# Robert Lefroy — Dr. Wortle’s School character guide

> Robert Lefroy in Dr. Wortle’s School by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Ferdinand Lefroy, Lefroy, Ferdy, cousin Ferdy

**First appearance:** 0006-part-iii-vii-robert-lefroy

## Snapshot

A coarse, hungry, uninvited American who arrives at Bowick School claiming to be the brother-in-law of the usher's wife, and whose questions threaten to drag a buried past into daylight.

## Who they are

Robert Lefroy turns up at the school unannounced, starved and demanding, and greets Peacocke with the easy insolence of a man who knows he has a hold. He presses the schoolmaster on whether he is brother-in-law or not, and on whether Mrs. Peacocke is truly Peacocke's wife — questions Peacocke refuses to answer. His arrival is the spark that ignites the novel's central scandal, and his crude persistence makes him a menace no gentleman can simply dismiss.

## Relationships

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

_psychological_

Robert Lefroy is the presumed-dead first husband of Mrs. Peacocke, whose reappearance creates a psychological and moral crisis for Mr. Peacocke.

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

_rivalry_

Dr. Wortle sees Robert Lefroy as a threat to the reputation of his school and to Mr. Peacocke's position, and he opposes him.

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

_psychological_

Robert Lefroy is the presumed-dead first husband of Mrs. Peacocke, whose reappearance creates a psychological and moral crisis for Mr. Peacocke.

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

_psychological_

Robert Lefroy is the presumed-dead first husband of Mrs. Peacocke, whose reappearance creates a psychological and moral crisis for Mr. Peacocke.

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

_rivalry_

Dr. Wortle sees Robert Lefroy as a threat to the reputation of his school and to Mr. Peacocke's position, and he opposes him.

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

_rivalry_

Dr. Wortle sees Robert Lefroy as a threat to the reputation of his school and to Mr. Peacocke's position, and he opposes him.

## In the story

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

The brother of Mrs. Peacocke's first husband, he arrives at Bowick and confronts Mr. Peacocke, setting the stage for the revelation of the secret.

### [VII: Robert Lefroy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-iii-vii-robert-lefroy)

Arrives at Bowick, attempts to extort money from Mr. Peacocke, and leaves to tell his version of the story to Dr. Wortle.

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

His accusations are the catalyst for the confrontation, though he is not present in this chapter.

### [Mr. Peacocke Goes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-iv-x-mr-peacocke-goes)

Hints that his brother Ferdinand might be dead, but refuses to confirm it. He agrees to travel with Mr. Peacocke to America for a thousand dollars, though his word is not trusted.

### [The Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-vi-the-journey)

Reveals that Ferdinand died in San Francisco, but is reluctant to travel further; he becomes increasingly hostile and demanding during the journey.

### [At Chicago](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-ix-at-chicago)

Attempts to blackmail Mr. Peacocke with a fabricated story about the identity of the buried man, but is ultimately paid and leaves.

## Links

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