elfride swancourt a young lady
christopher swancourt a clergyman
stephen smith an architect
henry knight a reviewer and essayist
charlotte troyton a rich widow
gertrude jethway a poor widow
spenser hugo luxellian a peer
lady luxellian his wife
mary and kate two little girls
william worm a dazed factotum
john smith a master-mason
jane smith his wife
martin cannister a sexton
unity a maid-servant
other servants, masons, labourers, grooms, nondescripts, etc., etc.
the scene
mostly on the outskirts of lower wessex.