Pollyanna · Character

Nancy

The Harringtons' young maid, homesick for her family at The Corners, who becomes Pollyanna's first ally and the household's most honest witness.

supporting

Also known as Nancy

First appearance: Old Tom and Nancy

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

The maid who welcomes Pollyanna and is immediately charmed by her; learns about the glad game.

In the storyPollyannaOpen this moment free

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Nancy works below stairs for a mistress she finds chilly and exacting, and she misses her mother and siblings with an ache she talks about freely. She is the first person in the house to treat Pollyanna as a person rather than a duty, trading stories on the back porch and nearly betraying Miss Polly's early reluctance. Her loyalty gives Pollyanna a confidante and gives readers a grounded, unpolished view of what the child is actually changing inside that house.

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

See Nancy in Old Tom and Nancy

Character Web

13 connections

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

Relationship types

Friendship
Professional
Social
Other

Character groups

Belmont's core community
Protagonist
Town's peripheral figures

+8 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 Jimmy directly confronts Miss Polly with the revelation that her p…

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Relationships

Pollyanna Whittier
friendship · positive
Nancy is Pollyanna's devoted maid and first friend in Beldingsville, acting as a loyal… How this plays out →
Aunt Polly Harrington
professional · positive
Old Tom
friendship · positive
John Pendleton
social · positive
Timothy Durgin
romantic · positive
Pollyanna Whittier
friendship · positive
Nancy is Pollyanna's devoted maid and first friend in Beldingsville, acting as a loyal… How this plays out →
Pollyanna Whittier
friendship · positive
Nancy is Pollyanna's devoted maid and first friend in Beldingsville, acting as a loyal… How this plays out →
Aunt Polly Harrington
professional · positive
Old Tom
friendship · positive
Old Tom
friendship · positive
John Pendleton
social · positive
Timothy Durgin
romantic · positive

Pollyanna Whittier
Nancy is Pollyanna's devoted maid and first friend in Beldingsville, acting as a loyal confidante and supporter.
Aunt Polly Harrington
Aunt Polly is Nancy's employer, and their relationship is formal but becomes warmer as Nancy proves her loyalty.
Old Tom
Nancy and Old Tom are fellow servants in the Harrington household who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship.
John Pendleton
John Pendleton and Nancy are acquaintances who interact occasionally due to Pollyanna's visits to his house.
Timothy Durgin
Nancy and Timothy Durgin are sweethearts who eventually marry, with Timothy being a kind and reliable young man.
Pollyanna Whittier
Nancy is Pollyanna's devoted maid and first friend in Beldingsville, acting as a loyal confidante and supporter.
Pollyanna Whittier
Nancy is Pollyanna's devoted maid and first friend in Beldingsville, acting as a loyal confidante and supporter.
Aunt Polly Harrington
Aunt Polly is Nancy's employer, and their relationship is formal but becomes warmer as Nancy proves her loyalty.
Old Tom
Nancy and Old Tom are fellow servants in the Harrington household who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship.
Old Tom
Nancy and Old Tom are fellow servants in the Harrington household who share a friendly, cooperative working relationship.
John Pendleton
John Pendleton and Nancy are acquaintances who interact occasionally due to Pollyanna's visits to his house.
Timothy Durgin
Nancy and Timothy Durgin are sweethearts who eventually marry, with Timothy being a kind and reliable young man.

Relationship notes

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

See Nancy in Old Tom and Nancy

In the story

Nancy appears across 24 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Pollyanna
The maid who welcomes Pollyanna and is immediately charmed by her; learns about the glad game.
Miss Polly
Nancy is the maid working in Miss Polly's kitchen. She is cheerful and sympathetic, hoping the little girl might brighten things up, but is quickly rebuked by her mistress.
Old Tom and Nancy
Nancy cleans the attic room resentfully, muttering about Miss Polly's harshness, and later questions Old Tom about the family history.
The Coming of Pollyanna
The hired girl who meets Pollyanna at the station. Initially nervous, she is charmed by Pollyanna's warmth and decides to stay on to support the child.
The Little Attic Room
Comforts Pollyanna after she is left alone in the attic, helps unpack, and later panics when Pollyanna disappears.
The Game
Listens to Pollyanna's explanation of the Glad Game, agrees to play, and finds Pollyanna after she sneaks out.
A Question of Duty
Hurries Pollyanna to breakfast and later is sent to close windows and search for flies after Pollyanna opened them without screens.
Pollyanna and Punishments
Talks with Pollyanna on the back porch, shares her dislike of her name, and is cheered by Pollyanna's story about Mrs. White's name.
Pollyanna Pays a Visit
Describes Mrs. Snow's difficult nature and gives Pollyanna the errand to deliver jelly.
Which Tells of the Man
Explains to Pollyanna that the Man is John Pendleton, a wealthy recluse who speaks to no one, and shares local gossip about his mysterious life.
X: A Surprise for Mrs. Snow
Helps move Pollyanna's things and celebrates the room change.
XI: Introducing Jimmy
Nancy is mentioned as the one Pollyanna calls to show the kitten, and she is noted as expecting surprises and changes since Pollyanna's arrival.
Just a Matter of Jelly
Meets Pollyanna at the door, relieved she is safe; explains Aunt Polly's sudden departure; listens to the accident story.
Dr. Chilton
Sweeps the porch, talks with Pollyanna about the glad game and the doctor, and is described as getting better at playing the game.
A Red Rose and a Lace Shawl
Helped regulate the attic where Pollyanna found the lace shawl.
Just Like a Book
Listens to Pollyanna's account of the visit and excitedly deduces that John Pendleton was Aunt Polly's former lover.
Prisms
Mentioned as the elderly maid (Nora) who brings the candlestick and helps hang the prisms.
XX: Which Is More Surprising
Nancy is mentioned as the source of Pollyanna's mistaken belief that Mr. Pendleton and Aunt Polly were once lovers.
A Question Answered
Reassures Pollyanna that Aunt Polly cares for her deeply, citing the umbrella-sending as evidence.
An Accident
Weeps and expresses anguish over Pollyanna's accident, noting Aunt Polly's genuine fear and love.
John Pendleton
Informs Old Tom about John Pendleton's unexpected visit and discusses the past gossip linking him to Miss Polly.
Two Visits
Sent to tell John Pendleton the doctor's verdict; she reports Pollyanna's despair and her inability to play the glad game, and mentions Pollyanna's wish to show Jimmy Bean to Pendleton.
XXVIII: The Game and Its Players
Explains the Glad Game to Aunt Polly, recounting how Pollyanna taught her to be glad about Monday mornings.
Jimmy Takes the Helm
Announces Jimmy's arrival to Miss Polly.

Chapter companion notes

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

See Nancy in Old Tom and Nancy

See Nancy in Pollyanna