# Mr. Brown — Short Fiction character guide > Mr. Brown in Short Fiction by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Brown, Dear Mr. Brown, Nevertheless Mr. Brown, Mrs. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Here Mr. Brown **First appearance:** 0079-iv-mr-brown-the-hairdresser ## Snapshot A reluctant traveler who pleads a weak throat to avoid his wife's family Christmas, Mr. Brown turns a journey to Thompson Hall into a comedy of evasion. ## Who they are Mr. Brown has spent nearly eight years of marriage avoiding Christmas in England, preferring the mild air of Pau to the clamorous festivities of his wife's Thompson relations. When a summons from the family's newly elected MP makes the visit unavoidable, he drags his feet through every town from Bordeaux to Paris, complaining of bronchitis while eating hearty dinners and scolding waiters in a voice too clear to be believed. His wife, who sees through the performance, presses on toward Thompson Hall, setting up the marital tug-of-war that drives the story. ## In the story ### [Miss Ophelia Gledd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/miss-ophelia-gledd) Referred to as 'Mr. Pryor' in the chapter; an Englishman who is a potential suitor of Miss Gledd. He is mentioned as having not yet fixed a day to return to England, and his relationship with Miss Gledd is a point of contention. ### [Josephine de Montmorenci](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/josephine-de-montmorenci) The editor who corresponds with and eventually meets the aspiring novelist, showing a mix of professional skepticism and personal curiosity. ### [III: Showing How Isabel Lownd Told a Lie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iii-showing-how-isabel-lownd-told-a-lie) Referred to as 'Barty' (Barty Crossgrain), the old man whose fear in the pulpit startled Isabel. ### [Christmas at Thompson Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/christmas-at-thompson-hall) Mistakes a stranger for her husband in the dark. ### [Christmas at Thompson Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/christmas-at-thompson-hall) Husband of Mrs. Brown, involved in the misunderstanding. ### [Mrs. Brown’s Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/i-mrs-brown-s-success) Suffering from a sore throat and anxious about the journey to Thompson Hall; pleads for relief. ### [Mrs. Brown’s Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/i-mrs-brown-s-success) Devoted wife who braves the hotel at night to fetch mustard for her husband; proud of her reputation as 'La Fière Anglaise'. ### [II: Mrs. Brown’s Failure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/ii-mrs-brown-s-failure) The protagonist of the chapter, who undertakes a late-night errand for her husband, mistakenly applies a mustard plaster to a stranger, and struggles with guilt and exhaustion. ### [II: Mrs. Brown’s Failure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/ii-mrs-brown-s-failure) Mrs. Brown's husband, who claims to be ill but sleeps soundly, leading her to doubt his sincerity. ### [III: Mrs. Brown Attempts to Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iii-mrs-brown-attempts-to-escape) Desperate to escape after mistakenly applying a mustard poultice to a stranger; lies to her husband and insists on an early departure. ### [III: Mrs. Brown Attempts to Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iii-mrs-brown-attempts-to-escape) Ill and querulous, reluctant to travel; eventually yields to his wife's insistence. ### [Mrs. Brown Does Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iv-mrs-brown-does-escape) Husband of Mrs. Brown; initially angry but later believes her story about the mistaken mustard plaster. ### [Mrs. Brown Does Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iv-mrs-brown-does-escape) The lady who mistakenly enters Mr. Jones's room and applies a mustard plaster; she is distressed and veiled throughout the journey. ### [Mrs. Brown at Thompson Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/v-mrs-brown-at-thompson-hall) Arrives at Thompson Hall with her husband, eager to reunite with her family, and tries to smooth over the awkwardness with Mr. Jones. ### [Mrs. Brown at Thompson Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/v-mrs-brown-at-thompson-hall) Travels with his wife to Thompson Hall, perplexed by the coincidence of Mr. Jones also being a guest, and attempts to apologize for the mustard incident. ### [The Telegraph Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/the-telegraph-girl) A supervisor or senior figure at the telegraph office, interacting with Sophy. ### [Mr. Brown the Hairdresser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iv-mr-brown-the-hairdresser) Abraham Hall, the hairdresser; shows kindness and sternness toward Lucy; secures a job in the Forest of Dean and leaves London. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/mr_brown - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters