Riceyman Steps · Chapter
IX: Sunday Morning explained
On Sunday morning, Henry Earlforward and Violet Arb discuss Elsie's unexplained absence.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Domesticity and Routine
The disruption of Elsie's absence highlights the importance of domestic routine, while the shared walk to church signals a new domestic intimacy.
Love and Marriage in Middle Age
Henry and Violet's mutual admiration and growing closeness, despite their combined age of about ninety, illustrate a middle-aged courtship.
Characters to notice
- Henry Earlforward
Dressed in a new blue suit, he is calm and self-reliant, secretly trembling from the Thursday night crisis, and enjoys Violet's implied criticism about his plant-pots.
- Violet Arb
Dressed for church in black with vermilion flowers, she is critical, intelligent, and finds Henry nearly faultless; she shares her views on church services.
- Elsie
Absent without notice on Sunday morning, causing inconvenience and discussion between Henry and Violet.
Key passages
“She never came to you this morning?”
Did Elsie visit you this morning?
Henry asks Violet about Elsie's absence.
“I always like to be early if it's a strange church, and I've not been in there at all yet.”
I prefer arriving early when visiting an unfamiliar church, and I haven't attended that one before.
Violet explains her punctuality for church.
“I love plants.”
I have a fondness for plants.
Violet expresses her affection for plants, contrasting with Henry's neglect.
“Why couldn't they have had it all on the same level?”
Why wasn't the Square built level with the road?
Violet questions the uneven terrain, which Henry explains with historical context.
“It makes me feel nice. It's a great comfort, especially when it's a foggy day and you can't see very well, and there's not too many people.”
Going to church makes me feel good and provides comfort, particularly on foggy days with few attendees.
Violet shares her personal reason for attending church.