# Dick Cavendish — A Country Gentleman and His Family character guide > Dick Cavendish in A Country Gentleman and His Family by Margaret Oliphant. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Cavendish, Dick, Young Cavendish, Little Dick **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Who they are A grave young visitor at the Rectory, patient with children and barley sugar, whose quiet attentions to Markland unsettle more than one household. ## Relationships ### [Minnie Chatty Warrender](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/minnie_chatty_warrender) _romantic_ Dick is a persistent suitor to Minnie, creating romantic tension despite her marriage to Theodore. ### [Theodore Warrender](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/theodore_warrender) _rivalry_ Dick and Theodore are rivals for Minnie's affection, with underlying tension and jealousy. ### [Lizzie Hampson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/lizzie_hampson) _romantic_ Dick has a flirtatious and possibly romantic interest in Lizzie, though it is less serious than his pursuit of Minnie. ### [Geoff Markland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/geoff_markland) _friendship_ Dick and Geoff are friends and contemporaries, though their friendship is tested by Dick's pursuit of Minnie. ### [Minnie Chatty Warrender](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/minnie_chatty_warrender) _romantic_ Dick is a persistent suitor to Minnie, creating romantic tension despite her marriage to Theodore. ### [Theodore Warrender](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/theodore_warrender) _rivalry_ Dick and Theodore are rivals for Minnie's affection, with underlying tension and jealousy. ### [Theodore Warrender](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/theodore_warrender) _rivalry_ Dick and Theodore are rivals for Minnie's affection, with underlying tension and jealousy. ### [Minnie Chatty Warrender](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/minnie_chatty_warrender) _romantic_ Dick is a persistent suitor to Minnie, creating romantic tension despite her marriage to Theodore. ### [Lizzie Hampson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/lizzie_hampson) _romantic_ Dick has a flirtatious and possibly romantic interest in Lizzie, though it is less serious than his pursuit of Minnie. ### [Geoff Markland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/geoff_markland) _friendship_ Dick and Geoff are friends and contemporaries, though their friendship is tested by Dick's pursuit of Minnie. ### [Lizzie Hampson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/lizzie_hampson) _romantic_ Dick has a flirtatious and possibly romantic interest in Lizzie, though it is less serious than his pursuit of Minnie. ### [Geoff Markland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/geoff_markland) _friendship_ Dick and Geoff are friends and contemporaries, though their friendship is tested by Dick's pursuit of Minnie. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/i) A young Cavendish, who had been at school with Theo, hosts Theo's sisters for tea, but this is one of the few social invitations they receive. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/x) Expected to visit the rectory; Chatty remembers him from Oxford, while Minnie downplays his importance. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xi) Arrives at the rectory during the Warrenders' mourning period; a brown-haired, blue-eyed young man with a reputation for insincerity, though he successfully flatters Mrs. Wilberforce. He is a friend of Theo Warrender, older in years but junior at Oxford, and has a past of wandering in Canada and the gold diggings before settling to study law. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xii) Visits the Warrenders, shows sympathy for their loss, and later observes Lizzie Hampson with recognition. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xiii) Takes a walk, visits Lizzie Hampson, and decides to leave the rectory abruptly after receiving mysterious news. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xiv) Struggles with a hidden terror and secret, yet maintains a cheerful facade; engages in banter about Theo's academic choices. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xv) Makes a pre-dawn walk around Lady Markland's house, haunted by the past; encounters Lizzie Hampson and gives her his address for emergencies; later travels with Warrender, concealing his own history. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xvi) Advises Theo in London, praised by Theo for his sympathy and interest in friends' concerns. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xvii) His suggestion to Theo is recalled as a catalyst for Theo's intentions. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xviii) Referenced as the source of an epigram that lightens the family controversy over Theo's decision. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xxx) Cavendish encounters Chatty and her mother, shows keen interest in Chatty, and later reflects on his feelings, deciding to call on them. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xxxi) Visits Mrs. Warrender and Chatty, dines with them, takes them to the play, and grows increasingly attracted to Chatty. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xxxii) Struggles with guilt over his ambiguous relationship with Chatty; considers confessing to Mrs. Warrender but ultimately leaves without resolution. ### [Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xxxiii) Though not present, Dick Cavendish is the subject of Chatty's unspoken feelings and Mrs. Warrender's hopeful plans, having recently proposed to Chatty. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xxxiv) Mentioned by Mrs. Warrender as someone they saw a great deal of in town; Theo dismisses him as a fellow with a story. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xxxviii) Mrs. Warrender writes to him inviting him for a shooting visit, hoping he will propose to Chatty. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xxxix) Struggles with his feelings for Chatty and the moral weight of his secret marriage. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xl) Struggles with his secret marriage and his growing feelings for Chatty; burns papers and decides to visit Highcombe. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xli) Struggles with the decision to divorce his estranged wife, receives news of her death, and finally proposes to Chatty. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xlii) Dick is the bridegroom, a fair-haired gentleman from London. Lizzie suspects he may already be married, which could invalidate the wedding. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xliii) The bridegroom, who is marrying Chatty despite being already married, as Lizzie reveals in the church. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xliv) The bridegroom, who is confronted by his presumed-dead first wife and is devastated by the interruption. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xlv) His past marriage and separation are revealed; he plans to go to California to obtain a divorce. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xlvi) Reported to have been ill with fever in America, now recovering; has been unable to write for six or seven weeks; his sister Lady Horton thinks the divorce should be dropped. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xlvii) Mentioned as the married man Chatty is waiting for; Theo is furious about the situation. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/xlix) Returns from abroad, thin and browned; barred from the Warren by the Thynnes; sends Geoff to fetch Chatty. ### [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/l) Returns to claim Chatty, insisting their marriage is valid and presenting evidence. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/li) Present at the Warren for a conference about his marriage to Chatty, though Theo is too distracted to focus on his affairs. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/chapters/lii) Mentioned as one of the 'happy ones' who begins his married life with Chatty without any cloud. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters/dick_cavendish - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_country_gentleman_and_his_family_se/characters