Uncle Silas · Chapter
XIX: Au Revoir explained
Maud's father reveals his plan to clear the Ruthyn family name from the slander surrounding Uncle Silas, asking Maud to make a sacrifice and promising to invite Lady Knollys for a visit.
What happens
Maud's father reveals his plan to clear the Ruthyn family name from the slander surrounding Uncle Silas, asking Maud to make a sacrifice and promising to invite Lady Knollys for a visit. Later, Maud attempts to avoid Madame de la Rougierre on her departure day, but Madame confronts her in a secluded wood, delivering a veiled threat and promising to remember Maud and watch her from afar.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Heredity
Austin Ruthyn's passionate speech about clearing the family name and the 'sacred' heritage of an ancient family underscores the theme of family honor and hereditary duty.
Deception and Appearance
Madame de la Rougierre's farewell is laced with false affection and veiled threats, highlighting the theme of deception and the gap between appearance and reality.
Isolation and Imprisonment
Maud's solitary walk in the secluded wood and her father's solitary habits reinforce the theme of isolation, while Madame's threat to watch her from afar suggests a form of psychological imprisonment.
Characters to notice
- Maud Ruthyn
Maud is the narrator and protagonist; she agrees to her father's plan to clear the family name and later tries to avoid Madame de la Rougierre, only to be confronted and threatened by her.
- Austin Ruthyn
Maud's father, who speaks passionately about vindicating the Ruthyn name and reveals his distrust of Uncle Silas's passivity; he extracts a promise from Maud not to discuss the conversation with Lady Knollys.
- Madame de la Rougierre
Madame departs from Knowl but intercepts Maud in the woods, delivering a sinister farewell and threatening to remember and watch Maud from afar.
- Lady Knollys
Mentioned as the person Austin Ruthyn plans to invite for a visit to advise Maud; Maud is forbidden to discuss the conversation with her.
- Mrs. Rusk
Mrs. Rusk is mentioned as having warned Maud that Madame 'did not like a bone in my skin.'
Key passages
“I have written to Monica: in a matter of detail she is competent to advise; perhaps she will come here for a short visit.”
Austin Ruthyn tells Maud he has invited Lady Knollys to visit because she can give practical advice.
This sets up Lady Knollys' impending visit and her role as a source of counsel.
“You are worthy of your blood, Maud Ruthyn.”
Austin Ruthyn praises Maud for her willingness to sacrifice for the family name.
This reinforces the theme of family and heredity, linking Maud's worth to her lineage.
“I will never cease to think of you, and of some way to recompense the kindness you ’av shown for poor Madame.”
Madame de la Rougierre threatens Maud with future retaliation, disguised as gratitude.
This highlights the theme of deception and foreshadows Madame's continued influence.