# Mr. Alfred Lacey — The Perennial Bachelor character guide

> Mr. Alfred Lacey in The Perennial Bachelor by Anne Parrish.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Lacey, Alfred, kind Mr. Lacey, the rich Mr. Lacey

**First appearance:** 0001-the-perennial-bachelor

## Snapshot

A rich, joking caller who has glanced through Darwin and lectures Mamma on Woman's Right to reign, while a Christmas tree waits impatiently to be lit.

## Who they are

Mr. Lacey is the wealthy, self-satisfied visitor whose teatime calls stretch past the hour for lighting the wax candles, discoursing on Darwinism and mannish ladies while Mamma flutters between horror and delight. His note declaring his heart can no longer keep silence turns him into a suitor whose intentions unsettle the household's comfortable rituals. He matters as the embodiment of respectable masculine attention, forcing the family to weigh propriety, piety, and the small tyrannies of courtship.

## In the story

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/viii)

A neat and kind gentleman who sings in church, helps Mamma into the carriage, and dances with Lily.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/ix)

Visits the Campions on Christmas, brings a pug dog, tells jokes, and discusses Darwinism and women's rights.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/x)

Mr. Lacey is the suitor coming to tea, whose proposal Mamma anticipates.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xi)

Proposes to Mamma, but is rejected due to Victor's reaction; never seen again.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxv)

Mentioned as a possible suitor for May, but not present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/characters/alfred_lacey
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/characters