Polly:

Polly’s father:

Graham:

The effect of this is to make me dislike all those characters (well done Lucy Snowe), but also to sort of hate Lucy because if she can’t abide any single person in her life, maybe the problem is her. Plus, she says this when Polly cries (bear in mind, Polly is six):

I had some thoughts of consoling her, and of improving the occasion by inculcating some of those maxims of philosophy whereof I had ever a tolerable stock ready for application.

She sounds like Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice, and that’s not a good look for anybody. Luckily she then heads off to live with somebody she does like, an old invalid lady who hires her as a companion. The old lady one day decides that she’s going to Do Right by Lucy Snowe and organize her will in such a manner that Lucy Snowe will be Taken Care Of.

Except! This is not the end of a Horatio Alger story; it is the start of a Charlotte Bronte story. Nobody has governessed even a little bit so far, so you know Lucy Snowe’s not going to get off that easy. The very night Mrs. Marchmont decides she’s going to help Lucy out, she dies.

If it were me, I’d be bitter about this situation, but Lucy Snowe takes it in stride, which makes me like her more. She doesn’t waste any time on recrimination and anxiety. She puts on her big-girl panties and goes off to London to try her fortunes there. Good for you, Lucy Snowe! London is the best! I hope everything goes awesome for you in London just like it did for this dude:

Head over to Reading Rambo where this readalong is being hosted and discover what the other folks have to say about it!

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