Chapter Synopsis

Memoirs of a London Doll
March 2, 2009

Chapter 9: Doll’s Letters

Maria has received a letter from Ellen Plummy, delivered by Ellen’s brother, Tommy. At first Lady Flora was not going to allow the letter but she recollected the sad face of Ellen when Ellen placed the doll in Flora’s hands so she changed her mind.

Ellen wrote about how she has never forgotten Maria and thinks of her all the time. When she holds her new doll, she thinks of Maria. She still gets up at six for work and goes to bed at nine, after bread and butter. She is glad to think that Maria is happy and comfortable and has no hard needlework to do and that the little lady is fond of her. She recalls the night that she came to own Maria when her brother Tommy bartered for her. She goes on to say that she will never forget Maria, nor all who have been good to her and whom she loves. She hopes to meet Maria again some day and hopes that with Maria’s happy life among the riches of the world that she will not forget her poor first mama.

Lady Flora and her governess were amused with Ellen’s letter, but Lady Flowerdale was very pleased and said that how simple or foolish the letter might seem, it showed a good and affectionate nature in the little girl who sent it. She determined that Maria should write an answer.

Lady Flora and the governess thought all morning about what to say. The governess put a pen very often into Maria’s hand to teach her to write so Maria got an excellent lesson in writing. At last a letter was composed, the pen put into Maria’s hand and the letter written. It was sent to Lady Flowerdale for approval, but she did not like it. She felt it was not what a doll would say. She tried herself to write a response herself but could not.

At dinner, Lady Flowerdale, in an attempt to take her husband’s mind off his troubled state business, told him about the letter and of her attempted response. The Earl decided he would reply to the letter; however, his attempt turned out to be a polite, unfeeling, stupid reply to a kind, tender-hearted little girl. Whatever knowledge the minister might have had of grown-up men and women and the world and affairs of state, he was not equal to enter into the mind of a doll with a heart like Maria.

DISCUSSION:

I really did enjoy the letter to Maria, but I thought more seriousness could have been displayed. Didn't those people understand what they were asking of Ellen? Probably not. At least the author calls the minister’s response a 'stupid, unfeeling' letter. I agree!!
________________________________

I loved the way Ellen expressed her feelings for Maria in her letter. It came straight from the heart. However, I wonder why it was so difficult for Lady Flora, the governess, Lady Flowerdale and her husband to write a reply letter -- perhaps because they cannot display emotion so easily. I didn’t like that Lady Flora and her governess were “amused” with the letter. That seemed a little disrespectful to me, but at least Lady Flowerdale was very much pleased with it and indicated that however simple or foolish (again, a little disrespectful) it might seem, it did show a good and affectionate nature in the little girl who had sent it. Why couldn’t they just take it for what it was, a simple letter to a much loved doll from a little girl who obviously missed her very much?

I wonder what happened to the minister’s letter. Did they ever send it??

Oh to be a governess in those days and at the beck and call of every child under her care. Do this. Do that!! No life of your own. It must not have been an easy lifestyle, although preferable, I am sure to other ways of making a living in those days.
________________________________

I would never have wanted to be a governess--it must have been a nightmare for some poor women!! I bet they didn't send the letter--no, let me say, I HOPE they didn't send the letter. It must have been thought clever and funny by the grownups, but Ellen would have been devastated.
________________________________

It's weird how some authors will just leave things up in the air as to what happened. They jump off into another chapter and nothing is said to finish out the prior chapter. Did they send a letter or not??? Lady Flowerdale had a laugh at the minister's letter - did she think about composing yet another simple one that a small girl could appreciate??? She tried once, but couldn't think of anything to put down. Did she try again or is that it?? I hate chapters like that!! I think we have to assume that no one wrote back to Maria or Ellen.

Home