Another point with Mrs M is that she'd probably be expected to do a lot of stuff that maybe doesn't seem important to us, but was probably seen as pretty much compulsory for a woman in her position - corresponding with relatives and friends (all those bequest-leaving aunts!) so as to maintain the family's connections, taking an interest in the tenants/village, maybe some local charity stuff. Even the hunting - though she enjoys it - will help the Marlows get accepted in the community. And basic stuff like bill-paying, dealing with tradesmen/workmen, getting stuff fixed, shopping for or making the children's clothes, would have been a lot more time-consuming than they are now. Plus when Grandmother came for one of her two month visits she would be expected to drop everything...
Although she doesn't seem naturally domestic/a great manager, it always feels like she does her best, and she certainly never comes across as a heartless social type like Mrs Frewen (or maybe Mrs Merrick...)
(And what about Ann in this book? I think there must be a lot to do, because presumably Ann must be busy helping her mother - as she never seems to have any friends or hobbies, apart from the piano. Or maybe Ann is having a nervous breakdown and that is why Mrs M is so occupied for the whole book that she never notices that her other children are holed up the whole time in the Old Shippen...)
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Catkin purchase - why?
Date: 2014-09-30 03:26 pm (UTC)Although she doesn't seem naturally domestic/a great manager, it always feels like she does her best, and she certainly never comes across as a heartless social type like Mrs Frewen (or maybe Mrs Merrick...)
(And what about Ann in this book? I think there must be a lot to do, because presumably Ann must be busy helping her mother - as she never seems to have any friends or hobbies, apart from the piano. Or maybe Ann is having a nervous breakdown and that is why Mrs M is so occupied for the whole book that she never notices that her other children are holed up the whole time in the Old Shippen...)