CHAPTER XX. -Crome yellow

Ivor, the chapter’s central figure, departs from Crome, enraptured in his travels across England, fulfilling social and amorous obligations across grand homes and estates. His summer is a whirlwind of engagements, ending with a return to London for a holiday, leaving Crome as a mere episode in his life. Despite this, his immediate thoughts turn to his next destination and the welcoming smile of Zenobia, indicating a continual chase of moments and meetings rather than lasting connections.

Before his departure, Ivor leaves a poem in the visitor’s book, a tradition of his, capturing his sentiments about Crome. The poem, filled with rich imagery and an intense sense of belonging and loss, reflects Ivor’s deep, albeit fleeting, connection to the places he visits. It’s a testament to Ivor’s character: deeply feeling, yet transient.

The ensuing conversation between Denis and Mr. Scogan pivots to the nuances of language and the poetic effort to infuse words with beyond-their-meaning emotion and imagery. Denis laments how words like “carminative,” cherished since childhood for their perceived warmth and depth, can lose their magic upon discovering their true, bland meanings. This realization prompts a broader reflection on the love for words, their power to evoke profound emotions and images, and the literary mind’s capacity to find magic in verbal creativity.

Through these discussions, the chapter delves into themes of transience, the depth of superficial engagements, the impact of language on experience, and the search for meaning in both journey and expression. The fleeting nature of Ivor’s stay, coupled with the lasting impression left through his poem, juxtaposes momentary presence with enduring impact, a motif further explored in the contemplative discussion on language’s limits and capacities. The chapter, rich in introspection and poetic musings, closes on a contemplative note, questioning the permanence of impressions and the pursuit of understanding through art and expression.