# The Marchioness — The Old Curiosity Shop character guide

> The Marchioness in The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Marchioness

**First appearance:** 0034-xxxii

## Snapshot

Swiveller's nickname for the Brasses' starved little servant, a girl of unknown age whose cunning and gratitude make her his unlikely partner.

## Who they are

Christened the Marchioness over a game of cards and a tankard of purl, she becomes Dick Swiveller's confidante in the Brasses' kitchen and his source of gossip about Miss Sally and Mr. Quilp. Her tongue loosens with the drink, and her sharp eyes miss nothing, though she has never seen a play or heard one spoken of except through chinks of doors. She matters because she turns the household's most invisible member into its most dangerous witness, and because her devotion to Dick gives the novel one of its few unforced tendernesses.

## In the story

### [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_curiosity_shop_se/chapters/lviii)

The small servant who plays cribbage with Swiveller, reveals the Brasses' habits, and admits to spying through keyholes out of hunger.

### [LXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_curiosity_shop_se/chapters/lxiv)

Nurses Swiveller back to health and reveals the Brass conspiracy.

### [LXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_curiosity_shop_se/chapters/lxv)

Acts as a messenger, braving the streets alone to fetch Mr. Abel Garland and guide him to Swiveller's lodging.

### [LXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_curiosity_shop_se/chapters/lxvi)

The Marchioness cares for Dick with devoted attention, feeding him and washing him, and her disclosure is key to the plot against Quilp.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_curiosity_shop_se/characters/marchioness
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_curiosity_shop_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_curiosity_shop_se/characters