# Lady Mottisfont — Short Fiction character guide

> Lady Mottisfont in Short Fiction by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0132-dame-the-second

## Who they are

A noblewoman with a secret from her past.

## In the story

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

Not present in this chapter.

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

Referenced as Mrs. Fellmer, the cheerful and straightforward mother of the landowner, who invites Joshua and Rosa to dine.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/i)

The Squire's new wife, a gentle and charitable woman who is terrified by the sight of the disfigured child.

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

The Squire's wife, Lady Cicely, gives birth to a son and heir despite her earlier fright and fall; she later dies, marking the first shadow on the lord's life.

### [Dame the Fourth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/dame-the-fourth)

Philippa, the gentle and over-submissive wife of Sir Ashley, who adores Dorothy but later relinquishes her and then declines to take her back after giving birth to her own son.

### [Dame the Eighth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/dame-the-eighth)

The central figure of the tale, Lady Penelope, who suffers under her second husband's cruelty and regrets her hasty marriage.

## Links

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