# Mrs. Plowson explained — Lady Audley’s Secret > Chapter companion for Lady Audley’s Secret by M. E. Braddon. ## What happens Robert Audley travels to Southampton to investigate George Talboys's disappearance. He visits Mr. Maldon's home, where he encounters little Georgey and the suspicious Mrs. Plowson. Through the boy, he learns of a 'pretty lady' who visited at night, left a watch, and cried. Mr. Maldon arrives drunk and agitated, and Robert grows increasingly convinced that a dark mystery surrounds George's fate. ## Themes in this chapter ### Secrecy and Deception Mrs. Plowson and Mr. Maldon attempt to conceal information from Robert; the 'pretty lady's' night visit and the hidden watch suggest a secret past. ### Appearance vs. Reality Mrs. Plowson's insinuating civility masks her nervous complicity; Mr. Maldon's drunken demeanor hides deeper secrets. ### Justice and Morality Robert feels compelled by a 'stronger hand' to uncover the truth about George's disappearance, despite the moral and personal costs. ## Character check-ins ### Robert Audley Travels to Southampton to pursue the mystery of George Talboys's disappearance; questions little Georgey and observes Mrs. Plowson's suspicious behavior. ### Georgey Little George Talboys, now nearly six years old; reveals that a 'pretty lady' visited him at night, left a watch, and cried. ### Mr. Maldon Appears drunk and agitated upon Robert's arrival; tries to silence the boy and Mrs. Plowson. ### Mrs. Plowson Fair-haired widow and housekeeper; behaves nervously, tries to remove Georgey from Robert's questioning, and appears to share in Mr. Maldon's secrets. ### George Talboys Mentioned as the missing man whose fate Robert is investigating; his son Georgey grows more like him each day. ### Mr. Harcourt Talboys George's father; Robert recalls his cold, dismissive letter and plans to visit him in Dorsetshire. ## Key lines > Who would have thought that I could have grown so fond of the fellow, or feel so lonely without him? Robert reflects on his deep affection for George and the emptiness he feels in his absence. _Reveals Robert's emotional investment in finding his friend._ > The pretty lady came here one night—long ago—oh, so long ago... she came at night—after I'd gone to bed, and she came up into my room, and sat upon the bed, and cried—and she left the watch under my pillow Little Georgey describes a mysterious woman who visited him at night, cried, and left a watch. _Key clue linking Lady Audley (or another woman) to Georgey and the mystery._ > Whatever this man's secrets are, that woman has no unimportant share of them. Whatever the mystery may be, it grows darker and thicker at every step; but I try in vain to draw back or to stop short upon the road, for a stronger hand than my own is pointing the way to my lost friend's unknown grave. Robert concludes that Mrs. Plowson is complicit in Mr. Maldon's secrets and feels compelled by fate to continue his investigation. _Highlights the theme of inevitability and the deepening mystery._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters/xx-mrs-plowson - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lady_audley_s_secret_se/chapters