Mistress Pat

Mistress Pat

First edition
Author Lucy Maud Montgomery
Country Canada
Language English
Genre Children's novel
Publisher McClelland & Stewart
Publication date
 1935
Media type Print (Paperback, Hardcover)
Preceded by Pat of Silver Bush

Mistress Pat (1935) is a novel written by L. M. Montgomery. It is the sequel to Pat of Silver Bush, and describes Patricia Gardiner's life in her twenties and early thirties, during which she remains unmarried and takes care of her beloved home, Silver Bush, on Prince Edward Island.

Pat hates change as much as ever, and finds in Silver Bush a refuge where she is somewhat shielded from it, but changes happen nevertheless. In the course of eleven years, new servants, new neighbors and new lovers come and go. When Sid marries the insipid May Binnie, who moves in with the family at Silver Bush, life there is no longer as pleasant as before, but Pat clings to her love of home desperately.

Pat often wonders whether anything in life, like marriage or children, could be worth leaving Silver Bush behind. She comes close to becoming engaged to Donald Holmes, and later does become engaged to David Kirk, a widower who lives at the Long House (Bets Wilcox's old home) with his sister Suzanne. David eventually breaks the engagement and states (to Pat's protestations) that Hilary Gordon, who has been away studying architecture, is the reason he will never have Pat's affections.

When their much-loved live-in housekeeper Judy Plum dies, Pat feels more alone than ever at Silver Bush. When Silver Bush ultimately burns down, Pat must resign herself to living elsewhere. One night, as Pat is looking over the burned remains of Silver Bush, Hilary finally returns to the Island to claim Pat with a kiss.

Characters

Patricia (Pat) Gardiner: The heroine of the novel. Loyal and loving, and overly sensitive to any perceived slight to her home. She believes nothing can ever take her away from Silver Bush and that love is something she is not suited for.

Sid Gardiner: Pat's older brother, who marries Pat's hated childhood acquaintance May Binnie, to the consternation of his family.

Rachel Gardiner (called "Cuddles" and later "Rae"): Pat's youngest sister, who attends Queen's Academy to get a teacher's license, and continues to share Pat's room at Silver Bush until her marriage to Brook Hamilton. She and Pat are very close.

May Binnie: A local girl who Pat has never liked, but who marries Sid and moves into Silver Bush.

Long Alec Gardiner: The father of all the Gardiner children.

Mrs. Gardiner: The mother of all the Gardiner children. Her health steadily improves after an operation at the conclusion of the previous novel.

Judy Plum: The family's aging, live-in housekeeper who has been at Silver Bush for years.

Josiah Tillytuck: The family's new hired man, who fits right in at Silver Bush. He plays the fiddle and tells outrageous stories, much to the consternation of Judy Plum, though she holds him in enough affection to make him his favorite treats.

David Kirk: A widower, older than Pat, who buys the Long House (the former home of Pat's deceased best friend, Bets Wilcox) and comes to live there with his sister Suzanne. He and Pat become close friends and she enjoys his company and conversation, to the point that they become engaged, but he ultimately breaks the engagement.

Suzanne Kirk: She comes to live at the Long House to keep house for her brother David. She and Pat eventually become close friends.

Hilary "Jingle" Gordon: Pat's childhood friend, who for the majority of the novel is studying architecture at college and overseas. He loves Pat but Pat insists she feels he is like a brother to her. At the end of the novel, Pat realizes her feelings for him and they become engaged.

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