# Ruth Bannister — The Coming of Bill character guide > Ruth Bannister in The Coming of Bill by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ruth, Bannister, Miss Ruth, Ruth Winfield **First appearance:** 0001-i-a-pawn-of-fate ## Snapshot A divinely tall, strong-willed heiress who plays the piano in her private den and quietly refuses to be managed by anyone. ## Who they are Ruth Bannister is the beautiful, self-possessed daughter of old John Bannister, raised on Fifth Avenue under the fussy guardianship of her brother Bailey. She listens pleasantly to her aunt's hygienic theories, smiles, and ignores them — a habit that infuriates anyone accustomed to obedience. Her determination to choose her own life, and the family resistance it provokes, sets the marriage plot in motion and tests whether love can survive the collision of two very different worlds. ## Relationships ### [Kirk Winfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/kirk_winfield) _romantic_ Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together. ### [Bailey Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/bailey_bannister) _family_ Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices. ### [Sybil Wilbur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/sybil_wilbur) _friendship_ Sybil Wilbur is Ruth's friend and confidante, offering support and companionship during Ruth's romantic struggles. ### [Kirk Winfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/kirk_winfield) _romantic_ Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together. ### [Bailey Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/bailey_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) _romantic_ Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together. ### [Bailey Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/bailey_bannister) _family_ Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices. ### [Sybil Wilbur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/sybil_wilbur) _friendship_ Sybil Wilbur is Ruth's friend and confidante, offering support and companionship during Ruth's romantic struggles. ### [Sybil Wilbur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/sybil_wilbur) _friendship_ Sybil Wilbur is Ruth's friend and confidante, offering support and companionship during Ruth's romantic struggles. ## In the story ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/book-i) The love interest of Kirk Winfield, from a poor family. ### [I: A Pawn of Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/i-a-pawn-of-fate) Mentioned as Mrs. Porter's niece and disciple; she was previously persuaded to refuse Basil Milbank. ### [Ruth States Her Intentions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ii-ruth-states-her-intentions) Calmly defends her rejection of Clarence Grayling and her eugenicist views; asserts her independence and duty to the race. ### [III: The Mates Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iii-the-mates-meet) Lora Delane Porter's niece. She feels an immediate, primal connection to Kirk and recognizes their mutual attraction, though she is amused by the formalities of courtship. ### [IV: Troubled Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-troubled-waters) Ruth is spending time with Kirk in his studio, chaperoned by Mrs. Porter. Her brother Bailey disapproves of her association with Kirk and Mrs. Porter. ### [Wherein Opposites Agree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/v-wherein-opposites-agree) Appears briefly, radiant and confirming her engagement to Kirk. ### [VI: Breaking the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vi-breaking-the-news) Ruth defends her love for Kirk and reveals the secret marriage to her father. ### [VII: Sufficient Unto Themselves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vii-sufficient-unto-themselves) Jealous and possessive, she actively excludes Kirk's friends and model, and admits to feeling irrational horror and premonitions. ### [VIII: Suspense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/viii-suspense) In labor upstairs; her unvarying cheerfulness contrasts with Kirk's dread. ### [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) Desires to heal the breach with her father and sends Steve to present William as a peace offering. ### [X: An Interlude of Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/x-an-interlude-of-peace) Resists Aunt Lora's advice on child-rearing, enjoys monopolizing Kirk and their son. ### [XI: Stung to Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xi-stung-to-action) Supports Kirk emotionally and practically, encouraging him to paint again and economize. ### [XII: A Climax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xii-a-climax) Supportive of Kirk and excited about Sybil's commission, but unaware of the depth of Kirk's despair. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/book-ii) William's mother, whose influence is secondary to Lora's in the child's life. ### [I: Empty-Handed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/i-empty-handed) Meets Kirk at the dock, reveals she has become wealthy, and has adopted Aunt Lora's views on germs. ### [II: An Unknown Path](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ii-an-unknown-path) Now wealthy after her father's death, she embraces the new lifestyle but is nervous about Kirk's reaction to Bailey being trustee of the money. ### [IV: The Widening Gap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-the-widening-gap) Now a prominent society hostess, she revels in the fashionable life and fails to understand Kirk's discontent. ### [V: The Real Thing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/v-the-real-thing) Mentioned as being at a luncheon party; Kirk concludes she supports the system because it gives her freedom, not out of conviction. ### [VI: The Outcasts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vi-the-outcasts) Drifts further from Kirk, absorbed in society life; she makes only perfunctory protests about his studio work. ### [VII: Cutting the Tangled Knot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vii-cutting-the-tangled-knot) Resents Bailey's interference and Kirk's attempts at domesticity, feeling drawn to Basil Milbank. ### [VIII: Steve to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/viii-steve-to-the-rescue) Described by Steve as having apparently gone mad; she is dining out and unaware of Steve's plan. ### [X: Accepting the Gifts of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/x-accepting-the-gifts-of-the-gods) Mentioned as having left early after a mysterious phone call; unaware of William's disappearance. ### [Mr. Penway on the Grill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xi-mr-penway-on-the-grill) Has left for Tuxedo to visit Mrs. Bailey Bannister after a troubling phone call; her absence is noted. ### [Dolls with Souls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xii-dolls-with-souls) Ruth is the central consciousness of the chapter, grappling with regret over losing Kirk and realizing her own complacency and misjudgment of others. ### [Mrs. Porter's Waterloo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xv-mrs-porter-s-waterloo) Torn between doubt and hope during the drive; ultimately chooses to reconcile with Kirk. ### [XVI: The White-Hope Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xvi-the-white-hope-link) Stands with Kirk at their son's bedside, expresses that being poor again might be fun, and kisses William's cheek. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/ruth_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