Short Fiction · Chapter
Old Mrs. Chundle explained
A curate new to the parish meets an elderly deaf woman, Mrs.
What happens
A curate new to the parish meets an elderly deaf woman, Mrs. Chundle, who initially deceives him about attending church. He tries to help her hear the service with an ear trumpet and later a sound tube, but both fail. Despite his efforts, she refuses to return to church. Later, she leaves him her furniture in her will, moving him deeply.
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 Resolution.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this excerpt, the emotional/psychological peak occurs when both Jim and Rosalys consciously recognize their…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Isolation and Longing
Mrs. Chundle's deafness and seclusion, her limited world, and her desire for connection despite her initial deception.
- Sacrifice and Duty
The curate's persistent efforts to include Mrs. Chundle in church life, and her eventual bequest of her belongings.
Characters to notice
- Old Mrs. Chundle
A deaf elderly woman living alone near Corvsgate; initially deceptive about church attendance but later shows generosity.
- Mr. Stockdale
The new curate who tries to help Mrs. Chundle hear the service and is moved by her bequest.
Key passages
“Can you give me something to eat, my good woman?”
The curate asks Mrs. Chundle for food.
Initial encounter leading to their relationship.
“I shall never come no more—never—to be made such a fool of as that again.”
Mrs. Chundle refuses to return to church after the ear trumpet fails.
Her frustration with the failed hearing aid.
“He’s a man in a thousand. He’s not ashamed of a’ old woman, and he holds that her soul is worth saving as well as richer people’s.”
Mrs. Chundle praises the curate for his kindness and equality.
Her appreciation expressed through her will.
