The Getting of Wisdom · Chapter
II explained
On the morning of her departure for boarding school, Laura awakens and deliberately avoids a private conversation with her mother, fearing another uncomfortable talk about growing up.
What happens
On the morning of her departure for boarding school, Laura awakens and deliberately avoids a private conversation with her mother, fearing another uncomfortable talk about growing up. She hides in the summerhouse until called for breakfast. Her mother, anxious and stern, prepares sandwiches for the journey while Sarah and the younger children fuss over Laura. After a tense breakfast, Laura says goodbye to her beloved garden, pets, and siblings, extracting promises from them to care for her animals. The chapter ends with Laura dressing hastily as the coach arrives.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Laura reaches an emotional and psychological peak of isolation and humiliation as she is publicly mocked, aban…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Family and Maternal Expectations
Mother's anxiety and sternness toward Laura, her worry about managing her, and the tension between them highlight the theme of maternal expectations and family duty.
- Imagination vs. Harsh Reality
Laura's imaginative farewells to the garden (playing Crusoe, Juliet) contrast with the harsh reality of leaving home and facing an uncertain school life.
Characters to notice
- Laura Rambotham
Awakens on her last morning at home, avoids her mother's talk, hides in the summerhouse, says goodbye to the garden and pets, and prepares to leave for school.
- Pin
Wakes Laura, is teased about her legs, worries about Laura not getting dinner, and helps with the farewells.
- Mother
Anxious and stern, she cuts sandwiches for Laura's journey, expresses worry about Laura's disobedience, and tries to have a serious talk with her.
- Sarah
Ropes Laura's trunk, scolds and comforts, prepares the bath for Pin, and helps with the morning chaos.
- Leppie
One of the younger children; questions Laura about how she will send the devil if she is not there.
- Little Frank
Mentioned as having trod on Maggy the magpie; part of the group of younger children.
Key passages
“I feel more troubled about you than I can say, Laura. I don't know how you'll ever get on in life—you're so disobedient and self-willed.”
Mother expresses deep concern that Laura's stubbornness will hinder her future success.
Reveals Mother's anxiety and the conflict between her expectations and Laura's independence.
“If you don't look well after Maggy and the bunnies, I don't know what I'll do. ...if you let them die, I don't know what I'll do to you! Yes, I do: I'll send the devil to you at night when the room's dark, before you go to sleep.”
Laura threatens her younger siblings with supernatural punishment if they neglect her pets.
Shows Laura's intense attachment to her animals and her use of imaginative threats to assert control.
