# Constance Baines — The Old Wives’ Tale character guide > Constance Baines in The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Constance, Miss Constance, Mrs. Constance Povey, Constance Povey **First appearance:** 0002-the-old-wives-tale ## Snapshot The elder Baines sister, patient and domestic, who marries the draper Samuel Povey and inherits the shop, the town, and its slow accumulating griefs. ## Who they are Constance bends her head over the baby and the ledgers alike, the steady centre of a household that has lost its matriarch and its runaway daughter at once. Her love for Samuel Povey is real but decorous, conducted in whispers and cutting-out rooms, and her mother's silent refusal to acknowledge it leaves her quietly exposed. She carries the Baines name into middle age, and the novel's long middle belongs to her endurance. ## Relationships ### [Sophia Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/sophia_baines) _family_ Sisters with a deep, lifelong bond marked by contrasting temperaments and occasional rivalry, yet enduring affection. ### [Samuel Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/samuel_povey) _family_ Husband and wife in a stable, loving marriage built on mutual respect and quiet domesticity. ### [Amy Bates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/amy_bates) _professional_ Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity. ### [Lily Holl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/lily_holl) _family_ Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, with Constance showing maternal care toward Lily after her son Dick's death. ### [Dick Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/dick_povey) _family_ Mother and son, with Constance doting on Dick and grieving deeply after his premature death. ### [Sophia Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/sophia_baines) _family_ Sisters with a deep, lifelong bond marked by contrasting temperaments and occasional rivalry, yet enduring affection. ### [Sophia Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/sophia_baines) _family_ Sisters with a deep, lifelong bond marked by contrasting temperaments and occasional rivalry, yet enduring affection. ### [Samuel Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/samuel_povey) _family_ Husband and wife in a stable, loving marriage built on mutual respect and quiet domesticity. ### [Samuel Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/samuel_povey) _family_ Husband and wife in a stable, loving marriage built on mutual respect and quiet domesticity. ### [Amy Bates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/amy_bates) _professional_ Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity. ### [Amy Bates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/amy_bates) _professional_ Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity. ### [Lily Holl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/lily_holl) _family_ Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, with Constance showing maternal care toward Lily after her son Dick's death. ## In the story ### [The Old Wives’ Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/the-old-wives-tale) Introduced as the more conventional and domestic sister, content with the family shop and provincial life. ### [Book I: Mrs. Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-i-mrs-baines) Introduced as the elder sister, content with domesticity and the shop, embodying traditional feminine duty. ### [The Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-the-square) Watches Maggie with mixed pity and amusement, helps Sophia after her fall, and shows concern for their mother's dress. ### [II: The Tooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-the-tooth) Helps serve tea, scolds Sophia for the tooth extraction, and tries to maintain composure during the awkward tea. ### [A Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-a-battle) Observes the conflict between Sophia and their mother, later learning of Sophia's success in enlisting Miss Chetwynd's help. ### [Elephant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-elephant) Eager to see the elephant, she persuades her mother and Mr. Povey to accompany her. ### [VI: Escapade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-escapade) Constance is caught in Mr. Povey's jealousy when he summons her away from Gerald Scales, revealing his feelings. ### [VII: A Defeat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-a-defeat) Remains in Bursley; her relationship with Samuel Povey is noted but not resolved. ### [Book II: Constance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-ii-constance) Central focus of the chapter, depicted in her domestic and family life. ### [Revolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-revolution) Newly married, adjusting to her role as house-mistress, and dealing with Maggie's resignation. ### [Christmas and the Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-christmas-and-the-future) Reflects on her marriage, the tedium of daily life, and her contentment with Samuel. She is now 27, married over six years, and handles the shop and household with sagacity. ### [III: Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-cyril) Hosts the children's party, struggles with Cyril's behavior, and feels the burden of reconciling Samuel and Cyril. ### [Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-crime) Proud and nervous mother who refrains from kissing Cyril at his departure and later agrees to stop checking on him at night. ### [Another Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-another-crime) Desperately tries to protect Samuel from his own zeal, resorting to hysterical arguments and elaborate preparations for his journey to Stafford. ### [VI: The Widow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-the-widow) Now a widow, Constance reflects on her marriage to Samuel, her grief, and her responsibilities. She decides not to wear weeds and faces the practical challenges of running the shop and raising Cyril. ### [VII: Bricks and Mortar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-bricks-and-mortar) Constance is shocked by the death of Mericarp and anxious about the auction of the shop. She reluctantly agrees to Mr. Critchlow's proposal to sell the shop and separate the house, feeling the upheaval of change. ### [VIII: The Proudest Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/viii-the-proudest-mother) Now a proud but lonely mother, she dotes on Cyril, prepares for his departure to London, and struggles with his indifference. ### [Book III: Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iii-sophia) Sophia's sister; remains in Bursley, representing the provincial life Sophia left behind. ### [II: Supper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-supper) Mentioned in Sophia's thoughts as part of her past life in the Square with her mother and Constance. ### [Book IV: What Life Is](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iv-what-life-is) Constance is depicted as a figure of steadfast domesticity, embodying the quiet, unremarkable flow of life in Bursley. ### [I: Frensham’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-frensham-s) Mentioned as Sophia's sister; her letters and sciatica influence Sophia's decision to consider returning to Bursley. ### [The Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-the-meeting) Constance is anxious and excited about Sophia's visit, preparing the house with great care and deciding on her attire to maintain dignity without appearing overly eager. ### [Towards Hotel Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-towards-hotel-life) Suffers from sciatica and a cold, is reluctant to leave Bursley but eventually agrees to go to Buxton with Sophia. ### [IV: End of Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-end-of-sophia) Grieves for Sophia and reflects on her sister's life and their shared past. ### [End of Constance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-end-of-constance) Now an elderly, stout widow in her sixties, suffering from sciatica and rheumatism. She is calm, philosophical, and somewhat optimistic after Sophia's death, but becomes fiercely opposed to Federation. She dies of pericarditis. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/constance_baines - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters