The Count of Monte Cristo
Chapter 98: The Bell and Bottle Tavern
by Alexandre Dumas, pére
Andrea makes his escape from Paris.
Andrea makes his escape from Paris.
After Mr. Brocklehurst’s negligent treatment of the girls at Lowood is found to be one of the causes of the typhus epidemic, a new group of overseers is brought in to run the school. Conditions improve dramatically for the young girls, and Jane excels in her studies for the next six years. After spending two more years at Lowood as a teacher, Jane decides she is ready for a change, partly because Miss Temple gets married and leaves the school. She advertises in search of a post as a governess and accepts a position at a manor called Thornfield. Before leaving, Jane receives a visit from Bessie, who tells her what has happened at Gateshead since Jane departed for Lowood. Georgiana attempted to run away in secret with a man named Lord Edwin Vere, but Eliza foiled the plan by revealing it to Mrs. Reed. John has fallen into a life of debauchery and dissolution. Bessie also tells Jane that her father’s brother, John Eyre, appeared at Gateshead seven years ago, looking for Jane. He did not have the time to travel to Lowood and went away to Madeira (a Portuguese island west of Morocco) in search of wealth. Jane and Bessie part ways, Bessie returning to Gateshead, and Jane leaving for her new life at Thornfield.
Rochester has been gone for a week, and Jane is dismayed to learn that he may choose to depart for continental Europe without returning to Thornfield—according to Mrs. Fairfax, he could be gone for more than a year. A week later, however, Mrs. Fairfax receives word that Rochester will arrive in three days with a large group of guests. While she waits, Jane continues to be amazed by the apparently normal relations the strange, self-isolated Grace Poole enjoys with the rest of the staff. Jane also overhears a conversation in which a few of the servants discuss Grace’s high pay, and Jane is certain that she doesn’t know the entire truth about Grace Poole’s role at Thornfield. Rochester arrives at last, accompanied by a party of elegant and aristocratic guests. Jane is forced to join the group but spends the evening watching them from a window seat. Blanche Ingram and her mother are among the party’s members, and they treat Jane with disdain and cruelty. Jane tries to leave the party, but Rochester stops her. He grudgingly allows her to go when he sees the tears brimming in her eyes. He informs her that she must come into the drawing room every evening during his guests’ stay at Thornfield. As they part, Rochester nearly lets slip more than he intends. “Good-night, my—” he says, before biting his lip.
The narrator tells of his first encounter with Ethan Frome in the town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. The narrator seeks information on the reclusive Frome.
A story in which dreams are effected by objects that retell the purpose they served. In this tale of terror, a leather funnel tells the tale of a horrbile execution.
The Truands, having armed themselves, gather at a local tavern. As midnight approaches, Clopin Trouillefou leads the rowdy mob into the streets.
The Camel's Back, a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is the tale of a man in love, Perry Parkhurst, who presents his girlfriend with an ultimatum: get married or end the relationship forever. After ending the relationship, a heartbroken Parkhurst attends the Citrus Ball in a camel costume, determined to win her back.
Uncas prepares the Delaware for battle. Gamut arrives with news of Cora’s location. Hawkeye has a plan.
The queens begin to question and trouble begins to brew.
Sophie helps Jane dress for the wedding, and Rochester and Jane walk to the church. Jane notes a pair of strangers reading the headstones in the churchyard cemetery. When Jane and Rochester enter the church, the two strangers are also present. When the priest asks if anyone objects to the ceremony, one of the strangers answers: “The marriage cannot go on: I declare the existence of an impediment.” Rochester attempts to proceed with the ceremony, but the stranger explains that Rochester is already married—his wife is a Creole woman whom Rochester wed fifteen years earlier in Jamaica. The speaker explains that he is a solicitor from London, and he introduces himself as Mr. Briggs. He produces a signed letter from Richard Mason affirming that Rochester is married to Mason’s sister, Bertha. Mr. Mason himself then steps forward to corroborate the story. After a moment of inarticulate fury, Rochester admits that his wife is alive and that in marrying Jane he would have been knowingly taking a second wife. No one in the community knows of his wife because she is mad, and Rochester keeps her locked away under the care of Grace Poole. But, he promises them all, Jane is completely ignorant of Bertha’s existence. He orders the crowd to come to Thornfield to see her, so that they may understand what impelled him to his present course of action.
Ahab comes at Moby Dick head on. Crew members are lost when things do not go as planned.
Mina and Lucy arrive at Whitby. Dr. Jack Seward journals about his lunatic client Renfield. Mina is concerned that she has not heard from Jonathan. Lucy is beginning to act strangely in her sleep.
Jo, intending to help her sister's relationship with Laurie as well as her own writing, decides to move to New York.
David and Tommy Traddles are called to the Micawber home.
Willam Dobbin and Amelia reconcile with each other. Becky visits Joseph with less than honorable intentions. Rebecca's ambition pays off financially, but leaves her friendless.
Captain Spike prepares the Molly Swash for departure. Rose Budd and her aunt will be on board. Jack Tier appears, to Captain Spike's dismay.
Walter meets Mrs. Catherick, and tries to discover the secret behind her relationship with Sir Percival.
William and Frances continue their married life together, with continued contact with Hunsden.
As requested, Joseph stays behind to take care of the women. Isidor and Rebecca each have plans of their own.
One snowy night, Jane sits reading Marmion when St. John appears at the door. Appearing troubled, he tells Jane the story of an orphan girl who became the governess at Thornfield Hall, then disappeared after nearly marrying Edward Rochester: this runaway governess’s name is Jane Eyre. Until this point, Jane has been cautious not to reveal her past and has given the Rivers a false name. Thus although it is clear that St. John suspects her of being the woman about whom he speaks, she does not immediately identify herself to him. He says that he has received a letter from a solicitor named Mr. Briggs intimating that it is extremely important that this Jane Eyre be found. Jane is only interested in whether Mr. Briggs has sent news of Rochester, but St. John says that Rochester’s well-being is not at issue: Jane Eyre must be found because her uncle, John Eyre, has died, leaving her the vast fortune of 20,000 pounds.
Clotel takes an interesting stage coach ride to Richmond, Virginia.
Phoebe begins spending more and more time with Holgrave. He tells her his thoughts on the Pycheon curse and reads her an article he has written about it.
Jos and Dobbin get a good nights sleep. Dobbin prepares for a reunion of sorts.
Having been driven hard, Buck eventually begins to regain his strength. Buck faithfully serves his master John Thornton.
As another year at West Point commences, Henry comes to find that being a First Classman comes with added privilege and respect.