# Marjorie Lindon — The Beetle character guide > Marjorie Lindon in The Beetle by Richard Marsh. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Lindon, Lindon, Miss Marjorie Lindon, Miss Marjorie **First appearance:** 0000-book-i-the-house-with-the-open-window ## Snapshot A high-spirited heiress who defies her father to love Lessingham, only to find herself hunted through London by a horror she cannot name. ## Who they are Marjorie Lindon is the strong-willed daughter of a wealthy, blustering father, and she refuses to be ordered out of her attachment to Paul Lessingham. Her courage and independence are tested when she becomes the Beetle's target, culminating in a night of terror in which she tears off her ball gown and cowers from an unseen buzzing thing. Her ordeal transforms the abstract menace haunting Lessingham into a visceral, intimate threat, and her fate becomes the measure of the story's stakes. ## Relationships ### [Sydney Atherton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/sydney_atherton) _romantic_ Marjorie Lindon is courted by Sydney Atherton, who is deeply in love with her, though she is initially more attached to Paul Lessingham. ### [Paul Lessingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/paul_lessingham) _romantic_ Marjorie Lindon is engaged to Paul Lessingham, though their relationship is strained by his mysterious past and the Beetle's interference. ### [The Beetle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/the_beetle) _psychological_ Marjorie Lindon becomes a target of the Beetle's hypnotic and predatory attacks, used as leverage against Paul Lessingham. ### [Mr. Lindon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/mr_lindon) _family_ Marjorie Lindon is the daughter of Mr. Lindon, and they share a protective, affectionate father-daughter bond. ### [Robert Holt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/robert_holt) _social_ Marjorie Lindon briefly interacts with Robert Holt, who is under the Beetle's control and poses a threat to her. ### [Sydney Atherton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/sydney_atherton) _romantic_ Marjorie Lindon is courted by Sydney Atherton, who is deeply in love with her, though she is initially more attached to Paul Lessingham. ### [Paul Lessingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/paul_lessingham) _romantic_ Marjorie Lindon is engaged to Paul Lessingham, though their relationship is strained by his mysterious past and the Beetle's interference. ### [Sydney Atherton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/sydney_atherton) _romantic_ Marjorie Lindon is courted by Sydney Atherton, who is deeply in love with her, though she is initially more attached to Paul Lessingham. ### [Mr. Lindon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/mr_lindon) _family_ Marjorie Lindon is the daughter of Mr. Lindon, and they share a protective, affectionate father-daughter bond. ### [The Beetle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/the_beetle) _psychological_ Marjorie Lindon becomes a target of the Beetle's hypnotic and predatory attacks, used as leverage against Paul Lessingham. ### [Paul Lessingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/paul_lessingham) _romantic_ Marjorie Lindon is engaged to Paul Lessingham, though their relationship is strained by his mysterious past and the Beetle's interference. ### [Mr. Lindon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/mr_lindon) _family_ Marjorie Lindon is the daughter of Mr. Lindon, and they share a protective, affectionate father-daughter bond. ## In the story ### [IX: The Contents of the Packet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/ix-the-contents-of-the-packet) Her letters to Lessingham are read by the Beetle, who threatens her with suffering. ### [Book II: The Haunted Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/book-ii-the-haunted-man) Object of Atherton's affection; her rejection and later terror by the beetle are key. ### [X: Rejected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/x-rejected) Gently rejects Atherton's proposal, reveals her engagement to Paul Lessingham, and asks Atherton to be a friend to their side. ### [A Midnight Episode](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xi-a-midnight-episode) Object of Atherton's affection; he blames her for his troubles and resents her connection to Lessingham. ### [A Morning Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xii-a-morning-visitor) Atherton's beloved; her name is used by the stranger to provoke Atherton's jealousy. ### [The Picture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xiii-the-picture) Referenced as the person from whom Lessingham wants to keep the incident hidden. ### [The Duchess’ Ball](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xiv-the-duchess-ball) The object of Atherton's and Woodville's affections; she is devoted to Paul Lessingham and asks Atherton to help persuade her father to accept their relationship. ### [XV: Mr. Lessingham Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xv-mr-lessingham-speaks) Praises Lessingham's speech effusively, defends him against Atherton's criticism, and leaves with Lessingham on her arm, defying her father's disapproval. ### [XVI: Atherton’s Magic Vapour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xvi-atherton-s-magic-vapour) Object of Percy's affection; mentioned in Percy's stories of his failed proposals and in Atherton's taunts. ### [A Heavy Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xx-a-heavy-father) Arrives at Atherton's laboratory seeking to speak with him, appearing troubled and as if joy has left her life. ### [The Terror in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxi-the-terror-in-the-night) Visits Atherton in a terrified state, recounting her encounter with a strange man and the supernatural beetle-like presence that haunted her bedroom. ### [The Haunted Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxii-the-haunted-man) Referenced as the object of both men's concern; Atherton fears for her safety. ### [Book III: The Terror by Night and the Terror by Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/book-iii-the-terror-by-night-and-the-terror-by-day) Narrator of the chapter, recounting her terror and ordeal with the Beetle. ### [XXIII: The Way He Told Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxiii-the-way-he-told-her) Narrates her own love story, from first reading Paul's speech to accepting his proposal on Westminster Bridge. ### [XXIV: A Woman’s View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxiv-a-woman-s-view) Narrator of the chapter; reflects on Atherton's proposal, her secret engagement to Lessingham, and her father's hostility. ### [XXV: The Man in the Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxv-the-man-in-the-street) Narrator of the chapter; she discovers the stranger in the street and takes him into her home. ### [A Father’s No](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxvi-a-father-s-no) Narrator of the chapter; she defies her father's orders and remains loyal to Paul Lessingham. ### [XXVII: The Terror by Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxvii-the-terror-by-night) Narrates her childhood antipathy to beetles and describes the night's terror when a winged beetle invades her bedroom, causing her to tear off her gown and faint. Later visits Holt, whose cryptic warning intensifies her dread. ### [XXVIII: The Strange Story of the Man in the Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxviii-the-strange-story-of-the-man-in-the-street) Narrator of the chapter; she is recovering from her own terrifying experience, feels betrayed by Sydney, and is determined to help Paul after hearing Holt's story. ### [XXIX: The House on the Road from the Workhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxix-the-house-on-the-road-from-the-workhouse) Accompanies Atherton and Holt, resents Atherton's patronizing attitude, insists on entering through the window rather than waiting. ### [XXX: The Singular Behaviour of Mr. Holt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxx-the-singular-behaviour-of-mr-holt) Narrator of the chapter; observes Holt's convulsions and trance, and is left alone after Sydney follows Holt. ### [XXXI: The Terror by Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxxi-the-terror-by-day) Marjorie is left alone in the house, initially skeptical of Holt's story but becoming increasingly disturbed by the eerie surroundings and the beetle imagery. ### [After Twenty Years](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxxiv-after-twenty-years) Referenced as Lessingham's fiancée; her stolen letters are a key concern for Lessingham, who fears they may be used to harm her. ### [A Bringer of Tidings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxxv-a-bringer-of-tidings) Referenced as the woman in peril; Atherton believes she has been captured by the Beetle. ### [What the Tidings Were](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxxvi-what-the-tidings-were) Reported missing after being left alone in the Fulham house; her engagement ring is found trampled. ### [The Rest of the Find](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-rest-of-the-find) Her clothing, purse, keys, and severed hair are found in the attic, suggesting she was stripped and possibly harmed. ### [XL: What Miss Coleman Saw Through the Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xl-what-miss-coleman-saw-through-the-window) Implied to be the young woman who entered the house and was not seen leaving; feared to be in the bundle. ### [XLI: The Constable—His Clue—and the Cab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xli-the-constable-his-clue-and-the-cab) Hypnotized by the Beetle, forced to strip and dress in Holt's rags, and sent out into the streets; believed to be alive. ### [XLII: The Quarry Doubles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xlii-the-quarry-doubles) Disguised as a tramp, is one of the Beetle's companions; described as making wailing noises in the cab. ### [XLIII: The Murder at Mrs. ’Enderson’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xliii-the-murder-at-mrs-enderson-s) The missing victim, believed to be in the Beetle's clutches; her suffering is imagined with horror. ### [XLIV: The Man Who Was Murdered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xliv-the-man-who-was-murdered) Referenced as being disguised in Holt's old clothes and in danger from the beetle. ### [The Contents of the Third-Class Carriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xlvii-the-contents-of-the-third-class-carriage) Found dead in the wrecked third-class carriage, dressed as a tramp. ### [XLVIII: The Conclusion of the Matter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xlviii-the-conclusion-of-the-matter) Survived the train wreck, recovered after years of medical supervision, inherited her father's estates, and married Paul Lessingham. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/marjorie_lindon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters