When the World Shook · Chapter
III: Natalie explained
The chapter details the death of Mrs.
What happens
The chapter details the death of Mrs. Bastin from heart disease after a jealous, frantic search for her husband, and Arbuthnot's first meeting with Natalie at a dinner in Rome, where he feels humiliated by his lack of modern languages but is struck by her beauty framed by lilies.
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.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Humphrey confr…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Love and Sacrifice
Mrs. Bastin's obsessive love leads to her death, while Arbuthnot's first glimpse of Natalie hints at a transformative love.
- Clash of Beliefs
Bastin and Bickley's argument over early Christians and missionaries exemplifies the ongoing conflict between religious faith and secular rationalism.
- The Search for Meaning
Arbuthnot's spiritual quest in the East and his turn inward to his own soul reflect a deep search for wisdom and purpose.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Bastin
Bastin's wife dies after a jealous outburst; he later canonizes her as a saintly devoted wife.
- J. R. Bickley
Bickley correctly diagnoses Mrs. Bastin's heart condition and argues with Bastin about early Christians and missionaries.
- Humphrey Arbuthnot
Arbuthnot narrates the events, including his humiliation at a dinner in Rome and his first sight of Natalie.
- Natalie
Natalie is introduced as Sir Alfred Upton's daughter; Arbuthnot sees her at dinner, her head framed by lilies.
- Sir Alfred Upton
Sir Alfred hosts the dinner in Rome, laughs at Arbuthnot's Latin attempt, and explains the joke to the company.
- Widow Jenkins
Mentioned as a potential source of jealousy for Mrs. Bastin, though not directly appearing.
Key passages
“It is highly probable, in my opinion, that she will die before Mrs. Arbuthnot, who is quite a healthy person with a good prospect of life.”
Bickley predicts that Mrs. Bastin will die before Mrs. Arbuthnot, based on his medical observation.
Bickley's professional diagnosis proves accurate, leading to Mrs. Bastin's death.
“That was the end of this truly odious British matron. In after days Bastin, by some peculiar mental process, canonised her in his imagination as a kind of saint.”
After her death, Bastin idealizes his wife as a saint, despite her difficult nature.
Arbuthnot contrasts the reality of Mrs. Bastin's behavior with Bastin's romanticized memory.
“An angel looking down upon earth through the lilies of Heaven—that was the rather absurd thought which flashed into my mind.”
Arbuthnot compares Natalie to an angel framed by lilies, a striking first impression.
This moment marks Arbuthnot's first sight of Natalie, setting the stage for their relationship.
