Uncle Silas · Chapter
A Walk in the Wood explained
Madame de la Rougierre manipulates Maud into visiting the family vault, where she feigns solemnity but mocks Maud's grief.
What happens
Madame de la Rougierre manipulates Maud into visiting the family vault, where she feigns solemnity but mocks Maud's grief. She then interrogates Maud about her father's will, physically twisting her finger when Maud refuses to answer. Later, Maud witnesses Madame eavesdropping at her father's study and learns of a conflict between Madame and Mrs. Rusk over a brandy-bottle, revealing Madame's deceitful and predatory nature.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Madame feigns sympathy at the vault while secretly mocking Maud, and later pretends friendship while prying into the will.
Wealth and Inheritance
Madame's obsessive questioning about Austin Ruthyn's will highlights the central role of inheritance in the plot.
Gothic Atmosphere and Fear
The dark, isolated wood and family vault, along with Madame's ghost stories, create a gothic mood of dread.
Characters to notice
- Maud Ruthyn
Maud is coerced into visiting the vault and questioned about her father's will; she feels frightened and disgusted by Madame's behavior.
- Madame de la Rougierre
Madame manipulates Maud, tortures her for information about the will, and is caught eavesdropping; she also wins a dispute with Mrs. Rusk over brandy.
- Austin Ruthyn
Maud's father is mentioned as the subject of Madame's inquiries about his will and health; he adjudicates the brandy dispute.
- Mrs. Rusk
Mrs. Rusk catches Anne Wixted with brandy for Madame and confronts the Master, but is overruled.
- Anne Wixted
Anne is the under-chambermaid who procures brandy for Madame and is caught by Mrs. Rusk.
- Doctor Bryerly
Maud mentions Dr. Bryerly as a Swedenborgian doctor who visited her father, but not as a physician.
Key passages
“I was startled, for Madame was grimacing after me with a vile derisive distortion. She pretended to be seized with a fit of coughing. But it would not do: she saw that I had detected her, and she laughed aloud.”
Maud catches Madame making a mocking face behind her back, which Madame tries to cover up with a fake cough before laughing openly.
This reveals Madame's duplicity and contempt for Maud's grief.
“With which words she seized that joint, and laughing spitefully, she twisted it suddenly back. I screamed while she continued to laugh.”
Madame grabs Maud's finger and twists it painfully, laughing as Maud screams, to force her to reveal information about the will.
Demonstrates Madame's physical cruelty and manipulative tactics.
“From the corner of the gallery I one day saw her, when she thought I was out and all quiet, with her ear at the keyhole of papa's study... Her great mouth was open, and her eyes absolutely goggled with eagerness. She was devouring all that was passing there.”
Maud spies Madame eavesdropping at her father's study door, her face distorted with greedy curiosity.
Highlights Madame's invasive and predatory interest in Maud's family affairs.