The novel's main character. Portrayed as infallibly good and angelic, she is devoted to her grandfather as he is to her. She leads her grandfather on their journey to save them from misery, and is protective of him on their wanderings. Worn out by emotional and physical strain, Little Nell gradually becomes weaker throughout the journey. Although she finally finds a home with the help of the schoolmaster, she does not recover and dies in a cottage before her friends in London find her