The Blue Castle Encyclopedia

Here in the Blue Castle Encyclopedia you may look up characters and locations from L. M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle. The quotes, chapter and page citations are from the Bantam edition of the novel published in 1993, which is currently in print.

A

St. Alban's - the Stirling's church where Rev. Dr. Stalling has been the rector for 23 years (Ch 5)

B

Banjo - the striped, snoring "big, enchanting, grey devil-cat" of Barney Snaith (Chapter 26; 131)

Beck, Edward - a fifty year old widower with a nine children, who began to think at Cissy Gay's funeral that Valancy would "make a mighty fine second wife" (Chapter 24; 124). He consults with Cousin Georgiana about proposing, with neither realizing that Valancy is already married to Barney Snaith (Chapter 27; 136-137).

Bentley, Rev. Dr. Bradley - Presbyterian minister who performs Cissy Gay's funeral

Bluebeard's Chamber - The one room in the Snaith house that Valancy may not enter. Barney locks the door and keeps the key (Chapter 26; 133). Barney shuts himself in it for hours of each day. Though Valancy never saw the inside "From the smells that filtered through at times she concluded he must be conducting chemical experiments - or counterfeiting money." Still she had no desire to see the inside (Chapter 29; 152-153). Valancy enters the room to find a pencil to write a note to Barney and saw the equipment for his chemical experiments and learned that Barney was John Foster seeing the galley proofs of his novel Wild Honey (Chapter 39; 194-196).

Blue Castle - A Spanish castle "where Valancy had lived spiritually…ever since she could remember." "Everything wonderful and beautiful was in that castle." "All that supported her through the boredom of her days was the hope of going on a dream spree at night." Valancy imagines many lovers here who changed as she outgrew them. "Valancy never grew older than twenty-five in her Blue Castle, but recently - very recently - her hero had reddish, tawny hair, a twisted smile and a mysterious past." (Chapter 1; 3-5). At first sight, Valancy realizes her home with Barney is her Blue Castle (Chapter 26; 134, Chapter 28; 148, Chapter 45; 218)

Blunt, Margaret - invited Valancy to a dance years ago. Valancy had tried to look her best to impress Rob Walker. Stories abounded that "Valancy Stirling was rouged at Margaret Blunt's party."

Bruce, Cecil (see Cecil Price)

Chidley Corners - a place "up back" where dances and assemblies were held. As a rule well-brought up ladies were not found at them. Valancy attends a party there, which by 11 o'clock becomes rowdy, noisy and reeking. Barney Snaith rescues her from a drunk, predatory man and his friends (Chapter 20; 104-108).

Clarkson, Miss - librarian of the Deerwood library who "smiled in a patronizing fashion that relegated Valancy's opinions to limbo." (Chapter 1; 8-9).

Deerwood - where Valancy had lived, sheltered all her life until she moved "up back" (Chapter 20; 109).

Desmond, Will - A young lawyer who had been engaged to Olive Stirling. He died (Chapter 10; 55).

"Doss's rosebush" - A little rosebush on the Stirling lawn given to Valancy by Cousin Georgiana five years earlier. Despite her efforts to make it bloom and following advice of her clan, no buds had ever appeared on it. Two days after her 29th birthday, Valancy looks upon it with hatred and slashed it with a garden knife to the shock of her mother (Chapter 7; 31). The rosebush is in full bloom when Valancy returns to the Stirling household to tell her family she is married to Barney Snaith (Chapter 27; 139).

Edwards, Rachel - was once the Gay's housekeeper, fired by Abel Gay for being "dirty," "unreasonable" and for "moping." (Chapter 14; 78)

Elm Street House - It was the ugliest house on an "ugly, prim, respectable street." It was a red brick box. Mrs. Frederick Stirling, Valancy and Cousin Stickles lived there. (Chapter 4; 20)

Free Methodist church - Valancy begins to go to church there, and "for the first time in her life she liked going to church." Old Mr. Towers preaches there. (Chapter 20; 103)

Fortunate Isles - "One little group of islets off to the west" in Lake Mistawis, which looked at sunrise like a cluster of emeralds and at sunset like a cluster of amethysts (Chapter 29; 151-152).

Foster, John (see also Barney Snaith and Bernard Redfern) - popular nature writer. Valancy was allowed to read his books "under protest, for it was only too evident that she enjoyed them too much." Valancy vaguely feels that if she read his books years ago "life might have been a different thing for her." The librarian tells her that he must be a Canadian, but no information about him is to be had and his name is likely a nom de plume (Chapter 1; 8-9). Valancy quotes his works on many occasions. His writing has "'put Canada on the literary map of the world'" according to Uncle Benjamin (Chapter 40; 203)

Gay, Abel (Roaring Abel)- He is a carpenter and fiddler, who "in spite of his seventy years, was handsome still, in a stately, patriarchal manner. His tremendous beard, falling down over his blue flannel shirt, was still a flaming, untouched red, though his shock of hair was white as snow, and his eyes were a fiery, youthful blue. His enormous reddish-white eyebrows were more like moustaches than eyebrows. Perhaps this was why he always kept his upper lip scrupulously shaved. His cheeks were red" and he had a "fine, aquiline nose." Abel was "six feet two in stockings, broad shouldered and lean-hipped. In his youth he had been a famous lover, finding all women too charming to bind him to just one. His years had been a wild, colorful panorama of follies and adventures, gallantries , fortunes and misfortunes. He had been forty-five before he married-a pretty slip of a girl whom his goings-on killed in a few years." "Roaring Abel was never anything but drunk." He says, "'There's entirely too much hell here…That's why I get drunk so often. It sets you free for a little while-free from yourself- yes, by God, free from predestination'" His daughter is Cecily Gay Abel "knew more about Presbyterian theology than most ministers, which made him a terror to them in arguments. But Roaring Abel never went to church" (Chapter 14).

Gay, Cissy- daughter of Abel, 3 years younger than Valancy . "She was a faithful, unobtrusive, sincere, little worker. Everybody liked Cissy Gay and felt sorry for her." Four years ago she went to Muskoka to work as a waitress. She returned and was pregnant. No one knew who the father was. Rumor said it was Barney Snaith. Her child lived for a year and died, and Cissy was only given months to live as her lungs were diseased. This was two years ago and Cissy was still alive and no one went to see her (Chapter 14). After the Gay's housekeeper dies, Valancy leaves the Stirling's to live at the Gay's house to care for Cissy. Cissy tells Valancy the father of her child was a college student in Toronto with a rich father. The young man offers to marry her when she told him she was pregnant, but Cissy refused, knowing that he did not love her any longer. Cissy died smiling a few nights after telling her story (Chapter 22). Cissy Gay is called both Cecilia (Chapter 1; 85), and Cecily (Chapter 11; 64) possibly in error by L. M. Montgomery.

Good luck - Barney Snaith's "dainty little cat" who is "always looking wistfully at you, as if he wanted to tell you something." (Chapter 26; 133)

Gray, Aaron - Valancy's third cousin.

Henry - Doc Redfern's man who "disapproves of the whole expedition" (Chapter 38; 188).

Jackson, Donald - When Olive Stirling was twenty-three, Olive had a "hectic affair" with him. "But Aunt and Uncle Wellington disapproved of him and in the end Olive dutifully gave him up." Really, he was cooling off, but the Stirlings never hinted this regardless of what outsiders said (Chapter 10, 55).

Lady Jane - Barney Snaith's car; an old Grey Slosson.

Lake Mistawis - "a silver-green lake" surrounded by "shadowy, purple-hooded woods" and a "white, filmy mist." Barney and Valancy's island home is located here (Chapter 12; 71).

Leander - a "demure little tame owl," which Barney Snaith "brought up from a baby", who lives on the "mainland and chuckles to himself o'nights" (Chapter 26; 133).

Lloyd, Jennie - Was to marry Clayton Markley. Valancy envied her (Chapter 4; 20).

Lover's Lane - It wound around the back of the village, under great elms and maples, and deserved its name." It is a short cut home from town that Valancy usually avoids because the young couples and pairs of girls there make her "self-conscious and uncomfortable" (Chapter 6).

MacMurray, Tom - Sold his island to Barney Snaith. He built a house on it where he lived in the winter and he would rent it to Toronto people in the summer (Chapter 26; 132).

March, Dr. Ambrose - A doctor in Port Lawrence who is married to Second Cousin Adelaide Stirling. He is the only doctor used by the Stirling clan (Chapter 1). He refused to help Uncle James lock Valancy up after she leave home without "proof of lunacy." Also, "nothing that Uncle James had reported seemed very alarming to Dr. March, who put up a hand to conceal a smile several times" (Chapter 13; 73-74).

Markley, Clayton - Engaged to Jennie Lloyd and had built and house and furnished it in readiness for her (Chapter 4; 20).

Nip - a old crow that lives near the Snaith home with Tuck (Chapter 26; 133)

Patterson, Mrs. - nurse in Dr. Trent's office (Chapter 6; 27)

Port Lawrence - a large town with movie theatres, restaurants and many stores and shops. It is over fifteen miles from Deerwood. (Chapter 22; 117)

Price, Cecil - "Olive had been engaged to him for three years. He had just graduated in civil engineering and they were to marry as soon as he landed a contract." He was "clever and handsome and 'one of the Port Lawrence Prices'" He met with the Stirling clan approval (Chapter 10; 55). Cecil Price is also called Cecil Bruce (Chapter 44; 217). Likely, this is an oversight of L. M. Montgomery.

Railroad Station and tracks - As Barney and Valancy return home from Port Lawrence, Valancy's heel is caught between the train tracks as a train is approaching. Barney frantically manages to save her. Valancy is confused that she lived through the shock since Dr. Trent had said any excitement would be fatal to her with her disease (Chapter 35).

Redfern, Bernard Snaith (see also Barney Snaith) - Barney has been calling himself by his mother's maiden name Snaith. He left home eleven years ago, traveled to the Klondike and around the world and then settled in Muskoka six years ago. Growing up he went to the best private schools, got honors at McGill (Chapter 38). As a child he was lonely and felt lost in the mansions with his father. His school fellows mocked him for his father's inventions. He was betrayed by his one close friend, who wrote burlesque sketch ridiculing Doc Redfern's remedies. Then he fell in love with Ethel Traverse and was very happy until he overheard her saying that she was only marrying him for the money. Barney then lost faith in people and left civilization until he bought the Mistawis Island (Chapter 42).

Redfern's Blood Bitters - Cousin Stickles wants them to build her body up. Her husband used them until the day he died (Chapter 7).

Redfern, Dr. - He is a "stout, short, pudgy man, with a broad, rubicund, good-humored face" and steel rimmed glasses. Though he was clean-shaven, Valancy suspected that his familiar face should have had a fringe of whiskers around it. He is bald, in spite of his own Redfern's Hair Vigor. He reveals to Valancy that Barney has millions. He hasn't seen his son in eleven years (Chapter 38). Before his success he was a veterinary in a small Quebec town and was failure at it. After Mrs. Redfern's death, Dr. Redfern and Barney moved to Montreal where the Doctor began to invent his cures and became a millionaire (Chapter 42; 211).

Redfern's Liniment - Valancy must rub Cousin Stickle's neuralgic back with it. She hated its smell and the "smug, beaming, portly, be-whiskered, be-speckled picture of Dr. Redfern on the bottle" (Chapter 6).

Redfern, Mrs. - died when Barney was two years old. She was fifteen years younger than Dr. Redfern and was a school teacher (Chapter 42; 209-210).

Redfern's Purple Pills - "the standard medicine of the Stirling clan" (Chapter 5; 25)

Snaith, Barney (see also Bernard Redfern and John Foster) - The town rumors are wild tales that he was a "defaulting cashier-counterfeiting-infidel-murderer-in-hiding" He "hides himself up on an island in Muskoka." Uncle Wellington believes that since he is mysterious, he must be a criminal, and he is rumored to have fathered Cecily Gay's child. (Chapter 11; 61-64). His only friend is Abel Gay (Chapter 11). He owns a dreadful, old, Lady Jane Grey Slosson car. "He told a great deal is a few well-chosen words…" and he "had a knack of telling a great deal about his adventures and nothing at all about himself" (Chapter 18; 94). He rescues Valancy from Chidley Corners (Chapter 20). After Cissy Gay's death, Valancy tells him the truth about her condition and proposes marriage to Barney. He accepts and takes her to his island home and her "Blue Castle" (Chapter 25-26). The two are very happy and share a love for nature, except Barney hates to be quoted to from John Foster. He spends much of the day in a locked room, Bluebeard's Chamber. He is thirty-five years old (Chapter 28; 147). He is shocked when Valancy lives after the train track scare and leaves for a while (Chapter 35-36). During this period, he is revealed to be Bernard Redfern and John Foster (Chapter 38-39). He pleas for Valancy's return and explains how he feels (Chapter 42).

Snaith, Valancy (See Valancy Stirling)

Stalling, Rev. Dr. - Valancy has feared him ever since the age of 6, when he shook his long, knuckly forefinger at her, and told her to take her hat off in church, believing she was a boy. She covered under his orders and was too afraid to tell him she was a girl. (Chapter 5; 24) Rev. Stalling dislikes Abel Gay. When he visits the Gay house, Valancy nearly obeys him as he shakes his relentless forefinger, but he is shocked that he fails to convince her to return home. (Chapter 19; 97-101)

Sterling, Jane - She is an old woman from Port Lawrence whose letter from Dr. Trent was exchanged with Valancy's letter. She was "a lonely old soul. Lived by herself with a little home girl". She died two months after her visit to the doctor in her sleep (Chapter 37; 183).

Stickles, Christine Stirling (Cousin Stickles) - She lives in the Elm Street house with Valancy and Mrs. Frederick. She "whined endlessly on as usual, complaining about everything." She was married at seventeen. Valancy describes her appearance: Cousin Stickles had a "broad, flat, wrinkled face, a mole right on the end of her dumpy nose, bristling hairs on her chin, wrinkled yellow neck, pale protruding eyes, and [a] thin, puckered mouth" (Chapter 3).

Stirling, Adelaide - married to Dr. Ambrose March. (Chapter 13; 74)

Stirling, Alberta (Aunt Alberta) - married to Uncle Herbert for 25 years when Valancy is 29. According to Valancy she is "enormously fat, with an amiable habit of always referring to her husband as 'he,' as if he were the only male creature in the world, who could not forget that she had been a great beauty in her youth…" (Chapter 1). She "had a great reputation for unselfishness because she was always giving up a lot of things she didn't want (Chapter 10, 66).

Stirling, Amelia Wansbarra (Mrs. Frederick) - Valancy's mother, Valancy believes she is "Ashamed every day of her old maid daughter" (Ch. 1). She "could not brook opposition" and "throws sulky fits"(Ch. 1, Ch. 2). She shows no affection for her daughter, telling her only to "'Sit up straight.'" on her birthday morning without a kind word (Chapter 3). She was "offended with Providence for sending a rainy day when she wanted to go to a picnic" (Chapter 3). She married at twenty to Frederick Stirling (Chapter 3). "Idleness was a cardinal sin in the Stirling household" (Chapter 3).

Stirling, Artemas - Valancy's cousin. Valancy wore a broach containing her hair until her rebellion (Chapter 9).

Stirling, Betty - She is Valancy's cousin. Nine years ago, she was rumored to ask Valancy to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, but she didn't. Olive later told her that "Betty, after much consultation and reflection, had decided that Valancy was too insignificant - she would 'spoil the effect'" (Chapter 8).

Stirling, Benjamin (Uncle Benjamin) - Grocery store owner, who asks "abominable conundrums between wheezy chuckles, and answer[s] them himself." He is a "wealthy and childless old widower and Valancy had been brought up in fear and admonition of his money. If she offended him he would cut her out of his will - supposing she were in it" (Chapter 1). He never missed re-telling the story of how she "stole" some raspberry jam when she was 8 from Aunt Wellington's pantry and the details of how he caught her (Chapter 8). It's Valancy's duty to say "What?" during the pause of his riddles. His riddle falls flat as she fails him for the first time at the Wellington silver anniversary party (Chapter 10). He is "wheezy" and "pussy-mouthed. With great pouches under his eyes that held nothing in reverence" (Chapter 10; 54). When Valancy tells him off, he is shocked and "stared foolishly" (Chapter 11, 71) Uncle Benjamin becomes her champion when Valancy returns and tells her tale of Barney being Bernard Redfern. He aims to unbungle the entire affair to make Valancy happy and to prevent them from divorcing (Chapter 40). He decides to put Valancy back in his will because "To her that had should certainly be given" (Chapter 42; 215).

Stirling, Byron - from Montreal. When Valancy (at age 10) visited Aunt Isabel, Byron was visiting. He was 12, "conceited" and "clever." He savagely pinched Valancy's arm during the morning prayers causing her to scream out in pain. He denied pinching her and said she had been playing with a kitten during prayers and it had scratched her. He was believed and Valancy was sent home in disgrace (Chapter 8).

Stirling, David - Married to Gladys (Chapter 27; 146).

Stirling, Frederick - Valancy's father; deceased. "It was whispered about in the connection that the late Frederick Stirling had caught the cold which resulted in his death during the first year of Valancy's life because Mrs. Frederick would not have a fire lighted on the twentieth of October. She lighted one the next day, but that was a day too for Frederick Stirling" (Chapter 2). He "tacked on the Jane" as Valancy's middle name "by way of civilising it" (Chapter 3; 16).

Stirling, Georgiana (Cousin Georgiana) - She is sixty-five years old (Chapter 27; 137) and is named for her great-great-grandmother, who had been named George the Forth (Chapter 1). Valancy predicts she will "recount dolorously the names of all the relatives and friends who had died since the last picnic and wonder 'which of us will be the first to go next.'" (Chapter 1) (168) She is "Not such a bad little soul. But dreary - very dreary. Always looking as if she had just been starched and ironed. Always afraid to let go. The only thing she really enjoyed was a funeral. You knew where you were with a corpse. Nothing more could happen to it. But while there was life there was still fear (Chapter 10). After Valancy tells her she is married, Georgiana "had a momentary conviction that it would be a pity if the clan tried to scold her into sanity" (Chapter 27; 138-139).

Stirling, Gladys (Cousin Gladys, Aunt Gladys) - "really First Cousin Gladys once removed" according to the strict Stirling calculations is a "tall, thin lady who admitted she had a sensitive disposition." She describes "minutely the tortures of her neuritis." Dr. Trent told Aunt Gladys, "ten years before, that her neuritis was all imaginary and that she enjoyed it" (Chapter 1). He neuritis "was a convenient thing" which "jumped from on part of her body to another" at choice moments. She "was always praising her son, who had died young, and always fighting with her living one" (Chapter 10; 52). She is married to David (Chapter 27; 146).

Stirling, Herbert - He is Valancy's uncle, who has been married to Aunt Alberta for 25 years (Chapter 9; 46) Valancy "rather liked Uncle Herbert" (Chapter 9). He has a cottage at Mistawis (Chapter 8). His home on Maple Avenue in Deerwood was "a large pretentious structure peppered with meaningless bay windows and excrescent porches. A house that always looked like a stupid, prosperous, self-satisfied man with warts on his face" (Chapter 9). Uncle Herbert has spiky grey hair (Chapter 10; 54) and he gives short graces which irritate Aunt Wellington. After Valancy leaves the silver anniversary, he thinks "things were rather dull now that Doss had gone" (Chapter 11; 69).

Stirling, Isabel (Aunt Isabel) - According to Valancy she is "downright and disagreeable as an east wind." She was the "critic of the clan (Chapter 10; 53), and she found something new to with which to jab you every time. Aunt Isabel prided herself on saying what she thought, but didn't like it so well when other people said what they thought to her." (Chapter 1; 7). Many members of the clan were "afraid of her" and it was conceded that she had "a biting tongue" (Chapter 10; 53).

Stirling, James - Valancy's uncle who she views as "handsome," and "solemn." Valancy dislikes him, but she respects him "because he was reputed to be very clever and was therefore the clan oracle…" (Chapter 1; 6). He had a "sarcastic, trap-like mouth and iron-grey side-burns" and his "favorite amusement was to write controversial letters to the Christian Times, attacking Modernism." He always looked solemn. Valancy thinks that it is no wonder his wife had died young. She was "a pretty sensitive thing. Uncle James had denied her everything she wanted and showered on her everything she didn't want. He had killed her - quite legally. She had been smothered and starved" (Chapter 10; 53). After Abel Gay throws him out of the Gay house, Valancy thinks, "he was nothing but a rather stupid little village tin-god" (Chapter 19; 97). After Valancy marries Barney Snaith, he says he washed his hands of her and never wants to see her again (Chapter 27).

Stirling, Mary (Aunt Wellington) - Aunt Wellington's real name is Mary but she is "called by her husband's name to distinguish her from Great-aunt Mary. A massive, dignified, permanent lady. Splendidly arranged iron-grey hair. Rich, fashionable beaded dress. Her moles were removed by electrolysis" (Chapter 10; 54). Valancy had long ago decided that she would rather offend God than Aunt Wellington, because God might forgive her and Aunt Wellington never would." She never fails to mention her missing silver teaspoon from her wedding set, lost 6 years ago. (Chapter 1; 8)

Stirling, Mary (Great-Aunt) - (Chapter 10; 65)

Stirling, Mildred (Aunt Mildred) - A "big, capable, patronizing, voluble" woman, who "thought herself the cleverest woman in the clan, her husband a little lower than an angel and her children wonders" (Chapter 10; 52)

Stirling, Olive -daughter of Aunt and Uncle Wellington. She is "the wonder girl of the whole Stirling clan, who had everything Valancy had not - beauty, popularity, love…" Valancy knows she will "show off her beauty and presume on her popularity and flaunt her diamond insignia of love in Valancy's dazzled, envious eyes." (Chapter 1; 7-8). She has "Rich, golden-brown hair…large, brilliant blue eyes and thick silken lashes; face of rose and bare neck of snow, rising above her gown…the blue-white diamond aglow on her long, smooth, waxen finger with its rosy pointed nail. Arms of marble, gleaming through green chiffon and shadow lace." She is "Tall. Queenly. Confident. Everything that Valancy was not. Dimples, too, in cheeks and chin." Though she is a year younger than Valancy, nobody had ever dreaded old-maidenhood for her. She had been "surrounded by a crowd of eager beaus since her early teens…" At 18, after graduating from Havergal College, she was engaged to a young lawyer Will Desmond. He died and Olive mourned him for two years. At 23, she had an affair with Donald Jackson. Her third venture was Cecil Price, whom she was engaged to for three years. "Many men had gone mad over her besides the three fortunate ones. Valancy summed her up by thinking "'she's like a dewless morning. There's something lacking.'" (Chapter 10; 55-56).

Stirling, Valancy Jane (Valancy Snaith, nicknames: "Doss" and "Moonlight")- Valancy is 29 year old who has been relegated by her family "to hopeless old maidenhood." She has spells of heart pains, and "never said what she thought" (Chapter 1). She had "straight black hair," a small nose, "a three cornered, white face," "a small, pale mouth that fell open a trifle over little, pointed white teeth." She is thin, of below average height and has dark brown eyes with an "almost Oriental" slant. She wears drab, ugly clothes. She views her looks as "insignificant" (Chapter 2; 12). By her family, she is criticized and treated as a sickly child and servant. She has an escape from her life in her imaginary Blue Castle and in John Foster's nature novels. Her misdiagnosis by Dr. Trent (he tells her she has at most a year to live) sends her into a rebellion, as she feels during her "drab existence" she has never lived and was now about to die (Chapter 7). When she hears of Cissy Gay's situation from Abel Gay, Valancy revolts and leaves the Stirling home to nurse Cissy (Chapter 15). After Cissy's funeral, Valancy proposes to Barney Snaith whom she has fallen in love with. She tells him her situation and he agrees to marry her and takes her to his island home, which is her "Blue Castle" in reality (Chapter 26). Life for them is smooth and happy, until the train tracks incident, where Valancy realizes that she should have died. She returns to Dr. Trent and the mix up is revealed and Valancy is in perfect health. She meets Dr. Redfern and learns that Barney is really Barney Redfern followed by her discovery that he is also John Foster (Chapter 38-39). She writes Barney a note that says she is leaving him and didn't mean to deceive him, but he continues to pursue her and explains his side of the story. The two reunite happily (Chapter 43)

Stirling, Wellington (Uncle Wellington)- He had a "long, pallid face, thin, pale-yellow hair - "one of the fair Stirlings" - thin, stooping body, abnormally high forehead with such ugly wrinkles, "and 'eyes about as intelligent a fish's'" that Valancy though he "'Looks like a cartoon of himself'" (Chapter 10, 65).

Strang, Jemmy - an old drunk who started the rumors that Barney Snaith was dead drunk in Port Lawrence (Chapter 40; 203).

Taylor, Sarah (Second cousin) - She had great, pale, expressionless eyes" and "was noted for her pickle recipes and nothing else. So afraid of saying something indiscreet that she never said anything worth listening to. So proper that she blushed when she saw the advertisement picture of a corset and had put a dress on her Venus de Milo statuette…" (Chapter 10; 53). She never had any children (Chapter 27; 173)

Tierney, Allan - He is a celebrated painter of beautiful women. "He lived in New York in the winter, but he owned an island cottage at the Northern end of the Mistawis to which he always came the minute the ice was out of the lake. He was reputed to be lonely and eccentric, and he never flattered his sitters. Valancy meets him while walking home through the woods in spring. Tierney wants to paint Valancy as "the Spirit of Muskoka," but Valancy refused to be painted (Chapter 34).

Traverse, Ethel - According to Doc Redfern, she was the "prettiest girl in Montreal" with "Gold hair - shiny as silk - great, big, soft, black eyes- skin like milk and roses." She was thoroughbred with a B.S. from McGill and was from a good family. She married two years after her break-up with Barney, but was now a widow (Chapter 38; 191-193). She only wanted to marry Barney for his money (Chapter 42; 212).

Trent, Dr. - "a gruff, absent-minded old fellow" who is a "recognised authority on heart disease." He was over seventy and rumoured to be retiring soon. "none of the Stirling clan had ever gone to him since he had told Aunt Gladys, ten years before, that her neuritis was all imaginary and that she enjoyed it." (Chapter 1; 10). Valancy gets up the courage to consult him without family approval. After his examination he gets a phone call saying his son has been injured, and he abruptly leaves (Chapter 6). He mails her a letter, addressed "Dear Miss Sterling," which tells her she has the heart disease angina pectoris complicated with an aneurism and she had at most a year to live. Dr. Trent goes abroad to care for his son for a year (Chapter 7). Valancy visits the Doctor again in June the next year when she lives through the train tracks scare. Dr. Trent actually made an error in his excitement on the train the year before, mailing Valancy a letter meant for old Miss Jane Sterling of Port Lawrence. He tells her that she really has pseudo-angina, a never fatal condition that passes completely with proper treatment or a shock of joy (Chapter 37; 182-184).

Trent, Ned - He is Dr. Trent's son, who was terribly injured in an automobile accident in Montreal during Valancy's appointment with the Doctor. He is as "good as new" a little over a year later when Valancy goes to the Doctor again (Chapter 6, Chapter 37; 181).

Towers, Mr. - He is the preacher at the free Methodist church. "Old Mr. Towers believe exactly what he preached and somehow it made a tremendous difference." (Chapter 20; 103). Valancy and Barney Snaith are married by him in his "small shabby house" (Chapter 26; 131)

Tuck - a old crow that lives near the Snaith home with Nip (Chapter 26; 133)

"Up back" - the vernacular name for the "sparsely settled, hilly, wooded country around Mistawis." Abel Gay's house is located here (Chapter 16).

Walker, Rob - at Uncle Herbert's he had "seemed attracted to" Valancy, but he did not notice her at Margaret Blunt's party (Chapter 8; 45).

Wansbarra, Amos (Grandfather Wansbarra) - Mrs. Frederick's father. Valancy's grandfather who chosen her name for her (Chapter 3; 15-16). Amelia Stirling admits her father was "'peculiar…but his mind was never affected'" Uncle Benjamin says, "'He talked all his life exactly as Valancy did today…and he believed he was his own great-grandfather born again. I heard him say it. Don't tell me that a man who believes a thing like that was ever in his right senses'" (Chapter 11; 68). Valancy takes it as a compliment when Uncle Benjamin says she is acting like her Grandfather because "'He was one of the few human beings I have known - almost the only one.'" (Chapter 13; 72).