The Last Chronicle of Barset
Chapters 34 to 36

chapter list

[31-33]   [37-39]

Chapter 34
Mrs Proudie Sends for her Lawyer

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Chapter 35
Lily Dale Writes Two Words in her Book

Angel of light
As Johnny makes his walk through the gardens of Allington in search of Lily Dale, he thinks of Lily Dale and her past relationship with Crosbie.  He remembers that when he was about to proclaim his love to Lily, she was already regarding Crosbie as an "angel of light."  This reference to light keeps with Trollope's ongoing reference to Crosbie, Lily's former suitor, as Apollo, the god of light.  [KD]

Cutting names into bridges
Johnny Eames tells Lady Julia before for he goes to see the Dales in Allington that he only has to stay ten minutes to say everything he wanted to Lily.  After that, he can go and cut names into bridges.  This is reminisient of the pastoral imagery we have seen with Johnny in Small House at Allington when Lady Julia found John Eames cutting L.D. into the bridge's railing.  See commentary for Small House at Allington Chapter 54.  [KD]

Temple at Allington
After Lily rejects John Eames' love again, she tells him that there will always be a "temple at Allington in which your worship is never forgotten."  Although Lily cannot see John Eames as she saw "Apollo" Crosbie, she nevertheless maintains that she will cherish him.  Given the "homage" that she paid to Crosbie-as-Apollo, it is interesting that she now uses divine imagery in speaking of paying homage to John.  [KD & RR]

John as a stricken deer
After Lily's rejection, John declares to himself that he will live as though Lily were forgotten and will not go around as a stricken deer.  The stricken deer imagery is reminiscent of Dido in the Aeneid when she is struck by her love for Aeneas and likened to a wounded deer.  Trollope's use of "stricken deer" is interesting here because the image was used for Lily Dale in the Small House at Allington after she was slighted by Crosbie.  See commentary for The Small House at Allington Chapter 31.  [KD]

If he knew himself he be constant to Lily
John tells himself further that he will never mention Lily Dale to anyone nor ever speak to any other girl.  Trollope interrupts, saying that if Johnny knew himself he would be constant.  "Know thyself" is a famous Greek proverb attributed to Solon of Athens, one of the Seven Sages of Greece.  As we know, Johnny does not "know himself"--as he is still involved with Madaline Demolines.
www.bartleby.com  [KD]

Super-excellent port
As Lady Julia comforts John Eames, Trollope says that she opens  bottle of a super-excellent port.  Super as a Latin prefix literally means "over" or "above."  [KD]

 

Chapter 36
Grace Crawley Returns Home

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