# XI explained — The Professor’s House

> Chapter companion for The Professor’s House by Willa Cather.

## What happens

St. Peter is visited by his daughter Kathleen in his old study. They discuss Augusta's loss of savings in the Kinkoo Copper Company, and St. Peter resolves to make up the loss, despite Rosamond's refusal. The conversation turns to Tom Outland's Mexican blanket, and they share memories of Tom and his stories, including his friend Rodney Blake. Kathleen expresses her sentimental attachment to Tom's mesa, and St. Peter reflects on the past.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Marriage

The chapter explores family responsibilities and tensions, as St. Peter insists on covering Augusta's loss despite Rosamond's refusal.

### Memory and the Past

St. Peter and Kathleen reminisce about Tom Outland, his blanket, and the stories that shaped their memories.

### Idealized Friendship and Hero Worship

Kathleen and St. Peter's shared admiration for Tom Outland and his mesa reflects their idealized view of him.

## Character check-ins

### Professor St. Peter

Works in his study, discusses Augusta's loss, plans to cover it, and reminisces about Tom Outland.

### Kathleen

Visits her father, tells him about Augusta's loss, and shares memories of Tom Outland.

### Augusta

Mentioned as having lost savings in the Kinkoo Copper Company; her sewing forms are in St. Peter's study.

### Rosamond

Refuses to help Augusta, causing St. Peter's displeasure.

### Tom Outland

Remembered through his Mexican blanket and stories; his mesa is a cherished memory.

### Scott McGregor

Kathleen's husband, offers to contribute a hundred dollars toward Augusta's loss.

## Key lines

> I’ve been wondering if you didn’t need me to come in and clean house for you, but it’s not so bad as they report it.

Kathleen offers to clean but finds the study not as messy as rumored.

_Kathleen's visit to her father's study._

> She lost five hundred dollars, a fortune for her, and Scott says she’ll never get a cent of it back.

Augusta lost a significant sum of money that she will likely never recover.

_Kathleen informs St. Peter of Augusta's financial loss._

> Leave Rosamond to me. I’ll convince her.

St. Peter plans to persuade Rosamond to contribute.

_St. Peter's determination to resolve the family obligation._

> He wouldn’t have given it to anybody but you. It was like his skin.

Tom's blanket was so personal that he would only give it to St. Peter.

_Kathleen reflects on the significance of Tom's gift._

> Now that Rosamond has Outland, I consider Tom’s mesa entirely my own.

Kathleen claims the mesa as her own since Rosamond has the Outland fortune.

_Kathleen's sentimental ownership of Tom's legacy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_professor_s_house_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters