Uneasy Money · Chapter
XIII explained
Lady Wetherby writes letters while the household is occupied with various activities.
What happens
Lady Wetherby writes letters while the household is occupied with various activities. Eustace the monkey causes chaos in the kitchen by throwing eggs at the scullery maid, leading to a capture scene. Roscoe Sherriff sees publicity potential in the incident, comparing it to a past puma story, while Dudley Pickering, worried about his health, calls the doctor.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
Lady Wetherby's contentment contrasts with the underlying unhappiness of others, and Eustace's innocent appearance belies his destructive behavior.
Honesty and Deception
Claire's engagement appears happy but she is secretly dissatisfied, and Sherriff manipulates events for publicity.
Characters to notice
- Lady Pauline Wetherby
Writing letters, happy about Claire's engagement, and dealing with Eustace's mischief.
- Roscoe Sherriff
Brooding on publicity campaigns, excited by Eustace's antics as a potential story.
- Dudley Pickering
Walking with Claire, unhappy about burglary fears, and later calling the doctor due to a shooting sensation.
- Claire Fenwick
Engaged to Pickering but finding his undiluted society tedious; comments on Eustace's madness.
- Lord Wetherby
Painting in a shack to escape Eustace, who strains his artistic nerves.
- Eustace
The monkey causing chaos by throwing eggs and plates in the kitchen, later captured.
- Gates
The odd-job man who captures Eustace with an apron.
- Wrench
The butler who disapproves of Eustace and reports the monkey's behavior to Lady Wetherby.
Key passages
“It is a fact to be noted that of the entire household only Lady Wetherby could fairly be described as happy.”
Lady Wetherby is the only truly content person in the house.
Highlights the contrast between her happiness and others' discontent.
“The hape is seated on the kitchen sink, m'lady, throwing new-laid eggs at the scullery maid.”
The monkey is on the kitchen sink throwing fresh eggs at the maid.
Wrench reports Eustace's disruptive behavior.