# Sophia Furnival — Orley Farm character guide

> Sophia Furnival in Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sophia, Sophy, Even Sophia Furnival, Dearest Sophia

**First appearance:** 0009-x-mr-mrs-and-miss-furnival

## Snapshot

A barrister's daughter who treats courtship as strategy, Sophia Furnival is charming, watchful, and never quite says what she means.

## Who they are

Sophia moves through drawing-rooms with the poise of someone who has already calculated the room. She is angling for Augustus Staveley's hand, but her letters to him are written with one eye on the door, and her wit is a tool for testing rather than pleasing. Her cool appraisal of Felix Graham's broken bones as a happy accident reveals a mind that reads romance as tactics, and her presence sharpens the social stakes of the marriage market that shadows the novel's legal drama.

## In the story

### [X: Mr., Mrs., and Miss Furnival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/x-mr-mrs-and-miss-furnival)

The clever, attractive daughter who adapts well to high society; her mother feels occasional jealousy toward her.

### [XI: Mrs. Furnival at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xi-mrs-furnival-at-home)

Tries to smooth over tensions, discusses her upcoming visit to Noningsby, and engages in conversation with Lucius Mason.

### [The English von Bauhr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xviii-the-english-von-bauhr)

Identified by Staveley as a potential match for Graham, described as having a sharp tongue, pretty face, and money.

### [Christmas at Noningsby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xxii-christmas-at-noningsby)

Receives homage from both Augustus Staveley and Lucius Mason, managing her smiles with tact.

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

Plays commerce at Noningsby, then converses privately with Lucius Mason, showing sympathy for Lady Mason and interest in Lucius's views.

### [Monkton Grange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xxviii-monkton-grange)

Among the riders from Noningsby at the meet.

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

Mentioned as someone who might gossip about Madeline's attention to Felix.

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

Wittily parries Augustus Staveley's advances, critiquing his approach to romance.

### [XLIX: Mrs. Furnival Can't Put Up with It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/xlix-mrs-furnival-can-t-put-up-with-it)

Mentioned as the mistress of the house in Harley Street after Mrs. Furnival's departure.

### [What Took Place in Harley Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lv-what-took-place-in-harley-street)

Engages in conversation with her mother about Lady Mason, then receives Lucius Mason's proposal and agrees to an engagement.

### [Showing How Miss Furnival Treated Her Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxvi-showing-how-miss-furnival-treated-her-lovers)

She manages two suitors, having accepted Lucius Mason secretly while deflecting Augustus Staveley's proposal.

### [How Am I to Bear It?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxx-how-am-i-to-bear-it)

Receives a letter from Lucius; has decided not to write to him until the trial is over, and considers a correspondence with the heir of Noningsby more to her taste.

### [I Love Her Still](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxxvi-i-love-her-still)

Recipient of Lucius's love letter, in which he explains his changed circumstances and his feelings.

### [The Last of the Lawyers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lxxviii-the-last-of-the-lawyers)

Receives Lucius Mason's letter and writes a polite rejection, ending their romantic engagement.

## Links

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