# Miss Norris — The Red House Mystery character guide

> Miss Norris in The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Norris

**First appearance:** 0004-iii-two-men-and-a-body

## Snapshot

A professional actress whose gift for making a scene turns Mark Ablett's vanity into a weapon, and whose borrowed appearance at the bowling-green sets a fatal comedy in motion.

## Who they are

Miss Norris is a guest at the Red House whose theatrical instincts make her both entertaining and dangerous. When she mocks Mark Ablett in front of the others, his wounded vanity becomes the lever Cayley needs to manipulate him. Her presence matters because she unknowingly supplies the humiliation that triggers the private performance at the heart of the mystery.

## Relationships

### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett)

_professional_

Miss Norris is Mark's housekeeper, and their interactions are formal and businesslike.

### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham)

_social_

Antony questions Miss Norris as a witness, treating her with polite detachment.

### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley)

_social_

Bill interacts with Miss Norris as a fellow guest and witness, with no strong bond.

### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley)

_professional_

Matthew and Miss Norris interact as fellow staff members in Mark's household.

### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley)

_social_

Bill interacts with Miss Norris as a fellow guest and witness, with no strong bond.

### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham)

_social_

Antony questions Miss Norris as a witness, treating her with polite detachment.

### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett)

_professional_

Miss Norris is Mark's housekeeper, and their interactions are formal and businesslike.

### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley)

_professional_

Matthew and Miss Norris interact as fellow staff members in Mark's household.

### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham)

_social_

Antony questions Miss Norris as a witness, treating her with polite detachment.

### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett)

_professional_

Miss Norris is Mark's housekeeper, and their interactions are formal and businesslike.

### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley)

_professional_

Matthew and Miss Norris interact as fellow staff members in Mark's household.

### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley)

_social_

Bill interacts with Miss Norris as a fellow guest and witness, with no strong bond.

## In the story

### [IX: Possibilities of a Croquet Set](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/ix-possibilities-of-a-croquet-set)

Her ghostly appearance is analyzed; Antony believes she knew about the secret passage and was hurried away to prevent her from revealing it.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/miss_norris
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters