Reading the Chunksters discussion

I am getting behind with typing up the chapter summaries but will try and complete the ones for this section tomorrow.

This section covers chapters 13 to 15 of the First Scene and the first Between the Scenes section.

Chapter summaries (beware spoilers)
(view spoiler)[
13. Pendril continues his story. Vanstone’s father was a manufacturer in the North, and Andrew was his youngest child. The father fell out with his eldest son Michael and disinherited him. While on army service in Quebec, Andrew met an American woman who he married secretly. They soon separated, and Andrew made a deal with her not to disturb him or visit England, giving her money in return. He left the regiment and heard of his father’s death. On hearing of the will Andrew offered to share his inheritance with his elder brother, who refused, accusing him of starting their quarrel. Pendril relates the first meeting between Andrew and his wife Miss Blake which saved him from a life of excess. He explains that Mrs Vanstone’s only relation is Captain Wragge, a scoundrel. The Vanstones went to Ireland and lived as man and wife. Pendril explains that the girls’ situation depends on the justice and mercy of a stranger. Pendril was away when the Vanstones visited London after hearing of the death of Vanstone’s American wife. When Magdalen decided to marry Frank, Vanstone felt he had to tell the Clares the truth. He showed Francis Clare his will, and Francis told him the recent marriage made it worthless because the marriage invalidated it. On hearing this Vanstone wrote to Pendril asking for his help making a new will. When Vanstone died intestate, Mrs Vanstone was entitled to a third of his fortune, the rest going to his legal next of kin, which excluded Norah and Magdalen due to their illegitimate births. Her death left the newborn baby as the sole Inheritor, and when the baby died the Uncle became the legal next of kin. Pendril says he has to return to London, and will write to Michael Vanstone. He asks Miss Garth to tell the girls the full story.

14. Miss Garth thinks through the chain of consequences and worries about how to tell the girls. She goes out into the garden to think. She asks God to help, but Magdalen overhears and explains that she already knows the story, admitting to having heard the whole of Pendril’s account through the window, and has told Norah what she heard. Miss Garth goes to see Norah, who confirms Magdalen’s story and tells Miss Garth that Magdalen was always her favourite. Norah comes to see Miss Garth telling her that Magdalen has found her father’s will and last letter on the seat outside, and the letter is now tear stained.

15. Pendril reports that he has found Michael Vanstone and written to him. Michael has a son Noel Vanstone, who is staying with a cousin in London and is confined to bed with an illness. He finally receives Michael Vanstone’s decision and comes to Combe-Raven. He arrives with Mr Clare, and the bad news is announced. Norah thanks Pendril for his efforts. Magdalen asks to see Michael’s written instructions. Pendril declines, and Norah and Miss Garth try to dissuade her, but Clare says Magdalen is right and Pendril agrees. The letter is damning, but makes provision for Norah and Magdalen to receive £100 each if they accept their position. Magdalen vows to remember what Michael has done. Norah tells Pendril to refuse the offer, and Magdalen tells him to ask Michael to reconsider. Magdalen asks about Michael’s age and about what family he has. Norah says she will leave the next day, Magdalen says she can’t leave without seeing Frank. Miss Garth offers to take Norah and Magdalen to her house, explaining that her sister and she ran a school in London, and she still has the profits from her share. She also agrees to help settle with the servants. Pendril asks to speak to Norah in private. They go to speak to the servants. Magdalen speaks to Mr Clare, and vow not to give Frank up, saying she will wait for him. Clare says they can only afford to marry if Frank goes to China. Magdalen tells him her fortune may change again, and will marry Frank when she has her own money. She asks Mr Clare to allow her to see Frank again if her situation changes. Pendril leaves, and Miss Garth writes to her sister.

BETWEEN THE SCENES

Norah writes to Pendril from London. She tells him that most of the servants left as soon as he went. The cook and Thomas stayed. While sorting their things, Norah finds the card the theatrical agent left Magdalen, and Magdalen keeps it. The next day they find a letter from Captain Wragge to Miss Garth demanding to attend the reading of the will. Magdalen has her meeting with Frank, who told her he has to go to China. The girls take a last look at the house and garden, and Magdalen visits her parent’s grave, and tells Norah she has made a promise to their father. Norah says that Mrs Garth’s sister has been good to them.

Miss Garth writes to Pendril: Magdalen has deserted them and left a note for Norah. Miss Garth suspects she will try the stage. Magdalen’s note to Norah asks for her forgiveness, says she has to go and asks Norah not to seek her.

A police sergeant writes to Pendril: No trace of the young lady has been found. Magdalen was seen at the agent’s house, but was told he was away and did not return,

Anonymous letter to Pendril: There is no point continuing the search.

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This had some lengthy chapters but I enjoyed Vanstone's backstory and all the storylines in this section so they didn't feel overly long..

I did appreciate Norah's reaction to her status as I couldn't have taken much more of her continuing to be a pill all the time. However, her attempt to dispose of the theater agent's card without Magdalen's permission does show that she will still be a pill - just a part-time one now. I still enjoy Magdalen's dynamic personality significantly more - it's the key to the dynamics in this story.

Early on, it was commented that Miss Garth favored Magdalen and, in this section, she apologizes to Norah for this as she feels more aware of Norah's value now. However, I thought Garth's actions in the previous sections always showed a preference for Norah despite the narration's claim of her preference for Magdalen.

I'm intrigued to find out where Magdalen went.

Chapter 13:
So my suspicion that Mr Vanstone was previously married was correct. But I was confused on how he and Mrs Vanstone just now getting married affected the inheritance - by making his original will null. And there’s the explanation for why it wasn’t corrected immediately after the marriage. And now the birth of the legitimate baby throws a wrench into Mrs Vanstone’s wealth being able to be passed down to her daughters. So complicated!

I am also enjoying Magdalen’s dynamic personality. It was interesting to hear Miss Garth’s interpretation that Magdalen has sunny exterior presence but with an underlying darkness. Whereas Norah portrays a subdued and quiet character, but contains a thoughtful and generous character within. Although I was also shocked at her flinging the theatre card so carelessly.

After the painfully slow reveal of the girls’ illegitimate status given by the lawyer in last week’s section, Mr Clare climbed the ladder in my eyes in this week’s section when he immediately stated upon entering the morning room, “Bad news. I am an enemy to all unnecessary suspense. Plainness is kindness in such a case as this. I mean to be kind - and I tell you plainly - bad news.” Just right to the point, no unnecessary hand wringing while waiting for information to be slowly doled out regarding Michael Vanstone’s reply.

Also, did people typically write letters that were this long?? Norah’s letter to Mr Pendril was quite the book! It was over six pages in my book, single spaced and type-written. I couldn’t help but wonder how many hand written pages that translated to. 😂

I like how tragic events occur suddenly and take the story on a different course (not that it’s a surprise for events to unfold this way, but the timing was welcome).

I found it implausible that the parents wouldn’t have made special arrangements for the girls / wouldn’t have know the inheritance issues at that time. But then again my will is woefully outdated so who am I to say - no one expects tragic events.

This is a very different kind of book from the two ‘big’ Collins titles I’ve read. The serial nature of its publication is much more pronounced. It feels closer to Dickens in that way.

Jen wrote: "I found it implausible that the parents wouldn’t have made special arrangements for the girls / wouldn’t have know the inheritance issues at that time. But then again my will is woefully outdated so who am I to say - no one expects tragic events. "
Collins/Pendril does try to explain this. What Mr Vanstone was unaware of was the law that said that a marriage invalidates any existing will. Had he died before the marriage his earlier will would have been fine.

Thanks Hugh that’s helpful. I have to admit, listening to the audio there have been times my attention has slipped and this was one, clearly!

Collins has a way of creating suspense, I think Magdalen’s behaviour was vengeful at this stage. I am enjoying this book, as I enjoyed his other books , I couldn’t put them down and I can’t put this down either.

Collins has epistolary form in between the scenes, even then the book is so lengthy.

Nidhi wrote: "Collins has epistolary form in between the scenes, even then the book is so lengthy."

I was looking forward to reading a 700+ page Collins that used a consistent narrative voice rather than the ever changing voice in his two major epistolary novels. Yet I smile when the epistolary form appears in the Between the Scenes portions - I picture Collins as an addict who can't help himself - "let me use just a little bit, please - it'll only be a few letters, I promise! Hey, what if I make them journal entries?"
I find that these short epistolary appearances work well and, as Linda observes in a future post, the Between the Scenes sections have proven to be valuable additions that improve the quality of the narration.

Yes, I agree, these letters are more informative about the back ground plot, which will be tiresome if told in regular paragraphs.

Brian E wrote: "Yet I smile when the epistolary form appears in the Between the Scenes portions - I picture Collins as an addict who can't help himself - "let me use just a little bit, please - it'll only be a few letters, I promise! Hey, what if I make them journal entries?""

Ha ha! This was funny. :)

I'm way behind you guys as I just finished this section. Did you find the dismissive attitude of Michael Vanstone to be believable? The 100 pounds seemed exceptionally hard hearted. I'm curious as to what our actress sister is up to. I suspect she is seeking to not be found, and has some tricks up her sleeve.

I too have doubts regarding Michael Vanstone's act . It seems someone else is acting on his part and he is being kept in dark about many things.