# Miss Demolines Desires to Become a Finger-Post explained — The Last Chronicle of Barset

> Chapter companion for The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

John Eames, rejected by Lily Dale, resolves to forget her through hard work and study, but his resolve weakens when he visits Miss Demolines. She passionately declares her love and offers to be his 'finger-post,' leading to an awkward scene where Lady Demolines catches them embracing and claims him as her son.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Explores the complexities of romantic rejection and the manipulative pursuit of marriage, as Miss Demolines attempts to secure John Eames.

### Gossip and Public Opinion

John's fear of being trapped by social expectations and Lady Demolines's theatrical intervention highlight the role of public perception in private affairs.

## Character check-ins

### Johnny Eames

Struggles with heartbreak after Lily Dale's rejection, attempts to distract himself with work and Homer, but is drawn into a compromising situation with Miss Demolines.

### Lily Dale

Rejects John Eames's proposal, causing him deep sorrow and a resolve to move on.

### Miss Demolines

Passionately declares her love for John Eames, offering to be his 'finger-post,' and orchestrates a scene with her mother to trap him.

### Old Lady Demolines

Interrupts the embrace between John and her daughter, theatrically claims John as her son, and pressures him into a commitment.

### Sir Raffle Buffle

Mentions John's return to work; John's grave demeanor confounds Sir Raffle's mock activity.

## Key lines

> It has taken a good bit out of me... A man doesn’t go through that kind of thing without losing some of the caloric.

John reflects that the emotional ordeal of rejection has drained him significantly.

_John's internal monologue after Lily's rejection._

> Let it be as though it were unsaid.

Miss Demolines asks John to pretend her declaration of love never happened.

_Miss Demolines's attempt to backtrack after her outburst._

> My son!

Lady Demolines claims John as her son-in-law after catching him with her daughter.

_Lady Demolines's theatrical acceptance of John into the family._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxx-miss-demolines-desires-to-become-a-finger-post
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters