# II: The First Kiss explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Mary Tomkins reflects on a past kiss from the Rev. Abraham Dribble, a Low-Church scoundrel who left the parish after ingratiating himself with a bishop. She now resists the advances of Johnny Thomas, who sits with his arm around her waist after work. Her aunt, Mrs. Johnson, pragmatically advises that one can love again if the first fails, but Mary repeatedly insists 'Never.'

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Mary's conflicted feelings about love and her refusal to kiss again highlight the theme of romantic attachment and fidelity.

### Morality and Hypocrisy

The Rev. Abraham Dribble is described as a Low-Church scoundrel who kissed Mary without consent, exposing hypocrisy in religious figures.

## Character check-ins

### Mary Crofts

Mary Tomkins, the protagonist, recalls a past kiss and resists new romantic advances.

### John Smith

Johnny Thomas, who sits with his arm around Mary's waist after office hours.

## Key lines

> Why wouldn’t she? It was now two years since she had consented to be kissed, or, as may perhaps have been the case, had been kissed without her consent by the Rev. Abraham Dribble.

It had been two years since Mary either agreed to or was forcibly kissed by the Reverend Abraham Dribble.

_Introduces the ambiguous memory of the kiss and the character of Dribble._

> “Never, never, never, never!” It was her daily language as Johnny Thomas sat with his arm around her waist when his office hours were over.

Mary repeatedly said 'Never' while Johnny Thomas embraced her after work.

_Shows Mary's resistance to Johnny's advances._

> “Surely you love him,” said her aunt, in confidence, while they were preparing together a Saturday pie for the lodgers. “Shall there be two loves?” asked Mary. “Certainly,” said Mrs. Johnson, practically, “if the first fails, or maybe three⁠—as circumstances may require.”

Mary's aunt suggested she must love Johnny, but Mary questioned having two loves. Her aunt pragmatically replied that one could love again if the first fails, or even three times as needed.

_Highlights the practical advice from Mrs. Johnson about love and moving on._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/volume-i-ii-the-first-kiss
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_4_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters