---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A second marriage, a new mistress…"
description: "\"“A second marriage, a new mistress suddenly brought to an established home, rarely gives pleasure to its inmates. This applies in an especial degree to..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/ellen-wood-78400_marriage_a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenl_2884430.jpg"
---

#  A second marriage, a new mistress suddenly brought to an…

![“A second marriage, a new mistress suddenly brought to an established home, rarely gives pleasure to its inmates. This applies in an especial degree to its women-servants. Whatever the cause may be, it is an indisputable fact, that the second marriage of a master is rarely liked, and the new bride…” quote by Ellen Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/ellen-wood-78400_marriage_a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenl_2884430.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/ellen-wood-78400_marriage_a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenl_2884430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/ellen-wood-78400_marriage_a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenl_2884430.jpg)

> ““A second marriage, a new mistress suddenly brought to an established home, rarely gives pleasure to its inmates. This applies in an especial degree to its women-servants. Whatever the cause may be, it is an indisputable fact, that the second marriage of a master is rarely liked, and the new bride is regarded with anything but love. The case was such at the Hall. Tritton, the housekeeper, had lived in the family of Miss Carleton before she was Mrs. St. John; had come with her to the Hall when she married; and it was only natural, perhaps, that she should look upon her successor somewhat in the light of an usurper.””

[Ellen Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wood/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Second marriages disrupt household dynamics, often causing resentment, especially among servants who view the new wife as an intruder.

**In simple terms:** New wives can cause tension in homes.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address household feelings during transitions.

Themes

family dynamics marriage servant relations jealousy power shifts

Mood

tension uncertainty reflective

Type

advice social commentary

When to use this quote

- blended families
- household management
- servant employment
- marriage counseling

Key Concepts

social hierarchy emotional insecurity adaptation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can families ease the transition for all members?
- What strategies help servants feel respected?

A Different Perspective

Assumes all second marriages cause strife, ignoring positive outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bride Regarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bride-regarded-4016630/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mistress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistress/) [New Mistress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-mistress-3784082/) [Second marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-marriage/) [Tritton Housekeeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tritton-housekeeper-4016631/)

## Related quotes

> [Behold your new mistress, my wife," he pronounced, "and know that when she bids you, I have bidden you. What service you render her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/behold-your-new-mistress-my-wife-he-pronounced-and-know-that-when-she/)

[Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/)

> [“He nodded. “From the first moment I saw you, I wanted you. It was the night of the Nethercourt gathering three years ago. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-michaels/he-nodded-from-the-first-moment-i-saw-you-i-wanted-you-it-was-the/)

[Jess Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-michaels/)

> [Next to coming to a good understanding with a new mistress, I love a quarrel with an old one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-etherege/next-to-coming-to-a-good-understanding-with-a-new-mistress-i-love-a/)

[George Etherege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-etherege/)

> [Next to the pleasure of finding a new mistress is that of being rid of an old one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/next-to-the-pleasure-of-finding-a-new-mistress-is-that-of-being-rid/)

[William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/)

> [“My new mistress proved to be all she appeared when I first met her at the door,—a woman of the kindest heart and finest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/my-new-mistress-proved-to-be-all-she-appeared-when-i-first-met-her-at/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [“I know I'm supposed to be the new Mistress of Revels! But that doesn't mean I have pockets full of muffins!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mantchev/i-know-i-m-supposed-to-be-the-new-mistress-of-revels-but-that-doesn-t/)

[Lisa Mantchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mantchev/)

> [Disagreeable suspicions are usually the fruits of a second marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/disagreeable-suspicions-are-usually-the-fruits-of-a-second-marriage/)

[Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/)

> [As somebody who, in my second marriage, insisted on a prenuptial agreement, I can also testify that sometimes it is an act of love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/as-somebody-who-in-my-second-marriage-insisted-on-a-prenuptial/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I am happy. I have a wonderful marriage. I was in a not-great second marriage for 20 years, then I fell in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-osmond/i-am-happy-i-have-a-wonderful-marriage-i-was-in-a-not-great-second/)

[Marie Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-osmond/)

> [A bride at her second marriage does not wear a veil. She wants to see what she is getting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/a-bride-at-her-second-marriage-does-not-wear-a-veil-she-wants-to-see/)

[Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/)

> [Well, you know, the definition of second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/well-you-know-the-definition-of-second-marriage-is-the-triumph-of/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [When widows exclaim loudly against second marriages, I would always lay a wager than the man, If not the wedding day, is absolutely fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/when-widows-exclaim-loudly-against-second-marriages-i-would-always/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [I lost my second marriage because of drinking, and I loved the woman very much. But I thought I needed booze to write. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-lost-my-second-marriage-because-of-drinking-and-i-loved-the-woman/)

[Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/)

> [We're fortunate in my family because we really have three families: my brother, David, and me; the two boys, Cooper and Marston, from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/we-re-fortunate-in-my-family-because-we-really-have-three-families-my/)

[Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/)

> [HUSBAND, PERFECT, is, in a man's second marriage, her first mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/husband-perfect-is-in-a-man-s-second-marriage-her-first-mate/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

## More by Ellen Wood

> [We are truly indefatigable in providing for the needs of the body, but we starve the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wood/we-are-truly-indefatigable-in-providing-for-the-needs-of-the-body-but/)

[Ellen Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wood/)

> [“Mr St. John entered the little telegraph office, gave in his message, and was exchanging a few words with the clerk, when a female…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wood/mr-st-john-entered-the-little-telegraph-office-gave-in-his-message/)

[Ellen Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wood/)

[Explore all 3 Ellen Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wood/)

## More Marriage quotes

> [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/)

[John Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whiting/)

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/)

[Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/)

> [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/)

[James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/)

> [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [“Take an interest in his appearance. Keeping his clothes in order is your job; encouraging him to look his best, and admiring him when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-baker/take-an-interest-in-his-appearance-keeping-his-clothes-in-order-is/)

[Ellen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-baker/)

> [Females always say, you can't turn a hoe into a house wife, but steady be trying to turn a dog into a faithful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/females-always-say-you-can-t-turn-a-hoe-into-a-house-wife-but-steady/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/)

[William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/)

> [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/)

[Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/)

> [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/)

[Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/)

> [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [“His own parents, the estimable Gilchrists, a couple who had taken the 'till death' part of their own wedding vows so seriously he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-blake/his-own-parents-the-estimable-gilchrists-a-couple-who-had-taken-the/)

[Ally Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-blake/)

[Browse all 31,920 Marriage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“A second marriage, a new mistress suddenly brought to an established home, rarely gives pleasure to its inmates. This applies in an especial degree to its women-servants. Whatever the cause may be, it is an indisputable fact, that the second marriage of a master is rarely liked, and the new bride is regarded with anything but love. The case was such at the Hall. Tritton, the housekeeper, had lived in the family of Miss Carleton before she was Mrs. St. John; had come with her to the Hall when she married; and it was only natural, perhaps, that she should look upon her successor somewhat in the light of an usurper.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ellen Wood"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wood/a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenly-brought-to-an-established/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Marriage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wood/a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenly-brought-to-an-established/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/ellen-wood-78400_marriage_a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenl_2884430.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/ellen-wood-78400_marriage_a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenl_2884430.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/ellen-wood-78400_marriage_a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenl_2884430.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A second marriage, a new mistress suddenly brought to an established home, rarely gives pleasure to its…” — Ellen Wood",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ellen Wood",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wood/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“A second marriage, a new mistress...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wood/a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenly-brought-to-an-established/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wood/a-second-marriage-a-new-mistress-suddenly-brought-to-an-established/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
