# Mrs. Lora Delane Porter — The Coming of Bill character guide > Mrs. Lora Delane Porter in The Coming of Bill by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mrs. Porter, Lora Delane Porter, Fate, Lora, Porter **First appearance:** 0001-i-a-pawn-of-fate ## Snapshot A gimlet-eyed reformer who arrives like fate at a studio door, certain she knows what is best for everyone and unaccustomed to being contradicted. ## Who they are Mrs. Lora Delane Porter is a masterful woman with well-defined views upon man, physical fitness as her gospel, and a stare that makes grown men feel like purse-snatchers. She examines strangers, lectures relatives, and treats Ruth's household as territory to be governed — until Ruth's pleasant smile-and-ignore treatment leaves her unexpectedly powerless. Her gradual defection from the family circle marks the novel's shift from courtship comedy to the harder question of who actually gets to raise a child. ## In the story ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/book-i) A wealthy and eccentric woman who believes in eugenics and interferes in Kirk and Ruth's relationship. ### [I: A Pawn of Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/i-a-pawn-of-fate) Introduced as a strong-minded eugenicist and author; she runs over George Pennicut and later decides Kirk Winfield should marry her niece Ruth. ### [III: The Mates Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iii-the-mates-meet) Arrives with Ruth to inquire about George Pennicut's condition. She introduces Ruth to Kirk and encourages Kirk to show Ruth his paintings. ### [IV: Troubled Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-troubled-waters) Mrs. Porter facilitates the meetings between Kirk and Ruth by occupying George Pennicut with exercises, leaving them alone. Bailey holds her responsible for the trouble. ### [Wherein Opposites Agree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/v-wherein-opposites-agree) Defends the marriage on eugenic grounds; writes at her desk before engaging Bailey. ### [VI: Breaking the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vi-breaking-the-news) Aunt Lora arrives to support Ruth and argues with John Bannister about Kirk's suitability. ### [VIII: Suspense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/viii-suspense) Arrives after being summoned by the doctor; asks for sherry and a sandwich before going upstairs, which irritates Kirk. ### [IX: The White Hope Is Turned Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ix-the-white-hope-is-turned-down) Predicts an intellectual future for William, envisioning him as a university president or ambassador. ### [X: An Interlude of Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/x-an-interlude-of-peace) Gradually withdraws from the studio after her advice on child-rearing is ignored, particularly over the dog Whiskers. ### [II: An Unknown Path](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ii-an-unknown-path) Appears unchanged and masterful, representing the 'gospel' of restrictions that Kirk finds unsettling. ### [The Misadventure of Steve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iii-the-misadventure-of-steve) Dominates the household with her strict, antiseptic methods; her voice is heard approaching the nursery, causing panic. ### [V: The Real Thing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/v-the-real-thing) Absent from the nursery today, but her watchful and forbidding presence is felt; she has forbidden Bill from having a cat. ### [VII: Cutting the Tangled Knot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vii-cutting-the-tangled-knot) Referenced by Ruth as an authority figure who would disapprove of William Bannister's unhygienic outing. ### [VIII: Steve to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/viii-steve-to-the-rescue) Receives news of Kirk's outbreak with composure, considering his presence superfluous now that William is launched. ### [IX: At One in the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ix-at-one-in-the-morning) Though not present in the scene, her strict hygienic system dominates the nursery environment and William's understanding of the world. ### [Mr. Penway on the Grill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xi-mr-penway-on-the-grill) Interrogates Mr. Penway, learns of Kirk's escape to Connecticut, and later lectures Mr. Penway on his health. ### [Dolls with Souls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xii-dolls-with-souls) Mrs. Porter appears at the end to deliver the news that Kirk has taken William and Mamie to Connecticut, acting as a catalyst for the next crisis. ### [Pastures New](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xiii-pastures-new) Referenced as 'Aunty Lora' whose germ-phobic rules about wrapped bread are challenged by Steve. ### [XIV: The Sixty-First Street Cyclone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xiv-the-sixty-first-street-cyclone) Appears at the doorway at the end, commanding silence. ### [Mrs. Porter's Waterloo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xv-mrs-porter-s-waterloo) Leads the confrontation but is defeated when Steve reveals his marriage plans; leaves in defeat. ### [XVI: The White-Hope Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xvi-the-white-hope-link) Referenced as having retired from active interference; Kirk is grateful for her departure. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/lora_delane_porter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters