The Lady Maid’s Bell

by

Edith Wharton

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Mrs. Railton Character Analysis

Mrs. Railton is Mrs. Brympton’s aunt and the person who convinces Hartley to take the job as Mrs. Brympton’s lady’s maid. Mrs. Brympton does her best to sell Hartley on the position—acknowledging that, while the house is gloomy, peace and fresh air will do Hartley good after her illness—but also admits that Mr. Brympton is a person best avoided.

Mrs. Railton Quotes in The Lady Maid’s Bell

The The Lady Maid’s Bell quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Railton or refer to Mrs. Railton. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Marital Conflict and Jealousy Theme Icon
).
Part 1 Quotes

Most of my money was gone, and after I’d boarded for two months, hanging about the employment agencies, and answering any advertisement that looked any way respectable, I pretty nearly lost heart, for fretting hadn’t made me fatter, and I didn’t see why my luck should ever turn. It did though—or so I thought at the time.

Related Characters: Hartley (speaker), Mrs. Railton
Page Number: 77
Explanation and Analysis:

My niece is an angel. Her former maid, who died last spring, had been with her twenty years and worshipped the ground she walked on. She’s a kind mistress to all, and where the mistress is kind, as you know, the servants are usually good-humoured, so you’ll probably get on well enough with the rest of the household. And you’re the very woman I want for my niece: quiet, well-mannered, and educated above your station.

Related Characters: Mrs. Railton (speaker), Hartley, Mrs. Brympton , Emma Saxon (The Ghost)
Page Number: 78
Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs. Brympton was lying down in her bedroom. Her lounge stood near the fire and beside it was a shaded lamp. She was a delicate-looking lady, but when she smiled I felt there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. She spoke very pleasantly, in a low voice, asking me my name and age and so on, and if I had everything I wanted, and if I wasn’t afraid of feeling lonely in the country.

“Not with you I wouldn’t be, madam,” I said, and the words surprised me when I’d spoken them, for I’m not an impulsive person; but it was just as if I’d thought aloud.

Related Characters: Hartley (speaker), Mrs. Brympton , Emma Saxon (The Ghost), Mrs. Railton
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mrs. Railton Quotes in The Lady Maid’s Bell

The The Lady Maid’s Bell quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Railton or refer to Mrs. Railton. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Marital Conflict and Jealousy Theme Icon
).
Part 1 Quotes

Most of my money was gone, and after I’d boarded for two months, hanging about the employment agencies, and answering any advertisement that looked any way respectable, I pretty nearly lost heart, for fretting hadn’t made me fatter, and I didn’t see why my luck should ever turn. It did though—or so I thought at the time.

Related Characters: Hartley (speaker), Mrs. Railton
Page Number: 77
Explanation and Analysis:

My niece is an angel. Her former maid, who died last spring, had been with her twenty years and worshipped the ground she walked on. She’s a kind mistress to all, and where the mistress is kind, as you know, the servants are usually good-humoured, so you’ll probably get on well enough with the rest of the household. And you’re the very woman I want for my niece: quiet, well-mannered, and educated above your station.

Related Characters: Mrs. Railton (speaker), Hartley, Mrs. Brympton , Emma Saxon (The Ghost)
Page Number: 78
Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs. Brympton was lying down in her bedroom. Her lounge stood near the fire and beside it was a shaded lamp. She was a delicate-looking lady, but when she smiled I felt there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her. She spoke very pleasantly, in a low voice, asking me my name and age and so on, and if I had everything I wanted, and if I wasn’t afraid of feeling lonely in the country.

“Not with you I wouldn’t be, madam,” I said, and the words surprised me when I’d spoken them, for I’m not an impulsive person; but it was just as if I’d thought aloud.

Related Characters: Hartley (speaker), Mrs. Brympton , Emma Saxon (The Ghost), Mrs. Railton
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis: