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Chapter 28
The Board

Why had his fate been so unkind to him?
In this reference to fate, Trollope personifies it, recalling classical conceptions of fate as an active but uncontrollable power directing human life.  Here, a distraught Crosbie blames the external force of fate for his difficult situation, suiting his character since he is unwilling to accept any fault himself in ending his engagement to Lily.  [EB]

Slips between the cups and the lips
Trollope again refers to this famous classical phrase about how nothing is certain until after it happens.  Here Butterwell uses the phrase to describe how it is better that Crosbie was surprised by his promotion.  This is ironic, since the phrase was previously used in Chapter 9 to describe Lily's certainty of her marriage to Crosbie, which could have happened if Crosbie had known that his financial situation was about to change.  [EB]

A turn in the wheel of fortune
The wheel of fortune is a symbol of the Roman goddess Fortuna, illustrating the unpredictability of luck.  Here Crosbie's situation, which he caused by his own actions, is distinguished from a misfortune caused by chance events.
http://www.bartleby.com/81/17397.html  [EB]

A man will dine, even though his heart be breaking
This phrase, used to describe the way that Crosbie attends a dinner even though he is preoccupied with the circumstances of his engagement to Alexandrina and his promotion, could recall a well-known incident in the Iliad.  When Priam comes to Achilles to reclaim Hector's body, Achilles encourages him to eat despite his grief, referring to the myth of Niobe, where the grieving mother ate even though she was mourning the deaths of her many children.  Crosbie's situation is more ironic, since a good deal of his sorrow is brought on by his inability to know his own feelings about Lily and Alexandrina.  [EB]

Chapter 29
John Eames Returns to Burton Crescent

Egyptia conjux
This Latin phrase, a variation of "coniunx Aegyptia," or "Egyptian spouse," found in Ovid's Metamorphoses (15.826), refers to Mark Antony's affair with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.  In the novel it is used to refer to the sight of Mrs. Lupex on Cradell's arm, referencing various characters' suspicions of an illicit relationship between them.  [EB]

The divine Amelia
Cradell's description sarcastically elevates Amelia to the level of a goddess.  There seems to be a parallel particularly between her and Hera, who was notorious for her anger, since Cradell is warning Eames of "trouble" with Amelia.  [EB]

By Jove
This is a common exclamation, used here by Cradell, which refers to Jove, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Zeus.  [EB]

Chapter 30
Is It from Him?

As if no terrible thunderbolt had fallen among them
The Dales try to continue on with their daily routine as if the "thunderbolt" of the news that Lily and Crosbie's engagement was ended had never been announced.  This is a reference to Zeus' traditional control over the power of thunder in classical myth, and is particularly relevant in the context of Trollope since the Jupiter, which is a Roman name for Zeus, is a popular newspaper in the world of his novels.  [EB]

Wolf into their flock
Bernard feels as though Crosbie was a "wolf" in the "flock" of the Dale family.  This phrase is a reference to Aesop's fable about the wolf in sheep's clothing, which carries the lesson that appearances can deceive. This is certainly the case with Crosbie, whose seemingly dashing nature hid his faithlessness.
http://www.mythfolklore.net/aesopica/jacobs/39.htm  [EB]

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