# Lilly — Lay Down Your Arms character guide

> Lilly in Lay Down Your Arms by Bertha von Suttner.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0006-iv

## Snapshot

Martha's sister, who put off Conrad's suit too long and discovers her love for him only as he marches away to war.

## Who they are

Lilly belongs to the Grumitz family circle, a young woman whose hesitation over Conrad's proposal suddenly reverses into passionate regret when the marching orders arrive. Her collapse into Martha's arms—'why did I not say yes long ago'—lays bare the particular torture of a love unfulfilled and possibly never to be fulfilled. She matters because her grief mirrors Martha's own dread and gives the novel a second, quieter portrait of women waiting on a war they cannot stop.

## Relationships

### [Conrad Althaus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/conrad_althaus)

_romantic_

Conrad and Lilly are in a romantic relationship, marked by passion and conflict.

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Father Radetzky is a spiritual guide and friend to Lilly.

### [Conrad Althaus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/conrad_althaus)

_romantic_

Conrad and Lilly are in a romantic relationship, marked by passion and conflict.

### [Conrad Althaus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/conrad_althaus)

_romantic_

Conrad and Lilly are in a romantic relationship, marked by passion and conflict.

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Father Radetzky is a spiritual guide and friend to Lilly.

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Father Radetzky is a spiritual guide and friend to Lilly.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/iv)

Martha's friend; visits and talks about trivial matters like dresses and nursemaids.

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

Martha's sister; object of Conrad's courtship; shows joy at his visits.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/ix)

Conrad's fiancée; accepts his proposal at the New Year's celebration.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/x)

Martha's sister; works on bandages with a compassionate face; regrets not accepting a suitor before his departure.

### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/xiii)

Listens eagerly to Conrad's war stories.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/xiv)

Happy fiancée who dies of cholera during the epidemic.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/lilly
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters