# Ursula — Lavengro character guide

> Ursula in Lavengro by George Borrow.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ursula Penn, Romany chi, sister Ursula

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Snapshot

A Romany woman of quick temper and quicker tongue who sits under hedges with Lavengro and refuses to be catechized about virtue.

## Who they are

Ursula travels the fairs telling fortunes, dancing, and accepting silk handkerchiefs and trinkets from admirers while guarding her own terms. When Lavengro probes her about temptation, she flares at the implication, threatens mischief, and then sits down anyway to out-argue him on money, honour, and the gorgios. Her frank, unsentimental voice exposes the gap between Lavengro's romantic notions of gypsy freedom and the hard economics of Romany life.

## Relationships

### [Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/brother)

_social_

The Brother and Ursula have a cordial acquaintance, likely meeting through Lavengro's Romani connections.

### [Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/brother)

_social_

The Brother and Ursula have a cordial acquaintance, likely meeting through Lavengro's Romani connections.

## In the story

### [The Gypsy Girl's Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxx)

A young gypsy girl of about thirteen, with olive skin, black hair, and a sharp voice, who sings a Rommany song and questions the narrator.

### [LXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxxi)

The gypsy girl brings cakes from her grandmother, sings a song of poison, and participates in the confrontation with the narrator.

### [LXXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxxxii)

Mentioned as Jasper's wife's sister, who is unmarried and occasionally talks of the narrator.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/v)

Mrs. Petulengro; declines breakfast but plans a formal visit later.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/vi)

Mrs. Petulengro braids Belle's hair in the Roman fashion and tries to persuade her to join the gypsies.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/vii)

Sings a Romani song about a broken chastity, which the narrator later translates.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/viii)

Jasper's wife, dressed in Roman fashion, leads the way into the church and sits in the pew.

### [The Cuckoo and the Romany Chal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/ix)

Mentioned as the singer of a gypsy song; Jasper suggests Lavengro question her about it.

### [Ursula's Virtue and the Gypsy's Temptations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/x)

Defends her virtue against accusations, discusses temptations of gold and fine clothes, and debates the narrator about gypsy law and half-and-halfs.

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

Ursula recounts her tragic marriage to Launcelot Lovell, his abuse, escape, and death, and reveals the secret meaning of 'patteran'.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xii)

Recalled in Lavengro's meditation; she told him about the virtue of gypsy women and the meaning of 'patteran'.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xix)

Receives the narrator's gift of the pony, tent, and tinker-tools.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xx)

Informed by the narrator about the property left in the dingle and the care of the pony Ambrol.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/endnotes)

Her song is referenced in a note, with a translation available via the Gypsy glossary.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/ursula
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters