Marty South

Grace Melbury

Grace and Marty share a quiet, sympathetic bond as women navigating love and loss in the woodland community.

Giles Winterborne

Marty South harbors unrequited love for Giles, but he treats her with kindness and respect as a loyal friend.

Felice Charmond

Felice Charmond employs Marty South as a servant and sometimes confidante, though the power dynamic is unequal.

Grace Melbury

Grace and Marty share a quiet, sympathetic bond as women navigating love and loss in the woodland community.

Giles Winterborne

Marty South harbors unrequited love for Giles, but he treats her with kindness and respect as a loyal friend.

Giles Winterborne

Marty South harbors unrequited love for Giles, but he treats her with kindness and respect as a loyal friend.

Grace Melbury

Grace and Marty share a quiet, sympathetic bond as women navigating love and loss in the woodland community.

Felice Charmond

Felice Charmond employs Marty South as a servant and sometimes confidante, though the power dynamic is unequal.

Felice Charmond

Felice Charmond employs Marty South as a servant and sometimes confidante, though the power dynamic is unequal.

II

A young woman making spars by firelight; she is pressured by Percombe to sell her hair but refuses, valuing her looks and independence.

III

Overhears Melbury's plan and realizes Giles is not for her; cuts off her hair in sorrow and later feels ashamed when Giles notices.

IV

Mentioned in connection with her earlier departure from the wagon-sheds; her reasons for cutting her hair are noted.

V

Walks to Sherton Abbas carrying her shorn hair; accepts rides from Giles and later Mrs. Charmond. She reflects on her poverty and the loss of her hair.

VIII

Assists Giles in planting trees despite a cold from cutting her hair; reflects on the sighing of the trees as a metaphor for life.

IX

Advises Giles on the potential of a Christmas party with dancing to bring matters to a head; observes Giles's interest in Grace.

XII

Marty is mentioned as likely to lose her father, John South, which would affect Giles's property.

XIII

Distressed by her father's condition; fetches Giles to help; unconsciously strokes her cropped head when Grace admires Mrs. Charmond's hair.

XIV

Cares for her father John South and reports his worsening condition to Giles and the doctor.

Chapter XV

Grieves her father's death; writes the prophetic lines on Giles's wall; later denies altering them.

XVI

Passes through Fitzpiers's gate in mourning, soiling her black frock; reminds Fitzpiers of her father's death.

XIX

Marty pours tea at the picnic and offers to take a cup to Grace. She later approaches Grace and Fitzpiers, commenting on two quarreling birds, and walks home with Grace after being led away.

XX

Reluctantly helps Grammer Oliver by guiding Grace's path, and observes the romantic entanglements without participating in the spell.

XXXI

Mentioned as the model of simplicity Grace wishes to emulate.

XXXIII

Working in the coppice, she speaks with Mrs. Charmond and reveals her concern for Giles and Grace.

XXXIV

Gives Fitzpiers a letter revealing she is the original owner of Mrs. Charmond's hair.

XLIII

Arrives after Giles's death; her letter about her hair contributed to the quarrel between Fitzpiers and Mrs. Charmond.

XLIV

Polishes Giles's tools, reveals his sacrifice to Fitzpiers, and later visits Giles's grave with Grace.

XLV

Accompanies Grace to the meeting with Fitzpiers and joins her in mourning Winterborne by tending his grave.

XLVI

Accompanies Grace to Giles Winterborne's grave to place flowers.

XLVIII

Waits for Grace to join her in placing flowers on Giles's grave, then goes alone and whispers a heartfelt vow of eternal remembrance.