# The Barrister's Fee explained — The Borough Treasurer

> Chapter companion for The Borough Treasurer by J. S. Fletcher.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters/xxxi-the-barrister-s-fee
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_borough_treasurer_se/chapters