Nicholas
Nicholas is the story's protagonist. A mischievous young boy who lives with his brother, cousins, and his cousins' aunt, Nicholas uses his intelligence to outsmart his aunt and undermine her authority. Allowing her to believe he is going to try to get into the gooseberry garden, Nicholas unlocks the lumber room and marvels at the delicate objects his aunt hides from the childrens' view.
The Aunt
The aunt is Nicholas's antagonist. Although she acts as though she is Nicholas's aunt, she is actually the aunt of his cousins. The aunt has a combative relationship with Nicholas, whom she expects to cause mischief.
Bobby
Bobby is Nicholas's younger brother. He has an unpleasant day at the beach because his boots are tied too tight and his aunt wouldn't listen when he tried to ask that she loosen them.
The Kitchen Maid
The kitchen maid makes a brief appearance in the story to rescue the aunt from the water tank she is trapped in.
Nicholas's Cousins
Nicholas's unnamed cousins—a boy and a girl—go to the beach with Bobby. When the tide is too high to play on the sand flats, the cousins have a bad time at the beach and return home miserable.
