What Maisie Knew Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

On a trip to an art gallery Maisie confesses to Sir Claude her fear that Ida will send Mrs. Wix away. He tells her not to worry, and that he will protect Mrs. Wix’s job: Ida lets Sir Claude do what he wants as long he lets her do the same. Maisie and Sir Claude discuss their shared fear of Ida—and their shared fear of Mrs. Beale. Maisie asks why, if Sir Claude is afraid of those he loves, he isn’t afraid of her, but he replies only that Maisie is too gentle—and too young—to scare him. Sir Claude confesses that Mrs. Beale has written him letters.

Sir Claude and Maisie continue to develop a familial bond, going on outings together and having difficult conversations Maisie is unable to have with her parents and other stepparent. Sir Claude takes advantage of Ida’s lack of interest in their marriage by asserting his own independence—to protect Maisie, but also to pursue his complicated romantic feelings for Mrs. Beale. Sir Claude is able to forge the bond he has with Maisie because she is just a child, so he can open up to her in a way he cannot open up to other women in his life.

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Back at the house, Maisie finds Mrs. Wix despondent over the fact that Sir Claude has been seeing Mrs. Beale. Maisie asks how she knows, and Mrs. Wix explains that she went to see Mrs. Beale, who told her. Maisie says Sir Claude told her he has not seen Mrs. Beale. Mrs. Wix wonders if Sir Claude lied to protect her feelings, or if Mrs. Beale lied to hurt them. Mrs. Wix despairs over what will happen to her when Maisie leaves. The next day Sir Claude takes Maisie to a beautiful house, explaining it is Beale and Mrs. Beale’s. He offers to take her inside but points out she will have to stay with them if does enter—he is unable to abandon Ida and cannot come with her. Maisie decides to go in, remembering only too late about Mrs. Wix.

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Sir Claude’s affair with Mrs. Beale upsets Mrs. Wix for several reasons. First, she is worried about Sir Claude’s own morals and that he is corrupting himself. Second, she is worried that he is setting a bad example for Maisie and corrupting her. And third, she feels jealous and possessive of Sir Claude’s affection and worries that he will abandon her and leave her at Ida’s mercy. Maisie is excited to leave the chaos of Ida’s household now that she knows she will continue to see Sir Claude there when he visits Mrs. Beale, and in a moment of self-interest, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolor

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What Maisie Knew: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis