# Barbara Dasent — The Courts of the Morning character guide > Barbara Dasent in The Courts of the Morning by John Buchan. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Babs, Miss Babs, Barbara, Miss Barbara, Dasent **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot A young woman running the hilltop hospital stores with peon staff and her sister-in-arms Janet, keeping the mountain sanctuary alive while the men are away fighting. ## Who they are Barbara keeps the hospital stores of the hidden refuge, working early and late with her peons while men suffer in the plains below. She went into the enterprise with her eyes open, as she tells the restless Gobernador, and refuses the role of helpless romantic he tries to press on her. Her steadiness under his anxious probing gives the sanctuary its human centre, and her presence quietly answers his charge that the whole venture is childish trust in fortune. ## Relationships ### [Sandy Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/sandy_arbuthnot) _romantic_ Lovers with a passionate and complicated relationship, marked by tension and devotion. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _psychological_ Manipulator and victim, with Castor exerting control over Barbara through coercion and obsession. ### [Janet Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/janet_roylance) _friendship_ Friends and confidantes, with Barbara finding support and understanding from Janet. ### [Sandy Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/sandy_arbuthnot) _romantic_ Lovers with a passionate and complicated relationship, marked by tension and devotion. ### [Janet Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/janet_roylance) _friendship_ Friends and confidantes, with Barbara finding support and understanding from Janet. ### [Janet Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/janet_roylance) _friendship_ Friends and confidantes, with Barbara finding support and understanding from Janet. ### [Sandy Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/sandy_arbuthnot) _romantic_ Lovers with a passionate and complicated relationship, marked by tension and devotion. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _psychological_ Manipulator and victim, with Castor exerting control over Barbara through coercion and obsession. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _psychological_ Manipulator and victim, with Castor exerting control over Barbara through coercion and obsession. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Blenkiron's niece, who visited Laverlaw and is described by Janet as tall, slim, dark, and soft-spoken. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned by Janet as possibly the tall girl seen earlier, a relation of Mr. Blenkiron. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as looking after the Roylances in Olifa; referred to as 'Babs'. ### [The Poison Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/viii) Appears at the hacienda, warning the group that the Governor has visited and that Lord Clanroyden should stay elsewhere. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xi) Present at the dinner on the Corinna, engages the Gobernador in a spirited discussion about America. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/i) Accompanies the Gobernador on a morning walk, demonstrates her control over the Indian guards, and introduces Grayne and Latimer. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as walking with Castor; does not share Janet's liking for him. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iv) Busy in charge of hospital stores, working with peons and Janet. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/vii) Janet considers waking Barbara but decides not to disturb her sleep. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/viii) Barbara confronts Castor about Janet's abduction and struggles with her own grief and fury. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ix) Her kiss of farewell intensifies Archie's anxiety about Janet. ### [The Threat to the Courts of the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xi) Barbara is tense and silent, anxiously inquiring about Archie Roylance's whereabouts. ### [The Pass Through the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xii) Interprets Luis's letter, suggesting the Conquistadors are guarding the secret of the pass. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iii) Barbara stands with Janet watching the Indian troops. She clutches Sandy's arm and pleads with him not to risk his life in the Thermopylae defense. ### [The Avalanche at the Saddle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iv) Sends a message via Colonel Rogerson that she will obey Sandy's orders and go to bed. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ix) Notices movement outside the window and slips out to investigate, alerting the others to the danger. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/epilogue) Barbara is mentioned as being nearby, speaking with Geordie Hamilton about a sick vaquero, and is the object of Sandy's affection. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/barbara_dasent - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters