1930: The Mallard Women, From the Introduction
Arthur Frederick Blandy, D.Phil. (Syd.), sometime Fellow in Genealogical Studies
It is with the greatest respect, albeit tinged with an unavoidable sense of astonishment, that I undertake to present a brief account of the three Mallard sisters: Euphemia, Elspeth and Hermione. Having served the family for many years, and having observed these ladies from the privileged yet discreet vantage point of a long-time household servant, it seems a matter of simple inevitability that each was destined to carve a distinct and rather singular role within the grand tapestry of the Mallard line.
Miss Euphemia, the eldest, impressed all with her formidable intellect and a taste for the finer arts and extensive travel that would do credit to any member of the aristocracy. She chose a life unencumbered by matrimonial fetters, a position which—though admirable—did little to soften the sharp edge of her independence. Miss Elspeth, quieter yet no less fierce in her intellectual pursuits, directed her formidable powers toward the study of social control, religion, and politics—a scholarly path that no doubt intimidated many a less prepared gentleman. Lastly, Miss Hermione, whose intellect remains undoubted, grounds herself in the reality of rural life, managing her twenty thousand acres in Surrey with a practical acumen that is as impressive as it is rare among ladies of her standing.
In an amusing and somewhat unfortunate commonality, both Miss Elspeth and Miss Hermione chose to marry—each to gentlemen who, it would seem, were somewhat taken aback by the superior airs and intellects of their wives, faintly frightened, one might say, by such formidable partners. As for the present humble writer, ever mindful not to offend, I find that in attempting to capture their characters, I may indeed have done so to the dismay of every party concerned.
Thus, it begs the question: were these roles assigned by fate or design? And was there, perhaps, a touch of divine comedy in the manner by which these Mallard women navigated the expectations of their rank? Whatever the answer, their stories remain as compelling as any novel—if only because they are quite real.
This account, written with no small measure of exasperated admiration, is dedicated to those who value the complicating virtues of intellect and independence in women—an inconvenient but undeniably fascinating family trait.
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