# Arabella French — He Knew He Was Right character guide

> Arabella French in He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Arabella, Bella, Poor Bella, the unfortunate Arabella, Bella French

**First appearance:** 0034-xxxv-mr-gibson-s-good-fortune

## Snapshot

The elder Miss French, whose quiet hopes of Mr. Gibson are crushed when her own sister snatches him up before her eyes.

## Who they are

Arabella French is the elder and gentler of Mrs. French's daughters, and she has allowed herself to believe that Mr. Gibson means to marry her. When Camilla secures him instead, Arabella collapses in tears, calls her sister a treacherous vixen, and then submits to sit down to tea with the engaged pair. Her humiliated surrender is one of the novel's sharpest small comedies, and it deepens the portrait of a household where marriage is a contest and affection a casualty.

## In the story

### [What They Said About It in the Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xv-what-they-said-about-it-in-the-close)

Joins her sister in gossiping, feigning meekness while implying Mrs. Trevelyan's guilt and questioning her church attendance.

### [Mr. Gibson's Good Fortune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xxxv-mr-gibson-s-good-fortune)

Invites Brooke and Mr. Gibson to tea at her house, and also invites Miss Stanbury and Dorothy.

### [Miss Stanbury's Wrath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xxxvi-miss-stanbury-s-wrath)

Mentioned as having attempted to win Mr. Gibson's affection through flirtation, but he ultimately decides against her.

### [Brooke Burgess Takes Leave of Exeter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xliv-brooke-burgess-takes-leave-of-exeter)

Sits silently while Camilla speaks, but is inwardly pleased that Mr. Gibson's rejection of Dorothy Stanbury may favor her own prospects.

### [About Fishing, and Navigation, and Headdresses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xlvii-about-fishing-and-navigation-and-headdresses)

Alone with Mr. Gibson, she speaks of melancholy and hints at her expectations, but her appearance repels him.

### [Mr. Gibson Is Punished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xlviii-mr-gibson-is-punished)

Present during the confrontation; she claims a headache and leaves afterward.

### [Camilla Triumphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/l-camilla-triumphant)

Devastated by Mr. Gibson's choice of Camilla, she accuses her sister of treachery and expresses bitter disappointment.

### [Mysterious Agencies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxv-mysterious-agencies)

Ill and bedridden, she advises Mr. Gibson and confesses her enduring love for him.

### [The Lioness Aroused](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxiv-the-lioness-aroused)

Secretly meeting Mr. Gibson and receiving notes; remains calm and evasive when accused by Camilla.

### [Mrs. French’s Carving Knife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxii-mrs-french-s-carving-knife)

Sore-hearted that her uncle's letter says nothing of her claims; advises her mother to speak directly to Mr. Gibson.

### [LXXXIII: Bella Victrix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxiii-bella-victrix)

Quietly prepares for her marriage to Mr. Gibson after Camilla's departure; feels more certain of success than Camilla ever did.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/arabella_french
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters