Hudson River Bracketed · Character

Mrs. Tracy

Lucilla Lorburn Tracy, Vance's New York cousin by marriage, a pretty woman of old Hudson Valley family whose household has no telephone and no patience for the modern world.

supporting

Also known as XXIII Mrs. Tracy, Mrs. Lorburn Tracy, poor Mrs. Tracy

First appearance: vi

As a supporting figure in Hudson River Bracketed, Mrs. Tracy is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Shown as tired and anxious, especially about the Willows and the Spears' visits; she goes to bed early after supper, leaving the young people alone.

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Mrs. Tracy is remembered by the Westons as a pretty bride in stylish New York clothes who once visited Advance on her wedding trip, and her marriage into the Lorburn line ties her to the Willows and the Tracys' fading Hudson Valley gentility. She is the mother of Upton, and her decision to entrust the Willows to caretakers unconnected with its past becomes a small betrayal of the continuity the old house represents. Her absence from Paul's Landing, and the decline of the Tracy fortunes, shadow the early chapters and help explain why Vance's arrival there matters as much as it does.

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See Mrs. Tracy in vi

Character Web

3 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Extended social and family network
Protagonist
Vance's family and early acquaintances
Euphoria business and social rivals

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Halo's complete d…

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In the story

Mrs. Tracy appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

V
Shown as tired and anxious, especially about the Willows and the Spears' visits; she goes to bed early after supper, leaving the young people alone.
IX
Mentioned for her surprise at Miss Spear's intention to show Vance the books at the Willows.
XI
Reluctantly gives Vance the keys to the Willows; expresses tartness about the Spears and their relationship to Upton and Laura Lou.
XII
Angry and hurt by Vance and Upton's absence, accuses Vance of taking Mr. Lorburn's books and leading Upton astray, orders Vance to leave.
XIV
Vance sends her a flower basket as a gift, though he later regrets the gesture.
XVIII
Mentioned as having been upset by Vance's departure and the book theft, and as having reconciled with Halo's help.
XXI
Laura Lou's mother, who is away and will find a letter revealing the marriage and a partial repayment of Bunty Hayes's loan.
XXIII
Grants conditional forgiveness to Vance and Laura Lou, but remains resentful over Vance's influence on her children and the broken engagement with Bunty Hayes.
XXV
Mentioned as having gone to visit Upton, leaving Vance and Laura Lou alone in the cottage.
XXVI
Receives the tonic from Vance; informs him of Bunty Hayes's visit; leaves for a day, forcing Vance to care for Laura Lou alone.
XXVII
Expects Vance's family to help; blames Laura Lou's illness on his imprudence.
XXVIII
Suffers from inflammatory rheumatism, entrusts Vance with the keys to the Willows, anxious about her job as caretaker.
Chapter XXX
Has recovered and resumed her Saturday visits to the Willows with Laura Lou, still anxious about the keys but finding nothing amiss.
XXXI
Confronts Vance at the Willows, accuses him of infidelity, and proposes that he divorce Laura Lou for her health and his freedom.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mrs. Tracy in vi

See Mrs. Tracy in V