# III: He Earns a Stickpin explained — The Cords of Vanity

> Chapter companion for The Cords of Vanity by James Branch Cabell.

## What happens

The narrator recounts his pursuit of Stella Musgrave during the summer after college, his rivalry with Peter Blagden, and his eventual role as best man at Stella and Peter's wedding. He also reflects on his correspondence with Bettie Hamlyn and the promise he made to her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Vanity and Self-Deception

The narrator's dark hints about fictitious women and his desire to appear depraved reveal self-deception and vanity.

### Romantic Idealism vs. Reality

The narrator's idealistic pursuit of Stella clashes with the reality of her marriage to Peter.

### Love and Its Disillusionments

The narrator's love for Stella ends in disillusionment as she marries another, and he reflects on his failed courtship.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator follows Stella, competes with Peter, and serves as best man at their wedding.

### Stella Musgrave

Stella is courted by the narrator and Peter, eventually marrying Peter Blagden.

### Peter Blagden

Peter is the narrator's rival for Stella and marries her, asking the narrator to be best man.

### Bettie Hamlyn

Bettie corresponds with the narrator and extracts a promise of honesty from him.

## Key lines

> And all the ensuing summer I followed Stella Musgrave from one watering place to another, with an engaging and entire candor as to my desires.

Throughout the summer, I openly pursued Stella Musgrave as she traveled to various resorts.

_The narrator describes his candid pursuit of Stella._

> I blush to think of the dark hints I dropped as to entirely fictitious women who 'had been too kind to me.'

I am embarrassed to recall the false insinuations I made about imaginary women who had been affectionate toward me.

_The narrator admits to fabricating stories to appear more experienced._

> So I wrote to Bettie Hamlyn on the seventh of every month—because that was her birthday—and again on the twenty-third, because that was mine.

I wrote to Bettie on the seventh and twenty-third of each month, dates tied to our birthdays.

_The narrator maintains a regular correspondence with Bettie._

> And Peter Blagden clapped the pinnacle upon my anguish by asking me to be the best man.

Peter Blagden added to my misery by requesting that I serve as his best man.

_The narrator's anguish is compounded by Peter's request._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/iii-he-earns-a-stickpin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters