Riceyman Steps · Chapter
IX: The Kiss explained
Elsie sits alone in the parlour, mending Joe's clothes with Mrs.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Domesticity and Routine
Elsie mends clothes by the gas-fire, using the dead mistress's sewing box, highlighting the persistence of domestic chores amid crisis.
Illness and Mortality
Mrs. Earlforward's death and Joe's and Mr. Earlforward's illnesses dominate Elsie's thoughts and actions.
Service and Sacrifice
Elsie feels bound by her promise to Mr. Earlforward, seeing herself as a slave with no escape, and sacrifices her own desires for duty.
Characters to notice
- Elsie
Sews Joe's clothes, mourns Mrs. Earlforward, fears Joe's death and her own enslavement to Mr. Earlforward, and kisses Jerry.
- Joe
Lies ill upstairs in Elsie's bed; his clothes are being mended by Elsie.
- Henry Earlforward
Shown recovering slightly, taking Bovril and opening letters; Elsie fears her vow to him will trap her.
- Violet Earlforward
Recently deceased; Elsie uses her sewing box and grieves her loss.
- Jerry Perkins
Visits Elsie at the shop, dressed in his best clothes; asks for and receives a kiss from Elsie.
Key passages
“She was working with the tools of a dead lady. At moments this irked and frightened her; at other moments she thought that what must be must be, and that, anyhow, the clothes ought to be put in order.”
Using the sewing box of the deceased Mrs. Earlforward unsettled Elsie, but she resolved that necessity required her to finish mending the clothes.
Elsie's conflicted feelings about using Violet's belongings while grappling with death and duty.
“She saw no hope; she made no reserves in the interpretation of her vow to the master. She could not see that circumstances inevitably, if slowly, alter cases.”
Elsie believed her promise to Mr. Earlforward was absolute and saw no possibility of change, unable to recognize that situations evolve over time.
Elsie's despair and rigid view of her vow, foreshadowing potential conflict.
“Give me a kiss, Elsie,' he blurted out audaciously. He was frightened by his own cheek.”
Jerry boldly asked Elsie for a kiss, immediately shocked by his own daring.
Jerry's audacious request and his nervous reaction.
“She kissed him quietly but fully. There were no reservations in her kiss.”
Elsie gave Jerry a sincere and unreserved kiss, without holding back.
Elsie's generous and unguarded gesture of kindness.