Remains of the Day Set 2

In the Prologue, what is Stevens dusting when Mr Farraday proposes the trip?

The portraits in the library.

In the Prologue, whose portrait is Stevens dusting when Mr Farraday proposes the trip?

Viscount Wetherby.

In the Prologue, what is Stevens standing on when Mr Farraday proposes the trip?

A step-ladder.

In the Prologue, what is Mr Farraday carrying when he enters the library?

A few volumes to return to the shelves.

In the Prologue, where does Mr Farraday sit after announcing his American trip?

On the chaise-longue.

In the Prologue, what phrase does Mr Farraday use for paying Stevens's fuel costs?

"I'll foot the bill for the gas."

In the Prologue, why does Stevens initially dismiss the suggestion of a holiday?

He sees it as an American gentleman's unfamiliarity with what is commonly done in England.

In the Prologue, how many people composed the skeleton staff kept by Lord Darlington's relatives during the sale?

Six.

In the Prologue, how long does Mr Farraday remain in America after buying Darlington Hall?

A further four months.

In the Prologue, what kind of staff does Mr Farraday instruct Stevens to recruit?

A staff "worthy of a grand old English house".

In the Prologue, when does Stevens first meet Mr Farraday in person?

During Mr Farraday's short preliminary visit to England in the spring of the previous year.

In the Prologue, where do Stevens and Mr Farraday hold their first business meeting?

In Darlington Hall's strangely bare study.

In the Prologue, what physical gesture marks Stevens's first meeting with Mr Farraday?

Mr Farraday shakes Stevens's hand.

In the Prologue, what responsibility does Mr Farraday entrust to Stevens after their first meeting?

Administration of a considerable sum for preparations for his residency.

In the Prologue, what does Mr Farraday call the staff plan?

some sort of servants' rota.

In the Prologue, how many staff members had Stevens once supervised?

Seventeen.

In the Prologue, how many staff members had Darlington Hall employed not long before?

Twenty-eight.

In the Prologue, what phrase does Mr Farraday use when asking Stevens to try running the house with four staff members?

give it a go with four.

In the Prologue, what modern systems does Stevens say reduce the need for large servant staffs?

Electricity and modern heating systems.

In the Prologue, what does Stevens think contributes to declining professional standards among servants?

Keeping unnecessary staff for tradition's sake and leaving employees with too much idle time.

In the Prologue, what parts of Darlington Hall does Stevens's plan place under dust sheets?

The extensive servants' quarters and the second-floor guest corridor.

In the Prologue, which specific areas are included in the dust-sheeted servants' quarters?

The back corridor, two still rooms, and old laundry.

In the Prologue, which parts of Darlington Hall remain operating under Stevens's plan?

All the main ground-floor rooms and a generous number of guest rooms.

In the Prologue, how often does the gardener visit under Stevens's staff plan?

Once a week, or twice a week in summer.

In the Prologue, how many cleaners supplement the resident staff?

Two.

In the Prologue, how often does each cleaner visit?

Twice a week.

In the Prologue, whose customary duties does Stevens try hardest to preserve?

Mrs Clements's.

In the Prologue, what term does Stevens use for the staff's broadened duties?

"Eclectic" roles.

In the Prologue, what does Stevens say the best staff plans contain for illness or poor performance?

Clear margins of error.

In the Prologue, how often has Stevens reread Miss Kenton's recent letter?

Several times.

In the Prologue, besides gasoline what trip costs concern Stevens?

Accommodation, meals, and small snacks.

In the Prologue, from whom did Stevens receive many of his suits?

Lord Darlington and pleased guests of Darlington Hall.

In the Prologue, who gave Stevens a nearly new lounge suit in 1931 or 1932?

Sir Edward Blair.

In the Prologue, where might Stevens wear Sir Edward Blair's lounge suit?

In the lounge or dining room of a guest house.

In the Prologue, who gave Stevens a suit during the war?

The young Lord Chalmers.

In the Prologue, what problem does Stevens identify with Lord Chalmers's suit?

It is clearly too small for him.

In the Prologue, what two resources does Stevens consult while planning his route?

A road atlas and The Wonder of England.

In the Prologue, how many volumes are in The Wonder of England?

Seven.

In the Prologue, when were Mrs Jane Symons's travel books written?

During the 1930s.

In the Prologue, why was Mrs Jane Symons popular with Darlington Hall's staff?

She openly showed kind appreciation for their service.

In the Prologue, which volume of The Wonder of England covers Devon and Cornwall?

Volume III.

In the Prologue, what two kinds of images appear in the Devon and Cornwall volume?

Photographs and artists' sketches.

In the Prologue, which images in Mrs Symons's book does Stevens find more evocative?

The artists' sketches.

In the Prologue, where does Mr Farraday take his short afternoon walk?

On the downs.

In the Prologue, in which room does Stevens serve the afternoon tea during which he asks about the trip?

The drawing room.

In the Prologue, what word does Mr Farraday use for Stevens's supposed meetings with Miss Kenton?

assignations.

In the Prologue, where does Mr Farraday jokingly suggest Stevens entertain a male guest's wife?

In one of the stables around Mr Morgan's farm.

In the Prologue, who owns the Ploughman's Arms?

Mr Simpson.

In the Prologue, how does Mr Simpson imagine an American bartender would address customers?

With crude references to their vices and failings, calling them drunks and similar names.

In the Prologue, who traveled to America as valet to Sir Reginald Mauvis?

Mr Rayne.

In the Prologue, what American worker does Mr Rayne describe as speaking with shocking familiarity?

A New York taxi driver.

In the Prologue, in which room is Stevens serving coffee during his failed attempt at banter?

The breakfast room.

In the Prologue, what actually makes the crowing noise Mr Farraday mentions?

A pair of gypsies gathering unwanted iron and making their customary calls.

In the Prologue, how does Stevens signal that his swallows-and-crows remark is a joke?

He gives a suitably modest smile.

In the Prologue, how does Mr Farraday respond to Stevens's swallows-and-crows joke?

"I beg your pardon, Stevens?"

In the Prologue, what excuse does Stevens use to end his failed bantering attempt?

He pretends to remember an urgent duty.

In the Prologue, where did visiting servants gather during Lord Darlington's busy years?

In the servants' hall by the fire.

In the Prologue, what subjects did visiting professionals debate in Darlington Hall's servants' hall?

Their employers' great affairs, important newspaper matters, and their vocation.

In the Prologue, whom does Mr Harry Graham serve?

Sir James Chambers.

In the Prologue, whom does Mr John Donalds serve?

Mr Sydney Dickenson.

In the Prologue, whom does Mr Wilkinson serve?

Mr John Campbell.

In the Prologue, for what entertainment is Mr Wilkinson known?

Impersonations of prominent gentlemen.

In the Prologue, from what house does Mr Davidson come?

Easterly House.

In the Prologue, what contrasting qualities characterize Mr Davidson?

Alarming passion in debate and endearing kindness at other times.

In the Prologue, whom does Mr Herman serve?

Mr John Henry Peters.

In the Prologue, what personal traits make Mr Herman difficult to dislike?

His distinctive belly-laugh and Yorkshire charm.

In the Prologue, what sport do newer visiting employees discuss?

Association Football.

In the Prologue, which two inns do newer visiting employees prefer to the servants' hall?

The Ploughman's Arms and the Star Inn.

In the Prologue, how recently had Sir James Chambers visited Darlington Hall?

About two months earlier.

In the Prologue, what does Stevens learn about Sir James Chambers's household staff?

Sir James no longer employs any full-time staff.

In the Prologue, what must Stevens still do after receiving permission for the trip?

Write to Miss Kenton, arrange suitable clothes, and settle the house arrangements for his absence.

In Day One - Evening, before what time has Stevens packed and loaded the Ford?

Before eight o'clock in the morning.

In Day One - Evening, toward what county border does Stevens initially drive?

The Berkshire border.

In Day One - Evening, what physical feature hides the steep drop beside Stevens's road?

Trees and thick foliage.

In Day One - Evening, on what is the local man sitting?

A large stone marking the start of the footpath.

In Day One - Evening, what is the local man smoking?

A pipe.

In Day One - Evening, what does Stevens initially mistake the local man for?

A vagrant.

In Day One - Evening, what does the local man say a walker needs to reach the viewpoint?

A good pair of legs and a good pair of lungs.

In Day One - Evening, why does Stevens first say he would rather not see the viewpoint?

He says seeing the best view before his journey has properly begun would be premature.

In Day One - Evening, what does Stevens later realize the man's age-related remark may have been?

A bantering remark.

In Day One - Evening, approximately how far does the zigzagging footpath rise?

About one hundred yards.

In Day One - Evening, what does Stevens see bordering the rolling fields?

Hedges and trees.

In Day One - Evening, what does Stevens assume the distant dots in the fields are?

Sheep.

In Day One - Evening, what structure does Stevens think he sees on the horizon?

The square tower of a church.

In Day One - Evening, how old does Stevens estimate the Salisbury landlady to be?

Around forty.

In Day One - Evening, what address does Stevens enter in the guest-house register?

Darlington Hall.

In Day One - Evening, which two luxurious establishments does the landlady imagine Stevens may frequent?

The Ritz and the Dorchester.

In Day One - Evening, what room does the landlady give Stevens for the price of a single?

A front double room.

In Day One - Evening, what pattern decorates the wallpaper in Stevens's room?

A floral pattern.

In Day One - Evening, how many beds are in Stevens's guest-house room?

Two twin beds.

In Day One - Evening, how many windows overlook the street from Stevens's room?

Two.

In Day One - Evening, where is the bathroom in relation to Stevens's room?

Behind the door facing his room.

In Day One - Evening, when will the guest house have hot water?

After supper.

In Day One - Evening, what does Stevens ask the landlady to bring to his room?

A pot of tea.

In Day One - Evening, where is the washbasin located?

In a corner of the room.

In Day One - Evening, what three shops can Stevens see opposite his guest house?

A bakery, a chemist's shop, and a barber's.

In Day One - Evening, what kind of bridge can Stevens see farther down the street?

A round-backed bridge.

In Day One - Evening, what kind of chair does Stevens sit on while waiting for tea?

A hard-backed chair.

In Day One - Evening, at about what time does Stevens go out to explore Salisbury?

Shortly after four o'clock.

In Day One - Evening, what kinds of old buildings charm Stevens in Salisbury?

Rows of timber-fronted houses.