# Dora Bastable — The Story of the Treasure Seekers character guide > Dora Bastable in The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Dora, Presently Dora **First appearance:** 0001-the-story-of-the-treasure-seekers ## Snapshot The eldest Bastable child, a motherly mender of stockings and dampener of schemes, who often says 'it was all very well' before the others do it anyway. ## Who they are Dora is the eldest of the six Bastables and the only one who ever tries to mend anything, forever patching Noël's torn stockings while the others plot treasure. She is cautious and responsible, the voice that says a plan is all very well, yet she rarely stops the younger ones from carrying it out. Her steady presence anchors the household in the absence of their mother, and her quiet resistance to Oswald's grander ideas gives the treasure-seeking its affectionate friction. ## Relationships ### [Oswald Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/oswald_bastable) _family_ Dora is the eldest sister and often acts as a maternal figure to Oswald and the other children. ### [Alice Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/alice_bastable) _family_ Alice and Dora are sisters, with Dora often taking a responsible, older-sister role toward Alice. ### [Dicky Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dicky_bastable) _family_ Dicky and Dora are siblings, with Dora often scolding or guiding Dicky in his more reckless moments. ### [Oswald Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/oswald_bastable) _family_ Dora is the eldest sister and often acts as a maternal figure to Oswald and the other children. ### [Alice Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/alice_bastable) _family_ Alice and Dora are sisters, with Dora often taking a responsible, older-sister role toward Alice. ### [Oswald Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/oswald_bastable) _family_ Dora is the eldest sister and often acts as a maternal figure to Oswald and the other children. ### [Alice Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/alice_bastable) _family_ Alice and Dora are sisters, with Dora often taking a responsible, older-sister role toward Alice. ### [Dicky Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dicky_bastable) _family_ Dicky and Dora are siblings, with Dora often scolding or guiding Dicky in his more reckless moments. ### [Dicky Bastable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dicky_bastable) _family_ Dicky and Dora are siblings, with Dora often scolding or guiding Dicky in his more reckless moments. ## In the story ### [The Story of the Treasure Seekers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-treasure-seekers) The eldest sister, often responsible and practical. ### [The Council of Ways and Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/i-the-council-of-ways-and-means) Eldest sister, tries to mend stockings, chairs the council, and suggests digging for treasure. ### [II: Digging for Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/ii-digging-for-treasure) Excused from the tunnel due to her dislike of worms; expresses regret about Albert's accident. ### [Being Detectives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/iii-being-detectives) Expresses reluctance about detective work involving murder; leaves the tent early. ### [Good Hunting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/iv-good-hunting) Sews buttons on H.O.'s clothes; copies out Noël's poems for submission. ### [VI: Noël’s Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/vi-no-l-s-princess) Plays the female role Gabrielle; conducts the wedding ceremony with her handkerchief. ### [VII: Being Bandits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/vii-being-bandits) Absent at Stroud; the children plan the bandit game while she is away because she thought it would be wrong. ### [Being Editors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/viii-being-editors) Co-editor; initially editor but shares duties with Oswald; writes Chapter I of the serial story. ### [X: Lord Tottenham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/x-lord-tottenham) Refuses to participate in the scheme, sits in the dining-room with a goody-book, and later says 'I told you so.' ### [Castilian Amoroso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xi-castilian-amoroso) Contributes her godmother's money to the scheme, expresses moral doubts, and later breaks down crying, feeling she has failed her mother's dying wish. ### [The Robber and the Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xiii-the-robber-and-the-burglar) Expresses fear and suggests calling the police; stays upstairs with Noël. ### [XIV: The Divining-Rod](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xiv-the-divining-rod) Helps organize the children; makes the laurel crown for Noël; participates in the treasure hunt and later plans the feast. ### [XV: “Lo, the Poor Indian!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xv-lo-the-poor-indian) Expresses sympathy for the poor Indian and emphasizes that poverty is no disgrace. ### [The End of the Treasure-Seeking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xvi-the-end-of-the-treasure-seeking) Persuades Father to stay home and makes him gruel; scolds Oswald for teasing H.O. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/dora_bastable - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters