Mothering Sunday

Jane discusses how Ethel will have to clean up the stain on Paul’s bed. This leads her to remember how, before her time at Beechwood, she trained as a maid at a big house with five other maids; when discussing marks from sex, the maids referred to them as “nocturnal omissions” (51). Jane reflects on how Ethel, being unimaginative, will assume that the stain in the bed was due to Paul and Emma sleeping together.

Jane continues to watch Paul dress, noting how “she had never watched a man get dressed before” (53). Paul puts on his “Sunday best”—first his shirt, then cufflinks, a collar, a tie pin, and trousers—“as if he was dressing for his wedding” (57). Jane realizes it will be the last time that she sees Paul and tells him that he looks handsome. He does not tell her that she looks beautiful. Paul explains that his parents won’t be back until four o’clock and says that she can relax in the house until then, helping herself to pie in the kitchen and letting herself out afterwards. He then leaves the room without kissing her or saying goodbye.