Man and Wife

Scotch marriages in general by way of trying the experiment. Julius had not studied the question; Julius knew nothing about it; and there the experiment had come to an end.

Scotch marriage as reckless experiment — law ignorance as plot motor that will trap Anne and Geoffrey — so plot scores 88.

Geoffrey Delamayn--commonly called “the honorable;” and meriting that distinction in more ways than one. He was honorable, in the first place, as being the son (second son) of that once-rising solicitor, who was now Lord Holchester.

“Honorable” irony brands the athletic cad — cast as title versus conduct — so cast scores 86.

The first bulletin said, “Going on well. Doctors satisfied.” The second was firmer in tone.

Forty-eight-hour bulletins as serial clock — medical updates pacing Geoffrey's marriage-market wait — so pace scores 85.

IN the spring of the year eighteen hundred and sixty-eight there lived, in a certain county of North Britain, two venerable White Owls. The Owls inhabited a decayed and deserted summer-house.

Fable-opening of owls in a ruin — Collins's comic-documentary prose before legal catastrophe — so prose scores 86.

ON the day when Sir Patrick received the second of the two telegrams sent to him from Edinburgh, four respectable inhabitants of the City of Glasgow were startled by the appearance of an object of interest on the monotonous horizon of their daily lives.

Edinburgh telegrams into Glasgow hotel life — Scotland as legal stage geography — so world scores 87.

ON a summer’s morning, between thirty and forty years ago, two girls were crying bitterly in the cabin of an East Indian passenger ship, bound outward, from Gravesend to Bombay.

Shipboard parting of school-friends seeds the Irish-marriage prologue before Windygates — so hook scores 88.

Scotch law. Didn’t you know that?” “No.” “Then take my advice--and consult him. You needn’t mention names. You can say it’s the case of a friend.”

Novel as statute tutorial — characters weaponize legal advice — sensation as marriage-law pamphlet — so innov scores 91.

Lady Lundie looks at the woman who has taken her place at the head of the family; and sees--ANNE SILVESTER!

Social restoration tableau names Anne at the head of the family — justice staged as recognition scene — so ending scores 85.