Summary:The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volume 1
This page contains a chapter by chapter summary of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volume 1.
Characters denoted with an asterisk (*) indicate they are only mentioned or referred to in that respective chapter.
March 1883[edit]
5 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma M. Lion arrives by train at St. Pancras Station in London. Tipping the porter and securing a hansom cab, she assesses her poor financial state and reflects on her recent past with her elder cousin, Matilde and "The Great Burning of 1882". Leaving the station, she arrives at her family home, Lapis Lazuli House. Emma's cousin and current resident of the house, Archibald Flat, is not home when she arrives. However, Parian, Archibald's butler, and Agnes, the new cook, are present to help with her luggage.
They climb several stairs, whereupon Emma discovers Archibald has placed her in the garret. She surmises her relegation to the top of the house may have to do with "The Incident" which led to "The Scar".
Emma observes Lapis Lazuli Minor, a ten-foot slice of the house that has been converted by Archibald into a separate apartment. Reaching the garret she discovers the fifth floor has been divided equally into two rooms, each with only one and a half windows. Emma selects the east room to stay in for the present. While settling in, she is pleased to discover a copy of John Milton's Paradise Lost. Taking its discovery as a sign of sorts, she resolves to read the book until she can rebuild her own library.
6 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma is informed by Parian that unless otherwise directed, she will be taking all her meals in the garret. While eating some biscuits sent by Arabella, she considers the advantages of this dictum—namely, that she will not have to dine with Archibald. She laments her financial state as the one drawback of the situation, as she cannot afford to go out. She concludes that Archibald's continued absence is intentional to prevent her from inquiring about her owed salary and allowance. Emma further settles into the garret by moving a mirror from the west room to her own. While pondering her appearance, she recalls a conversation with her parents about her freckles. As well as a conversation with Matilde about her height.
7 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma takes a ritual walk through St. Crispian's, recalling how her father would do the same at the beginning of a stay at Lapis Lazuli. She gives a layout of the neighborhood and describes its history, noting its various quirks. However wonderful the neighborhood, Emma concludes the best part is Lapis Lazuli House. She ends her entry recalling a conversation with Maxwell where he said they would go to London together and her expectation that he may still walk through the door of Lapis Lazuli.
8 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma resolves to get the garret in order, but puts it off until tomorrow. Agnes relates a sighting of The Roman on Traitors Road, a centurion ghost that guards St. Crispian's that Emma has yet to see. Emma asks Agnes if The Roman had also been seen at Jacob's Well, a local garden that is a favorite haunt of his, but Agnes laughingly conveys that it is not possible as monks from St. Benedict's have been using the space at night to practice. Thus explaining the mysterious singing Emma heard the night before.
9 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma walks past The Dalliance, the local bookshop, lamenting her empty purse. She notes that Mr. Graves, the owner, has never forgiven her for selling her Father's collection to another bookseller when trying to finance her education. Upon her return home, Emma receives two notes from her cousin, Arabella, who looks forward to seeing her and warns her to prepare for her aunt's plans the next month. Emma recounts her and Arabella's scheme to hide her early arrival to London to allow her a month's free time before her aunt issues any edicts. Emma is relieved not to have had to face either her aunt or Archibald yet.
10 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Agnes
- Archibald Flat*
- Parian*
- Agnes' Mother*
- Plot Summary
Taking some mending down to the kitchen and talking with Agnes, Emma writes of how Agnes came to be at Lapis Lazuli. Agnes compliments Emma's voice, and recalls her mother saying a girl with a voice like hers could have any man she chooses. Emma finds it a ridiculous notion, to which Agnes remarks her mother has an opinion about everything.
11 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma writes about the rain.
12 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma reports the facts of her allowance and salary. When it was proposed that she be a companion to her cousin, Matilde, it was suggested that she forgo drawing on her salary in favor of letting it build into a "Tidy Sum" in the bank. This would provide her some security when she initially moves to London—in addition to the allowance from Lapis Lazuli's living. Emma is owed three years’ salary; however, Archibald's persistent avoidance prevents her from inquiring about it. Emma hears a commotion downstairs. Assuming it to be Archibald returning home, she leaves off writing to try to ambush him.
13 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma stayed up late the night before reading Milton's Paradise Lost and keeping watch for The Roman, whom Agnes says the following morning she has never seen on Whereabouts Lane. Emma finishes her entry with selected notes from her reading of Milton.
14 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma laments at the presence of mice in the garret.
15 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Over the last two days, Emma works to situate herself in the garret. Enlisting Agnes to aid in moving furniture from the west room to the east, she finds further evidence of mice. Emma proceeds to thoroughly scrub the entire garret. She orders Parian to fetch paint. Reluctant to go at first, Emma asserts to him that she is the legal owner of the house, causing Parian to quickly obey.
16 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Archibald continues to sneak in and out of the house to avoid Emma. She entertains the idea of wearing bells to warn him of her approach.
17 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma complains about the poor quality of the paint Parian acquired, but undeterred, paints the East room. Mildly pleased with the result, her exhaustion dismisses any idea of continuing.
18 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Nigel Hawkes
- Father May*
- Archibald Flat*
- Plot Summary
Emma attends church and lays out the history of its young vicar, Nigel Hawkes. Hawkes first came to St. Crispian's seven years ago to study under the current vicar, Father May. After three months, Hawkes was asked to give a sermon, in which he entranced the congregation to such a degree that they applauded when he concluded. After the sermon, Father May disappeared, and the diocese told Hawkes that someone would be sent to replace him, but someone has yet to be sent.
Three weeks of the month, Hawkes gives a sermon, but on the fourth week, he reads select scriptures and occasionally poetry. During the week, he is elusive but seems to always pop up where he is needed—always with a book in hand. Emma recalls one interaction with him three years prior, where she met him in the street, and he bade her wait while he fetched something from his rooms. He returned with a card with the word Imperterritus (Latin for "undaunted") scrawled on one side and a golden lion on the other. Emma has kept it since, noting that it miraculously survived "The Great Burning of 1882". Hawkes and she have not spoken since, but Emma observes a slight nod from him acknowledging her presence in church.
19 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma and Archibald speak for the first time when he comes up to the garret. He sits in such a way that the light highlights "The Scar", a small mark under his left eyebrow. Their conversation is tense. He disappointed she is no longer with his sister; she questioning Matilde's sanity. Archibald retorts her last letter was perfectly sound. Emma knows it was a defamation of her character, as she was the one to write out all of Matilde's correspondence. Archibald implies Emma is merely a visitor at Lapis Lazuli, but invites her to move to the second floor near Parian. Emma recoils at the suggestion, saying she would like to avoid "that small hell". Archibald takes offense at her language and leaves. Emma remarks it is their most cordial conversation since "The Scar".
20 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Agnes
- Arabella Spencer*
- Mary Bairrage*
- Archibald Flat*
- Parian*
- Emma's Mother*
- Agnes' Mother*
- Plot Summary
Emma fully settles into the garret by performing two acts of theft: a colorful Turkish rug from a bedroom on the fourth floor and a green bookcase from the west room of the garret. She enlists Agnes' help, swearing her to secrecy about the thefts. They finish the room with two chairs with mismatched cushions and a writing desk. Surveying their work, Emma contemplates that her mother would have loved the bright colors. Emma finishes the work by moving her copy of “Paradise Lost” to the top shelf of the bookcase.
22 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma records her living relatives and some of her family history. On her mother’s side, she has an aunt, Lady Eugenia Spencer, and two cousins, Damian and Arabella. On her father Declan’s side, she is related to Archibald through Declan’s aunt, Emma M. Lion, after whom she is named. When Declan’s father was disinherited by his grandfather for marrying the daughter of an Irish shopkeeper, the first Emma was given Lapis Lazuli. She married Archibald but named Declan as the heir to Lapis Lazuli. However, the first Emma died three weeks after her wedding. As Declan was quite young at the time, his father agreed that Archibald could reside at Lapis Lazuli and draw upon its income until his death, at which point Declan would inherit it—under the condition that Declan could visit once a year.
Archibald tolerated Declan, liked his wife, but did not tolerate Emma. After Declan’s death, Archibald and his sister, Matilde, rewrote the narrative of how he came to live in the house, claiming he had been forced to maintain the home of a wife who had little regard for him, leading to deep resentment toward Emma. Nevertheless, Emma was allowed to visit once a year until an incident three years prior, which resulted in "The Scar." She does not plan to evict Archibald when she fully inherits the house but takes comfort in knowing she could if he becomes impossible.
23 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma lights a candle for her father as she does every 23rd of the month, and a second for Good Friday.
24 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma thinks she sees Maxwell in the street and is rattled by the incident.
25 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma attends church for Easter Sunday. Expecting a long sermon, Hawkes simply read scriptures related to the resurrection of Christ.
26 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Maxwell*
- Matilde*
- Evelyn Stuart*
- Plot Summary
Emma continues to think of Maxwell, confiding that by not yet being able to see his grave, a part of her thinks he is still alive. She outlines several occasions where she thought she saw him after his death, confessing the cruelty of the initial rush of recognition. She wrote to his brother, Evelyn, asking how it was possible Maxwell was lost to the world, which Evelyn never answered.
27 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma sends a note to Mary Bairrage, a school friend, telling her she is in London. She cheers herself up by reading some of their past correspondence.
28 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma hints her freedom might be short-lived once Aunt Eugenia summons her. She is establishing a routine of going on two walks a day: One in the mid morning and one around sunset. The latter being her favorite.
30 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Mary Bairrage
- Miss Lamb*
- Jack Hollingstell*
- Winnie Pepper Smith*
- Mary's Professor*
- Plot Summary
Mary visits Emma, who records their shared history at Fortitude Preparatory School for Girls. Mary has been in London for the past year working at a telephone company as a typist—making her one of the first typist in London. In the evening she works transcribing documents for a professor who is writing a history of the East India Trading Company. Mary boards at a boarding house for young women run by a Miss Lamb, who Mary tells is quite proper, only allowing her boarders to leave during work hours or accompanied by an approved chaperone. Mary shares she has hired a fictional cousin named Jack to chaperone her when she wishes to leave. Emma is skeptical of the scheme.
31 March 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Eugenia Spencer
- Declan Lion
- Emma's Mother*
- Matilde*
- Arabella Spencer*
- Damian Spencer*
- Miss Charlotte*
- Plot Summary
Emma reflects on her lack of education and her nonexistent library and how both came to be. After Emma's parents died, her aunt Eugenia arranged for her to attend Miss Prim's School for Young Ladies, which the money her parents left would just cover the tuition. Emma, then thirteen, wanted a robust education of sciences, languages, arts, and history, and believed—based on the name alone—Miss Prim's School would not give her one. Eugenia gave her the option to choose between Miss Prim's and Fortitude Preparatory School for Girls, but if she chose the latter, she would have to sell her parents’ belongings to attend as the tuition was higher than Miss Prim's.
Emma chose to attend Fortitude, and her parents’ belongings were sold—including her father's library—save one trunk of items she hid due to the wisdom of her cousin, Arabella, which contained the items she loved most; including her mother's Bible and a volume of Shakespeare her father had illustrated. However, her education was very poor at Fortitude, where they trained students for roles such as housekeepers, governesses, or dutiful wives. A year before coming to London, Emma met a woman who had studied at Miss Prim's and discovered her education was far superior to the one she had received at Fortitude. Emma refused to blame herself for the choice as she couldn't have known at age thirteen, but mourns the loss of her father's books.
April 1883[edit]
1 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Eugenia Spencer
- Matilde
- Arabella Spencer*
- Damian Spencer*
- Madame Tasset*
- Lord Brookstone*
- Lady Brookstone*
- Phineas Brookstone*
- Oliver Brookstone*
- Lord Sharp*
- Plot Summary
Emma is summoned to a meeting with Lady Eugenia. She spends some time selecting an appropriate wardrobe and remembers how an incident involving her wardrobe led to The Great Burning of 1882. Matilde was responsible for Emma's clothing and dressed her in either dark or brown clothing. On one brown coat, Emma chose a lining with a subtle floral pattern. When Matilde insulted the fabric, Emma responded facetiously. Emma believes her flippant comment led to The Great Burning, in which Matilde burned every journal, letter, and word Emma had written, which Emma likens to her own "Alexandria". After The Great Burning, Emma swore she would never return to the house.
- Later
After selecting an appropriate outfit, Emma meets with Eugenia in the First drawing room at Spencer House. This is significant as whichever of her three drawing rooms Eugenia meets with someone is an indication of their social standing in her eyes, with the First being the best and the Third drawing room considered a great insult. After an exchange of not-so-pleasant pleasantries, Eugenia admits to summoning Emma while Arabella is out as she wishes to discuss her future, and Arabella's affection for Emma could interfere with Eugenia's plans.
Eugenia informs Emma that the coming social season is to be the season before “The Season" in which she will select a suitable husband for Arabella. Emma likens the planning to a war council. She tells Emma that she will not be seen with them through April, but come May, she expects Emma to be her Foil/Spy. Meaning she is to be Eugenia's eyes and ears in the operation of securing Arabella a suitable husband. Eugenia tells Emma that the chaperone that Matilde arranged for her will not be needed during these social endeavors, but Emma intentionally does not correct Eugenia, as Matilde made no such arrangement. Eugenia ends the meeting, stating she has made an appointment for Emma with Madame Tasset to get an appropriate wardrobe and sends Emma away with a tin of Arabella's dress scraps for Madame Tasset.
2 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma fully considers the freedom she will have with Eugenia’s assumption that she has a chaperone. She plans that when a chaperone is needed, she will ask her friend Saffronia March. Saffronia is 36 and an unmarried artist who used to ask Emma's father to critique her work. She and Emma became close after her father's death, mostly through letters, and have grand plans now that they are both permanent residents of St. Crispian's.
3 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
With the nice weather, Emma takes a walk, admiring the scenery. She continues to read Paradise Lost, and is saddened that she does not have a copy of her own in which she can scribble.
4 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Archibald invites Emma to tea. Thinking he would behave civilly, Emma is quickly proven wrong when he informs her that Matilde will not be paying her owed three-year salary. She claims her best silver disappeared when Emma left, and will not pay her until it is returned. Emma protests, but due to an incident of her lying and later confessing to taking the last cherry turnover, Archibald refuses to believe her. When Emma compares Archibald to the apostate Angel from Paradise Lost—a reference she did not expect him to know—he angrily escorts her from the room. Spanking her like a child while so doing, Emma observes that they have had teas that have ended worse.
5 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
After her morning walk, Emma discovers Paradise Lost is missing from her shelf. Inquiring of Agnes of its whereabouts, she informs Emma that Archibald went to her room and took it. Emma confronts him, again demanding her owed salary and allowance. He asserts his ownership of the book before dismissing her. Emma writes that while her Great Aunt did not leave him the house, she did in fact leave him the books.
6 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma walks to Bond Street with the tin of Arabella's dress scraps to visit Madame Tasset, with the hope that the appointment will distract her. She is quickly admitted—which Emma suspects is due to her aunt's reputation—and Madame Tasset begins to prepare an extravagant wardrobe for her. She informs Emma that Eugenia has given her carte blanche. Emma, mindful of her financial situation due to Cousin Archibald's control of her majority until she turns 21, and remembering that Eugenia's previous generosity comprised only of a second-hand dress from Arabella's wardrobe every other year, resolves to make the most of her aunt's generosity, and gently manipulates Madame Tasset into creating a timeless, yet durable wardrobe. Madame Tasset, though ordered to create a wardrobe that will not outshine Arabella's, is unwilling to compromise on her standards and orders ball gowns that will complement but be of equal quality to Arabella's, informing Emma her wardrobe will be ready in three weeks.
7 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma stuffs every hole in the garret with fabric from one of Archibald's discarded morning robes, humorously hoping the fact that he once wore it will deter the mice.
8 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Despite her efforts the previous day, Emma finds mouse droppings on her desk. She informs Archibald of her plan to visit the bank to see about the household accounts, his only response a sneer. Emma receives correspondence from Arabella, who asks how her freedom is getting on, and from Eugenia, who tells Emma she is having cards made up for her and what her preferred color scheme is. Emma selects cream and gold, and asks if she could have a lion embossed on one side, feeling she is taunting Eugenia into acquiescing by use of the word "could".
9 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Maxwell
- Ezra Sturgeon
- Archibald Flat*
- Plot Summary
Emma dreams of walking with Maxwell, but he shifts into a figure that tells her that Maxwell and his horse have bolted. Upon waking, Emma feels the lingering sensation of Maxwell’s hand in hers, realizing that she had been crying in her sleep. She forces herself to follow her routine to avoid falling into grief as she did after his death. She pounds on Archibald's door, again demanding her salary, before taking a walk. She contemplates entering either the church or The Cleopatra, but ultimately decides to return home.
11 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Arabella Spencer
- Agnes
- Phineas Brookstone*
- Oliver Brookstone*
- Lady Brookstone*
- Mrs. Killoran*
- Plot Summary
Arabella comes to tea. Emma and she discuss how Phineas and Oliver Brookstone have fled to the continent, at the request of their mother and the disappointment of Emma, to avoid being married off. After Arabella leaves, Agnes expresses frustration at finding yet another of Mrs. Killoran’s wigs in the kitchen. Emma inquires if Agnes can take it to the bakery, to which Agnes says she can't because Mrs. Killoran is on "The List". Emma offers to return the wig in exchange for Agnes baking a cake.
12 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Mrs. Killoran
- Lady Trewartha*
- Edward Norriage*
- Stephen Wheelwright*
- Jape*
- Plot Summary
Emma visits Mrs. Killoran to return her lost wig. After escaping an hour later, she heads home. While returning to her rooms—after making a stop in the kitchen for a piece of the cake Agnes made—she realizes that though she had written of St. Crispian's Rules for Items Personal (RIP) previously, she hadn't since The Great Burning of 1882.
Emma illustrates how it is one of the peculiarities of St. Crispian's that personal items tend to wander, seemingly of their own accord, appearing at random where they don't belong. Out of this phenomena, RIP was born, which is a law of St. Crispian's that if a lost item is found, it be returned to its owner. As a result of this strange reality, the denizens of St. Crispian's label what they can of their items with their name and house number. However, for items that are impractical to label, there is The Reed and Rite.
The proprietor of The Reed and Rite—the local tea shop where one can also pick up basic necessities—grew tired of his merchandise wandering and thus set up a series of shelves in the back room of the tea shop which grew to be called "The Keep" where one could return or look for missing items. If bringing or taking an item from The Keep, one must note it in the logbook. If items are unclaimed after a year, they are sold in the annual rummage sale, the proceeds of which benefit the Theatrical Society. However, if one's name is on "The List", their labelled items must be returned to them directly; though one must pay a robust fee to be put on it. Another benefit is that a detailed catalogue is sent to all List members once a month of unlabelled items.
14 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Mary Bairrage
- Jack Hollingstell
- Miss Lamb*
- Plot Summary
Emma attends the National Gallery with Mary and finally meets her fictional cousin, Jack. Emma instantly distrusts him, likening him to a jungle cat, though he completely charms Miss Lamb. Jack assures Emma that though he is hired to play Mary's cousin, he will serve her in every respectful way. Emma makes note to ask Mary how much she pays Jack, as his talent couldn't come cheap.
15 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma received a letter from Matilde the day before, who holds her ground that she will not pay Emma until the missing silver is returned. Emma ruminates on the injustice. With a planned visit to the bank the next day, she contemplates how to persuade Matilde to release her salary. Being Sunday, Emma attends church, sitting until the church empties. Hawkes joins her, inquiring if she has moved back to St. Crispian's for good. Hawkes reveals that Emma’s father had given him a painting before his death. Emma is surprised and intrigued, but Hawkes leaves abruptly before she can learn more.
16 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma goes to the bank to meet with her banker, Mr. Penury. After convincing his secretary that she does have business with him, despite being female, she is led to his office. Recognizing her as the inheritor of Lapis Lazuli, she confirms she is, jokingly stating as well as to whatever is left of her great aunt's fortune. After a peculiar look from Mr. Penury, he proceeds to tell her that the bulk of her great aunt's fortune is gone. Emma reminds him that she is aware, as in their meeting three years prior he assured her she would have a living, albeit a small one. He continues by regretfully informing her that that was the case then, but since that time Archibald has been adding to his personal wardrobe at an astonishing rate and making intentionally poor bets on horse racing, leaving less than three hundred pounds in the household account.
Mr. Penury, speaking frankly, tells Emma he believes Archibald did it intentionally because of his dislike of her. Emma, now feeling quite numb, asks why she was not informed of his treachery. Mr. Penury defends himself by stating he wrote to her several times to an address in Surrey that Archibald gave him. Emma wryly informs him that she was in Bournemouth. Mr. Penury offers, in light of the circumstance, to turn over ownership of the accounts to Emma immediately, but Emma observes it is already too late.
After an extended silence, Mr. Penury cautiously suggests that in order to achieve financial security she could sell Lapis Lazuli, move to the country, and find work. Emma staunchly refuses, affirming that the house is her birthright. He then alternately suggests that it may be possible to stay if she were to find a tenant to rent Lapis Lazuli Minor. They agree to meet the next month after they both consider the possibilities. Emma leaves and, in a rage, walks the whole of London, settling finally atop the nearby Primrose Hill.
- Later
Emma dismisses the idea of strangling Archibald, concluding prison would allow her even less freedom. She meets Archibald on the steps of Lapis Lazuli as he is leaving. She coldly informs him that any expense must now be approved by her. She tells him they will meet soon, and if he is not perfectly polite, she will turn him out of the house. Failing to bring herself to write to either Arabella or Mary about the situation, she settles for writing a note to Maxwell, asking him for a cosmic sign on how to recover from the revelations of the day. Agnes brings her some tea, but quickly leaves, leaving Emma to stare blankly at the wall.
17 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma and Archibald, through notes carried by Agnes and Parian, set a time to meet. Agnes asks if she is to be Emma's second, to which Emma assures her she does not intend to duel Archibald. To Emma's great surprise Agnes observes it would be better to poison him. After sending Agnes on her way, Emma breaks into a fit of laughter.
18 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma inspects Lapis Lazuli Minor after forcing the key from Parian and discovering he has set up a distillery. Despite this, Emma deems it livable. She then writes of its structure and history. After attending a lecture, Archibald concocted the idea to divide Lapis Lazuli in two and rent the smaller half. This ten-foot slice taken from the North side of the house was dubbed Lapis Lazuli Minor by Emma's father, except in the garret, which was divided evenly in half. Despite numerous attempts over the years, it has never stayed occupied for long. Emma does not wish to have the perfect tenant, but one who is responsible enough to pay rent.
19 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Archibald Flat
- Agnes*
- Parian*
- Declan Lion*
- Emma's Mother*
- Matilde*
- Ben Chambers*
- The Tenant*
- Plot Summary
Emma and Archibald meet in the salon, where Emma confronts Archibald about his treachery regarding her inheritance. Archibald begins by accusing Emma of scarring his face, to which Emma exclaims she threw a teapot at him after he insulted her father. Archibald, now subdued, agrees to write to Matilde to demand Emma's salary, to turn over the household accounts, and gives her the records of his outstanding debts. Tensions flare again when Archibald gives Emma a backhanded compliment.
Emma continues by asking Archibald if he knows of a way to secure a tenant for Lapis Lazuli Minor. He says a local man who runs a glove shop has a friend who's returning to London after a great time abroad and is looking for accommodation. Emma asks what he would be willing to pay, to which Archibald takes offense, considering it improper for a lady to talk of money. Archibald suggests a price by writing it on a piece of paper. Emma, thinking it not enough to supplement their expenses, asks if Archibald could sell some of his morning robes. After his outburst at the suggestion, she dismisses him.
20 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Arabella Spencer
- Agnes
- Parian
- Eugenia Spencer*
- Declan Lion*
- Emma's Mother*
- Mr. Penury*
- Phineas Brookstone*
- Oliver Brookstone*
- Plot Summary
Arabella comes to visit Emma, bringing with her the trunk of Emma's parents’ things that she and Arabella had hidden. Emma is surprised Arabella managed to bring it so soon without her mother knowing. After prompting from Arabella, Emma relates the goings-on of her life, including Archibald's treachery concerning her inheritance. They discuss possibilities for Emma's financial security, including taking a position, asking Eugenia for money, and letting Parian go; all of which Emma dismisses. As Arabella leaves, she tries to give Emma some money, which she tries to refuse, but eventually accepts at Arabella's insistence. Emma then looks through the trunk, savoring the few possessions.
22 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
The mice continue to be a problem. Agnes suggests a method of dealing with them. Emma finds it barbaric, but is willing to try it.
23 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Emma receives a letter from Evelyn, Maxwell's brother, who tells her his father is considering exhuming Maxwell's grave and moving his remains home. Emma finds the idea difficult, but takes comfort that Maxwell would love to be home. She recalls a conversation they had about the afterlife, shortly after which he joined the army and was eventually killed in Afghanistan. Emma imagines what it would have been like if she had been with him when he died. She lights a candle for her father and contemplates those she's lost.
24 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Mr. Green
- Arabella Spencer*
- Plot Summary
Emma takes the money Arabella gave her to The Reed and Rite to buy stationary and enjoy some tea. She is approached by Mr. Green, who welcomes her home.
25 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Agnes bursts into Emma's room after she has fallen asleep, frantically telling Emma she just saw The Roman in the garden. Emma looks out the window, but can't see anything. Agnes said he stood looking at the garret window of Lapis Lazuli Minor, then spoke to Agnes, telling her a man of war is coming to the house. Agnes speculates the man of war is the tenant of which Archibald spoke. Emma, tired of indulging Agnes, sends her off to bed, but stays awake an hour more looking out the window.
26 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Archibald Flat
- The Tenant
- Ben Chambers
- Plot Summary
Emma observes The Tenant arrive at Lapis Lazuli and Archibald greeting him. She likens his appearance to those of the sailors in The Tempest, noting his pronounced limp. She is startled by the sound of him on the other side of the garret a short time later. She listens to him settle in for an hour and deduces that he is settling his bedroom in the garret. Emma then goes for a long walk, further likening her own life to The Tempest.
- Later
Emma returns to the garret, aware that The Tenant is aware of her presence. A visitor comes to see The Tenant, and Emma is relieved to learn that she can't hear their conversation, meaning she will have a measure of privacy. In the evening, she watches The Tenant leave, but he stops and looks up at her window. They observe each other for a prolonged time before The Tenant tips his hat at her and continues up the street.
27 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Cousin Archibald leaves town to visit Cousin Matilde and settle Emma’s overdue salary. After Archibald’s departure, Emma suggests to Agnes that she take some biscuits to The Tenant and get a good look at him. Agnes is reluctant, remembering The Roman's warning, but agrees to do it after Emma bribes her with a day off. The Tenant finally answers the door after three knocks. Agnes awkwardly shoves the plate into his hands and scurries off, much to Emma's amusement. Returning to Emma, Agnes compares The Tenant to a hawk.
28 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Mrs. Simpkins
- Nigel Hawkes*
- Plot Summary
Hawkes is absent from church, a replacement vicar giving a long, droning sermon in his stead. After the meeting, Emma and Mrs. Simpkins speculate where Hawkes could be.
29 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Emma M. Lion
- Mary Bairrage
- Jack Hollingstell*
- Mary's Professor*
- Miss Lamb*
- The Tenant*
- Plot Summary
Emma visits Mary at her boarding house. They discuss The Tenant, and how Emma has discovered a small crack in the wall between their rooms. Emma asks after Jack, and Mary blushes at the mention of him. Emma accuses her of falling in love with him, but Mary confesses it is because she attended a party with him dressed as a man. Emma is surprised and impressed by her confession and warns her not to get caught. Mary assures Emma that after Miss Lamb nearly caught her, she reformed her ways. Emma then asks after the professor Mary works for, whom Mary admits she still has not met.
30 April 1883[edit]
- Characters
- Plot Summary
Awoken early by the sound of The Tenant, Emma resolves to enjoy her last day of freedom before being at the mercy of Aunt Eugenia. When returning home after wandering, she sees The Tenant leaving, observing him glance at her window before walking away. A small package from Eugenia had arrived for Emma in her absence, which she discovers contains her calling cards as well as a note from Eugenia to come to her house the following day. She is thrilled to see there is an embossed lion on them, but is especially delighted that the edges are painted a sea-green. As Emma holds a card, she commits to holding onto Lapis Lazuli, no matter the cost.