‘Sent to his Death! ' by Florence Marryat
The story revolves around the narrator, Dolly, who receives a letter from her old school friend, Bessie Maclean. Bessie and Dolly had been close friends, but their correspondence dwindled after marriage. Bessie, now a mother of six, invites Dolly to stay with her at Poplar Farm while her husband is away. Dolly, who has no children, agrees to visit, despite feeling a bit envious of Bessie's family life. Upon arriving at Poplar Farm, Dolly notices the gloomy atmosphere and the poor health of her godson, Richard. She is concerned about the baby's wet-nurse, Mrs. Graham, who appears mournful and is in deep mourning attire. Dolly suspects that Mrs. Graham's emotional state might be affecting the baby's health. Bessie confides in Dolly about the house being haunted, describing ghostly noises and apparitions that have frightened the household. Dolly, skeptical but curious, decides to investigate the mystery. She learns that several servants have witnessed the ghost, which appears as a figure in white with staring eyes. Dolly's interactions with Mrs. Graham reveal the nurse's personal grief over the loss of her own child and husband. Despite her sympathy for Mrs. Graham, Dolly is determined to address the baby's health issues and the haunting. The narrative explores themes of friendship, marriage, motherhood, and the supernatural, as Dolly navigates her feelings of envy, concern for her godson, and the eerie occurrences at Poplar Farm.
By Florence Marryat · First published 1868 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Supernatural Horror, Domestic Fiction · 5,462 words
First lines
I came down to breakfast one morning last autumn, and found a letter on the table from my old friend Bessie Maclean.
Bessie and I were girls at school together, and continued our intimacy after we left, until we married and went to different parts of the country. Marriage is a terrible breaker up of old ties; not only by reason of the separation which generally ensues, but because of the new duties it entails. We had both married the men of our hearts, however, and in comfortable circumstances; and so far all was well. But little by little our correspondence, which at first had been so voluminous and detailed, became scanty and irregular.
What this Textopian page supports
‘Sent to his Death! ' is listed on Textopian as a short story by Florence Marryat, dated 1868 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Florence Marryat
- Date: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Supernatural Horror, Domestic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Social Satire
- Length: 5,462 words
- Structure: 1 section, 96 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for ‘Sent to his Death! ' by Florence Marryat
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The narrative employs classic Gothic elements with a haunted estate, mysterious apparitions, and an eerie atmosphere.
- Supernatural Horror — The recurring ghostly sightings and unsettling sounds contribute to a pervasive sense of otherworldly dread.
- Domestic Fiction — The detailed focus on family dynamics, marital relations, and everyday social interactions is central to the plot.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and social customs reflect a past era, grounding the story in its historical context.
Tags
adventure · maritime · seafaring · historical · action · thriller · survival · destiny · betrayal · conflict · mystery · suspense