# Mrs. Tracy — Hudson River Bracketed character guide

> Mrs. Tracy in Hudson River Bracketed by Edith Wharton.

**Role:** supporting

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

**First appearance:** 0010-vi

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## In the story

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/ix)

Mentioned for her surprise at Miss Spear's intention to show Vance the books at the Willows.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xi)

Reluctantly gives Vance the keys to the Willows; expresses tartness about the Spears and their relationship to Upton and Laura Lou.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xiv)

Vance sends her a flower basket as a gift, though he later regrets the gesture.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xviii)

Mentioned as having been upset by Vance's departure and the book theft, and as having reconciled with Halo's help.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xxv)

Mentioned as having gone to visit Upton, leaving Vance and Laura Lou alone in the cottage.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xxvii)

Expects Vance's family to help; blames Laura Lou's illness on his imprudence.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xxviii)

Suffers from inflammatory rheumatism, entrusts Vance with the keys to the Willows, anxious about her job as caretaker.

### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xxx)

Has recovered and resumed her Saturday visits to the Willows with Laura Lou, still anxious about the keys but finding nothing amiss.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/xxxi)

Confronts Vance at the Willows, accuses him of infidelity, and proposes that he divorce Laura Lou for her health and his freedom.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/characters/mrs_tracy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/characters