# The Years Roll By explained — She

> Chapter companion for She by H. Rider Haggard.

## What happens

After Vincey's sudden death, Holly receives a letter from the lawyers confirming his guardianship of Leo Vincey, a five-year-old boy. Holly accepts the trust, arranges for Leo to live with him, and raises him with the help of a male attendant named Job. The chapter follows Leo's growth into a handsome and brilliant young man, detailing their close relationship and Leo's education in Greek and Arabic. As Leo approaches his twenty-fifth birthday, Holly reveals the mystery of his heritage and the iron chest left by his father.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fate and Reincarnation

The mysterious circumstances of Vincey's death and the prophecy of a quest suggest an overarching fate guiding Leo's life.

### Knowledge and Forbidden Wisdom

The iron chest and the instructions to open it on Leo's twenty-fifth birthday hint at hidden knowledge and forbidden secrets.

## Character check-ins

### Horace Holly

Narrator and guardian of Leo Vincey; accepts the trust and raises Leo from age five.

### Leo Vincey

The infant son of the late M. L. Vincey; grows into a strikingly handsome and brilliant young man under Holly's care.

### Job

Holly's hired male attendant who helps care for young Leo; previously a helper in a hunting-stable.

### John Vincey

The late M. L. Vincey, whose death and mysterious midnight visit set the events in motion; his will entrusts Leo to Holly.

## Key lines

> “I like you,” he said: “you is ugly, but you is good.”

Young Leo tells Holly that he likes him because he is ugly but good.

_Shows Leo's early affection for Holly despite Holly's appearance._

> Beauty and the Beast was what they called us when we went out walking together

The college community nicknamed Holly and Leo 'Beauty and the Beast' due to their contrasting looks.

_Highlights the close bond and the physical contrast between the two._

> I would have no woman to lord it over me about the child, and steal his affections from me.

Holly decides not to hire a female nurse for Leo, fearing she would take the child's love away from him.

_Reveals Holly's possessive love and determination to be the primary caregiver._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters/ii-the-years-roll-by
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters