# Dolly Longstaff — The Duke’s Children character guide

> Dolly Longstaff in The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dolly, Longstaff, Dolly Longstaff

**First appearance:** 0003-iv-park-lane

## Snapshot

A wealthy, idle man about town who abandons his pursuit of Isabel Boncassen the moment Silverbridge's intentions become serious, then settles back into club life.

## Who they are

Dolly is the amiable lounger of the London clubs, a man who talks of emigrating when disappointed in love and then decides that marriage 'clips a fellow's wings confoundedly.' His chance encounter with the shabby Tifto in the street and his casual report of it to Silverbridge quietly unsettle the young lord. He matters as a barometer of the fashionable world's easy morals and as the friend whose gossip keeps the Tifto affair alive.

## Relationships

### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge)

_friendship_

Dolly Longstaff is a wealthy, idle friend of Silverbridge, often joining him in social and sporting pursuits.

### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge)

_friendship_

Dolly Longstaff is a wealthy, idle friend of Silverbridge, often joining him in social and sporting pursuits.

### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge)

_friendship_

Dolly Longstaff is a wealthy, idle friend of Silverbridge, often joining him in social and sporting pursuits.

## In the story

### [Major Tifto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/vi-major-tifto)

A member of the Beargarden who humiliates Tifto by revealing the singer Mdlle. Stuffa is married.

### [The Derby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xvii-the-derby)

A friend who drives a team to Epsom, loses money on the race, and later drives the coach back to London.

### [Then He Will Come Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xx-then-he-will-come-again)

Sits next to Mabel at dinner; mentions that he and Percival have lost money at the races, and implies that Tregear has also been gambling.

### [Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 1](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxi-miss-boncassen-s-river-party-no-1)

Attends the river party; declines rowing due to heat.

### [Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 2](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxii-miss-boncassen-s-river-party-no-2)

Dances with Isabel and attempts to declare his love for her at the temple, but she responds with humor and evasion.

### [The Langham Hotel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-langham-hotel)

Visits Isabel at the Langham Hotel and attempts to court her, but is rebuffed.

### [Lady Mary's Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvi-lady-mary-s-dream)

Chaffs Popplecourt about his arranged marriage and alludes to his own interest in Miss Boncassen.

### [Miss Boncassen's Idea of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvii-miss-boncassen-s-idea-of-heaven)

Earnestly in love with Isabel but is rejected; leaves Custins in despair after she walks out on him.

### [Pert Poppet!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxix-pert-poppet)

Visits Silverbridge to confess his love for Isabel Boncassen and ask for help; calls her a 'pert poppet' and dismisses her chances of becoming Duchess of Omnium.

### [LXXV: The Major’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxv-the-major-s-story)

Reports seeing Tifto in the street, having abandoned his emigration plans and resumed his old life.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/dolly_longstaff
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters