# Tom Chuff — Short Fiction character guide

> Tom Chuff in Short Fiction by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Tom, Chuff, Tom the poacher

**First appearance:** 0076-the-vision-of-tom-chuff

## Snapshot

A poacher caught between two feuding brothers and an old squire's dying rage, whose life becomes entangled with a prophecy he cannot outrun.

## Who they are

Tom moves through a world of hard landlords, violent quarrels, and sudden deaths, where the Marston brothers' fight over Gylingden Hall leaves everyone around them exposed. He is a man of the margins, watching the gentry's cruelty and folly from the wrong side of the hedge. His vision of what is coming gives the story its uneasy forward pull, turning local grievance into something stranger.

## In the story

### [II: The Fairies in the Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/ii-the-fairies-in-the-castle)

Old servant in a dingy white coat, referred to as 'Larry'; captures the boy and later escorts him away.

### [V: The Good Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/v-the-good-woman)

The driver who led them astray; he is sent back to The Cat and Fiddle with the horse and carriage after being refused lodging at The Good Woman.

### [The Vision of Tom Chuff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/the-vision-of-tom-chuff)

The brutal poacher and drunkard who terrorizes his family, experiences a supernatural vision, briefly reforms, then relapses and dies in the bog.

### [Madam Crowl's Ghost](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/madam-crowl-s-ghost)

Not present in this chapter.

### [Mr. Justice Harbottle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/mr-justice-harbottle)

Former footman of Judge Harbottle, who died in prison after being falsely accused; appears as a spectral figure in the Judge's nightmare.

### [VI: Arrested](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/vi-arrested)

Tom Chuff appears as the footman Dingly Chuff, a former servant of the Judge who died in prison, now seen at the coach window.

### [Sir Dominick's Bargain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/sir-dominick-s-bargain)

The narrator's grandfather and Sir Dominick's loyal servant, who witnesses the pact and later tries to dissuade Sir Dominick from further dealings.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/characters/tom_chuff
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/characters