Miss Mole · Character

Lilla

Miss Mole's brisk, exasperated cousin, who installed Hannah in the Corder house and expects her to bark when necessary without making a scene.

supporting

Also known as Valiantly Lilla

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in Miss Mole, Lilla is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Hannah's cousin, whom she is visiting; Hannah recalls their school days and plans to deceive her.

In the storyIIIOpen this moment free

See Lilla in III Book page

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Lilla is the practical relative who placed Hannah with the Corders and now resents her cousin's unsolicited hints about how to behave, greeting Hannah's loud affection with a look for a retreat. She represents the family's claim on Hannah's discretion, a claim Hannah both honors and evades. Their tense, tea-shop encounters expose the cost of Hannah's evasions, since it is to Lilla that she tells a lie that wounds her own peculiar integrity.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Lilla sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Lilla in i

Character Web

14 connections

A slice of how Lilla sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Corder Family Circle
Protagonist

+9 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

This excerpt marks the story's dramatic climax because Ruth’s secret excursion with Wilfrid represents the pea…

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Relationships

Miss Hannah Mole
friendship · positive
Lilla is a lively, eccentric friend who provides Miss Mole with warmth and comic relief… How this plays out →
Miss Hannah Mole
friendship · positive
Lilla is a lively, eccentric friend who provides Miss Mole with warmth and comic relief… How this plays out →
Miss Hannah Mole
friendship · positive
Lilla is a lively, eccentric friend who provides Miss Mole with warmth and comic relief… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Lilla in i

In the story

Lilla appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

III
IV
V
VI
VIII
IX
XXIV
XXXI
+1 more

III
Hannah's cousin, whom she is visiting; Hannah recalls their school days and plans to deceive her.
IV
Arranges for Hannah to become Mr. Corder's housekeeper, expresses concern about Hannah's past and behavior.
V
Contrasted with Hannah; seen as someone who can only see herself as Mrs. Spenser-Smith and has never performed heroic acts.
VI
Hannah awaits a letter from her; mentioned as a contact during Hannah's reconnaissance of the chapel.
VIII
Lilla is the leading lady in the chapel, loyal to the late Mrs. Corder, and wary of Hannah's discreet responses. She introduced Miss Patsy Withers as a potential companion for Robert.
IX
Mentioned in Hannah's thoughts as someone who deplored her vulgar strain.
XXIV
Hannah visits her to deliver a threat about Howard; Lilla gives Hannah Christmas presents and expresses distrust of Hannah's past.
XXXI
Referred to as Mrs. Spenser-Smith, Hannah considers supplanting her as leading lady of the chapel.
XXXII
Meets Hannah for tea, questions her about Mr. Blenkinsop and Mr. Pilgrim, and expresses discomfort about Hannah's secrets.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Lilla unlock in the free preview.

See Lilla in i

See Lilla in III