The Vicar of Bullhampton · Chapter
What the Fenwicks Thought About It explained
The Fenwicks receive Mary Lowther's letter announcing her engagement to Captain Walter Marrable, causing distress and concern.
What happens
The Fenwicks receive Mary Lowther's letter announcing her engagement to Captain Walter Marrable, causing distress and concern. Mr. Fenwick reads the letter and acknowledges the gravity of the situation, predicting that Harry Gilmore will be devastated. Meanwhile, Sam Brattle has disappeared after a period of hard work at the mill, and Mr. Fenwick suspects he has gone to find his sister Carry Brattle, who is believed to be living nearby. Mrs. Fenwick writes a heartfelt but conflicted reply to Mary, expressing her disappointment while offering best wishes.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The chapter revolves around Mary's sudden engagement to Captain Marrable, contrasting with Gilmore's unrequited love. Mrs. Fenwick's reaction highlights the tension between romantic choice and social expectations.
Family Duty and Forgiveness
Mr. Fenwick's concern for Carry Brattle and his plan to help her, despite her father's likely refusal to receive her, underscores themes of familial duty and the difficulty of forgiveness.
Justice and Prejudice
Sam Brattle's disappearance and the ongoing suspicion about his involvement in Trumbull's murder reflect prejudice against him, while Mr. Fenwick's belief in his innocence shows a quest for justice.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Fenwick
Discusses Mary's engagement with his wife, reads her letter, and expresses concern for Gilmore. Also reveals his suspicion that Sam Brattle has gone to find Carry Brattle and plans to search for her.
- Janet Fenwick
Receives Mary's letter and is deeply upset by the news. She writes a conflicted reply to Mary, expressing her disappointment and anger toward Captain Marrable while offering love and best wishes.
- Mary Lowther
Her letter announcing her engagement to Walter Marrable is the central topic. Mrs. Fenwick criticizes her for acting so quickly, but Mr. Fenwick defends her honesty.
- Captain Walter Marrable
Mary's new fiancé, whom Mrs. Fenwick dislikes based on hearsay about his father. Mr. Fenwick cautions against judging the son by the father.
- Harry Gilmore
Expected to be devastated by Mary's engagement. Mr. Fenwick predicts he will take it very badly and may leave Bullhampton.
- Sam Brattle
Has disappeared after working hard at the mill for a fortnight. The constable suspects he has gone to join the Grinder, but Mr. Fenwick believes he has gone to find his sister Carry.
- Carry Brattle
Mr. Fenwick suspects she is living about twenty miles away and that Sam has gone to see her. He plans to investigate and possibly offer her money.
- George Brattle
Sam's father, who had praised Sam's hard work but now refuses to say where Sam has gone.
Key passages
“Bullhampton unfortunately was at the end of the postman’s walk, and as the man came all the way from Lavington, letters were seldom received much before eleven o’clock.”
Because Bullhampton was the last stop on the postman's route, letters from Lavington usually arrived around eleven in the morning.
Explains the delay in receiving Mary's letter.
“It will drive Gilmore out of the place.”
This news will cause Gilmore to leave Bullhampton.
Mr. Fenwick's prediction about Gilmore's reaction to Mary's engagement.
“I cannot picture you to myself going about from town to town and living in country-quarters.”
I can't imagine you traveling from place to place and staying in rural lodgings.
Mrs. Fenwick's lament in her letter about Mary's future with a soldier.
“It is not easy to set crooked things straight.”
It is difficult to fix things that have gone wrong.
Mr. Fenwick's reflection on the challenge of helping Carry Brattle.
