Dr. Duncan Childers - Handsome, vital - the illegitimate son of a Southern aristocrat and a Creole beauty, who wanted everything a successful surgeon could have, especially women.
Hester - his beautiful, rich, amoral wife, whose deceits were as clever as they were depraved.
Calico - the torrid child-woman who took pleasure in destroying love.
Jenny - the yielding, compassionate nurse who was willing to wait a lifetime for the man she could never forget.
A5