Alicia Coombe

In the short story The Dressmaker's Doll, Alicia Coombe is the owner of a dressmaking business. She does not always come in, only when special customers, such as Mrs Fellows-Brown, arrive.

Mrs Fellows-Brown asks how long she has had the doll in the fitting-room, but Alicia is unable to remember, saying that nowadays she "never can remember things".

Mrs Fellows-Brown asks if Alicia bought the doll, and Alicia says she supposes that someone gave her the doll.

Alicia tells Sybil Fox that she cannot remember things. She mentions an incident in which she forgot where she was going, and also forgets where she has put her spectacles.

Alicia has very poor eyesight, and complains that when she loses her spectacles, she cannot find them because she cannot see to find them.

When the doll appears to be moving around the fitting-room on its own, Alicia says that she rather enjoys it in a way. She considers writing to "the psychical research people" about it, and wonders if they will send an inestigator or medium to see if there is anything peculiar about the room. However, she later decides that she does not quite like it, as she thinks the doll is getting "rather above herself".

Alicia later decides to keep the door of the fitting-room permanently locked, and let the doll have the room. However, when the doll somehow leaves the fitting-room and appears in the showroom, Alicia throws it out the window.

A child picks the doll up, and Alicia tries to talk her into giving the doll back. The child refuses, and runs off with the doll.