# Eleanore Leavenworth — The Leavenworth Case character guide > Eleanore Leavenworth in The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Eleanore, Miss Eleanore Leavenworth, Eleanore, Miss Leavenworth, the Misses Leavenworth, Leavenworth **First appearance:** 0000-book-i-the-problem ## Snapshot The younger niece, pale and proud, whose silent endurance of suspicion suggests she is protecting someone at enormous personal cost. ## Who they are Eleanore Leavenworth is the quieter, more austere of the two nieces, and the one the evidence most directly incriminates. Rather than defend herself, she refuses to explain her actions, accepting suspicion with a stoicism that reads as guilt to the police but as sacrifice to the narrator. Her refusal to speak, combined with her obvious anguish, makes her the mystery the narrator is most desperate to solve. ## Relationships ### [Mary Leavenworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mary_leavenworth) _family_ Eleanore and Mary are cousins living together, with Eleanore protective and Mary more worldly and secretive, creating a tense sibling-like bond. ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mr_gryce) _professional_ Eleanore is a suspect interviewed by Mr. Gryce, who treats her with suspicion but also respect for her composure. ### [Mr. Harwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mr_harwell) _professional_ Eleanore and Mr. Harwell have a formal employer-secretary relationship, with Harwell showing nervous devotion to her. ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mr_gryce) _professional_ Eleanore is a suspect interviewed by Mr. Gryce, who treats her with suspicion but also respect for her composure. ### [Mary Leavenworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mary_leavenworth) _family_ Eleanore and Mary are cousins living together, with Eleanore protective and Mary more worldly and secretive, creating a tense sibling-like bond. ### [Mary Leavenworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mary_leavenworth) _family_ Eleanore and Mary are cousins living together, with Eleanore protective and Mary more worldly and secretive, creating a tense sibling-like bond. ### [Mr. Harwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mr_harwell) _professional_ Eleanore and Mr. Harwell have a formal employer-secretary relationship, with Harwell showing nervous devotion to her. ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mr_gryce) _professional_ Eleanore is a suspect interviewed by Mr. Gryce, who treats her with suspicion but also respect for her composure. ### [Mr. Harwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/mr_harwell) _professional_ Eleanore and Mr. Harwell have a formal employer-secretary relationship, with Harwell showing nervous devotion to her. ## In the story ### [A Great Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/i-a-great-case) Mentioned as one of the nieces; the narrator is asked to assist the ladies. ### [II: The Coroner’s Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/ii-the-coroner-s-inquest) Mentioned indirectly; the narrator imagines her likeness in a portrait on the wall. ### [III: Facts and Deductions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/iii-facts-and-deductions) Identified as the niece with whom Mr. Leavenworth had a shadow; she faints upon discovering the body, then stays by the library table after ordering its removal. ### [A Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/iv-a-clue) Mentioned as the person Hannah intended to seek for toothache medicine; also seen coming out of the library with a piece of paper after the body was found. ### [Expert Testimony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/v-expert-testimony) Mentioned by Mr. Harwell as having been seen with the pistol, asking how to load, aim, and fire it. ### [VI: Sidelights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/vi-sidelights) Initially standing in an attitude of antagonism, she becomes visibly terrified and trembling upon being seen, later leaning on Mr. Gryce's arm as she descends the stairs, half-fainting. ### [VII: Mary Leavenworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/vii-mary-leavenworth) Present at the inquest, shows tension and concern when Mary is questioned about a paper she may have had. ### [VIII: Circumstantial Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/viii-circumstantial-evidence) Testifies at the inquest, denies taking a paper, refuses to answer about the key, and faints after the handkerchief evidence is presented. ### [IX: A Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/ix-a-discovery) Mentioned as the subject of suspicion; reportedly acted nervously and asked for water while being watched by Fobbs. ### [X: Mr. Gryce Receives New Impetus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/x-mr-gryce-receives-new-impetus) Confronted about the key; refuses to answer questions and leaves the room, maintaining her silence. ### [The Summons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xi-the-summons) Not seen directly but sends an urgent summons to the narrator; remains in her room after the inquest. ### [XII: Eleanore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xii-eleanore) Found in despair over newspaper accusations; protests her innocence and performs a ritualistic act at her uncle's bedside to prove it. ### [XIII: The Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xiii-the-problem) Defends her innocence, admits to taking a paper from the library table and destroying it, but refuses to reveal how she obtained the key or what she heard. ### [XIV: Mr. Gryce at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xiv-mr-gryce-at-home) Believed by the narrator to be sacrificing herself for someone she loves; her innocence is asserted. ### [Ways Opening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xv-ways-opening) Sends a note to the narrator giving her address but requesting no visits as she is too ill. ### [XVI: The Will of a Millionaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xvi-the-will-of-a-millionaire) Receives a modest legacy; questions the narrator about guilt and redemption. ### [The Beginning of Great Surprises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xvii-the-beginning-of-great-surprises) Mentioned as the subject of suspicion; her silence about the key is discussed; she allegedly told Mary about the key. ### [XVIII: On the Stairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xviii-on-the-stairs) Referenced as having refused to see Clavering on the murder night. ### [XXI: A Prejudice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxi-a-prejudice) Implicitly connected to the letter and the possibility of a relationship with Clavering, causing the narrator concern. ### [Patchwork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxii-patchwork) Subject of Clavering's letter; suspected of taking the paper from her uncle's table and dropping the key into the fire. ### [XXIII: The Story of a Charming Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxiii-the-story-of-a-charming-woman) Found crouching by the fire in the Veeley library; she speaks with the narrator about her isolation, her concern for Mary, and her anxiety about the investigation. ### [A Report Followed by Smoke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxiv-a-report-followed-by-smoke) Secretly married to Clavering; Mr. Gryce believes she is innocent despite circumstantial evidence. ### [XXV: Timothy Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxv-timothy-cook) Her photograph is placed on the mantelpiece but Cook does not recognize her; she is not the bride. ### [Mr. Gryce Explains Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxvi-mr-gryce-explains-himself) Believed by Mr. Gryce to know the key point fixing the crime on Mary; she is the one he plans to arrest unless the missing link is found. ### [XXXI: Q](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxi-q) Mentioned as irretrievably injured by Hannah's death. ### [Mrs. Belden’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxii-mrs-belden-s-narrative) Shows sisterly concern and moral resolve, confronting Mary about the secret marriage and insisting on witnessing the ceremony to protect her honor. ### [Unexpected Testimony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxiii-unexpected-testimony) Mentioned in Hannah's letter as being wrongly suspected. ### [Book IV: The Problem Solved](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/book-iv-the-problem-solved) Exonerated as the real culprit is identified. ### [XXXV: Fine Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxv-fine-work) Her diary is examined; it records Mary's secret marriage to Henry Clavering and Mr. Leavenworth's threat to disinherit Mary. ### [Gathered Threads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxvi-gathered-threads) Mentioned as having accused Mary and as being in a position of peril due to circumstantial evidence. ### [Culmination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxvii-culmination) Mentioned as having been wronged by Mary's silence and believed Mary guilty. ### [A Full Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-full-confession) Suspected by the narrator of the crime; her handkerchief is used to clean the murder weapon, and she is manipulated by Mary. ### [XXXIX: The Outcome of a Great Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/chapters/xxxix-the-outcome-of-a-great-crime) Overjoyed and remorseful upon learning the truth; goes to Mary to beg forgiveness and refuses to accept the tainted fortune. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters/eleanore_leavenworth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_leavenworth_case_se/characters