, Elsie appears in her best clothes, throws rice at the couple, and gives them a wedding cake, completing the wedding rituals with warmth and generosity.
Chapter 20
The Next Day
Violet, now married, takes charge of the household on Sunday morning, organizing a major cleaning and book rearrangement with Elsie while Henry sleeps. She discovers shelves in the cellar and improvises new bookcases using old volumes as supports. Henry wakes and gently rebukes her, explaining that the disorderly piles of books attract collectors. Violet submits to his wisdom, feeling happy in yielding to his will, and orders the books returned. The chapter ends with Henry asking for the account of the money he gave her the previous day.
Chapter 21
I: Early Morning
Elsie wakes before dawn to revive the house, performing her morning chores with devoted routine. She prepares breakfast for Henry and Violet, who share a tender moment in bed. Violet agrees to mend Henry's trousers, and their interaction reveals a simple, precarious happiness.
Chapter 22
After Breakfast
On a Monday morning, Violet discovers the gas bill and hides it from Henry. She confronts Elsie about gas usage while preparing breakfast. At breakfast, Violet tries to get Henry to eat an egg, but he refuses, adhering to his strict dietary frugality. Later, Violet helps clean the shop and Henry prepares a large bill for Mr. Bauersch, insisting on cash payment.
Chapter 23
III: International
Violet Earlforward deals with Mr. Bauersch, a New York book dealer, in her husband Henry's absence. She appraises him with suspicion, noting his resemblance to Henry but disapproving of his foreign style. After a tense transaction over a large book purchase, Mr. Bauersch struggles to arrange delivery, revealing Violet's unyielding and unhelpful demeanor. The chapter highlights cultural and commercial friction between English and American business practices.
Chapter 24
IV: Afternoon
Violet returns to the kitchen after Henry's arrival, engaging in her secret domestic improvements. An accident with a new cooking contraption and Elsie's consumption of a leftover egg lead to a tense emotional confrontation between the two women, revealing Violet's growing nervousness and Elsie's hidden sorrow.
Chapter 25
Tea
During a tense tea, Violet attempts to serve Henry a beefsteak, which he refuses to eat for reasons of domestic policy. The conflict escalates, leading Violet to retreat to bed in distress. Meanwhile, Elsie struggles with temptation and ultimately eats the leftover steak, confessing her act to Violet.
Chapter 26
Evening
After the argument over the steak, Violet and Henry reconcile. Henry builds a fire, embraces Violet, and they count the day's receipts together. Henry reveals his hoard of gold sovereigns, discussing the threat of communism. Elsie returns late with a newspaper reporting a fatal affray in a Clerkenwell Communist Club, deepening the couple's anxieties.
Chapter 27
I: At the Window
Elsie cleans the upper windows of T. T. Riceyman's bookshop, while Violet enters with plant-pots. Their interaction reveals underlying tensions: Elsie's secret hope that her vanished Joe might return, and Violet's growing anxiety about Henry's health and miserliness. Violet returns Elsie's money for a broken saucepan, then breaks down crying, admitting Henry is too weak to go out. They discuss his refusal to eat and the suffocating atmosphere of the house. Elsie suggests bringing in Dr. Raste under a pretext, but Violet resists, though she is shaken.
Chapter 28
Elsie's Motive
Elsie, driven by concern for her employers' health and the anniversary of Joe's disappearance, visits Dr. Raste without permission to seek medical help for Henry and Violet Earlforward. Dr. Raste initially refuses, insisting on a formal summons, but shows a hint of sympathy. Elsie's hope that Joe might reappear on the anniversary is dashed, leaving her in despair.
Chapter 29
III: Charity
Dr. Raste unexpectedly visits the shop, ostensibly to purchase a Shakespeare edition, but also to assess Henry's health after Elsie's report. Henry tries to appear healthy, but the doctor sees his emaciation. Violet, suspecting Elsie's involvement, feels guilty but relieved when the visit seems coincidental. After the sale, Violet surprises Henry by consulting Dr. Raste about herself, leaving Henry suspicious and distressed.
Chapter 30
IV: No Verdict
Violet confronts Dr. Raste about Henry's health, revealing Henry's miserliness and refusal to eat. The doctor declines to give a verdict on Violet's own condition due to poor lighting. Later, Henry tells Violet that Elsie ate most of the cheese, deepening Violet's despair about her marriage and household.
Chapter 31
Midnight
Elsie returns home after a day of errands and walking the streets, consumed by the hope that Joe will come to her. She waits at the window until midnight, but he never arrives. After her vigil, she turns her thoughts to Mrs. Earlforward's troubles and then eats stolen food from the larder, feeling guilty yet resigned.
Chapter 32
VI: Henry's Plot
Violet wakes feeling unwell but forces herself to maintain her daily routine. Henry announces he will stay in bed, alarming Violet, who fears this is the beginning of the end. Henry reveals his plan to frighten Elsie into stopping her theft of food by pretending to be gravely ill and using the doctor's visit as a pretext. Violet is disturbed by his morbid scheme but feels unable to oppose him. Elsie is sent to Henry, who gently but effectively terrifies her, leaving her sobbing in the kitchen.
Chapter 33
VII: The Night-Call
Violet Earlforward, consumed by anxiety over Henry's illness, treats Elsie with cold disdain and withholds information as punishment. Elsie, burdened by guilt over her theft and Henry's condition, fasts as penance and struggles through her duties. A customer learns of Henry's grave state, and Violet rebukes Elsie for sharing the news. That night, Elsie succumbs to hunger and eats raw bacon, only to be discovered by Violet, who then orders her to fetch the doctor.
Chapter 34
On the Landing
Henry's health deteriorates sharply, leading to a 'coffee-grounds vomit' that Violet recognizes as a serious sign. She sends Elsie for Dr. Raste, who arrives reluctantly. Henry refuses to go to the hospital, asserting his will even in illness. Violet grapples with fear, anger, and a sense of futility as she confronts the possibility of Henry's death.
Chapter 35
IX: Violet's Victory
In the aftermath of Dr. Raste's visit, Henry and Violet lie in bed, each grappling with their feelings of resentment and longing. Violet confronts Henry about his secrecy, selfishness, and refusal to go to the hospital, revealing her past abuse by her first husband. In a passionate outburst, she demands Henry enter the hospital, and after a fierce kiss, he capitulates. Violet then flees the room, overwhelmed by her victory.
Chapter 36
X: Departure
Dr. Raste arrives to find the shop closed and Elsie in charge. Violet has collapsed overnight and is now dangerously ill. The doctor arranges for her immediate removal to the hospital, while Henry remains upstairs, too ill to intervene. Elsie manages the crisis with calm competence, and Violet is taken away in a taxi, leaving Elsie alone with a foreboding sense of finality.
Chapter 37
II: The Refusal
Dr. Raste sends his daughter Miss Raste to arrange for Henry Earlforward's transfer to the hospital, but Henry stubbornly refuses to go, insisting he is not ill and cannot leave the shop. Elsie is caught between the doctor's orders and Henry's obstinacy, and learns that Violet is to have an operation the next morning. Miss Raste returns with a taxi, but Henry's refusal stands, and Elsie pays the taxi fare from her own money.
Chapter 38
III: The Message of Violet
Elsie, humiliated by Mr. Earlforward's refusal to go to the hospital, cleans the shop furiously and reflects on Dr. Raste's kindness. She later takes a letter to the hospital, but needing sixpence for a boy to deliver it, she steals from Mr. Earlforward's safe, discovering a hoard of gold coins.
Chapter 39
Out of the Rain
Elsie enlists Mrs. Perkins's boy Jerry to deliver a letter to the hospital for Violet. Upon returning to the shop, she discovers Joe, her estranged lover, collapsed and ill inside. She secretly carries him to her room, undresses him, steals her employer's shirt and coal to warm him, and nurses him back to comfort, all while hiding him from Mr. Earlforward.
Chapter 40
The Two Patients
In the early hours of the morning, Elsie tends to both Joe and Henry Earlforward, who are seriously ill. She struggles with the weight of responsibility, her conflicting emotions about Henry's potential death, and her inability to summon a doctor. After observing a disturbing scene in a neighboring house, she resolves to wait until morning, steeling herself for the day ahead.
Chapter 41
VI: The Second Refusal
Dr. Raste returns to find Henry Earlforward's condition worsened. He delivers news of Violet's operation for a fibroid growth and again urges Henry to enter the hospital for observation and X-rays. Henry refuses once more, his horror of hospitals rooted in a past visit to a fever ward. The doctor warns of an inquest if Henry dies without proper care, but Henry remains obstinate, trusting only Elsie. The chapter ends with the doctor leaving in frustration.
Chapter 42
VII: Malaria
Elsie is overwhelmed caring for both Henry and Joe, who has secretly arrived ill with malaria. Dr. Raste diagnoses Joe and advises treatment, while Elsie resolves to manage both patients alone despite the immense burden.
Chapter 43
A Climax
Henry Earlforward wakes feeling better and begins to plan his recovery, suspicious of Elsie's activities. Elsie, meanwhile, struggles with the secret of Joe hidden in the house and learns of Violet's critical condition at the hospital. She visits Belrose's shop but cannot bring herself to ask for telephone use, instead buying cheese she cannot pay for. Mrs. Belrose compassionately helps her and learns of Violet's operation, but Elsie keeps Joe's presence secret. Returning home, she tells Henry the news, and he reacts with a dismaying murmur.
Chapter 44
IX: The Kiss
Elsie sits alone in the parlour, mending Joe's clothes with Mrs. Earlforward's sewing tools, grappling with grief and fear for the future. She worries about Joe's health and her own servitude to Mr. Earlforward. Jerry Perkins arrives, and after a brief conversation, Elsie kisses him, offering comfort and kindness amid the household's turmoil.
Chapter 45
X: The Safe
In the silent house after Violet's death, Henry Earlforward struggles with grief and resolves to work as a means of survival. He dresses, goes downstairs to the shop, and attempts to resume his trade. While opening his safe, he discovers that Elsie has secretly taken his keys, opened the safe, and taken sixpence, shattering his trust and fortitude.
Chapter 46
Prison
Elsie tends to Joe, who reveals he has been in prison for fourteen days after an incident on Armistice Day. She learns he sold his papers and is distressed by his lack of documentation. Despite her own troubles, she comforts him and feels a deep sense of love and guilt.
Chapter 47
Asleep
In the middle of the night, Mrs. Belrose notices a light still burning in T. T. Riceyman's shop and wakes her husband, Mr. Belrose. Despite their reluctance, they decide he should investigate. Mr. Belrose finds the shop door unlocked and discovers Henry Earlforward dead in his office chair, with a bag of money on the floor and the safe open. Searching the house, he then finds Elsie asleep across a young man on a bed upstairs, and the young man quietly asks him not to wake her.
Chapter 48
XIII: Disappearance of T. T.’s
The chapter details the aftermath of Henry and Violet's deaths, including the media frenzy, the inquest, and the arrival of Henry's brother, Reverend Augustus Earlforward. Elsie and Joe navigate their new life together, with Elsie feeling guilt over the deaths while Joe remains optimistic. The funeral and the inheritance proceedings are also covered.
