📖 About This Book · Starvecrow Farm · by Stanley J. Weyman
First published in 1905 by LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. NEW YORK LONDON AND BOMBAY
Setting: Lake District, 1819 – a period of post-war economic depression, political unrest, and radical agitation.
Key Themes: elopement and romantic idealism · class conflict · political radicalism · surveillance and authority · women's independence.
Major Characters: Henrietta (young heroine) · Captain Anthony Clyne (naval officer, conservative, Henrietta's former suitor).
Plot Arc: The novel follows the elopement of Henrietta and Alan Stewart, their flight through the Lake District, and the shadow of pursuit and political conspiracy that hangs over their romance.
Chapter XIV · The Letter
Summary
- Mr. Bishop, the Bow Street runner, is now certain that Henrietta knows Stewart's hiding place. He retraces his steps to search the area around Hinkson's farm.
- Near the farm, he spots someone hiding behind a bush. He draws his pistol, but the figure turns out to be old Hinkson. Dr. Tyson, who has been watching, laughs at Bishop's mistake.
- Tyson assures Bishop that Stewart is not on this side of the hill. Bishop decides to focus his efforts on following Henrietta, confident that she will eventually lead him to Stewart.
- Bishop returns to the inn and asks to see Henrietta. She refuses to see him without a warrant. Bishop takes up a position near the stairs, determined not to let her slip away again.
- Henrietta sits at her window, brooding on her loneliness and dreading the public exposure that will come when Stewart is captured.
- She reflects on Captain Clyne's insult and finds it still painful, though her dread of exposure is now greater.
- She finds some comfort in Mrs. Gilson's gruff kindness, but is irritated by Modest Ann's excessive sympathy.
- Modest Ann brings Henrietta a letter, delivered in secret. Henrietta recognises Stewart's handwriting and hesitates to open it.
- She considers burning it or handing it to Bishop, but her curiosity prevails. She opens the letter and reads it.
- The letter is an appeal from Stewart, asking her to meet his messenger at the lake the following evening. He begs her to show mercy and gives instructions for signalling her consent.
📖 Glossary of Period Terms
- To parley
- To hold a conversation or discussion, especially with an opponent or someone you distrust.
- Barker
- A slang term for a pistol.
- Dudgeon
- A state of anger or resentment; often used in the phrase "in high dudgeon."
- Lor'
- A colloquial contraction of "Lord," used as an exclamation of surprise or emotion.
Analysis
- Bishop's Determination: Bishop is a professional who reads Henrietta's agitation correctly. His decision to focus on following her rather than searching randomly shows his experience. He is patient and persistent, confident that she will eventually lead him to his quarry.
- Comic Relief: The scene where Bishop mistakes old Hinkson for his quarry provides a moment of comic relief. Tyson's mockery and Bishop's embarrassment humanise the runner, showing that he is not infallible.
- Henrietta's Inner Conflict: Henrietta's hesitation before opening the letter is a sign of her growth. She is no longer the naive girl who trusted Stewart without question. She weighs her options carefully, aware that any decision could have consequences. Her curiosity, however, proves stronger than her prudence.
- The Letter as a Test: Stewart's letter is a test of Henrietta's character. He appeals to her mercy, knowing she has a tender heart. His claim that she "can suffer no harm" is a manipulation. The letter reveals that he is still capable of deceit, even when begging for help.
- Class and Loyalty: Modest Ann's willingness to help Henrietta, even at risk to herself, shows the loyalty that can exist across class lines. She sees Henrietta as a romantic heroine and is eager to play a part in her story. This contrasts with the self-interest of the other characters.
- Henrietta's Isolation: The chapter emphasises Henrietta's isolation. She has no one to turn to for advice. Mrs. Gilson is kind but not confiding; Modest Ann is well-meaning but foolish. Henrietta must make her own decisions, with no one to guide her.
Bishop's reference to the "regular Red Barn" alludes to the notorious 1827 Red Barn murder, in which Maria Marten was killed by her lover William Corder in Suffolk. The case was widely publicised and became a cautionary tale about the dangers of elopement and secret meetings. Bishop's comparison suggests that Hinkson's farm has a similarly sinister atmosphere.
Robert Banks Jenkinson, Lord Liverpool (1770-1828), was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1812 to 1827. Robert Stewart, Lord Castlereagh (1769-1822), was his Foreign Secretary. They were leading figures in the government that suppressed radical movements in the post-Napoleonic period. Their policies, including the Six Acts of 1819, were deeply unpopular with reformers.
This alludes to the biblical story in Exodus 17, where Moses strikes a rock with his staff and water flows out for the Israelites to drink. The phrase is used to describe an unexpected source of comfort or relief. Here, it suggests that Henrietta finds solace in Mrs. Gilson's gruff kindness, which comes from a source she did not expect.
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