The Daughters of the Late Colonel

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The Daughters of the Late Colonel is a 1921 short story by Katherine Mansfield. It was first published in the London Mercury in May 1921, and later reprinted in The Garden Party and Other Stories.^[1]

1 Plot summary
2 Characters
3 Major themes
4 Literary significance
5 Footnotes
6 External links

[edit] Plot summary

In bed, Constantia suggests giving their late father's top hat to the porter; Josephine spurns the idea. After briefly giving a thought to letters to be sent to Ceylon, they hear a noise coming from a mouse, prompting Constantia to think of how sad it must be for it, as there is no crumbs around.

Nurse Andrews, whom they invited to stay for a week after their father died, is annoying them for overeating.

III

The last time Josephine and Constantia saw their father, Nurse Andrews stayed by the bedside. The father only opened one eye, and closed it again.

Mr Farolles, a clergyman, visits them and suggests they confess, to feel better; they prefer to do it later. He will arrange the funeral.

At the funeral, Josephine feels their father wouldn't have been content with the funeral - too expensive.

In the morning, they go into their father's room to sort out his stuff.

VII

They will ask Kate to bring them hot water. They decide to send their father's watch to their brother Benny, though they are concerned about a native bringing it to him - there is no post service there.

VIII

They think of giving the watch to their nephew Cyril instead. He comes over for tea, and they talk about his own father, who liked meringues.

Kate asks boldly if they want their fish fried or boiled, for dinner. Alone with Constantine, Josephine suggests firing Kate.

They are unsure about whether Kate is reliable or not, and whether she spies on the things inside their drawers or not.

XII

They hear a barrel organ, and realise they don't have to run down to stop it, because their father isn't there to complain any more. Then they wonder if things would be different if their mother were still alive - she died in Ceylon, when they were little. They've never come across men, except perhaps in Eastbourne; finally, they cannot remember what they wanted to say.