The Last Chronicle of Barset · Chapter
Miss Demolines Desires to Become a Finger-Post explained
John Eames, rejected by Lily Dale, resolves to forget her through hard work and study, but his resolve weakens when he visits Miss Demolines.
What happens
John Eames, rejected by Lily Dale, resolves to forget her through hard work and study, but his resolve weakens when he visits Miss Demolines. She passionately declares her love and offers to be his 'finger-post,' leading to an awkward scene where Lady Demolines catches them embracing and claims him as her son.
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
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this chapter, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when John Eames, after years of unrequited love f…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Love and Marriage
Explores the complexities of romantic rejection and the manipulative pursuit of marriage, as Miss Demolines attempts to secure John Eames.
- Gossip and Public Opinion
John's fear of being trapped by social expectations and Lady Demolines's theatrical intervention highlight the role of public perception in private affairs.
Characters to notice
- Johnny Eames
Struggles with heartbreak after Lily Dale's rejection, attempts to distract himself with work and Homer, but is drawn into a compromising situation with Miss Demolines.
- Lily Dale
Rejects John Eames's proposal, causing him deep sorrow and a resolve to move on.
- Miss Demolines
Passionately declares her love for John Eames, offering to be his 'finger-post,' and orchestrates a scene with her mother to trap him.
- Old Lady Demolines
Interrupts the embrace between John and her daughter, theatrically claims John as her son, and pressures him into a commitment.
- Sir Raffle Buffle
Mentions John's return to work; John's grave demeanor confounds Sir Raffle's mock activity.
Key passages
“It has taken a good bit out of me... A man doesn’t go through that kind of thing without losing some of the caloric.”
John reflects that the emotional ordeal of rejection has drained him significantly.
John's internal monologue after Lily's rejection.
“Let it be as though it were unsaid.”
Miss Demolines asks John to pretend her declaration of love never happened.
Miss Demolines's attempt to backtrack after her outburst.
“My son!”
Lady Demolines claims John as her son-in-law after catching him with her daughter.
Lady Demolines's theatrical acceptance of John into the family.
