Mr. Britling Sees It Through · Character

Miss Corner

Young, clear-eyed Cecily Corner, whom Teddy and Hugh both love, and whose steady judgment quietly indicts the men who go off to war.

supporting

Also known as Cecily, Miss Cecily Corner, Cecily Corner, Cissie, Dear Cissie

First appearance: § 1

As a supporting figure in Mr. Britling Sees It Through, Miss Corner is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A guest or member of the household, involved in the social dynamics of the group.

In the storyBook I: Matching’s Easy at EaseOpen this moment free

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Cecily moves through the Britling circle as the girl the young men orbit, courted by Teddy and adored by Hugh, yet never merely a prize. When Mr. Direck declares he is fighting chiefly for Cissie, she stands beside him torn between wanting him to go and dreading it, and tells him plainly she supposes she must let him. Her honesty and grief anchor the novel's home-front reckoning with what the war takes from those who stay behind.

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See Miss Corner in § 1

Character Web

19 connections

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

Relationship types

Romantic
Social
Other

Character groups

Central characters and family
Protagonist

+14 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
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it represents the emotional and psychological peak of Direck’s int…

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Relationships

Mr. Direck
romantic · positive
Miss Corner is deeply infatuated with Mr. How this plays out →
Letty
social · ambivalent
Teddy
social · ambivalent
Mr. Direck
romantic · positive
Miss Corner is deeply infatuated with Mr. How this plays out →
Mr. Direck
romantic · positive
Miss Corner is deeply infatuated with Mr. How this plays out →
Letty
social · ambivalent
Teddy
social · ambivalent
Teddy
social · ambivalent
Letty
social · ambivalent

Mr. Direck
Miss Corner is deeply infatuated with Mr. Direck, pursuing him with persistent attention and emotional intensity.
Letty
Letty and Miss Corner are acquaintances in the same social circle, with Letty often observing Miss Corner's romantic pursuit of Direck.
Teddy
Miss Corner and Teddy are acquaintances, with Teddy often caught in the middle of her romantic schemes involving Direck.
Mr. Direck
Miss Corner is deeply infatuated with Mr. Direck, pursuing him with persistent attention and emotional intensity.
Mr. Direck
Miss Corner is deeply infatuated with Mr. Direck, pursuing him with persistent attention and emotional intensity.
Letty
Letty and Miss Corner are acquaintances in the same social circle, with Letty often observing Miss Corner's romantic pursuit of Direck.
Teddy
Miss Corner and Teddy are acquaintances, with Teddy often caught in the middle of her romantic schemes involving Direck.
Teddy
Miss Corner and Teddy are acquaintances, with Teddy often caught in the middle of her romantic schemes involving Direck.
Letty
Letty and Miss Corner are acquaintances in the same social circle, with Letty often observing Miss Corner's romantic pursuit of Direck.

Relationship notes

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

See Miss Corner in § 1

In the story

Miss Corner appears across 42 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book I: Matching’s Easy at Ease
A guest or member of the household, involved in the social dynamics of the group.
I: Mr. Direck Visits Mr. Britling
A young lady in the Britling household, noted by Mr. Direck for her resemblance to a miniature of a cousin of his maternal grandmother.
§ 9
The pretty young lady seated next to Mr. Direck, revealed to be a Corner and thus a distant cousin.
§ 10
Mentioned by Mr. Direck as resembling a miniature of a relative, but Mr. Britling does not elaborate.
§ 11
Mentioned as the 'newfound cousin' playing tennis with the Indian and another young man, tantalizingly visible to Mr. Direck.
§ 7
Found reading Campanella's 'City of the Sun' in the arbour; later joins the sunset party and asks about Indian and Chinese Utopias.
§ 9
Dances with Direck and Hugh, shows maternal care for the mysterious baby, and is the object of Direck's affection.
§ 10
Letty's sister, a teacher who wants to take a B.A. degree. Mr. Direck finds her interesting and charming, with a freedom of mind.
§ 11
Becomes the central figure in Direck's thoughts, representing quintessential England; he admires her unawareness of her own charm.
III: The Entertainment of Mr. Direck Reaches a Climax
Plays hockey and badminton with Mr. Direck, nurses him after his accident, and becomes the object of his affection.
§ 3
Arrives wheeling a perambulator, instructs Mr. Direck in hockey basics, and encourages him to play.
§ 4
Cecily Corner is a swift and skilled hockey player, forming a strong combination with Teddy.
§ 5
Encourages Mr. Direck at hockey, shares a growing intimacy with him.
§ 8
Cecily was at the Dower House when the injured party arrived and showed sympathy and admiration for Mr. Direck.
§ 3
Mentioned as a distraction for Mr. Direck, drawing his attention away from Mr. Britling.
V: The Coming of the Day
Visits to inquire about Mr. Direck; participates in mirror-writing and pig-drawing games.
§ 2
Drops in to ask about Direck, participates in mirror-writing experiments, and chats with Direck about travel.
§ 4
Cecily Corner discusses objects in life and Utopias with Mr. Direck.
§ 7
Cecily challenges Mr. Direck's assumptions about leisure and personality, revealing her socialist views and her desire to find meaningful work. She is influenced by Mr. Britling's essays and resists Direck's romantic advances.
§ 8
Receives Direck's confession, engages in a philosophical discussion about religious marriage, and shares a kiss before his departure.
§ 9
Mentioned as Cissie, joining Hugh in a game of hockey that delays Mr. Britling's departure.
§ 11
Referred to as Cissie, she joins the dart-throwing group and is breathless in pursuit.
Book II: Matching’s Easy at War
A local woman affected by the war's social changes.
§ 10
Referred to as Cissie, she is enrolled in the goose-step march and comes up to the Dower House for tea.
§ 14
Mentioned indirectly in Direck's dream, indicating his personal concern for her safety.
§ 15
Presides over her baby's crawling, rejects Direck's marriage proposal, and passionately defends England's cause.
§ 11
Goes off with Letty and the small boy to take lodgings near Teddy.
§ 12
Brings the bad news of Teddy to Mr. Britling, visibly scared and upset.
§ 17
Cissie is clear-eyed about the war, demanding America fight for Belgium and against German aggression.
§ 18
Mentioned as Cissie, who is with Letty during Teddy's absence.
§ 19
Cecily is mentioned as reproaching Mr. Direck for America's neutrality and refusing to let him make love to her while English men are fighting.
§ 20
Referred to as Cecily; Mr. Direck decides not to see her and writes her a letter-card.
Mrs. Teddy Goes for a Walk
Struggles with her feelings for Mr. Direck, resenting his neutrality and his refusal to enlist, while also being deeply fond of him.
§ 1
Cissie, Letty's sister, who listens and watches Letty's grief with concern.
§ 2
Cissie lies awake contemplating her sister Letty's psychological state and the possibility of her becoming an assassin or a deranged figure.
§ 3
Cissie is deeply conflicted about her feelings for Mr. Direck, loving him but resenting his avoidance of war, and she lashes out at him.
§ 4
Cissie, with eyes full of distress for her sister, notices Direck's Canadian uniform.
§ 7
Grieving the confirmed death of Teddy, finds a strange comfort in certainty.
§ 11
Mentioned as Cissie; Letty resolves to be kinder to her; seen in the porch with Mr. Direck.
§ 13
Stands by Mr. Direck, tearfully accepting his decision to go to war.
II: Mr. Britling Writes Until Sunrise
Mentioned in Mr. Britling's memory of Heinrich trying to fill his heart with 'Cissie' (Cecily Corner).
§ 3
Heinrich tried to fill his heart with Cissie (Cecily).

Chapter companion notes

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

See Miss Corner in § 1

See Miss Corner in Book I: Matching’s Easy at Ease