XX: The House in the Cove explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Addiction and Control

  Gabrielle's morphine addiction is a central focus; the Narrator plans her withdrawal, asserting control over her recovery.

• Deception and Illusion

  Gabrielle questions whether the Narrator's reassurances are sincere or a professional trick; the Narrator uses deception to manage her fears.

• Family and Dysfunction

  Gabrielle's relationship with her father and the Leggett family curse are discussed; Andrews acts as a paternal figure but is distrusted.

Characters to notice

• The Narrator

  Drives Gabrielle to the cove, reassures her about her fears, and plans her morphine withdrawal.

• Gabrielle Leggett

  In low spirits but improves after the Narrator's reassurance; agrees to start withdrawal from morphine.

• Mickey Linehan

  Brings news about Andrews and Aaronia Haldorn; stays at the house to act as a watchdog.

• Madison Andrews

  Visits Aaronia Haldorn in San Mateo; comes to take Gabrielle back to San Francisco but is refused.

• Tom Fink

  Awake after the bomb; reveals Harvey Whidden is his stepson.

• Mrs. Herman

  Cooks for the household; the Narrator plans to send her away during Gabrielle's withdrawal.

Key passages

• “According to me, it was as foolish to try to read character from the shape of ears as from the position of stars, tea-leaves, or spit in the sand; anybody who started hunting for evidence of insanity in himself would certainly find plenty, because all but stupid minds were jumbled affairs; she was, as far as I could see, too much like her father to have much Dain blood in her, or to have been softened much by what she had, even if you wanted to believe that things like that could be handed down; there was nothing to show that her influence on people was any worse than anybody else’s, it being doubtful that many people had a very good influence on those of the opposite sex, and, anyway, she was too young, inexperienced, and self-centered to judge how she varied from the normal in this respect; I would show her in a few days that there was for her difficulties a much more tangible, logical, and jailable answer than any curse; and she wouldn’t have much trouble breaking away from morphine, since she was a fairly light user of the stuff and had a temperament favorable to a cure.”

  The Narrator tells Gabrielle that reading character from ears is as silly as superstitions, that everyone has some mental chaos, that she resembles her father more than the Dains, that her influence on others is no worse than average, and that her problems have a logical, criminal explanation rather than a curse. He also assures her that her morphine addiction can be easily overcome.

  The Narrator attempts to rationally dismantle Gabrielle's fears about heredity, insanity, and the curse, while promising a practical solution.

• “I gave her the answer that seemed best at the time: 'Your belief in me is built on mine in you. If mine’s unjustified, so is yours. So let me ask you a question first: were you lying when you said, “I don’t want to be evil”?'”

  The Narrator deflects Gabrielle's question about his sincerity by turning it back on her, suggesting that her trust in him is based on his trust in her, and asks if she was truthful about not wanting to be evil.

  The Narrator uses a rhetorical maneuver to reinforce Gabrielle's trust and commitment to her own moral stance.