📖 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 XXXVI · Two of a Race
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Summary
- Three days have passed since Henrietta's rescue; the frost continues and the inquest on the gipsy has returned a verdict of justifiable homicide.
- Henrietta, still pale and recovering, descends to breakfast and finds Captain Clyne waiting for her.
- They converse awkwardly; Clyne thanks her for saving the child and expresses his gratitude.
- Henrietta admits she acted to reinstate herself in his good opinion; Clyne confesses he was wrong about her.
- He offers to pay court to her, but she initially rejects him, citing his past treatment of her and mentioning Mr. Sutton's willingness to marry her.
- Henrietta quotes the proverb "He that will not when he may, when he will he shall have nay."
- Clyne declares his love; Henrietta reveals she does not hate him, and they reconcile.
- An epilogue describes the fates of the characters: Mr. Sutton receives a living and marries; Walterson escapes to Holland; Giles and Lunt are caught in the Cato Street Conspiracy and executed.
- Tyson returns, is jailed, and becomes a reformed high Tory; Bess is saved by Henrietta and disappears.
- Mrs. Gilson dies and is buried with great honor; Henrietta attends her funeral.
📖 Glossary of Period Terms
- tap-room
- A bar or room in an inn where ale and other drinks are served; a public bar.
- beholden
- Owing gratitude or obligation to someone; indebted.
- pay court
- To woo or court someone; to seek a person's favor, especially in a romantic context.
- vae victis
- Latin for "woe to the vanquished" or "woe to the conquered." A phrase expressing that losers in a conflict have no rights and must suffer the consequences.
Analysis
- Henrietta and Clyne's Reconciliation: The central scene of the chapter is the emotional reconciliation between Henrietta and Clyne. Their conversation is marked by awkwardness, pride, and vulnerability. Henrietta's initial rejection of Clyne's offer, followed by her revelation that she does not hate him, shows her pride and her desire to be valued for herself, not out of pity or obligation. Clyne's confession of love is a turning point, and his willingness to accept her terms shows his growth.
- The Proverb and Power Dynamics: Henrietta's use of the proverb "He that will not when he may, when he will he shall have nay" is a pointed reminder of Clyne's past neglect. It reverses the power dynamic between them; she now has the upper hand. Her statement "you shall not pay your court to me" is a playful challenge, forcing him to acknowledge that she is not a passive object of his choice but an active agent in their relationship.
- The Epilogue and Historical Context: The epilogue ties up the fates of all the major characters, placing them within the broader historical context. The Cato Street Conspiracy, the reform movement, and the Bristol Riots ground the novel in real historical events. The epilogue shows how the characters' lives are shaped by the political and social forces of their time, and how the radical movement evolved from violent conspiracies to more legitimate forms of reform.
- Bess's Redemption: Bess's story arc concludes with a degree of redemption. She saves Henrietta, and Henrietta in turn saves her from execution. Bess's request, "I saved you. Now do you save me," is a recognition of their interdependence. Her eventual disappearance from the narrative leaves her fate ambiguous, but her survival suggests that even the most antagonistic characters can change.
- Mrs. Gilson's Legacy: The novel ends with the death of Mrs. Gilson, the landlady who provided practical wisdom and stability throughout the story. The large gathering at her funeral shows the respect she commanded. Henrietta's presence at the funeral, coming "a great distance," is a final gesture of gratitude and connection, bringing the novel full circle.
The phrase "decayed house" refers to an old, noble family that has fallen on hard times or lost its former wealth and status. The Conyers of Sockburn were a real historical family, an ancient Norman line that had once held great power in the north of England. By the 19th century, their fortunes had declined, and the family estate was in ruins. The mention of this "decayed house" highlights the theme of social change and the decline of old aristocratic families. The fact that the Damers and Clynes were "upstairs" compared to the Conyers means they were of a lower social rank, showing how far the Conyers had fallen.
The Cato Street Conspiracy was a real historical event. In February 1820, a group of radicals led by Arthur Thistlewood planned to assassinate the British cabinet at a dinner at Lord Harrowby's house in Grosvenor Square. The plot was betrayed by an informer, and the conspirators were arrested in a loft above a stable in Cato Street, London. Thistlewood and four others were executed for high treason. The novel's mention of this event grounds the story in a specific historical moment and shows the fate of the radical movement.
To "send someone to Coventry" is an English idiom meaning to deliberately shun or ostracize someone; to refuse to associate with them. The phrase is believed to date back to the English Civil War, when Royalist prisoners were sent to Coventry, a town that remained a Parliamentary stronghold. The locals refused to speak to them. In the novel, Tyson's neighbors "sent him to Coventry" because they suspected him of complicity with the gang, a social punishment that reinforced his isolation and contributed to his reform.
The Bristol Riots of 1831 were a major civil disturbance in Bristol, England, sparked by the rejection of the Reform Bill in the House of Lords. The riots lasted for three days and resulted in widespread destruction, including the burning of the bishop's palace and much of the city center. The novel's mention of the riots, occurring twelve years after the main events, shows Bess's possible involvement in later political unrest and connects the individual characters to the broader struggle for reform that continued throughout the 19th century.
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