# Mary Masters — The American Senator character guide > Mary Masters in The American Senator by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Polly, Poor Mary **First appearance:** 0002-iii-the-masters-family ## Snapshot A gentle attorney's daughter who refuses the prosperous farmer everyone expects her to marry, choosing lonely honesty over the comfort of pleasing her family. ## Who they are Mary Masters lives under her stepmother's sharp tongue and her father's quiet hopes, caught between duty to family and the pull of her own heart. When she tells her father she cannot marry Lawrence Twentyman, she faces not anger but disappointment, which she finds harder to bear. Her quiet refusal sets the emotional stakes of Dillsborough's marriage market and draws the attention of men far above her station. ## Relationships ### [Lawrence Twentyman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lawrence_twentyman) _romantic_ Lawrence is a devoted suitor to Mary, but she does not reciprocate his romantic feelings. ### [Reginald Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/reginald_morton) _romantic_ Mary and Reginald share a deep, mutual romantic attachment that eventually leads to marriage. ### [Lady Ushant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lady_ushant) _friendship_ Lady Ushant befriends Mary Masters, approving of her character and her relationship with Reginald. ### [Mr. Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mr_masters) _family_ Mr. Masters is Mary's father, a stern but caring attorney who wants a good match for her. ### [Lawrence Twentyman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lawrence_twentyman) _romantic_ Lawrence is a devoted suitor to Mary, but she does not reciprocate his romantic feelings. ### [Reginald Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/reginald_morton) _romantic_ Mary and Reginald share a deep, mutual romantic attachment that eventually leads to marriage. ### [Mr. Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mr_masters) _family_ Mr. Masters is Mary's father, a stern but caring attorney who wants a good match for her. ### [Reginald Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/reginald_morton) _romantic_ Mary and Reginald share a deep, mutual romantic attachment that eventually leads to marriage. ### [Lady Ushant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lady_ushant) _friendship_ Lady Ushant befriends Mary Masters, approving of her character and her relationship with Reginald. ### [Lady Ushant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lady_ushant) _friendship_ Lady Ushant befriends Mary Masters, approving of her character and her relationship with Reginald. ### [Lawrence Twentyman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lawrence_twentyman) _romantic_ Lawrence is a devoted suitor to Mary, but she does not reciprocate his romantic feelings. ### [Mr. Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mr_masters) _family_ Mr. Masters is Mary's father, a stern but caring attorney who wants a good match for her. ## In the story ### [The Morton Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/ii-the-morton-family) A little girl taken in by Lady Ushant to live at Bragton; her education was overseen by Lady Ushant. ### [The Masters Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/iii-the-masters-family) Eldest daughter, thoughtful and sympathetic to her father's position, though aware of her mother's practical wisdom. ### [Reginald Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/v-reginald-morton) The eldest daughter of the attorney, now a young woman. She was a childhood friend of Reginald Morton and is caught between his attention and that of Lawrence Twentyman. ### [Not in Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/vi-not-in-love) Reginald is angry with her for keeping an appointment with Twentyman, though he admits she gave no cause for offense. ### [The Walk Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/vii-the-walk-home) Feels angry and frustrated after Reginald Morton's abrupt departure; firmly but kindly rejects Larry Twentyman's proposal. ### [XV: A Fit Companion—For Me and My Sisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xv-a-fit-companion-for-me-and-my-sisters) Receives Lady Ushant's invitation but feels unable to accept due to family constraints. Defensively claims Lawrence Twentyman is a fit companion for her, then regrets her words. ### [The Attorney's Family Is Disturbed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xviii-the-attorney-s-family-is-disturbed) Receives an invitation from Lady Ushant and wishes to accept, but fears her stepmother's reaction. She seeks her father's support and ultimately agrees to go, despite the household turmoil. ### [Give Me Six Months](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxvi-give-me-six-months) Torn between family duty and her lack of love for Twentyman; she asks for six months to decide. ### [Wonderful Bird!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxvii-wonderful-bird) Travels to Cheltenham with Reginald Morton; denies engagement to Lawrence Twentyman; feels anxious about Reginald's opinion of her. ### [At Cheltenham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxx-at-cheltenham) Struggles with her promise to Lawrence Twentyman, realizing she cannot marry him; her conversations with Lady Ushant and Reginald Morton clarify her resolve. ### [The Beginning of Persecution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-beginning-of-persecution) Under intense pressure from her stepmother to marry Lawrence Twentyman, Mary resists, insisting she cannot help her feelings and that she never gave a promise. ### [Mary's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxxiv-mary-s-letter) Writes a letter to Lawrence Twentyman refusing his proposal, stands firm against her stepmother's pressure, and reveals to her father that her heart is occupied with another man (Reginald Morton), though she does not name him. ### [Mary's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxxiv-mary-s-letter) Attempts to retrieve Mary's letter from the post office, fails, and reproaches her husband for allowing the letter to be sent. ### [Chowton Farm for Sale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxxv-chowton-farm-for-sale) The object of Larry Twentyman's affections; she has rejected him, leading to his decision to sell Chowton Farm. ### [Persecution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xliii-persecution) Endures persecution from her stepmother for rejecting Larry Twentyman; writes to Lady Ushant asking for a temporary home. ### [It Cannot Be Arranged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlvi-it-cannot-be-arranged) Is the subject of the dispute; she wrote to Lady Ushant for help escaping her suitor. She is humiliated when her stepmother confronts her in front of Reginald Morton. ### [But There Is Some One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlvii-but-there-is-some-one) Subject of parental conflict; her refusal of Lawrence Twentyman and desire to visit Lady Ushant cause tension. Mr. Masters suspects she may have another romantic interest. ### [Providence Interferes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lii-providence-interferes) Mary is the center of the family dispute, refusing to marry Larry Twentyman and facing pressure from her stepmother. Her planned visit to Cheltenham is postponed due to Lady Ushant's summons to Bragton. ### [Lady Ushant at Bragton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/liii-lady-ushant-at-bragton) Walks to Bragton to see Lady Ushant; reflects on her feelings for Reginald Morton and Lawrence Twentyman; learns of John Morton's illness and Arabella Trefoil's impending visit. ### [Mrs. Morton Returns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lvii-mrs-morton-returns) Seen walking with Reginald Morton as he leaves Bragton, though Mrs. Morton does not recognize her. ### [The Two Old Ladies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lviii-the-two-old-ladies) Walks with Reginald Morton and reflects on her feelings and the impossibility of a match with him. ### [LIX: The Last Effort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lix-the-last-effort) Struggles with the decision to marry Lawrence Twentyman, ultimately unable to overcome her lack of love for him. ### [Changes at Bragton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxiii-changes-at-bragton) Mary visits Lady Ushant reluctantly, feeling conflicted about Reginald Morton. She is troubled by her unspoken love for him and resents his perceived exaltation as Squire of Bragton. ### [At Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxx-at-last) Visits Bragton as Lady Ushant's guest; walks in the grounds; is confronted by Reginald about a secret lover. ### [My Own, Own Husband](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxi-my-own-own-husband) Accepts Reginald Morton's proposal and joyfully declares her love, then informs her family. ### [LXXII: “Bid Him Be a Man”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxii-bid-him-be-a-man) Sends a message of love and encouragement to Larry through her father, bidding him to be a man. ### [Is It Tanti?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxiii-is-it-tanti) Now engaged to Reginald Morton, she bravely approaches Lawrence Twentyman at the hunt to offer a kind word, showing her compassion and maturity. ### [The Last Days of Mary Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxix-the-last-days-of-mary-masters) Triumphs as the future mistress of Bragton; persuades her stepmother to attend the wedding and tries to reconcile with Larry Twentyman. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxx-conclusion) Now married to Reginald Morton, she reflects on their courtship and finds happiness with him at Bragton. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mary_masters - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters