The Masters (Hardcover)

Brown orders a bottle of claret to celebrate the achievement of Winslow's son. Young Luke and the other named members of the college discuss the Master's circumstances. Crystal and Brown are both capable of running things. They believe a Master can be found inside the college. It is believed that Crawford and Jago will be considered for the post.

It is learned that Nightingale and Pilbrow are back from vacation. The oldest among them, Gay, is subject to a flickering memory. He seems to forget that Royce is the current Master. Nightingale has been frustrated, unlucky, and envy has never left him alone. He is a theoretical chemist. At one time he had promise. Roy Calvert has always found the intimate formality of the college humorous.

Lewis says that his choice is Jago. Arthur Brown is for Jago and Chrystal thinks he can manage him. Brown actively dislikes Crawford and has regard for Jago. Brown is a politician by nature. Brown, Eliot, and Chrystal go to see Jago. Mrs. Jago is a sensitive sort who with her temperament drives Jago's friends away from him. It is anticipated that Crawford, Despard, and Winslow will be opposed to having Jago as the Master. Jago is more extravagant than many men and loves display more.

Francis Getliffe, a scientist and Lewis's particular friend, says that he is worried about the talk of Jago as Master. Getliffe would rather have someone of the left fill the office and would rather support a scientist. Jago is an English scholar with an interest in the colonial figure William Bradford.

Roy Calvert becomes Lady Muriel's mainstay in the nearly year-long process of the death of her husband. Nightingale wants to get a college office out of the change and Jago is disinclined to see such a thing happen. Following a feast held for a potential benefactor of the college, the Master is told the true medical view of his health. He says that it is hard to think without a future.

The group supporting Jago loses its clear majority when Nightingale goes over to the other side. The Master lives for a longer time than expected. Winslow's son fails the final examination although the nephew of the expected benefactor gains a third class degree. With Winslow downcast, Roy Calvert, consumed by his own depression, speaks wildly to him.

Jago's pride is mountainous. His diffidence is intense. He is vulnerable. He has never used his powers, he has never been able to compete. Pilbrow, after traveling abroad and in view of national and international issues, decides to shift his vote from Jago to Crawford. There seems to be a deadlock.

Chrystal suggests a third candidate-- Brown. Chrystal announces he is moving his vote over to Crawford. Perhaps envy and pique and vanity changed the circumstances of voting for Chrystal. Jago is easier with proteges than with friends. He has a proud nature and is unable to unbend.

The nuances of character and circumstances are fascinating in this novel. This skeletal summary of the plot is insufficient to demonstrate that the reader comes to care deeply about the outcome of the election described in full by the author.