# Sophia Baines — The Old Wives’ Tale character guide > Sophia Baines in The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sophia, Baines, Miss Sophia, Sophia Scales, Mrs. Scales, Mrs. Sophia Scales **First appearance:** 0002-the-old-wives-tale ## Snapshot The younger Baines sister, restless and sharp-eyed, who slips out of the family shop into a runaway marriage and a life she must improvise alone. ## Who they are Sophia chafes against the decorum of her mother's house, where even a wagonette departure becomes a public ceremony and daughters are managed like stock. Quick, proud, and secretly contemptuous of the settled futures laid out for her, she notices everything and forgives little. Her elopement with the charming commercial traveller Gerald Scales splits the novel's world in two and sets the measure against which her sister's quieter life will be read. ## Relationships ### [Constance Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/constance_baines) _family_ Sisters with a deep, lifelong bond marked by contrasting temperaments and occasional rivalry, yet enduring affection. ### [Gerald Scales](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/gerald_scales) _romantic_ Passionate but ultimately destructive romantic relationship, with Gerald as a charming but unreliable suitor who abandons Sophia. ### [Samuel Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/samuel_povey) _family_ Brother-in-law and sister-in-law with a respectful, somewhat formal familial bond tinged by Sophia's disdain for Samuel's ordinariness. ### [Madame Foucault](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/madame_foucault) _professional_ Sophia's employer and landlady in Paris, a pragmatic businesswoman who becomes a confidante. ### [Amy Bates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/amy_bates) _professional_ Former servant who maintains a respectful, distant connection with Sophia after her return from France. ### [Maggie Hollins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/maggie_hollins) _social_ Childhood acquaintance and later a poor, pitiable figure in Bursley, evoking Sophia's occasional pity. ### [Mr. Boldero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/mr_boldero) _professional_ Sophia's trusted business manager in Paris, handling her financial affairs with competence. ### [Aunt Harriet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/aunt_harriet) _family_ Aunt and niece, with Aunt Harriet representing the older generation's conventional expectations that Sophia resists. ### [Mr. Critchlow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/mr_critchlow) _social_ A gruff, elderly chemist and family friend who disapproves of Sophia's independence and choices. ### [Constance Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/constance_baines) _family_ Sisters with a deep, lifelong bond marked by contrasting temperaments and occasional rivalry, yet enduring affection. ### [Constance Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/constance_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_ Brother-in-law and sister-in-law with a respectful, somewhat formal familial bond tinged by Sophia's disdain for Samuel's ordinariness. ## 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 restless and independent sister, showing early signs of a desire for worldly experience. ### [Book I: Mrs. Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-i-mrs-baines) Introduced as the younger, more spirited sister, restless with provincial life and dreaming of escape. ### [The Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-the-square) Observes Maggie with derision, tries on her mother's gown, and is caught by Mr. Povey. ### [II: The Tooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-the-tooth) Carries tea tray, secretly extracted Mr. Povey's tooth, and later flees the room in hysterical laughter. ### [A Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-a-battle) Defiantly argues with her mother about leaving school and insists on becoming a teacher, eventually winning her mother's reluctant approval through sheer determination. ### [Elephant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-elephant) Initially disdainful of the elephant, she later regrets missing the excitement and is flustered by the arrival of Gerald Scales. ### [VI: Escapade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-escapade) Sophia is living on the memory of her encounter with Gerald Scales, feeling bliss and audacity as she embarks on a secret adventure. ### [VII: A Defeat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-a-defeat) Elopes with Gerald Scales, sending a telegram and a letter to her family, causing scandal. ### [Book II: Constance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-ii-constance) Constance's sister, mentioned in the context of family dynamics. ### [Christmas and the Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-christmas-and-the-future) Only mentioned through rare cards that bring more sorrow than joy; her absence is a lingering sadness for Constance. ### [Book III: Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iii-sophia) Central character; elopes with Gerald, endures his wastefulness, and ultimately becomes a pension owner. ### [I: The Elopement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-the-elopement) Sophia experiences remorse, pride, and desperation after the quarrel, but ultimately reconciles with Gerald and agrees to marry him in London. ### [II: Supper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-supper) Sophia is overwhelmed by Parisian luxury and the behavior of Gerald. She feels disillusioned and trapped, reflecting on her past decisions and the folly of her elopement. ### [III: An Ambition Satisfied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-an-ambition-satisfied) Sophia is deeply disturbed by the dinner and the impending execution, but resolves to be a dutiful wife and suppress her fears. ### [A Crisis for Gerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-a-crisis-for-gerald) Ill and abandoned by Gerald, she pays Chirac from her secret fund and later refuses Gerald's demand to write to her family. ### [Fever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-fever) Recovering from illness, she judges Madame Foucault harshly for her lack of foresight and emotional weakness, while reflecting on her own past follies and her disdain for Gerald. ### [VI: The Siege](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-the-siege) Sophia takes charge of the household, rejects immoral tenants, and agrees to a business partnership with Madame Foucault, finding renewed purpose. ### [VII: Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-success) Proprietress of the Pension Frensham, reflecting on her success and emotional isolation. ### [Book IV: What Life Is](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iv-what-life-is) Sophia's life in Paris and her eventual return to Bursley highlight the contrast between worldly experience and provincial existence. ### [I: Frensham’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-frensham-s) Reflects on her solitude and the passage of time; disturbed by the encounter with Peel-Swynnerton; considers selling the pension due to health and family concerns. ### [The Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-the-meeting) Sophia observes Constance's provincial life with a mix of criticism and admiration, reflecting on her own past in Paris and the sale of her pension. ### [Towards Hotel Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-towards-hotel-life) Wears list slippers, cares for Constance during her sciatica, persuades Constance to travel to Buxton, and is humbled by the quality of the Rutland Hotel. ### [IV: End of Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-end-of-sophia) Dies in the chapter; her life and choices are reflected upon by Constance. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/sophia_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