A local study-guide explains that Frances believed the telegram was from Walter.
It claims that Frances dressed in her mission clothes because she knew she would be
meeting Walter and wanted to be ready to return with him to the mission.
The guide also claims that she refused Aunt Alice's offer of the trap because she knew
that, once she was married to Walter, they wouldn't be able to afford such transport. She
must therefore get used to walking.
What nonsense! Has the author of the guide even read Shades?
Here are some points which clearly contradict such a view:
- As Frances heads off to the station, says Marguerite Poland, she did not think what
she would say when she met Victor. (p. 441)
- She could not tuck her hand within the crook of Victor's arm and walk along
the platform and go home with him. (p. 441) Is it likely she'd say this if she
expected to meet Walter?
- She could not let Victor kiss her and surrender to the need to hold and touch
and feel for, if she did, she would be a liar and a thief. (p. 441) Is it likely
she'd think this of Walter?
- Once at the station, she waits for the train. "What would she say when
Victor stepped off the train and saw her there?" the author
writes. (p. 442) Note, she does not speak of expecting Walter to step off the
train.
- Frances scans the faces of the soldiers alighting from the train. "No, he was not
among them. They looked shabby and older and shorter and less valiant than
Victor. Perhaps he had changed his mind and stayed at St
Matthias." (p. 443)
- The passengers disperse. "No - no Victor," Poland writes. "He
must have missed the train."
Frances is clearly expecting to meet Victor and not Walter! Please do
not be fooled by incorrect study-guides! And treat all study guides - even this one - with
suspicion.
Contact: Knowledge4Africa.com
