# Lillian St. Peter — The Professor’s House character guide > Lillian St. Peter in The Professor’s House by Willa Cather. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lillian, Mrs. St. Peter, Lillian Ornsley **First appearance:** 0002-the-professor-s-house ## Snapshot St. Peter's wife, a woman of fastidious taste and social ambition who redirects her energies toward her sons-in-law as her husband retreats into solitude. ## Who they are Lillian has always kept the St. Peter household free of shabbiness and ugly compromises, but since Rosamond's marriage to Louie Marsellus she has changed and hardened, throwing herself into the social world of Hamilton with a new intensity. She is tactful and patient with the touchy Scott, coquettish with both sons-in-law, and increasingly bewildered by her husband's withdrawal. When she asks Godfrey what has come over him, her question exposes the fault line running through their marriage. ## Relationships ### [Tom Outland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/tom_outland) _psychological_ Lillian was fascinated by Tom's charm and potential, but her interest was more social and possessive than maternal. ### [Tom Outland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/tom_outland) _psychological_ Lillian was fascinated by Tom's charm and potential, but her interest was more social and possessive than maternal. ### [Tom Outland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/tom_outland) _psychological_ Lillian was fascinated by Tom's charm and potential, but her interest was more social and possessive than maternal. ## In the story ### [The Professor's House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/the-professor-s-house) Mentioned as being involved in the move and the new house, with a growing distance between her and the professor. ### [Book I: The Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/book-i-the-family) Engaged in social duties, contrasts with her husband's detachment. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the Professor's wife, whose small income he did not touch. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/ii) She urges Godfrey to be more sympathetic and agreeable, and is pleased with Louie's announcement about naming the house 'Outland.' ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iii) Breakfasts with the Professor, defends Louie, and discusses the history of manners and reserve. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned in St. Peter's memories of Kathleen's attempts to paint her portrait and in his thoughts about his wife's favoritism toward Rosamond. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/v) Accompanies Scott to hear the end of the Professor's lecture and criticizes him for speaking too freely to students. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/vi) Shows new interest in her sons-in-law, especially Louie; plans a surprise trip and is determined to manage Scott's potential blackball. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/viii) Shares a nostalgic moment with Godfrey at the opera; expresses concern about his health and the old house. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/x) Hosts Tom at lunch and engages him in conversation about Indian pottery. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xii) Receives the news of Mrs. Crane's visit and suspects the true purpose. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xiv) Anxiously awaits her husband's return, senses his weariness, and makes him a cocktail to comfort him. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xv) Confronts her husband about his emotional distance, expresses concern and sadness over his change. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xvii) Sails to France with the Marselluses; her jealousy of Tom and her changing attitude are recalled. ### [Book III: The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/book-iii-the-professor) Present in the household, but emotionally distant from the Professor as she prepares for the trip to France. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as St. Peter's wife; their marriage was happy partly because of her inherited income. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as the reason for marriage and family, shaping the Professor's life. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iii) Writes letters from France, alternating with Louie, and buys gifts for St. Peter. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iv) Writes to announce the family's return and the upcoming arrival of a new baby. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as having had the best years of St. Peter's life. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/lillian_st_peter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters