# Dora Milvain — New Grub Street character guide > Dora Milvain in New Grub Street by George Gissing. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss Milvain, Miss Dora Milvain **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-man-of-his-day ## Snapshot Jasper's younger sister, generous where he is calculating, Dora keeps a warm household and a clear-eyed affection for the people her brother uses. ## Who they are Dora Milvain comes to London with her sister Maud after their mother's death, and her lodgings become a quiet meeting place for Marian Yule and a testing ground for Jasper's schemes. She loves her brother without being blind to him, and her friendship with Marian gives the novel one of its few relationships untainted by ambition. Her steady, unglamorous decency throws Jasper's calculations into relief and offers Marian a rare place to be known. ## Relationships ### [Jasper Milvain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/jasper_milvain) _family_ Dora is Jasper's younger sister, who admires him but also feels the weight of his manipulative influence on the family. ### [Marian Yule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/marian_yule) _friendship_ Dora and Marian share a genuine, sympathetic friendship, bonding over their difficult family situations and literary interests. ### [Mrs. Whelpdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/mrs_whelpdale) _social_ Dora and Mrs. Whelpdale have a polite social acquaintance, often meeting in the context of literary circles and family visits. ### [Maud Milvain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/maud_milvain) _family_ Dora and Maud are sisters who support each other, though they often find themselves caught in Jasper's schemes. ### [Jasper Milvain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/jasper_milvain) _family_ Dora is Jasper's younger sister, who admires him but also feels the weight of his manipulative influence on the family. ### [Jasper Milvain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/jasper_milvain) _family_ Dora is Jasper's younger sister, who admires him but also feels the weight of his manipulative influence on the family. ### [Marian Yule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/marian_yule) _friendship_ Dora and Marian share a genuine, sympathetic friendship, bonding over their difficult family situations and literary interests. ### [Mrs. Whelpdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/mrs_whelpdale) _social_ Dora and Mrs. Whelpdale have a polite social acquaintance, often meeting in the context of literary circles and family visits. ### [Maud Milvain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/maud_milvain) _family_ Dora and Maud are sisters who support each other, though they often find themselves caught in Jasper's schemes. ### [Marian Yule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/marian_yule) _friendship_ Dora and Marian share a genuine, sympathetic friendship, bonding over their difficult family situations and literary interests. ### [Maud Milvain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/maud_milvain) _family_ Dora and Maud are sisters who support each other, though they often find themselves caught in Jasper's schemes. ### [Mrs. Whelpdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/mrs_whelpdale) _social_ Dora and Mrs. Whelpdale have a polite social acquaintance, often meeting in the context of literary circles and family visits. ## In the story ### [A Man of His Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/i-a-man-of-his-day) Listens to Jasper's arguments and laughs at his predictions about Reardon. ### [Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/iii-holiday) Dora is one of Jasper's sisters, reserved and proud. She wishes Marian lived nearby and hopes to correspond with her. ### [Marian's Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/vii-marian-s-home) Writes a letter to Marian about the sisters' literary project and mentions Jasper. ### [To the Winning Side](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/viii-to-the-winning-side) Corresponds with Marian, announces Mrs. Milvain's death and the publication of their book. ### [A Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xiii-a-warning) Corresponds with Marian and visits with Maud; their friendship is strained by Yule's prejudice. ### [Recruits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xiv-recruits) Reassures Marian that their friendship is unchanged despite the quarrel between Jasper and Alfred Yule. ### [XX: The End of Waiting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xx-the-end-of-waiting) Visits Jasper alone, discusses Maud's outing with the Lanes, and meets Whelpdale. ### [Mr. Yule Leaves Town](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxi-mr-yule-leaves-town) Marian writes to her about the events, but refrains from visiting. ### [XXII: The Legatees](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxii-the-legatees) Listens to Marian's news and later informs Jasper about the inheritances. She is critical of Jasper's treatment of Marian and feels it is her duty to reveal his true intentions. ### [XXIV: Jasper’s Magnanimity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxiv-jasper-s-magnanimity) Helps Jasper by leaving the house to allow his private conversation with Marian. ### [Interim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxviii-interim) Supports Jasper's marriage and enjoys Whelpdale's company; asks about peanuts during his story. ### [XXIX: Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxix-catastrophe) Mentioned as a potential source of financial support for Marian. ### [XXX: Waiting on Destiny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxx-waiting-on-destiny) Shows concern about the financial situation and the possibility of moving back to poorer lodgings. ### [XXXIII: The Sunny Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-sunny-way) Reading 'Mr. Bailey, Grocer'; defends Reardon's wife's conduct; argues with Jasper about Amy. ### [A Check](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxxiv-a-check) Serves as bridesmaid at Maud's wedding, accompanies Jasper on holiday to Sark, and receives a letter from Whelpdale. ### [Fever and Rest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxxv-fever-and-rest) Whelpdale mentions he has proposed to her and received an encouraging answer. ### [XXXVI: Jasper's Delicate Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxxvi-jasper-s-delicate-case) Jasper informs her of Biffen's suicide; she thinks of Whelpdale's visit. ### [XXXVII: Rewards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xxxvii-rewards) Marries Whelpdale despite Jasper's objections; initially refuses to meet Amy but later compromises. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters/dora_milvain - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/new_grub_street_se/characters