# Mildred Tarnley — The Wyvern Mystery character guide > Mildred Tarnley in The Wyvern Mystery by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Mildred Tarnley, old Mrs. Tarnley, old Mildred, Mrs. Tarnley, Mildred, Old Mildred Tarnley, Old Mildred, old Tarnley, Tarnley **First appearance:** 0000-i-alice-maybell ## Who they are Cast-iron old housekeeper of the Grange, whose dark warnings and grudging care make her a gatekeeper no one can comfortably pass. ## Relationships ### [Sergeant-Major Archdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/sergeant_major_archdale) _psychological_ Mildred is entangled with Archdale in a manipulative or coercive relationship, likely involving blackmail or control. ### [Tom Tarnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/tom_tarnley) _family_ Mildred and Tom are siblings, bound by shared hardship and a fraught family loyalty. ### [Charles Fairfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/charles_fairfield) _social_ Charles and Mildred are acquaintances from different social spheres, with occasional interactions through estate matters. ### [Alice Maybell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/alice_maybell) _social_ Alice and Mildred have a strained acquaintance, with Mildred's secrets creating distance and suspicion. ### [Tom Tarnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/tom_tarnley) _family_ Mildred and Tom are siblings, bound by shared hardship and a fraught family loyalty. ### [Sergeant-Major Archdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/sergeant_major_archdale) _psychological_ Mildred is entangled with Archdale in a manipulative or coercive relationship, likely involving blackmail or control. ### [Charles Fairfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/charles_fairfield) _social_ Charles and Mildred are acquaintances from different social spheres, with occasional interactions through estate matters. ### [Sergeant-Major Archdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/sergeant_major_archdale) _psychological_ Mildred is entangled with Archdale in a manipulative or coercive relationship, likely involving blackmail or control. ### [Alice Maybell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/alice_maybell) _social_ Alice and Mildred have a strained acquaintance, with Mildred's secrets creating distance and suspicion. ### [Alice Maybell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/alice_maybell) _social_ Alice and Mildred have a strained acquaintance, with Mildred's secrets creating distance and suspicion. ### [Tom Tarnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/tom_tarnley) _family_ Mildred and Tom are siblings, bound by shared hardship and a fraught family loyalty. ### [Charles Fairfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/charles_fairfield) _social_ Charles and Mildred are acquaintances from different social spheres, with occasional interactions through estate matters. ## In the story ### [III: The Grange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/iii-the-grange) Caretaker of Carwell Grange, admits Alice after verifying the miniature, shows her the letter. ### [The Omen of Carwell Grange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xii-the-omen-of-carwell-grange) The old, grim servant at the Grange who greets the couple and later denies seeing the omen Alice witnesses. ### [XIII: An Inspection of Carwell Grange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-an-inspection-of-carwell-grange) Shows Alice to her room, prepares an inventory of goods, and takes offense at the couple's laughter, responding with bitter remarks. ### [XIV: A Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-a-letter) Old Mrs. Tarnley is mentioned as having frightened Alice the previous night. ### [Mildred Tarnley's Warning Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-mildred-tarnley-s-warning-story) Mildred Tarnley, an old servant with a stern and ominous demeanor, reluctantly shares the tragic story of the Fairfield women and delivers a stark warning to Alice. ### [XIX: Coming In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xix-coming-in) Referenced by Alice as someone from whom she hopes to learn household management. ### [XX: Harry Appears at the Grange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xx-harry-appears-at-the-grange) Charles asks old Mildred to prepare food for Harry, referring to her as 'like a good old soul.' ### [The Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-the-visitor) Mildred opens the door to Lady Wyndale and initially says 'not at home' before being persuaded to announce the visitor. ### [XXIV: The Summons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxiv-the-summons) Sour and secretive, she is caught trying to pick the lock of Alice's dressing-table drawer to find Charles's address. ### [Lilly Dogger Is Sent to Bed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxv-lilly-dogger-is-sent-to-bed) The harsh and capricious housekeeper who scolds Lilly, then secretly prepares for a mysterious late-night visitor, barricading Lilly's door and speaking with an unseen companion. ### [The Lady Has Her Tea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxvi-the-lady-has-her-tea) Hosts the mysterious lady, provides information about the Fairfields, and expresses her preference for Charles over Harry. ### [XXVII: Through the House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxvii-through-the-house) Old servant who assists the mysterious lady, leads her through the house, and prepares food. ### [The Bell Rings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxviii-the-bell-rings) Roused from bed by Alice's bell, she lies to soothe Alice, prepares supper for the Vrau, and wrestles with her conscience and fear of the mysterious woman. ### [Tom Is Ordered Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxix-tom-is-ordered-up) Mrs. Tarnley wakes Tom and gives him urgent instructions to meet Charles Fairfield; she then visits the mysterious woman, engaging in tense conversation. ### [The Old Soldier Grows More Friendly, and Frightens Mrs. Tarnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxx-the-old-soldier-grows-more-friendly-and-frightens-mrs-tarnley) Old servant at Carwell Grange, wary and resistant to the Dutchwoman's overtures, refuses brandy and promises, but is frightened by the visitor's intensity. ### [XXXI: News from Cressley Common](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxi-news-from-cressley-common) Anxious and overworked, she orchestrates the concealment of Charles Fairfield's visit and fears the blind woman's interference. ### [An Unlooked-for Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxii-an-unlooked-for-return) Confronts Charles about his duties, advises him to leave before dawn, and lies to the mysterious woman to protect Alice. ### [Charles Fairfield Alone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxiii-charles-fairfield-alone) Old Mildred provides Charles with a candle and informs him that the mysterious woman believes Harry is the married one. ### [XXXIV: Awake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxiv-awake) Suspicious and fearful of the mysterious woman, she locks her in her room to prevent her from wandering. ### [Restless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxv-restless) Restless and anxious, repeatedly checks on the Dutchwoman, eventually locks her in. ### [Through the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxvi-through-the-wall) Mildred Tarnley comforts and escorts Alice out of the house into the woods, showing unexpected tenderness. ### [A Messenger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxvii-a-messenger) Old Mildred takes charge of the situation, comforting Alice while plotting to have the blind woman arrested and sent away. ### [Unreasonable Bertha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxviii-unreasonable-bertha) Attends to Bertha during her fit; expresses a wish that Bertha be placed in a madhouse. ### [An Abduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxix-an-abduction) Observes the commotion and is questioned by Squire Rodney about the arrest. ### [XL: Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xl-pursuit) Prudently keeps her counsel and retreats to the kitchen, then engages in a tense conversation with Tom about the arrest and Charles's pursuit. ### [Day—Twilight—Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xli-day-twilight-darkness) Visits Alice to advise her, shows a hard exterior but some pity, and later becomes uneasy herself, barring doors and sending Tom to find Charles. ### [The Welcome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xliii-the-welcome) Secures the door and offers Charles sherry upon his arrival. ### [A Twilight Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xlviii-a-twilight-visit) Chats with Tom and Harry, expresses disbelief about Charles's secret marriage, and is given a shilling by Harry. ### [XLIX: The Heir of the Fairfields](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xlix-the-heir-of-the-fairfields) Mildred Tarnley writes to Harry announcing the birth and later converses with him about the family's secrets. ### [L: Bertha Velderkaust](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/l-bertha-velderkaust) Quoted by Bertha as having said the proverb 'ifs and ans were pots and pans'; Bertha calls her a 'd—d old witch'. ### [Harry Fairfield Grows Uneasy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/liii-harry-fairfield-grows-uneasy) Complains about the strain of caring for the household and criticizes the lack of financial support from the family. ### [A Drive to Twyford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/liv-a-drive-to-twyford) Reluctantly accompanies the baby to Twyford, resenting the journey and Harry's silence. ### [LV: How Fares the Child?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/lv-how-fares-the-child) Nervous and foreboding, she fears Alice's death and is shocked by Harry's suspicion about the child; agrees to go to Twyford with him. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/conclusion) Very old and made comfortable at Carwell Grange. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/mildred_tarnley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters