The Woman of Colour: A Tale

Olivia assures Mrs. Milbanke that she has not forgotten the Honeywoods, and while she is eagerly awaiting a letter from Mrs. Honeywood, she is worried that she will never see either of them again.

Olivia acknowledges that she probably writes about Letitia in very harsh terms, but adds that she must write honestly about what she sees and experiences. She has noticed that Augustus dislikes Letitia, although he is polite to her on the surface. Olivia and Augustus often walk together in the nearby countryside, and Olivia believes that Letitia, who seems chronically lazy, would never engage in such an activity. Olivia herself loves physical activity and sees it as beneficial to both her body and her mind. She also admits that although she can tell Augustus does not like Letitia, she can discern little else about his personality, as he is especially quiet around her, almost uncommunicative.

Olivia, grateful for her religious beliefs, prays that God will support her through her impending trials. She is full of conflicting emotions and cannot foresee the future, especially since no one has ever treated her as badly as Letitia has and she has no way of learning Augustus’s real feelings about her. However, she does appreciate that in England, Christianity is highly valued and its rituals are always properly performed.