# Effie Bowen — Indian Summer character guide > Effie Bowen in Indian Summer by William Dean Howells. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Effie, little Effie Bowen, Miss Effie **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot Mrs. Bowen's young daughter, dressed younger than her years, whose unguarded affection for Colville quietly measures the household's shifting loyalties. ## Who they are Effie moves through Palazzo Pinti with the easy authority of a child who knows she is loved, claiming Colville's hand, arranging herself between her mother and the guests, and reporting on daisies and violets with disarming directness. Her instinct to console Colville when he is left out of Imogene and Mr. Morton's pleasures reveals more about the adults' tensions than any of their conversation does. She is the household's barometer of warmth and exclusion. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Bowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/mrs_bowen) _family_ Effie Bowen is Mrs. Bowen's young daughter, and their relationship is one of maternal care and protective affection. ### [Imogene Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/imogene_graham) _friendship_ Effie Bowen and Imogene Graham have a friendly, though somewhat unequal, relationship as younger and older companions. ### [Mr. Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/mr_morton) _social_ Effie Bowen and Mr. Morton have a polite, distant acquaintance through Mrs. Bowen's household. ### [Mrs. Bowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/mrs_bowen) _family_ Effie Bowen is Mrs. Bowen's young daughter, and their relationship is one of maternal care and protective affection. ### [Imogene Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/imogene_graham) _friendship_ Effie Bowen and Imogene Graham have a friendly, though somewhat unequal, relationship as younger and older companions. ### [Mrs. Bowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/mrs_bowen) _family_ Effie Bowen is Mrs. Bowen's young daughter, and their relationship is one of maternal care and protective affection. ### [Imogene Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/imogene_graham) _friendship_ Effie Bowen and Imogene Graham have a friendly, though somewhat unequal, relationship as younger and older companions. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/ii) Mrs. Bowen's daughter, recently returned from school in Vevay; polite and deferential to her mother. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/iii) Mrs. Bowen's daughter, who serves Colville tea and is noted for her resemblance to her mother. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/iv) Observes Colville and Imogene with adoration, arranges chairs by the fire, and shows silent worship of Colville. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/v) Brings Colville a biscuit at the reception; shows infatuation with Colville, following him around the room. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as part of the household; not directly present in the chapter. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/vii) Accompanies the walk, declines to throw stones to avoid spoiling her gloves, and later hides her face against Imogene's shoulder. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/viii) Receives violets from Colville, enjoys ices and candy with him, and learns Western phrases that challenge her mother's strict training. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/x) Recovered from her illness; sits on Colville's knee and listens to his story about San Miniato. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xi) Returns to the salotto with Imogene after Colville's departure. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xiv) Effie accompanies the group, picks violets with Colville, and innocently reports their hand-holding to Mrs. Amsden. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xv) Effie senses the tension and is sent to bed, later crying herself to sleep. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xvii) Prattles to Colville while he waits for Imogene. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xviii) Briefly appears during the Fiesole planning; her disappointment at being left out is noticed by Colville, who ensures she is included. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xix) Mentioned as absent due to being up too much of late. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xx) Is snubbed by her mother for commenting on Imogene, comforted by Colville, and enjoys the presents he buys from the children vendors. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xxi) Visits Colville with Mrs. Bowen during his recovery. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xxii) Mentioned fondly by Colville; her affectionate kiss and winning nature are recalled. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xxiii) Greets Colville, leads him to the dining room, and is disappointed when he cannot take her to Giacosa's. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/chapters/xxiv) Goes with Colville to Giacosa's to order ices for the wedding feast; never regrets her choice of stepfather, though she has occasional jealousies. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters/effie_bowen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_summer_se/characters