# Bates — The Secret Glory character guide

> Bates in The Secret Glory by Arthur Machen.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Bates the observant, The wise Bates

**First appearance:** 0010-ii

## Who they are

A servant or porter at Lupton, observant and wise.

## Relationships

### [Ambrose Meyrick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/characters/ambrose_meyrick)

_friendship_

Bates is a fellow student who associates with Ambrose, though their bond is less intense than with Pelly or Rawson.

### [Mr. Horbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/characters/mr_horbury)

_professional_

Bates, as a student, has a formal, authority-based relationship with headmaster Mr. Horbury, marked by discipline.

### [Pelly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/characters/pelly)

_friendship_

Bates and Pelly are schoolmates who share a friendly, if not deeply intimate, camaraderie.

### [Mr. Horbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/characters/mr_horbury)

_professional_

Bates, as a student, has a formal, authority-based relationship with headmaster Mr. Horbury, marked by discipline.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as a distant cousin of Mr. Horbury and a boarder at the Old Grange.

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

Silently observes Ambrose's transformed appearance and later spreads exaggerated tales of the fight.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/chapters/iii)

A fellow student who observes Ambrose's return and the subsequent punishment.

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

An observant student who witnesses the events at the school.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/characters/bates
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_glory_se/characters