# A Lover's Madness explained — The Vicar of Bullhampton > Chapter companion for The Vicar of Bullhampton by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Mr. Gilmore, impatient after waiting months, presses Mrs. Fenwick to intercede with Mary Lowther. Mrs. Fenwick writes to Mary, who responds with wit about the chapel dispute but firmly declines to revisit Bullhampton. Meanwhile, Fanny Brattle secretly seeks the Vicar's advice about a letter from her brother Sam, who asks for money to help Carry. The Vicar lends four pounds and advises Fanny to send it via money order. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Marriage Gilmore's persistent pursuit of Mary Lowther and Mary's resistance highlight the complexities of love, patience, and the social pressures surrounding marriage. ### Religious Conflict and Toleration The ongoing chapel dispute between Mr. Fenwick and Mr. Puddleham underscores the sectarian rivalry in Bullhampton. ### Family Duty and Forgiveness Sam Brattle's secret plea for money to help Carry, and Fanny's loyalty to her brother, explore themes of family obligation and concealment. ## Character check-ins ### Harry Gilmore Visits Mrs. Fenwick to press his suit for Mary Lowther, having waited the suggested months; lives in seclusion and shows signs of despair. ### Janet Fenwick Corresponds with Mary Lowther and mediates between Gilmore and Mary; advises patience and writes a letter to Mary. ### Mary Lowther Responds to Mrs. Fenwick's letter with humor about the chapel but firmly declines to revisit Bullhampton or engage with Gilmore. ### Mr. Fenwick Observes the chapel construction, chats with Mr. Packer, and advises Fanny Brattle on sending money to Sam. ### Fanny Brattle Brings Sam's letter to the Vicar, seeking advice about sending money to her brother without her father's knowledge. ### Sam Brattle Writes to Fanny from London, asking for money to help Carry, and instructs her not to tell their father. ## Key lines > Don't suppose, dear, that I am going to die of a broken heart. I mean to live and to be as happy as any of you. But you must let me go on in my own way. I am not at all sure that being married is not more trouble than it is worth. Mary insists she will recover and find happiness, but she needs to proceed on her own terms and questions whether marriage is worth the trouble. _Mary's letter to Mrs. Fenwick reveals her determination to move forward independently despite her heartbreak._ > I have waited all the winter, Mrs. Fenwick, and have said not a word. How long was it that she knew her cousin before she was engaged to him? Gilmore argues that he has been patient for months and questions why Mary's brief engagement to her cousin should require such a long waiting period. _Gilmore's impatience and frustration with the slow pace of courtship are evident._ > Dear Sister, I want you to help me a little, for things is very bad with me. And it is not for me neither, or I'd sooner starve nor ax for a sixpence from the mill. But Carry is bad too, and if you've got a trifle or so, I think you'd be of a mind to send it. Sam writes to Fanny asking for money, explaining that he would rather starve than ask for himself, but he needs help for Carry who is also in distress. _Sam's letter reveals his concern for Carry and his reliance on family secrecy to avoid their father's anger._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-lover-s-madness - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters