The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

The novel opens with a vivid description of the Willoughby estate at dusk in winter. Inside, Bonnie Green is bouncing with excitement to meet her cousin, Sylvia, who is due to arrive by train from London to live with Bonnie while Bonnie’s parents are abroad. When she hears the doorbell, Bonnie races to the door and runs into Letitia Slighcarp, her father’s cousin, who has come to serve as guardian while Bonnie’s parents are away. Miss Slighcarp rebukes Bonnie for her carelessness, and Bonnie apologizes, showing Miss Slighcarp to her room.

When Miss Slighcarp enters, she sees Bonnie’s maid, Pattern, unpacking Miss Slighcarp’s things. She flies into a rage, hitting Pattern with a hairbrush. Bonnie is appalled and grabs the hairbrush, throwing it through a window, and dumps a pitcher of water on Miss Slighcarp. Bonnie instantly apologizes and leaves the room, coming back some time later to lead Miss Slighcarp to her parents. 

Although Miss Slighcarp complains about Bonnie’s behavior, Sir Willoughby laughs, arguing that “girls will be girls” (15) and saying that Miss Slighcarp will need to be patient with Bonnie. He gives Bonnie permission to go with the driver to the train station and retrieve Sylvia.