Chapter 42 Summary

The party is quickly emptying out. Charlotte and Eleanor finally find Bertie, who is less than eager about proposing to Eleanor. The situation with Mr. Slope is explained to Bertie. Charlotte leaves the two of them alone together. Bertie is supposed to propose to Eleanor, but he can not go through with it because he does not want to spend his life married to her in the quiet town of Barchester. He decides, instead, to confess the whole plan to try to marry her for her money and get Eleanor to tell his family that he tried to propose to her, but failed. Eleanor, of course, does not respond well to this confession and feels used by his family, especially by Charlotte.

Chapter 42 Analysis

The second potential suitor is rejected and Eleanor feels even worse for not having seen through either Mr. Slope...