# Lady Staveley — Orley Farm character guide

> Lady Staveley in Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** young Staveley, Dear Lady Staveley, Poor Lady Staveley

**First appearance:** 0018-xix-the-staveley-family

## Snapshot

The warm, hospitable mistress of Noningsby, devoted to husband and children, yet quietly determined that her daughter Madeline shall marry well.

## Who they are

Lady Staveley runs Noningsby with open-handed charm, morning prayers, and a keen eye for the niceties of rank and income. She welcomes Peregrine Orme as a prospective son-in-law and grows uneasy as Madeline lingers at Felix Graham's half-open door. Her blend of genuine kindness and worldly calculation makes her both sympathetic and comic, and her maneuvering shapes the romantic fortunes of the younger generation.

## In the story

### [Commerce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xxvii-commerce)

Presses Lucius to stay at Noningsby, observes his interactions with Sophia Furnival, and worries about her son Augustus's romantic interests.

### [Another Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xxx-another-fall)

Observes her daughter's solicitude for Felix and approves of Peregrine as a potential son-in-law.

### [Footsteps in the Corridor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xxxi-footsteps-in-the-corridor)

Observes Madeline's distress, offers comfort, and discusses Peregrine's proposal with her daughter, expressing approval of him as a suitor.

### [Why Should He Go?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xxxix-why-should-he-go)

Worries about the romantic entanglements at Noningsby, particularly concerning Madeline and Felix Graham.

### [Showing How Lady Mason Could Be Very Noble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xliv-showing-how-lady-mason-could-be-very-noble)

Visits The Cleeve to call on Lady Mason; learns of the engagement and feels it complicates hopes for a match between Madeline and young Peregrine.

### [The Gem of the Four Families](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xlvii-the-gem-of-the-four-families)

Expresses concern about Graham's presence and discusses the situation with her husband.

### [It Is Quite Impossible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/l-it-is-quite-impossible)

Receives Peregrine at Noningsby and advises patience; later learns from Madeline that she loves Felix Graham and cannot marry Peregrine.

### [Showing How Things Went on at Noningsby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lii-showing-how-things-went-on-at-noningsby)

Distressed by Madeline's confession, compares Graham unfavorably to Peregrine Orme.

### [LVIII: Miss Staveley Declines to Eat Minced Veal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lviii-miss-staveley-declines-to-eat-minced-veal)

Worried by Madeline's withdrawal and monastic tendencies, she begins to reconsider Felix Graham as a potential son-in-law.

### [LXV: Felix Graham Returns to Noningsby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxv-felix-graham-returns-to-noningsby)

Reluctantly accepts the match between Felix and Madeline after the judge's persuasion, though she had hoped for Peregrine Orme.

### [The Two Judges](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxix-the-two-judges)

Hosts the party at Noningsby; wishes Felix good night, preventing his private talk with Madeline.

### [Young Lochinvar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxxiv-young-lochinvar)

Welcomes Felix as a son-in-law and congratulates him.

### [Showing How Affairs Settled Themselves at Noningsby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxxx-showing-how-affairs-settled-themselves-at-noningsby)

Discusses the engagement with Madeline and informs Peregrine Orme of the match.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/characters/lady_staveley
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/characters