# Miss Abbey Potterson — Our Mutual Friend character guide

> Miss Abbey Potterson in Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Potterson, Abbey, Miss Abbey, the stately Abbey

**First appearance:** 0001-i-on-the-look-out

## Snapshot

The stately, absolute landlady of the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters, who keeps her riverside tavern in order with a glance and ejects fools by the collar.

## Who they are

Miss Abbey rules her waterside house of call with a severity that is also a kind of justice, softening only for those she judges genuinely wronged. She receives Riah and Jenny Wren on Lizzie Hexam's behalf, and when Riderhood is carried in half-drowned she takes command of the room, fetching doctor and daughter and pitching Captain Joey out for his butcher's-shop remedies. Her tavern is the novel's crossroads where river folk, police, and secrets meet.

## In the story

### [Cut Adrift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-cut-adrift)

Warns Lizzie about the rumors against Gaffer and forbids both Gaffer and Riderhood from the Fellowship Porters.

### [XIII: Tracking the Bird of Prey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiii-tracking-the-bird-of-prey)

Allows the group to use the Cosy room for their stakeout; referred to as a source of information by Mr. Inspector.

### [A Respected Friend in a New Aspect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ii-a-respected-friend-in-a-new-aspect)

Presides at the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters, receives Riah and Jenny, and handles the river accident.

### [The Same Respected Friend in More Aspects Than One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-the-same-respected-friend-in-more-aspects-than-one)

Oversees the rescue and recovery efforts at her establishment; orders the patient's removal once he is stable.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/miss_abbey_potterson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters