George Melbury

Grace Melbury

George is Grace's father, who dotes on her but pressures her into a socially advantageous marriage against her heart.

Giles Winterborne

George Melbury employs Giles as a woodsman and initially approves of him as a suitor for Grace, but later withdraws support.

Felice Charmond

Felice Charmond and George Melbury are neighbors of different social classes, with occasional formal interactions.

Grace Melbury

George is Grace's father, who dotes on her but pressures her into a socially advantageous marriage against her heart.

Giles Winterborne

George Melbury employs Giles as a woodsman and initially approves of him as a suitor for Grace, but later withdraws support.

Felice Charmond

Felice Charmond and George Melbury are neighbors of different social classes, with occasional formal interactions.

Felice Charmond

Felice Charmond and George Melbury are neighbors of different social classes, with occasional formal interactions.

Grace Melbury

George is Grace's father, who dotes on her but pressures her into a socially advantageous marriage against her heart.

Giles Winterborne

George Melbury employs Giles as a woodsman and initially approves of him as a suitor for Grace, but later withdraws support.

III

Reveals his plan to marry Grace to Giles Winterborne to atone for wronging Giles's father; worries about Grace's silence and his financial provision for her.

IV

Anxious about Grace's return; polishes the gig and harness, and invites Giles to join him in meeting Grace.

VI

Welcomes Grace home warmly but forgets Giles outside; he is pleased with his timber arrangement with Mrs. Charmond.

Chapter VII

Attends the auction with Grace, is annoyed by Giles's bidding, but later boasts to Giles about Grace's invitation to Mrs. Charmond.

IX

Initially hesitant about the party, but after visiting John Winterborne's grave, he commits to supporting Giles and the match.

The Party at Winterborne's

Observes the party with growing dissatisfaction; worries that Grace's education has spoiled her for Giles.

XI

Struggles with his conscience over letting Grace marry Giles, fearing her education will be wasted; blames Giles's party for Mrs. Charmond's withdrawal.

XII

Melbury is determined to secure a high-status marriage for Grace, reacting strongly to a slight from a hunter and questioning his commitment to Giles.

XIII

Not present in the chapter but referenced as the one who advised Grace to break off the engagement.

Chapter XV

Moved by Giles's misfortune; advises him to write to Mrs. Charmond; insists the engagement is over; accepts Giles's formal release.

XVI

Mentioned as Grace's father; his house is noted as having been the manorial residence of Little Hintock.

XVII

Grace asks that her father not be told of the bargain with Fitzpiers.

XIX

Melbury is pleased to find Fitzpiers at the picnic and engages him in conversation, sharing timber stories. He controls the horse after it becomes restless and is satisfied to have Fitzpiers as a guest.

XXII

Visits Fitzpiers ostensibly about Grace's cough but is overjoyed when Fitzpiers asks to court her; he values Fitzpiers's family lineage over his professional standing and pressures Grace to accept the match.

XXIII

Mr. Melbury actively promotes the match with Fitzpiers, studies old medical texts to converse with him, and anxiously oversees the engagement's progress.

XXIV

George Melbury insists Grace honor the engagement, having already publicized it, and pressures her with threats of disownment.

XXV

Prepares rooms for the couple, chides his wife for the supper, and is protective of Grace.

XXVI

Mentioned as snoring in his part of the house when Fitzpiers returns.

XXVIII

Mentioned as the source of Fitzpiers's horse and money; Grace asks Giles not to tell him about the affair.

XXIX

Melbury is tormented by guilt over forcing Grace to marry Fitzpiers instead of Giles Winterborne. He resolves to investigate Mrs. Charmond's past.

Chapter 31

Becomes fiercely protective of Grace, watching Fitzpiers and Mrs. Charmond with jealous vigilance; resolves to fight his daughter's battle.

XXXI

Tormented by guilt and regret, Melbury confesses his past wrong to Giles and resolves to appeal to Mrs. Charmond.

XXXII

Visits Hintock House to confront Mrs. Charmond about her affair with Fitzpiers, pleading for his daughter's happiness.

XXXIII

Absent from home; Grace worries about his errand to confront Mrs. Charmond.

XXXIV

Returns from fetching Grace, follows Fitzpiers to the Manor House, and witnesses his encounter with Mrs. Charmond.

XXXV

Supports Fitzpiers home, overhears his disloyal confessions, and in a fit of rage throws him from the horse.

XXXVI

The attacker; his animosity toward Fitzpiers is revealed as the cause of the wound.

XXXVII

Travels to London on legal business; writes to Grace exaggerating the progress of divorce proceedings and urging her to encourage Winterborne.

XXXVIII

Acts impulsively out of anxiety to repair his earlier error, urging Giles to prepare to woo Grace despite legal obstacles.

XXXIX

Melbury, broken by the discovery that his plan to annul Grace's marriage has failed, forbids Grace and Giles from walking together. He writes letters urging Grace to encourage Giles, fearing he will lose him.

XL

Advises Grace against going abroad but later suggests she might reconcile with Fitzpiers if he returns.

XLII

Mentioned as having decided not to follow Grace after her flight, sympathizing with her despite deploring it.

XLIII

Accompanies Grace home and tells her about the death of Mrs. Charmond and the role of Marty's letter.

XLVII

Mentioned as Grace's father, who is unaware of her secret meetings with Fitzpiers and may be vexed to learn of them.

XLVIII

Leads the search for his missing daughter, discovering the mantrap with her clothing and following reports to Sherton.