# Farewell explained — The Vicar of Bullhampton > Chapter companion for The Vicar of Bullhampton by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Mary Lowther writes a farewell letter to Captain Marrable, breaking their engagement. He responds passionately but agrees. They meet one last time in Loring, part with kisses, and both suffer deeply. Meanwhile, Captain Marrable confronts his father about the lost inheritance but gains nothing. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Marriage The chapter centers on the painful dissolution of an engagement, exploring the emotional consequences for both parties. ### Family Duty and Forgiveness Walter's confrontation with his father underscores the theme of familial betrayal and the struggle for forgiveness. ## Character check-ins ### Mary Lowther Writes a tearful but resolute letter breaking the engagement; meets Walter for a final farewell. ### Captain Walter Marrable Receives Mary's letter, responds passionately, visits Loring for a last meeting, and confronts his father at Portsmouth. ### Aunt Sarah Mary's aunt, who is present at Loring and expresses concern about the meeting; comforts Mary afterward. ### Colonel Marrable Walter's father, confronted by his son about the lost inheritance; remains unrepentant. ### Little Captain Boodle Sympathizes with Walter at the military club, expressing outrage at the Colonel's behavior. ## Key lines > She had resolved that no sign of a tear should be on the paper, and she had rubbed the moisture away from her eyes a dozen times during the work lest it should fall. Mary was determined not to let any tear stain the letter, wiping her eyes repeatedly to prevent it. _Shows Mary's emotional struggle to maintain composure while writing the breakup letter._ > An engagement for marriage can never be so much to a man as it is to a woman⁠—marriage itself can never be so much, can never be so great a change, produce such utter misery, or of itself be efficient for such perfect happiness⁠—but his love was true and steadfast, and when he learned that she was not to be his, he was as a man who had been robbed of his treasure. The narrator reflects that while engagements affect men less than women, Walter's genuine love made him feel devastated by the loss. _Highlights the gendered perspective on love and loss in Victorian society._ > I shall never marry. I shall always carry your picture in my heart, and shall not think that I am sinning against you or anyone else when I do so after hearing that you are married. Walter declares he will never marry and will always cherish Mary's memory, even after she marries another. _Walter's passionate and dramatic response to the broken engagement._ > It was to be the last, and she did not seem to shun him. Then he left her, went as far as the door⁠—and returned again. 'Dearest, dearest Mary. You will give me one more kiss?' 'It shall be the last, Walter,' she said. During their final meeting, Walter kisses Mary repeatedly, then returns for one last kiss, which she grants as a final farewell. _The poignant final moment of their relationship._ > By George! if it was my governor, I'd go very near being hung for him; I would, by George! Little Captain Boodle exclaims that if his own father had done what Colonel Marrable did, he would nearly be driven to murder. _Shows the sympathy Walter receives from his fellow officers._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters/xxxiii-farewell - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters