The Small House at Allington · Chapter
The Board explained
Crosbie arrives at his office to find he has been promoted to secretary, a position he would have celebrated had he not been tormented by his broken engagement to Lily Dale.
What happens
Crosbie arrives at his office to find he has been promoted to secretary, a position he would have celebrated had he not been tormented by his broken engagement to Lily Dale. He struggles to write the fatal letter to Lily, ultimately completing it late at night and posting it in the early hours.
Themes in this chapter
Betrayal and Trust
Crosbie's internal torment over his betrayal of Lily Dale is central; he acknowledges his own treachery and the weight of his broken promise.
Social Class and Status
Crosbie's choice between Lily (rural gentry) and Lady Alexandrina (aristocracy) highlights the tension between love and social ambition.
Love and Marriage
Crosbie's regret over losing Lily and his grim view of his future with Lady Alexandrina underscore the theme of marriage as a social contract rather than a romantic union.
Characters to notice
- Adolphus Crosbie
Struggles with guilt and regret over jilting Lily Dale, even as he receives his promotion to secretary.
- Butterwell
Outgoing secretary who congratulates Crosbie on his promotion and reflects on his own career.
- Lilian Dale
Mentioned as the woman Crosbie has betrayed; he recalls her virtues with regret.
- Lady Alexandrina De Courcy
Crosbie's new fiancée, whom he now sees as ugly and graceless compared to Lily.
- Fowler Pratt
Mentioned as having seen Crosbie the previous night and delivered the squire's letter.
- Christopher Dale
The squire, mentioned as the recipient of Crosbie's letter delivered by Pratt.
Key passages
“He told himself how much she excelled the noble scion of the De Courcy stock, with whom he was now destined to mate himself; how the bride he had rejected excelled the one he had chosen in grace, beauty, faith, freshness, and all feminine virtues.”
Crosbie realizes that Lily is far superior to Lady Alexandrina in every way, and he bitterly regrets his choice.
Highlights Crosbie's regret and the contrast between the two women.
“If he could only wipe out the last fortnight from the facts of his existence! But fortnights such as those are not to be wiped out—not even with many sorrowful years of tedious scrubbing.”
Crosbie wishes he could undo the past two weeks, but knows the damage is permanent.
Emphasizes the irreversible nature of his betrayal.
“Between two and three, in the cold moonlight, he crawled out and deposited his letter in the nearest post-office.”
Late at night, Crosbie finally posts the letter breaking his engagement to Lily.
Marks the climax of his cowardly act of jilting Lily.