# Then He Will Come Again explained — The Duke’s Children

> Chapter companion for The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Lady Mabel Grex returns home from a dinner with her father, Lord Grex, who is in a foul mood after losing money on the Derby and being forced to cover his son Percival's debts. At the dinner, she learns from Dolly Longstaff that Frank Tregear has been gambling heavily. Later, she confides in Miss Cassewary about Tregear's supposed gambling and reveals that Lord Silverbridge has essentially proposed to her, but she spared him out of charity. She reflects on her feelings and the possibility that Silverbridge might return, vowing not to spare him a second time.

## Themes in this chapter

### Money and Debt

Lord Grex's financial troubles and his son Percival's gambling losses dominate the chapter, highlighting the precariousness of aristocratic wealth and the burden of debt.

### Gender Roles and Women's Agency

Lady Mabel is pressured by her father to marry for financial relief, yet she exercises agency by choosing to spare Silverbridge from a marriage she deems unequal, reflecting the limited but real choices available to women of her class.

### Love vs. Duty

Mabel grapples with her feelings for Silverbridge and her sense of duty to her family's financial needs, ultimately prioritizing his welfare over her own advantage.

## Character check-ins

### Lady Mabel Grex

Returns home with her father after a difficult dinner; learns of Tregear's gambling; confides in Miss Cassewary about Silverbridge's proposal and her decision to spare him.

### Lord Grex

Returns from the Oaks in a bad humour after losing money and being forced to cover Percival's debts; threatens to give up the house in Belgrave Square and pressures Mabel to marry.

### Miss Cassewary

Mabel's companion; listens to Mabel's confidences about Tregear's gambling and Silverbridge's proposal; offers comfort and advice.

### Dolly Longstaff

Sits next to Mabel at dinner; mentions that he and Percival have lost money at the races, and implies that Tregear has also been gambling.

### Sir Timothy Beeswax

Sits next to Mabel at dinner; discusses Silverbridge's switch to the Conservative party and expresses admiration for the Duke of Omnium.

### Lord Silverbridge

Mentioned as having proposed to Mabel in a roundabout way; she spared him but considers that he may return.

### Frank Tregear

Mabel believes he has taken to gambling and lost money at the races, based on Dolly Longstaff's report.

### Lord Percival

Mabel's brother; lost money on the Derby, causing financial complications with their father.

## Key lines

> I don't see why the deuce you don't get married. You'll have to do it sooner or later.

Lord Grex pressures his daughter to marry, implying she is a financial burden.

_Reflects the theme of parental authority and the economic pressures on aristocratic women._

> Though I had him in my net, I let him go. Shall I go to heaven for doing that?

Mabel reflects on her decision to spare Silverbridge from a proposal, questioning her own morality.

_Highlights Mabel's internal conflict between self-interest and altruism._

> A real gentleman should never want the money out of another man's pocket;—should never think of money at all.

Mabel criticizes gambling as ungentlemanly, contrasting it with her own pragmatic view of money.

_Illustrates the tension between aristocratic ideals and financial realities._

## Links

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