Character guide

Alvina Houghton

major

Also known as Alvina, Vina, Miss Houghton, Nurse Houghton

The protagonist, a young woman who becomes a maternity nurse and later marries Ciccio.

Ciccio

major

Also known as Madame Rochard, Ciccio Marasca

An Italian performer and Alvina's lover, later her husband.

James Houghton

supporting

Also known as Houghton, Poor James

Alvina's father, a struggling businessman who owns Manchester House.

Miss Pinnegar

supporting

Also known as Pinnegar

A spinster and employee at Manchester House, later a companion to Alvina.

Mr. May

supporting

Also known as May, Natcha-Kee-Tawara

A performer and member of the Natcha-Kee-Tawara troupe.

Geoffrey

minor

A young man who courts Alvina briefly.

Miss Frost

supporting

A nurse who trains Alvina in maternity work.

Dr. Mitchell

supporting

Also known as Mitchell

Dr. Mitchell is the solid, socially acceptable suitor in Alvina Houghton's life, a man who employs her as a maternity nurse and assumes a marriage she has never actually agreed to. His patient certainty—he has given her no definite word, yet the engagement hovers—becomes one of the importunities she flees, since she is sick of being badgered about and doesn't really want to marry anybody. He matters because he embodies the safe, conventional future Alvina keeps refusing, making her eventual choices feel like genuine self-definition rather than mere romance.

Pancrazio

minor

A member of the Natcha-Kee-Tawara troupe.

Albert Witham

minor

Also known as Albert

A suitor of Alvina, part of the Witham family.

Max

minor

Also known as Mr. Max

A performer in the Natcha-Kee-Tawara troupe.

Louis

minor

Also known as gentle Louis, the Brave Louis

A performer and friend of Ciccio.

Arthur Witham

minor

Also known as Arthur

Brother of Albert Witham, briefly involved with Alvina.

Gigi

minor

Also known as Mon Gigi

A performer in the Natcha-Kee-Tawara troupe.

Tommy

minor

Also known as the bemused Tommy

A young man who works at Manchester House.

Mrs. Rollings

minor

A patient of Alvina's during her nursing work.

Mrs. Houghton

minor

Alvina's mother, who dies early in the story.

Miss Poppy Traherne

minor

Also known as Poppy

A young woman who befriends Alvina.

Graham

minor

Also known as Alexander Graham, Alexander

A suitor of Alvina.

Doctor Headley

minor

Also known as Headley

A doctor who treats Alvina's father.

Mrs. Tuke

minor

A woman who employs Alvina as a nurse.

Giuseppe Califano

minor

Also known as Giuseppe

A relative of Ciccio in Italy.

Doctor Young

minor

Also known as Young

A doctor who treats Alvina's mother.

Frederick Houghton

minor

Also known as Richard

Alvina's brother, who dies young.

Marasca Giovanni

minor

Also known as Giovanni

An Italian man connected to Ciccio's family.

Kishwégin

minor

Also known as Kishwé, Kishwé gin

A performer in the Natcha-Kee-Tawara troupe.

Effie

minor

A servant at Manchester House.

Lottie Witham

minor

Also known as Lottie

A member of the Witham family.

Mr. Calladine

minor

Also known as Calladine

A friend of James Houghton.

Francesco Marasca

minor

Also known as Francesco

Ciccio's father, living in Italy.

Miss Allsop

minor

A woman who works at Manchester House.

Lord Leighton

minor

Also known as Leighton

A nobleman mentioned in passing.

Lucy

minor

A servant at Manchester House.

Mr. Witham

minor

Father of Albert and Arthur Witham.

Clariss Houghton

minor

Also known as Clariss

Alvina's sister, who dies young.

Old Francesco Califano

minor

Also known as Califano

An old Italian man in the village of Califano.

W. H. Johnson

minor

A minor acquaintance of the Houghton family.

Cassie Allsop

minor

Also known as Cassie

A young woman who works at Manchester House.

Jordan

minor

Also known as A. W. Jordan

A business associate of James Houghton.

Mrs. Califano

minor

An Italian woman, possibly Ciccio's mother.

Old Dr. Fordham

minor

Also known as Dr. Fordham

An elderly doctor in the town.

Mrs. Witham

minor

Mother of Albert and Arthur Witham.

Wright

minor

Also known as Mrs. Wright

A woman who works at Manchester House.

Lumley

minor

A minor character in the town.

Solomon

minor

A biblical reference, not a character.