# The Old Wives’ Tale — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett.

- [The Old Wives’ Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/the-old-wives-tale.md): The chapter introduces the Baines family and their life in the provincial town of Bursley, focusing on the two sisters Constance and Sophia, their contrasting personalities, and the early signs of their divergent paths.
- [Book I: Mrs. Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-i-mrs-baines.md): The chapter introduces the Baines household and the two sisters, Constance and Sophia, living above their mother's drapery shop in Bursley. Mrs. Baines, the widowed matriarch, manages the shop and family with authority. 
- [The Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-the-square.md): Constance and Sophia Baines observe their servant Maggie Hollins on her Thursday afternoon outing, mocking her new clothes and romantic rendezvous. Later, in the showroom, Sophia playfully tries on their mother's new gow
- [II: The Tooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-the-tooth.md): Sophia and Constance serve tea to Mr. Povey and Mr. Critchlow. Mr. Povey, still recovering from laudanum, accidentally swallows a loose tooth while eating mussels, unaware that Sophia had secretly extracted it earlier. S
- [A Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-a-battle.md): Mrs. Baines and Sophia clash over Sophia's future, with Sophia defiantly insisting on becoming a schoolteacher against her mother's wishes. After a tense struggle, Mrs. Baines reluctantly capitulates and arranges for Sop

> 26 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_old_wives_tale_se_1504kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Elephant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-elephant.md)
- [VI: Escapade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-escapade.md)
- [VII: A Defeat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-a-defeat.md)
- [Book II: Constance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-ii-constance.md)
- [Revolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-revolution.md)
- [Christmas and the Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-christmas-and-the-future.md)
- [III: Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-cyril.md)
- [Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-crime.md)
- [Another Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-another-crime.md)
- [VI: The Widow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-the-widow.md)
- [VII: Bricks and Mortar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-bricks-and-mortar.md)
- [VIII: The Proudest Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/viii-the-proudest-mother.md)
- [Book III: Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iii-sophia.md)
- [I: The Elopement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-the-elopement.md)
- [II: Supper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-supper.md)
- [III: An Ambition Satisfied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-an-ambition-satisfied.md)
- [A Crisis for Gerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-a-crisis-for-gerald.md)
- [Fever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-fever.md)
- [VI: The Siege](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-the-siege.md)
- [VII: Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-success.md)
- [Book IV: What Life Is](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iv-what-life-is.md)
- [I: Frensham’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-frensham-s.md)
- [The Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-the-meeting.md)
- [Towards Hotel Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-towards-hotel-life.md)
- [IV: End of Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-end-of-sophia.md)
- [End of Constance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-end-of-constance.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters