Katey is a sharp, observant woman in her mid-twenties living in a New York City boardinghouse. The daughter of a Russian immigrant, she works in the secretarial pool at the law firm Quiggin & Hale. She is well-read, favoring Thoreau's *Walden* and Agatha Christie novels, and possesses a pragmatic ambition to improve her social standing. Her keen eye for detail helps her assess the wealthy elite she increasingly encounters.

Eve is a gorgeous, confident blonde from Indiana who shares a room with Katey at Mrs. Martingale’s boardinghouse. Despite having a wealthy father who secured her a job at Pembroke Press, she refuses his financial help, preferring to make her own way in New York. She is bold and occasionally demanding, quickly claiming Tinker's attention for herself and setting up a complex dynamic between the three friends.

Tinker is a 28-year-old Wall Street banker who projects an image of effortless wealth and refinement. He carries a distinctive gold lighter engraved with his initials and a crude date marking, a detail that catches Katey's eye. Despite his polished exterior, he exhibits a quiet shyness and is quick to form a close bond with both Katey and Eve, drawing them into his affluent world.

Wallace is an old-money bachelor who attended the St. George's boarding school with Tinker. Unlike many of his affluent peers, he is unpretentious, favoring moth-eaten sweaters and run-down shooting clubs over flashy displays of wealth. He treats everyone from servants to high-society friends with equal respect, quickly forming an easy, comfortable friendship with Katey.

Anne is an older, sophisticated, and independently wealthy woman who introduces herself as Tinker's godmother. She carries herself with extreme confidence and effortless grace, rarely bothering with societal conventions that restrict other women. Her presence noticeably affects Tinker's usually charismatic demeanor, shifting him into a more sullen, adolescent state.

Hank is Tinker’s older brother, a fiercely independent artist who lives in a state of self-imposed poverty. He paints rough, working-class scenes imitating the style of Stuart Davis. He holds strict opinions on art and life, intensely resenting his brother's polished lifestyle and the wealthy circles Tinker runs in.

Dicky is a charming, hyperactive young man who seemingly knows everyone in New York's white, wealthy elite. Though he appears aimless and constantly in motion—even making paper airplanes to pass the time—he is observant and genuinely kind. He quickly takes a romantic interest in Katey, providing her access to exclusive parties and high-society events.

Mason is the direct and demanding editor of the newly formed *Gotham* magazine. He expects brutal efficiency from his staff, openly planning to overwork his two assistants and fire one of them later. He possesses a sharp eye for photography and social critique, aiming to dismantle the complacency of New York society through his publication.

Bitsy is a forward and somewhat tomboyish woman from Wallace's social circle. Having grown up tagging along with Wallace and her own brother, she speaks her mind freely and encourages Katey to take the initiative in her romantic life.

Alley is a highly intelligent, pragmatic woman who wears glasses and quickly assesses the demanding environment at *Gotham* magazine. Rather than competing with Katey, she proposes they work together to make themselves entirely indispensable to their ruthless boss.

Mr. Ross is Eve's wealthy father from the Midwest. He wants to protect his daughter and provide for her, even attempting to give her and her friends money, but he struggles against her fierce determination to remain independent in the city.

Fran is a brusque, straightforward woman from Mrs. Martingale’s boardinghouse. Her father owns a trucking business, and she sets her sights purposefully on a rough-around-the-edges man named Grubb, pursuing him with total confidence.

Nathaniel is a senior fiction editor at Pembroke Press who loves Russian literature with near-religious zeal. Though somewhat past his prime in the publishing world, he is impressed by Katey and offers her a secretarial job.

Susie is a wealthy young woman working at the press who does not actually need the paycheck. She inadvertently introduces Katey to a much higher echelon of New York society by inviting her into her affluent social circle.

Charlotte is an earnest new typist at the law firm who makes the mistake of working at maximum capacity on her first day. She inadvertently sets an impossible standard for herself, earning less money by working harder, which serves as a cautionary tale for Katey.