Christina Goering

Christina Goering is one of the main characters of the novel. When she is a child, the narrator refers to her as Christina. Once she is a grown woman, the narrator refers to her as Miss Goering. As a girl, Christina is disliked by everyone her age. She is constantly preoccupied with her rich inner life, and particularly obsessive about thoughts concerning religion. Despite how little she cares for the attention of others, Christina longs to play with her sister Sophie's friend Mary. When they do play, Christina leads her in lopsided games involving sinning and baptism.

When Miss Goering is a young woman, she continues living in the house where she grew up, a property she inherited from her mother. When her old governess’s cousin, Miss Gamelon, comes to visit, Miss Goering invites her to move in with her. Miss Goering does not like Miss...