Welcome, welcome, welcome Humbert Allen Astredo! Costume put some real thought into Nicholas's wardrobe, and it shows.
Roger and Barnabas wait anxiously for Julia to finish treating Elizabeth. Roger says that "some poor devil" once was locked in the tower room. The "poor devil" in question turns away and does not enlighten his cousin. They exchange some interesting comments about Cassandra--all of Barn's have double meanings.
It's interesting how Julia and Barnabas have come to rely on Stokes as an authority. Arrowhead Road (given as his address in a previous ep.) has unaccountably moved to Rockport, but it's still a local number. [Four episodes ago Maggie called Stokes by asking the operator for Collinsport 752, but in this episode, on Julia's advice Barnabas dials 6868 to reach Stokes.] When Julia and Barnabas arrive at his door, we see that his house number is--of course--13.
In a lovely scene, Stokes pays it forward by teaching Adam to read, just as Barnabas taught Ben long ago.
MT, I like your thoughtful comments about Stokes. I suspect that when he was young, he had big plans to change the world. But as with most of us, time and disillusionment have narrowed his ambitions so that all he's doing now is teaching at a local college. I think that he's just trying to save the world one person at a time, and that's why he's so heavily invested in teaching Adam.
Stokes advises Barn and Julia to find Angelique's portrait. While Barnabas is upstairs at Collinwood, Julia distracts Roger. Roger comments, You can't imagine how active Cassandra can be! Julia answers dryly, Yes, I think I can. When Barn returns empty-handed, Roger produces the portrait and says he found it in an empty closet.
On seeing Barnabas, Nicholas announces confidently, Mr. Collins! I should have recognized you anywhere! You must be Cassandra's husband! Barnabas can only reply, Cassandra--no. (Well, it IS no more than the truth.)
