# Mrs. Miles — Short Fiction character guide > Mrs. Miles in Short Fiction by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** poor Mrs. Miles, Mrs. Miles Madam, Dear Mrs. Miles, Bessy Mrs. Miles **First appearance:** 0082-i-how-bessy-pryor-became-a-young-lady-of-importance ## Snapshot The autocratic mistress of Launay, whose love for her adopted Bessy collides with her dynastic plan to marry her son to a red-haired cousin. ## Who they are Mrs. Miles rules Launay and everyone in it, and the neighbourhood knows better than to cross her. She has raised Bessy as her own child and genuinely loves her, yet cannot tolerate a marriage that fails to combine the properties. Her sickroom ultimatums and her refusal to see Bessy before the banishment reveal a woman whose affection and pride are fatally entangled. ## Relationships ### [M. Lacordaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/m_lacordaire) _psychological_ M. Lacordaire exerts a manipulative, obsessive influence over Mrs. Miles, creating a dynamic of control and dependency. ### [Bessy Pryor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/bessy_pryor) _professional_ Bessy Pryor is a servant or companion to Mrs. Miles, with a relationship marked by duty and occasional warmth. ### [Emily Greenmantle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/emily_greenmantle) _social_ Emily Greenmantle and Mrs. Miles are acquaintances who move in the same social circles, with polite but superficial interactions. ### [M. Lacordaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/m_lacordaire) _psychological_ M. Lacordaire exerts a manipulative, obsessive influence over Mrs. Miles, creating a dynamic of control and dependency. ### [Emily Greenmantle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/emily_greenmantle) _social_ Emily Greenmantle and Mrs. Miles are acquaintances who move in the same social circles, with polite but superficial interactions. ### [Emily Greenmantle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/emily_greenmantle) _social_ Emily Greenmantle and Mrs. Miles are acquaintances who move in the same social circles, with polite but superficial interactions. ### [Bessy Pryor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/bessy_pryor) _professional_ Bessy Pryor is a servant or companion to Mrs. Miles, with a relationship marked by duty and occasional warmth. ### [Bessy Pryor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/bessy_pryor) _professional_ Bessy Pryor is a servant or companion to Mrs. Miles, with a relationship marked by duty and occasional warmth. ### [M. Lacordaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/m_lacordaire) _psychological_ M. Lacordaire exerts a manipulative, obsessive influence over Mrs. Miles, creating a dynamic of control and dependency. ## In the story ### [II: Love Forgives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/volume-ii-ii-love-forgives) Mrs. Johnson is referenced as the woman Mr. Dribble courts; she is identified as Mrs. Miles in the canonical list. ### [How Bessy Pryor Became a Young Lady of Importance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/i-how-bessy-pryor-became-a-young-lady-of-importance) A wealthy widow obsessed with duty, she adopts Bessy as a charitable act but grows deeply attached to her despite her principles. ### [How Bessy Pryor Wouldn't Marry the Parson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/ii-how-bessy-pryor-wouldn-t-marry-the-parson) Mrs. Miles is the matriarch who orchestrates Bessy's marriage to Mr. Morrison to preserve the Launay family's social status. She also plans to combine the Launay properties through a Cornish heiress to prevent any attachment between Philip and Bessy. ### [III: How Bessy Pryor Came to Love the Heir of Launay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iii-how-bessy-pryor-came-to-love-the-heir-of-launay) The protective mother who tries to prevent Bessy and Philip's relationship, falls ill, and struggles to maintain control. ### [How Bessy Pryor Owned That She Was Engaged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/iv-how-bessy-pryor-owned-that-she-was-engaged) Mrs. Miles is ill but recovers enough to confront her son and Bessy about the engagement, insisting Bessy give up Philip. ### [How Bessy Pryor Ceased to Be a Young Lady of Importance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/v-how-bessy-pryor-ceased-to-be-a-young-lady-of-importance) Autocratic and determined to separate the lovers; sees it as her duty to preserve the family's honor; consults the rector about Bessy's future. ### [How Bessy Pryor Was to Be Banished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/vi-how-bessy-pryor-was-to-be-banished) Mrs. Miles is the stern aunt who, despite her affection for Bessy, resolves to banish her to Normandy to prevent her marriage to Philip. ### [How Bessy Pryor Was Banished to Normandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/vii-how-bessy-pryor-was-banished-to-normandy) Inexorable in her decision to banish Bessy, but shows hidden affection by sending money and weeping over Bessy's letter. ### [How Bessy Pryor Received Two Letters from Launay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/viii-how-bessy-pryor-received-two-letters-from-launay) Writes a heartfelt but manipulative letter to Bessy, urging her to sacrifice her engagement for the sake of family duty. ### [How Bessy Pryor Answered the Two Letters, and What Came of It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/ix-how-bessy-pryor-answered-the-two-letters-and-what-came-of-it) Writes a stern letter urging Bessy to give up Philip, then sends a harsh one-line reply declaring enmity after Bessy refuses. ### [How Bessy Pryor's Lover Argued His Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/x-how-bessy-pryor-s-lover-argued-his-case) Struggles with her desire for control and her conscience, ultimately yielding to her son's plea and her love for Bessy. ### [How Bessy Pryor Was Brought Back, and What Then Became of Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/xii-how-bessy-pryor-was-brought-back-and-what-then-became-of-her) Struggles with her disappointment and self-blame for yielding, but ultimately welcomes Bessy with affection and gives her blessing. ### [Alice Dugdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/alice-dugdale) A neighbor or family friend, offering counsel and reflecting community values. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters/mrs_miles - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_4_se/characters