Chapter 2 Summary

Chapter two begins with the description of the village James, the narrator, lives in. James explains that there are two important households in the town, King's Paddock and Fernly Park. King's Paddock was left to Mrs. Ferrars after her husband's death. Fernly Park is owned by Mr. Ackroyd who seems to have become close friends with Mrs. Ferrars. This made sense since the two of them were both victims of alcoholics. Mrs. Ferrars' dead husband was a terrible alcoholic, as was Mr. Ackroyd's dead wife. Mrs. Ackroyd drank herself to death and left Mr. Ackroyd her son from a previous marriage to raise all by himself. Her son's name is Ralph Paton.

A series of nannies come and go to look after the boy. Miss Russell was the one nanny who lasted the longest, and she seemed to grow close to Mr. Ackroyd...