Is He Popenjoy?

At last, not much above a week after the calculations, in all the glory of the purple of Manor Cross, the new Popenjoy was born. For it was a Popenjoy. The Fates, who had for some time past been unpropitious to the house of Brotherton, now smiled; and Fortune, who had been good to the Dean throughout, remained true to him also in this. The family had a new heir, a real Popenjoy.

Title question answered by 'real Popenjoy' birth after dubious Italian child dies — succession plot closed — so plot scores 88.

But the one guest who is honoured above all others in St. James' Square, for whose comfort everything is made to give way, whom not to treat with loving respect is to secure a banishment from the house, whom all the servants are made to regard as a second master, is the Dean.

Dean ends as household second master — cast hierarchy of cathedral ambition rewarded — so cast scores 87.

Of course as the next day or two passed by, the condition of Mrs. Houghton was discussed between Lord George and his wife. The affair could not be passed over without further speech. "I am quite contented with you," he said; "more than contented. But I suppose she does not feel herself contented with Mr. Houghton."

Mid-book dilates contentment talk and side affairs before baby crisis — serial digression as pace — so pace scores 86.

I would that it were possible so to tell a story that a reader should beforehand know every detail of it up to a certain point, or be so circumstanced that he might be supposed to know.

Narrative theory as comic preamble — Trollope's essayist prose announcing length — so prose scores 89.

"So aunt Ju has gone to the Rights of Women, has she?"

Marylebone women's institute enters society map beside Brotherton cathedral — contemporary London as world — so world scores 86.

"You remember Mary Walker. Oh yes, you do;--that pretty girl, but such a queer temper! And how she was engaged to marry Harry Jones, and said she wouldn't at the church-door, till her father threatened her with bread and water."

Fake gossip novelette before real plot — hooks by parodying the short form the novel refuses — so hook scores 90.

The family had a new heir, a real Popenjoy; and the old Marchioness when the baby was shown to her for awhile forgot her sorrows and triumphed with the rest.

Entire novel organized as 'is he?' then 'real Popenjoy' — title as legal riddle engine — so innov scores 88.

Of our hero, Lord Popenjoy, it need only be said that when we last heard of him he was a very healthy and rather mischievous boy of five years old, who tyrannised over his two little sisters,--the Lady Mary and the Lady Sarah. Those, however, who look most closely to his character think that they can see the germs of that future success which his grandfather so earnestly desires for him.

Loose threads tied as healthy mischief and Dean comfort — comedy residual after legitimacy storm — so ending scores 87.