Wives and Daughters: Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

One day, Mr. Gibson comes home early and finds the youngest of his servants, Bethia, carrying a note meant for Molly. Gibson becomes suspicious and asks Bethia to hand over the note. When he reads it, he sees that it’s a florid love letter from Mr. Coxe to Molly. Gibson is dismayed. Coxe is supposed to live with the family for another three years, and there’s no telling what might happen to Molly’s reputation if Coxe’s feelings aren’t stopped in their tracks. Still, Gibson doesn’t want to embarrass Coxe. He writes him a note in the form of a tongue-in-cheek prescription that he hopes will send Coxe the message that he (Coxe) cannot let his feelings develop further. 

That night, after dinner, Mr. Coxe confronts Mr. Gibson. Coxe, having correctly discerned the prescription’s implications, is indignant. He says that it was ungentlemanly of Gibson to open the letter meant for someone else and to read it himself. Gibson says that, as a young woman, Molly’s reputation can quickly become sullied. He tells Coxe that he can stay in the house but only if he swears not to try and make his feelings known to Molly ever again. Coxe is dismayed but ultimately agrees. Gibson then thinks the matter over. Eventually, he concludes that he should take Mrs. Hamley up on her offer to have Molly stay at the Hamleys’ house for a matter of time.

The next day, Mr. Gibson rides to the Hamleys’ house. Squire Hamley is out, but Mrs. Hamley is there, and she’s overjoyed to hear that Mr. Gibson is going to allow Molly to come and stay with them. After Gibson leaves, Squire Hamley returns home, and he’s also enthusiastic about Molly coming to stay with them. He’s especially happy that Mrs. Squire, who is ill, will have someone to keep her company. He also says it’s probably for the best that Osborne and Roger are off at Cambridge, or else they might have a love affair on their hands. But that wouldn’t do, Squire Hamley says, because Osborne must marry someone of a higher status than Molly, and Roger must make his own way and won’t be able to think of marriage for the next 10 years at least.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gibson tells Molly that she’ll be going to stay with the Hamleys. He says that there’s a reason, but he’s not prepared to tell her what it is. Privately, Mr. Gibson doesn’t want to see Molly go. Molly is confused and agitated because Gibson won’t tell her why he’s sending her away. She then tells Gibson that she’ll need a new gown and new frocks if she’s going to leave. Gibson gives her money to buy clothing from the dressmaker in town, which surprises Molly, as previously Betty has made all of Molly’s clothing.