Who is Mrs Dorling? Do you justify her behaviour?
Mrs Dorling is some acquaintance of Mrs S, the mother of the narrator. She exploits Mrs S’s fears of the war. She herself insists that Mrs S should hand over all her ‘nice things’ to her. They will remain safe even if they have to leave the place during the war. No, her behaviour can’t be justified. Neither does she entertain nor help the narrator. She even refuses to recognise her. She makes no effort to return those articles to the girl which once belonged to her mother.
What makes the narrator go to 46, Marconi Street?
The war proves to be a personal disaster for the narrator. Her mother dies. Before leaving the town her mother hands over all her valuable articles to Mrs Dorling. She assures to keep them in safe custody. Before dying the mother gives the address of Mrs Dorling to her daughter. The narrator goes there in search of her mother’s belongings and to recover them from Mrs Dorling.
What change did the narrator notice in her rooms when she was home for a few days?
It was the first half of the war. The narrator was home for a few days. One thing struck her immediately. Something or the other about the rooms had changed. Various things were missing. Her mother was surprised that her daughter had noticed it so quickly. Then her mother told her about Mrs Dorling. She also told the girl that Mrs Dorling would keep all her belongings safe in her hands during the war.
Why was the narrator ‘not entirely convinced’ by the assurance given by Mrs
Dorling to her mother for saving all her ‘nice things’?
Mrs Dorling had given an assurance to Mrs S. She told her that all her ‘nice things would remain intact in her safe hands. Even if they had to leave the place during the war, they would lose nothing. So Mrs Dorling took all the silver ware, vases and antique plates with her. But the narrator didn’t seem to be ‘entirely convinced’. She had no faith in Mrs Dorling. She wanted a written agreement from Mrs Dorling. She was rebuked and silenced by her unsuspecting mother.
Describe Mrs S, the mother of the narrator. Was she a victim of the war?
Mrs S was the mother of the narrator. The war in Holland proved to be a disaster for her. She was forced to part with all her precious and nice belongings. Mrs Dorling exploited her fear. She assured her that all things would be in her safe hands. But neither Mrs S nor her daughter ever received them again. The poor lady couldn’t survive the war.
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