# Sir Felix Makes Himself Ready explained — The Way We Live Now

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

## What happens

Sir Felix prepares to elope with Marie Melmotte to New York, receiving a cheque from her and confirming the plan with Didon. He informs his mother, Lady Carbury, who is distressed but agrees to help with preparations. Felix secures the money and resigns himself to the journey.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage as Financial Transaction

Felix's elopement with Marie is driven by her fortune, with detailed financial arrangements and a cheque as the binding element.

### Deception and Hypocrisy

Felix deceives Ruby Ruggles and his mother, while Marie deceives her parents, using false names and secret plans.

### Speculation and Ruin

Felix gambles on the elopement's success and Marie's fortune, fearing financial loss and the risk of arrest.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Felix Carbury

Anxious and reluctant, Felix finalizes elopement plans with Marie, receives money from Didon, and informs his mother.

### Marie Melmotte

Eagerly arranges the elopement, providing a cheque and detailed instructions for the journey to New York.

### Lady Carbury

Shocked and regretful upon learning of Felix's plan, she reluctantly agrees to help but refuses to provide money.

### Elise Didon

Acts as intermediary, delivering the cashed cheque to Felix at the Beargarden club.

## Key lines

> Sir Felix, when he promised to meet Ruby at the Music Hall on the Tuesday, was under an engagement to start with Marie Melmotte for New York on the Thursday following, and to go down to Liverpool on the Wednesday.

Felix had agreed to see Ruby on Tuesday, but he was also committed to leaving for New York with Marie on Thursday, traveling to Liverpool on Wednesday.

_Highlights Felix's conflicting engagements and the imminent elopement._

> He had Melmotte's money in his pocket, and was therefore bound to run away with Melmotte's daughter.

Having received Melmotte's money, Felix felt obligated to proceed with the elopement.

_Emphasizes the transactional nature of the relationship and Felix's sense of compulsion._

## Links

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