Cold Comfort Farm

Flora takes Elfine to a French fashion designer in London to have a dress made. After the fitting, they spend a day and a night in town, shopping and going to the theater. Flora is worried that even Elfine’s beauty in her new finery won’t move her beau to propose: “He must speak! She conjured the god of love by the spring evening, by the blackbird’s song, by the triumphant beauty of Elfine” (124).

Back at home the next night, Elfine, Seth, and Flora prepare to slip out of the house for the ball before the rest of the family can stop them. Unbeknownst to them, Aunt Ada has informed Judith that she intends to come downstairs for her annual headcount of the family. Luckily, Charles, Flora’s companion for the ball, arrives to whisk them all away in his car before Aunt Ada descends the stairs.

At the ball, Elfine’s beauty draws admiration from everyone. Richard Hawk-Monitor is so moved by Elfine that he proposes to her on the spot and announces the couple’s engagement to all the guests. Flora hints at the need for a quick marriage to prevent interference from the Starkadders. She is satisfied with the outcome of the evening until her little group returns home to find all the lights on at Cold Comfort Farm.