# LV: Upon Foreign Service explained — The Maid of Sker

> Chapter companion for The Maid of Sker by R. D. Blackmore.

## What happens

Davy recounts the outbreak of war with France in 1793, the transfer of the crew from the Bellona to the Defence, and the secret wedding of Captain Drake Bampfylde and Isabel Carey. He also describes a dramatic shark encounter where he saves Heaviside by thrusting a periwig into the shark's mouth, which later reconciles them. The chapter reflects on the nature of marriage, duty, and the peculiarities of the upper class.

## Themes in this chapter

### Maritime Life and Adventure

The chapter details naval operations, the transfer of crews, and a dramatic shark encounter, highlighting the perils and routines of life at sea.

### Gender and Power

The secret marriage between Captain Bampfylde and Isabel Carey reflects the constraints of gender and class, with the bride's reputation and the groom's honor at stake.

### Morality and Hypocrisy

Davy critiques the upper class's secrecy and hypocrisy in marriage, contrasting it with his own straightforward views.

## Character check-ins

### Davy Llewellyn

Narrates the chapter, reflects on the war, his service, and the secret wedding.

### Captain Drake Bampfylde

Secretly marries Isabel Carey before the Defence sails; works hard on the ship.

### Miss Isabel Carey

Marries Captain Drake Bampfylde in secret, then parts from him at the churchyard gate.

### Master Heaviside

Boatswain; nearly eaten by a shark but saved by Davy; reconciles with Davy afterward.

### Sir Philip Bampfylde

Present at the secret wedding of Captain Drake Bampfylde and Isabel Carey.

### Lord Pomeroy

Present at the secret wedding of Captain Drake Bampfylde and Isabel Carey.

### Parson Chowne

Mentioned as someone who would blacken the Captain's character if the marriage were known.

## Key lines

> soul and in law (which takes the lead of the other one), and yet in body severed always, till there should come fair repute.

They are united in spirit and legally married, but physically separated until the Captain's reputation is restored.

_Davy reflects on the paradox of the secret marriage._

> A common man of my rank in life, and having no more than common sense, must often find himself all abroad with wonder about his superiors.

An ordinary man like me, with limited understanding, is often bewildered by the actions of his social betters.

_Davy expresses his confusion about the behavior of the upper class._

> Therefore I plucked from its strings the boatswain’s heavy periwig (which had often vexed me, on account of its pretension), and clapping it on a piece of sugarcane, which lay floating handy, down the wide jaws of the shark I thrust it, to improve his appetite.

So I took the boatswain's wig, which I disliked for its showiness, put it on a floating piece of sugarcane, and shoved it into the shark's mouth to choke it.

_Davy saves Heaviside by using the wig to kill the shark._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/lv-upon-foreign-service
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters