Chapter 17
The Last Dance Before Separation
The next day I accompanied my uncle and aunt to a dinner-party at Mr. Wilmot’s. He had two ladies staying with him: his niece Annabella, a fine dashing girl, or rather young woman,—of some five-and-twenty, too great a flirt to be married, according to her own assertion, but greatly admired by the gentlemen, who universally pronounced her a splendid woman; and her gentle cousin, Milicent Hargrave, who had taken a violent fancy to me, mistaking me for something vastly better than I was. And I, in return, was very fond of her. I should entirely exclude poor Milicent in my…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Red Flags vs. Rescue Fantasies
Create two columns on paper. In the left column, list the objective facts about Huntingdon that Helen knows (his drinking, his friends, his reputation). In the right column, write how Helen reinterprets each fact to justify her feelings. Then reflect: when have you done this same mental gymnastics with someone in your own life?
Consider:
- •Notice how Helen turns every negative into a positive mission
- •Consider why opposition from her aunt makes Helen more determined, not less
- •Think about how feeling needed can be confused with being loved
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you wanted to 'save' someone. What did you hope would happen? What actually happened? What would you do differently now?
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