# Down at Allington explained — The Last Chronicle of Barset > Chapter companion for The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Grace Crawley stays with Lily Dale at Allington. She is persuaded to attend a Christmas dinner at the Great House with the old squire, Mr. Dale, despite her reluctance due to her father's troubles. At the dinner, she meets the squire, who treats her kindly, and Lady Julia De Guest toasts John Eames, causing Lily discomfort. After dinner, Grace and Lily discuss the Boyces and the squire's past kindness, and Grace reflects on Hogglestock church. ## Themes in this chapter ### Gossip and Public Opinion Grace fears attending dinner because of her father's notoriety; Lily advises that staying away would imply doubt of his innocence. The chapter explores how public scandal affects social participation. ### Family and Duty Grace feels duty-bound to her family despite her discomfort; the squire toasts her parents, showing familial respect. Lily's loyalty to her uncle and mother is also evident. ### Love and Marriage Johnny Eames' unrequited love for Lily is a recurring topic; Lady Julia's toasts pressure Lily, who resists being constantly reminded of the match. ## Character check-ins ### Grace Crawley Staying with Lily Dale; reluctant to attend Christmas dinner due to father's scandal; introduced to the squire and finds him kind; reflects on Hogglestock church. ### Lily Dale Hosts Grace; teases Mrs. Boyce; toasts John Eames at dinner despite discomfort; discusses the squire's past kindness and her own history with him. ### Johnny Eames Mentioned as being long and steadily in love with Lily; his health is drunk at the Christmas dinner. ### Major Grantly Mentioned by the squire as having an only daughter, Edith; the squire recalls him as a handsome lad. ### Mr. Dale The old squire; hosts the Christmas dinner; speaks kindly to Grace, drinks to her parents, and teaches her about Pope Joan; described as a gentleman by Lily. ### Lady Julia De Guest Toasts John Eames at dinner; wins at cards; mentioned as a friend of Johnny Eames. ## Key lines > If anybody made out a list of the old ladies in these parts, they’d put down Lady Julia, and mamma, and Mrs. Boyce, and me, and old Mrs. Hearne. The very children have an awful respect for me, and give over playing directly they see me. Lily jokingly says she is considered so serious that even children stop playing when they see her, ranking herself among the old ladies of the neighborhood. _Lily's self-deprecating humor about her reputation for gravity._ > For a few days—for a week or two, when the blow first struck her, she had been knocked down, and the friends who were nearest to her had thought that she would never again stand erect upon her feet. But she had been very strong, stout at heart, of a fixed purpose, and capable of resistance against oppression. Lily was devastated by her past romantic misfortune but proved resilient, surprising even her mother with her strength of will. _Narrator describes Lily's recovery from her earlier heartbreak._ > It was terrible to her to have them mentioned, knowing as she did that everyone who mentioned them must be aware of their misery—for the misfortune of her father had become notorious in the country; but it was almost more terrible to her that no allusion should be made to them; for then she would be driven to think that her father was regarded as a man whom the world could not afford to mention. Grace is torn between dreading that people will mention her parents (because it reminds her of their shame) and fearing that silence would mean they are being shunned entirely. _Grace's internal conflict about public acknowledgment of her father's scandal._ > No one can understand how dreadful it is—this being constantly told before one's family and friends that one ought to marry a certain young man. Lily complains to her mother about the pressure from Lady Julia to marry Johnny Eames, feeling it is publicly humiliating. _Lily's frustration with being repeatedly urged to accept Johnny Eames._ > But don't you feel that there are people whom one knows very intimately, who are really friends—for whom if they were dying one would grieve, whom if they were in misfortune one would go far to help, but with whom for all that one can have no sympathy. Lily explains to Grace that some close friends lack true emotional understanding, yet remain part of one's life due to long acquaintance. _Lily's reflection on the limits of friendship with Mrs. Boyce._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xvi-down-at-allington - 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