Chapter 14, “The Fete”
How is M. Paul Emmanuel described? How does he behave toward Madame Beck’s students? (129) Does Lucy have sympathy for his attitude?
How does M. Paul request her services as an actor? What seems to be his opinion of her (and of Englishwomen)?
What traits does Lucy reveal in preparing for her stage appearance? What is the symbolism of her dress for playing a male role? (139)
What emotions overcome her as she acts this role? How do you interpret her behavior toward Ginevra onstage? What is the effect on her of Dr. John’s presence in the audience?
In their conversation after the ball, what attitudes does Ginevra betray toward Lucy, and toward her suitors? What is Lucy’s attitude in response?
Why does Ginevra prefer Alfred de Hamal to Dr. John, and what is Lucy’s reaction?
How does Lucy counter Dr. John’s claim that Lucy that she must enjoy the presence of Ginevra because of the latter’s childlike innocence? Is she making a point about the sexual double standard?
Chapter 15, “The Long Vacation”
What do we learn about M. Paul’s person and character in this chapter? With what vice does M. Paul charge Lucy? What causes intensify her depression during the vacation? What metaphor is used to describe her despair? (159) Why does she visit a church and confess to its priest? What prompts her lengthy explanation to the reader of her reasons for not accepting his invitation? Why do you think Bronte sends her protagonist to a church of which she ostensibly disapproves, rather than, say, looking for a Protestant church in Villette? What events precede Lucy’s fainting? What concerns would the Victorian reader have felt at the end of vol. 1?
Chapter 16, “Auld Lang Syne”
What objects prompt Lucy’s memory of her past? What qualities of character does she project into the portrait of Graham? What is the relationship of the adult Dr. John and his mother? Who first recognizes Lucy? Does Lucy seem credible in asserting that she had recognized John Bretton, but not mentioned this fact previously? If so, why may Lucy have concealed her knowledge of Dr. John’s identity until now? What do Lucy and her friends have to tell one another about the interval since their last meeting? Why does Lucy weep at the knowledge that she has met friends at last? (178) Chapter 17, “La Terasse” What images does Lucy use to describe her anxiety dreams? What does Lucy learn about who had befriended her in her collapse? What does she tell Dr. John had been the cause of her pain? (185) How does he respond?
Chapter 18, “We Quarrel”
Who are the “we” of the chapter title? What causes Lucy’s sharp words to Dr. John? How do they differ about Ginevra’s motives for accepting his gifts? Does Lucy judge each party by an equal standard? What causes her to believe that Dr. John may be aware of Ginevra’s real character? In any case, why does Lucy preoccupy herself with the matter?
Chapter 19, “Cleopatra”
What forms of art/cultural critique of gender prescriptions are embedded in this chapter? What does Lucy think is wrong with the picture of Cleopatra? Why does the painting of “a woman’s life” offend her? What is revealed in this chapter about Lucy’s feelings about sensual experience and social norms for women? Would her attitudes toward these paintings have been shared by other Englishwomen at the time? What seems unusual about her remaining in the art gallery alone? How do Dr. John and M. Paul interpret her presence there, and how do they respond to the works of art which cause her offense? What do you make of the repeated deprecation of Cleopatra as a “mulatto”?
Chapter 20, “The Concert”
What new sights and experiences befall Lucy when she attends a concert with the Brettons? What is the significance of the scene in which she views herself with her hosts in a mirror? How does she contrast herself with the Labassecourean women she sees there? What do we learn from her response to the melancholy king? How does Ginevra behave at the concert, and with what result? Who else sees Lucy there, and what is his reaction? What seems to motivate his “swarthy frown”?
Chapter 21, “The Reaction”
What are Lucy’s emotions on returning to the Pensionnat? What prompts Dr. John to promise he will write? Why does she fasten emotionally on the hope that he will write rather than on, say, the hope of future visits? What is the significance of the allegory of Reason and comfort? (229-30) Why does Lucy speak of her emotions thus indirectly? What is the nature and significance of the conversations between her and M. Paul? How can you explain his hostility? What causes Lucy to weep? Why is M. Paul preoccupied with her emotions? What does Lucy learn of Ginevra’s state of mind, and how does she respond?
Chapter 22, “The Letter”
What happens to Dr. John’s letter? How is her relationship with the sender affected by the manner in which he returns it to her? What apparition causes her to drop it, and is the visitation real or imagined? Is it significant that Dr. John believes it a figment of her brain? What symbolism, if any, do you see in Lucy’s fear at the apparition of a nun while opening Dr. John’s letter in the garret?
Chapter 23, “Vashti”
What is Lucy’s opinion of Vashti? Dr. John’s? What does this judgement reveal about his character? What qualities in him, Lucy and others are revealed on the outbreak of a fire? Whom do they meet again in these circumstances? What symbolism seems embedded in the fire incident?
Chapter 24, “M. de Bassompierre”
What change in Lucy’s life is brought about by the reintroduction of the Bassompierres? What images does Lucy use to describe her frustrations? How is Ginevra related to the newcomers? Who finally writes Lucy, and what news does she give of the family’s financial past? What is Paulina’s response to Lucy on greeting her? Is it significant that she recognizes Lucy before the latter recognizes her? Which memories of the past are dear to Polly? What does she seem worried about in the present? How is the reader expected to evaluate her character and feelings for Dr. John?
Chapter 25, “The Little Countess”
What is Paulina’s relationship with her father? How does she respond to the news that Lucy is employed as a teacher? What causes her father’s suggestion that she attend Madame Beck’s school to fail? What characterizes her renewed friendship with Graham?
Chapter 26, “A Burial”
How have the preceding events altered Lucy’s apparent social status? What is made of the fact that Madame Beck examines Dr. John’s letters to Lucy? What is the significance of her burial of the letters, and the recurrent vision of the nun? Why must she keep the apparition secret? Who else has been watching Lucy, and with what motives? Why do you think he is concerned with her religion? What is revealed as the motives which have caused Paulina’s sudden shyness toward Dr. John? What role, if any, does Lucy play in setting things to rights?
Chapter 27, “The Hotel de Crecy”
What new qualities are revealed in Paul Emmanuel’s oration? What attitudes does Dr. John reveal toward Paulina and Lucy respectively in his conversations with the latter at the banquet? How does Ginevra respond to the recognition that her rejected lover pursues her no more? What irritations and conflicts between Ginevra and Lucy frame this chapter? Does Lucy’s vituperation of Ginevra form a satisfactory ending to the second volume? What might readers at the end of vol. II have anticipated might happen next?