# Angela Crossby — The Well of Loneliness character guide > Angela Crossby in The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Crossby, old Crossby **First appearance:** 0039-i ## Snapshot A married woman in the neighbourhood whose flirtation with Stephen awakens desire and detonates the scandal that drives her from Morton. ## Who they are Angela Crossby is the restless wife of a neighbouring landowner, and her attention to Stephen—first at Upton-on-Severn, then by the lakes at Morton—feels like sunlight breaking through years of loneliness. But she is careless with what she awakens, and her betrayal, compounded by Lady Anna's discovery, leaves Stephen's love 'bleeding' under the ruins of her home. Angela matters less as a person than as the catalyst who forces Stephen to see how the world will treat her. ## Relationships ### [Stephen Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/characters/stephen_gordon) _romantic_ Angela is Stephen's first lover, a married woman who ultimately betrays Stephen out of cowardice and self-preservation. ### [Stephen Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/characters/stephen_gordon) _romantic_ Angela is Stephen's first lover, a married woman who ultimately betrays Stephen out of cowardice and self-preservation. ### [Stephen Gordon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/characters/stephen_gordon) _romantic_ Angela is Stephen's first lover, a married woman who ultimately betrays Stephen out of cowardice and self-preservation. ## In the story ### [The Well of Loneliness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/the-well-of-loneliness) A figure of betrayal in Stephen's life. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/vi) Betrays Stephen, leading to a turning point in Stephen's life. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/book-ii) Object of Stephen's affection; their relationship leads to betrayal. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Newly arrived at The Grange; strikingly blonde with silver hair and childlike blue-violet eyes; has a soft Southern drawl; devoted to her dog Tony. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iii) Returns home late with a dog-bitten hand, provoking her husband's irritation. She introduces Stephen to Ralph and invites Stephen to tea. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned as the woman Stephen drove home after her dog bit her; rumored to be a former music-hall actress from New York. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/v) Mrs. Crossby is mentioned as having an aching hand and having gone to bed, but she invites Stephen to tea. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Angela is the object of Stephen's thoughts and concern; Stephen rings The Grange daily to inquire about her hand and Tony. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iii) Her face persists in Stephen's memory as Stephen sits in her father's chair. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iv) Angela is restless and amused by her own thoughts of Stephen; she writes a letter inviting Stephen to lunch, using the garden as a pretext. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Visits Morton, is intrigued by Stephen but remains guarded, and reciprocates Stephen's kiss in a moment of intense emotion. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Stephen's lover; married to Ralph, she uses Stephen as an anodyne against boredom while professing loyalty to her husband. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Angela is terrified by Stephen's proposal and refuses to leave her husband, revealing her fear of scandal and her manipulative control over Ralph. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Angela finds the memory of her scene with Stephen exciting but is prudent about not writing. She is bored with Ralph and thinks of Stephen while enduring his advances. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Her words in the garden—'Could you marry me, Stephen?' and 'Can I help it if you’re—what you obviously are?'—are the source of Stephen's anguish. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iii) Described as a vain, shallow woman in search of excitement, caring less than nothing for Stephen. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iv) Receives Stephen's submission, offers brief comfort and a kiss. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/v) Angela is thoroughly happy and whispers to Stephen about her cleverness with Ralph's roses, but remains nervous about Ralph's temper. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) In Scotland with Ralph; writes cautious letters to Stephen and mentions Roger Antrim. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Referenced as the object of Stephen's love and the secret she cannot reveal to her mother. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iii) Absent in Scotland; the object of Stephen's longing and the intended recipient of a forbidden birthday present. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iv) The intended recipient of the pearl ring; Stephen recalls Angela's envy of a similar ring seen in Paris. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Absent in Scotland; Stephen's longing and jealousy center on her, as Violet hints she is pursuing Roger Antrim. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Angela sends a cold telegram refusing to return home early and mentioning Ralph's upset state. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iii) Expected to return to Morton; Stephen imagines her having tea in the oak parlour and worries she might be ill. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iv) Angela confesses her past to Stephen, revealing her poverty, her affair with a man, and her self-pity and remorse, while hiding her recent betrayal. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Angela wears the pearl ring given by Stephen, appears humble and fearful under Ralph's bullying, and is the object of Stephen's intense love. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iii) Her eyes cloud over with a mist, hiding something when Roger looks at her. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iv) Grows infatuated with Roger Antrim, hides letters, and goes to London on pretexts, fueling Stephen's suspicions. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/v) The object of Stephen's unrequited love; Stephen buys her a diamond-studded gold bag, but money cannot secure her affection. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Angela is the subject of county gossip and Violet's insinuations about Stephen's friendship with her. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Falls asleep in the car like an unhappy child; uses Stephen to provoke her husband Ralph; is secretly miserable and conflicted. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Manipulative and cold, Angela uses headaches and her husband's absence to control Stephen and avoid commitment. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Absent but central; Stephen anxiously awaits her phone call, and Puddle hates her name. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iii) Seen embracing Roger Antrim in the garden at dawn, betraying Stephen. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/iv) The recipient of Stephen's desperate letter, shielded by Stephen from the truth about Roger Antrim. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/v) Betrays Stephen to her husband out of fear and self-preservation, then writes a note asking for forgiveness. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/i) Betrayed Stephen by allowing her husband to expose the letters, revealing her fear and weakness. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/ii) Angela is remembered in Stephen's reflections as the one who shamefully wounded her love. ### [Book III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/book-iii) Mentioned in Stephen's reflections on their failed relationship. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/v) Stephen's thoughts turn to Angela with a mixture of longing and degradation, feeling her love has turned to something beastly. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/characters/angela_crossby - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/characters