Dionis Dencey Coffyn

Dionis "Dencey" Coffyn is a young Quaker girl living in Nantucket in the early 1800s. The behaviors and traditions of the time are clearly reflected in Dencey's demeanor and actions.

As a Quaker girl, Dencey is required to behave as her parents tell her, which means not disobeying any of the laws of the house or church. Dencey does not believe fully in the tenets of the Church and often acts not out of piety, but out of respect and fear of judgment and punishment.

Dencey begins to war with her faith even more after meeting Sammie Jetsam. Sammie is an outcast, a half Indian that lives with an alcoholic known as Injun Jill. It is not clear what the relationship is between Sammie and Jill - if they are related or if Injun Jill took Sammie in because he was orphaned. Dencey truly notices Jetsam...