# Ruby Ruggles Obeys Her Grandfather explained — The Way We Live Now

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

## What happens

Ruby Ruggles runs away from her grandfather's farm after a violent quarrel over her refusal to marry John Crumb. Daniel Ruggles, feeling guilt and fear, seeks advice from his landlord Roger Carbury, revealing his suspicion that Ruby may be involved with Sir Felix Carbury. John Crumb, furious and blaming Sir Felix, joins the search. Roger Carbury decides to go to London to trace Ruby, promising to report the truth to both the grandfather and the lover.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Obligation and Selfishness

Daniel Ruggles struggles between his anger at Ruby and his sense of responsibility as her guardian, while Ruby acts selfishly by running away.

### Love vs. Practicality

Ruby rejects the practical match with John Crumb (with a dowry of £500) for a romantic interest in Sir Felix, highlighting the conflict between emotional desire and financial security.

## Character check-ins

### Ruby Ruggles

Runs away from Sheep's Acre farm after a violent altercation with her grandfather, taking a train to London.

### Roger Carbury

Landlord of Daniel Ruggles; listens to the farmer's story and decides to go to London to trace Ruby.

### John Crumb

Ruby's rejected suitor; furious and threatening violence against Sir Felix, he joins the search for Ruby.

### Sir Felix Carbury

Suspected by Daniel Ruggles and John Crumb of being involved with Ruby; Roger Carbury doubts his involvement.

### Father Barham

Priest present at Carbury Manor; offers advice on recovering Ruby, contrasting Catholic and Protestant approaches.

### Daniel Ruggles

Ruby's grandfather; seeks Roger Carbury's counsel after Ruby's flight, revealing his suspicion about Sir Felix.

## Key lines

> There had been words between him and his granddaughter about her lover. Her lover had been accepted and had come to the farm to claim his bride. Ruby had behaved very badly.

Daniel Ruggles explains to Roger Carbury that he and Ruby argued because she refused to marry John Crumb, who had been accepted as her suitor and came to the farm to claim her.

_Ruggles downplays his own violence and emphasizes Ruby's disobedience._

> It goes as tinder and a spark o' fire, that does. Girls like Ruby don't want no time to be wooed by one such as that, though they'll fall-lall with a man like John Crumb for years.

Daniel Ruggles compares Ruby's quick attraction to Sir Felix to a spark igniting tinder, contrasting it with her prolonged hesitation with John Crumb.

_Ruggles expresses his belief that Ruby has been seduced by Sir Felix's charm._

> If I was to wring his neck round, you wouldn't say as how I was wrong; would ye, now?

John Crumb asks Roger Carbury if he would consider it justified to kill Sir Felix if he is responsible for Ruby's disappearance.

_Crumb's threat reflects his intense anger and desire for vengeance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxxiv-ruby-ruggles-obeys-her-grandfather
- 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