# Nettie Stuart — In the Days of the Comet character guide > Nettie Stuart in In the Days of the Comet by H. G. Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nettie, old Stuart, Stuart **First appearance:** 0010-ii-nettie ## Snapshot A gardener's daughter with a grave, sweet smile and a will of her own, she is the girl Willie vows to die for — and cannot hold. ## Who they are Nettie grew up in the cottage at Checkshill Towers, schoolfellow and second cousin to Willie, and pledged herself to him one July dusk beside the goldfish pond. She is beautiful, self-possessed, and quietly ambitious for a life beyond Clayton's smoke; her upper lip breaks sweetly to a smile that haunts the narrator for decades. Her choices in the middle of the book force Willie to confront what he actually wants, and what he is. ## Relationships ### [Willie Leadford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/willie_leadford) _romantic_ Former lovers turned bitter rivals after Nettie rejects Willie for Edward Verrall, driving Willie's obsessive jealousy. ### [Edward Verrall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/edward_verrall) _romantic_ Edward is Nettie's new suitor, representing a more refined and socially elevated match that displaces Willie. ### [Rawdon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/rawdon) _social_ Nettie and Rawdon are acquaintances within the same social circle, likely through work or community events. ### [Parload](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/parload) _social_ Nettie and Parload are acquaintances, possibly through Willie or shared community activities. ### [Willie Leadford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/willie_leadford) _romantic_ Former lovers turned bitter rivals after Nettie rejects Willie for Edward Verrall, driving Willie's obsessive jealousy. ### [Willie Leadford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/willie_leadford) _romantic_ Former lovers turned bitter rivals after Nettie rejects Willie for Edward Verrall, driving Willie's obsessive jealousy. ### [Edward Verrall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/edward_verrall) _romantic_ Edward is Nettie's new suitor, representing a more refined and socially elevated match that displaces Willie. ### [Edward Verrall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/edward_verrall) _romantic_ Edward is Nettie's new suitor, representing a more refined and socially elevated match that displaces Willie. ## In the story ### [Book the First: The Comet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/book-the-first-the-comet) Object of Willie's affection, central to his emotional turmoil. ### [I: Dust in the Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i-dust-in-the-shadows) The object of Leadford's affection; her recent letter is a source of his emotional turmoil. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii) Willie's former sweetheart, who has broken off their engagement via letter. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii) Object of Leadford's affection; mentioned as living in Checkshill, a source of his emotional turmoil. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iv) Willie's secret love interest, who is always in the background of his thoughts during his rant. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/v) Mentioned in Willie's thoughts as a source of his bitterness, along with her letter and her relationship with Verrall. ### [II: Nettie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii-nettie) Willie's love interest; appears distant and mysterious; meets Willie in Checkshill park. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i) Receives a passionate farewell letter from Leadford and replies with a prim note. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii) The object of Willie's desire; he imagines her mourning their separation and later sees her standing in the shrubbery, holding a book. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii) Surprised and dismayed by Willie's unexpected appearance; her reactions are guarded and elusive. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iv) Now nearly a young woman; treats Willie with a new, distant politeness, calls him 'dear boy,' and manages the conversation to avoid intimacy. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/v) Initially defensive and firm that the relationship is over, but shows signs of softening as Willie pleads. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vi) Shows solicitude for Leadford's safety, urging him to take the road instead of the shortcut. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vii) Implied to have secretly met Edward Verrall; her earlier behavior is now understood by Willie as evidence of a romantic liaison. ### [III: The Revolver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii-the-revolver) Object of Willie's obsessive love and jealousy; he plans to kill her and her lover. ### [The Comet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i) The object of Willie's love and jealousy; he plans to kill her and her lover. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii) Willie's beloved, now with Edward Verrall; her betrayal drives Willie's vengeful purpose. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iv) Dominates Leadford's misery and is seen as his lost honor. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/v) Has run away from home, leaving a letter; suspected to be with young Verrall. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vi) Her letter to her parents is read by Willie; she has eloped with someone she loves. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vii) Referenced as the girl Leadford loves, involved with young Verrall, facing social ruin. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vii) Likely Nettie's father, expected to meet with Mrs. Verrall to compromise. ### [IV: War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iv-war) Target of Willie's murderous intent; he imagines her mocking him and with Verrall. ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i) Target of Willie's rage; he believes she has betrayed him by giving herself to Verrall. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vi) Willie's former love; her relationship with Verrall is part of the motivation for Willie's journey. ### [The Pursuit of the Two Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/v-the-pursuit-of-the-two-lovers) The object of Willie's obsession, seen fleetingly with Verrall on the beach before disappearing into a bungalow. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the object of Willie's jealousy, seen with Verrall. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii) The object of Willie's search, believed to be in Shaphambury with Verrall. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii) Object of Leadford's search; he mistakenly identifies other couples as her and Verrall. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iv) Seen bathing with Verrall, described as a 'striving, swift thing of light and beauty.' ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/v) Object of Willie's obsessive thoughts; he imagines her with Verrall in the bungalows. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vi) Seen with Verrall after bathing; she becomes the target of Willie's vengeful pursuit and is terrified by his approach. ### [Book the Second: The Green Vapors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/book-the-second-the-green-vapors) Object of Willie's former jealousy; her image fades as Willie's perspective changes. ### [The Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i-the-change) Leadford notes that thoughts of Nettie no longer stir his passions after the Change. ### [The Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii) Referenced as the object of Willie's former obsession, now felt as 'the remotest thing' after the Change. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as someone the narrator temporarily forgets, indicating a shift in his emotional focus. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vi) Referenced in Leadford's story of his former pursuit, not present in the chapter. ### [II: The Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii-the-awakening) Present in the inn garden after the Change, scrutinizing the narrator as he reads the newspaper. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii) Present in the garden with the narrator, scrutinizing his face as he reads the newspaper. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vi) Wakes near Verrall, hearing his voice before all other sounds. ### [Book the Third: The New World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/book-the-third-the-new-world) Reunited with Willie after the change, their relationship transformed. ### [I: Love After the Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i-love-after-the-change) Reappears transfigured; discusses her past choices and feelings with Willie. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/i) Seen again after the Change, her presence reawakens the narrator's love. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii) Arrives with Verrall at the inn, wearing white and a sunhat; described as part of a 'pretty couple.' ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii) Sits opposite Willie, dressed in white with pearls and a gold coin; she confesses her past motives, including her attraction to Verrall's status and her fear of Willie's world. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iv) Nettie resists a total separation, expressing that Willie is a part of her life and that love is not singular; she manipulates carnation petals throughout the discussion. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/v) Returns to speak with Willie alone, confesses her love for both him and Edward, and reluctantly leaves. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/vi) Object of Willie's longing and regret; he thinks of her and the 'queer modifications of preference' she made. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii) Subject of Willie's lingering love and grief, mentioned in conversations with his mother. ### [Beltane and New Year’s Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iii-beltane-and-new-year-s-eve) Willie's former love; he longs for her on Beltane night and later corresponds with her; she visits him on New Year's Day in Year Four. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/ii) The object of Willie's intense personal love; he regrets sending her away and feels her absence acutely. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/iv) Willie's first love; he receives a letter from her and they reunite on New Year's Day in Year Four. ### [The Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/chapters/the-epilogue) Mentioned in the narrator's questioning; Leadford confirms she remained a beloved figure in the new world, loved by many. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters/nettie_stuart - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_days_of_the_comet_se/characters