The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

XXVI. A CHARITY BALL.
XXVII. FATHER AND SONS.
XXVIII. RIVALRY.
XXIX. BUSH-FIGHTING.
XXX. OLD WAYS AND NEW WAYS

I feel increasingly sorry for Roger, who has to be the calm center, and to try to humor, honor, and placate his querulous father. At the same time, Mrs. Gibbons is treating him badly in a way that is baffling to him, and Molly is so distressed for him, but can't speak up.

Yes, I feel for Roger, but also for the Squire with his sometimes understandable tetchiness and wounded pride; he makes me feel a mixture of sympathy and exasperation. But Mrs Gibson just gets worse! No wonder Mr Gibson has to "wilfully shut his eyes and wax up his ears." I think Mrs Gaskell is very perceptive in describing how he copes - "he would not allow himself to become more aware of her foibles and faults by defining them."

Yes, Mrs. Gibson is really getting worse and more hypocritical:
- At the Charity Ball, she is making a hint to Molly about the other's attitude towards the Cumnors:
"...If there is one thing I hate more than another, it is the trying to make out an intimacy with great people."
However, she is doing the same thing as it is probably not usual that a governess is allowed into these circles as an equal. And her being somehow ignored when visiting the Manor shows this, too. I was also thinking of Jane Eyre who is getting humiliated by Mr. Rochester's guest due to being an employee/ servant.
- Her treatment of Roger is really unfair, as she does allow Osborne whom she actually is interested in anything.

I still like Molly. She is somewhat an observer of what is happening around her. Unfortunately, she has to realize that Roger is more interested in Cynthia than in her. Despite her original flattering of Osborne, her actual crush is on Roger. It must be hard for her to see that her "first attachment" is not interested in her, but in her stepsister.

I am still not really sure what to make of Cynthia. What is the reason of her physical/ mental distress after the ball? Did anything happen there with regards to the mystery surrounding Mr. Preston?
What will happen now with Mr. Preston's taking over the landagent's position at Hollingford?

And what about Osborne? How long will he be able to keep up this double life and live on his brother's money? What will happen if Roger decided to get married?

Many unanswered questions... I hope we will get some answers in the course of the reading...

I think something must have happened at the ball between Preston and Cynthia. She was studiously avoiding him until suddenly she wasn't. I think he has some kind of hold on her, most likely something he is blackmailing her with, but I don't know what. When Cynthia learned that Preston was taking over the landagent's position at Hollingford, her first reaction was that she had to get a governess position and leave the area. But then we see Preston interact with the Squire and Roger, but so far no word on whether Cynthia is actually leaving.

Casceil wrote: "I think something must have happened at the ball between Preston and Cynthia. She was studiously avoiding him until suddenly she wasn't. I think he has some kind of hold on her, most likely somet..."

Yes, that whole thing continues to be mysterious...

I agree, and I felt Mr Preston somehow manoeuvred to obtain the position that would bring him closer to Cynthia.

Cynthia remains mysterious as well-she clearly is aware of the effect she has on the men around her, yet it is not clear how she truly feels about any of them. I wonder if she realizes that Molly is in love with Roger.

Yes, Mrs Gibson is irritating but part of me continues to feel a bit sorry for her-she seems to yearn for a social standing that is unobtainable to her, and cannot seem to appreciate the good things she has in her steady husband, lovely daughter and very sweet-natured step-daughter. It is one of those situations where she is her own worst enemy.