What Maisie Knew Chapter 27 Summary & Analysis

Maisie is surprised to see Mrs. Beale, but also to notice that Mrs. Beale seems as interested in Mrs. Wix as she is in Maisie. Mrs. Beale explains that she came alone. Maisie replies that Sir Claude promised he would return, but Mrs. Beale adds that he promised her many things too. She is confident he will join them but tells Maisie they must “make him.” Much to Maisie and Mrs. Wix’s surprise, Mrs. Beale fawns over the governess, telling her she needs her help. Mrs. Wix is confused and overwhelmed, but before she can reply, Mrs. Beale insists they all go down for lunch. Mrs. Beale goes off to change, telling Mrs. Wix to attend to her daughter.

Maisie is confused by Mrs. Beale’s new attitude toward Mrs. Wix, which suggests some kind of shift in Mrs. Beale’s relationship with Sir Claude. Mrs. Beale tries to charm Mrs. Wix and win her over to her side, and she similarly hopes to use Maisie to exert influence over Sir Claude. Their behavior indicates that Mrs. Beale and Sir Claude have argued, perhaps over what their relationship should look like and how they should relate to their stepdaughter—whom Mrs. Beale deliberately refers to as her daughter—now that they are both “free” of their spouses.

Active Themes

Left alone, Maisie and Mrs. Wix marvel at their new situation. Mrs. Wix remains preoccupied with the immorality of Mrs. Beale and Sir Claude’s affair, and she explains that Mrs. Beale is using Maisie: if Maisie is legally her daughter, then Mrs. Beale can exert power over Sir Claude because of his love of both of them. Maisie is too excited by the prospect of the four of them being united to care, however, until she considers their financial situation. She asks Mrs. Wix if Mrs. Beale will pay their bills now, but her governess responds that Mrs. Beale is broke, as is Beale, who lives off of other women. Maisie, confused, asks what Mrs. Beale would have done in England without Sir Claude, and Mrs. Wix angrily retorts that Mrs. Beale would have lived off of other men.

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Mrs. Wix still does not trust Mrs. Beale. She believes that Mrs. Beale will use Maisie much like Ida and Beale did: as leverage in her romantic relationships. Maisie is still too trusting to accept Mrs. Wix’s suspicious description of Mrs. Beale’s motives, until she learns that Mrs. Beale has no money of her own. Mrs. Wix’s comment about Mrs. Beale living off of other men suggests that she does not believe Mrs. Beale truly loves Sir Claude. Instead, she thinks Mrs. Beale is manipulating Sir Claude toward her own ends.

Active Themes

What Maisie Knew: Chapter 27 Summary & Analysis