Brideshead Revisited II

Charles spends time with the Flytes over the next year, but he can see that Sebastian is drinking too much and is more unhappy. But he can't seem to help his friend or make him happier. Sebastian is now alienated from his family and annoyed that his mother sets watchmen around him, such as Mr Samgrass, a tutor at Oxford. Samgrass is a snobbish fool, who crawls to Lady Marchmain. He is detailed to keep an eye on Sebastian. However, Sebastian begins to resent Charles becoming friendly with his family. He accuses him of betraying their friendship by becoming close to his mother and siblings whom he sees as the enemy. Sebastian's drinking becomes more of a problem. He gets in trouble and is sent down from Oxford. Charles does not want to stay at Oxford without him. He tells his father he does not want to take his degree, and that he would rather go to Paris and study painting. His father is pleased to have him away from England and agrees. He loses touch with Sebastian as Lady Marchmain tries to control her son. He studies painting in Paris, and does not come back to England til the General Strike makes him believe that the country is on the verge of revolution. He learns that Julia is going out with a Canadian, Rex Mottram, who is very wealthy but nouveau riche. She is keen to marry him, but her mother thinks he is too lower class and he's not a Catholic. Rex agrees to convert, but when the wedding is all organised, Brideshead, Julia's brother, finds out that he had been married already. His wife is still alive, though they are divorced. Rex did not understand what the priest had explained to him about divorce and the Catholic beliefs, so he can't understand why the Flytes are all angry with him. Lady Marchmain is horrified but Julia tells her she's going to marry Rex, even if he is divorced and they marry in a Protestant ceremony.