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The Ruffler
Hugh Hendon’s wife. Lady Edith is the sole heiress of a large fortune. Sir Richard Hendon becomes her protector when her parents die. Edith falls in love with Miles Hendon but she is supposed to marry Arthur Hendon. Arthur is also in love with someone else, so he tells Miles and Edith to be patient, hoping they can delay their wedding long enough for Richard (who doesn’t want Miles to marry Edith because Miles is his second son and Arthur is his first) to die and thus free them all to marry whomever they want. Edith marries Hugh after Arthur dies and Hugh writes a fraudulent letter informing them that Miles, too, has died. Edith discovers Hugh wrote the letter, and their marriage sours. When Miles shows back up, Hugh threatens to kill him if Edith doesn’t pretend not to recognize him. Edith keeps up the act and tells Miles to run away, but is too late—Miles and Edward Tudor (whom Miles is protecting) are arrested. Edith finally marries Miles after Hugh has abandoned her and he has died somewhere in Europe.
Lady Edith Quotes in The Prince and the Pauper
The The Prince and the Pauper quotes below are all either spoken by Lady Edith or refer to Lady Edith. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 26 Quotes
“My husband is master in this region; his power hath hardly any limit; the people prosper or starve, as he wills. If you resembled not the man whom you profess to be, my husband might bid you pleasure yourself with your dream in peace; but trust me, I know him well, I know what he will do; he will say to all, that you are but a mad impostor, and straightway all will echo him.” She bent upon Miles that same steady look once more[.]
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Get the entire The Prince and the Pauper LitChart as a printable PDF.
Lady Edith Character Timeline in The Prince and the Pauper
The timeline below shows where the character Lady Edith appears in The Prince and the Pauper. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 12: The Prince and His Deliverer
...Richard’s favorite son. Hendon grew up alongside a beautiful orphaned cousin and heiress named Lady Edith. Although Edith and Hendon loved each other, Richard wanted her to marry Arthur. Hugh lusted...
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Chapter 25: Hendon Hall
...they get closer to Hendon Hall, Hendon chatters incessantly about his brothers, father, and Lady Edith. The area around the Hall is quaint but picturesque. Hugh recognizes different buildings and people,...
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Hendon tells Hugh to call Sir Richard, Arthur, Lady Edith, or even some of the old servants—one of these will surely recognize him. Hugh explains...
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Hugh, Lady Edith, and the servants walk in. Hendon steps toward Edith, but Hugh stops him. Edith looks...
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Chapter 26: Disowned
...in his own thoughts that he pockets Edward’s letters without realizing it. He thinks of Edith and her strange manner—she must have recognized him but she claimed she didn’t, and Hendon...
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Chapter 27: In Prison
...king, is being treated like common rabble, but Hendon is absorbed in trying to understand Edith’s behavior. Hendon’s misery is made worse when numerous people come into the prison to mock...
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...with the lack of news from Miles, ruined Sir Richard’s health. Richard wanted Hugh and Edith to get married, but Edith begged him to wait in the hope that Miles would...
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Chapter 33: Edward as King
...have a right to sit in the presence of the king. Coincidentally, Hugh and Lady Edith come in while Edward is talking and confusedly look from Hendon to Edward. Hendon, however,...
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Conclusion: Justice and Retribution
In the end, Hugh confesses that Lady Edith pretended not to know Miles Hendon because Hugh threatened to kill him otherwise. Hugh isn’t...
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