The Nature of a Crime · Character

Miss Averies

A fair, slight girl with dilating eyes, led like a frightened fawn into the temple of law to claim a cheque she has, in some sense, already paid for.

supporting

Also known as little Miss Averies, Averies

First appearance: I

As a supporting figure in The Nature of a Crime, Miss Averies is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The object of the narrator's obsession, though she remains unnamed in this chapter, her presence looms over the narrator's actions.

In the storyThe Nature of a CrimeOpen this moment free

Miss Averies is Edward Burden's fiancée, brought to the narrator's office to secure the money for a motorcar and a wedding journey to Italy. Unlike her confident betrothed, she appears as a rather frightened fawn before an anthropomorphic deity, and the narrator finds himself silently confessing that he has wronged her. She matters because she embodies the story's argument about women, gamblers, and the coin of fragile beauty paid for a right to wealth—and because the narrator believes she, of all people, might have it in her power to atone.

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Character Web

3 connections

A slice of how Miss Averies sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Social

Character groups

Central emotional triangle
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

The emotional peak occurs when the narrator declares his absolute resolve to die, framing his suicide as the f…

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Relationships

Unknown Narrator
romantic · negative
The narrator's romantic feelings for Miss Averies are unrequited, leading to jealousy and… How this plays out →
Edward Burden
romantic · positive
Annie
social · neutral
Unknown Narrator
social · neutral
The narrator's romantic feelings for Miss Averies are unrequited, leading to jealousy and… How this plays out →
Unknown Narrator
romantic · negative
The narrator's romantic feelings for Miss Averies are unrequited, leading to jealousy and… How this plays out →
Edward Burden
romantic · positive
Edward Burden
romantic · positive

Unknown Narrator
The narrator's romantic feelings for Miss Averies are unrequited, leading to jealousy and internal conflict.
Edward Burden
Edward and Miss Averies share a mutual romantic interest, but their relationship is strained by external pressures and the narrator's interference.
Annie
Annie and Miss Averies have a single, likely trivial interaction, indicating they are barely acquainted.
Unknown Narrator
Miss Averies views the narrator as a mere acquaintance, unaware of the depth of his feelings or obsession.
Unknown Narrator
The narrator's romantic feelings for Miss Averies are unrequited, leading to jealousy and internal conflict.
Edward Burden
Edward and Miss Averies share a mutual romantic interest, but their relationship is strained by external pressures and the narrator's interference.
Edward Burden
Edward and Miss Averies share a mutual romantic interest, but their relationship is strained by external pressures and the narrator's interference.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Miss Averies in I

In the story

Miss Averies appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Nature of a Crime
The object of the narrator's obsession, though she remains unnamed in this chapter, her presence looms over the narrator's actions.
I
The beloved to whom the narrator addresses his confession, though not directly present.
II
Edward's fiancée, described as fair and slight with dilating eyes; the narrator feels regret for wronging her.
III
Referred to as Edward Burden's little fiancée, who almost tempts the narrator to restore the stolen funds.
IV
Mentioned as Burden's fiancée, whose marriage would cost the narrator his trusteeship income.
Chapter V
Described as a 'little bundle of ideals and sentiments' who is being tamed by Edward Burden, and whose vanity a poet would minister to.
VI
The narrator's beloved, to whom he writes, revealing his final dispositions and his obsession.
VII
The intended recipient of the letters; the narrator's beloved.
VIII
Mentioned as the one whose representatives Edward Burden disciplined, similar to his handling of her China tea matter.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Miss Averies unlock in the free preview.

See Miss Averies in I

See Miss Averies in The Nature of a Crime