📖 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, November 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 XXII · Mr. Sutton's New Rôle
Summary
- After Henrietta is taken to Kendal and the search parties depart, the inn falls into a somber stillness, with Mr. Sutton walking restlessly outside.
- Sutton feels deep remorse for his past actions and is surprised to discover that he has developed genuine feelings of love and pity for Henrietta.
- While sitting on a bench by the lakeshore, he finds scraps of torn paper that turn out to be a letter from Walterson to Henrietta.
- The letter reveals that Walterson had appealed to Henrietta's mercy, asking her to meet him, and that she was not in league with him but had been responding to his plea.
- Sutton is furious with Clyne for not giving Henrietta a fair hearing and resolves to show the letter to the captain to secure her release.
- Mrs. Gilson refuses to listen to Sutton's discovery, dismissing Henrietta as having behaved badly.
- The search parties return at seven, having found no trace of the child, and Clyne is visibly devastated.
- Sutton approaches Clyne in his room with the letter, but Clyne refuses to look at it, insisting he wants to hear nothing of Henrietta.
- In a heated exchange, Sutton resigns his chaplaincy rather than serve a man who refuses to do justice to a helpless woman.
📖 Glossary of Period Terms
- Nemesis
- A goddess of retribution; a source of harm or downfall, often as a punishment for hubris.
- stentorian
- Extremely loud and powerful, referring to a voice.
Analysis
- Sutton's Transformation: Mr. Sutton undergoes a significant internal shift in this chapter. He moves from a position of self-interest and ambition to one of genuine emotional investment in Henrietta's welfare. His discovery of the letter and his subsequent defiance of Clyne mark a turning point in his character, revealing a capacity for moral courage that he had not previously shown.
- The Letter as Exculpatory Evidence: The torn letter is a crucial piece of evidence that recontextualizes Henrietta's actions. It shows that she was not acting out of loyalty to a criminal but was responding to a desperate appeal. This discovery undermines the narrative that she is a willing participant in the conspiracy and highlights the injustice of her treatment.
- Clyne's Blindness: Clyne's refusal to read the letter is a moment of profound stubbornness and emotional blockage. His grief for his child has made him incapable of seeing Henrietta as anything other than an enemy. This blindness drives the conflict and prevents a potential resolution, showing how personal anguish can warp judgment.
- Class and Political Tension: The political views of the farmers and searchers are explicitly stated. They are Tories who oppose radicals like Brougham and the Lowthers, aligning them with Clyne. This political solidarity underscores the class and ideological divisions that underpin the novel's conflicts.
Henry Brougham (1778-1868) was a prominent Whig politician, lawyer, and reformer. The Lowthers were a powerful Tory family who dominated politics in Westmorland and Cumberland. The reference highlights the fierce political rivalry of the period, with the Tories using their influence to maintain power against the reforming Whigs and radicals.
In the early 19th century, paper was a comparatively expensive commodity. Postage was high, with a single sheet costing a shilling to send from the south of England to the north. As a result, letters were often crossed and recrossed to save paper, and they were valued possessions. The discovery of torn paper by the lakeside would have been a more significant find than it might be today.
The organization of search parties to find the kidnapped child reflects the community's response to a crime that threatened the social order. The involvement of farmers, yeomen, and local officials shows how such events could mobilize a wide segment of society, driven by a combination of loyalty to a local figure, fear of disorder, and a sense of justice.
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