# Fossette — The Old Wives’ Tale character guide

> Fossette in The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the celebrated Fossette, the infirm Fossette

**First appearance:** 0029-i-frensham-s

## Snapshot

Sophia's aged, pampered dog, a small spoiled tyrant whose senile demands and jealous housemate Spot punctuate the sisters' uneasy reunion in their last years.

## Who they are

Fossette is old, infirm, and thoroughly spoiled, sighing with the insincere, pity-seeking air of a pet who knows exactly how to work her mistresses. She and the jealous Spot turn the parlour into a small theatre of canine grievance, while Sophia and Constance kneel to doctor her and whisper about servants. In the sisters' late-life household, the dog's ailments and the household's tensions become one continuous texture of care, irritation, and time.

## In the story

### [III: An Ambition Satisfied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-an-ambition-satisfied)

Fossette is mentioned as the celebrated dog, but does not appear in this chapter.

### [I: Frensham’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-frensham-s)

Sophia's dog and only friend; accompanies her on drives in the Bois.

### [Towards Hotel Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-towards-hotel-life)

Sophia's dog, mistreated by Amy and ridiculed in Bursley for its appearance.

### [IV: End of Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-end-of-sophia)

The sick dog that Sophia cares for; her senility is noted.

### [End of Constance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-end-of-constance)

Constance's dog, brought upstairs on the evening before her death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/fossette
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters