# Alvina Houghton — The Lost Girl character guide > Alvina Houghton in The Lost Girl by D. H. Lawrence. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Alvina, Vina, Miss Houghton, Nurse Houghton **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-decline-of-manchester-house ## Who they are The protagonist, a young woman who becomes a maternity nurse and later marries Ciccio. ## Relationships ### [Ciccio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/ciccio) _romantic_ Alvina and Ciccio share a passionate, transformative romantic bond that defies social conventions and leads to her personal liberation. ### [James Houghton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/james_houghton) _family_ Alvina is the devoted but conflicted daughter of James Houghton, whose death frees her from his controlling influence. ### [Geoffrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/geoffrey) _romantic_ Geoffrey is a suitor to Alvina, representing a conventional but ultimately unsatisfying romantic option she rejects. ### [Mr. May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/mr_may) _professional_ Mr. May is a business associate and friend of James Houghton, interacting with Alvina primarily in a professional capacity. ### [Dr. Mitchell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/dr_mitchell) _professional_ Dr. Mitchell is a physician and family friend who provides medical care and guidance to Alvina. ### [Doctor Headley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/doctor_headley) _professional_ Doctor Headley is a medical professional who treats Alvina and her family, maintaining a formal doctor-patient relationship. ### [Doctor Young](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/doctor_young) _professional_ Doctor Young is a physician who interacts with Alvina in a medical context, often during her father's illness. ### [Pancrazio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/pancrazio) _friendship_ Pancrazio is a friend and fellow performer in the traveling theater troupe, offering Alvina companionship and support. ### [Albert Witham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/albert_witham) _family_ Albert Witham is Alvina's cousin, sharing a familial bond with occasional romantic undertones. ### [Mrs. Rollings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/mrs_rollings) _friendship_ Mrs. Rollings is a close friend and confidante to Alvina, offering emotional support during her struggles. ### [Max](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/max) _friendship_ Max is a fellow performer and friend in the theater troupe, sharing a camaraderie with Alvina. ### [Arthur Witham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/arthur_witham) _family_ Arthur Witham is Alvina's cousin, maintaining a distant but familial relationship with her. ## In the story ### [The Decline of Manchester House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/i-the-decline-of-manchester-house) The only child of James and Mrs. Houghton, raised under the care of Miss Frost. ### [II: The Rise of Alvina Houghton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/ii-the-rise-of-alvina-houghton) The heroine, now in her early twenties, raised by Miss Frost, engaged briefly to Alexander Graham, and showing a hidden sardonic nature. ### [III: The Maternity Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/iii-the-maternity-nurse) Feels buried alive in Woodhouse, impulsively decides to become a maternity nurse, and persists despite family shock. In Islington, she flirts with doctors but maintains a strong, unyielding backbone. ### [Two Women Die](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/iv-two-women-die) Returns to nurse her mother, becomes coldly independent, and forms a new bond with Miss Pinnegar. ### [The Beau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/v-the-beau) At twenty-six, Alvina feels the panic of approaching thirty and the barrenness of her life in Manchester House. She is selective and proud, rejecting Albert Witham despite her fear of spinsterhood. ### [Houghton's Last Endeavour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/vi-houghton-s-last-endeavour) Feels trapped in domestic life, rebels against the prospect of a job, and reluctantly becomes the pianist for her father's theatre venture. ### [VII: Natcha-Kee-Tawara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/vii-natcha-kee-tawara) Alvina becomes inseparable from Mr. May, observes performers, and defends the troupe against Miss Pinnegar's criticism. ### [VIII: Ciccio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/viii-ciccio) Feels conflicted about Ciccio, dislikes Woodhouse, and expresses interest in joining the troupe. ### [Alvina Becomes Allaye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/ix-alvina-becomes-allaye) Weeps after the Natchas leave, feels drawn to them and to Ciccio; bored and tired of the Endeavour; confronts Mr. May and Miss Pinnegar about the theatre's future; contemplates marriage to Ciccio despite warnings. ### [X: The Fall of Manchester House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/x-the-fall-of-manchester-house) Alvina decides to sell Manchester House and join the troupe, asserting her independence and commitment to Ciccio. ### [XI: Honourable Engagement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/xi-honourable-engagement) Joins the Natcha-Kee-Tawaras but feels humiliated and distressed by police harassment; later works as a maternity nurse, regains health, and becomes engaged to Dr. Mitchell. ### [Allaye Also Is Engaged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/xii-allaye-also-is-engaged) Now a respected nurse in Lancaster, engaged to Dr. Mitchell, but feels her individuality is compromised. She reconnects with Ciccio during a serenade. ### [XIII: The Wedded Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/xiii-the-wedded-wife) Runs away to Scarborough, marries Ciccio, and submits to his influence while preparing to leave for Italy. ### [The Journey Across](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/xiv-the-journey-across) Travels with Ciccio, feeling estranged and fascinated by the journey, watching England sink like a coffin and later marveling at Italy's beauty. ### [XV: The Place Called Califano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/xv-the-place-called-califano) Feels lost and annihilated by the savage landscape; struggles with the harsh peasant life; discovers she is pregnant at the market. ### [XVI: Suspense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/chapters/xvi-suspense) Strips maize with Ciccio, receives and burns an insulting letter from Dr. Mitchell, feels alienated and threatened by the local culture. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters/alvina_houghton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_girl_se/characters