# I explained — The Story of Ivy

> Chapter companion for The Story of Ivy by Marie Belloc Lowndes.

## What happens

Ivy Lexton, living in near-poverty with her husband Jervis, receives two letters: one from her lover Roger Gretorex and one from her friend Rose Arundell. Rose's letter reveals she has visited a fortune-teller named Mrs. Thrawn, who warned her against a foolish marriage and predicted a happy future in India, which has come true as Rose is about to marry her first love and sail to India. Ivy, having also visited Mrs. Thrawn, is skeptical of the fortune-teller's warnings about breaking with Roger and about a grey-haired woman. She plans to ask Roger for money and attend a theatre party and supper at the Savoy with him, Jervis, and Rose, though she suspects Rose will cancel.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Financial Ruin

Ivy and Jervis Lexton have fallen from a capital of sixty-eight thousand pounds to near pennilessness, living in shabby lodgings with only a pound and some silver.

### Deception and Self-Deception

Ivy deceives herself about her feelings for Roger and dismisses Mrs. Thrawn's warnings, while maintaining a facade of wealth to her friends.

### Love and Obsession

Roger Gretorex's devoted love for Ivy, which she no longer reciprocates, and Rose Arundell's romantic reunion with her first love.

## Character check-ins

### Ivy Lexton

Half-dressed, making up her face; financially desperate with only a pound and some silver; receives letters from Roger Gretorex and Rose Arundell; has visited Mrs. Thrawn and is skeptical of her warnings; plans to ask Roger for money.

### Jervis Lexton

Ivy's husband, still asleep in the back bedroom; idle, easy-natured, well-bred; the couple is nearly penniless after starting with sixty-eight thousand pounds.

### Roger Gretorex

Ivy's secret lover; a poor doctor with a slum practice in Westminster; devoted to Ivy but she has grown weary of him; she plans to ask him for money.

### Rose Arundell

A well-to-do young widow and Ivy's friend; writes a long letter about visiting Mrs. Thrawn, who warned her against Ronny; she is now marrying her first love and sailing to India.

### Mrs. Thrawn

A fortune-teller living at No. 1 Ranelagh Reach on the Embankment; warned Ivy about breaking with Roger and about a grey-haired woman; also advised Rose Arundell.

## Key lines

> an overwhelming part in your destiny. Indeed it is she who may determine your fate.

A woman will play a major role in shaping your future.

_Mrs. Thrawn's warning to Ivy about a grey-haired woman._

> Ivy Lexton put the long letter she had just read down on the dressing-table. Then she took up the other, still unopened, envelope, and stuffed it into her bag.

Ivy set aside Rose's letter and put Roger's unopened letter in her bag to read later.

_Ivy prioritizes her visit to Roger over reading his letter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters