The Dewy Morn · Chapter
XV explained
Felise goes trout-fishing with Shaw, but her mind is elsewhere.
What happens
Felise goes trout-fishing with Shaw, but her mind is elsewhere. She wanders through fields and meadows, using the fishing rod as a pretense to cross paths with Martial Barnard. She waits near his fields and an abandoned barn, growing impatient with the slow process of trying to meet him by chance.
Themes in this chapter
Obsession and Jealousy
Felise's single-minded pursuit of Martial, using fishing as a mere pretext, reveals her growing obsession.
Love and Idealization
Felise's intense focus on crossing paths with Martial suggests an idealized romantic fixation.
Nature and Spirituality
The natural landscape—the brook, the mill-pool, the barn—mirrors Felise's inner state and serves as a backdrop for her emotional turmoil.
Characters to notice
- Felise Goring
Uses fishing as a pretext to wander Martial's fields; preoccupied and impatient to meet him.
- Mary Shaw
Felise's maid, lively and devoted, teases Felise about being in love.
- Martial Barnard
The object of Felise's search; she haunts his fields hoping for an accidental meeting.
- Mr. Goring
Seen working in the garden with Abner Brown as Felise leaves.
- Abner Brown
Working in the garden with Mr. Goring.
- Miller Bond
The miller at Glads Mill, who touches his forehead as Felise passes.
Key passages
“Felise had lately been singularly particular about her dress when she went trout-fishing.”
Felise had recently become very careful about how she dressed for fishing.
Indicates her fishing is a pretext to look good for Martial.
“Felise did not attach another fly, but cast the line just as it was without a bait.”
Felise stopped using a fly and cast an empty line.
Shows she has abandoned any pretense of actually fishing.
“Since her resolution was formed that morning at the trout-pool before her swim, she had accomplished nothing.”
Since deciding that morning to pursue Martial, she had made no progress.
Highlights her frustration and impatience.