In a Rocky Bower explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Family and Orphanhood

  Bardie's nameless origin and her fear of being scorned due to her derelict birth are central to her character's conflict.

• Class Mobility and Ambition

  Bardie's noble birth is hinted at but she wishes she were a poor man's child; Rodney's proposal hinges on family approval, reflecting class barriers.

Characters to notice

• Bardie

  Now a young woman, dressed plainly, she leads Bunny to her 'cradle' cove and discusses love and engagement.

• Bunny

  Davy's granddaughter, a solid and well-built girl, engaged to Watkin Thomas, though she keeps it from Bardie at first.

• Watkin Thomas

  Bunny's fiancé, mentioned as a suitor whom all the girls in Newton pursued.

• Captain Rodney Bluett

  Now a commander, he comes to the cove to see Bardie, and they exchange playful banter and a promise of marriage.

• Moxy Thomas

  Briefly mentioned as approaching, interrupting Rodney and Bardie's moment.

Key passages

• “I never hear of a man’s impatience without sagely reflecting upon the rapid flight of time, when age draws on, and business thickens, and all the glory of this world must soon be left behind us.”

  Whenever I hear of someone being impatient, I think about how quickly time passes as we grow older and our responsibilities increase, knowing that we must soon leave everything behind.

  Davy reflects on the passage of sixteen years since his great catch and Bardie's landing.

• “It is not your engagement, my dear Bunny, ... you must not suppose for a moment that I object to your engagement.”

  Bardie tells Bunny that she doesn't object to her engagement, but she is upset that Bunny kept it secret.

  Bardie confronts Bunny about hiding her engagement to Watkin Thomas.

• “I think sometimes that we have no right to expect so much as that of things. It is not what they often do; and so they lose the habit of it.”

  Bardie suggests that people often don't do what they should, so they lose the habit of doing the right thing.

  Bardie reflects on the unreliability of expectations and habits.

• “What a fine creature, to be sure! ... She reminds me so much of her grandfather. There is something so strongly alike between them, in their reckless outspoken honour, as well as in the turn of the nose they have.”

  Rodney Bluett admires Bunny, noting her resemblance to Davy in both her honest character and her facial features.

  Rodney compares Bunny to her grandfather Davy.

• “I think, said the maid, with her lips to his ear, in the true old coaxing fashion, that I may very well promise that. But I will promise another thing too. And that is, not to have even you, until your dear mother and good uncle come to me and ask me. And that can never never be.”

  Bardie whispers to Rodney that she will promise to have no one else, but she will only marry him if his mother and uncle formally ask for her hand, which she believes will never happen.

  Bardie sets a condition for her promise to Rodney, highlighting the class barrier between them.