Chapter summaries Small Pleasures Clare Chambers

Chapter 40 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

On Wednesday, December 4, 1957, Howard finishes his work in his Bedford Street shop, unaware that a thick, yellow fog has settled over London. He had spent the afternoon resizing rings and mending a pocket watch under bright artificial light, so the fog's gathering presence escaped his notice. That morning, despite poor visibility, he had purchased expensive hothouse roses from the market for Mrs. Swinney, and they now sit in a chipped mug in the washbasin. The florist had suggested stirring cigarette ash into the water to preserve the blooms, but Howard was unsure whether this was a joke and decided not to risk it.

Howard prepares to leave: he removes his twill overall, locks the cash box in the wall safe, and tidies his tools. He puts on his ulster overcoat and felt hat, and ties a cleanish handkerchief over his nose and mouth—a precaution against the polluted air. In his pocket is a velvet box containing a silver bracelet set with moonstones, the very bracelet Jean had admired during an earlier visit to the shop with Margaret. Howard had been already a little in love with her then and had stored the memory away, hoping for a future moment when he could offer it as a gift. He is certain Jean would not have forgotten it either, given her habit of noticing small details.

He hesitates on the threshold, shuffling his keys, then steps out into the milky mass. The fog feels substantial enough to be carved into chunks, yet offers no resistance. He draws down and padlocks the metal shutters and turns the key in the door—a nightly ritual that marks the end of each working day. Progress down Bedford Street is slow and treacherous. He can hear footsteps but see nothing until figures emerge suddenly, apologizing and stepping around him. A bicycle bell and scattered particles of light warn him when he strays near the curb.

Nearly at the Strand, Howard remembers the roses left in the sink. He curses, knowing he will miss the 5:18 train if he goes back. He weighs the options: arriving late or empty-handed. Unpunctuality seems thoughtless, but the roses were expensive and the gesture well meant. He decides to return, reasoning that Jean would understand, especially if the weather at Hayes is equally bad and she has had a difficult journey home herself.

He flounders back up the street, arms outstretched, apologizing to unseen pedestrians. With no chance of catching the early train, he no longer rushes. The metallic taste of the fog fills his mouth despite the handkerchief. He is relieved to reach the shop again for a few breaths of relatively unpolluted air. His decision to return is vindicated when he discovers he had left the tap running at a rapid drip with the plug in the sink—by morning there would have been a flood. He attributes these lapses to his preoccupation with seeing Jean rather than to the absent-mindedness of age. Inside, he feels no different from the young man who once jumped into the Thames at Battersea and swam across to impress a school friend's sister. It is only when he catches his reflection while shaving that he sees evidence of the hungry years.

He wraps the roses in newspaper to protect them from the murky atmosphere and restarts his journey, keeping close to the buildings and feeling his way along the wall. On the corner, he passes the pub where he has recently spent evenings with a pint rather than return to his empty house. The interior looks bright and welcoming, with polished wood and shining brass, and a few solitary drinkers are defying the weather. But Howard presses on, untempted, thinking only of Jean waiting and wondering as his promised arrival time comes and goes.

On the Strand, policemen with whistles guide pedestrians across the traffic lights. Howard can hear rather than see the buses and taxis, feeling their hot breath on his legs as he crosses in a shuffling mass. At Charing Cross, a great crowd waits in the concourse—weary office workers and Christmas shoppers. A group of schoolgirls snakes past, shrieking and confident. Swirls of ghostly mist have penetrated the open archways, creating an odd sense of being both inside and outside.

Howard is elated to discover that the 5:18 to Hayes is still on the platform, its departure delayed. He congratulates himself on having made the right decision to go back for the flowers, imagining his disgruntlement if he had left them behind for nothing. Sometimes the cards just fall right. He hurries through the barrier, jumps onto one of the rear carriages, and finds a space to stand. He lays the newspaper parcel of roses gently in the overhead luggage rack and unwinds the handkerchief from his face, grimacing at the sooty particles trapped in its fibers. The train lurches and tugs, and fellow passengers exchange smiles of relief. Howard pats his pocket, feeling the hard shape of the velvet box, and imagines Jean's look of recognition and pleasure when she opens it. He will not be so very late, after all.

Key Events

  • Howard finishes work unaware of the thick fog outside.
  • He remembers the hothouse roses for Mrs. Swinney, left in a chipped mug.
  • He carries a velvet box with a silver moonstone bracelet for Jean.
  • He locks up the shop and steps into the fog, wearing a handkerchief mask.
  • He forgets the roses, returns, and discovers the tap left running, averting a flood.
  • He wraps the roses in newspaper and resumes his journey.
  • He passes the pub where he has recently sought refuge from his empty house.
  • He crosses the Strand with police assistance and reaches Charing Cross.
  • He finds the delayed 5:18 to Hayes still on the platform and boards it.
  • He places the roses in the overhead rack and feels the bracelet in his pocket, imagining Jean's reaction.

Character Development

This chapter offers a deep interior view of Howard. His preoccupation with Jean is evident in his lapses of concentration—forgetting the roses and leaving the tap running—which he dismisses as the result of his focus on her rather than any age-related decline. He feels internally young, still the man who once swam the Thames to impress a girl, and only his reflection reminds him of the passing years. His loneliness is underscored by the pub he passes, a place he has used to avoid returning to an empty house, yet he resists its pull because his thoughts are fixed on Jean. His decision to go back for the roses shows his thoughtfulness and his desire to make a good impression, even at the cost of punctuality. The ritual of locking up the shop suggests a man who values order and routine, but his mind is elsewhere. The chapter also reveals his hopefulness—he believes in luck when the train is delayed, and he imagines Jean's pleasure with the bracelet, indicating his deep investment in their relationship.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Great Smog as Obstacle and Atmosphere: The fog is both a physical barrier and a mood-setter. It slows Howard's progress, forces him to rely on other senses, and creates a sense of isolation and danger. It also causes the train delay, which works in his favor, suggesting that obstacles can sometimes lead to fortunate outcomes.
  • The Silver Bracelet as Symbol of Love: The moonstone bracelet represents Howard's long-held affection for Jean. He has kept the memory of her admiration for it, and now he is finally able to give it to her, symbolizing his hope for a future together.
  • The Roses as Courtship Gesture: The expensive hothouse roses are a traditional romantic gesture, but they are also a source of anxiety and a test of Howard's priorities. His decision to retrieve them shows his commitment to the gesture.
  • The Pub as Refuge from Loneliness: The pub is a place where Howard has recently spent evenings to avoid his empty house. Its bright, welcoming interior contrasts with the fog and his solitary journey, highlighting his loneliness and his choice to move toward Jean instead.
  • The Delayed Train and Luck: The delayed 5:18 is a stroke of luck that vindicates Howard's decision to go back for the roses. It reinforces the theme of chance and the idea that sometimes things work out.
  • Pollution and the Handkerchief Mask: The handkerchief over his face and the sooty particles trapped in it emphasize the physical reality of the smog and the era's pollution, grounding the story in its historical context.
  • Nostalgia for Youth: Howard's memory of swimming the Thames and his feeling of being unchanged inside contrast with his aging reflection, exploring themes of time and self-perception.
  • The Empty House: Howard's avoidance of his empty house underscores his loneliness and his desire for connection, making his journey to Jean all the more significant.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 40 deepens our understanding of Howard's character and his feelings for Jean. It uses the historical setting of the Great Smog of London to create tension and atmosphere, while also serving as a metaphor for the obstacles and uncertainties in Howard's path. The chapter builds anticipation for his visit to Jean, showing his careful preparations and his hope. It also highlights themes of chance, timing, and the importance of small gestures. The bracelet and roses are tangible symbols of his love, and his decision to retrieve them—and the fortunate delay of the train—suggest that his efforts may be rewarded. This chapter is pivotal in advancing the emotional arc of Howard's relationship with Jean, and it sets the stage for the events to come.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Howard decide to go back for the roses even though it makes him late?

Howard values the gesture and the expense of the roses. He believes that arriving late is less thoughtless than arriving empty-handed, and he reasons that Jean would understand given the difficult weather. His decision is vindicated when he discovers the tap left running, which would have caused a flood by morning. This shows his practical side and his commitment to making a good impression.

2. How does the fog affect Howard's journey and his perception of the world?

The fog slows Howard's progress, forces him to rely on hearing and touch rather than sight, and creates a sense of isolation and danger. It also causes the train delay, which works in his favor. The fog's physical effects—the metallic taste, the sooty particles on his handkerchief—ground the scene in the historical reality of the Great Smog, while also serving as a metaphor for the uncertainty and obstacles in his path.

3. What does the silver moonstone bracelet symbolize for Howard?

The bracelet symbolizes Howard's long-held love for Jean and his hope for a future with her. He had stored the memory of her admiring it during an earlier visit, and now he is finally able to give it to her. The bracelet represents his investment in their relationship and his desire to make her happy, as he imagines her look of recognition and pleasure when she opens the box.

Navigation

Published by What Happened?

How this guide was made Report an error