# Helen — Short Fiction character guide

> Helen in Short Fiction by Catherine Louisa Pirkis.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Nellie, Miss Nellie, little Nellie

**First appearance:** 0001-i

## Snapshot

A vivacious, tall young woman of brown hair and restless energy, forever going in for something or other and never content to sit still.

## Who they are

Nellie moves through the household with a love of fun that makes stillness impossible, yet beside the polished Beatrix she confesses to feeling small, indifferently dressed, and lacking in manner. That unease sharpens into a wary rivalry as Beatrix breezily proposes to rouse Cousin John from his locked study—something Nellie knows better than to attempt. Her nervous deference to the Professor's rages and her half-hidden jealousy make her the household's barometer for every coming storm.

## Relationships

### [Beatrix Harley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/beatrix_harley)

_friendship_

A loyal and supportive friendship, with Beatrix often acting as a confidante to Helen.

### [Piers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/piers)

_romantic_

A romantic relationship filled with tension and unspoken feelings, with Helen torn between duty and desire.

### [The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/the_professor)

_professional_

A student-mentor relationship, with the Professor guiding Helen academically, though there is an emotional undercurrent.

### [Beatrix Harley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/beatrix_harley)

_friendship_

A loyal and supportive friendship, with Beatrix often acting as a confidante to Helen.

### [The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/the_professor)

_professional_

A student-mentor relationship, with the Professor guiding Helen academically, though there is an emotional undercurrent.

### [Piers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/piers)

_romantic_

A romantic relationship filled with tension and unspoken feelings, with Helen torn between duty and desire.

### [Piers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/piers)

_romantic_

A romantic relationship filled with tension and unspoken feelings, with Helen torn between duty and desire.

### [Beatrix Harley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/beatrix_harley)

_friendship_

A loyal and supportive friendship, with Beatrix often acting as a confidante to Helen.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/chapters/i)

Nellie is a pretty heiress who has been skating with Piers and is nonchalant about his departure, while mischievously announcing the arrival of cousins.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/chapters/ii)

Expresses jealousy and spite towards Beatrix, confides in her maid Mattie, and shows interest in her cousin Piers.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/chapters/iii)

In a bad temper due to Piers's apparent neglect, but later meets him at midnight in the hall.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/helen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters