# Helena — Short Fiction character guide

> Helena in Short Fiction by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0002-destiny-and-a-blue-cloak

## Who they are

A woman whose romantic life is complicated by family.

## In the story

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/xvii)

Not present in this chapter.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/ii)

Philip's wife, who arrives with him and their children, wearing a dress that Philip obtained dishonestly from Sally's parcel.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iii)

Helena is revealed as Philip Hall's widow, a pale and ladylike woman in poverty. She had previously refused Darton's marriage proposal and now finds herself dependent on his kindness.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iv)

Helena, left penniless, accepts Darton's offer for her son, meets Darton at the White Horse, marries him, but becomes mopish and dies after less than a year and a half.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters/helena
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters