A wilful ward

"A Wilful Ward" by Ruth Lamb is a tale from the late 1800s where a young, wealthy girl named Kathleen Mountford struggles with the rigid rules set by society and by her deceased father, who forbids her from joining the local hunting events. Through talks with her aunt and memories of her mother's sad history, the story looks at the ideas of freedom, responsibility, and the tricky nature of love and wishes. Beginning on a gloomy November day, Kathleen shares her letdown about missing the well-known Hollingsby Hunt; her aunt, Mrs. Ellicott, pleads for kindness for the animals affected such as foxes, while Kathleen shows both a youthful energy and a rebellious spirit, wanting to escape her limitations. With the carriage ride to watch the event, there is a clear anticipation regarding her feelings for Captain Jack Torrance, a likeable yet problematic person in her life; this highlights Kathleen's inner battle between her father's wishes and her yearning for freedom.