# Phoebe Tozer — Phoebe, Junior character guide > Phoebe Tozer in Phoebe, Junior by Margaret Oliphant. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Phoebe Tozer, Phoebe junior, old Tozer **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-pastor-s-progress ## Snapshot Old Tozer's granddaughter, raised in London on her mother's ambitions, she reads Carlingford's polite society with a cool, businesslike eye and intends to rise in it. ## Who they are Phoebe arrives in Grange Lane as a first-class passenger stepping out to greet a greasy old shopkeeper, and she manages the humiliation with a smile and a plan. Cleverer than the men who surround her, she can steer Clarence Copperhead's vanity and hold Reginald May's interest at once, though she knows exactly how much each is worth. Her composure under snobbery, and her willingness to want what she is told she cannot have, drive the marriage plot from its first pages. ## Relationships ### [Clarence Copperhead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/clarence_copperhead) _romantic_ Clarence is deeply infatuated with Phoebe, pursuing her despite her mixed feelings and social maneuvering. ### [Reginald May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/reginald_may) _romantic_ Phoebe is attracted to Reginald and hopes to marry him, though he is initially more interested in Ursula. ### [Phoebe Beecham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/phoebe_beecham) _friendship_ Phoebe Beecham is a kind and supportive friend to Phoebe Tozer, often acting as a confidante. ### [Ursula May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/ursula_may) _rivalry_ Phoebe and Ursula are rivals for Reginald May's love, with Phoebe ultimately winning his hand. ### [Mr. Northcote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/mr_northcote) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Phoebe's employer and a father figure, providing her with a position as a companion to his daughter. ### [Cotsdean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/cotsdean) _professional_ Cotsdean is a former employee of Phoebe's father, and later becomes involved in a financial scandal that affects her. ### [Clarence Copperhead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/clarence_copperhead) _romantic_ Clarence is deeply infatuated with Phoebe, pursuing her despite her mixed feelings and social maneuvering. ### [Reginald May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/reginald_may) _romantic_ Phoebe is attracted to Reginald and hopes to marry him, though he is initially more interested in Ursula. ### [Clarence Copperhead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/clarence_copperhead) _romantic_ Clarence is deeply infatuated with Phoebe, pursuing her despite her mixed feelings and social maneuvering. ### [Reginald May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/reginald_may) _romantic_ Phoebe is attracted to Reginald and hopes to marry him, though he is initially more interested in Ursula. ### [Phoebe Beecham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/phoebe_beecham) _friendship_ Phoebe Beecham is a kind and supportive friend to Phoebe Tozer, often acting as a confidante. ### [Mr. Northcote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/mr_northcote) _professional_ Mr. Northcote is Phoebe's employer and a father figure, providing her with a position as a companion to his daughter. ## In the story ### [Mr. Copperhead's Ball](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/iii-mr-copperhead-s-ball) Debates dress choices with her mother, insists on wearing black to look her best, and attracts Clarence Copperhead's attention. ### [V: Self-Devotion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/v-self-devotion) Volunteers to go to Carlingford to nurse her grandmother, seeing it as a heroic duty; she is calm, composed, and determined to elevate herself above the vulgarity she expects to encounter. ### [XI: Phoebe’s Preparations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xi-phoebe-s-preparations) Mentioned as the mother of Phoebe Beecham; she prepares her daughter for the journey and adds to her wardrobe out of pride and love. ### [XII: Grange Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xii-grange-lane) Arrives at her grandparents' home, struggles with the cultural shock but resolves to perform her duty with grace. ### [XIII: The Tozer Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xiii-the-tozer-family) Struggles with her new environment and the realization of her family's trade, but resolves to endure and support her grandmother. ### [XIV: Strangers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xiv-strangers) Mentioned as the well-dressed granddaughter of old Mrs. Tozer, seen in the shop. ### [XVII: A Public Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xvii-a-public-meeting) Reluctantly attends the meeting, dressed in a brown dress despite her grandmother's urging for something brighter; she plays the role of a fine lady and engages in clever repartee. ### [XIX: The New Chaplain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xix-the-new-chaplain) Meets the Mays on a walk, makes a graceful impression, and declines their invitation to visit the Parsonage. ### [XX: That Tozer Girl!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xx-that-tozer-girl) Phoebe is referred to as 'that Tozer girl' and 'Miss Beecham'; she is the well-dressed young lady Ursula met at the Copperhead ball, now revealed to be old Tozer's granddaughter. ### [XXII: A Desperate Expedient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxii-a-desperate-expedient) Visits the Mays for tea, displaying serene confidence and discussing Dissent and social class; she defends both sides in the religious debate. ### [A Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxiv-a-visit) Engages in a lively conversation with Reginald, showing her wit and knowledge of novels; she warns him about Mr. Northcote's approach. ### [Tea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxv-tea) Hosts the tea, manages the conversation between Reginald May and Mr. Northcote, and plays the piano. ### [XXVI: The Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxvi-the-hall) Phoebe is mentioned by Ursula and Clarence as being in Carlingford to nurse her grandmother. Clarence laughs at the idea, revealing his dismissive attitude. ### [Ursula's Entrées](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxix-ursula-s-entr-es) Consoles Ursula after the dinner disaster; advises her to respect her father; shows diplomatic skill and a friendly soul. ### [Society at the Parsonage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxx-society-at-the-parsonage) Admitted to the Parsonage through girlish fancy and good-nature; tolerates Clarence's fiddling and engages Ursula in private conversations that intrigue the men. ### [XXXI: Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxi-society) Reigns supreme in the evening, shows self-denial by staying home with her grandmother rather than skating without a chaperon; admired by Reginald for her fine feeling. ### [XXXII: Lovemaking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxii-lovemaking) Phoebe is courted by both Reginald May and Clarence Copperhead. She coolly assesses Clarence as a 'Career' rather than a 'Passion,' and decides that if she marries him, the match must be successful despite the social gulf. ### [Father and Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxvi-father-and-son) Skillfully parries Mr. Copperhead's jibes at luncheon, defending her presence and the Parsonage's musical evenings. ### [A Pleasant Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxvii-a-pleasant-evening) Anxious about Clarence's proposal but enjoys the evening with Reginald, playing the piano and skillfully avoiding his declaration. ### [XXXIX: A Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xxxix-a-catastrophe) Present at the parsonage; Mr. May shrinks from her gaze after his fall. ### [XL: The Sinned-Against](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xl-the-sinned-against) Returns home with a resolve to champion the Mays; confronts her grandfather over the forged bill. ### [XLI: A Morning's Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xli-a-morning-s-work) Takes decisive action by confronting Cotsdean about the forged bill, then nurses Mr. May and accepts Clarence's proposal. ### [The Conflict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xliii-the-conflict) Feels humiliated and sidelined as Clarence and her grandfather boast about money; struggles to keep Clarence from exposing his worst side. ### [XLIV: Phoebe’s Last Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xliv-phoebe-s-last-trial) Defends her engagement to Clarence against Mr. Copperhead's threats, refuses to abandon Clarence even if he is disowned, and cites honor as her reason for staying. ### [XLV: The Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/chapters/xlv-the-last) Marries Clarence Copperhead; praised by Mr. Copperhead for her brains; feels a pang seeing her mother in bright colors. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters/phoebe_tozer - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phoebe_junior_se/characters