Short Fiction · Character

Nicholas Long

A rough-hewn farmer in love with a squire's daughter, who learns in a single afternoon how thoroughly the world can despise a man for rising above his station.

supporting

Also known as Nicholas, dear Nicholas, Mr. Nicholas Long, Mr. Long, Long

First appearance: destiny and a blue cloak

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Nicholas Long is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Deeply affected by the waiting and uncertainty surrounding his relationship with Christine.

In the storyThe Waiting SupperOpen this moment free

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Nicholas Long comes up from the meadows to meet Christine in the Sallows, then hurries to market still wild and amphibious from the fields. When she cuts him in the street — stung by her father's lecture and the murmured words 'Mrs. Nicholas Long' — he reads her shame and blames himself first, then burns with indignation. The Squire's brutal note, accepting him only because he is despised, turns his courtship into a test of pride, and his wounded dignity shapes everything that follows.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Nicholas Long sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Nicholas Long in destiny and a blue cloak

Character Web

40 connections

A slice of how Nicholas Long sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Romantic Entanglements and Consequences
Complex Web of Love and Consequences
Haunting Pasts and Duty

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, the emotional/psychological peak occurs when both Jim and Rosalys consciously recognize their…

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Relationships

Christine Everard
romantic · ambivalent
Christine and Nicholas are lovers, their relationship fraught with emotional intensity… How this plays out →
Christine Everard
romantic · ambivalent
Christine and Nicholas are lovers, their relationship fraught with emotional intensity… How this plays out →
Christine Everard
romantic · ambivalent
Christine and Nicholas are lovers, their relationship fraught with emotional intensity… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Nicholas Long in destiny and a blue cloak

In the story

Nicholas Long appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XVII
Not present in this chapter.
The Waiting Supper
Deeply affected by the waiting and uncertainty surrounding his relationship with Christine.
I
Proposes a secret marriage and immediate departure; has obtained a marriage license.
II
Accompanies Christine to the church, carries a packed bag, and shows resolve by crossing difficult terrain to reach his farm.
III
Walks five miles to the feast to dance with Christine, performs the country dance with skill, and is the subject of rumors about a secret marriage.
IV
Nicholas is devoted to Christine but frustrated by her hesitation and the social obstacles they face.
V
Observes Christine's mortification, receives Squire Everard's contemptuous letter, and resolves to go into exile to free her.
VI
Returns to Roy-Town after fifteen years abroad, having made a fortune in goldfields. He seeks Christine Everard and proposes marriage upon meeting her.
VII
Nicholas visits Christine regularly, plans their wedding, and is devastated when Bellston returns.
VIII
Devotedly visits Christine for years, builds a cottage nearby, and eventually discovers Bellston's skeleton.
Absentmindedness in a Parish Choir
Leader of the choir; brings brandy and beer to church and inadvertently starts playing a jig instead of the hymn.

Chapter companion notes

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See Nicholas Long in destiny and a blue cloak

See Nicholas Long in The Waiting Supper