The travelling purse

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

On the morning of Alice’s departure, Mrs Latham laid a new cloak across the bed and placed a leather purse beside it. She had chosen the cloak herself, rejecting brown as too plain and green as unsuitable for a teacher. When Alice thanked her, Mrs Latham fastened the silver clasp at Alice’s throat and said that no niece of hers should arrive at the training college looking like a charity pupil. The wool was warm, although the collar pressed against Alice’s neck.

At breakfast, Alice mentioned that the train left at ten. Mrs Latham continued spreading marmalade upon her toast. The carriage, she said, had been ordered for eleven. Alice repeated the time, thinking her aunt had misunderstood. Mrs Latham then took an envelope from beneath the teapot. It was addressed to the college in her own firm handwriting.

She explained that she had written to decline the place. The city was unsuitable, the work exhausting, and Alice too inexperienced to judge what was best. Besides, Mrs Latham required a companion. Alice stared at the envelope and asked by what right the decision had been made for her. Her aunt pushed the purse across the table. There would be another like it every quarter, she promised, together with new dresses and a room of Alice’s own.

“After all these years,” Mrs Latham added, “I did not expect you to measure my kindness so narrowly.”

Alice unfastened the cloak. She folded it carefully rather than letting it fall, then set the purse on top. Mrs Latham reminded her that she had provided a home since Alice was eight years old. Alice replied that she had never forgotten it, but gratitude was not the same as obedience. Taking her old coat from the hall peg, she lifted her satchel.

For a moment, Mrs Latham remained between Alice and the front door. Then she moved aside. She told Alice to send word when she had come to her senses. Alice answered that she would write when she reached the college. The door closed quietly behind her. Mrs Latham stood with one hand upon the new cloak, listening until Alice’s footsteps could no longer be heard.

“The writer suggests that Mrs Latham uses kindness to make Alice feel she has no right to choose for herself.”

Evaluate how successfully the writer presents this idea. Support your judgement with detailed references to the passage.