# Mrs. Hurtle — The Way We Live Now character guide > Mrs. Hurtle in The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Hurtle, Winifred Hurtle, Dear Winifred **First appearance:** 0025-xxvi-mrs-hurtle ## Snapshot A passionate American widow with a mysterious past, she has followed Paul Montague to England and will not quietly let him go. ## Who they are Mrs. Hurtle is a lady, a widow, and one as has seen the world — and she is not afraid to say so in Mrs. Pipkin's lodging-house or anywhere else. She has an unsettling hold on Paul Montague, who cannot quite break with her, and her presence in London complicates every respectable plan he makes. Her mixture of frankness, experience, and unrelenting will makes her the most dangerous woman in the book. ## Relationships ### [Ruby Ruggles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/ruby_ruggles) _rivalry_ Mrs. Hurtle sees Ruby as a rival for Felix's affections and confronts her with fierce jealousy. ### [Hetta Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/hetta_carbury) _rivalry_ Hetta is suspicious of Mrs. Hurtle's past with Paul Montague, viewing her as a threat to their engagement. ### [Roger Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/roger_carbury) _social_ Mrs. Hurtle and Roger are acquaintances who meet through the Carbury family circle, with Roger disapproving of her past. ### [Paul Montague](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/paul_montague) _romantic_ Mrs. Hurtle was once engaged to Paul and still pursues him obsessively, while he tries to break free from her. ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Mrs. Hurtle briefly flirts with Felix as a way to make Paul jealous, but she despises his cowardice. ### [Ruby Ruggles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/ruby_ruggles) _rivalry_ Mrs. Hurtle sees Ruby as a rival for Felix's affections and confronts her with fierce jealousy. ### [Hetta Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/hetta_carbury) _rivalry_ Hetta is suspicious of Mrs. Hurtle's past with Paul Montague, viewing her as a threat to their engagement. ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Mrs. Hurtle briefly flirts with Felix as a way to make Paul jealous, but she despises his cowardice. ### [Roger Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/roger_carbury) _social_ Mrs. Hurtle and Roger are acquaintances who meet through the Carbury family circle, with Roger disapproving of her past. ### [Paul Montague](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/paul_montague) _romantic_ Mrs. Hurtle was once engaged to Paul and still pursues him obsessively, while he tries to break free from her. ### [Hetta Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/hetta_carbury) _rivalry_ Hetta is suspicious of Mrs. Hurtle's past with Paul Montague, viewing her as a threat to their engagement. ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Mrs. Hurtle briefly flirts with Felix as a way to make Paul jealous, but she despises his cowardice. ## In the story ### [Roger Carbury and Paul Montague](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/vi-roger-carbury-and-paul-montague) Referenced as a former love interest of Paul Montague, whose marriage was prevented by Roger Carbury. ### [Mrs. Hurtle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxvi-mrs-hurtle) A beautiful, dark widow with a mysterious past; passionately confronts Paul about his broken promises and expresses admiration for Melmotte's power. ### [Mrs. Hurtle Goes to the Play](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxvii-mrs-hurtle-goes-to-the-play) Writes a forceful letter to Paul, attends the theater with him, and passionately reaffirms her determination not to lose him. ### [Paul Montague's Troubles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxxviii-paul-montague-s-troubles) Paul's former fiancée; her violent temper and questionable past (rumored duel with her husband) cause Paul great distress. ### [XL: “Unanimity Is the Very Soul of These Things.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xl-unanimity-is-the-very-soul-of-these-things) Sends a note to Paul expecting him the next day, ending his reprieve. ### [Can You Be Ready in Ten Minutes?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlii-can-you-be-ready-in-ten-minutes) Receives Paul with charm and wit, discussing her trip to Southend and the railway scheme. She tries to persuade Paul to go to Mexico and become a hero, while Paul struggles to bring up his purpose of ending their relationship. ### [Roger Carbury and His Two Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlvi-roger-carbury-and-his-two-friends) Accompanies Paul Montague to Lowestoft; coldly acknowledges Roger Carbury; leaves the two men to talk. ### [Mrs. Hurtle at Lowestoft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlvii-mrs-hurtle-at-lowestoft) Struggles with disappointed love and the impossibility of her situation; writes a farewell letter to Paul but cannot send it. ### [Ruby a Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlviii-ruby-a-prisoner) A lodger at Mrs. Pipkin's, she is asked to counsel Ruby and reflects on her own situation with Paul Montague. ### [Which Shall It Be?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/li-which-shall-it-be) Receives Paul's letter, writes a furious response, then sends a brief note asking him to come; confronts him with controlled anger. ### [So Shall Be My Enmity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxvi-so-shall-be-my-enmity) Bids farewell to Paul Montague in good faith, releasing him from their engagement. ### [Sir Felix Meddles with Many Matters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxx-sir-felix-meddles-with-many-matters) Confronts Sir Felix about his treatment of Ruby Ruggles, defends her own position, and is challenged by Felix about Paul Montague's intentions. ### [John Crumb Falls Into Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxi-john-crumb-falls-into-trouble) Comforts Mrs. Pipkin, tells John Crumb of Ruby's departure, and later expresses a wish that Sir Felix might be dead. ### [Ruby Prepares for Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxx-ruby-prepares-for-service) Living in solitude, she takes an interest in John Crumb's cause, devises a plan to help him, and insists on writing to inform him of Ruby's new place. ### [Down at Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxxvii-down-at-carbury) Mentioned in Paul's letter and Roger's reflections; her presence in England was not desired by Paul, and Roger acknowledges that Paul's attentions were out of duty, not love. ### [Hetta's Sorrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xc-hetta-s-sorrow) Having resolved to give up the contest, she receives a letter from Paul and prepares to return to New York, though she still feels impulses of vengeance. ### [The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xci-the-rivals) Reveals Paul's treachery to herself but confirms his faithfulness to Hetta; she speaks graciously and plans to return to the States, kissing Hetta goodbye. ### [John Crumb's Victory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xciv-john-crumb-s-victory) Attends the wedding as a guest of honor, having helped reconcile John and Ruby. ### [Mrs. Hurtle's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcvii-mrs-hurtle-s-fate) Consents to stay for Ruby's wedding, reflects on her love for Paul Montague, and prepares to return to America with Mr. Fisker. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/mrs_hurtle - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters