# Molly McEachern — A Gentleman of Leisure character guide > Molly McEachern in A Gentleman of Leisure by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Molly, McEachern, Molly McEachern **First appearance:** 0004-iii-mr-mceachern ## Snapshot A clear-eyed American heiress who sees through the matchmaking schemes around her and refuses to be handed to a titled fool. ## Who they are Molly McEachern is the spirited daughter of a self-made millionaire, and she is being quietly maneuvered by her father and Sir Thomas Blunt toward a marriage with Lord Dreever. She is neither fooled nor flattered by the arrangement, and her refusal of his lordship is delivered with a dry, devastating wit that leaves him almost relieved. Her independence and her instinct for seeing past performance make her the emotional center of the novel's romantic complications. ## Relationships ### [Jimmy Pitt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/jimmy_pitt) _romantic_ Jimmy and Molly are the central romantic pair, with Jimmy initially pursuing her as a bet but genuinely falling in love. ### [Lord Dreever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/lord_dreever) _romantic_ Lord Dreever is infatuated with Molly and pursues her romantically, though she does not reciprocate his feelings. ### [Sir Thomas Blunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/sir_thomas_blunt) _family_ Sir Thomas is Molly's uncle and guardian, and he exerts control over her romantic life, causing tension between them. ### [Spennie Dreever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/spennie_dreever) _social_ Molly and Spennie are acquaintances in the same social circle, with Spennie occasionally annoying her with his antics. ### [John McEachern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/john_mceachern) _family_ John is Molly's father, and he is protective of her but also somewhat distant due to his past as a criminal. ### [Spike Mullins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/spike_mullins) _friendship_ Molly and Spike develop a friendly rapport, with Spike assisting her and Jimmy in their romantic plans. ### [Jimmy Pitt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/jimmy_pitt) _romantic_ Jimmy and Molly are the central romantic pair, with Jimmy initially pursuing her as a bet but genuinely falling in love. ### [Jimmy Pitt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/jimmy_pitt) _romantic_ Jimmy and Molly are the central romantic pair, with Jimmy initially pursuing her as a bet but genuinely falling in love. ### [Lord Dreever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/lord_dreever) _romantic_ Lord Dreever is infatuated with Molly and pursues her romantically, though she does not reciprocate his feelings. ### [Sir Thomas Blunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/sir_thomas_blunt) _family_ Sir Thomas is Molly's uncle and guardian, and he exerts control over her romantic life, causing tension between them. ### [Spike Mullins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/spike_mullins) _friendship_ Molly and Spike develop a friendly rapport, with Spike assisting her and Jimmy in their romantic plans. ### [John McEachern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/john_mceachern) _family_ John is Molly's father, and he is protective of her but also somewhat distant due to his past as a criminal. ## In the story ### [A Gentleman of Leisure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/a-gentleman-of-leisure) John McEachern's daughter, who becomes romantically involved with Jimmy. ### [Mr. McEachern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/iii-mr-mceachern) McEachern's daughter, the driving force behind his ambitions; she appears at the end of the chapter, entering the room with the dogs. ### [IV: Molly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/iv-molly) Returns home from England and has a heartfelt late-night conversation with her father, expressing her love and support. ### [Getting Acquainted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/vii-getting-acquainted) Enters the scene, recognizes Jimmy from the Mauretania, and is reassured by the cover story about a burglar. ### [IX: A New Friend and an Old One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/ix-a-new-friend-and-an-old-one) The girl from the Mauretania who has haunted Jimmy for a year. He does not know her name or address, only that she disappeared in New York. ### [X: Jimmy Adopts a Lame Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/x-jimmy-adopts-a-lame-dog) Mentioned by Spike as McEachern's attractive daughter, causing Jimmy's sharp reaction. ### [At the Turn of the Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xi-at-the-turn-of-the-road) Molly appears at the end of the chapter, running toward Jimmy after he catches her runaway horse. ### [Making a Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xii-making-a-start) Molly encounters Jimmy while out walking and shares the story of her father foiling a diamond theft. She shows sympathy for Lord Dreever and curiosity about Jimmy's romantic life. ### [Mr. McEachern Intervenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xv-mr-mceachern-intervenes) Seems content amid the theatrical chaos but is troubled by the pressure from her father and Sir Thomas; she seeks Jimmy out on the terrace and asks his opinion of Lord Dreever. ### [XVI: A Marriage Has Been Arranged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xvi-a-marriage-has-been-arranged) Feels frightened and hurt by her father's unusual anger; later, exhausted and resigned, she agrees to marry Lord Dreever. ### [Jimmy Remembers Something, and Hears Something Else](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xvii-jimmy-remembers-something-and-hears-something-else) Molly is the subject of the engagement announcement; she has accepted Lord Dreever's proposal under pressure from his uncle, despite having refused him earlier. ### [XVIII: The Lochinvar Method](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xviii-the-lochinvar-method) Shows constraint and shyness toward Jimmy; he lifts her into a canoe to be alone with her. ### [XIX: On the Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xix-on-the-lake) Molly is torn between her love for Jimmy and her fear of her father's disapproval. She reveals that her father does not like Jimmy, but cannot bring herself to explain the real reason—that her father thinks Jimmy is crooked. ### [A Lesson in Piquet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xx-a-lesson-in-piquet) Sends a note to Dreever via Saunders, which distresses him upon reading. ### [Family Jars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xxiii-family-jars) Breaks off her engagement to Lord Dreever via a letter, which sets the chapter's events in motion. ### [XXIV: The Treasure-Seeker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xxiv-the-treasure-seeker) Discovers Spennie with the stolen banknotes and persuades him to return them, then hides with him when footsteps approach. ### [XXV: Explanations and an Interruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xxv-explanations-and-an-interruption) Discovers Jimmy in the dressing room; initially faints but ultimately believes his explanation. ### [XXVIII: Spennie's Hour of Clear Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xxviii-spennie-s-hour-of-clear-vision) Referenced as having broken off her engagement with Spennie and as potentially being an affinity with Jimmy Pitt. ### [XXIX: The Last Round](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xxix-the-last-round) Enters with Lord Dreever; her father agrees to speak with her privately. ### [XXX: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/chapters/xxx-conclusion) Mentioned as Jimmy's wife; they plan to go to France. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters/molly_mceachern - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_gentleman_of_leisure_se/characters