Poetry · Chapter
LXXVIII explained
The speaker recounts a series of misadventures involving dropping a gold watch, killing a kettledrum, and attempting to curry favor with a highness by coaxing her pug-dog, only to receive a sharp rebuff.
What happens
The speaker recounts a series of misadventures involving dropping a gold watch, killing a kettledrum, and attempting to curry favor with a highness by coaxing her pug-dog, only to receive a sharp rebuff. The highness then wishes to play whist, makes three revokes, and turns from her partner in a huff, with a note that His Majesty will eventually know her temper.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the King, overwhelmed by his own confession, reveals Bertha’s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingCharacters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker narrates personal mishaps and social interactions with a highness.
Key passages
“Dropp’d my gold watch, and kill’d a kettledrum— It went for apoplexy—foolish folks!— Left it to pay the piper—a good sum— (I’ve got a conscience, maugre people’s jokes,)”
I dropped my gold watch and broke a kettledrum, which was mistaken for apoplexy by foolish people. I left a good sum to pay the piper, despite people's jokes, because I have a conscience.
The speaker describes a series of clumsy and costly mistakes, emphasizing his moral integrity despite ridicule.
“To scrape a little favour; ’gan to coax Her Highness’ pug-dog—got a sharp rebuff— She wish’d a game at whist—made three revokes— Turn’d from myself, her partner, in a huff; His Majesty will know her temper time enough.”
To gain some favor, I began to coax Her Highness's pug-dog but received a sharp rebuff. She then wanted to play whist, made three revokes, and turned away from me, her partner, in a huff. His Majesty will eventually learn of her temper.
The speaker attempts to ingratiate himself with a high-ranking woman but is rebuffed; her behavior at whist suggests a difficult temperament that will become known to the king.
