Volume 1: Chapters 8–10 Summary

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Chapter 8

Raymond’s marriage to Perdita has been idyllically happy up to this point, and they have kept no secrets from one another. However, when he begins to visit Evadne, Raymond finds that she occupies his thoughts constantly, and this preoccupation soon becomes obvious to Perdita. One day, she intercepts a letter from Evadne to Raymond and asks her husband to explain why this woman is writing to him. Raymond admits that he was wrong to make a secret of his visits to Evadne but insists that his love for Perdita remains inviolate.

Raymond and Perdita quarrel, and he threatens to leave. However, Perdita finally says that she believes his assertion that there is nothing between him and Evadne, and the two maintain an easy truce for a month, during which time Raymond ceases to visit the Greek princess.

On October 19th, it is the anniversary of Raymond’s elevation to the title of lord protector. He decides that he will visit Evadne before attending the magnificent official festivities with Perdita. Perdita, in her turn, has decided that she will ask him to give up his public role in order to live quietly with her. Raymond finds Evadne near death and understands that this decline in her health was caused by his sudden and unexplained desertion. He sends a note to Perdita to say that he is well and remains beside Evadne’s bed as the celebration of his protectorate goes on without him. Perdita entertains the guests with a heavy heart, now certain that her husband is unfaithful to her.

Chapter 9

Perdita’s love for Raymond is “the reigning passion of her heart,” and the thought of his infidelity is intolerable to her. However, they maintain the public appearance of a cohesive marriage, and though Adrian perceives that there is a change between them, he does not guess its cause or extent. In May, the couple pay a visit to Windsor, to see Adrian, Lionel, and Idris. During this visit, Perdita confesses her unhappiness to Lionel and tells him that she and Raymond have agreed to remain together for the sake of appearances and for his career, though Raymond himself believes this arrangement cannot last long.

While Perdita talks to her brother, Raymond tells the story from his perspective to Adrian and Idris. He then hastily returns to London to avoid meeting Perdita, and the rift between them continues to grow. Raymond throws himself into a dissolute lifestyle, and Perdita comes to believe that she has no choice but to leave him. Adrian and Lionel go to London to attempt to reason with Raymond and heal the breach. Raymond, however, has now decided to leave Perdita and return to Greece to fight for the country’s independence. He persuades Adrian to accompany him, and the two men depart.

Chapter 10

Lionel, Idris, and Perdita embark on a tour of Northern England, Scotland, and Ireland, largely to take their minds off what may be happening to Raymond and Adrian as they join the war in Greece. After a year, the three of them return to Windsor, where Lionel devotes himself to literature and attempts to become an author, writing biographies of his favorite historical characters. He and Perdita become closer, and he persuades her to share in his literary pursuits.

After more than a year’s absence, Adrian returns from the war in Greece with a bayonet wound. He brings news of Raymond’s success as a commander in the war, and this is supplemented by further reports which come to Lionel and Perdita from Greece at regular intervals. Finally, they hear that Raymond has disappeared at the Battle of Makri and that he may have been captured by the Turks or may be dead. This story galvanizes Perdita into action. She is certain that Raymond is still alive and decides to go to Greece to find him. Lionel tries to dissuade her from taking this course but, when he is unable to do so, resolves to go with her. In May, Lionel and Perdita embark for Greece on a ship from Portsmouth.

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Volume 1: Chapters 4–7 Summary

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Volume 2: Chapters 1–3 Summary

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