Question

What are mrs slater's reactions when she comes to know that her father is dead?

Answer 1

Mrs Slater's reactions after she comes to know about her father's assumed death are quite shocking. Only a heartless, self-righteous woman would behave the way she did. She was not sad at all at her loss. There were no tears in her eyes. She was far from real mourning. She was behaving as if her pet had died, not her father. She was concerned about appearances only. For example she asked Victoria to put on a white frock with black sash. She was so much worried about securing as many things belonging to her father as she could lay her hands on before her sister's arrival. She was least worried about calling a doctor to save her dying father.

Answer 2

The discovery of the shocking incident of the father's sudden demise a short while back could have broken Mrs Slater heart. However this mean and greedy daughter rather than being grief stricken started scheming  to Grab the Dead Man's belonging and to outshine her sister by being dressed in partial mourning