Summary Chapter 41




David receives a reply from Dora’s aunts, requesting a conference with David (to ascertain whether David is worthy of Dora). They also request that David be accompanied by a confidential friend. Naturally, David agrees to the terms of the conference and decides on Miss Mills as his confidential friend. Alas, Miss Mills cannot oblige David as she must accompany her father to India where he has business to attend. Consequently, David asks Traddles who agrees to help. Thus, on the appointed day, the duo head out to Putney, the location of Dora’s aunts’ house.

Worried about the impression that he’ll make, David asks Traddles to attend to his hair which is standing on end. Traddles assures David, however, that his hair will stand on end no matter what he tries. Indeed, Traddles relates how his hair is the object of ridicule of his fiancee’s sisters. Subsequently, David asks Traddles whether he had to submit himself to the Crewlers’, Sophy’s family’s, approval as David is doing now on behalf of Dora’s aunts. Traddles replies yes, explaining how the Crewlers had it in their minds that Sophy would never marry so indispensable is she to the family’s welfare. As of today, with the exception of the father, the Reverend Horace Crewler who has gladly received Traddles, the rest of the family has resigned to the fact that Traddles will eventually marry Sophy, which is to say that they cling to the hope that on account of Traddles’ unsettled prospects the marriage would never happen.

Presently, having arrived at Dora’s house in Putney, David and Traddles are received by Dora’s aunts, Lavinia and Clarissa Spenlow. David notices that the aunts are the female facsimiles of their late brother Mr. Spenlow, i.e. models of propriety to the extent of being too formal. Referring to Mr. Spenlow’s death, the aunts remind David that it is their duty to decide whether or not David is worthy of Dora. They lecture David and Traddles about the nature of love, of how in young people love is transient and temporary whereas with age love matures and is something that can be depended on. They mention how their alienation from their brother Mr. Spenlow has deprived of them of the opportunity to gauge the character of their niece, but that they would be willing to let David and Dora meet, provided that David agrees to be closely supervised by the Miss Spenlows. They withdraw from the room, arguing that David should think about their offer for 15 minutes even though David argues that that won’t be necessary, and that he has already agreed to abide by the sisters’ terms.

Like clockwork, the sisters return at the expiration of 15 minutes. When David agrees to the terms, it’s decided that he will visit the Spenlows every Sunday for dinner and twice a week for tea. It’s also decided David’s aunt will meet Dora’s aunts on a regular basis. Presently, David is allowed to meet with Dora who is exceedingly glad to see David, but who objects to having either Traddles or David’s aunt present when the lovers meet. David objects to no avail. By and by, Dora’s aunts put an end to the meeting which otherwise would have gone on indefinitely.

Upon returning to London, David tells his aunt of all that had happened in Putney. David’s aunt expresses happiness, but for whatever reason she paces the apartment in a fit of anxiety. The next day David writes to Agnes. A few days later Agnes writes back, expressing her happiness for David.

The meetings with Dora in Putney proceed apace, as well as David’s aunt’s meetings with Dora’s aunts, however with one alteration. Because of his weekly duties David has gotten permission to meet the Spenlows on a Saturday in lieu of visiting them twice weekly for tea.

One day, while David and Dora are taking a walk, David mentions the need for Dora to be practical and industrious. He also makes a point of how Dora’s aunts treat Dora as if she were a doll, a plaything, urging her that’s it time for Dora wean herself from their indulgence. Dora refutes David’s arguments with her naïve innocence however, and David finds himself unable to resist Dora’s charms.



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