📖 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 XV · The Answer
Summary
- Henrietta reads Stewart's letter and is moved by his plea for mercy. She struggles with her conscience, torn between her revulsion for him and her unwillingness to let a man die if she can save him.
- She reasons that if she helps him escape, she will be freed from the threat of public exposure and the ordeal of testifying at his trial.
- She agrees to meet his messenger at the appointed time and place, despite her fears about going alone at night.
- She considers the practical difficulties of leaving the inn at ten o'clock. She decides to use a window on the first floor of the south wing, from which she can drop safely into the garden.
- The next morning, she slips out to place the signal stone on the gate-post. She is nervous and self-conscious, fearing she is being watched.
- She places the stone, but then worries that it has fallen. She returns and replaces it.
- Mr. Sutton, who has been following her, observes her actions from hiding. He removes the first stone, expecting to find a note. He sees her place a second stone and realises it is a signal.
- Mr. Bishop, who has also been watching, confronts Sutton. The two men discuss Henrietta's behaviour and conclude that she is in communication with Stewart.
- Bishop suggests that Sutton help him keep watch. Sutton agrees, partly because he now suspects that Captain Clyne may still be in love with Henrietta, which makes him more determined to win her.
- Sutton stays to watch the gate while Bishop returns to the inn. Sutton is so preoccupied with his thoughts about Clyne that he fails to notice Bess Hinkson rowing along the shore.
📖 Glossary of Period Terms
- To spurn
- To reject with contempt; to scorn or refuse.
- Obdurate
- Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
- Incubus
- A burdensome or oppressive presence; in folklore, a demon that lies on sleeping people.
- Abed
- In bed; retired for the night.
- To behove
- To be necessary, proper, or advantageous for someone.
- Athwart
- Across; in opposition to; from side to side.
- Trysting-place
- A meeting place, especially for lovers or secret meetings.
Analysis
- Henrietta's Moral Conflict: Henrietta's decision to help Stewart is not based on love but on a sense of duty and pity. She cannot bear the thought of his death, even though she now despises him. Her internal debate shows her moral seriousness: she weighs the risks to herself against the value of a human life.
- Practicality and Fear: Henrietta is not naive about the dangers of the meeting. She considers the practical difficulties of leaving the inn and the risks of going alone at night. Her fear is real, but she overcomes it through willpower and a sense of obligation.
- Sutton's Obsession: Sutton's behaviour reveals his growing obsession with Henrietta. He follows her, spies on her, and removes the signal stone out of jealousy. His willingness to collaborate with Bishop shows that he is prepared to use underhanded methods to achieve his goal.
- Bishop's Professionalism: Bishop is a competent and experienced officer. He reads the situation accurately and enlists Sutton's help without revealing too much. His comment about Clyne being in love with Henrietta shows his insight into human nature.
- Jealousy and Rivalry: The chapter introduces a new layer of rivalry. Sutton now suspects that Clyne may still have feelings for Henrietta, which intensifies his desire to possess her. The rivalry between the two men adds tension to the plot.
- Surveillance and Paranoia: The theme of surveillance continues. Henrietta is aware that she is being watched, and her actions are shaped by this awareness. Sutton and Bishop are both watching her, each with his own agenda. The landscape itself becomes a space of suspicion and hidden observation.
"Gypsy patter" refers to the language or coded communication used by gypsies, or more generally, to secret or hidden signals. Bishop uses the term to describe Henrietta's signal with the stone, suggesting that he recognises it as a form of covert communication. The phrase reflects the period's association of gypsies with mystery and secrecy.
St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate was the church adjacent to Newgate Prison in London. Its bell was traditionally rung to mark executions, and the sexton would recite a rhyme to the condemned prisoners. Henrietta's reference to the bell tolling reflects her dread of Stewart's execution and her fear of being haunted by guilt.
In the early 19th century, rural roads were often poorly maintained and dangerous, especially at night. Travel by stagecoach was slow and uncomfortable. The inns along the routes provided essential services for travellers. The Low Wood Inn, where Henrietta is staying, would have been a typical coaching inn, offering food, lodging, and stabling for horses.
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