# Mrs. Marble — Payment Deferred character guide

> Mrs. Marble in Payment Deferred by C. S. Forester.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Winnie, Little Mrs. Marble, pale little Mrs. Marble

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

Marble's pale, muddle-headed wife, who hoards a fifty-pound gift in a locked drawer because money now smells of police and prisons.

## Who they are

Annie Marble has spent years as her husband's obedient shadow, and the neighbours pity her for it. When Will thrusts a roll of notes at her, she cannot enjoy it; she peels off one pound guiltily and hides the rest. Her fear, her small vanities, and her hunger to be loved make her both the story's tenderest figure and its most dangerous loose end.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Marble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/mr_marble)

_family_

Husband and wife, but their relationship is strained by financial desperation and moral decay.

### [Annie Marble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/annie_marble)

_family_

Mother and daughter, with Mrs. Marble often oblivious to Annie's distress and the family's true situation.

### [Collins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/collins)

_social_

Collins interacts with Mrs. Marble as a casual acquaintance, unaware of his sinister dealings with her husband.

### [Dr. Atkinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/dr_atkinson)

_social_

Dr. Atkinson is a polite family friend to Mrs. Marble, unaware of the dark secrets in the household.

### [Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/will)

_social_

Mrs. Marble is friendly with Will, seeing him as a suitable young man for her daughter Annie.

### [Mr. Marble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/mr_marble)

_family_

Husband and wife, but their relationship is strained by financial desperation and moral decay.

### [Mr. Marble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/mr_marble)

_family_

Husband and wife, but their relationship is strained by financial desperation and moral decay.

### [Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/will)

_social_

Mrs. Marble is friendly with Will, seeing him as a suitable young man for her daughter Annie.

### [Collins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/collins)

_social_

Collins interacts with Mrs. Marble as a casual acquaintance, unaware of his sinister dealings with her husband.

### [Annie Marble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/annie_marble)

_family_

Mother and daughter, with Mrs. Marble often oblivious to Annie's distress and the family's true situation.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters/i)

Makes a faint-hearted attempt to delay the children's bedtime but is overruled by her husband.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters/ii)

Laughs at Mr. Marble's frightened appearance, tries to comfort him, and is hurt by his harsh words.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters/vi)

Referred to as 'Mrs. Marble' in the narrative; she is deeply worried about her husband's state and tries to reassure him.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters/vii)

Delighted and flustered by her husband's attention, she accompanies him on a shopping trip and is reminded of their honeymoon.

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

Pleads for a charwoman but is overruled by Mr. Marble; delighted by her new clothes and furniture, exhausted from the day's work.

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

Defends her husband's odd behavior to Winnie, is proud of the gilt furniture, and struggles with unnamed worries.

### [The Intrigue of Madame Collins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters/x)

Anxious and controlling, she fusses over John's departure and warns him not to anger his father.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters/xi)

Resents Madame Collins's sympathy and opulence, wanders the house restlessly, and is present when Annie makes her discovery.

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

Also referred to as Annie; reacts emotionally to Collins's story; rekindles intimacy with her husband.

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

Wrings her hands and chokes with emotion as Winnie departs, unable to intervene.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters/mrs_marble
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/payment_deferred_se/characters