# XIII: The Settlement explained — The Cloven Foot

> Chapter companion for The Cloven Foot by M. E. Braddon.

## What happens

John Treverton returns to Hazlehurst to execute a deed of settlement, giving all his property to his wife Laura. He signs the document in the presence of Mr. Sampson, his sister Eliza, and a housemaid, then departs hastily. The chapter also follows Tom Sampson's lazy evening reflections on marriage and his interest in Celia Clare.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

John Treverton's settlement of all his property on Laura underscores the legal and financial dimensions of marriage, while Tom Sampson's musings on marrying Celia Clare reflect practical considerations of love and partnership.

### Secrets and Deception

Tom Sampson's pretense of hard work when his sister approaches, and John Treverton's evasive answers about his whereabouts, highlight small domestic deceptions and larger hidden motives.

### Inheritance and Legitimacy

The deed of settlement transfers John's inherited estate to Laura, emphasizing themes of property, inheritance, and the legal securing of a wife's position.

## Character check-ins

### John Treverton

Returns to Hazlehurst to sign the marriage settlement, giving all his property to Laura. His pale, haggard appearance startles Sampson.

### Mr. Sampson

The solicitor who prepared the deed. He witnesses the signing and later reflects on his own prospects of marriage.

### Eliza Sampson

Sister of Mr. Sampson, who witnesses John Treverton's signature and expresses concern about his happiness.

### Laura Malcolm

John's wife, who is the beneficiary of the settlement. She is mentioned as being left alone in a foreign land.

### Celia Clare

Mentioned in Tom Sampson's thoughts as a potential wife; he considers her plump, pretty, and lively.

## Key lines

> Is it yourself or your ghost?

Sampson is startled by John Treverton's pale, spectral appearance and asks if he is real or a ghost.

_Highlights John's haggard state and the dramatic nature of his return._

> You give your wife everything. I think you a fool, so did the advising counsel; but that makes no difference.

Sampson remarks that John is transferring all his property to Laura, which he and the legal counsel consider unwise, but John is undeterred.

_Emphasizes John's devotion and the unconventional nature of the settlement._

> I want my wife's position to be unassailable as the summit of Mount Everest.

John wants Laura's legal and financial security to be absolutely certain and beyond challenge.

_Shows John's determination to protect Laura's future._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cloven_foot_se/chapters/xiii-the-settlement
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cloven_foot_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cloven_foot_se/chapters