Ruth Bannister

Kirk Winfield

Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together.

Bailey Bannister

Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices.

Sybil Wilbur

Sybil Wilbur is Ruth's friend and confidante, offering support and companionship during Ruth's romantic struggles.

Kirk Winfield

Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together.

Bailey Bannister

Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices.

Kirk Winfield

Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together.

Bailey Bannister

Bailey is Ruth's wealthy, domineering uncle who acts as her guardian and tries to control her life and marriage choices.

Sybil Wilbur

Sybil Wilbur is Ruth's friend and confidante, offering support and companionship during Ruth's romantic struggles.

Sybil Wilbur

Sybil Wilbur is Ruth's friend and confidante, offering support and companionship during Ruth's romantic struggles.

Book I

The love interest of Kirk Winfield, from a poor family.

I: A Pawn of Fate

Mentioned as Mrs. Porter's niece and disciple; she was previously persuaded to refuse Basil Milbank.

Ruth States Her Intentions

Calmly defends her rejection of Clarence Grayling and her eugenicist views; asserts her independence and duty to the race.

III: The Mates Meet

Lora Delane Porter's niece. She feels an immediate, primal connection to Kirk and recognizes their mutual attraction, though she is amused by the formalities of courtship.

IV: Troubled Waters

Ruth is spending time with Kirk in his studio, chaperoned by Mrs. Porter. Her brother Bailey disapproves of her association with Kirk and Mrs. Porter.

Wherein Opposites Agree

Appears briefly, radiant and confirming her engagement to Kirk.

VI: Breaking the News

Ruth defends her love for Kirk and reveals the secret marriage to her father.

VII: Sufficient Unto Themselves

Jealous and possessive, she actively excludes Kirk's friends and model, and admits to feeling irrational horror and premonitions.

VIII: Suspense

In labor upstairs; her unvarying cheerfulness contrasts with Kirk's dread.

IX: The White Hope Is Turned Down

Desires to heal the breach with her father and sends Steve to present William as a peace offering.

X: An Interlude of Peace

Resists Aunt Lora's advice on child-rearing, enjoys monopolizing Kirk and their son.

XI: Stung to Action

Supports Kirk emotionally and practically, encouraging him to paint again and economize.

XII: A Climax

Supportive of Kirk and excited about Sybil's commission, but unaware of the depth of Kirk's despair.

Book II

William's mother, whose influence is secondary to Lora's in the child's life.

I: Empty-Handed

Meets Kirk at the dock, reveals she has become wealthy, and has adopted Aunt Lora's views on germs.

II: An Unknown Path

Now wealthy after her father's death, she embraces the new lifestyle but is nervous about Kirk's reaction to Bailey being trustee of the money.

IV: The Widening Gap

Now a prominent society hostess, she revels in the fashionable life and fails to understand Kirk's discontent.

V: The Real Thing

Mentioned as being at a luncheon party; Kirk concludes she supports the system because it gives her freedom, not out of conviction.

VI: The Outcasts

Drifts further from Kirk, absorbed in society life; she makes only perfunctory protests about his studio work.

VII: Cutting the Tangled Knot

Resents Bailey's interference and Kirk's attempts at domesticity, feeling drawn to Basil Milbank.

VIII: Steve to the Rescue

Described by Steve as having apparently gone mad; she is dining out and unaware of Steve's plan.

X: Accepting the Gifts of the Gods

Mentioned as having left early after a mysterious phone call; unaware of William's disappearance.

Mr. Penway on the Grill

Has left for Tuxedo to visit Mrs. Bailey Bannister after a troubling phone call; her absence is noted.

Dolls with Souls

Ruth is the central consciousness of the chapter, grappling with regret over losing Kirk and realizing her own complacency and misjudgment of others.

Mrs. Porter's Waterloo

Torn between doubt and hope during the drive; ultimately chooses to reconcile with Kirk.

XVI: The White-Hope Link

Stands with Kirk at their son's bedside, expresses that being poor again might be fun, and kisses William's cheek.