# Lord Carstairs — Dr. Wortle’s School character guide

> Lord Carstairs in Dr. Wortle’s School by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Carstairs, young Lord Carstairs, Young Carstairs

**First appearance:** 0005-part-ii-vi-lord-carstairs

## Snapshot

A young nobleman who boards at Bowick, plays lawn-tennis with Mary Wortle under Mrs. Wortle's watchful eye, and falls quietly, seriously in love with the Doctor's daughter.

## Who they are

Carstairs is heir to Lord Bracy, sent to Bowick to finish his Latin and Greek among the other boys, yet lodged and dined as a gentleman within the parsonage itself. His easy manners and boyish openness please the Doctor, but Mrs. Wortle sees the danger her husband dismisses: two young people thrown daily together. His growing attachment to Mary — and his father's eventual, careful letter about it — turns a school arrangement into a question of rank, money, and long engagements.

## Relationships

### [Mary Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mary_wortle)

_romantic_

Lord Carstairs is a suitor to Mary Wortle, and their relationship is one of mutual affection and courtship.

### [Dr. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/dr_wortle)

_professional_

Lord Carstairs is a pupil at Dr. Wortle's school, and their relationship is that of headmaster and student, though with mutual respect.

### [Mrs. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mrs_wortle)

_social_

Lord Carstairs is a polite and respectful guest in the Wortle household, interacting with Mrs. Wortle as a hostess.

### [Mr. Peacocke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mr_peacocke)

_professional_

Lord Carstairs is a student under Mr. Peacocke's teaching, and their relationship is that of pupil and master.

### [Lady Anne Clifford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/lady_anne_clifford)

_social_

Lady Anne Clifford and Lord Carstairs move in the same aristocratic circles and have a polite acquaintance.

### [Mrs. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mrs_wortle)

_social_

Lord Carstairs is a polite and respectful guest in the Wortle household, interacting with Mrs. Wortle as a hostess.

### [Mary Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mary_wortle)

_romantic_

Lord Carstairs is a suitor to Mary Wortle, and their relationship is one of mutual affection and courtship.

### [Dr. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/dr_wortle)

_professional_

Lord Carstairs is a pupil at Dr. Wortle's school, and their relationship is that of headmaster and student, though with mutual respect.

### [Mr. Peacocke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mr_peacocke)

_professional_

Lord Carstairs is a student under Mr. Peacocke's teaching, and their relationship is that of pupil and master.

### [Lady Anne Clifford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/lady_anne_clifford)

_social_

Lady Anne Clifford and Lord Carstairs move in the same aristocratic circles and have a polite acquaintance.

### [Dr. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/dr_wortle)

_professional_

Lord Carstairs is a pupil at Dr. Wortle's school, and their relationship is that of headmaster and student, though with mutual respect.

### [Mary Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mary_wortle)

_romantic_

Lord Carstairs is a suitor to Mary Wortle, and their relationship is one of mutual affection and courtship.

## In the story

### [Lord Carstairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-lord-carstairs)

A young nobleman and former pupil who returns to Bowick as a private pupil. He forms a close bond with Mr. Peacocke and is disappointed by his refusal to visit Carstairs.

### [VIII: The Story Is Told](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-iii-viii-the-story-is-told)

Notices Mr. Peacocke's troubled state and offers sympathy.

### [IV: “It Is Impossible”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-iv-it-is-impossible)

Rides over from Buttercup specifically to declare his love to Mary, showing youthful impulsiveness and romantic idealism.

### [Lord Bracy's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-vii-lord-bracy-s-letter)

Has confessed his love for Mary to his parents; his father writes to Dr. Wortle about the matter.

### [XII: Mary's Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-xii-mary-s-success)

Returns to Bowick unexpectedly, claiming to visit Mr. Peacocke, but clearly to see Mary. He embraces Mary and shows determination in his courtship.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/lord_carstairs
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters