# Bernard — Wet Magic character guide

> Bernard in Wet Magic by E. Nesbit.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0001-wet-magic

## Snapshot

A placid, unflappable brother who reasons that mermaids are simply undiscovered facts, Bernard treats the impossible as a matter of course.

## Who they are

Bernard is the family's calmest voice, the boy who compares mermaids to radium and asks why a talking sea creature shouldn't speak English. He is also stubborn in his own quiet way, refusing to join the adventure unless Kathleen is allowed along. His willingness to go anyway, boots and all, is what pushes the group past Francis's reluctance and into the water.

## Relationships

### [Francis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/francis)

_friendship_

Bernard and Francis are close friends or allies, with frequent interactions indicating strong companionship.

### [Kathleen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/kathleen)

_friendship_

Bernard and Kathleen share a friendly, supportive bond, often interacting as companions.

### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis)

_friendship_

Bernard and Mavis are friends or allies, with a warm dynamic evident from their frequent interactions.

### [Maia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/maia)

_friendship_

Bernard and Maia are friends or allies, with a positive and cooperative dynamic.

### [Francis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/francis)

_friendship_

Bernard and Francis are close friends or allies, with frequent interactions indicating strong companionship.

### [Kathleen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/kathleen)

_friendship_

Bernard and Kathleen share a friendly, supportive bond, often interacting as companions.

### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis)

_friendship_

Bernard and Mavis are friends or allies, with a warm dynamic evident from their frequent interactions.

### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis)

_friendship_

Bernard and Mavis are friends or allies, with a warm dynamic evident from their frequent interactions.

### [Maia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/maia)

_friendship_

Bernard and Maia are friends or allies, with a positive and cooperative dynamic.

### [Maia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/maia)

_friendship_

Bernard and Maia are friends or allies, with a positive and cooperative dynamic.

### [Kathleen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/kathleen)

_friendship_

Bernard and Kathleen share a friendly, supportive bond, often interacting as companions.

### [Francis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/francis)

_friendship_

Bernard and Francis are close friends or allies, with frequent interactions indicating strong companionship.

## In the story

### [Wet Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/wet-magic)

One of the children involved in the seaside holiday anticipation and mermaid rescue plans.

### [I: Sabrina Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/i-sabrina-fair)

Makes a calendar to count down days, questions how to transport the aquarium, and saves his fish from being burned.

### [The Captive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/ii-the-captive)

Hopes the creature is a seal, expresses a wish for bows and arrows to go seal-shooting.

### [III: The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/iii-the-rescue)

Devises the plan and provides the knife and alarm, but opts out of the actual rescue.

### [Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/v-consequences)

Defends the reality of magic by comparing it to undiscovered science; suggests he and Kathleen might go to see the mermaid; offers to think of a plan.

### [VII: The Skies Are Falling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/vii-the-skies-are-falling)

Feels unusually clever, worries about getting home in time for tea, and urges caution.

### [The Book People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/ix-the-book-people)

Realizes they have been caught in a net by the Under Folk.

### [The Under Folk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/x-the-under-folk)

Asks questions about the Under Folk and the captive king; drinks from the Cup of Forgetfulness but pretends it had no effect.

### [XI: The Peacemaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/xi-the-peacemaker)

Suggests using Cathay's charm to restore the Mer King's memory.

### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/xii-the-end)

Agrees with Mavis about Reuben's luck.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/bernard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters