What Will He Do with It?

In Short

This expansive Victorian novel traces the wandering life of William Waife, a man of hidden refinement and past secrets, as he attempts to protect his young granddaughter, Sophy, from the exploitative designs of her father, the criminal Jasper Losely. As their paths intersect with a cast of social climbers, moralists, and rogues, the narrative explores the weight of past actions and the struggle to reform. It remains a compelling study of human character, resilience, and the difficult, often ironic, pursuit of redemption in an indifferent social landscape.

The Story

The story follows William Waife, a man who has retreated into obscurity, working as a humble basketmaker and traveling performer to shield his young charge, Sophy, from the influence of her biological father, Jasper Losely. Losely is a handsome, charismatic, and utterly unscrupulous man, a "rotter at heart" who treats people as assets to be liquidated for gambling debts. Having once possessed a degree of status, Waife now lives in a state of self-imposed exile, his dignity wrapped in the threadbare cloak of poverty. He is a man who has suffered the "fatal concussion" of being deceived by others, yet he remains perpetually concerned for his grandchild’s future.

The central conflict is set in motion by Losely’s relentless pursuit of Sophy. Driven by the need to fund his life of vice, Losely views the girl as a commodity to be sold or put to work in the traveling theater company of the opportunistic manager, Rugge. Sophy, however, possesses a quiet, unflinching resilience that thwarts her father’s attempts to force her into a life of performance. While Waife struggles to maintain their anonymity, the narrative weaves in other figures, including the observant Colonel Morley and the formidable, enigmatic Arabella Crane.

Arabella Crane occupies a complex position in Losely’s life. Haunted by past ties and a misplaced sense of duty, she acts as both his benefactor and his jailer. She understands Losely’s inherent corruption better than anyone, yet she attempts to "reform" him through systematic control, even as she secretly facilitates the escape of Waife and Sophy to protect them from his reach. Her actions are those of a woman who has accepted a "barren sacrifice," keeping watch over a man who is incapable of genuine gratitude.

As the narrative progresses, the lines between the hunter and the hunted blur. Losely’s desperation leads him into various schemes—from attempting to infiltrate the life of a respectable widow to manipulating those who fall under his sway. Waife, meanwhile, finds his path marked by both kindness and betrayal, eventually forced to confront the reality that he cannot hide forever. The arc concludes not with a simple triumph of good over evil, but with a stark, meditative look at human nature. Losely is ultimately isolated in a foreign land, under the watchful, suffocating eye of Arabella, while the question of his potential for change remains open. The book ends by placing the burden of character back on the individual: despite every external circumstance, the ultimate test is what one chooses to do with the chances they are given.

How It Unfolds

The concussion of deceit The story opens by examining the psychological toll of betrayal, focusing on the Mayor of Gatesboro’s humiliation after being "taken in" by someone he trusted. This event ripples through the town, illustrating how easily a life of quiet benevolence can be shaken by a single act of duplicity.

The flight of the wanderer Waife, having found a potential sanctuary for his grandchild, is forced to abandon his plans when his secret past and his connection to the volatile Jasper Losely threaten to resurface. He is driven to the road again, exhausted and alone, searching for a way to secure a future for Sophy that is free from exploitation.

The struggle for agency Sophy’s refusal to act in Rugge’s theater troupe serves as a pivotal point of defiance, marking her transition from a pawn to a person with a will of her own. Her refusal forces the various interested parties—Rugge, Losely, and Mrs. Crane—to reassess their strategies and reveal their true motivations.

The shadow of surveillance Arabella Crane takes control of the narrative’s pace, using her influence and resources to isolate Losely while simultaneously arranging for the safety of the fugitives. She transforms from a passive observer into a "jealous sentinel," creating a psychological cage for a man who refuses to see the bars.

The final standoff The story culminates in a quiet, isolated setting in Belgium, where Losely is stripped of his masks and his ability to manipulate others. The final movement leaves the reader with the image of a man and his keeper, questioning if a life of ingrained vice can ever truly be reclaimed.

The People

William Waife is the heart of the narrative, a man of hidden genius and profound sensitiveness who has been forced to shed his identity to protect his grandchild. He is the ultimate "man of genius" who remains unrecognized by the world, choosing the obscurity of a basketmaker over the scrutiny of society.

Jasper Losely is the book’s primary force of chaos. Possessing a "herculean constitution" and a charming exterior, he is fundamentally rotten, driven by a restless, predatory greed. He lacks the capacity for introspection or genuine moral growth, always shifting the blame for his circumstances onto others.

Sophy is the catalyst for the moral struggle, a child whose quiet, fearless integrity stands in stark contrast to the greed of the adults surrounding her. She serves as the moral anchor that keeps Waife focused on his duties rather than his own despair.

Arabella Crane is a figure of chilling precision and tragic devotion. She is the "fisherman" holding the string on Losely, fully aware of his nature but unable to sever the tie. Her willingness to sacrifice her own life and resources to manage his existence makes her one of the most complex, haunting figures in the text.

Colonel Morley functions as the voice of the social order, a man of "fine understanding" who attempts to manage the affairs of those in his circle with a mix of pragmatism and genuine, if distant, kindness.

In Its Own Voice

"In the kindliest natures there is a certain sensitiveness, which, when wounded, occasions the same pain, and bequeaths the same resentment, as mortified vanity or galled self-love."

This observation, appearing early in the text, sets the tone for understanding how even the most benevolent characters are vulnerable to the cruelty of others.

"A man of genius may be for ten years our next-door neighbour; he may dine in company with us twice a week... yet we are never more astonished than when all of a sudden, some bright day, it is discovered that our next-door neighbour is--a man of genius."

This reflection underscores the theme of the overlooked, extraordinary individual, specifically referencing Waife’s hidden depths.

"A chance he has: WHAT WILL HE DO WITH IT?"

The final line of the book poses the defining question of the narrative, shifting the responsibility of redemption entirely onto the shoulders of the flawed protagonist.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is an inquiry into the nature of character and the limits of self-determination. It questions whether environment and habit inevitably dictate a person’s end, or if there is always a residual potential for change. The narrative suggests that society is a "whirling mechanism" where individuals are superficially similar but exist in "separate and distinct worlds" of private struggle. It argues that moral failure is often a result of being "taken in" by one’s own desires or the deceits of others, and that true wisdom lies in the difficult task of self-study. Ultimately, it is a meditation on the responsibility of the strong to protect the vulnerable, and the heavy price paid by those who choose to live for others rather than for themselves.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the slow, deliberate unfolding of 19th-century character studies will find much to admire here. The prose is precise, often wry, and deeply psychological, avoiding the saccharine tendencies of some of its contemporaries. It is a rewarding experience for those who appreciate a narrative that refuses to offer easy moral victories, instead focusing on the messy, long-term consequences of human choices.

However, the reader should be prepared for the book’s density and its occasionally cynical view of human nature. The author uses a formal, at times didactic tone, and the pacing is dictated by the internal shifts of the characters rather than rapid plot progression. While the attitudes towards class, gender, and social status are undeniably rooted in the mid-19th century, the core tension—the battle between a parasitic, manipulative personality and the individuals trying to escape its influence—remains strikingly modern. It is a book that demands patience; it does not rush its conclusions, preferring to let the weight of its characters’ histories settle fully. What stays with you is the haunting, clinical portrait of Jasper Losely, a man who stands as a warning of what happens when the "native animal" is allowed to dominate the conscience, and the lingering, quiet strength of those like Waife who continue to hope for a future, despite the heavy toll of their pasts.