# Hortense Dunton — Bertram Cope’s Year character guide > Hortense Dunton in Bertram Cope’s Year by Henry Blake Fuller. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Hortense, dear Hortense **First appearance:** 0000-i-cope-at-a-college-tea ## Snapshot A well-connected young woman whose silent scorn for the impecunious Cope masks her own provincial anxieties about family, money, and social arrival. ## Who they are Hortense moves through Churchton society armed with irony and a keen eye for the difference between the staid older generation and the brilliant younger one. Her contempt for Cope becomes boundless once a dashing, well-connected correspondent from Nashville enters her orbit, revealing how tightly she ties worth to pedigree and purse. She matters because her judgments expose the social calculations that quietly shape the circle around Cope. ## Relationships ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _romantic_ Hortense Dunton is romantically attracted to Bertram Cope, but he remains emotionally distant and evasive. ### [Medora Phillips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/medora_phillips) _social_ Hortense Dunton and Medora Phillips move in the same social circles, with Phillips acting as a hostess and matchmaker. ### [Basil Randolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/basil_randolph) _social_ Basil Randolph and Hortense Dunton are social acquaintances, with Randolph sometimes using her to get closer to Cope. ### [Carolyn Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/carolyn_thorpe) _rivalry_ Carolyn Thorpe and Hortense Dunton are romantic rivals, both vying for Bertram Cope's attention. ### [Amy Leffingwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/amy_leffingwell) _friendship_ Amy Leffingwell and Hortense Dunton are friends, though their shared interest in Cope creates underlying tension. ### [Medora Phillips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/medora_phillips) _social_ Hortense Dunton and Medora Phillips move in the same social circles, with Phillips acting as a hostess and matchmaker. ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _romantic_ Hortense Dunton is romantically attracted to Bertram Cope, but he remains emotionally distant and evasive. ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _romantic_ Hortense Dunton is romantically attracted to Bertram Cope, but he remains emotionally distant and evasive. ### [Basil Randolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/basil_randolph) _social_ Basil Randolph and Hortense Dunton are social acquaintances, with Randolph sometimes using her to get closer to Cope. ### [Medora Phillips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/medora_phillips) _social_ Hortense Dunton and Medora Phillips move in the same social circles, with Phillips acting as a hostess and matchmaker. ### [Basil Randolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/basil_randolph) _social_ Basil Randolph and Hortense Dunton are social acquaintances, with Randolph sometimes using her to get closer to Cope. ### [Amy Leffingwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/amy_leffingwell) _friendship_ Amy Leffingwell and Hortense Dunton are friends, though their shared interest in Cope creates underlying tension. ## In the story ### [II: Cope Makes a Sunday Afternoon Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/ii-cope-makes-a-sunday-afternoon-call) Mentioned as one of the girls; paints. ### [III: Cope Is "Entertained"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/iii-cope-is-entertained) Painted Mrs. Phillips' portrait; makes a critical remark about Cope's singing. ### [VI: Cope Dines—and Tells About It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/vi-cope-dines-and-tells-about-it) One of the three girls living in Mrs. Phillips' house; an artist who paints portraits. ### [X: Cope at His House Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/x-cope-at-his-house-party) Hortense is present to make color-notes of the landscape and mutters a comment about Cope's suggestion of 'Darby and Joan' for the trees. ### [XI: Cope Enlivens the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xi-cope-enlivens-the-country) Makes color-notes on the beach and shows signs of discontent. ### [XIII: Cope Dines Again—and Stays After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xiii-cope-dines-again-and-stays-after) Details the events of the previous evening to Joe Foster, with a satirical tone. ### [Cope Makes an Evasion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xiv-cope-makes-an-evasion) Mentioned as having fainted the morning after the dinner, according to Foster. ### [XVII: Cope Among Crosscurrents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xvii-cope-among-crosscurrents) Gives Amy impatient, half-angry glares and makes stinging observations about Cope at breakfast. ### [XVIII: Cope at the Call of Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xviii-cope-at-the-call-of-duty) Sits silent and watchful; confronts Cope about ignoring her; remains behind the lampshade after the music. ### [XIX: Cope Finds Himself Committed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xix-cope-finds-himself-committed) Secretly paints a portrait-sketch of Cope, imagining a bold presentation, and despises herself for her interest. ### [XXIV: Cope in Danger Anew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxiv-cope-in-danger-anew) Reveals a portrait of Cope she has painted, invites him to her studio for final touches, and shows initiative in her pursuit of him. ### [XXV: Cope in Double Danger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxv-cope-in-double-danger) Has finally taken a studio for portraits; is painting Cope's picture, though progress has been slow. ### [XXVI: Cope as a Go-Between](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxvi-cope-as-a-go-between) Frustrated by delays in painting Cope; her aunt Medora is vexed and considers sending her away. ### [XXVII: Cope Escapes a Snare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxvii-cope-escapes-a-snare) Emotionally volatile during the sitting; confesses her unrequited feelings for Cope and angrily predicts the end of his friendship with Lemoyne. ### [Cope Absent from a Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxviii-cope-absent-from-a-wedding) Remains sullen and angry after her quarrel with Cope; faints at the wedding, crying out Cope's name, causing a scene. ### [Cope Again in the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxix-cope-again-in-the-country) Sent south by Medora for her health; mentioned as having previously harried Cope with her watercolors and literary talk. ### [Cope in a Final View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxxiii-cope-in-a-final-view) Returns from the mountains; receives letters from a young Southerner in Nashville and shows contempt for Cope. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/hortense_dunton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters