Agnes Grey: Chapter 21: The School Summary & Analysis

Agnes leaves Horton Lodge and goes to work at her mother’s school, where they have three boarding students and six day students but plan to take on more. Agnes finds working in her own school much better to working as a family’s employee as a governess, but she still thinks of Mr. Weston, hoping that his mention of them meeting again means he’ll write or visit. When she receives no letter from him, her hope and common sense do battle. Her hope thinks he still meant something by his parting words, while her common sense claims he didn’t. Eventually, as she still hears nothing from Mr. Weston, her common sense wins out—though she cherishes his memory, she no longer expects him to appear.

One morning during the Easter holidays, Agnes’s mother tells her that she looks terrible and is probably working too hard. Agnes tries to reassure her mother, but she’s surprised at the commentary. She knows that, having lost hope she’ll see Mr. Weston again or ever get to love someone, she has become deeply depressed—but now she chides herself for not resigning herself to the work and trials God has set before her. She stops letting herself think of Mr. Weston so often, and as summer approaches, she can feel herself getting stronger and healthier.

In June, Agnes receives a letter from Rosalie, who is now living at Ashby Park. In the letter, Rosalie apologizes for not keeping up a correspondence with Agnes, begs Agnes to come visit her at Ashby Park as soon as her school vacation starts, and mentions as an aside that if Agnes likes children, Rosalie’s baby daughter should be an added incentive—though Sir Ashby hasn’t forgiven Rosalie for having a girl. She also mentions that, as far as Ashby Park goes, “the promise of anticipation exceeds the pleasure of possession.” Agnes decides to go, concluding that Rosalie is probably deeply unhappy and that Agnes will help if she can. She also hopes that she might hear something about Mr. Weston.