The Old Wives’ Tale · Chapter
End of Constance explained
Constance Povey, now in her early sixties and suffering from sciatica and rheumatism, lives a quiet life in Bursley.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Passage of Time and Aging
Constance is now over sixty, suffering from sciatica and rheumatism, and reflects on her life and the changes in Bursley. Her death marks the end of an era.
Change and Modernity
The Federation movement and the Midland Clothiers Company symbolize the encroaching modern world, which Constance resists. The old Baines shop closes forever.
Social Class and Respectability
Constance is concerned with propriety, as seen in her decision to include a servant's photograph in her album. She also judges Dick and Lily's relationship and the decline of the Square's reputation.
Characters to notice
- Constance Baines
Now an elderly, stout widow in her sixties, suffering from sciatica and rheumatism. She is calm, philosophical, and somewhat optimistic after Sophia's death, but becomes fiercely opposed to Federation. She dies of pericarditis.
- Lily Holl
A young woman in mourning for her grandfather, Alderman Holl. She is a frequent visitor to Constance, gentle and sympathetic, and engaged to Dick Povey.
- Dick Povey
Constance's nephew by marriage, engaged to Lily Holl. He mentions Federation in Constance's presence, provoking her strong opposition.
- Cyril Povey
Constance's son, who is away in England during her illness and arrives three days after her funeral.
- Mr. Critchlow
Now very old, he sells the Baines shop and his own to the Midland Clothiers Company and retires to a small house. His wife Maria Critchlow attempts suicide.
- Fossette
Constance's dog, brought upstairs on the evening before her death.
Key passages
“When, on a June afternoon about twelve months later, Lily Holl walked into Mrs. Povey’s drawing room overlooking the Square, she found a calm, somewhat optimistic old lady—older than her years—which were little more than sixty—whose chief enemies were sciatica and rheumatism.”
About a year after Sophia's death, Lily Holl visits Constance and finds her an elderly, cheerful woman in her early sixties, battling sciatica and rheumatism.
Introduces Constance's physical decline and her peaceful state of mind.
“The truth was that, though her bereavement had been the cause of a most genuine and durable sorrow, it had been a relief to her.”
Constance genuinely grieved Sophia's death, but it also brought her relief from Sophia's dominating presence.
Reveals Constance's unspoken feelings about her sister.
“It was not acute rheumatism, but a supervening pericarditis that in a few days killed her.”
Constance died not from rheumatism but from pericarditis, which developed rapidly.
Describes the medical cause of Constance's death.
“Cyril was not at the funeral. He arrived three days later.”
Cyril missed his mother's funeral and came to Bursley three days after she was buried.
Highlights Cyril's absence and emotional distance.
