The Old Wives’ Tale · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The book is dedicated to W. W. K.
Chapter 2
The Old Wives’ Tale
The chapter introduces the Baines family and their life in the provincial town of Bursley, focusing on the two sisters Constance and Sophia, their contrasting personalities, and the early signs of their divergent paths.
Chapter 3
Book I: Mrs. Baines
The chapter introduces the Baines household and the two sisters, Constance and Sophia, living above their mother's drapery shop in Bursley. Mrs. Baines, the widowed matriarch, manages the shop and family with authority. The chapter establishes the provincial setting, the daily rhythms of the shop, and the contrasting personalities of the sisters—Constance dutiful and content, Sophia restless and yearning for more. The arrival of the new assistant, Mr. Povey, and the presence of Mr. Critchlow hint at future developments.
Chapter 4
The Square
Constance and Sophia Baines observe their servant Maggie Hollins on her Thursday afternoon outing, mocking her new clothes and romantic rendezvous. Later, in the showroom, Sophia playfully tries on their mother's new gown, only to be interrupted by Mr. Povey, who enters in apparent pain. The chapter also reflects on the outdated fashions and provincial life of the era.
Chapter 5
II: The Tooth
Sophia and Constance serve tea to Mr. Povey and Mr. Critchlow. Mr. Povey, still recovering from laudanum, accidentally swallows a loose tooth while eating mussels, unaware that Sophia had secretly extracted it earlier. Sophia's suppressed laughter leads to a hysterical outburst, highlighting the tension between youthful mischief and domestic propriety.
Chapter 6
A Battle
Mrs. Baines and Sophia clash over Sophia's future, with Sophia defiantly insisting on becoming a schoolteacher against her mother's wishes. After a tense struggle, Mrs. Baines reluctantly capitulates and arranges for Sophia to apprentice with Miss Chetwynd, marking a shift in the family's power dynamics.
Chapter 7
Elephant
During the Bursley Wakes, Constance eagerly invites Sophia to see a dead elephant that has caused a sensation in town. Sophia initially refuses, but after Mrs. Baines and Constance go with Samuel Povey, she regrets her decision. While watching from the window, she spots a young man—Gerald Scales—and is deeply flustered. She rushes to the shop to encounter him, and they speak briefly, rekindling her fascination.
Chapter 8
VI: Escapade
Sophia Baines, having met Gerald Scales in Wedgwood Street, lives on the memory of that encounter, which ignites a secret passion. Mrs. Baines grows suspicious of Sophia's changed moods but cannot uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Samuel Povey, jealous of Gerald's attention to Constance, fabricates a summons to separate them, revealing his own feelings. Sophia, emboldened by her secret, ventures out on a risky errand, pretending to visit Miss Chetwynd but instead heading toward Moorthorne.
Chapter 9
VII: A Defeat
Mrs. Baines and Aunt Harriet, both widows, dominate the household with their oppressive respectability. Sophia, feeling trapped, is sent to stay with Aunt Harriet in Axe. During her absence, Mr. Povey confronts Mrs. Baines about his intentions toward Constance, leading to a tense discussion. Meanwhile, Sophia elopes with Gerald Scales, devastating her mother. Mrs. Baines, humiliated and defeated, retreats to Axe, leaving the family in disgrace.
Chapter 10
Book II: Constance
This chapter focuses on Constance Baines and her life in the Baines household, highlighting her domestic routines, her relationship with her mother Mrs. Baines, and her interactions with the shop and family. It explores the quiet, provincial existence of Constance as she navigates family dynamics and the passage of time.
Chapter 11
Revolution
Constance and Samuel Povey return from their honeymoon to take over the Baines household after Mrs. Baines's departure. Constance faces the shock of Maggie's resignation, and later receives a visit from her mother, who comes alone due to Aunt Harriet's illness. The chapter explores Constance's adjustment to married life and her evolving relationship with her mother and husband.
Chapter 12
Christmas and the Future
This chapter reflects on the quiet, contented domestic life of Constance and Samuel Povey years after their marriage, highlighting their mutual understanding and the subtle melancholy of aging. It contrasts their stability with the decline of Mrs. Baines, the distant sorrow of Sophia's rare cards, and the changing town around them. Small events—like Dick Povey's boneshaker ride, the death of Aunt Maria, and the aging of their dog Fan—underscore the passage of time and the irreversibility of choices.
Chapter 13
III: Cyril
At a children's party, Cyril Povey throws a tantrum over a cake, hitting a guest and causing a scene. After being punished, he goes missing, causing panic until Samuel finds him hiding in the cellar with a candle. The chapter explores Constance's growing anxiety about her son's unchangeable nature and the strain of motherhood.
Chapter 14
Crime
Cyril Povey begins his formal education at the Endowed School, receiving a silver watch from his father Samuel. He excels immediately, entering the third form and winning a prize at term's end. The chapter explores the family's pride and the subtle shifts in Cyril's independence, culminating in his request that his mother stop checking on him after he sleeps.
Chapter 15
Another Crime
Samuel Povey becomes obsessed with saving his cousin Daniel Povey from execution after Daniel is condemned for murder. Despite his worsening health, Samuel tirelessly organizes a petition for reprieve, neglecting his business and straining his marriage with Constance. Constance, desperate to protect Samuel's health, fights with him but ultimately cannot stop his mission. The chapter details the town's shifting attitudes, the logistical challenges of the petition, and the emotional toll on Constance.
Chapter 16
VI: The Widow
Constance, now a widow after Samuel Povey's death, adjusts to her new life. She reflects on their marriage, her grief, and her future with Cyril. She faces decisions about the shop and struggles with Cyril's disobedience, while also encountering Maggie Hollins and contemplating the passage of time.
Chapter 17
VII: Bricks and Mortar
The chapter details the auction of properties belonging to the late William Clews Mericarp, including the Baines-Povey shop and Mr. Critchlow's shop. Constance is unsettled by the sale and the changes it portends. Mr. Critchlow proposes to buy the shop from Constance, bricking up the connecting doors to separate the house from the shop, allowing Constance to remain in her home while he and his new wife, Maria Insull, run the business. Constance struggles with the emotional weight of change and ultimately accepts the offer.
Chapter 18
VIII: The Proudest Mother
In 1893, Constance's son Cyril has grown into a fashionable young man, a new type in Bursley created by the local tailor. Constance dotes on him, but he is indifferent to her efforts. The chapter details Cyril's departure for London, his artistic pursuits, and Constance's lonely devotion. She gives him his father's cigars, which he patronizingly approves, and she reflects on his superiority to his father.
Chapter 19
Book III: Sophia
This chapter focuses on Sophia Baines, her elopement with Gerald Scales, and the subsequent unraveling of their life together as Gerald's fortune is wasted and Sophia is forced to take charge, eventually becoming a pension owner in Paris.
Chapter 20
I: The Elopement
Sophia and Gerald reconcile after a quarrel, with Gerald agreeing to marry her in London rather than taking her to Paris unmarried. They find a boardinghouse and begin marriage preparations. Sophia reflects on her predicament, her theft from Aunt Harriet, and her determination not to return to the Five Towns. Gerald, after initially walking away, returns to her, and they reaffirm their commitment.
Chapter 21
II: Supper
Sophia and Gerald have spent the day at Versailles and dine at Sylvain's, a famous Parisian supper-room. Gerald, proud and slightly drunk, insists on a carriage ride through the Bois. Sophia wears her first French costume, but feels overwhelmed by the opulence and the self-assured Parisian women. After Gerald abandons her at the restaurant, Monsieur Chirac escorts her home. Alone in the hotel room, Sophia bitterly reflects on Gerald's folly and her own choices, feeling trapped and disillusioned.
Chapter 22
III: An Ambition Satisfied
Sophia wakes after a miserable night, reflecting on the horror of the dinner at the Hôtel de Vezelay, where she witnessed debauchery and learned of an execution. She resolves to be a better wife to Gerald, suppressing her own judgment. Gerald invites Chirac for an early lunch, and Sophia, though nervous, agrees to entertain him while Gerald dresses.
Chapter 23
A Crisis for Gerald
Sophia, ill and abandoned by Gerald in Paris, receives a visit from Chirac who reveals that Gerald borrowed money from him under false pretenses. Despite her suffering, Sophia pays Chirac back from her secret reserve. Later that night, Gerald returns, demanding she write to her family for money. She refuses, and he leaves for good, taking his trunk. Sophia reveals she knows he lied about the cigar, achieving a moment of bitter triumph.
Chapter 24
Fever
Sophia, recovering from a severe illness in Madame Foucault's flat, observes the emotional and financial turmoil of her landlady after a quarrel with a young lover. She reflects on Madame Foucault's lack of common sense and her own contrasting resolve, while grappling with her dependence on others and her disdain for the life she has fallen into. Laurence, a friend and nurse, reveals that Madame Foucault's room was never disinfected, undermining the recovery efforts. Sophia feels trapped, despising the idleness and shiftlessness around her, and yearns for strength and freedom, haunted by the consequences of her elopement with Gerald.
Chapter 25
VI: The Siege
Sophia, recovering from a relapse, is drawn into a partnership with Madame Foucault to let furnished rooms to respectable tenants. She rejects a lucrative but immoral offer, instead securing a grocer as a tenant. Madame Foucault, repentant, pledges obedience and respectability, and Sophia finds purpose in the venture.
Chapter 26
VII: Success
Sophia, now established in the Rue Bréda, finds the neighborhood unsuitable for her character and seeks a change. She purchases the Pension Frensham in the Rue Lord Byron, transforming it into a successful and respectable establishment. Over the years, she becomes a proficient landlady, amassing wealth and experience, while remaining emotionally detached from suitors and her past. The chapter concludes with a dramatic farewell to Chirac, who departs on a balloon mission, leaving Sophia reflective on romance and her own life.
Chapter 27
Book IV: What Life Is
This chapter explores the profound and often disillusioning nature of life as experienced by the characters, focusing on the passage of time, the weight of choices, and the quiet endurance of domestic and personal struggles.
Chapter 28
I: Frensham’s
Sophia, alone in Paris, reflects on her solitary life after a quarter-century of running the Pension Frensham. The chance encounter with Matthew Peel-Swynnerton stirs anxiety about her past being discovered and a possible reconnection with her family in Bursley. Despite her initial resistance to change, declining health and concern for her sister Constance lead her to reconsider selling the pension, eventually yielding to Mr. Mardon's proposal to form a syndicate.
Chapter 29
The Meeting
Constance prepares meticulously for Sophia's arrival, airing out their old bedroom and setting the drawing room with care. She decides to meet Sophia at the Knype station, choosing the train over the tram to avoid gossip. Meanwhile, Sophia reflects on her return to Bursley, contrasting the provincial life with her experiences in Paris, and contemplates her past and the sale of her pension.
Chapter 30
Towards Hotel Life
Sophia, now living with Constance in Bursley, wears list slippers and becomes deeply involved in Constance's life. After Constance suffers a sciatica attack, Sophia cares for her and later persuades her to leave Bursley for a holiday. They travel to Buxton and stay at the Rutland Hotel, where Sophia's assumptions about her own expertise in hotel management are challenged, and she realizes her life in Paris was as narrow as Constance's.
Chapter 31
IV: End of Sophia
The chapter depicts the final days of Sophia Baines (Mrs. Scales) and the aftermath of her death. Constance reflects on Sophia's life, her elopement with Gerald Scales, and the inevitable suffering that followed. Sophia dies suddenly, and Constance, along with her son Cyril, makes funeral arrangements. The chapter also explores the strained relationship between the sisters, the difficulties with their servant, and the unchanging nature of the house in the Square.
Chapter 32
End of Constance
Constance Povey, now in her early sixties and suffering from sciatica and rheumatism, lives a quiet life in Bursley. Her close friend Lily Holl visits frequently. Constance reflects on the death of her sister Sophia, the decline of the Baines shop, and the rise of the Midland Clothiers Company. She becomes vehemently opposed to the Federation movement, which she blames for the Square's misfortunes. After voting in the Federation election, she falls ill with acute rheumatism and dies of pericarditis, alone except for the night nurse. Her son Cyril arrives three days after the funeral.
