The Mayor of Casterbridge: Chapter 23 Summary & Analysis

The man in the drawing room is years younger than Henchard and well dressed. The stranger is immediately apologetic, saying that he is calling upon Miss Henchard, and did not mean to so surprise her. Lucetta encourages the man, who she learns is Mr. Farfrae, to stay and sit now that he has come to call. There is something in his person that Lucetta finds immediately attractive and compelling.

Farfrae’s appearance at High-Place Hall is the result of Henchard’s note to him that he could court Elizabeth-Jane. His recent business success has made him aware that he can afford to marry. Lucetta and Farfrae comment upon the busy market scene. Lucetta says that she will look for Farfrae in the crowd now that she knows him. She confesses her loneliness, and as the pair converses she also expresses how interesting she finds Farfrae. He colors at her praise, and she praises Scottish men more generally, asking if he wishes he could be in his homeland again.

Farfrae and Lucetta observe a disagreement occurring outside of the window. A farmer is hiring an elderly worker, but only if his healthy son agrees to come too. The son is apologizing to his sweetheart who does not want him to leave for such a distant farm. Lucetta turns to Farfrae, both their eyes moist at the scene occurring below, and she says lovers ought not to be parted like that. Farfrae says perhaps he could help by hiring both father and son and keeping the pair employed and in town. He heads outside to offer his proposition to the group who are all cheered by it.

Lucetta tells him his offer is kind-hearted when he returns to her drawing room. Outside the window, they overhear another conversation as a young farmer says he was supposed to meet Farfrae at the fair, but has not seen him. Farfrae says he must go, but still he remains with Lucetta. Farfrae exclaims that he wishes that there were no business in the world, as it calls him away from Lucetta. She says he has changed his priorities very quickly, but he responds that this change has only been since he arrived at High-Place Hall and saw her.

As Farfrae leaves, Lucetta says eagerly that he should not heed any gossip he may hear about her in town. As a young woman, Lucetta would not have been interested in a tradesman, but she watches Farfrae from the window and pleads with her rational self to welcome him again on another visit to her home.

Minutes after Farfrae’s departure, Henchard calls with the message that he is only able to make a brief visit. Lucetta tells her maid to send him away that day with the excuse that she has a headache. Lucetta is no longer interested in Henchard’s attentions, having finally reawaked his affection for her. She no longer feels the necessity of getting rid of Elizabeth-Jane, but instead wanted to keep the younger woman near, as a means of dissuading her father’s visits. She greets Elizabeth-Jane enthusiastically upon her return and implores that she live with Lucetta for a long time.