# XV: Milly’s Farewell explained — Uncle Silas

> Chapter companion for Uncle Silas by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

## What happens

Maud recovers from her fright and is comforted by Milly's company, but Uncle Silas pressures her to marry Dudley. Milly is sent away to a French school, and Maud is left alone at Bartram-Haugh.

## Themes in this chapter

### Isolation and Imprisonment

Maud feels trapped at Bartram-Haugh, and Milly's departure leaves her in a 'vale of tears' and 'solitude.'

### Deception and Appearance

Uncle Silas presents himself as a broken suppliant, but his manipulation and hidden motives are apparent.

### Family and Heredity

Uncle Silas appeals to family duty and the Ruthyn bloodline to pressure Maud into marrying Dudley.

## Character check-ins

### Maud Ruthyn

Maud is recovering from her ghostly fright and resists Uncle Silas's renewed suit for her to marry Dudley. She is devastated by Milly's departure.

### Uncle Silas

Uncle Silas pressures Maud to accept Dudley's proposal, pleading desperately and invoking his misery and the fate of the Ruthyn line.

### Milly Ruthyn

Milly is heartbroken to be sent away to a French school and bids a tearful farewell to Maud.

### Dudley Ruthyn

Dudley is the subject of Uncle Silas's suit; Maud finds him odious and refuses to marry him.

### Doctor Jolks

Doctor Jolks reassures Maud about her health and dismisses her ghostly experience.

### Mrs. Rusk

Mrs. Jolks accompanies Milly to London for her journey to France.

## Key lines

> I’m very miserable⁠—very nearly desperate. What remains for me⁠—what remains? Fortune has done her worst⁠—thrown in the dust, her wheels rolled over me; and the servile world, who follow her chariot like a mob, stamp upon the mangled wretch.

Uncle Silas claims he is utterly ruined and abandoned by fortune, and that the world has trampled him.

_Uncle Silas uses melodramatic language to evoke pity and manipulate Maud._

> Oh! Maud⁠—Maud darling, he’s going to send me away.

Milly cries out that her father is sending her away from Bartram.

_Milly's distress highlights her dependence on Maud and her fear of the unknown._

> I threw myself on my knees, and thanked Heaven for the firmness vouchsafed me; I could not believe it to have been my own.

Maud prays in gratitude for her strength to resist Uncle Silas, feeling it was divinely given.

_Maud's religious faith supports her defiance against her uncle's pressure._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xv-milly-s-farewell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uncle_silas_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters