Milicent

I'd grown up with an image of Milicent as a comically intransigent old lady in a wide-brimmed hat who knocked down a policeman in her car (she never mastered gear changes) and enquired: "What are you doing down there, my good man?"

Hancox: All under one roof Charlotte Moore 2010

My grandfather teetering along on his pennyfarthing, Milicent playing tennis in her immense "picture hat", my great-grandfather's "butterfly bed", the teak seat where he sat star-gazing with Milicent's best friend, who was also his mistress; doomed Gillachrist and his girl cousins dancing to a gramophone on the lawn in the summer of 1914 ...

Hancox: All under one roof Charlotte Moore 2010

It only dawned on me relatively recently that when Milicent moved into Hancox she was only 20, and single.

Hancox: All under one roof Charlotte Moore 2010

Poor Milicent, I fear, has already fallen a sacrifice to the manoeuvrings of this mistaken mother, who congratulates herself on having so satisfactorily discharged her maternal duty, and hopes to do as well for Esther.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 2002

Milicent flew to thank me, overflowing with gratitude.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 2002

That gentleman came, as he said, to beg a holiday for me, that I might have a run in the park, this fine frosty morning, with Milicent and Esther and little Arthur, whom he had driven over to see me.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 2002

Mrs. Huntingdon expressed herself glad to see Milicent once more, and pleased to behold her so happy and well.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 2002

I was thunderstruck; but before I could recover from the shock sufficiently to demand an explanation, Milicent entered my room, as she frequently does when she is dressed before me; and she stayed with me till it was time to go down.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 2002

‘Now, Milicent, tell me what you were crying for.’

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 2002

We both relapsed into silent musing as we slowly proceeded up the walk; and I suppose Milicent, by a train of associations, was led to think of her sister.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 2002