The Woman in White: The Second Epoch: Part 1, Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Marian takes up her dairy again two days after Laura and Sir Percival arrive back at Blackwater after their honeymoon. Marian finds Laura changed; both in appearance and in temperament. She finds that she is not as innocent, warm, or girlish as she used to be. Although Marian acknowledges that society will probably think Laura is changed for the better, Marian is sad to see Laura lose these qualities. Marian also finds that Laura will tell her nothing about her marriage—out of respect for her husband—and the subject is forbidden between them. Laura does ask Marian if she has heard from Walter, however, but Marian answers—truthfully—that she has not. Despite her new reserve and secretiveness, Laura is delighted to see Marian and teases her for bringing her old bookcase and her “man’s umbrella” with her.

With little more to say about the changes in Laura, Marian observes how the honeymoon has changed Sir Percival. She remarks that he is terse, surly, and much ruder and more irritable than before. Marian feels that people show their real personalities in their own homes and she notes that Sir Percival is rigid about the order of his things at Blackwater and obnoxious towards his servants.

Although Marian dislikes Sir Percival, she is willing to acknowledge that his bad mood seems to have started after their arrival home when the housekeeper told him of the unnamed man who called at the house and asked after him—although why this should upset Sir Percival so much she couldn’t say.

Marian then begins to describe her impressions of the Count Fosco and Madame Fosco. Madame Fosco, Marian notices, has drastically changed since her marriage. In fact, Marian has never before seen such a huge shift in someone’s personality. While Madame Fosco used to be vain, mischievous, and opinionated, she is now silent and utterly submissive to the Count. She spends all her time listening to him and rolling his cigarettes, and now dresses in a modest fashion, whereas she used to show off her figure. She is also intensely jealous of other women talking to her husband. Marian gets the feeling that the Countess is now hemmed in and bitter, and that her expressive, lively personality used to protect her from becoming like this.

Marian believes that Count Fosco is a man who “could tame anything.” She even believes that, if she were married to him, she would be as obedient as his wife is now. At the same time, she admits that he attracts and fascinates her. She finds that characteristics which she dislikes or finds ridiculous in others, she respects and admires in Count Fosco.

For example, Count Fosco is extremely overweight. Marian admits that she distrusts overweight people and dislikes the common stereotype that overweight people are happy or jolly. However, despite this, she trusts the Count. She thinks perhaps she likes him because of his resemblance to Napoleon and the fact that he looks very strange and not at all ordinary or common. She is also impressed by how well he speaks English for a foreigner and is fascinated by the way he moves so quietly and delicately despite his size.

Count Fosco is extremely fond of animals and keeps a family of white mice and several birds, which he kisses, pets, and trains to do tricks. At the same time, he is fearless with larger animals. Marian has seen him approach a fierce dog in the kennels, lay his hand on its head and laugh at the dog for being a coward and only attacking things that are afraid of it.

Marian describes the way that Count Fosco ingratiates himself with the people around him. He senses that Laura dislikes him and so frequently appears with her favorite bunch of flowers and is simpering and attentive with her. “In public” he is extraordinarily kind to Madame Fosco. Marian notes that with herself, he “flatters her” by talking to her about serious subjects as though she is a man. Marian even feels that the Count “manages” Sir Percival and maintains an air of superiority over him, dismissing comments that Sir Percival makes about the Count’s odd, “effeminate” habits.

Marian confesses she is confused about Count Fosco’s history and past with Sir Percival. She thinks that he may be a political exile, but this seems to be contradicted by the fact that he often receives “official looking” letters from abroad.

Although Marian is intimidated by Count Fosco, she cannot help but admire him. She notices that he has this effect on everyone and that Sir Percival even seems afraid of him. Regardless of his past or true nature, Marian observes that it would be very dangerous to make an enemy of the Count.

The next day, a visitor arrives at lunchtime and demands to see Sir Percival. Count Fosco tells Marian that this is Mr. Merriman, Sir Percival’s lawyer, and Marian suspects that something important has happened. Before she has voiced this out loud, however, the Count agrees with her, that something has happened and Laura, speaking to Marian later, says she suspects this too.