The woman was his housekeeper at Misselthwaite Manor, and her name was Mrs.Medlock.

She was a stout woman, with very red cheeks and sharp black eyes.

She wore a very purple dress, a black silk mantle with jet fringe on it and a black bonnet with purple velvet flowers which stuck up and trembled when she moved her head.

Mary did not like her at all, but as she very seldom liked people there was nothing remarkable in that; besides which it was very evident Mrs.Medlock did not think much of her.
"My word! she's a plain little piece of goods!" she said.

"And we'd heard that her mother was a beauty.