Remarkable Creatures

Mary narrates that after Colonel Birch’s departure, she loses her ability to hunt for curies. So, Joe begins hunting again to support the family. Her mother, too, hunts quite successfully, even finding part of an ichthyosaurus. When a letter finally arrives from Colonel Birch, Mary is disappointed to see that it’s addressed to Joe. She opens it anyway and finds the catalog from the Bullocks auction displaying all the curies and the ichthyosaurus. Mary becomes angry when she sees that he has sold all the pieces she worked so hard to help him find. She learns that Colonel Birch raised 400 pounds from the auction and intends to donate it to her family. Molly and Joe begin planning how they will use the money, but Mary can only think of how much she still loves Colonel Birch. His generosity gives her hope that he still might make her an offer of marriage. When a carriage arrives, Mary hopes it is him, but it’s the Philpot sisters returning from London.

Mary resumes hunting for curies, and though the Philpot sisters invite her to Morley Cottage, she doesn’t go, sensing that something has changed between her and Elizabeth. She knows Elizabeth judges her for her behavior with Colonel Birch.