The Maid of Sker · Chapter
Two Poor Children explained
The narrator reflects on the misfortunes of Captain Drake Bampfylde, the younger son of Sir Philip, who despite his wit and enterprise suffers a series of calamities from childhood through his naval career.
What happens
The narrator reflects on the misfortunes of Captain Drake Bampfylde, the younger son of Sir Philip, who despite his wit and enterprise suffers a series of calamities from childhood through his naval career. The chapter recounts his accidental killing of a schoolboy in a fight, his subsequent entry into the Navy, and a string of bad luck including being bitten by a shark, disfigured by cannon fire, and surviving a shipwreck. The narrator also touches on Bardie's visits and the French maid's flirtations.
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 Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where the protagonis…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Family and Orphanhood
Drake Bampfylde, as a younger son, is disadvantaged by birth order and suffers from lack of familial support, while Bardie is a poor child eliciting pity.
- Maritime Life and Adventure
Drake's naval career is central, including battles, shipwreck, and encounters with sharks and French vessels.
- Morality and Hypocrisy
The narrator critiques Nonconformists as disturbers and blasphemers, while also reflecting on his own flirtations and the double standards of society.
Characters to notice
- Captain Drake Bampfylde
Younger son of Sir Philip, cursed with bad luck from childhood; accidentally killed a schoolboy in a fight, suffered multiple naval misfortunes including shark bite, powder disfigurement, and shipwreck.
- Bardie
The young lady for whom the narrator feels pity; she crosses the river to visit old women and Mother Bang.
- Davy Llewellyn
The narrator, who reflects on his own role and interactions with the French maid.
- Hezekiah Perkins
Mentioned as a Nonconformist disturber who might cast up Drake's past against him.
- Hepzibah
Mentioned alongside Hezekiah as a greasy Nonconformist who dreams wickedness.
- Sir Philip Bampfylde
Father of Drake Bampfylde, described as a very fine Sir Philip.
Key passages
“Captain Drake Bampfylde was the most unlucky of born mortals.”
Drake Bampfylde was exceptionally unlucky from birth.
Introduces the theme of Drake's persistent bad luck.
“He fell into a pit of trouble through his education; and ever since from time to time new grief had overtaken him.”
His schooling led to a deep trouble, and misfortune continued to plague him afterward.
Describes the origin of Drake's misfortunes in his school days.
“He ran a thirty-two gun frigate under the chains of a sixty-four.”
He boldly brought his smaller frigate close to a larger enemy ship's chains.
Illustrates Drake's daring but unlucky naval tactic.
