The Wyvern Mystery · Chapter
X: The Drive Over Cressley Common by Moonlight explained
After Alice's departure, the Old Squire of Wyvern rages and grieves alone, cursing her and Charles while ordering her room cleared.
What happens
After Alice's departure, the Old Squire of Wyvern rages and grieves alone, cursing her and Charles while ordering her room cleared. Meanwhile, Alice and Dulcibella travel by chaise across Cressley Common under moonlight. Alice anxiously watches for Charles, who eventually overtakes them on horseback and joins her in the carriage.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Deception
The Squire suspects a plot involving Tom Sherwood and others, and Alice's elopement is conducted in secret.
Isolation and Entrapment
The Squire's loneliness and grief after Alice's departure, and Alice's anxious dependence on Charles during the journey.
Characters to notice
- Old Squire Harry
Grieves and rages after Alice's departure, cursing her and Charles, and orders her room cleared.
- Alice Maybell
Travels by chaise across Cressley Common, anxiously watching for Charles Fairfield.
- Dulcibella Crane
Accompanies Alice in the chaise, offering hopeful reassurance.
- Charles Fairfield
Overtakes the chaise on horseback at Cressley Common and joins Alice inside.
- Tom Ward
Visits the Squire in the evening and shares a tankard of punch.
Key passages
“Out o' window wi't—pitch it after her; let the work'us people send up and cart it off for the poorhouse, where she should 'a bin, if I hadn't a bin the biggest fool in the parish.”
Throw it out the window after her; let the poorhouse people take it away, where she should have been if I hadn't been such a fool.
The Squire orders Alice's furniture removed in anger.
“I hope in God's justice he'll never live to put his foot in Wyvern.”
I pray that God's justice will prevent him from ever setting foot in Wyvern.
The Squire curses Charles Fairfield, hoping he never inherits Wyvern.
“Well, darling, I have overtaken you at Cressley Common; and is my little woman quite well, and happy to see her Ry once more?”
Well, darling, I've caught up with you at Cressley Common; is my little woman well and happy to see her Ry again?
Charles greets Alice affectionately after overtaking the chaise.