# Mrs. Adair — The Four Feathers character guide > Mrs. Adair in The Four Feathers by A. E. W. Mason. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Melusine Overture Mrs. Adair, Mrs. Adair Intervenes **First appearance:** 0019-xvii-the-melusine-overture ## Snapshot Ethne's friend and neighbor whose quiet interference in a secret engagement leaves her stranded on the terrace, watching others pair off indoors. ## Who they are Mrs. Adair moves through the drawing rooms and gardens of the neighborhood as Ethne's confidante, but her loyalty is compromised by feelings she cannot name. She betrays a secret to Durrance—telling him of Captain Willoughby's arrival—and then resents that he still does not see her. Her meddling shapes the triangle between Ethne, Durrance, and Willoughby, making her a quiet engine of the novel's romantic tensions. ## Relationships ### [Durrance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/durrance) _friendship_ Mrs. Adair is a close confidante and social ally to Durrance, often helping him navigate his personal and social challenges. ### [Ethne Eustace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/ethne_eustace) _friendship_ Ethne and Mrs. Adair share a close friendship, with Mrs. Adair often acting as a confidante and advisor to Ethne. ### [Harry Feversham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/harry_feversham) _friendship_ Harry and Mrs. Adair share a cordial friendship, with Mrs. Adair showing sympathy for Harry's situation. ### [Durrance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/durrance) _friendship_ Mrs. Adair is a close confidante and social ally to Durrance, often helping him navigate his personal and social challenges. ### [Durrance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/durrance) _friendship_ Mrs. Adair is a close confidante and social ally to Durrance, often helping him navigate his personal and social challenges. ### [Ethne Eustace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/ethne_eustace) _friendship_ Ethne and Mrs. Adair share a close friendship, with Mrs. Adair often acting as a confidante and advisor to Ethne. ### [Harry Feversham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/harry_feversham) _friendship_ Harry and Mrs. Adair share a cordial friendship, with Mrs. Adair showing sympathy for Harry's situation. ### [Ethne Eustace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/ethne_eustace) _friendship_ Ethne and Mrs. Adair share a close friendship, with Mrs. Adair often acting as a confidante and advisor to Ethne. ## In the story ### [III: The Last Ride Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/iii-the-last-ride-together) Meets Durrance in the park, learns of Feversham's engagement and Durrance's departure. ### [VIII: Lieutenant Sutch Is Tempted to Lie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/viii-lieutenant-sutch-is-tempted-to-lie) Meets Durrance in Hyde Park, informs him of the broken engagement and the fire at Lennon House, and hints at her own interest in Durrance. ### [XI: Durrance Hears News of Feversham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xi-durrance-hears-news-of-feversham) Hosts Ethne in London and later in Donegal, though her reasons for the latter are not fully explained. ### [XIII: Durrance Begins to See](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xiii-durrance-begins-to-see) Observes Ethne's watch and mistakenly believes the two lives in question are Durrance's and Ethne's. She tactfully proposes that Ethne stay with her during the engagement interval. ### [XIV: Captain Willoughby Reappears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xiv-captain-willoughby-reappears) Mrs. Adair observes Ethne's agitation and quietly reflects on the change in her demeanor. ### [XVI: Captain Willoughby Retires](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xvi-captain-willoughby-retires) Observes the meeting between Ethne and Willoughby, becomes suspicious, and tries to learn more about Willoughby's purpose. ### [XVII: The 'Melusine Overture'](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xvii-the-melusine-overture) Curious about Ethne's change, she refrains from asking direct questions, preferring to observe and maneuver; she notices the change but does not understand its cause. ### [XIX: Mrs. Adair Intervenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xix-mrs-adair-intervenes) Jealous and manipulative, she reveals Ethne's secret to Durrance to cause pain. ### [XXI: Ethne Makes Another Slip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xxi-ethne-makes-another-slip) Uneasy and angry as her disclosures seem to have no effect on the relationship between Ethne and Durrance. ### [XXIII: Mrs. Adair Makes Her Apology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/chapters/xxiii-mrs-adair-makes-her-apology) Confesses her jealousy and manipulation, revealing her unhappy past and the regret that follows her outburst. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters/mrs_adair - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_four_feathers_se/characters