Today's offering is a character from a 19th century novel.
A bonus point for the novel and author (that'll challenge you 
) and a super bonus point if you can tell me the occupation of the author's father.
Hi Pen,
I cannot work out the relevance of the first picture, so I am only half sure I have the right answer.
Because I am aware of the sensibilities of those who are annoyed at people who give away clues to the answers, I will pass on the bonus points but I will have a crack at describing your character and earning the super bonus point.
She is a rational thinker, who restrains her emotions, even when she suffers great hardship. She is polite and always tries to say the right thing when around company. She often has to correct or apologize to people for her sister, who is less concerned with manners and propriety. She is in love with a guy but tries to ignore or put aside these feelings for much of the novel, as she believes him to be taken by another woman. At the end of the novel, she finally lets some of her emotions out: when the guy tells her that he has not married the other woman, she bursts out into tears. After marrying the guy, she settles down into a comfortable, happy life. Presumably, they live happily ever after.
I believe the Author’s father was an Anglican clergyman, who raised his family in his parsonage. Like his wife, Cassandra, he was descended from landed gentry that had become involved in manufacturing with the coming of the Industrial Revolution. He supplemented his income as a rector with farming and with tutoring boys who boarded with the family. The family was associated with the Tories and maintained a sympathy for the Stuart succession rather than the Hanoverian. I think you used the residence in one of your rebuses back in the dim distant past.
Speaking of memory, I ought to tell you why I am so serious about learning a language. I am conscious of the fact that I am not as sharp as I used to think I was. I recently read this
The theory that learning a second language can help ward off or delay dementia is rooted in the concept of cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to improvise and find alternative ways of getting a job done. Bilingualism is believed to enhance this reserve because it involves constant mental juggling between two languages, which strengthens the brain’s executive control system. This system is responsible for higher-level cognitive functions such as problem-solving, multitasking, and focusing attention.
Research has shown that bilingual individuals tend to experience the onset of dementia symptoms later than monolingual individuals. For instance, a study by York University found that bilingualism can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms by several years. The mental exercise involved in using multiple languages is thought to build up a reserve of neural connections, making the brain more resilient to the damage caused by dementia. However, it’s important to note that while bilingualism may delay the onset of symptoms, it does not prevent the disease itself.
I have had a number of friends and acquaintances who have had dementia or been suspected as having early onset dementia. So I decided it couldn’t hurt to take out a bit of insurance.
