Chapter 24 Summary and 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

Chapter 24 unfolds as a vivid memory from Francine's childhood, one that has stayed with her, “untarnished by the distance of time.” The chapter opens with seven-year-old Bree and Francine racing through the woods on a perfect, clear day. Bree, with her red hair in plaits and a faded bruise on her cheekbone, laughs and calls Francine “Figjam.” They reach their secret hideout—a place where no one shouts in a drunken stupor or hits them for minor offenses. The memory is bittersweet: Bree, as the oldest, always takes the brunt of their father's anger, protecting her younger sisters as best she can.

The girls return late to the manor, knowing their father, George, will be back from the pub at twilight. Their mother, Eleanor, stands in the garden with baby Monty on her hip, anxiously scanning the woods. She sends Bree to round up the other sisters for bathing, while Francine is told to watch Monty. A scream from upstairs—Maddie is fretful—prompts Eleanor to leave Francine with Monty, warning her not to let him near the well.

Francine keeps a close eye on Monty, but he crawls to the Laburnum trees and reaches for a poisonous pod. Francine snatches it away, then goes inside to fetch a cloth to wipe her hands. While she is gone, Monty pulls himself up against the well wall, topples over, and falls in. Francine shrieks, peers into the well, and sees Monty floating face-up in the water. She climbs down the chain, splashes into the cold water, and cradles her brother, but he is unresponsive. She places him in the bucket, hoping Bree will know what to do.

Bree arrives, calling out “Figjam,” and sees Monty in the bucket. Their father returns, and in a rage, he strikes Bree across the face when he sees her holding Monty. Bree quickly lowers Monty down to Francine in the bucket, then climbs down the chain herself to join her sister in the well. Hidden there, they overhear their parents' argument through the kitchen window above. Eleanor blames George for Monty's death, declaring he has no claim to the manor now that his only son is gone. George, drunk and enraged, threatens to force her to bear more sons, and even mentions a pact he signed with the devil. A struggle ensues—a crash, a shriek, a ripping of cloth—and then Eleanor flees, her footsteps fading into the manor.

Bree and Francine remain in the well through the night, shivering in the freezing water. Bree whispers reassurances to Francine, telling her to keep still and stay quiet, even as her own voice grows fainter and her body slides deeper into the water. The chapter ends with Francine unable to see Bree but still hearing her whispered words: “Keep still, Figgie. I'll never leave you.”

Key Events

Bree and Francine return late from the woods, and their mother sends Bree to gather the other sisters for bathing.
Francine is left to watch baby Monty, who falls into the well after reaching for a Laburnum pod.
Francine climbs into the well and finds Monty unresponsive; she places him in the bucket.
Bree arrives, but their father returns and strikes Bree when he sees her holding Monty.
Bree lowers Monty down to Francine and then climbs into the well herself, hiding with her sister.
The sisters overhear their parents' argument: Eleanor blames George for Monty's death and says he has no claim to the manor; George threatens to force her to bear more sons and mentions a pact with the devil.
A struggle occurs, and Eleanor flees the manor.
Bree and Francine stay in the well overnight, with Bree whispering reassurances until her voice fades.

Character Development

Francine is portrayed as a guilt-ridden child who blames herself for Monty's death. Her memory is sharp and painful, showing her deep love for her brother and her desperate need for approval from her father, which she never receives. In the well, she clings to Bree's presence, revealing her dependence on her older sister for emotional and physical safety.

Bree emerges as the family's protector. Even at seven, she takes the brunt of their father's abuse and shields her sisters. In the well, she comforts Francine, reassures her that Monty's death was an accident, and keeps her calm through the night. Her final whispered promise—“I'll never leave you”—underscores her selfless devotion, even as she herself succumbs to the cold.

Eleanor shows a fierce, defiant side. In the argument, she blames George for Monty's death and refuses to let him touch her daughters again. Her declaration that George has no claim to the manor reveals her determination to protect her children, even at the cost of her own safety.

George is depicted as a drunken, abusive man who values his son above his daughters. His rage and threats, including the mention of a pact with the devil, paint him as both cruel and unstable.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The well as refuge and danger: The well is a place of death—Monty falls in and drowns—but it also becomes a hiding place where Bree and Francine find temporary safety from their father's wrath. The well's dual nature reflects the precariousness of the sisters' lives.
Sibling protection: Bree's actions throughout the chapter—taking the brunt of abuse, lowering Monty down, climbing into the well, and whispering reassurances—highlight the theme of siblings protecting one another in the face of parental cruelty.
Parental abuse and misogyny: George's violence toward Bree and his disdain for his daughters, contrasted with his love for Monty, illustrate the misogynistic attitudes that pervade the family. Eleanor's defiance challenges this, but she is ultimately forced to flee.
Inheritance and male heir: Eleanor's claim that George has no claim to the manor because Monty is dead underscores the importance of a male heir in the family's inheritance structure. George's threat to force Eleanor to bear more sons reinforces this theme.
Witchcraft and the pact with the devil: George's mention of a pact with the devil introduces a supernatural element, hinting at darker forces at play in the family's history.
Guilt and blame: Francine's belief that she killed Monty, despite Bree's reassurances, shows how guilt can weigh on a child. Eleanor's blame of George shifts the responsibility, but the emotional burden remains.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it reveals the tragic backstory of Monty's death and the family's fractured dynamics. It explains the deep bond between Bree and Francine, forged in the well's darkness, and sets up the mystery of the pact with the devil that may haunt the family. The chapter also establishes Eleanor's defiance and George's cruelty, providing context for the sisters' later actions and the novel's exploration of inheritance, abuse, and the supernatural. The well becomes a symbol of both loss and refuge, and the memory serves as a foundation for Francine's character and her relationship with Bree.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does the well function as both a place of danger and safety in this chapter?

The well is the site of Monty's accidental death—a danger that Francine cannot prevent. Yet it also becomes a hiding place where Bree and Francine escape their father's violence. The well's cold, dark interior offers temporary refuge, but it also threatens their lives as they shiver through the night. This duality reflects the precariousness of the sisters' existence: even a place of safety is fraught with peril.

2. What does the argument between Eleanor and George reveal about the family's power dynamics and the theme of inheritance?

The argument exposes the central conflict over inheritance. Eleanor asserts that with Monty dead, George has no claim to the manor, which is her family's property. George, in turn, threatens to force her to bear more sons, revealing his belief that male heirs are essential to his claim. This exchange highlights the misogynistic power structure: George sees Eleanor and their daughters as tools for producing an heir, while Eleanor fights to protect her daughters and her inheritance.

3. How does Bree's behavior in the well demonstrate her role as protector, and what does it foreshadow about her character?

Bree's actions—lowering Monty down, climbing into the well, and whispering reassurances to Francine—show her unwavering commitment to protecting her sister, even at the cost of her own safety. Her final whispered promise, “I'll never leave you,” foreshadows her enduring role as a guardian figure throughout the novel. It also hints at the sacrifices she will make for her sisters, and the emotional weight she carries as the eldest.