Riceyman Steps · Chapter
Evening explained
After the argument over the steak, Violet and Henry reconcile.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Miserliness and Obsession
Henry's hoarding of gold sovereigns and his obsessive counting of money highlight his miserly nature and the central role of wealth in his life.
Domesticity and Routine
The evening routine of locking up, counting receipts, and the couple's domestic reconciliation after conflict underscores the theme of domestic life.
Urban Decay and Industrial London
The setting of Riceyman Steps and the reference to the Clerkenwell Communist Club evoke the gritty, politically charged urban environment of early 20th-century London.
Characters to notice
- Violet Earlforward
Reconciles with Henry after the steak dispute; helps count money and is awed by his gold hoard; grows anxious about Elsie's absence.
- Henry Earlforward
Builds a fire to mend the rift; reveals his secret gold sovereigns; discusses the dangers of communism; sends Elsie for a newspaper.
- Elsie
Sent out for a newspaper; returns late with the Star, having seen the word 'Clerkenwell' on the front page; apologizes for leaving the door unlocked.
Key passages
“Violet laughed in the dark: an unusual laugh, not vivacious nor hearty, but a laugh.”
Violet let out a strange, quiet laugh in the darkness.
Reflects Violet's complex emotional state after the argument.
“He had won; but had he won?”
Henry felt victorious, yet uncertain of his victory.
Highlights Henry's internal conflict about his relationship with Violet.
“He was a superman, the most mysterious of supermen.”
Violet saw Henry as an extraordinary, enigmatic figure.
Emphasizes Violet's awe and admiration for Henry's secret wealth.
“‘Fatal Affray in a Clerkenwell Communist Club,’”
The newspaper headline reported a deadly fight at a communist club in Clerkenwell.
Introduces the external political threat that heightens the couple's fears.