# Lily Dale — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide > Lily Dale in The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Lily Dale, Miss Dale, Lilian Dale, Lilian, dear Lily **First appearance:** 0009-x-dinner-at-framley-court ## Snapshot The Allington woman who has sworn off marriage after being jilted, and who must decide whether loyalty to a broken heart is nobility or mere stubbornness. ## Who they are Lily Dale is the niece of Squire Dale of Allington, admired throughout Barsetshire for her wit and her refusal to marry. Having been engaged and abandoned by Adolphus Crosbie, she has built her identity around that wound, telling herself and everyone else that she will never love again. When Mrs. Arabin arrives to plead Johnny Eames's cause, Lily must confront whether her famous constancy is principle or pride—and whether she has the right to keep refusing a man everyone else believes she should accept. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _friendship_ Lily Dale shows compassionate support for Mr. Crawley during his troubles, reflecting her kind and loyal nature. ### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie) _social_ Lily Dale and Mrs. Proudie are acquaintances with little direct interaction, but Lily is aware of Mrs. Proudie's harshness. ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _friendship_ Lily Dale shows compassionate support for Mr. Crawley during his troubles, reflecting her kind and loyal nature. ### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie) _social_ Lily Dale and Mrs. Proudie are acquaintances with little direct interaction, but Lily is aware of Mrs. Proudie's harshness. ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _friendship_ Lily Dale shows compassionate support for Mr. Crawley during his troubles, reflecting her kind and loyal nature. ### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie) _social_ Lily Dale and Mrs. Proudie are acquaintances with little direct interaction, but Lily is aware of Mrs. Proudie's harshness. ## In the story ### [Grace Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/vi-grace-crawley) Grace's friend from Allington, to whom Grace writes a letter pouring out her heart about the family's troubles. ### [Grace Crawley Goes to Allington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/ix-grace-crawley-goes-to-allington) Lily Dale is the friend Grace will visit at Allington; she is aware of Grace's situation. ### [Up in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xv-up-in-london) Mentioned in Lady Julia's letter as being disturbed by the death of Crosbie's wife, causing her to think of past events. ### [Down at Allington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xvi-down-at-allington) Hosts Grace; teases Mrs. Boyce; toasts John Eames at dinner despite discomfort; discusses the squire's past kindness and her own history with him. ### [Miss Lily Dale's Resolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxiii-miss-lily-dale-s-resolution) Lily is patient and perceptive, sensing her mother's distress over a letter. She ultimately decides to read Crosbie's letter, revealing her unresolved feelings. ### [Miss Madalina Demolines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxv-miss-madalina-demolines) Referenced as the object of Eames's persistent but unrequited love; Eames insists his loyalty to her remains unchanged. ### [A Hero at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxvii-a-hero-at-home) The object of John Eames's romantic mission; he plans to ask her to marry him. ### [Showing How Major Grantly Took a Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxviii-showing-how-major-grantly-took-a-walk) Walks with Grace and skillfully manages the awkward encounter with Major Grantly, later joking about having 'caught a major'. ### [Miss Lily Dale's Logic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxix-miss-lily-dale-s-logic) Lily is at Lady Julia's cottage with Grace and John Eames. She notices Grace's discomfort after Major Grantly is mentioned and decides to leave early. On the walk back, she argues passionately that Grace should accept Major Grantly's proposal if it comes, using logic and emotional persuasion. ### [Showing What Major Grantly Did After His Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxx-showing-what-major-grantly-did-after-his-walk) Lily accompanies Major Grantly and Grace from the church and facilitates the private conversation between them. ### [XXXI: Showing How Major Grantly Returned to Guestwick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxi-showing-how-major-grantly-returned-to-guestwick) Observes Grace's distress and discusses with her mother the possibility of a future marriage between Grace and Major Grantly. ### [Lily Dale Writes Two Words in Her Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxv-lily-dale-writes-two-words-in-her-book) Lily walks with John Eames, gently refuses his proposal, and later writes 'Old Maid' in her book. ### [Grace Crawley Returns Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxvi-grace-crawley-returns-home) Observes Grace receiving the letter and discusses with Mrs. Dale the best course of action, deciding not to interfere. ### [Mr. Toogood's Ideas About Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xl-mr-toogood-s-ideas-about-society) Mentioned indirectly through Johnny's romantic interests; Lucy teases Johnny about being in love. ### [XLIV: “I Suppose I Must Let You Have It.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xliv-i-suppose-i-must-let-you-have-it) Crosbie hopes to win her back, thinking of her after securing the loan. ### [Lily Dale Goes to London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlv-lily-dale-goes-to-london) Lily is present at the Small House when the squire announces Bernard's engagement; she guesses the news and later speaks warmly to John Eames about his journey for Mr. Crawley. ### [The Bayswater Romance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlvi-the-bayswater-romance) Johnny leaves her lodgings after visiting with her uncle; she expressed gladness at his upcoming continental journey. ### [Why Don’t You Have an “It” for Yourself?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lii-why-don-t-you-have-an-it-for-yourself) Stays with her uncle in London, grows intimate with Emily Dunstable, accepts Mrs. Thorne's hospitality reluctantly, and thinks increasingly about John Eames. ### [Rotten Row](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/liii-rotten-row) Lily rides in the Park, encounters Crosbie, and later dines with Fowler Pratt, managing her emotions with growing maturity. ### [A Lady Presents Her Compliments to Miss L. D.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lix-a-lady-presents-her-compliments-to-miss-l-d) Receives an anonymous letter about John Eames and later has an awkward encounter with Adolphus Crosbie at a gallery. ### [I Think He Is Light of Heart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxvi-i-think-he-is-light-of-heart) Visits Mrs. Thorne's house; rejects Mrs. Arabin's plea for John Eames, citing his light-heartedness and a letter to M.D.; agrees to see John one last time. ### [The Shattered Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxvii-the-shattered-tree) Refuses John Eames's proposal, explaining she is like a shattered tree; later tells Emily Dunstable she is content with her decision. ### [Miss Demolines Desires to Become a Finger-Post](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxx-miss-demolines-desires-to-become-a-finger-post) Rejects John Eames's proposal, causing him deep sorrow and a resolve to move on. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/lily_dale - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters