Strong Poison · Chapter
XVIII explained
Miss Climpson returns to her boardinghouse late at night and faces scrutiny from the other ladies about her involvement with spiritualism and Mrs.
What happens
Miss Climpson returns to her boardinghouse late at night and faces scrutiny from the other ladies about her involvement with spiritualism and Mrs. Craig. Despite their warnings, she continues her investigations with Miss Booth. During a séance, a spirit directs them to search for something beginning with 'B', leading them to discover a hidden safe containing the will of Rosanna Wrayburn.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
The séance involves fraudulent spirits like Pongo and George Washington, while Mrs. Craig is suspected of being a charlatan.
Class and Snobbery
The boardinghouse ladies judge Mrs. Craig based on her appearance, associates, and perceived lack of respectability.
Characters to notice
- Miss Climpson
Returns late from a séance, defends her involvement with spiritualism, and later discovers the will with Miss Booth.
- Miss Booth
Participates in the séances and helps Miss Climpson find the hidden safe and will.
- Mrs. Pegler
Voices strong disapproval of spiritualism and Mrs. Craig, recounting a personal insult involving her deceased husband.
- Miss Etheredge
Defends spiritualism, citing a friend who is a saintly spiritualist.
- Miss Tweall
Expresses distrust of mediums and questions Mrs. Craig's character and finances.
- Mrs. Craig
Discussed by the boardinghouse ladies as a dubious spiritualist with henna'd hair and questionable associates.
Key passages
“My dear Miss Climpson, you will not, I trust, think me interfering, but I must caution you against having anything to do with Mrs. Craig or her friends.”
Mrs. Pegler warns Miss Climpson to avoid Mrs. Craig and her circle.
Reflects the boardinghouse's disapproval of spiritualism and Mrs. Craig.
“I believe I know it. There was a row of seven figures in that black notebook I was looking at just now, and it passed through my mind that they must be a memorandum of something.”
Miss Climpson recalls the safe combination from a black notebook.
Leads to the discovery of the will.