The Lodger · Chapter
XXV explained
On Daisy's eighteenth birthday, she receives a silver watch from her father.
What happens
On Daisy's eighteenth birthday, she receives a silver watch from her father. Bunting, increasingly paranoid and fearful, slips out to buy tobacco and encounters his wife Ellen outside a greengrocer's, realizing they both left Daisy alone with the lodger. They rush home in panic, only to find Daisy safe and cheerful. Daisy recounts meeting Mr. Sleuth, who invited her and Ellen to Madame Tussaud's. Despite Bunting's objections, the lodger himself appears and insists they go, and Mrs. Bunting reluctantly agrees.
Themes in this chapter
Fear and Suspicion
Bunting's terror and the shared, unspoken knowledge between him and Ellen dominate the chapter, highlighting the corrosive effect of suspicion.
Appearance vs. Reality
Mr. Sleuth's gentle demeanor and polite invitation contrast sharply with the Buntings' horrific suspicions, underscoring the theme of deceptive appearances.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Bunting
Ellen is deeply anxious and preoccupied, silently complicit in the household's tension. She reluctantly agrees to accompany Daisy and the lodger to Madame Tussaud's.
- Mr. Sleuth
The lodger appears gentle and mild-mannered, inviting Daisy and Mrs. Bunting to Madame Tussaud's. His behavior momentarily sways Bunting's suspicion.
- Daisy
Daisy turns eighteen and receives a silver watch. She is cheerful and naive, excited by the lodger's attention and the prospect of a birthday outing.
- Mr. Bunting
Bunting is consumed by fear and suspicion, avoiding acquaintances and smoking excessively. His panic upon finding Daisy alone with the lodger reveals his deep dread.
Key passages
“Bunting turned a grey face to his wife. “She’s all right, Ellen.” He waited a moment, leaning against the wall of the passage. “It did give me a turn,” he said, and then, warningly, “Don’t frighten the girl, Ellen.””
Bunting, pale with relief, tells Ellen that Daisy is safe and warns her not to alarm their daughter.
This moment reveals Bunting's overwhelming fear and his protective instinct toward Daisy.
““I won’t have you going out with the lodger—that’s flat.” Bunting spoke in a muffled, angry tone.”
Bunting firmly forbids Daisy from accompanying the lodger, his anger barely contained.
Bunting's command reflects his deep mistrust of Mr. Sleuth and his desperation to keep Daisy safe.