Enemies by Marian Isabel Hurrell
Marian Isabel Hurrell's Enemies centers on the widowed Elizabeth ("Lisa") Rose and her four children, Hugh, Frank, Ronald, and little Elsie, who live modestly at The Gables after being turned away by her estranged father-in-law, Sir Matthew Rose, when she seeks his help with the children's education. Hugh, indignant on his mother's behalf, secretly writes a reproachful letter to his grandfather, which their lodger, Miss Alicia Beaumont, posts along with her own letter pleading Mrs. Rose's cause to Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew refuses to respond, but his younger son Matthew, who lives with him at The Towers and has long regretted the family's estrangement, quietly arranges for his nephews to be educated anonymously at the County Grammar School. Meanwhile, York House next door is let to Mrs. Wilfrid Rose, the widow of Sir Matthew's second son who has come from America, and her children Reginald, Montague, and Gwennie. Discovering they are cousins, Hugh declares a "family feud," casting the newcomers as enemies in a mock "Wars of the Roses," assigning each Rose sibling an opposing cousin to "fight." Ronnie's assigned foe, Gwennie, quickly becomes his real friend despite the game, and gently questions the rightness of quarrelling, invoking notions of loving one's enemies and being a "soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ" as her nurse Rachel had taught her. At school, Reg, jealous of Hugh's ability and popularity, frames him by planting a stolen answer key in his desk, causing Hugh public disgrace with the headmaster, Dr. Willoughby. Frank defends Hugh's honor and is beaten in a fight with Monty as a result. Separately, at home, Elsie is badly injured when the garden swing rope snaps and she falls; it emerges the rope had been partly cut by Reg, who intended only for Hugh to fall while doing schoolwork there. Elsie's injury and uncertain recovery cast gloom over both households, during which she asks her mother to pray she be made a "soldier of Christ." Matthew Rose travels to Linwell against his father's wishes to see his brother Gilbert's family, arranges medical and financial help for Elsie and Mrs. Rose, and wins the trust of the children, including the guilt-ridden Reg, who eventually confesses his wrongdoing to Matthew, seeks forgiveness in prayer, and, with Matthew's guidance, goes with him to Dr. Willoughby to clear Hugh's name. Reg also confesses in a tearful letter to Aunt Elizabeth, who forgives him, invites him to tea, and reconciles him with her sons. Elsie slowly recovers, and Gwennie's peacemaking sentiment—that the cousins might be "friends" rather than enemies—brings an end to the mock war between the two branches of Roses. Sir Matthew, left alone and reflecting on his past harshness toward Gilbert and Wilfrid, undergoes a private change of heart and repentance. He subsequently writes to Elizabeth Rose inviting her and her children to live at The Towers, an offer she gratefully accepts despite some initial resentment from Mrs. Wilfrid. Hugh apologizes to his grandfather for his earlier letter and is warmly forgiven. The Wilfrid Rose family is invited to spend Christmas at The Towers, where the reunited family celebrates together in reconciliation and joy, with Sir Matthew delighting in his grandchildren and Elizabeth giving thanks for the way her hardships have been resolved through faith. Sir Matthew recites affectionate verses in Elizabeth's honor as the family sits together by the dining-room fire.
By Marian Isabel Hurrell · First published 1902 · Genre: Family Drama, Coming-of-Age, Christian Fiction · 11 chapters · 17,263 words
First lines
"DO you mean to say, mother, that he wouldn't see you?"
"Yes, Hugh, I was turned away like a stranger from your grandfather's door."
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Genres
- Family Drama — The narrative centers on familial conflict between cousins and reconciliation between estranged relatives, particularly the resolution of a multigenerational feud between the Rose families.
- Coming-of-Age — The story follows children's moral and emotional development from conflict-driven behavior toward maturity, forgiveness, and ethical understanding, particularly through Hugh, Frank, and Reg's journeys.
- Christian Fiction — Pervasive Christian theology frames the narrative: divine providence, redemption through confession, forgiveness doctrine, prayer as resolution, and the concept of spiritual warfare as moral development.
- Domestic Fiction — The plot unfolds entirely within household settings and centers on domestic relationships, child-rearing, household management, and the intimate life of families.
Tags
family reconciliation · estrangement · forgiveness · Christian faith · redemption · widowhood · poverty · social class · maternal love · childhood innocence · sibling rivalry · generational conflict
What this Textopian page supports
Enemies is listed on Textopian as a novella by Marian Isabel Hurrell, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Marian Isabel Hurrell
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Family Drama, Coming-of-Age, Christian Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Children's Literature
- Length: 17,263 words
- Structure: 11 chapters, 551 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Enemies by Marian Isabel Hurrell
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Contents
- Hugh's Wrath
- A Council of War
- Uncle Matthew's Generosity
- The Beginning of the Fray
- The House of York
- School Conflicts
- A Little Soldier
- A Terrible Fall
- Sir Matthew's Penitence
- A Friend Indeed
- Peace at Last