# Where "The Wild Asses Quench Their Thirst" explained — The Way We Live Now

> Chapter companion for The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

The Beargarden club collapses after Vossner's defection, leaving members in disarray. Sir Felix Carbury, facing social ruin, announces plans to travel abroad with a clergyman. A tense confrontation with Lord Grasslough exposes Felix's cowardice and heartlessness, while Dolly Longestaffe and Lord Nidderdale reflect on the club's demise and their own futures.

## Themes in this chapter

### Speculation and Ruin

The Beargarden's collapse after Vossner's theft and Melmotte's suicide illustrates the domino effect of financial speculation and moral decay.

### Deception and Hypocrisy

Sir Felix's pretense of seeking 'new scenes' and self-improvement contrasts with his actual heartlessness and cowardice, exposed by Grasslough.

### Love vs. Practicality

Nidderdale's fondness for Marie Melmotte is tempered by practical considerations; her marriage to Fisker underscores the transactional nature of relationships.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Felix Carbury

Arrives at the Beargarden seeking dinner and play, but finds the club in ruins. He announces his plan to travel with a clergyman, but is exposed as heartless and cowardly by Grasslough.

### Dolly Longestaffe

Describes the club's collapse, laments Vossner's absence, and refuses trusteeship on Squercum's advice. He mediates the quarrel between Felix and Grasslough with characteristic detachment.

### Lord Nidderdale

Reflects on the Beargarden's end with melancholy, expresses fondness for Marie Melmotte, and vows to reform by reading blue books and dining at the Carlton.

### Lord Grasslough

Confronts Sir Felix about the street row, calling him 'bad all round,' and later expresses his bitterness in the cardroom.

### Marie Melmotte

Mentioned as marrying Fisker; Nidderdale expresses lingering fondness for her.

## Key lines

> I haven't seen a card this fortnight. There hasn't been anybody to play. Everything has gone to the dogs.

Dolly Longestaffe reports that the club has been inactive and in decline for two weeks.

_Highlights the club's desolation after Vossner's flight._

> I don't think I'm heartless at all. I'm good-natured to everybody that is good-natured to me—and to a great many people who ain't.

Dolly defends his character, claiming he is kind even to those who are not kind to him.

_Contrasts Dolly's self-assessment with the general condemnation of Felix's heartlessness._

> I shall begin reading blue books tomorrow, and shall dine at the Carlton. Next session I shan't miss a day in the House, and I'll bet anybody a fiver that I make a speech before Easter.

Lord Nidderdale vows to reform his idle ways by studying parliamentary papers and attending the House of Commons.

_Shows Nidderdale's ironic resolution to abandon club life for political duty._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcvi-where-the-wild-asses-quench-their-thirst
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters