# III: Natalie explained — When the World Shook

> Chapter companion for When the World Shook by H. Rider Haggard.

## What happens

The chapter details the death of Mrs. Bastin from heart disease after a jealous, frantic search for her husband, and Arbuthnot's first meeting with Natalie at a dinner in Rome, where he feels humiliated by his lack of modern languages but is struck by her beauty framed by lilies.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Mrs. Bastin's obsessive love leads to her death, while Arbuthnot's first glimpse of Natalie hints at a transformative love.

### Clash of Beliefs

Bastin and Bickley's argument over early Christians and missionaries exemplifies the ongoing conflict between religious faith and secular rationalism.

### The Search for Meaning

Arbuthnot's spiritual quest in the East and his turn inward to his own soul reflect a deep search for wisdom and purpose.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Bastin

Bastin's wife dies after a jealous outburst; he later canonizes her as a saintly devoted wife.

### J. R. Bickley

Bickley correctly diagnoses Mrs. Bastin's heart condition and argues with Bastin about early Christians and missionaries.

### Humphrey Arbuthnot

Arbuthnot narrates the events, including his humiliation at a dinner in Rome and his first sight of Natalie.

### Natalie

Natalie is introduced as Sir Alfred Upton's daughter; Arbuthnot sees her at dinner, her head framed by lilies.

### Sir Alfred Upton

Sir Alfred hosts the dinner in Rome, laughs at Arbuthnot's Latin attempt, and explains the joke to the company.

### Widow Jenkins

Mentioned as a potential source of jealousy for Mrs. Bastin, though not directly appearing.

## Key lines

> It is highly probable, in my opinion, that she will die before Mrs. Arbuthnot, who is quite a healthy person with a good prospect of life.

Bickley predicts that Mrs. Bastin will die before Mrs. Arbuthnot, based on his medical observation.

_Bickley's professional diagnosis proves accurate, leading to Mrs. Bastin's death._

> That was the end of this truly odious British matron. In after days Bastin, by some peculiar mental process, canonised her in his imagination as a kind of saint.

After her death, Bastin idealizes his wife as a saint, despite her difficult nature.

_Arbuthnot contrasts the reality of Mrs. Bastin's behavior with Bastin's romanticized memory._

> An angel looking down upon earth through the lilies of Heaven—that was the rather absurd thought which flashed into my mind.

Arbuthnot compares Natalie to an angel framed by lilies, a striking first impression.

_This moment marks Arbuthnot's first sight of Natalie, setting the stage for their relationship._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_the_world_shook_se/chapters/iii-natalie
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_the_world_shook_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/when_the_world_shook_se/chapters