Remarkable Creatures

Elizabeth is the narrator of this chapter. Church Cliffs, where Mary and Joe had found the fossil, are on Lord Henley’s land, and he visits Morley Cottage requesting to see the fossil, assuming that it belongs to him since it was found on his land. Seeing Lord Henley reminds Margaret of her former suitor, Mr. Foot, so she runs to her room, crying. Elizabeth explains to Lord Henley that Mary Anning and her brother found and kept the fossil at their workshop. He says he will send a carriage to collect it, and Elizabeth knows she must intervene to ensure that he will pay them fairly. She visits the Anning cottage, which is cold and sparse, and Elizabeth notes the lack of food. Molly Anning, Mary’s mother, is uninterested in discussing the fossil while trying to care for the squalling newborn. Elizabeth notes that Molly has given birth to 10 children and only three have survived. When Elizabeth mentions Lord Henley purchasing the fossil, Molly perks up. Mary and Elizabeth go to the workshop to examine the skull, and Elizabeth notices the dirt and disarray in the workshop in Richard’s absence. Elizabeth is careful to keep her specimens organized and her workspace clean, and she wonders if she might teach Mary to do the same.