# Counsellor Doone — Lorna Doone character guide

> Counsellor Doone in Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Counsellor Doone, Counsellor, Sir Counsellor, Sir Counsellor Doone, reverend Counsellor

**First appearance:** 0018-xix-another-dangerous-interview

## Snapshot

The Doone clan's silver-tongued strategist, who wields law, scripture, and sly counsel to keep a robber dynasty respectable and untouchable.

## Who they are

Within Glen Doone he is the calculating brain behind the family's plunder, dressing up brigandage in legal and reverend-sounding language while the brawn of Carver does the rest. His true gift is survival by rhetoric: he can argue any outrage into a precedent and any enemy into a fool, which makes him more dangerous than any pistol in the valley. When John Ridd begins to pry at the Doones' power and their hold on Lorna, the Counsellor becomes the quiet counterweight to every bold plan, the man whose words must be outwitted before anything can be won.

## Relationships

### [Annie Ridd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/characters/annie_ridd)

_rivalry_

Counsellor Doone is a manipulative and evil Doone elder who schemes against the Ridd family, making him Annie's enemy.

### [Annie Ridd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/characters/annie_ridd)

_rivalry_

Counsellor Doone is a manipulative and evil Doone elder who schemes against the Ridd family, making him Annie's enemy.

### [Annie Ridd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/characters/annie_ridd)

_rivalry_

Counsellor Doone is a manipulative and evil Doone elder who schemes against the Ridd family, making him Annie's enemy.

## In the story

### [A Very Rash Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/iv-a-very-rash-visit)

The cunning Doone who fabricates a story of self-defense to justify the murder of John Ridd's father.

### [An Illegal Settlement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/v-an-illegal-settlement)

Kept by the Doones for his wisdom, noted as an exception to the family's physical standards.

### [Lorna Begins Her Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/xx-lorna-begins-her-story)

Lorna's uncle, a wise but manipulative man who treats her questions lightly and aspires to control her inheritance.

### [Ruth Is Not Like Lorna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/xxxv-ruth-is-not-like-lorna)

The Counsellor is mentioned as a wicked figure in the Doone valley.

### [A Visit from the Counsellor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/li-a-visit-from-the-counsellor)

Visits the Ridd household; reveals the mutual killing of John's and Lorna's fathers; gives his consent to their marriage.

### [LII: The Way to Make the Cream Rise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/lii-the-way-to-make-the-cream-rise)

The Counsellor manipulates Annie into handing over Lorna's necklace, then steals it under the guise of a charm.

### [John Is Worsted by the Women](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/lxiii-john-is-worsted-by-the-women)

Annie visits him in disguise and secures his signature on the document guaranteeing the farm's safety.

### [The Counsellor and the Carver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/lxxii-the-counsellor-and-the-carver)

The Counsellor is captured by John, reveals Carver killed John's father, and gives up Lorna's necklace before escaping with one diamond.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/characters/counsellor_doone
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lorna_doone_se/characters