# The Usher Washes His Hands explained — The Trail of the Serpent

> Chapter companion for The Trail of the Serpent by M. E. Braddon.

## What happens

Jabez North, the usher at Dr. Tappenden's school, prepares a rope and climbs out of his window in the middle of the night while a sick boy is delirious in his room. He returns three hours later, frustrated and with a dark stain on his hand. The boy becomes frightened, and Jabez forces him to drink opium, causing his death. Jabez then washes his hands in a bizarre ritual, drinking the bloody water, and later reports the boy's death to Dr. Tappenden.

## Themes in this chapter

### Duality and Deception

Jabez North is outwardly a 'good young man' but secretly engages in sinister nighttime activities, deceiving both the school and the sick boy.

### Madness and Mental Health

The sick boy's delirium and feverish ramblings contrast with Jabez's cold, calculating actions, highlighting themes of mental fragility and manipulation.

### Crime and Injustice

Jabez's poisoning of the boy and his mysterious nighttime expedition suggest a criminal act, while his position of trust allows him to evade suspicion.

## Character check-ins

### Jabez North

The usher who secretly prepares a rope, leaves the school at night, returns with a dark stain on his hand, forces a sick boy to drink opium, and then washes his hands in a grotesque manner.

### Slopperton

Dr. Tappenden, the master of the school where Jabez works, is informed of the boy's death the next morning.

### Dr. Tappenden

The schoolmaster who trusts Jabez and asks him to break the news of the boy's death to Allecompain Major.

## Key lines

> A curious way to make a swing! He lets himself down foot by foot, with wonderful caution and wonderful courage.

Jabez descends from his window using a rope, pretending to be making a swing, but his actions are clearly deceptive and dangerous.

_Highlights the deceptive nature of Jabez's actions and his physical daring._

> Then Jabez North sets to work to wash his hands. A curious young man, with curious fashions for doing things—above all, a curious fashion of washing his hands. He washes them very carefully in a small quantity of water, and when they are quite clean, and the water has become a dark and ghastly colour, he drinks it, and doesn't make even one wry face at the horrible draught.

Jabez washes his hands in a small amount of water, which turns dark and bloody, and then drinks the water without flinching.

_Emphasizes the grotesque and ritualistic nature of Jabez's actions, suggesting guilt and a disturbed mind._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-usher-washes-his-hands
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters