Reading the Chunksters discussion

We are now into Book Two, and this section covers the first four chapters.

My chapter summaries:
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1. At Charley Hexam’s school. We meet his friend the schoolmaster Bradley Headstone, who agrees to accompany him on a visit to Lizzie. On their way out they pass the schoolmistress Miss Peecher who likes Bradley more than he likes her. At Lizzie’s lodgings they meet “the person of the house”, the “dolls dressmaker". Lizzie returns and they go out for a walk. After leaving Lizzie they pass Wrayburn in the street. Charley tells Headstone that Wrayburn spent the night with Lizzie after finding her father’s body.

2. Lizzie talks to the dolls dressmaker, a young girl known as Jenny Wren, the narrator explains more about Jenny and how her alcoholic father lived in the same building as the Hexams. Wrayburn calls and discusses a proposal he has made to Lizzie, of which the details are only hinted. Jenny’s father appears, and she treats him like a naughty child and sends him to bed.

3. We hear that Veneering has been chosen as a possible MP, and the process of getting him selected begins. He sees Twemlow, who is reluctant to involve his cousin and reluctant benefactor Lord Twigsworth but agrees to go to his club and spread the word. Podsnap and Mrs Tippins also agree to help. The whole chapter is a set piece satire about political processes.

4. The Lammles entertain Georgiana Podsnap. They propose that she sees a potential suitor, “Fascination” Fledgeby. The four have a dinner at which neither Georgiana nor Fledgeby look at one another or communicate, but the Lammles act for them. This continues at the opera.
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Chapter 1

Tommy Twopence and schoolmaster Headstone. I nearly split a gut when Headstone played with his buttonhole and stopped in mid sentence to stare at his finger.

There's more than a little of Pip in Charley in this chapter. Perhaps the school or his rising "expectations" has done it to him, worrying aloud to his sister how she may hold him back living with whom she lives, after all she's sacrificed for him.

Well, I think we know where Eugene disappeared to after learning of Gaffer's death.

In this section, I enjoyed the Lammies scene the most. They may turn out to act as a lightly connected and slightly humorous sideshow to the activity operating on the main stage. Trollope also often has such characters in his longer novels.

Part II, Chapter 4

The Lammles, those devils. They get along so well -- whether complimenting one another in public or tearing one another's throat out in private -- that they are just too perfect. If only they recognized this, they might become husband and wife for real. I mean what other man or woman could match the other's wit witticism for witticism?

Oh, and another point regarding our Lammles. They do wine and dine for a couple without money, don't they? However do they manage it? And then there is the carriage. For two people who don't have a shilling between them, they spare no expense. Whose pocket is it coming out of?

Oh, and before I forget, I love how Mrs Lammle returns her husband's affectionate kisses on her hand with affectionate kisses on his pocket watch chain. She's going to get silver poisoning. But overall she performed so well that her husband sent her to bed early.

Fledgeby (Fledgling?) and Georgina are another couple too perfect for one another. If they were to marry, they would consummate the marriage in, oh, say, some time in the first 5 years. No, strike that. It will take 5 years to look at each other.

That's it!! That's the Lammle's game. Georgina and Fledgeby are so incompetent together, that if they were to marry, the Lammles would have to move in with them.

I had a lot of fun reading this chapter.

The story is really getting going for me now (despite the political chapter which I really couldn't follow). I love the character of Jenny Wren, a true Dickensian character who just jumps off the page and I'm enjoying the back and forth sniping of the Lammles. I think they actually quite like each other really.

The way Fledgeby is introduced is interesting in retrospect, but to say more would be spoilerish.

Chapter 1
I'm still not sure what to think of schoolmaster Headstone, and probably partly because Dickens doesn't seem to have a lot of caring schoolmasters, many or most tend to be strict and simply part of the system. But, he seems to have had a bad upbringing but is now looking out for students like Charley, so maybe he is doing the best he can. Also, he appears to maybe fancy Lizzie, but is totally oblivious to Miss Peecher.


Xan wrote: "There's more than a little of Pip in Charley in this chapter. Perhaps the school or his rising "expectations" has done it to him, worrying aloud to his sister how she may hold him back living with whom she lives, after all she's sacrificed for him."

Yes, I cringed when Charley started speaking to Lizzie about her holding him back.

Yes, the Lammles chapter was great. I was also curious about where their money was coming from. And I love how everyone is jealous of the house they have yet to build.

Xan - I’m laughing at your timeline for Georiania and Fledgeby’s marriage to be consummated if it were to occur. 😂