* The Burnell children:
* Kezia: The youngest Burnell child, a sweet and perceptive girl who is the protagonist of the story. She is the one who receives the dollhouse and shares it with the Kelveys.
* Isabel: The middle Burnell child, who is older and more judgmental than Kezia.
* Little brother: The youngest Burnell boy, who is not given a name in the story.
* The Kelvey children:
* Else: The older Kelvey girl, who is timid and shy.
* Lena: The younger Kelvey girl, who is more confident but also deeply affected by the Burnell children's rejection.
* Their mother: A woman who is ostracized by the community and seemingly unable to give her children much support.
The story also features Mrs. Hay, a neighbor who also ostracizes the Kelvey children.
While the Burnell children are the more central characters, the story explores the impact of their actions, especially the rejection of the Kelvey girls, on the Kelvey children themselves.