A Sorceress Comes to Call – Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
A week after the start of the story, Cordelia watches her mother, Evangeline, dress in a scarlet riding habit and ride away on Falada to visit her “benefactor.” These visits bring money and jewelry to support their household. While her mother is gone, Cordelia enjoys rare peace and considers running away but cannot abandon Falada. Barely an hour later, Evangeline bursts back in, furious. She mutters about having failed to kill the man when she had the chance, and about using magic to make him obedient or have Falada trample him. Cordelia is horrified, especially realizing that Falada may be forced to obey violent commands. That night, Evangeline is mercurial and announces they must move. During dinner, she reveals that she is a sorcerer, explains that wedding ceremonies break spells, and discusses finding a rich husband. Cordelia is left shaken by the new knowledge.
Key Events
- Evangeline prepares to visit her benefactor, transforming into a softer, sweeter person when she puts on the scarlet riding habit.
- Cordelia experiences relief during her mother’s absence, noting she can breathe freely and think without being interrogated.
- Her mother returns unexpectedly, enraged, speaking of killing the benefactor with magic or by ordering Falada to attack.
- Cordelia cuts her thumb in shock, then comforts Falada in the stable, realizing the horse is also under her mother’s obedience.
- At dinner, Evangeline’s mood shifts to merry; she declares they must move because the benefactor is now useless.
- Evangeline asks Cordelia’s age, discusses marrying a rich man herself, and reveals she is a sorcerer whose spells are broken by wedding ceremonies.
Character Development
Cordelia grows more aware of her powerlessness and of the darker dimensions of her mother’s magic. Her empathy deepens as she realizes Falada is also a victim, not a willing participant. She becomes more cautious and self-protective, learning to offer neutral statements (“That’ll be interesting”) to avoid provoking her mother. The chapter ends with her mind full of violent images and unanswered questions.
Evangeline displays a terrifying mix of charm, rage, and calculation. Her transformation upon donning the riding habit hints at a performed identity for her benefactor. Her violent fantasies—making a man chop off his own legs or having a horse kill him—reveal her lack of moral restraint. She treats Cordelia as a tool to be married off for further social gain, showing her cold pragmatism.
Falada is established as more than a horse; he is a friend to Cordelia and a fellow victim under Evangeline’s magical control. His inarticulate suffering deepens the story’s emotional stakes.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Sorcery and Power: Evangeline’s sorcery is not mere trickery but a means of control—over people and animals. The revelation that wedding ceremonies break spells explains why she uses benefactors instead of husbands, linking marriage to potential freedom from enchantment.
Obedience and Autonomy: Cordelia’s internal experience—watching her words, hiding her thoughts—parallels the magical obedience she suspects. The phrase “she makes me obedient” applies to both Cordelia and Falada, highlighting the theme of coerced submission.
Scarlet as Danger and Transformation: The scarlet riding habit is “like a splash of blood on snow,” presaging violence. It signals Evangeline’s shift into a softer persona, but the color also connects to the bloody images that later haunt Cordelia.
Home as Prison: The house becomes both sanctuary (when Evangeline is absent) and cage. Cordelia’s relief at solitude and her fleeting wish to run away emphasize her imprisonment.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 2 delivers the first explicit confirmation that Evangeline is a sorcerer and that her magic enforces obedience. It raises the stakes for Cordelia, who now knows her mother is capable of murderous intent. The chapter also foreshadows the necessity of a wedding to break the magical hold, planting a seed for future plot developments. Cordelia’s bond with Falada becomes a crucial emotional anchor, and her increasing awareness of the danger she is in sets the stage for her eventual flight.
Study Questions & Answers
Q1: Why does Cordelia hesitate to run away from home, even though she feels relief when her mother is gone?
A: She cannot leave Falada behind. The horse is her friend and a fellow victim under Evangeline’s control; abandoning him would be unthinkable. This loyalty ties her to the situation despite her desire for freedom.
Q2: How does Evangeline’s revelation that wedding ceremonies break spells affect the story’s direction?
A: It explains why Evangeline avoids marrying her benefactors—she cannot use magic on a husband once the ceremony is performed. It also suggests that marriage could be a potential escape route for Cordelia or for someone seeking to undo Evangeline’s enchantments.
Q3: What does Cordelia learn about her own situation when she comforts Falada in the stable?
A: She realizes that Falada has been made obedient against his will, just as she has. This deepens her empathy and her guilt for not recognizing his suffering sooner. It also sharpens her understanding of her mother’s cruelty and her own powerlessness.