# Hester — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Hester by Margaret Oliphant.

- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/epigraph.md): The epigraph, a poem by Charles Lamb, celebrates Hester's spirited and independent nature, describing her pride, joy, and untamable heart as gifts of nature rather than social conditioning.
- [Hester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/hester.md): The chapter introduces Hester Vernon, a young woman navigating the complexities of family obligation, social class, and personal independence within the Vernon family circle. Her interactions with Catherine Vernon, Edwar
- [Vernon's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/i-vernon-s.md): This chapter introduces the history and reputation of Vernon's bank, a seemingly unshakeable institution in the Home Counties. It traces the bank's rise under the golden touch of the first John Vernon, then follows the d
- [Miss Catherine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/ii-miss-catherine.md): This chapter recounts the crisis of Vernon's bank when John Vernon abandons it, and how Catherine Vernon steps in to save it. Mr. Rule, the faithful clerk, initially despairs but is inspired to seek Catherine's help. She
- [III: The Vernonry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/iii-the-vernonry.md): This chapter describes Catherine Vernon in her old age, a woman of sixty-five who has led a peaceful, independent life, free from the anxieties of marriage and motherhood. She has become a benefactor to many young people

> 42 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=hester_se_787kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [IV: A First Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/iv-a-first-meeting.md)
- [V: Next Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/v-next-morning.md)
- [VI: Neighbours and Relations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/vi-neighbours-and-relations.md)
- [VII: Settling Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/vii-settling-down.md)
- [VIII: Nineteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/viii-nineteen.md)
- [IX: Recollections](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/ix-recollections.md)
- [X: A Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/x-a-lover.md)
- [XI: Mother and Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xi-mother-and-daughter.md)
- [XII: An Indignant Spectator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xii-an-indignant-spectator.md)
- [XIII: Catherine's Opinion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xiii-catherine-s-opinion.md)
- [XIV: Harry's View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xiv-harry-s-view.md)
- [XV: What Edward Thought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xv-what-edward-thought.md)
- [Walks and Talks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xvi-walks-and-talks.md)
- [XVII: The Young and the Old](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xvii-the-young-and-the-old.md)
- [XVIII: A Family Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xviii-a-family-party.md)
- [XIX: Confidences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xix-confidences.md)
- [Roland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xx-roland.md)
- [XXI: Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxi-warning.md)
- [XXII: Dancing Teas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxii-dancing-teas.md)
- [The First of Them](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxiii-the-first-of-them.md)
- [A New Competitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxiv-a-new-competitor.md)
- [A Double Mind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxv-a-double-mind.md)
- [Straightforward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxvi-straightforward.md)
- [A Centre of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxvii-a-centre-of-life.md)
- [XXVIII: Was It Love?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxviii-was-it-love.md)
- [Christmas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxix-christmas.md)
- [The Party at the Grange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxx-the-party-at-the-grange.md)
- [Business and Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxi-business-and-love.md)
- [A Speculator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxii-a-speculator.md)
- [A Late Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxiii-a-late-visitor.md)
- [Doubts and Fears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxiv-doubts-and-fears.md)
- [A Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxv-a-discovery.md)
- [XXXVI: In the Labyrinth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxvi-in-the-labyrinth.md)
- [Alarms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxvii-alarms.md)
- [XXXVIII: The Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-crisis.md)
- [Under the Holly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xxxix-under-the-holly.md)
- [XL: The Hour of Need](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xl-the-hour-of-need.md)
- [XLI: A Night’s Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xli-a-night-s-vigil.md)
- [XLII: Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xlii-afterwards.md)
- [An Interruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xliii-an-interruption.md)
- [The Settlement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xliv-the-settlement.md)
- [XLV: The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters/xlv-the-end.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hester_se/chapters