# Ruby Ruggles — The Way We Live Now character guide > Ruby Ruggles in The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss Ruby Ruggles, Ruby, Poor Ruby **First appearance:** 0017-xviii-ruby-ruggles-hears-a-love-tale ## Snapshot A pretty, headstrong farmer's granddaughter who has taken it into her foolish young head that she does not like meal and pollard. ## Who they are Ruby Ruggles is twenty-three, engaged to John Crumb of Bungay, and utterly unimpressed by the prospect of a life in the meal and pollard line. When a letter from Sir Felix Carbury arrives, she slips out to Sheepstone Birches to meet the most beautiful gentleman she has ever seen. Her reckless pursuit of a world beyond her ken sets in motion consequences she cannot foresee. ## Relationships ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Ruby is infatuated with the charming but irresponsible Felix, who seduces her with promises he never intends to keep. ### [Mrs. Hurtle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/mrs_hurtle) _rivalry_ Mrs. Hurtle sees Ruby as a rival for Felix's affections and confronts her with fierce jealousy. ### [John Crumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/john_crumb) _romantic_ John Crumb is a simple, honest farmer deeply in love with Ruby, who initially rejects him for Felix. ### [Mrs. Hurtle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/mrs_hurtle) _rivalry_ Mrs. Hurtle sees Ruby as a rival for Felix's affections and confronts her with fierce jealousy. ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Ruby is infatuated with the charming but irresponsible Felix, who seduces her with promises he never intends to keep. ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Ruby is infatuated with the charming but irresponsible Felix, who seduces her with promises he never intends to keep. ### [John Crumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/john_crumb) _romantic_ John Crumb is a simple, honest farmer deeply in love with Ruby, who initially rejects him for Felix. ### [John Crumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/john_crumb) _romantic_ John Crumb is a simple, honest farmer deeply in love with Ruby, who initially rejects him for Felix. ### [Mrs. Hurtle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/mrs_hurtle) _rivalry_ Mrs. Hurtle sees Ruby as a rival for Felix's affections and confronts her with fierce jealousy. ## In the story ### [Ruby Ruggles Hears a Love Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xviii-ruby-ruggles-hears-a-love-tale) Ruby receives a secret letter from Sir Felix Carbury and meets him at Sheepstone Birches. She is torn between her engagement to John Crumb and her romantic fantasies about Felix, but resolves to be 'his wedded wife' or nothing. ### [John Crumb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxxiii-john-crumb) Defiantly refuses to marry John Crumb despite her grandfather's threats and the promised £500 dowry; she is still infatuated with Sir Felix Carbury, who has neglected to meet her. ### [Ruby Ruggles Obeys Her Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxxiv-ruby-ruggles-obeys-her-grandfather) Runs away from Sheep's Acre farm after a violent altercation with her grandfather, taking a train to London. ### [I Do Love Him.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxxix-i-do-love-him) Has gone missing from Suffolk; believed to have been led away by Sir Felix. ### [Can You Be Ready in Ten Minutes?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlii-can-you-be-ready-in-ten-minutes) Opens the door for Paul at Mrs. Pipkin's and whispers to him, upset that he told Roger Carbury about seeing her. ### [XLIII: The City Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xliii-the-city-road) Ruby is staying with her aunt Mrs. Pipkin in Islington, working for her keep. She defends her relationship with Sir Felix Carbury but is shaken by Roger Carbury's warnings and Felix's refusal to marry her. ### [Roger Carbury and His Two Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlvi-roger-carbury-and-his-two-friends) Living with her aunt Mrs. Pipkin in Islington; Roger believes she is a good girl and that hardship will do her good. ### [Ruby a Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlviii-ruby-a-prisoner) Desperate to meet Sir Felix again, she writes him a letter and prepares to go out, but is locked in by her aunt. ### [Which Shall It Be?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/li-which-shall-it-be) Opens the door for Paul, asks about Sir Felix, and is distressed over her own situation. ### [Sir Felix Protects His Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxvii-sir-felix-protects-his-sister) Imprisoned at her aunt's house, she joyfully reunites with Sir Felix and accepts his vague promise of marriage. ### [Sir Felix Meddles with Many Matters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxx-sir-felix-meddles-with-many-matters) Eager to go out with Sir Felix despite her aunt's objections, she defies Mrs. Pipkin and prepares to leave with him. ### [John Crumb Falls Into Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxi-john-crumb-falls-into-trouble) Leaves her aunt's house with Sir Felix, later denounces John Crumb after the beating. ### [Ruby Prepares for Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxx-ruby-prepares-for-service) Forced to seek employment as a nursemaid after her aunt Pipkin insists she must leave; she accepts a low-paying position, feeling degraded by her fall from her former life. ### [John Crumb's Victory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xciv-john-crumb-s-victory) Reluctantly submits to John's embraces, is married, and after a short honeymoon begins to respect her husband. ### [Mrs. Hurtle's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcvii-mrs-hurtle-s-fate) Marries John Crumb; Mrs. Hurtle attends the wedding. ### [Down in Suffolk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/c-down-in-suffolk) Attends the wedding with her husband John Crumb; playfully exchanges words with him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/ruby_ruggles - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters