Character guide

Sophia Baines

major

Also known as Sophia, Baines, Miss Sophia, Sophia Scales, Mrs. Scales, Mrs. Sophia Scales

One of the two Baines sisters; impulsive and adventurous, she elopes with Gerald Scales.

Constance Baines

major

Also known as Constance, Miss Constance, Mrs. Constance Povey, Constance Povey

The other Baines sister; steady and domestic, she marries Samuel Povey and runs the family shop.

Gerald Scales

major

Also known as Gerald, Mr. Gerald Scales, Mr. Scales, Scales, young Scales

A charming commercial traveler who elopes with Sophia and later abandons her.

Mrs. Baines

major

Also known as Mrs. John Baines, John Baines, the imperial Mrs. Baines, Old Mrs. Baines

Mother of Sophia and Constance; a formidable matriarch who runs the Baines household.

Samuel Povey

major

Also known as Samuel, Sam, Mr. Povey, Povey, the young Povey

A quiet, principled draper who marries Constance and becomes a devoted father.

Mr. Critchlow

supporting

Also known as Critchlow, Charles Critchlow, Charles, the redoubtable Charles

A blunt, elderly chemist who is a friend of the Baines family and later marries Maria.

Cyril Povey

supporting

Also known as Cyril, Povey

Son of Constance and Samuel; a talented but somewhat indifferent young man.

Dick Povey

supporting

Also known as Dick, young Dick Povey, Mr. Dick Povey

Samuel Povey's cousin; a lively, rebellious young man who dies tragically.

Maggie Hollins

supporting

Also known as Maggie, Hollins, the vile Hollins, Maggie Hollins, old Maggie, young Maggie

A servant in the Baines household; later a struggling mother and widow.

Fossette

supporting

Also known as the celebrated Fossette, the infirm Fossette

Sophia's beloved pet dog, a constant companion in her later years.

Monsieur Chirac

supporting

Also known as Chirac, Mr. Chirac, The little Chirac

A French artist and friend of Sophia in Paris; kind but struggling.

Madame Foucault

supporting

Also known as Foucault, Madame, the Foucault, the ageing feckless Madame Foucault

Sophia's landlady in Paris; a worldly, somewhat faded woman.

Amy Bates

minor

Also known as Amy

A servant in the Baines household; loyal and hardworking.

Lily Holl

minor

Also known as Lily, Miss Lily Holl, Miss Lily, Holl, Miss Holl

A young woman who works in the Baines shop and later marries.

Miss Insull

minor

Also known as Maria Insull

A shop assistant at Baines's; prim and efficient.

Daniel Povey

minor

Also known as Daniel, Mrs. Daniel Povey, the great Daniel, Cousin Daniel

Samuel Povey's brother; a successful businessman in London.

Aunt Harriet

minor

Also known as Harriet, Mrs. Maddack, Harriet Maddack, Mrs. Harriet Maddack

Sister of Mrs. Baines; a kind, conventional woman.

Mr. Boldero

minor

Also known as Mr. Till Boldero, Boldero, a Boldero, Uncle Boldero

An elderly friend of the Baines family; a solicitor.

Madame Laurence

minor

Also known as Laurence, the imperturbable Laurence

A Frenchwoman who runs a pension in Paris.

Jacqueline

minor

Also known as Usually Jacqueline

A maid at the Pension Frensham in Paris.

Maria Critchlow

minor

Also known as Marie, Maria

Mr. Critchlow's wife; a quiet, long-suffering woman.

Mr. Baines

minor

Also known as old Mr. Baines, a Baines, The Baines

Deceased father of Sophia and Constance; a former draper.

Fan

minor

A young woman briefly involved with Dick Povey.

Maud

minor

A friend of Constance's youth.

M. Carlier

minor

Also known as Carlier

A Frenchman who frequents the Pension Frensham.

Aunt Maria

minor

Also known as Maria

Another aunt of the Baines sisters.

Rivain

minor

A French artist and acquaintance of Chirac.

Mary

minor

Also known as the mild Mary

A servant in the Baines household.

M. Niepce

minor

Also known as Niepce, old Niepce

An elderly Frenchman at the Pension Frensham.

Hortense Schneider

minor

Also known as Hortense

A famous French actress mentioned in passing.

Dr. Harrop

minor

Also known as Harrop, old Harrop, The venerable Harrop, Old Dr. Harrop, young Harrop

The family doctor in Bursley.

Reverend Archibald Jones

minor

Also known as Archibald Jones, Archibald

A clergyman in Bursley.

Claudine Jacquinot

minor

Also known as Claudine

A French maid in Sophia's Paris household.

Miss Baines

minor

An unmarried relative of the Baines family.

Jennie

minor

Also known as Miss Jennie

A young woman in Bursley.

Mr. Brindley

minor

Also known as Brindley

A local tradesman in Bursley.

James Boon

minor

Also known as Boon, Jim Boon

A local character in Bursley.

Rose Bennion

minor

Also known as Bennion, Rose

A young woman in Bursley.

Young Lawton

minor

Also known as young Lawton, Mr. Lawton

A young man in Bursley.

Edward Allman

minor

Also known as Allman, Young Edward Allman, young Allman, Young Allman

A young man in Bursley.

William Clews Mericarp

minor

Also known as the late William Clews Mericarp Esq, Mericarp

A deceased local notable mentioned in the story.

Mr. Chawner

minor

A local businessman in Bursley.

Mrs. Frensham

minor

Also known as Frensham

Proprietress of the Pension Frensham in Paris.

Mr. Hollins

minor

Also known as Hollins

Maggie Hollins's husband; a violent man.

Monsieur Cerf

minor

A Jewish merchant in Paris.

Elizabeth Chetwynd

minor

Also known as Elizabeth, Miss Chetwynd, the elder Miss Chetwynd, Miss Aline Chetwynd

A friend of Constance's later in life.

Aimée

minor

A French maid in Sophia's household.

Mr. Yardley

minor

Also known as a certain Mr. Yardley

A customer at the Baines shop.

Mr. Holl

minor

Also known as Holl, Alderman Holl

Father of Lily Holl; a local alderman.

Richard Povey

minor

A relative of the Povey family.

Mr. Frank Harris

minor

A journalist and editor mentioned in the story.

Mrs. Plover

minor

A neighbor of the Baines family.

Sylvain

minor

A French acquaintance of Chirac.

Mr. Peel-Swynnerton

minor

Also known as Peel, Matthew Peel-Swynnerton, Swynnerton, Matthew, Matt, Mr. Peel - Swynnerton

A young artist and friend of Cyril Povey.

Mr. Shawcross

minor

A local businessman in Bursley.

Reverend Mr. Murley

minor

Also known as Mr. Murley

A clergyman in Bursley.

Mrs. Chatterley

minor

A customer at the Baines shop.

Judge Lindley

minor

A judge mentioned in the story.

Payenneville

minor

Also known as The celebrated Payenneville

A French chef mentioned in Paris.

Diane

minor

A Frenchwoman mentioned in Paris.