Miss Trefoil's Decision explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Marriage and Financial Necessity

  Arabella's desperate pursuit of Lord Rufford and her consideration of John Morton highlight the economic and social pressures driving marriage decisions.

• Hypocrisy and Moral Complexity

  Arabella's manipulation of her father and her false story about the horse's lameness reveal the moral compromises she makes to maintain appearances.

Characters to notice

• Arabella Trefoil

  Receives Lord Rufford's rejection letter, initially devastated but resolves to fight back, forcing her father to write a formal demand.

• Lady Augustus Trefoil

  Supports Arabella's plan, though reluctantly, and is dragged away from the Connop Greens' house to London.

• Lord Augustus

  Forced by Arabella to write a letter to Lord Rufford demanding an explanation; reluctant but compliant.

• Lord Rufford

  Sent a rejection letter to Arabella, which she refuses to accept.

• John Morton

  Briefly considered by Arabella as a fallback option, but she decides against it.

Key passages

• “Your letter has amazed me. I cannot understand it. It seems to be almost impossible that it should really have come from you. How can you say that I have mistaken you? There has been no mistake. Surely that letter cannot have been written by you.”

  Arabella expresses shock and disbelief at Lord Rufford's rejection, insisting that his proposal was clear and unambiguous.

  Arabella's letter to Lord Rufford, denying any misunderstanding.

• “I'll stick to him like a leech. He proposed to me as plainly as any man ever did to any woman. I don't care what people may say or think. He hasn't heard the last of me; and so he'll find.”

  Arabella vows to persist in her pursuit of Lord Rufford, refusing to accept his rejection.

  Arabella's determination to continue the hunt despite the rejection letter.