# XV: I Leave Joan and Ride to the Wars explained — The Splendid Spur

> Chapter companion for The Splendid Spur by Arthur Quiller-Couch.

## What happens

Jack returns home humiliated after being tricked by Tingcomb, but finds Joan in a hidden chamber called the Jew's Kitchen, where she has dressed up. They wrestle, and Joan declares her love and submission to Jack. Billy Pottery arrives with news of war, and Jack decides to leave Joan and ride to fight for the King.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Joan's declaration of love and willingness to let Jack go to war, despite her feelings.

### War and Its Cost

Jack's decision to leave Joan and ride to the wars, signaling the personal cost of conflict.

### Identity and Disguise

Joan's attempt to present a tidier appearance and the hidden nature of the Jew's Kitchen.

## Character check-ins

### Jack Marvel

Narrator; returns home after being fooled by Tingcomb, wrestles Joan, and decides to join the war.

### Joan

Found in the Jew's Kitchen dressed up; wrestles Jack and declares her love and submission.

### Captain Billy Pottery

Arrives with news of war and accompanies Jack to ride to the wars.

### Mr. Hannibal Tingcomb

Mentioned as the villain who tricked Jack; Jack plans revenge.

### Molly

Jack's mare; used in the failed attempt to climb the wall and later ridden to war.

## Key lines

> You may guess how I felt at being thus properly fooled. And the worst was I could see no way to mend it; for against the barricade between us I might have beat myself for hours, yet only hurt my fists: and the wall was so smooth and high, that even by standing on Molly's back I could not—by a foot or more—reach the top to pull myself over.

Jack feels foolish after being tricked by Tingcomb and realizes he cannot climb the wall to get revenge.

_Jack's frustration and helplessness after the confrontation with Tingcomb._

> She put her hand in mine. 'To fight, lad?' I nodded my head. 'Then go,' she said without a shade in her voice; and as I made no answer, went on—'Shall a woman hinder when there's fightin' toward? Only come back when thy wars be over, for I shall miss thee, Jack.'

Joan accepts Jack's decision to go to war and asks him to return when it's over.

_Joan's selfless support for Jack's departure to war._

> Had lik'd it better had'st thou stamped the life out o' me, a'most. But there, lad—am thine forever!

Joan says she would have preferred if Jack had killed her, but now she belongs to him forever.

_Joan's intense declaration of love and submission after the wrestling match._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_splendid_spur_se/chapters/xv-i-leave-joan-and-ride-to-the-wars
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_splendid_spur_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_splendid_spur_se/chapters