# William Paterson — The Little White Bird character guide

> William Paterson in The Little White Bird by J. M. Barrie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** William, Paterson, Mr. Paterson

**First appearance:** 0020-xxi-william-paterson

## Snapshot

A shy Scottish gardener in Kensington Gardens whose odd manners and fervent admiration for the narrator stir a monstrous suspicion.

## Who they are

Paterson tends the Gardens and attaches himself to the narrator with a gratitude out of all proportion to any kindness received. He spreads newspaper over sofas, calls out 'Hie, hie, hie!' at doorsteps, and sits down with a thud, and his red-rimmed eyes follow the narrator fondly. The narrator's growing suspicion about him becomes one of the book's strangest and most disquieting threads.

## Relationships

### [David](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/characters/david)

_friendship_

David and William Paterson are friends, with William often acting as a supportive figure.

### [Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/characters/irene)

_social_

Irene and William Paterson are acquaintances, connected through their social circle.

### [David](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/characters/david)

_friendship_

David and William Paterson are friends, with William often acting as a supportive figure.

### [Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/characters/irene)

_social_

Irene and William Paterson are acquaintances, connected through their social circle.

## In the story

### [The Little Nursery Governess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/chapters/ii-the-little-nursery-governess)

William is the narrator's servant, who assists with coffee, cigarettes, and cherry brandy.

### [The Inconsiderate Waiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/chapters/viii-the-inconsiderate-waiter)

The inconsiderate waiter whose wife's illness and fear of dismissal drive the chapter's events.

### [William Paterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/chapters/xxi-william-paterson)

A young, innocent man who admires the narrator deeply but becomes disillusioned with human nature; he disappears after a final meeting.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/characters/william_paterson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_white_bird_se/characters