The Small House at Allington · Chapter
The Widow Dale of Allington explained
This chapter introduces Mrs.
What happens
This chapter introduces Mrs. Dale, the widow living at the Small House in Allington, and explores her complex relationship with her brother-in-law, the squire. It delves into her pride, her sacrifices for her daughters, and her quiet struggles with her position. The evening concludes with a moonlit return from the Great House, where Lily's playful teasing of Mr. Crosbie and her inadvertent mention of Dr. Crofts cause a moment of tension with Bell.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Obligation
Mrs. Dale's sacrifice of her own comfort for her daughters' social advantage, and the complex, unspoken obligations between her and the squire.
Pride and Prejudice
Mrs. Dale's pride in her ladyship and her daughters' Dale heritage, contrasted with the squire's coldness and the family's unspoken judgments.
Poverty and Economic Pressure
Mrs. Dale's financial dependence on her brother-in-law and her careful management of her own fortune to maintain her daughters' position.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Dale
The widow of Allington, proud and self-sacrificing, who buries herself to elevate her daughters. She reflects on her strained but respectful relationship with the squire and her hopes for Bell's future.
- Lilian Dale
Lily is lively and teasing, calling Mr. Crosbie 'Apollo' and joking about croquet by moonlight. She inadvertently upsets Bell by mentioning Dr. Crofts.
- Isabella Dale
Bell is more reserved and sensitive. She is vexed by Lily's teasing about Dr. Crofts and asks her sister to stop mentioning him.
- Adolphus Crosbie
A guest at the Great House, visiting for two days. He is playful and flirtatious with Lily, suggesting moonlit croquet, and is invited by the squire to return for shooting in September.
- Captain Bernard Dale
Lily's cousin, who accompanies Crosbie and the ladies home. He suggests they return to smoke cigars, and is described as a billiard player.
Key passages
“Mrs. Dale was certainly a proud woman—not that there was anything appertaining to herself in which she took a pride.”
Mrs. Dale was proud, but not in a selfish way; her pride was not about her own achievements or possessions.
Highlights the nuanced nature of Mrs. Dale's pride, which is rooted in her character and her role as a mother.
“The theory of her life one may say was this—that she should bury herself in order that her daughters might live well above ground.”
Mrs. Dale's guiding principle was to sacrifice her own happiness so that her daughters could thrive socially.
Captures the central theme of maternal self-sacrifice and the social pressures of the time.
“Lily, you let your tongue run too fast.”
Lily, you speak without thinking.
Mrs. Dale gently reprimands Lily for her thoughtless comment about Dr. Crofts, showing the family's sensitivity on the topic.