# The Rose Garden explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by M. R. James.

## What happens

Mr. and Mrs. Anstruther discuss a shared nightmare about a trial and execution for high treason, which Mrs. Anstruther attributes to thought-reading from a story she heard. After a walk, Mrs. Anstruther sees a terrifying face in a bush, leading to a severe shock. Later, a letter from the Essex Archaeological Society reveals that the face may be connected to a Lord Chief Justice buried with a stake through his heart in Westfield.

## Themes in this chapter

### Supernatural and the Uncanny

The shared nightmare and the vision of a face in the bush suggest a supernatural haunting tied to historical events.

### The Curse of Knowledge

The archaeological inquiry and the discovery of the stake entry bring a curse-like consequence, as Mrs. Anstruther is severely shocked.

### Guardianship of Secrets

The rector's motto 'quieta non movere' (do not disturb things at rest) hints at the danger of uncovering the past.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. and Mrs. Anstruther

The couple experiences a shared nightmare and a haunting vision in the rose garden.

### Collins

The gardener who fell ill after clearing the rose garden, reported by his wife.

### Mrs. Collins

Reports that Collins is unwell and that there is local gossip about the rose garden.

### Lord Chief Justice

The historical figure whose ghost is implied to haunt Westfield after his death by suicide.

## Key lines

> The stake is in a field adjoining to the churchyard of Westfield, on the west side.

The stake used to pin down the ghost is located in a field next to Westfield churchyard, on its western side.

_This entry from the parish registers explains the method used to lay the restless spirit._

> quieta non movere

Do not disturb things that are at rest.

_The rector's motto, added to the burial entry, serves as a warning against meddling with the past._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se/chapters/the-rose-garden
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se/chapters