The Way We Live Now · Chapter
Hetta's Sorrow explained
Hetta Carbury, tormented by Paul Montague's letter, reconsiders her decision to break their engagement under pressure from her mother and cousin.
What happens
Hetta Carbury, tormented by Paul Montague's letter, reconsiders her decision to break their engagement under pressure from her mother and cousin. She resolves to contact Mrs. Hurtle directly to hear her side of the story, despite her own misgivings and the impropriety of the act. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hurtle, having decided to give up the contest, receives a letter from Paul and prepares to return to New York, though she still struggles with feelings of vengeance.
Themes in this chapter
Love vs. Practicality
Hetta's internal conflict between her enduring love for Paul and the practical necessity of rejecting him due to social scandal.
Deception and Hypocrisy
Hetta feels trapped by her mother and cousin's manipulation, and questions the justice of her own actions.
Gender and Power
Hetta's struggle against familial authority and her bold decision to contact Mrs. Hurtle, challenging Victorian female propriety.
Characters to notice
- Hetta Carbury
Tormented by Paul's letter, she reconsiders her broken engagement and decides to write to Mrs. Hurtle for the truth.
- Paul Montague
His letter to Hetta reproaches her for injustice and refers her to Mrs. Hurtle for corroboration.
- Mrs. Hurtle
Having resolved to give up the contest, she receives a letter from Paul and prepares to return to New York, though she still feels impulses of vengeance.
- Roger Carbury
Hetta feels he and her mother have plotted against her, driving her to a declaration from which she sees no escape.
- Lady Carbury
Hetta believes her mother was cruel and disregarded her feelings, contributing to her misery.
- Mrs. Pipkin
She questions Mrs. Hurtle about Paul's letter and expresses sympathy for her broken love.
Key passages
“When Hetta Carbury received that letter from her lover which was given to the reader some chapters back, it certainly did not tend in any way to alleviate her misery.”
Hetta's lover's letter only deepened her distress.
Opens the chapter, establishing Hetta's emotional state.
“She would appeal to Mrs. Hurtle. The woman was odious, abominable, a nasty intriguing American female. But her lover desired that she should hear the woman’s story; and she would hear the story—if the woman would tell it.”
Despite her disdain for Mrs. Hurtle, Hetta decides to seek her out as Paul requested.
Hetta's resolve to contact her rival.
“She told no word of it to anyone. Her mother, she thought, had been cruel to her, had disregarded her feelings, and made her wretched forever.”
Hetta keeps her plan secret, feeling betrayed by her mother.
Hetta's isolation and resentment toward Lady Carbury.
“At that moment everything was done that could be done. The game had been played and the stakes lost—and she had schooled herself into such restraint as to have abandoned all idea of vengeance.”
Mrs. Hurtle felt the contest was over and she had lost, resolving to give up revenge.
Mrs. Hurtle's initial acceptance of defeat.
“But from time to time there arose in her heart a feeling that such softness was unworthy of her.”
Yet she occasionally felt that yielding was beneath her.
Mrs. Hurtle's lingering desire for vengeance.
