# Deborah Gale — His Family character guide > Deborah Gale in His Family by Ernest Poole. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Deborah, Aunt Deborah, Miss Deborah, IX Deborah, XIII Deborah, Sharply Deborah, Deborah Baird, Presently Deborah **First appearance:** 0001-his-family ## Snapshot Roger's eldest daughter runs an enormous school family downtown, yet can't seem to reach her own sister across the upstairs hall. ## Who they are Deborah comes home each night wrung out by problems and vexing toil in her vast school family, then climbs to her third-floor room past the sister she keeps failing to comfort. She tries — the knock, the low clear voice, the offer of supper — but Edith reads pity where Deborah means help, and the old house sharpens every difference in their views. Her cool head and steady hands make her the one the family calls when a crisis needs managing, even as her own marriage to Allan Baird waits patiently in the background. ## Relationships ### [Roger Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/roger_gale) _family_ Deborah is Roger's devoted and protective older sister, often acting as a maternal figure and moral compass in his life. ### [Edith Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/edith_gale) _family_ Deborah and Edith are sisters with a complex dynamic of love, rivalry, and differing views on family duty. ### [Father Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/father_abraham) _family_ Father Abraham is Deborah's father, and she shares a deep, respectful, and emotionally intense bond with him as his eldest daughter. ### [Allan Baird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/allan_baird) _romantic_ Allan is Deborah's suitor, and their relationship is marked by mutual affection but also tension over her family obligations. ### [Laura Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/laura_gale) _family_ Deborah is a nurturing older sister to Laura, guiding her with gentle authority and affection. ### [Bruce Cunningham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/bruce_cunningham) _rivalry_ Bruce and Deborah are antagonists, with Deborah disapproving of his influence over Edith and his character. ### [John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/john) _friendship_ Deborah and John share a cordial friendship, often united in their support for Roger. ### [Roger Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/roger_gale) _family_ Deborah is Roger's devoted and protective older sister, often acting as a maternal figure and moral compass in his life. ### [Roger Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/roger_gale) _family_ Deborah is Roger's devoted and protective older sister, often acting as a maternal figure and moral compass in his life. ### [Edith Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/edith_gale) _family_ Deborah and Edith are sisters with a complex dynamic of love, rivalry, and differing views on family duty. ### [Father Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/father_abraham) _family_ Father Abraham is Deborah's father, and she shares a deep, respectful, and emotionally intense bond with him as his eldest daughter. ### [Laura Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/laura_gale) _family_ Deborah is a nurturing older sister to Laura, guiding her with gentle authority and affection. ## In the story ### [His Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/his-family) Confides about Joe Bolini and immerses herself in school work. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/i) Roger's second daughter, who stayed at home and helped rouse his interest in life after Judith's death. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/ii) Returns home tired from work, discusses Bruce and George with her father, advocates for progressive education, then plays piano to relax. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as the daughter who reads modern Russian novels and refuses to speak to Laura about her rouged lips. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/iv) Reveals she went dancing with Allan Baird, questions Laura about her engagement, attends a concert with Roger, and speaks of youth and education. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/v) Observes Laura's engagement with affection and dismay; discusses Laura's future with Roger and acknowledges their neglect. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/vi) Cares for Edith's children; engages in philosophical talks with George; tries to broaden Baird's perspective by taking him to her school and foreign cafés. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/vii) Actively involved in rearranging the house for the wedding, advocates for personal freedom and modern education. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/viii) Reestablishes her old relationship with Roger, bringing a deep reposeful feeling to the house. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/ix) Pale and distressed, she reveals her anguish over Joe Bolini's death sentence and discusses the limitations of her school work. ### [Deborah's Big Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/x) Shows her father around the school, handling administrative duties, counseling immigrant mothers, and managing the daily chaos with authority and compassion. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xi) Shows her father the neighborhood and introduces him to Johnny Geer and Isadore Freedom, revealing her dedication to social reform. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xii) Suffers a sudden collapse with chills and numbness; diagnosed with acute indigestion from nervous exhaustion; has had previous attacks. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xiii) Recovering from illness but insists on continuing her school work; resists her father's and sister's pressure to rest or marry. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xiv) Accompanies Roger to the farm, discusses her educational work in the city, questions Roger about his school memories. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xv) Immersed in her school work, rarely home; secures wider freedom for her educational experiment; works day and night. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xvi) Persuades Laura to run a dramatic club, feels disturbed by Laura's selfishness, and is subtly influenced by her sisters' marriages as she considers marrying Allan Baird. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xvii) Deborah is deeply committed to her school and career, showing resistance to Baird's advances and jealousy over her work. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xviii) Celebrates her professional victory but then turns her attention to her relationship with Allan; she asks to wait before marrying, wanting to think through the balance of work and motherhood. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xix) Engaged to Allan Baird; agrees to keep close with Bruce and Edith; admires Bruce's resolve. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xx) Calls her father with news of the accident, helps comfort Bruce, and stays by his side. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxi) Deborah takes charge of funeral arrangements and finances, gently guiding her father and sister through the crisis, and postpones her own wedding plans. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxii) Informs Roger that Edith's furniture has been stored; plans to marry at the end of August, mindful of not hurting Edith. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxiii) Arrives for a visit despite family tension, focused on her work and upcoming marriage, but avoids discussing it due to Bruce's death. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxiv) Argues for keeping the business open to support employees, faces budget cuts to her schools, and postpones her marriage to Allan Baird. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxv) Works doggedly on her school project; silently disapproves of Laura and Harold's war profiteering; embodies pioneer spirit. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxvi) Mentioned as having left the house and being busy with school work; Edith suspects her involvement in the changes. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxvii) Deborah tries to reach out to Edith but is met with resistance; she is deeply involved in her reform work and prepares to preside at a Cooper Union meeting. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxviii) Mentioned as having a meeting and being involved in child welfare; Roger reads about her in the paper. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxix) Returns from a successful mass meeting; agrees to tell John to leave; argues with Allan about love and debt. ### [A Season of Quiet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxx) Dines out; previously helped resolve the conflict over John's presence in the house. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxi) Deborah listens to Laura's confession about her marriage and divorce plans, grappling with her own feelings about love, work, and independence while trying to support her sister. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxii) Deborah mediates the crisis, informing Roger of Laura's situation and arranging for Laura to stay. She shows practicality and emotional restraint. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxiii) Informs Edith about the impending divorce and tries to maintain geniality at Christmas dinner. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxiv) Argues with Edith about household expenses, advocating for domestic science and taking in a boarder; feels her social work is undervalued. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxv) Struggles with her decision to end her relationship with Allan Baird after witnessing Bruce's illness, realizing she would prioritize her own child over her work. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxvi) Emotionally torn between her career and her love for Allan Baird; listens to her father's plea and agrees to think over marrying Baird. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxvii) Deborah consults her father's physician, decides to marry Allan Baird, and marries him the next day. She reconciles with her sister Edith and plans to move into the family home. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xxxix) Reveals she is pregnant, continues her work in education, and brings the spirit of the school into the home. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xli) Deborah endures a dangerous childbirth and later a crisis when her infant son falls ill. She reveals deep bitterness about her past work affecting her body, but ultimately recovers and embraces motherhood. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xlii) Deborah, recovering from childbirth, asks to see John and senses his condition. She is described as a mother figure to him. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xliii) Deborah is upstairs with her baby, and Roger visits her and the child. They share a lighthearted moment during the baby's bath. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/chapters/xliv) Appears in the dream with a baby, part of the growing family tableau. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters/deborah_gale - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/his_family_se/characters