# Martha — Five Children and It character guide

> Martha in Five Children and It by E. Nesbit.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Martha'll

**First appearance:** 0001-five-children-and-it

## Snapshot

The family's maid, sharp-eyed and short-tempered, who sees through the children's schemes even as she is coaxed into them.

## Who they are

Martha keeps house for the children and the Lamb, laying the cloth with a bang and refusing to be flattered out of her suspicions. When Anthea offers her a Liberty box to take the Lamb to Rochester, Martha sees at once that the real aim is to get the baby off their hands. Her knowing, grudging compliance keeps the household running and gives the children's plots a practical, adult obstacle.

## Relationships

### [Anthea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/anthea)

_professional_

Anthea interacts with Martha, the family servant, who helps care for the children and the household.

### [The Lamb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/the_lamb)

_professional_

Martha is the nursemaid responsible for caring for The Lamb, with a mix of affection and exasperation.

### [Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/robert)

_professional_

Martha serves as a household servant to Robert and his siblings, often scolding him for mischief.

### [Anthea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/anthea)

_professional_

Anthea interacts with Martha, the family servant, who helps care for the children and the household.

### [Anthea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/anthea)

_professional_

Anthea interacts with Martha, the family servant, who helps care for the children and the household.

### [Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/robert)

_professional_

Martha serves as a household servant to Robert and his siblings, often scolding him for mischief.

### [Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/robert)

_professional_

Martha serves as a household servant to Robert and his siblings, often scolding him for mischief.

### [The Lamb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/the_lamb)

_professional_

Martha is the nursemaid responsible for caring for The Lamb, with a mix of affection and exasperation.

## In the story

### [VI: A Castle and No Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/chapters/vi-a-castle-and-no-dinner)

Keeps the children indoors as punishment; serves invisible dinner.

### [X: Scalps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/chapters/x-scalps)

Martha takes the Lamb to Rochester and returns with a replacement jug, also announcing her engagement to Beale.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters/martha
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/five_children_and_it_se/characters