📖 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 XXVIII · The Golden Ship
Summary
- Henrietta rises from hiding after Bishop passes and scales the fence to the road, setting off toward Starvecrow Farm with high spirits.
- She reflects on the joy of being free and the anticipated satisfaction of returning the child to Alan Stewart, who had treated her harshly.
- She arrives at the farm unseen and knocks at the door, but receives no answer until the old man, Hinkson, opens it.
- Henrietta enters the squalid house, suppressing her disgust, and demands to see Walterson.
- Hinkson, deaf and senile, seems to understand little but fixates on the gold medal she wears at her throat.
- He demands the medal, which she refuses, offering instead to pay him its value later if he will help her.
- Hinkson recites a rhyme about trusting no one and continues to insist on the medal.
- He tries to position himself between her and the door and picks up a stool, which she orders him to put down; he obeys.
- Enraged by her defiance, he curses her and threatens to summon someone who will "dumb" her.
- As Henrietta turns to leave, a shadow appears at the lattice and a hand rests on the latch of the door.
📖 Glossary of Period Terms
- Bide a bit
- Wait a moment.
- palsied hand
- A hand affected by palsy, or trembling and weak due to age or illness.
Analysis
- Henrietta's Buoyant Mood: Henrietta's spirits are remarkably high after her escape. The contrast with her previous confinement is striking. She takes pleasure in the landscape and feels a gaiety she does not question, though the reader may see it as a sign of her youthful resilience and determination. Her anticipation of returning the child to Captain Clyne is a hope for reconciliation and a way to put him in her debt.
- Hinkson's Grotesque Greed: The old man, Hinkson, is a study in degraded humanity. His appearance and manner are revolting, and his obsession with the gold medal reveals a primitive avarice. His shift from senile vagueness to cunning greed and then to murderous rage shows a mind corrupted by poverty and isolation.
- Power and Vulnerability: The scene in the cottage is a test of wills. Henrietta's firm commands, "Put down that stool!", show her strength of character. She resists the temptation to glance at the door and maintains eye contact, which is a form of psychological control. Yet, the threat of violence is real, and the reader senses the danger she is in.
- Foreshadowing and Suspense: The chapter is rich with foreshadowing. Henrietta's reflection that she doesn't know what will happen before she sees the landscape again creates a sense of impending change. The ominous description of the house and the old man's threats build suspense. The arrival of a figure at the door at the very end leaves the reader in anticipation, unsure whether it is a rescuer, a new threat, or a connection to Walterson.
- The Medal as a Symbol: The medal of Princess Charlotte is not just a piece of jewelry; it is a symbol of Henrietta's past, her family, and perhaps her identity. She refuses to part with it, even in the face of danger, which shows her loyalty to her mother's memory. For Hinkson, it is merely a valuable object, which highlights the difference in their values and worldviews.
"The Golden Ship" is a metaphor for Henrietta's mission to find Walterson and the child. It suggests a venture with the potential for great reward, but also one that is fragile and might be lost. The phrase evokes the idea of a treasure ship, which fits with the theme of seeking something precious, and the risk of it being dashed against the rocks.
This is a traditional English proverb or folk saying. "Groats" were a type of coin (a fourpenny piece) or, more generally, money. The proverb means that having money in one's pocket has never caused trouble or sorrow. It reflects a pragmatic, if cynical, view of life, valuing immediate material gain over promises or trust. Hinkson uses it to justify his demand for the medal on the spot, rather than waiting for a future payment.
Weyman uses rhymes and doggerel to characterize Hinkson. The old man's recitation of "It is an old saying" is not just for atmosphere; it reveals his mindset. Rhymes were common in oral culture and folk tradition. Hinkson's use of them suggests he is a creature of superstition and simple beliefs, but also one who uses them to mask his intentions. The rhyme about "few words" and knowing things is ironic, as he is both withholding information and proving that he knows more than he lets on. It also contributes to the Gothic, unsettling atmosphere of the scene.
Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817) was the only child of the Prince Regent (later George IV). Her birth was a national event, and medals were struck to celebrate it. Her death in childbirth in 1817 was a national tragedy, as she was the heir to the throne. A medal with her image would have been a sentimental keepsake, and its use as a clasp for Henrietta's gown shows it was a personal and valuable object. The setting of the novel in 1819, only two years after her death, makes the medal a poignant symbol of a lost hope and a reminder of the public grief that still lingered.
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