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The Carr Family

     The Carr Family 

The Carr Family

  • Brother–Sister Team:
    • Dorry and Johnnie are very close when they're younger.
    • Clover and Phil become closer when they're older, especially when they move out to Colorado together.
  • Cuddle Bug: The majority of the Carr family are incredibly affectionate with one another, with Dorry and perhaps Phil being the only ones who aren't.
  • Girly Girl with a Tomboy Streak: All four Carr girls are this to varying degrees; they wear dresses and bonnets but are also happy to play in the woods and run and climb on anything they can reach. Katy and Johnny lean more towards tomboy while Clover and Elsie are more girly girl.
  • Good Parents: Dr Carr is a wonderful father to his children, and naturally Clover and Elise are wonderful mothers to their children.
  • Happily Married:
    • Implied that Dr Carr was deeply in love with his wife until she sadly passed away.
    • Katy is happily married to Ned, even if his job sees him being away from home several months at a time.
    • Clover and Geoffrey, Elsie and Clarence and Johnnie and Lionel are all have very contented marriages and even live together without issue.
    • Dorry gets married to Imogen, both of whom who are looked down on by their family for being 'dull' and thankfully find happiness with one another.
  • Housewife: All of the Carr girls grow up to be housewives. However it is very much the norm for when the book is set.
  • It Runs in the Family: The vast majority of the Carr children are talented at writing and poetry, and while Dr Carr doesn't have the time to sit and write, it's implied he's a fantastic story teller.
  • Massive Numbered Siblings: The Carr family has six children, four boys and two girls. Though large families weren't exactly unheard of in the mid 1880's.
  • Missing Mom: Mrs Carr is said to have died before the start of What Katy Did. It's implied she died giving birth to Phil.
  • Multigenerational Household: At the end of the series, Dr Carr and the entire family and their spouses and children all live together in a complex of sorts out in Colorado. Except Dorry, who lives in the city with his wife.
  • Proper Lady: The Carr girls all grow up to become one, in one way or another.
  • She Is All Grown Up: All four Carr daughters grow up to be good looking and sought after, though Clover and Johnnie are noted to be exceptional beauties and have numerous potential suitors.
  • Sibling Rivalry: Mostly present when the Carr children are younger, Elsie is at odds with almost everyone else due to being the middle child and Dorry is often ill tempered and quick to go tell whenever he's slighted. They all grow out of this when they're older, and end up teasing one another in a far more good natured manner.
  • Textile Work Is Feminine: The Carr girls partake in sewing and mending, with Clover and Elsie in particular being gifted at it. But this is a sign of the times, being able to sew was a vital skill to have.
  • Thicker Than Water: The Carrs are all incredibly loyal to one another and the vast majority of them end up living together at the end of the series.

     Dr Phillip Carr 

Dr Phillip Carr

Dr Phillip Carr is the father of the Carr family and a renowned doctor, often having to travel away from home to treat his patients. It's implied that his wife died giving birth to his youngest son.
  • Brutal Honesty: As a doctor, he never shies away from telling his children the truth. He warns Katy from the start that she must be prepared to stay in bed a long time when she injures herself.
  • Determined Doctor: Dr Carr is often being called away to help various patients, no matter how far he might have to travel.
  • Disappointed in You: Sometimes ends up saying this to Katy when she's younger and gets herself into trouble, as she's supposed to be a role model for her younger siblings.
  • Doctor's Orders: Frequently gives these out, from genuine medical advice to more simple remedies that are more of a placebo than anything.
  • Friend to All Children: Beloved by both his children and his grandchildren, to the extent that they always fight for a spot on his knee.
  • Good Parents: A kind and loving father to his children. Dr Carr is also of the mind that children should be allowed to run about and enjoy themselves, even if that does result in bumps and scrapes.
  • Not So Above It All: One time he ends up mincing across the room while mimicking how one of Katy's friends walked.
  • The Patriarch: The head of the Carr family and deeply beloved by all of his children, to the extent that even adults they fight over who gets to spend time with him. Eventually solved when he moves out to Colorado to live with them all.

     Aunt Izzie 

Aunt Izzie

Aunt Izzie is Dr Carr's sister. She joined the Carr household after the death of Mrs Carr so she could help raise the children.
  • Apron Matron: Aunt Izzie rules the Carr household with a heavy hand and is very protective of the children.
  • The Caretaker: Becomes this to Katy following her accident, revealing a warm and loving side behind her otherwise sharp nature.
  • Control Freak: A mild example but Izzie is quite controlling when it comes to the children in her charge, once asking Dorry to hang his hat up on the nail, and then insisting that she meant the other nail when he had no idea which would be the right one. She also insists that the children sit and read in quiet each morning and enjoys getting to see them looking neat and tidy until they go out to play.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: As sharp and mean as Aunt Izzie can seem, she only ever tries to do what she thinks is best for the children.
  • Maiden Aunt: Apparently never married and was bought in to take care of her brother's children after the death of their mother. Izzie's age is never given in the novel, but she has been looking after the Carr children for at least four years.
  • Small Parent, Huge Child: Katy is half a head taller than aunt Izzie at just twelve years old.
  • Spell My Name With An S: Her name is spelt as both Izzie and Izzy throughout the novels.
    Katherine "Katy" Carr 

Katherine "Katy" Carr

Katy Carr is the eldest of the Carr children and is known for being bright, mischievous and incredibly 'wild'. She ends up bed-bound for four years following an accident when she was twelve years old and comes out the other end significantly calmer and more mature.
  • Aloof Darkhaired Girl: Comes across as this to people who don't know her, as Katy is very tall and quietly composed. Even Rose Red claims she was a little afraid of her at first.
  • Always Someone Better: Unintentionally to Lilly. Katy is more popular and beloved at school than she is and inadvertently steals Ned from her just by being a much kinder person.
  • Anger Is Not Enough: Katy is prone to little outbursts when she's younger, one of which leads to the accident that keeps her bedbound for four years. She's left angry at the world and at her situation by the time Cousin Helen comes to visit, who gently informs her that she won't get better that way; Katy needs to learn how to be patient instead.
  • Author Avatar: An in universe example, Katy writes a series of stories about 'Little Maria and her Sisters' whereupon the sisters all have flaws based on the members of Katy's own family, leaving herself as the perfect protagonist Maria.
  • Berserker Tears: Prone to these when she was younger, especially in the aftermath of her accident.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: Kindhearted but Katy still has the temper that got her into trouble as a little girl and will stand up for herself and others if she needs to. Famously used when she and Clover are falsely accused of sending letters to the male college students and when the owner of a hotel tries to kick out Mrs Ashe and Amy when the latter is very sick. Even better, she does the former entirely in French, despite only having a passing knowledge of the language.
    Katy: Be silent! You will frighten the child. I am sorry that you should lose any customers, madame, but the fever is here and we are here, and here we must stay till it is safe to go. The child shall not be moved till the doctor gives permission. Money is not the only thing in the world! Mrs. Ashe will pay anything that is fair to make up your losses to you, but you must leave this room now, and not return till Dr. Hilary is here.
  • Big Sister Instinct: Takes on the role as a second mother to her younger siblings after her mother's death. Is very protective and loving towards them, though it takes her a while to warm up to Elsie.
  • Blinded by Rage: Katy wakes up in a bad mood, accidentally breaks the vase Cousin Helen got her when she loses her temper and knocks it onto the floor, ends up pushing Elsie down the stairs when she won't listen to Katy about not being able to send a slate through the mail, and eventually runs out to play on the swing that leads to her accident. The author even notes that had Katy been in a better humour, the event that started it all wouldn't have happened.
  • Bookworm: Katy loves nothing more than spending her afternoons with her nose in a book. Her school friends have even learned to hide their books when Katy comes over, or she'll spend the entire time reading.
  • Cool Big Sis: To the majority of her siblings. Dorry seems to go back and forth about it, especially when he's older.
  • Creator's Pest: In universe; Katy grows to detest Emma and Violet, the sisters who Amy loves hearing stories about, and so gleefully kills them off in the next story she tells to her.
  • Crush Blush: Katy blushes when Clover talks about Ned after the trip to Europe, and even runs from the room with embarrassment.
  • Cloudcuckoolander: She's considered to be this as both a child and a young woman; she's frequently in a world of her own and even when she starts acting like a Proper Lady she's still prone to admiring strange things and dancing when she's happy.
  • Cunning Linguist: Surprises herself when she's able to deliver a compassionate plea in flawless French; it seems she picked up more than she realised during her stay there.
  • Cute Clumsy Girl: In her youth, Katy was forever tearing her clothes from catching them on nails or the corners of furniture. Also known for tripping over her own bootlaces.
  • Daddy's Girl: While all of the Carr daughters love their father, Katy has a special bond with him and takes his word as law.
  • Dance of Romance: Averted; when Ned asks her to dance, Katy politely turns him down, saying that she's too tall and simply can't dance. However, they do take a walk around the docks where they get to know one another better, which is when Ned starts to fall in love with her.
  • Demoted to Extra: Katy is the main character in What Katy Did, What Katy Did at School and What Katy Did Next but is only briefly in Clover and barely appears in In the High Valley. All we know is that she married Ned and that she travels with Mrs Ashe and Amy when he's away at sea.
  • Determinator: Katy is willful and stubborn and has a lot of grand ideas about what she wants to do with her life.
  • Disabled Means Helpless: Averted, for the most part, Katy becomes the head of the household after aunt Izzie's death and Dr Carr's only worry is that she might tire herself out, rather than that Katy isn't able to do it because she's bedridden. Cousin Helen's advice also sees her encouraging Katy to keep studying and taking care of herself physically.
  • Disproportionate Retribution: Plays on a swing she was told not to and ends up bedbound for four years when it breaks and she falls from it.
  • Downer Ending: Writes one to put a stop to the stories about Emma and Violet. The sisters fill a sled with food and supplies and take it up the mountain to a lonely old widow but are tragically crushed by a falling tree during a snowstorm. They aren't found until the following Spring.
  • Fatal Flaw: Katy has a quick temper when she's younger and it often got her into trouble. It was also what led to her having the accident that left her bed-bound for four years.
  • Happily Married: To Ned at the start of Clover.
  • Hot-Blooded: Katy is this before her accident, often getting into trouble or arguments with Aunt Izzie. She grows out of this when she's older.
  • I Can't Feel My Legs!: In the aftermath of her accident, Katy likens her legs to feeling as if they had been turned into black marble, like the Prince in Arabian Nights.
  • I Just Want to Be Beautiful: Katy despairs about her plain looks, though the author reassures us that Katy grows up into quite the beauty.
  • I Miss Mom: As the only Carr child old enough to remember her mother, Katy does occasionally express that she misses her mother.
  • I'm Taking Her Home with Me!: As a very young child, ends up taking a little Irish girl home with her to be her 'baby'. Katy and Clover plan on raising her in the attic and letting her come down when she's all grown up. However, the little girl cries so much during the first night that a bemused Dr Carr discovers her and promptly takes her home.
  • Intergenerational Friendship:
    • As a child, Katy was in the habit of striking up friendships with all manner of people, most of which were adults. Of note is the crotchety old hunchbacked lady who everyone else avoided, the sick lady whose husband was a conman and a man held in the town jail cell to who she sent gifts via a piece of string.
    • Katy grows close to Polly Ashe, her eventual sister-in-law, and while her age is never stated it's likely that she's at least ten years older than Katy herself, due to having an eight-year-old daughter while Katy isn't yet twenty.
    • Katy also makes friends with The Captain of The Spartacus as he has a daughter around her age and wishes that he could spend more time with her.
  • Kick the Dog:
    • Accidentally pushes Elsie down the stairs when she won't listen to Katy about being unable to send a slate through the post.
    • Growing sick of telling the same boring story about a pair of sisters to Amy during the trip to Europe, Katy decides to kill them off by having them crushed by a tree while trying to deliver food to a lonely old widow who lived alone on a mountain.
  • Lethal Chef: By proxy. When Katy is overseeing the house from her bedroom, she gets the idea to serve all manner of 'nutritious' food to the household, which includes nothing but boiled rice for pudding. Naturally, the children rebel.
  • Long-Distance Relationship: With Ned, as his role in the United States Navy sees him being away from home for months at a time.
  • Most Writers Are Writers: Katy writes lots of long and amazing stories in her youth, most of which she reads to her younger siblings.
  • Nice to the Waiter: Katy takes note of how everyone else bows and says good morning to the landlady of one hotel they stay at in France and starts to do it herself, much to Mrs Ashe's surprise. Katy then explains that she also noticed how kindly other guests spoke to the waiters and didn't order them around, and vowed to be that kind herself from now on.
  • Not So Above It All: Privately enjoyed Dorry's spooky story in the loft and chides herself once she realised that it frightened Phil to the point of tears.
  • Oblivious to Love: Due in part because she's surprised that a handsome man like Ned would be interested in a girl like her.
  • Only Known by Their Nickname: Always known as Katy, rarely Katherine.
  • Plucky Girl: Katy is very courageous for a young woman in that time, she isn't afraid to stand up to her headmistress when she and Clover are wrongly accused of sending notes to the male students and she often takes charge during the trip to Europe despite having never left the country before.
  • Promotion to Parent: Katy's mother asked for her to become a second mother to her younger siblings shortly before she died.
  • Proper Lady: Learns to become one while she's bed-bound. Some people remark that they're worried she's grown up too quickly, but Katy seems content to be the proper lady she's always wanted to be.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: When she's younger, Katy is very much the red oni to Clover's blue oni.
  • The Shut-In: Spends four years confined in her bedroom after her accident.
  • Spirited Young Lady: Katy was very much this as a child, though she calms down when she gets married.
  • The Story Teller: Is gifted at writing stories and tells them to her siblings when they're growing up. While they're mostly popular, there's one story that the children end up hating due to the perfect protagonist who can do no wrong. It gets to a point where Clover and Elsie steal it and throw it in the kitchen fire.
  • Survival Mantra: After being wrongly accused of writing notes to male students, Katy chants 'Live it down!' to herself despite the suffering she and Clover goes through in the aftermath.
  • Tall, Dark, and Snarky: While not quite as snarky as some examples, given the setting, Katy is very tall and dark-haired.
  • Throwing Off the Disability: Although in all fairness, Katy's disability was always supposed to be temporary. The exact injury is never gone into in exact detail, Dr Carr explains that Katy has bruised the membrane surrounding her spinal cord which later leads to a fever that weakens her a great deal. She's even able to move her legs shortly after the accident but later is unable to, likening them to feeling like marble. Still, Dr Carr states that Katy is young and healthy and she'll eventually recover with time.
  • Tomboy and Girly Girl: The tomboy to both Clover and Cece's girly girl in her younger years.
  • Younger Than They Look: As a child, Katy was often mistaken for being older than she was because she was so tall for her age.
    Clover Carr 

Clover Carr

Clover Carr is the second eldest of the Carr children. Sweet, kind and caring, Clover is very much the heart of the family. She takes on Katy's role as the lady of the household after her accident. Clover later accompanies Phil out to Colorado for his health, where she meets her eventual husband Geoff.


  • Affectionate Nickname: Occasionally known as Clovy.
  • Alliterative Name: Clover Carr.
  • All-Loving Hero: There are very few people Clover doesn't adore, and she always wins around those who don't like her.
  • Animal Lover: Immediately coaxes Clarence's dog Guest over so she can pet him, despite how scruffy he looks.
  • Animal Motifs: Once likened to a satisfied cat, purring when she gets her own way over a doll that actually belonged to Katy.
  • Badass Adorable: As badass as a young lady can get in the 1800s, Clover isn't afraid to speak her mind and is brave enough to travel to Colorado alone with her sickly younger brother Phil. She's also very cute looking and sweet-natured.
  • Berserk Button:
    • Clover is very rarely riled up, but don't insult Katy in front of her.
    • Has a strong dislike towards curly hair as her own is too thick and too straight to be curled, even if she has the rollers done very tightly. As a result, she always describes the heroines in her stories as having extremely straight hair and they never have to curl it.
  • Better as Friends: Gently says this to Clarence when he confesses that he's in love with her. They do remain close friends after an initial spat of jealousy from Clarence and even more so once he marries Elsie.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: Clover is extremely kind but she will also stand up for herself and those she loves if you cross her.
  • Big Sister Instinct: Very kind and caring towards her younger siblings, and is especially close to Elsie and Phil.
  • The Caretaker: To some extent towards Katy when she's bed-bound. Clover also takes care of Phil when they're travelling to a resort so he can fully recover from his illness.
  • Character Development: She's noted to be a little indolent in the early novels but is certainly less so when she moves out to Colorado with Phil.
  • The Cutie: Clover is small and sweet looking, even as an adult.
  • Dude Magnet: Has three known suitors during her time in Colorado and it's hinted that there are even more that are interested in her.
    "Three - hem! leaves - to one Clover!"
  • Expository Hairstyle Change: Goes from having braids as a young girl to a more womanly bun as a young adult to show how much she has matured.
  • Girlish Pigtails: Wears these as a young girl.
  • My Sister Is Off-Limits: Averted, Clover even encourages Clarence to take an interest in Elsie.
  • Naïve Newcomer: Of sorts, Clover is encouraged to pack all manner of tinned food and essentials for the trip out to Colorado, believing that she won't be able to get those supplies out there. She's proven wrong when she arrives as there's a flourishing town with actual stores that hold those very same items.
  • Nice Girl: Clover is sunny and kind and genuinely beloved by all.
  • Older Than They Look: Frequently mistaken for being younger than she is because she's so small.
  • Plucky Girl: Is quick to stand up for anyone who speaks ill of her family, especially Katy, and willingly goes to Colorado with Phil despite neither one of them knowing anyone who lives there.
  • Prone to Tears: It's said that Clover's eyes look as if she's about to shed tears, though really she cries very little.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: Plays the blue oni to Katy's red oni when they're younger, but arguably plays the role of blue oni to Dorry and Phil as well.
  • Shipper on Deck: Gently encourages Clarence to get to know Elsie with this in mind.
  • Spirited Young Lady: Clover rarely lets anything get her down for too long.
  • What Beautiful Eyes!: Clover's beautiful, soulful, blue eyes are noted various times to be her chief beauty.
    Elsie Carr 

Elsie Carr

Elsie Carr is the third eldest of the Carr children and is initially known as being the odd one out as she's too young to play with her older sisters but too old to play with her younger siblings. She's quarrelsome and difficult as a child but is able to grow up well when she finds her role amongst her siblings.
  • Annoying Younger Sibling: To Katy and Clover. Elsie desperately wants to play with them, but they consider her to be too little and just run away from her instead. Elsie is also prone to telling tales about Katy to aunt Izzie. She thankfully grows out of this.
  • Butt-Monkey: During her visit to the farm, Elsie keeps falling off a slippery couch, has a blind fall on top of her head and is frightened by a pig that suddenly sniffs her hair from behind.
  • Deadpan Snarker: She has her moments when she's older, especially towards her husband.
  • Desperately Craves Affection: Is left out as a young child and desperately wants Katy, Clover and Cecy to let her play with them. Both Izzie and Cousin Helen notice this, Izzie favours her over the other children as a result and Cousin Helen wisely advises Katy to be kinder to her little sister as she's lonely.
  • Cannot Keep a Secret: Although in a rather sweet way; Cousin Helen asks her to thank the Carr's cook Debbie for all her wonderful food and Elsie is determined to keep this as a secret until she can send a letter to Helen to say that she's done it. But she does tell Katy after her accident, if only to try and cheer her up.
  • Informed Attribute: Clover states that Elsie is much prettier than she is, however we never really get a description of Elsie to justify it. Chances are that Clover is just being nice.
  • Karma Houdini: Is the only child who isn't punished for playing the forbidden game Kikeri as Aunt Izzie is unable to wake her up. It doesn't seem as if she was scolded the following morning either.
  • Kindhearted Cat Lover: Has a pet kitten as a child that she's often seen carrying around.
  • Kissing Cousins: Ends up marrying her second cousin Clarence.
  • Middle Child Syndrome: The source of Elsie's woes when she's younger.
  • Older Than They Look: Mrs Watson wonders if Elsie is even old enough to be married, let alone to have a baby.
  • Parenting the Husband: A very mild example with how she treats her husband Clarence, but he takes it in good humour.
  • Plucky Girl: Is a little more feisty than her sisters, even when she's older.
  • Quirky Curls: Has dark curls as a child, which sets her apart even more from her other siblings who tend to have straight hair.
  • Second Love: Elsie is this to Clarence, as he fell in love with Clover first. That said, their love is genuine.
  • Speech Impediment: Elsie struggles to pronounce 'something' instead saying 'somefing'.
  • Spoiled Brat: Shows very mild shades of this when she's younger but grows out of it when she finally gets the attention she wants from her older sisters.
    Theodore "Dorry" Carr 

Theodore "Dorry" Carr

Dorry Carr is the fourth eldest of the Carr children and is also the oldest son. Stout and pudgy in his youth, Dorry is a no-nonsense sort of boy who loves food and taking things apart to see how they work.
  • Annoying Younger Sibling: Dorry is quick to get upset when he's teased or things don't go his way, and is prone to running off and telling Aunt Izzie about Katy.
  • Book Smart: Is less socially gifted than his siblings but certainly smart enough to make inventions and play chess at quite a young age and goes on to become an electrician.
  • Big Eater: Dorry loves to eat and it shows. He briefly kept a journal that only ever listed what he eats.
  • Black Sheep: Ends up becoming this as an adult. The rest of the Carr siblings live together out in the plains of Colorado, while he marries and stays in the city.
  • The Comically Serious: Is especially droll as a child, especially when compared to his more playful siblings, and remains this way into his adult years.
  • Formerly Fat: Was podgy as a child but grows up into a broad shouldered and strong looking young man.
  • Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: The feminine boy to Johnnie's masculine girl when they're younger.
  • No Social Skills: Not quite as effortlessly friendly as the rest of the family, but ultimately a nice guy despite that.
  • Only Known by Their Nickname: Dorry is never referred to as Theodore by his family. Johnnie even sounds surprised when Dorry's fiance Imogen calls him by his full name, remarking that no-one calls him that. Imogen, however, insists on it, stating that Dorry is a childish name for a grown man.
  • Only Sane Man: Dorry is quite serious and plain as an adult, especially when compared to his siblings.
  • Straight Man: This to his more eccentric siblings, even back when they were children.
  • Took a Level in Kindness: Was quite sensitive as a child but grows up to be more good humoured, most notable when he accidentally makes Katy's clock endlessly strike on the hour over a hundred and twenty times until it stops. When Clover teases him that lunch is at a-hundred-and-thirty-two o'clock he merely laughs it off instead of getting upset.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Almost everything as a child, but with a special fondness for pie.

    Joanna "Johnnie" Carr 

Joanna "Johnnie" Carr

Johnnie Carr is the second youngest Carr child and is a very much a tomboy. She's a bright and happy child and grows up to become a staggeringly beautiful adult. Eventually marries Lionel Young.
  • Brainy Brunette: Is smart enough to enter composition classes shortly after starting school and it's hinted that she's dark haired.
  • Companion Cube: Was very attached to a yellow chair as a child, calling it Pikery and insisting that it was tied to her bedpost at night. She once gave him medicine when he was sick, by spilling it on his seat.
  • Dude Magnet: Apparently attracts quite a number of young men back home, much to Dr Carr's distress.
  • Head-Turning Beauty: When Johnnie is older, she has all manner of young men interested in her. Much to her father's distress.
  • Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: The masculine girl to Dorry's feminine boy when they're children.
  • Only Known by Their Nickname: Hardly anyone calls her Joanna.
  • Out of Focus: Appears sporadically in What Katy Did alongside Dorry and Phil as the younger children, gets a stronger role at the start of What Katy Did at School when she and Elsie go out to the farm together but barely gets mentioned in passing during What Katy Did Next and Clover. Finally returns in In The High Valley where she meets and marries Lionel. She probably gets the least focus out of all the Carr siblings.
  • She Is All Grown Up: A grown-up Johnnie is incredibly beautiful, and to Dr Carr's concern, is sought after by all manner of young gentlemen.
  • Tomboy: As a child. Johnnie is even described as looking like a boy who had put his sister's dress on for a laugh.
     Phil Carr 

Phil Carr

The youngest of the Carr children, Phil is a happy and cheerful boy who adores his older sisters.
  • Alone Among the Couples: Is the only unmarried Carr sibling at the end of the series, though he randomly mentions that he wants to marry Amy Ashe.
  • The Baby of the Bunch: The youngest Carr child, Phil is fawned over by his older sisters.
  • Delicate and Sickly: Falls through a sheet of ice as a teenager and is very ill for some time afterwards. While he recovers, he's still thin and weak, and so Dr Carr has him sent to Colorado with Clover so that he might recover in the higher altitude.
  • Heroic Self-Deprecation: Very mildly laments that he isn't good enough to marry Amy, and that by the time he is she'll probably have gotten married to someone else.
  • I Got Bigger: Grows taller and more muscular after moving out to Colorado with Clover.
  • Only Known by Their Nickname: Almost always known as Phil rather than Phillip, most likely because he was named after Dr Carr.

Characters Introduced in What Katy Did

     Cecy Hall 

Cecy Hall

The Girl Next Door to the Carr family and Katy's best friend during childhood. More traditionally feminine than Katy, Cecy is eager to start her life as a 'proper' young lady. While their lives end up going in very different directions, Cecy remains an incredibly loyal friend to Katy throughout. Eventually marries a young lawyer called Sylvester Slack and has a daughter she calls Katherine Clover.


  • Absurdly Youthful Mother: Is already married with a daughter by her late teens. However, it wasn't so unusual given the time.
  • Everyone Loves Blondes: Is fair haired and turns out to be quite popular once she starts attending parties.
  • The Fashionista: As a young adult, Cecy is incredibly fashionable, wearing silk dresses and wearing her hair in the latest fashions. She's still just as affectionate as ever, though.
  • Girly Girl: While Cecy likes playing and exploring with the other Carr children, she also loves dresses and can't wait until she's older so she can go out parties and wear expensive jewellery. This is in sharp contrast to Katy, who doesn't care about such things until she's much older.
  • Girl Next Door: A non-romantic version for Katy. Cecy is the naturally pretty and tidy Girly Girl who lives next door.
  • Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Fair haired and can be a little vain but is a wonderfully sweet person and remains close friends with Katy and the rest of the Carr family long after she's gotten married and had children.
  • Misery Lit: Cecy writes a story where everyone dies tragically at the end, and going from Katy's distressed comment, she does this all the time.
    Katy: "What beautiful stories you do write, Cecy! But I wish you wouldn't always kill the people. Why couldn't the knight have killed the father, and - no, I suppose Zuleika wouldn't have married him then. Well, the father might have - oh, bother! why must anybody be killed, anyhow? why not have them fall on each other's necks, and make up?"
  • Not So Above It All: Cecy comes across as being sweet and 'proper' but is happy to play with the Carr children and thinks nothing of sneaking back into the house after she should have been in bed hours ago.
  • Pink Means Feminine: Cecy is noted to wear a lot of pink and is much more feminine than the tomboyish Katy when they're younger. She also has an incredible fondness for pink rosss.
  • Proper Lady: Intends to become one as an adult, where she'll teach at Sunday School and spend her evenings reading the Bible. But, as Elsie reports in a letter to Katy, an older Cecy actually spends her time going out with young gentleman, and she laughed when Elsie reminded her of what she had said all those years ago.
  • Running Gag: Her childhood promise about not going out on rides with gentleman is mentioned a few times when Cecy does exactly that once she's old enough to.

     Cousin Helen 

Cousin Helen

Cousin to the Carr children and niece of Dr Carr himself. A young woman who was left wheelchair bound due to an accident in her youth. Helen is very kind and patient and refuses to let her disability hold her back.


  • Ambiguously Brown: Described as having brown skin.
  • Animal Lover: Owns a canary called Ben who she describes as being like a little fairy prince.
  • Brutal Honesty: Uses this with Katy when she's at her lowest to encourage her. Her advice about Katy improving herself for the sake of those around her might be outdated, but she's also right that moping alone in the dark won't help her get any better.
  • Friend to All Living Things: Has a canary called Ben who adores her so much that he attacks her pen and comb whenever she tries to use them because it means she's not paying attention to him.
  • Friend to All Children: Wins over the Carr children within minutes despite some of them being a little apprehensive about her. She's also very close to the daughter of her former fiancé.
  • Incorruptible Pure Pureness: Such a saintly and revered person that Dr Carr claims her to be 'half-angel'.
  • Girly Girl: Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Cousin Helen wears nightclothes that has been altered to look pretty and carries around various beautiful knickknacks with her.
  • Graceful Ladies Like Purple: She's quite fond of the colour lilac, and a lot of her outfits feature it.
  • Inspirationally Disadvantaged: Helen is so selfless that she not only insists that her fiancé find a healthier woman to marry following her accident, but she ends up helping to raise their daughter called 'Little Helen'. Her kind and loving nature despite being wheelchair bound are what inspires Katy to become a better person.
  • The Pollyanna: Quite overwhelmingly so, Helen is a sunny-natured disabled woman, kind and endlessly patient and beloved by those around her. Her positive outlook on life despite being an invalid is what helps Katy through the aftermath of her accident.
  • Stepford Smiler: Helen mentions that when she's in pain she forces herself to smile to cover it up so those around her won't worry.

Characters Introduced in What Katy Did at School

     Lilly Page 

Lilly Page

Second cousin to the Carr children, Lilly is a spoilt and self centred young woman who only cares about looking pretty and attracting boys. She's rude and dismissive to Katy and Clover on first meeting them, and only seems intrigued when they prove to be popular at school. While Lilly is interested in Ned Worthington, it's Katy that he falls in love with and eventually marries. Lilly ends up all but separated from her eventual husband, and spends her time travelling with her mother while he lives off her money.


  • Alpha Bitch: Lilly attempts to do this at the Nunnery boarding school, but it's implied that she's not well liked.
  • Attention Whore: Lilly loves to be the centre of attention, something that backfires hideously when she tries to make Ned jealous by ignoring him and dancing with all manner of other men while at a gathering together. Ned simply walks off with Katy instead, which is when he realises that he's in love with her.
  • Awful Wedded Life: Is very unhappily married to someone who just wanted her for her money.
  • Brainless Beauty: Is stated to be very beautiful, but that her mind is empty.
    Her mind was as empty, her heart as untouched as ever; the beauty and the glory and the pathos of art and history and Nature had been poured out in vain before her closed and indifferent eyes.
  • Did Not Get the Guy: Was romantically linked to Ned Worthington before he met Katy and fell in love with her instead. It didn't help that Lilly ended up accidentally insulting Ned's beloved sister and niece.
  • Drama Queen: Is prone to bursting into tears or throwing a tantrum at the drop of a hat.
  • Entitled to Have You: Feels this way towards Ned, simply because Lilly met him first.
  • Fair-Weather Friend: Lilly only acts friendly to Katy and Clover when they end up becoming popular at Hillsover and later is only kind to Mrs Ashe and Amy because she wishes to be intimate with Ned.
  • Gold Digger: Ends up married to one.
  • Hidden Depths: For how spoilt she is, Lilly is incredibly polite and well mannered, even if it's only to make a good impression while out in public.
  • It's All About Me: Is very self-centred and rarely cares for anyone outside of herself unless they're the “right” kind of person. She even gets jealous when Ned dares to spend time with his sister and niece instead of her.
  • Lazy Husband: She ends up married to one of these, who is content to live off Lilly and her family's money.
  • Never Gets Fat: Has a hearty appetite and a love of waffles yet remains slender. Most likely because she only indulges very occasionally as a young teenager and most likely never when she's older.
  • Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense: Comes from a very wealthy family but isn't known for being all that bright, to the extent she ends up married to someone who only wanted her for her money.
  • Spoiled Brat: Is incredibly spoiled by her mother, and can be quite rude to those she deems as being beneath her.
  • Sweet Tooth: Loves waffles drenched in syrup and peaches.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Waffles and she simply devours them whenever she's allowed to, much to Katy and Clover's initial surprise.

     Clarence Page 

Clarence Page

Second cousin to the Carr children and the younger brother of Lily. Clarence starts out as a troubled and argumentative boy who can't do anything right according to his family, but meeting Clover inspires him to become more of a gentleman. While he confesses his love for Clover, she gently turns him down as she doesn't feel the same way. Clarence eventually meets and falls in love with Elsie instead, who he then later marries and has children with.


  • Character Development: Changes from a somewhat spoilt and rude child into a kinder and more thoughtful young man due to Clover expressing what it truly means to be a gentleman, to be gentle. However he never truly loses his quick temper or his blunt way of speaking, he's just much better at handling it.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Isn't afraid to state his true feelings in a very blunt and sarcastic manner.
  • Did Not Get the Girl: Fell in love with Clover, but she gently turned him down as she was in love with someone else.
  • Fiery Redhead: Described as having 'russet' hair and certainly has quite the temper when provoked.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: When he's younger, due to being largely ignored by his parents, but even Clarence at his worst is kind to his dog. He grows out of this as an adult for the most part, though he can still be awkward from time to time, but remains a kind man at his core.
  • Kissing Cousins: Ends up marrying his second cousin, Elsie.
  • Lonely Rich Kid: Even his own family seem to look down on him. It's little wonder he becomes so attached to Clover.
  • Pet the Dog: Clarence's love for the scruffy stray dog that he took in shows that he's not as bad as he first appears.
  • Settle for Sibling: When Clover turns him down, Clarence instead takes a liking to Elsie. However it does seem to be quite genuine on Clarence's part.
  • Spoiled Brat: Starts out like this, but unlike his older sister, he learns to grow out of it. Not that he doesn't have the occasional outburst as an adult.
  • The Un-Favourite: His mother clearly prefers Lilly over him, and his father seems distant to him at best. It's little wonder why Clarence acts out when he's younger.

     Rose Red 

Rose Red

A mischievous student at Hillsover who ends up becoming close friends with Clover. Rose Red is bright and quick-witted and forever getting herself into trouble at school. Despite that, Rose Red is very kind to those she considers friends and is quick to stand up for those she felt has been wronged. Ends up getting married and having a daughter of her own, and continues to stay in touch with Katy and Clover.


  • Alliterative Name: Both her true name Rosamond Redding and her nickname, Rose Red.
  • Beware the Silly Ones: She might be playful and mischievous but Rose Red will protect those close to her and can be sharp and witty with those who cross her.
  • Blatant Lies: Rose's autograph book that is filled with well wishes from royalty and various important sounding people. Katy is the only who suspects that there's something strange about it all and Rose admits that she made them all up to get one over on Lilly, who was bragging about her own autograph book. Rose mischievously adds that she was tempted to put in a quote from David after slaying Goliath but she was worried that people wouldn't buy it.
  • Brilliant, but Lazy: Is highly intelligent and quick-witted but would rather get into mischief while at school and is only there to have a good time.
  • Brutal Honesty: Only towards Lilly, whom Rose Red tolerates at best. She's especially dismissive of her tears and shallow attempts to suck up to those with a higher social standing.
  • Childhood Friends: Claims to be with this with the young male students in the college next to their boarding school, which is why she keeps smiling and waving at them. Chances are she's not being entirely truthful.
  • Chubby Mama, Skinny Papa: It's implied that Rose Red has gotten a little plump since her school days, in a letter to Katy she describes herself as 'fatsome' while her husband is 'tall and stalwart'.
  • City Mouse: Despairs on living on the outskirts of the city as there's a branch that knocks against the window when it's windy and she can only imagine that it's a burglar coming to kidnap her daughter. Eventually coaxes her husband to move into the centre of the city where she's much happier.
  • Doting Parent: To Little Rose.
  • Drama Queen: A light hearted version, Rose Red only ever acts dramatically to try and make people laugh. Such as fanning herself on hearing that Katy and Clover intend to behave themselves while at school.
  • Good Parent: Is noted to be especially wonderful with her daughter Little Rose, who is sweet and incredibly intelligent for her age.
  • Hidden Depths: Playful and mischievous but also very kind and incredibly smart beneath it all.
  • Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: States that when Katy comes to visit that her husband Deniston and herself will appear as 'tall and stalwart and short and fatsome' respectively.
  • Large Ham: Rose Red manages to be both dramatic in the way that she speaks and even in the way that she writes.
  • Once A Book: First appears in What Katy Did at School and then is visited by Katy in What Katy Did Next, appears at Katy's wedding in Clover and eventually comes out to see Clover, Elsie and their families in In The High Valley.
  • Only Known by Their Nickname: Her full name is Rosamond Redding but everyone calls her Rose Red.
  • Sweet Tooth: Much to her eventual downfall, Rose Red orders so much candy after Mrs Nipson takes over the school and only feeds the students a strange sort of batter-based pudding, that she eventually grows sick of it and begs for her friends to only talk about sour things.
  • Wacky Parent, Serious Child: Is the wacky parent to her very solemn daughter Little Rose.

     Mary Silver 

Mary Silver

A very shy student at Hillsover and best friends with Rose Red. Mary doesn't speak a lot, but she's kind and endlessly loyal to her friends.


  • Character Tics: Has a habit of giggling nervously and then covering her mouth with her fingers. Apparently she even does this at her own wedding, until her husband takes her hands in his.
  • Desperately Needs Orders: While playing a writing game with her friends, a distressed Mary says that she doesn't know what to write. Someone tells her to just write anything, so Mary promptly writes 'anything'.
  • Extreme Doormat: Mary seems pretty content to let people decide what she does and never stands up for herself.
  • Happily Married: Rose Red assures Katy and Clover via letter that Mary's husband-to-be seems very kind and that she'll be happier with him than she was her own family.
  • The Quiet One: Is the quietest of the girls at Hillsover and remains that way into her adult years.
  • Shrinking Violet: Mary is shy and barely manages to speak a word when first introduced. Katy is a first bewildered why she is the roommate of the vivacious, uninhibited Rose Red, until she sees how well their personalities complement each other.
    Rose liked to protect and Mary to be protected; Rose to talk and Mary to listen.

     Mrs Florence 

Mrs Florence

The headmistress of Hillsover a stern and handsome woman who ensures that her students behave like proper young ladies. While she's known for being fair, she's less so during Katy and Clover's time with her, though it's eventually revealed it's because she's planning on leaving to get married.


  • Cool Teacher: Apparently was this in previous years at Hillsover and only recently has become strict and almost uncaring towards her students as she's leaving them.
  • Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Is notable for how tall and handsome she is.
  • Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Switches between being kind and cold to her students, due in part to the fact she's planning on leaving the school.
  • Stern Teacher: Really does want the best for the girls she looks after, even if she has to be strict with them.

     Mrs Nipson 

Mrs Marianne Nipson

The assistant principal at Hillsover and eventually takes over the school when Mrs Florence leaves to get married. She isn't popular as she clearly struggles to run the school as efficiently as her predecessor.


  • Always Second Best: Mrs Florence was a much more popular principal, to the extent that several scholars leave when Mrs Nipson takes over and there are far less new girls the following term.
  • Defrosting Ice Queen: Gradually becomes friendlier to Katy and Clover, especially when she no longer suspects they were the ones behind the letters being sent to the male college students.
  • Icy Gray Eyes: Known for her steely grey eyes and is an incredibly stern person.
  • Lethal Chef: By proxy; she gets it into her head that young people don't need meat during the warmer weather and so forces the students to eat a batter-based pudding every single day instead, much to their distress.
  • Pet the Dog: Suggests that Katy deserves to know the reason why she and Clover were forced to change rooms.

     Miss Jane 

Miss Jane Bangs

Mrs Florence's niece who teaches at Hillsover and is known for spying on the students to try and get them into trouble. She's engaged to a missionary and many of the students wish that he'd return and marry her so she would leave the school.


  • Defrosting Ice Queen: Very briefly when she falls ill, though she returns to her strict nature once she's well. However she does have a soft spot for both Katy and Clover after her illness.
  • Sadist Teacher: Miss Jane is fond of creeping around the dormitories to try and get the girls into trouble and is incredibly cruel to Katy when she thinks that she had sent a letter to one of the college boys. While a slightly softer side of her is shown when she falls sick, the author reassures us that she's back to normal once she's better.

Characters introduced in What Katy Did Next

     Mrs Ashe 

Mrs Ashe

One of Dr Carr's patients who ends up becoming a family friend. Mrs Ashe asks Katy to accompany her on a trip across Europe so she can help to look after Amy. A wealthy widow who eventually spends her time travelling.


  • Extreme Doormat: As a lonely widow, struggles to stand up for herself when confronted; the much younger Katy has to step in to help on more than one occasion. It's implied she does learn from her journey with Katy, as Mrs Ashe is content to travel Europe with just Amy when she's a teenager.
  • Naïve Newcomer: Is hopeless during their trip to Europe and relies on the much younger Katy to take charge. However it's implied that Mrs Ashe eventually develops a taste for travelling and eventually continues to do so with Amy, presumably now knowing how to do so without help.
  • Nervous Wreck: In the aftermath of her nephew falling ill, she's desperately worried that Amy might fall sick herself. She also longs to travel throughout Europe but is too anxious to do it alone, which is why she asks Katy for help.
  • Parental Neglect: Unintentionally towards Amy by spoiling her; she's left with an eight year old who acts like a four year old who is endlessly rude and demanding.
  • Pushover Parent: Unless it happens off screen, Mrs Ashe never thinks to scold Amy for the rude comments she makes about non-Americans, and we never see Amy getting any sort of punishment for her bratty behaviour during the trip to Europe.
  • Shipper on Deck: Not-so-subtly suggests to Ned that he should be interested in a wonderful girl like Katy rather than the shallow Lily.

     Amy Ashe 

Amy Ashe

Mrs Ashe's beloved daughter. Spoilt and incredibly childish for her age, Amy is enchanted by Katy and her entire family, having no siblings of her own. Amy is known for treating her dolls like her children when she's younger.


  • Brutal Honesty: Isn't afraid to say what she likes and is never reprimanded for it either.
  • Disappeared Dad: Presumably her father passed away when she was very young as she never mentions him and is instead very close to her mother.
  • Everyone Loves Blondes: Amy looks almost exactly like Alice from Alice in Wonderland with long and straight blond hair and she's beloved by almost everyone who meets her.
  • Freudian Excuse: Her awful behaviour could be explained by her father dying when she was young, although none of the Carr siblings are nearly as rude despite losing their mother. Though she admittedly does grow up to be quite polite and sweet.
  • Girly Girl: Very fond of dressing nicely and playing with her dolls.
  • Girls Love Dolls: Has a vast collection of unique dolls that she refers to as her children and goes so far as to teach them French and the other lessons she learns in school. She also punishes them if they're naughty.
  • Innocently Insensitive: Is quite sheltered which would explain why she's so rude to people who are different to her as a child, but evidently grows out of this when she's older.
  • Insistent Terminology: They're not dolls they're her children and it hurts their feelings if you call them otherwise.
  • It's All About Me: Incredibly self-centred as a child and demands attention all of the time.
  • Karma Houdini: Is never scolded or punished for her tantrums by her mother or Katy.
  • Lack of Empathy: Screeches at her mother when she becomes too ill to take care of her during the initial voyage to England and never really seems to understand that poor Mrs Ashe was too ill to even move.
  • The Load: Becomes this during the trip to Europe; everything is catered to her and her excessive demands in mind, and an entire month is spent taking care of her when she falls ill. The trip is eventually cut short by almost half a year when Mrs Ashe decides they should go home to help Amy recover.
  • Lonely Doll Girl: As an only child, it's implied Amy was this before she grew close to the Carr family.
  • Mirror Character: To Lilly; they're both spoilt rich girls who act younger than they are, who are enabled by their mothers and who are rude to those outside of their immediate social circle. Amy, however, is a lot younger than Lilly, and she does eventually grow out of her spoilt ways, while Lilly remains spoilt into her adult years. Additionally, Amy adores Katy, while Lilly strongly dislikes her.
  • Out of Focus: Is only briefly mentioned after Katy's wedding, she travels around the country with her mother and is apparently quite the pretty young lady.
  • Politically Incorrect Hero: Doesn't like the English and loudly proclaims this whenever she gets the chance to. That said, she is a rather spoilt and sheltered child at the time, and seems quite embarrassed about her behaviour when she's older.
  • Spoiled Brat: Amy is very spoilt and self-centred, though the others find this endearing.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: Started out as quite spoilt but becomes increasingly ruder during her trip throughout Europe, insulting people and looking down on them for being different. Leading to...
  • Took a Level in Kindness: Is actually quite the sweet and cheerful young woman when she reaches her teens and even appears to be embarrassed when reminded of her past behaviour.

     Ned Worthington 

Ned Worthington

Mrs Ashe's younger brother, a lieutenant in the navy. A kind and charming young man who falls in love with Katy on seeing how sweet she is. They eventually get married.


  • Badass Bookworm: A naval officer who also has a great appreciation for literature; he names one of Amy's dolls Effie Deans after the character in The Heart Of Midlothian by Sir Walter Scott and another Mopsa the Fairy from Mopsa The Fairy by Jean Ingelow.
  • Cool Uncle: To Amy, who absolutely adores her uncle Ned because he always takes the time to play with her whenever he can.
  • Good-Looking Privates: Is said to be incredibly handsome, even more so in his naval uniform.
  • Hidden Depths: Ned is quite a good artist.
  • Long-Distance Relationship: With Katy, as his role as Lieutenant of the United States Navy sees him away from home for months at a time.
  • Love Letter: Sends them to Katy when he's away along with little gifts, though of course, we aren't privy to such sensitive contents.
  • Nice Guy: What attracts Katy to him; Ned is unfailingly kind towards his sister and Amy and is a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
  • The Nicknamer: Was the one who named some of Amy's dolls for her, including Ragazza, Effie Deans, Mopsa the Fairy and Peg of Linkinvaddy.
    Amy: Yes; Uncle Ned named them. He's a very funny uncle, but he's nice. He's always so much interested in my children.
  • Officer and a Gentleman: Ned being kind and gentlemanly is what attracts Katy to him initially, though she is aware of how good looking he is as well.
  • Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Described as such when Katy first meets him;
    Somebody was waiting for them at the Hotel des Anglais,—a tall, bronzed, good-looking somebody in uniform, with pleasant brown eyes beaming from beneath a gold-banded cap.
  • What Beautiful Eyes!: With Katy being the point-of-view character for most of What Katy Did Next, she's the one who notes that Ned has 'pleasant' brown eyes.

Characters Introduced in Clover

     Mrs Watson 

Mrs Watson

An old woman who is supposed to help Clover look after Phil during the trip to Colorado, but a miscommunication sees her demanding that Clover looks after her too. Well meaning but completely unable to take care of herself.


  • Establishing Character Moment: On meeting Clover for the first time, Mrs Watson has no idea what train she needs to catch or what to do with her luggage, assuming that someone will just do it for her as that's how it's always happened. A slight hint to the burden she'll become to Clover and Phil.
  • Grumpy Old Woman: She's always complaining about something and can't even appreciate the beauty of Colorado because of her disgruntled mood.
  • Motor Mouth: Has a habit of rambling on without stopping, barely allowing anyone else to get a word in.
  • Old Windbag: Can talk for hours and rambles from one subject to the next that it's genuinely hard to follow her train of thought.
  • Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!:
    • She immediately decides that Phil isn't ill in the slightest and demands that Clover looks after her instead.
    • When it looks as if the gentleman renting the room that she wants is growing sicker, Mrs Watson openly states that she can take his room when he dies.
    • She snubs Clover when she understandably dedicates her time to looking after Phil and when she wants to spend time with people her own age.
  • Scatterbrained Senior: Is both hopeless at taking care of herself and tends to talk about complete nonsense. Clover even notes that she needs to keep her mind sharp so not to end up like Mrs Watson when she's older.
  • Spanner in the Works: Initially asked to travel with Clover and Phil so she could help them, but it turns out Mrs Watson is completely useless and was expecting them to take care of her instead. Katy even notes that Clover's task of looking after Phil and travelling with him has been made all the more unpleasant because of Mrs Watson.
  • Taking Advantage of Generosity: Takes Clover's assistance for granted and proceeds to grow even more dependant on her throughout their time in Colorado.

     Geoffrey Templestowe 

Geoffrey Templestowe

An Englishman who works at the cattle ranch with Clarence. Knowing for being quite the gentleman despite the roughness of his work and quickly becomes fond of Clover and eventually marries her.


  • Establishing Character Moment: The first time he and Clover are alone together, he talks about his family, showing that he cares for them just as much as Clover cares for hers, which she finds very admirable.
  • Dark and Troubled Past: Is haunted by the recent loss of his sister.
  • Gentle Giant: Tall and broad-shouldered, but incredibly gentle-natured.
  • Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Noted for being tall while Clover is mistaken for being younger than she is due to how small she is.
  • In-Series Nickname: Often called Geoff rather than Geoffrey.
  • Nice Guy: A kind and thoughtful man who is content to help others without expecting anything in return.

Characters Introduced in In the High Valley

     Imogen Young 

Imogen Young

A young woman from England who is forced to travel to Colorado to act as a housekeeper for her brother, Lionel. Understandably standoffish due to her situation, Imogen takes a while to warm up to her new living situation and her role in life. Eventually marries Dorry and moves to the city with him.


  • Affectionate Nickname: Lionel calls her Moggy.
  • Aggressive Categorism: Deems all Americans as being rude, loud and thoroughly unpleasant, to the extent she's astonished to learn that the kind and polite Mrs Ashe that she's been talking to is actually American.
  • British Teeth: Her front teeth are described as sticking out too much.
  • Friendless Background: Only really had one friend while growing up, Isobel, who in turn had many more friends who she was closer to than Imogen. It's a large part of why Imogen dislikes Clover so much, who makes friends effortlessly.
  • Green-Eyed Monster: Is jealous of Clover for being naturally pretty, kind and well loved by all who meet her; especially when she becomes close friends with Imogen's only friend Isobel. Eventually, Imogen confesses this to her in a feverish haze and gradually gets over it after Clover takes care of her during her illness.
  • Hidden Depths: When Amy expresses a wish to visit the High Valley, Imogen immediately offers to let her stay with her despite this having been their first meeting.
  • Impossibly Tacky Clothes: Imogen tends to dress for practicality rather than beauty, and is hopeless at matching accessories to her outdated dresses. It's often stated that she would be prettier if she dressed better.
  • Jerkass Has a Point: She might be rude about it, but Imogen has every right to be upset when she struggles to fit in with the Carr family because they don't respect her own heritage and tease her when she initially attempts to adapt to their way of life.
  • Super Gullible: Completely believes Miss Opdyke's stories about Cowboys and Indians in New York of all places.

     Lionel Young 

Lionel Young

Travels out to Colorado from England for work, taking his sister with him as he has no wife to take care of him. Lionel is good natured and naturally thrives in his new environment and eventually marries Johnnie and ends up joining the Carr family.


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