# Bailey Bannister — The Coming of Bill character guide > Bailey Bannister in The Coming of Bill by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Bailey, Bannister, Brother Bailey, Mr. Bailey, old man Bannister **First appearance:** 0001-i-a-pawn-of-fate ## Snapshot A prim, pop-eyed junior partner who considers minding other people's business a sacred duty, especially his sister's. ## Who they are Bailey Bannister is twenty-seven, faultlessly dressed, gold-rimmed, and convinced that Wall Street awaits only his father's permission to be astonished. With their mother dead and old Mr. Bannister absorbed in the firm, Bailey appoints himself Ruth's guardian and gallops up Fifth Avenue to forbid her marriage to a man he has never met. His self-important interference — and his instinctive retreat when Kirk looms up in a sleeveless vest — supplies the novel's sharpest social comedy and its clearest portrait of respectable obstruction. ## Relationships ### [Ruth Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/ruth_bannister) _family_ Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices. ### [Kirk Winfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/kirk_winfield) _rivalry_ Bailey Bannister opposes Kirk's marriage to Ruth, viewing him as an unsuitable, poor suitor and actively working against him. ### [Steve Dingle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/steve_dingle) _rivalry_ Bailey Bannister clashes with Steve Dingle, who often undermines Bailey's schemes and stands up for Kirk. ### [Ruth Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/ruth_bannister) _family_ Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices. ### [Kirk Winfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/kirk_winfield) _rivalry_ Bailey Bannister opposes Kirk's marriage to Ruth, viewing him as an unsuitable, poor suitor and actively working against him. ### [Ruth Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/ruth_bannister) _family_ Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices. ### [Steve Dingle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/steve_dingle) _rivalry_ Bailey Bannister clashes with Steve Dingle, who often undermines Bailey's schemes and stands up for Kirk. ### [Steve Dingle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/steve_dingle) _rivalry_ Bailey Bannister clashes with Steve Dingle, who often undermines Bailey's schemes and stands up for Kirk. ### [Kirk Winfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/kirk_winfield) _rivalry_ Bailey Bannister opposes Kirk's marriage to Ruth, viewing him as an unsuitable, poor suitor and actively working against him. ## In the story ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/book-i) Ruth's brother, who confronts Mrs. Porter about her interference. ### [I: A Pawn of Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/i-a-pawn-of-fate) Ruth's brother; he dislikes and suspects Mrs. Porter, who calls him a worm. ### [Ruth States Her Intentions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ii-ruth-states-her-intentions) Rushes to confront Ruth after hearing from Clarence Grayling; fusses over Ruth's behavior and blames Aunt Lora. ### [IV: Troubled Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-troubled-waters) Bailey is furious about Ruth's involvement with Kirk and blames Mrs. Porter. He decides to confront Kirk and stays away from the office to handle the matter. ### [Wherein Opposites Agree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/v-wherein-opposites-agree) Confronts Mrs. Porter about Ruth's engagement, then goes to thrash Kirk. ### [VI: Breaking the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vi-breaking-the-news) Bailey bursts in to announce Aunt Lora's arrival and is dismissed by her. ### [XII: A Climax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xii-a-climax) Furious about the poor portrait, confronts Kirk with harsh truths about his character and idleness. ### [II: An Unknown Path](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ii-an-unknown-path) Mentioned as trustee of the inheritance and now married; his role in administering the money is a point of tension. ### [IV: The Widening Gap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-the-widening-gap) Hosts an elaborate dinner; appears older and dignified, but his wife's extravagance is noted. ### [VII: Cutting the Tangled Knot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vii-cutting-the-tangled-knot) Interferes in Ruth and Kirk's marriage, driven by his own financial troubles and jealousy of Basil Milbank. ### [Dolls with Souls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xii-dolls-with-souls) Bailey is critically ill from overwork and financial speculation, having taken big risks in Wall Street. His breakdown brings Ruth and Sybil together. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/bailey_bannister - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters