The Cloven Foot · Chapter
The Church Near Camelot explained
Laura Treverton prepares for her husband John's return from Buenos Aires, revealing to Celia Clare that she will meet him at Plymouth.
What happens
Laura Treverton prepares for her husband John's return from Buenos Aires, revealing to Celia Clare that she will meet him at Plymouth. Celia writes to her brother Edward, who reacts bitterly. Laura and John remarry in a quiet ceremony at a church near Camelot, ensuring the legality of their union. Laura then busies herself preparing a study for John at Hazlehurst Manor.
Themes in this chapter
Secrets and Deception
Laura and John keep the details of their marriage and John's past hidden from the Hazlehurst community, maintaining an 'iron mask' of secrecy.
Love and Marriage
The chapter focuses on Laura and John's remarriage, emphasizing their happiness and the legal validation of their union.
Social Class and Wealth
Edward Clare's bitterness is tied to his lack of inheritance and social standing, contrasting with Laura's newfound happiness and wealth.
Characters to notice
- Laura Malcolm
Laura is overjoyed at the prospect of John's return and prepares for their life together, remarrying him in a quiet ceremony at Camelot.
- Celia Clare
Celia expresses curiosity and envy about Laura's marriage and writes to her brother Edward about the news.
- John Treverton
John returns from Buenos Aires, meets Laura at Plymouth, and arranges a second marriage ceremony at Camelot to ensure its legality.
- Edward Clare
Edward reacts bitterly to Celia's letter, feeling betrayed by Laura's happiness and his own failures.
- Mary
Mary accompanies Laura as her maid and is moved to tears during the wedding ceremony.
- Trimmer
Mrs. Trimmer, the housekeeper, assists Laura in preparing the house for John's return.
Key passages
“I am glad to hear that your existence as a married woman is about to assume a reasonable shape. Up to this time you have been as insoluble a mystery as that horrid creature, the man in the iron mask.”
Celia is relieved that Laura's marriage will finally seem normal, as Laura had been as mysterious as the Man in the Iron Mask.
Celia comments on Laura's secretive behavior regarding her marriage.
“I never saw any human creature look so happy in my life. I have seen dogs look like it when one has given them biscuits, and cats when they sit blinking at the fire, and young pigs lying on a bank in the sunshine.”
Celia writes to Edward that Laura's happiness is like that of a contented animal, pure and unquestioning.
Celia's letter describes Laura's joyful demeanor.
“Yet once I thought she loved me, and so she did, before that plausible scoundrel came in her way.”
Edward Clare reflects bitterly that Laura once loved him until John Treverton intervened.
Edward's jealous reaction to Laura's happiness.
“I could not have been happier in my choice of a locality than I was in fixing upon Camelot. I found the most accommodating old parson, who quite entered into my views when I told him that for certain reasons which I need not explain, I wished my marriage to be kept altogether quiet.”
John explains that he chose Camelot for the wedding because the vicar agreed to keep the ceremony secret.
John arranges a private wedding to avoid public attention.
“Can nothing happen now to part us, John? Are our lives secure from all evil in the future? Who can be armed against all misfortune, love? he asked. Of one thing I am certain. You are my wife. Against the validity of our marriage of today no living creature can say a word.”
Laura asks if they are safe from future troubles, and John assures her that their new marriage is legally unassailable.
John reassures Laura about the legality of their second wedding.
