# The Three Honest Men explained — The Vicar of Bullhampton > Chapter companion for The Vicar of Bullhampton by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Mr. Fenwick receives a letter from Sam Brattle informing him that Carry is at the Three Honest Men public house in Salisbury, awaiting the home Fenwick promised. Despite his wife's doubts about finding a suitable place, Fenwick travels to Salisbury, only to find that Carry and Sam have been turned out by the drunken landlady. A child then leads him to Mrs. Stiggs's house, where Carry has taken shelter. ## Themes in this chapter ### Redemption and the Fallen Woman The chapter centers on Fenwick's efforts to find a home for Carry Brattle, a 'fallen woman,' highlighting the societal and personal challenges of offering redemption. ### Hypocrisy and Moral Courage The drunken landlady of the Three Honest Men displays hypocritical outrage at Carry's sin, while Fenwick shows moral courage in seeking to help her despite public scorn. ### Family Duty and Forgiveness Fenwick considers forcing Carry on her father's heart and approaching her brother George, exploring the limits of family duty and forgiveness. ## Character check-ins ### Mr. Fenwick The Vicar of Bullhampton, imprudent but conscientious, who travels to Salisbury to fulfill his promise to find a home for Carry Brattle. ### Carry Brattle The fallen woman who has been staying at the Three Honest Men with her brother Sam, but has been turned out and now shelters at Mrs. Stiggs's. ### Sam Brattle Carry's brother, who wrote to Fenwick from Salisbury demanding the promised home and warning about an unpaid bill. ### Janet Fenwick Fenwick's wife, who scolds him for his promise but ultimately discusses the difficulty of finding a home for Carry. ### George Brattle Carry's eldest brother, a prosperous farmer near Fordingbridge, whom Fenwick considers approaching for help. ### Mrs. Stiggs The woman at whose house Carry has found shelter after being turned out of the Three Honest Men. ## Key lines > The Vicar of Bullhampton was⁠—a 'good sort of fellow.' In praise of him to this extent it is hoped that the reader will cordially agree. But it cannot be denied that he was the most imprudent of men. The Vicar is generally a good man, but he is also very imprudent in his actions. _Introduces Fenwick's character as well-meaning but rash._ > He had done very much that was imprudent in respect to the Marquis of Trowbridge; and since he had been at Bullhampton had been imprudent in nearly everything that he had done regarding the Brattles. Fenwick's imprudence has caused trouble with both the Marquis and the Brattle family. _Summarizes Fenwick's ongoing conflicts._ > Sam, in his letter, had gone on to explain that it would be well that Mr. Fenwick should visit the Three Honest Men speedily, as otherwise there would be a bill there which neither Carry nor Sam would be able to defray. Sam warned Fenwick to come quickly or face an unpaid bill. _Highlights the financial pressure on Fenwick._ > The properest place for her would be in the country, on some farm; and, so thinking, he determined to apply to the girl's eldest brother. Fenwick decides that a farm would be best for Carry and plans to ask her brother George for help. _Shows Fenwick's practical thinking about Carry's future._ > It was a brick building of two stories, with a door in the middle of it which stood open, and a red curtain hanging across the window on the left-hand side. The Three Honest Men was a small, disreputable-looking brick building with a red curtain in the window. _Describes the seedy appearance of the pub._ > Then were let loose against the unfortunate clergyman the floodgates of a drunken woman's angry tongue. The drunken landlady unleashed a torrent of abuse at Fenwick. _Illustrates the hostility Fenwick faces._ > She stood with arms akimbo in the passage, and said she would raise the neighbourhood on him. The landlady threatened to turn the neighborhood against Fenwick. _Shows the landlady's aggressive stance._ > Our Vicar cared nothing for the neighbourhood, and, indeed, cared very little for the woman at all⁠—except in so far as she disgusted him; but he did care much at finding that he could obtain no clue to her whom he was seeking. Fenwick was not bothered by the woman's threats, but was distressed that he could not find Carry. _Reveals Fenwick's priority: finding Carry._ > Then the Vicar understood that he had been watched, and that he was being taken to the place where she whom he was seeking had found shelter. Fenwick realized he had been observed and was now being led to Carry's new hiding place. _Climax of the chapter, as Fenwick is guided to Carry._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters/xxxix-the-three-honest-men - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters