The Borough Treasurer · Chapter
The Barrister's Fee explained
Six months after the tragedies, Brereton returns to the northern hills to visit Avice Harborough at Wraye, where she and her father have settled.
What happens
Six months after the tragedies, Brereton returns to the northern hills to visit Avice Harborough at Wraye, where she and her father have settled. He avoids looking at Highmarket, haunted by memories. He learns that Bent married Lettie and moved abroad, and that Harborough was acquitted and became steward at Wraye. Brereton, acting on a sudden impulse, travels to Wraye to ask Avice to leave it—and their meeting culminates in a kiss and a mutual understanding of their love.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Loyalty
Brereton's loyalty to Avice and his desire to build a future with her, despite the painful past.
Fate and Consequence
The characters have moved on from the tragedies; Brereton seeks to leave the past behind and start anew.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Brereton
Returns to the north after six months, avoids Highmarket, and travels to Wraye to propose to Avice.
- Avice Harborough
Now living at Wraye with her father; corresponds with Brereton and meets him unexpectedly in the garden.
- Lettie Cotherstone
Married Bent and moved abroad; described as philosophically accepting her father's fate.
- Mr. Bent
Sold his business, married Lettie, and plans to enter politics after returning to England.
- John Harborough
Acquitted and appointed steward and agent at Wraye.
Key passages
“He had no wish to see the town again; he would have been glad to cut that chapter out of his book of memories.”
Brereton deliberately avoids looking at Highmarket, wanting to erase the painful memories associated with it.
Shows Brereton's desire to move on from the traumatic events.
“And when two young people hold each other’s hands, especially on a Springtide evening, and under the most romantic circumstances and surroundings, lips are apt to say more than tongues—which is as much as to say that without further preface these two expressed all they had to say in their first kiss.”
The romantic setting leads Brereton and Avice to share a kiss, expressing their feelings without words.
Highlights the emotional climax of their reunion.