The Small House at Allington
Chapters 55 to 57

chapter list

[52-54]   [58-60]

Chapter 55
Not Very Fie Fie After All

Love was necessary to make up the full complement of his happiness
Palliser comes to this realization during his apparent flirtation with Lady Dumbello.  The abstract concept of love is capitalized and referred to as an entity here, as in classical personifications. [EB]

By Jove
This exclamation is here used by Lord Dumbello, reacting to the letter from Lady Dumbello's mother. The phrase, which makes use of the name of a Roman god, is also seen in chapters 29 and 46, and throughout Trollope's other novels.  [EB]

By Jove
See above.  [EB]

She had triumphed
Lady Dumbello reclaims her husband's trust by showing him her mother's letter warning her about her relationship with Palliser.  The word "triumph" draws a parallel between this private social victory and the large celebrations of military success practiced in ancient Rome.  Further, Lady Dumbello receives a necklace that is compared to a "jewelled cuirass" from her husband after this incident, drawing a humorous parallel with the spoils of war claimed by victorious soldiers.  [EB]

What Fortune did for him
Fortune is described here as an active entity shaping Palliser's life, an image which resonates with the Roman personification of luck, Fortuna.  [EB]

 

Chapter 56
Showing How Mr. Crosbie Became Again a Happy Man

He had shone with peculiar light
Crosbie is described as having "shone" at parties in the past, fitting his image as Apollo.  Now this image is dulled by his unhappy marriage to Alexandrina, and he no longer lives up to his past parallel with the god.  [EB]

 

Chapter 57
Lilian Dale Vanquishes Her Mother

---

[52-54]   [58-60]

home

chapter list