ellmother

Updated: July 2, 2025

She described Emily's unexpected arrival on the previous day; and she repeated what had passed between them afterward. Miss Ladd's first impulse, when she had recovered her composure, was to go to Emily without waiting to hear more. Not presuming to stop her, Mrs. Ellmother ventured to put a question "Do you happen to have my telegram about you, ma'am?" Miss Ladd produced it.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

Ellmother has expected impossibilities of me; and Mrs. Ellmother must take the consequences. I don't say she didn't warn me speaking, you will please to understand, in the strictest confidence. 'Elizabeth, she says, 'you know how wildly people talk in Miss Letitia's present condition. Pay no heed to it, she says. 'Let it go in at one ear and out at the other, she says.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

"I wonder whether the dead know what is going on in the world they have left?" she said, looking at Emily. "If they do, there's one among them knows my thoughts, and feels for me. Good-by, miss and don't think worse of me than I deserve." Emily went back to the parlor. The only resource left was to plead with Francine for mercy to Mrs. Ellmother. "Do you really mean to give it up?" she asked.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

Ellmother put it to me 'for old friendship's sake' alluding to my late husband, and to the business which we carried on at that time? Through no fault of ours, we got into difficulties. Persons whom we had trusted proved unworthy. Not to trouble you further, I may say at once, we should have been ruined, if our old friend Mrs.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

Ellmother, with the bewildered air of a lady who doubted the evidence of her own eyes. The next moment, her sense of humor overpowered her. She burst out laughing. "Close the door, Mr. Morris," she said, "and be so good as to tell me what this means. Have you been giving a lesson in drawing by starlight?" Mrs. Ellmother moved, so that the light of the lamp in Miss Ladd's hand fell on her face.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

Ellmother failed to appear. Emily left the room to call her. Arrived at the top of the kitchen stairs, she noted a slight change. The door below, which she had heard banged on first entering her aunt's room, now stood open. She called to Mrs. Ellmother. A strange voice answered her.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

I supposed she had gone to her bedroom; I had no idea she was in the grounds." In this false statement there was mingled a grain of truth. It was true that Francine believed Mrs. Ellmother to have taken refuge in her room for she had examined the room.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

May I take the opportunity of asking if Miss Emily is well?" "Far from it, sir, I am sorry to say. She is so poorly that she keeps her bed." At this reply, the visitor's face revealed such sincere sympathy and regret, that Mrs. Ellmother was interested in him: she added a word more. "My mistress has had a hard trial to bear, sir. I hope there is no bad news for her in the young lady's letter?"

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

"God help us," she cried, "what's wrong now?" Without a word of reply, Emily led the way into the bedchamber which had been the scene of Miss Letitia's death. Mrs. Ellmother hesitated on the threshold. "Why do you bring me in here?" she asked. "Why did you try to keep me out?" Emily answered. "When did I try to keep you out, miss?" "When I came home from school, to nurse my aunt.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No

If I can ever be of the smallest use, think of me as your other servant. Say to Mrs. Ellmother, 'I want him' and say no more." Where is the woman who could have resisted such devotion as this inspired, truly inspired, by herself? Emily's eyes softened as she answered him. "You little know how your kindness touches me," she said.

Wilkie Collins - I Say No