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Simon · Chapter

XV: Two Women explained

After Sir Reginald's funeral, Lady Cromarty meets with Simon Rattar, who also speaks with Sir Malcolm before departing.

What happens

After Sir Reginald's funeral, Lady Cromarty meets with Simon Rattar, who also speaks with Sir Malcolm before departing. Cicely Farmond, feeling out of place, begins packing to leave, but Lady Cromarty unexpectedly asks her to stay. Sir Malcolm, agitated and moody, tries to dissuade her but fails, and leaves for London, leaving Cicely alone with Lady Cromarty.

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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 Exposition.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because Ned Cromarty experiences an emotional and psychological peak of re…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Themes in this chapter

  • Secrecy and Silence

    Lady Cromarty's hard eyes and unspoken motives, Sir Malcolm's locked confidence, and the pervasive unspoken tensions underscore the theme of hidden truths.

  • Suspicion and Rumor

    Cicely feels uncomfortable under Lady Cromarty's gaze and Sir Malcolm's odd stares, breeding suspicion about their true intentions.

  • Family and Betrayal

    Sir Malcolm's erratic behavior and Lady Cromarty's cold insistence on Cicely staying hint at underlying familial strains and potential betrayal.

Characters to notice

  • Lady Cromarty

    Emerges from seclusion after the funeral; her eyes are hard and she insists Cicely stay, showing a cold, determined demeanor.

  • Cicely Farmond

    Begins packing to leave but agrees to stay at Lady Cromarty's request, feeling uneasy about the baronet's strange behavior.

  • Simon Rattar

    Visits Keldale for over two hours with Lady Cromarty, then briefly meets with Sir Malcolm before departing; described as 'infernally close and unsatisfactory'.

  • Malcolm Cromarty

    Moody and agitated, he tries to persuade Cicely to leave but fails; leaves for London the next morning, his confidence unshared.

  • James Bisset

    Observes the tension and advises Cicely to take a change of air, suggesting a seaside resort.

Key passages

  • ““I can’t stand the old fellow’s fishy eye!” declared Sir Malcolm. “I’d as soon lunch with a codfish, dash it! Didn’t you feel it too, Cicely?””

    Sir Malcolm complains to Cicely about Simon Rattar's unsettling gaze, comparing him to a codfish.

    Highlights Sir Malcolm's discomfort and the tense atmosphere after Rattar's visit.

  • ““I had rather you stayed.” Cicely’s own eyes showed her extreme surprise. “Stayed⁠—here?” “Yes.””

    Lady Cromarty unexpectedly asks Cicely to remain at Keldale, surprising her.

    Marks a pivotal moment where Lady Cromarty's motives become mysterious.

  • ““Oh, don’t stay here!” he besought her. “It keeps me in such dreadful suspense!””

    Sir Malcolm pleads with Cicely not to stay, claiming it causes him anxiety.

    Reveals Sir Malcolm's agitation and hints at his hidden concerns.

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