Question M

[Jonetta]

Emma Chandler used the alias "Chance" quite possibly as a poetic play on the term used for children born under her type circumstance. Had you heard the term before? Was it more benevolent to raise a child the way she had been as opposed to the normal plight afforded children of chance?

[Jonetta]

I was completely unfamiliar with the term before this story.

I'm torn about whether her upbringing was better, worse or the same as the plight of so many of these children. Most were relegated to poverty and bad existences if they survived to adulthood. But, growing up with no one to love you is painful.

[Veronica]

I had never heard the term before either. I think she was fortunate in that she had the benefit of an education, had a roof over her head, and had regular meals. She was never in danger of ending up as a prostitute or worse in order to scrape out an existence. Being singled out at school though and being made to feel like an unwanted outsider by the school mistress was unnecessarily cruel though. If she had the benefit of feeling like she had friends then maybe her life would not have been so sad. It takes more than material things to make a satisfying life.

Though I still think she would have wanted to find out who her parents were.

[Charlene]

I agree with you both. I had not heard the term, chance, with regard to "natural" children.


It was certainly a mixed blessing to be educated, housed and fed, with the exclusion from friendships deliberately by the teacher.

[Lauren]

I also hadn't heard the term.

Emma was unique in a way because she was given to a loving foster family, educated and given an inheritance. This was not the norm for the illegitimate children of the aristocracy.

It seemed ironic to me that Emily made her father promise to care for Emma's future and this not only resulted in her being taken from a family that loved her, but ultimately led to her death as well. Very sad!

The headmistress was such a nasty piece of work. Cruel and vicious toward an innocent child. It always angers me when people use religion as an excuse to abuse others.

[Veronica]

Lauren wrote: "It seemed ironic to me that Emily made her father promise to care for Emma's future and this not only resulted in her being taken from a family that loved her, but ultimately led to her death as well. Very sad!"

I hadn't thought of it that way. That does make it doubly sad.

[Mary Beth]

Lsuren I always like to see your insight of the story because it really enhances my reading experience. That is a really good point.

[Lauren]

Mary wrote: "Lsuren I always like to see your insight of the story because it really enhances my reading experience. That is a really good point."

Thanks Mary. I love these books and the little nuances that Harris includes in her stories and characters.

[Mary Beth]

Me too Lauren!

[Jasmine]

Yes, I really wished that Emma had been left with the foster family.

I had never heard that term for illegitimate children before either. I did have a weird association with the name Emma Chance though because I used to read a series where the heroine's name was Chance Falconer, and then here was a character named Chance in a book with Falcons in the title. :)