Frightened Quote by Frances Hodgson Burnett
““There!” Ermengarde heard her say. “Take it and go home, Melchisedec! Go home to your wife!” Almost immediately Sara opened the door, and when she did so she found Ermengarde standing with alarmed eyes upon the threshold. “Who--who are you talking to, Sara?” she gasped out. Sara drew her in cautiously, but she looked as if something pleased and amused her. “You must promise not to be frightened--not to cream the least bit, or I can’t tell you,” she answered. Ermengarde felt almost inclined to scream on the spot, but managed to control herself. She looked all round the attic and saw no one. And yet Sara had certainly been speaking to someone. She thought of ghosts. “Is it--something that will frighten me?” she asked timorously. “Some people are afraid of them,” said Sara. “I was at first--but I am not now.” “Was it--a ghost?” quaked Ermengarde. “No,” said Sara, laughing. “It was my rat.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911
A child confronts imagined fears, discovering that perceived threats may be harmless or imagined.
In simple terms: Fear can be imagined and harmless.
Key Takeaway
Question what you fear before reacting.
Themes
fear
imagination
growth
Mood
curious
thoughtful
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- childhood
- mental health
- creative writing
- education
Key Concepts
psychology
storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- What imagined fears hold you back?
- How can you test the reality of a fear?
A Different Perspective
Fear may mask deeper issues needing attention.
