# Wyther Grange explained — Emily of New Moon

> Chapter companion for Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery.

## What happens

Emily receives an invitation from Great-Aunt Nancy Priest to visit Wyther Grange. After overhearing her aunts discuss the visit, she learns she will go. She is torn between leaving her friends and their playacting in Lofty John's bush and her curiosity about Wyther Grange. Ilse is jealous and warns Emily about the ghost and the witch-like Caroline Priest. Emily travels with Old Kelly, who gives her a hairbrush with a mirror and warns her about the Priests and Caroline.

## Themes in this chapter

### Imagination and Creativity

Emily and her friends immerse themselves in adapting and performing 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in Lofty John's bush, showcasing their creativity and love for storytelling.

### Family and Belonging

The chapter explores Emily's place within her family as her aunts deliberate over the visit to Great-Aunt Nancy, highlighting the dynamics of obligation and affection.

### Secrecy and Truth

Emily overhears her aunts' private conversation about the visit, and later keeps her playacting secret from Aunt Elizabeth, reflecting the tension between hidden activities and open communication.

## Character check-ins

### Emily Byrd Starr

Receives invitation to Wyther Grange, overhears aunts discussing the visit, and prepares to leave her friends and playacting.

### Aunt Elizabeth Murray

Discusses the visit with Aunt Laura, is skeptical of Great-Aunt Nancy's whims, and later falls ill, preventing her from driving Emily.

### Aunt Laura Murray

Supports Emily's visit to Great-Aunt Nancy and is privy to the playacting in Lofty John's bush.

### Ilse Burnley

Jealous of Emily's visit, warns her about the ghost at Wyther Grange and Caroline Priest being a witch, but later bids her goodbye.

### Old Kelly

Drives Emily to Priest Pond, gives her a hairbrush with a mirror, and warns her about the Priests and Caroline Priest.

### Great-Aunt Nancy Priest

Invites Emily to Wyther Grange; her whims and potential wealth are discussed by Aunt Elizabeth and Aunt Laura.

## Key lines

> Emily was imagining herself attending a drawing-room of Queen Victoria. Robed in white, with ostrich plumes, veil, and court train, she had just bent to kiss the Queen’s hand when Aunt Elizabeth’s voice shattered her dream as a pebble thrown into a pool scatters the fairy reflection.

Emily daydreams about being presented at Queen Victoria's court, but Aunt Elizabeth's voice abruptly interrupts her fantasy.

_This shows Emily's vivid imagination and how easily her reveries are broken by reality._

> When they entered Lofty John’s bush they went out of the realm of daylight and things known into the realm of twilight and mystery and enchantment.

Stepping into Lofty John's bush transports the children from the ordinary world into a magical, mysterious place.

_Highlights the transformative power of imagination and the special quality of their play space._

> Ilse chose to be disgruntled because Emily was going for a visit. In reality Ilse felt appalled at the lonely prospect of a month or more without her inseparable chum.

Ilse acted upset about Emily's visit, but she was actually dreading being alone without her best friend for a long time.

_Reveals Ilse's deeper feelings of loneliness beneath her outward jealousy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxii-wyther-grange
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters