# Mrs. Treverton — The Dead Secret character guide

> Mrs. Treverton in The Dead Secret by Wilkie Collins.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the late Mrs. Treverton

**First appearance:** 0001-i-the-twenty-third-of-august-1829

## Snapshot

The dying mistress of Porthgenna Tower, whose resolute will and whispered deathbed confidence bind her maid Sarah to a secret that outlives her.

## Who they are

Lying in the great curtained bed with the sea thundering beyond the window, Mrs. Treverton calls not for the nurse but for Sarah Leeson, and speaks with a strength that shames her maid's trembling hesitation. Even in her last hour she commands the room, demanding light and exacting a promise whose weight will shadow everyone who comes after. Her deathbed is the still point from which the entire mystery of the novel quietly unfolds.

## In the story

### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/book-i)

The late Mrs. Treverton, whose deathbed oath and secret letter drive the plot.

### [The Twenty-Third of August, 1829](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/i-the-twenty-third-of-august-1829)

The dying mistress, a former actress, dictates a secret letter and forces Sarah to swear oaths regarding it, but dies before completing the third oath.

### [II: The Child](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/ii-the-child)

Deceased; her deathbed oath and the letter she wrote with Sarah continue to haunt Sarah.

### [III: The Hiding of the Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iii-the-hiding-of-the-secret)

Her deathbed letter is the central object; her dying wishes haunt Sarah's actions.

### [II: The Sale of Porthgenna Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/ii-the-sale-of-porthgenna-tower)

Deceased wife of Captain Treverton; her death is a key reason for the sale of the estate.

### [II: Will They Come?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/ii-will-they-come)

Mentioned as the late Mrs. Treverton, whose doctor is favored by Rosamond.

### [I: A Plot Against the Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/i-a-plot-against-the-secret)

The deceased mistress whose deathbed secret and oath bind Sarah; her presence haunts Sarah's thoughts.

### [Book V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/book-v)

Her deathbed oath and the secret letter are key elements of the discovered truth.

### [VI: The Telling of the Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/vi-the-telling-of-the-secret)

The late Mrs. Treverton is referenced as the author of the secret letter, confessing to the deception about Rosamond's birth.

### [I: Uncle Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/i-uncle-joseph)

Mentioned as the writer of letters to Captain Treverton, whose handwriting Rosamond recognizes in the secret letter's address and signature.

### [III: The Story of the Past](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iii-the-story-of-the-past)

Devised the plan to pass Sarah's child as her own, using disguise and travel to maintain the deception.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/mrs_treverton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters