Chapter Harold to Hartley of H by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Harriet, the elder daughter of sir David and lady Dunder, of Dunder Hall. She was in love with Scruple, whom she accidentally met at Calais; but her parents arranged that she should marry lord Snolts, a stumpy, “gummy” old nobleman of five and forty. To prevent this hateful marriage, Harriet consented to elope with Scruple; but the flight was intercepted by sir David, who, to prevent a scandal, consented to the marriage, and discovered that Scruple, both in family and fortune, was a suitable son-in-law.—Colman: Ways and Means (1788).

Harriet [Mowbray], the daughter of colonel Mowbray, an orphan without fortune, without friends, without a protector. She marries clandestinely Charles Eustace.—J. Poole: The Scapegoat.

Harrington, a novel by Maria Edgeworth (1811).

Harriot [Russet], the simple, unsophisticated daughter of Mr. Russet. She loves Mr. Oakly, and marries him, but becomes a “jealous wife,” watching her husband like a lynx, to find out some proof of infidelity, and distorting every casual remark as evidence thereof. Her aunt, lady Freelove, tries to make her a woman of fashion, but without success. Ultimately, she is cured of her idiosyncrasy. —Colman: The Jealous Wife (1761).

Harris (Mrs.), a purely imaginary character, existing only in the brain of Mrs. Sarah Gamp, and brought forth on all occasions to corroborate the opinions and trumpet the praises of Mrs. Gamp the monthly nurse.

“‘Mrs. Harris,’ I says to her, … ‘if I could afford to lay out all my fellow-creeturs for nothink, I would gladly do it; sich is the love I bears ’em.” Again: “What!” said Mrs. Gamp, “you bage creetur! Have I know’d Mrs. Harris five and thirty year, to be told at last that there an’t no sich a person livin’? Have I stood her friend in all her, troubles, great and small, for it to come to sich a end as this, with her own sweet picter hanging up afore you all the time, to shame your Bragian words? Go along with you!”—Dickens: Martin Chuzzlewit, xlix. (1843).

Mrs. Harris is the “Mde. Benoiton” of French comedy.—The Times.

Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Harris have Parisian sisters in Mde. Pochet and Mde. Gibou, by Henri Monnier (1805–1877).

Harris (See Slawken-Bergius.)

Harrison (Dr.), the model of benevolence, who nevertheless takes in execution the goods and person of his friend Booth, because Booth, while pleading poverty, was buying expensive and needless jewellery,—Fielding: Amelia (1751).

Harrison (Major-General), one of the parliamentary commissioners.—Sir W.Scott: Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Harrison, the old steward of lady Bellenden, of the Tower of Tillietudlem. —Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Harrowby (John), of Stocks Green, a homely, kind-hearted, honest Kentish farmer, with whom lieutenant Worthington and his daughter Emily take lodgings. Though most desirous of showing his lodger kindness, he is constantly wounding his susceptibilities from blunt honesty and want of tact.

Dame Harrowby, wife of Farmer Harrowby.

Stephen Harrowby, son of Farmer Harrowby; who has a mania for soldiering and calls himself “a perspiring young hero.

Mary Harrowby, daughter of Farmer Harrowby.—Colman: The Poor Gentleman (1802).