# Mrs. Medlock — The Secret Garden character guide > Mrs. Medlock in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Medlock, poor Mrs. Medlock **First appearance:** 0001-ii-mistress-mary-quite-contrary ## Snapshot The stout, sharp-eyed housekeeper of Misselthwaite Manor, who collects Mary in London and makes no secret of finding her a plain, sour little piece of goods. ## Who they are Mrs. Medlock runs Misselthwaite with a firm hand and a comfortable, well-paid place she will not risk by asking Mr. Craven questions. She thinks Mary unattractive and says so, and she is exactly the kind of woman who will stand no nonsense from young ones, which makes her a wall Mary must learn to live beside. Her guarded hints about the manor, the locked room, and the master's grief are the first shadows that make the house feel like a place with secrets worth opening. ## Relationships ### [Mary Lennox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/mary_lennox) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock is the stern housekeeper who oversees Mary's care at Misselthwaite Manor with distant authority. ### [Colin Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/colin_craven) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock manages Colin's household with strictness, fearing his tantrums but ultimately caring for his welfare. ### [Archibald Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/archibald_craven) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock is Archibald's loyal housekeeper, managing the manor and his son's care under his distracted authority. ### [Martha Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/martha_sowerby) _professional_ Martha works as a maid under Mrs. Medlock's supervision, with a respectful but slightly wary dynamic. ### [Dickon Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/dickon_sowerby) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock tolerates Dickon's presence at the manor due to his usefulness with animals and gardening. ### [Martha Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/martha_sowerby) _professional_ Martha works as a maid under Mrs. Medlock's supervision, with a respectful but slightly wary dynamic. ### [Mary Lennox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/mary_lennox) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock is the stern housekeeper who oversees Mary's care at Misselthwaite Manor with distant authority. ### [Mary Lennox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/mary_lennox) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock is the stern housekeeper who oversees Mary's care at Misselthwaite Manor with distant authority. ### [Archibald Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/archibald_craven) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock is Archibald's loyal housekeeper, managing the manor and his son's care under his distracted authority. ### [Colin Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/colin_craven) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock manages Colin's household with strictness, fearing his tantrums but ultimately caring for his welfare. ### [Dickon Sowerby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/dickon_sowerby) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock tolerates Dickon's presence at the manor due to his usefulness with animals and gardening. ### [Colin Craven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/colin_craven) _professional_ Mrs. Medlock manages Colin's household with strictness, fearing his tantrums but ultimately caring for his welfare. ## In the story ### [Mistress Mary Quite Contrary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/ii-mistress-mary-quite-contrary) Mrs. Medlock is the housekeeper at Misselthwaite Manor, sent to collect Mary. She is blunt, talkative, and unimpressed by Mary's appearance, providing details about Mr. Craven and the manor. ### [Across the Moor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/iii-across-the-moor) Mrs. Medlock accompanies Mary on the journey, explaining the moor and delivering her to the manor with strict orders from Mr. Pitcher. ### [VI: “There Was Some One Crying—There Was!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/vi-there-was-some-one-crying-there-was) Mentioned as the housekeeper who rarely troubles Mary. ### [XII: “Might I Have a Bit of Earth?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xii-might-i-have-a-bit-of-earth) Mrs. Medlock escorts Mary to Mr. Craven's study, wearing her best dress and a brooch with a photograph of her late husband. ### [A Young Rajah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xiv-a-young-rajah) Mrs. Medlock is mentioned as the housekeeper who might punish Martha if she learns of Mary's visits to Colin. ### [Nest Building](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xv-nest-building) Mrs. Medlock remarks on the positive change in Colin since Mary arrived, noting fewer tantrums. ### [XVII: A Tantrum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xvii-a-tantrum) Slipped away with Martha after the tantrum was over. ### [Tha' Munnot Waste No Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xviii-tha-munnot-waste-no-time) Hears Mary and Colin laughing and is astonished. ### [XIX: “It Has Come!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xix-it-has-come) Reports to Dr. Craven about Mary's effect on Colin and shares Susan Sowerby's wisdom about children needing children. ### [XX: “I Shall Live Forever—and Ever—and Ever!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xx-i-shall-live-forever-and-ever-and-ever) Mrs. Medlock escorts Mr. Roach to Colin's room and comments on the changing atmosphere in the house, noting that some find their duties easier. ### [XXIV: “Let Them Laugh”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxiv-let-them-laugh) Mrs. Medlock reports to Dr. Craven that the children stay out all day and have improved in appearance, noting Mary's transformation. ### [In the Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/chapters/xxvii-in-the-garden) Informs Mr. Craven that Colin is in the garden. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters/mrs_medlock - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_garden_se/characters