# Mrs. Curtis — The Clever Woman of the Family character guide

> Mrs. Curtis in The Clever Woman of the Family by Charlotte M. Yonge.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gentle Mrs. Curtis, Poor Mrs. Curtis, poor perplexed Mrs. Curtis

**First appearance:** 0000-i-in-search-of-a-mission

## Who they are

Rachel and Fanny's gentle, overwhelmed widowed mother, who insists the family present an unassailable front even as her nerves fray beneath it.

## Relationships

### [Rachel Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters/rachel_curtis)

_family_

Mrs. Curtis is Rachel's mother, loving but often exasperated by Rachel's headstrong and interfering ways.

### [Fanny Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters/fanny_temple)

_friendship_

Fanny is a close family friend to Mrs. Curtis, often acting as a bridge between Rachel and her mother.

### [Fanny Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters/fanny_temple)

_friendship_

Fanny is a close family friend to Mrs. Curtis, often acting as a bridge between Rachel and her mother.

### [Rachel Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters/rachel_curtis)

_family_

Mrs. Curtis is Rachel's mother, loving but often exasperated by Rachel's headstrong and interfering ways.

### [Fanny Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters/fanny_temple)

_friendship_

Fanny is a close family friend to Mrs. Curtis, often acting as a bridge between Rachel and her mother.

### [Rachel Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters/rachel_curtis)

_family_

Mrs. Curtis is Rachel's mother, loving but often exasperated by Rachel's headstrong and interfering ways.

## In the story

### [I: In Search of a Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/i-in-search-of-a-mission)

Gentle and placid mother, gives Rachel a wreath of white roses, unaware of her daughter's inner turmoil.

### [II: Rachel's Discipline](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/ii-rachel-s-discipline)

Accompanies Fanny on a drive, learns about her past, and worries about the boys' future.

### [VI: Ermine's Resolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/vi-ermine-s-resolution)

Plans to lecture Fanny, showing her sense of duty.

### [X: The Philanthropist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/x-the-philanthropist)

Worried about the propriety of paying for Mr. Mauleverer's sketch, showing her conventional concerns.

### [The Fox and the Crow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/xiii-the-fox-and-the-crow)

Relieved to learn Rachel knew about Colonel Keith's attachment, but critical of the secrecy.

### [XIX: The Brewst She Brewed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/xix-the-brewst-she-brewed)

Anxious and distressed, worries about Rachel's exposure to the disease, insists Grace not enter the sickroom.

### [XX: The Saracen’s Head](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/xx-the-saracen-s-head)

Distressed and anxious, insists Rachel must testify against Mauleverer, showing her shock and concern.

### [The After Clap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/xxii-the-after-clap)

Overjoyed by the engagement but distressed by Rachel's illness and the gossip surrounding her; struggles to maintain composure.

### [Dear Alexander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/chapters/xxiii-dear-alexander)

Her anxious and fluttering attentions aggravate Rachel's condition. She has elevated Alick to a pedestal of infallibility.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters/mrs_curtis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clever_woman_of_the_family_se/characters