# Christine Dryfoos — A Hazard of New Fortunes character guide > Christine Dryfoos in A Hazard of New Fortunes by William Dean Howells. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Christine, Miss Christine, Dryfoos **First appearance:** 0001-a-hazard-of-new-fortunes ## Snapshot Proud, sharp-tongued, and quick to suspect slights, Christine Dryfoos guards her family's new money like a fortress she isn't sure she owns. ## Who they are Raised on a farm and dropped into New York wealth, Christine meets the city's indifference with impassioned suspicion rather than humility, reading every caller as a fortune-hunter and every kindness as a maneuver. She resists Margaret Vance's advances until she can learn who the Vances are, and she sees her father's money as both shield and answer. Her bristling pride measures exactly how far the Dryfooses have come—and how unsettled they remain. ## Relationships ### [Fulkerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/characters/fulkerson) _social_ Christine and Fulkerson are social acquaintances, with Fulkerson acting as a cheerful but wary go-between for the Dryfoos family. ### [Fulkerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/characters/fulkerson) _social_ Christine and Fulkerson are social acquaintances, with Fulkerson acting as a cheerful but wary go-between for the Dryfoos family. ### [Fulkerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/characters/fulkerson) _social_ Christine and Fulkerson are social acquaintances, with Fulkerson acting as a cheerful but wary go-between for the Dryfoos family. ## In the story ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-first-xi) Implied as one of the daughters who pressured Dryfoos to sell the farm and move to New York for social advancement. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-second-viii) Observed by March as proud and defiant, with a sense of her sister's folly and a will to dominate. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-second-ix) Shows her ring to Beaton and feels a thrill of exultation at his attention. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-third-iii) Learns the banjo from Beaton, appears radiant with happiness, and ignores her father's presence during the lesson. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-third-vii) Receives Margaret's visit, discusses learning the banjo, and shares memories of the natural-gas country. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-third-viii) Proud and suspicious, she interprets Margaret's call as validation of her family's wealth and status, feeling no gratitude or humility. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-third-ix) Behaves with suspicion and bluntness toward Margaret Vance, revealing her social unease and pride. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fourth-iv) Christine is in Saratoga with her family, restless and fixated on Beaton's absence; she believes he admires her and that her father's money makes her desirable. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-ii) Christine is mentioned as one of the young ladies Beaton visits, though she is not present during his call. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-iv) Confronts her father about his interference with Beaton and violently returns all his gifts. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-viii) Christine is noted to be holding out against her father, with an unsettled account between them even amid the family's grief. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-xii) Remains in her room, sullen and unwell, refusing to see a doctor; Mela believes she is lovesick over Beaton. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-xiv) Mentioned as being ill after her brother's death; Beaton considers his attraction to her and her father's wealth. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-xv) Christine is mentioned as the alternative future Beaton contemplates—a marriage of convenience that would allow him to go abroad, underscoring his desperation. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-xvii) Attacks Beaton after he fails to declare his intentions; her rage and passion are vividly depicted. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/chapters/part-fifth-xviii) Shows furtive wildness at departure; later becomes engaged to a French nobleman in Paris. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/characters/christine_dryfoos - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_hazard_of_new_fortunes_se/characters