# Augusta — The Professor’s House character guide

> Augusta in The Professor’s House by Willa Cather.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0002-the-professor-s-house

## Snapshot

The St. Peters' seamstress, a devout and practical woman whose blunt faith and steady presence quietly anchor the Professor's unraveling household.

## Who they are

Augusta has dressed the St. Peter women for years and knows the family's rhythms better than most of its members. Her running argument with the Professor about the Church—she scolds him for slighting remarks his students repeat, he teases her about the Magnificat—reveals a mutual affection built on honesty rather than sentiment. When the family scatters and the new house sits empty, she is the one summoned to open it, and her competence throws the Professor's drift into relief.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/i)

The dressmaker who arrives to move her sewing forms, engaging in conversation with the Professor.

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

Meets the Professor on Christmas morning as she returns from Mass. She corrects his misunderstanding about the Magnificat and reminds him of her presence in his study through the dress forms.

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

Mentioned as having lost savings in the Kinkoo Copper Company; her sewing forms are in St. Peter's study.

### [Book III: The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/book-iii-the-professor)

A quiet presence in the house, her interactions with the Professor highlight his changing domestic life.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as the person who will come to get the keys to the new house and arrange for cleaning.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/v)

Saved St. Peter from the gas leak and stays to watch over him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/augusta
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters