Daphne was working as an ambulance driver during the Blitz in England, but a heart condition required her to stay away from such excitement. She is a high-spirited, good-natured girl, who is shocked by the race prejudice shown by the English in India. She tires of their shallow entertainments and finds herself attracted to a young Indian, Hari Kumar, who went to Chillingborough, just like her brother did. Indeed, unlike most of the English in Mayapore, Hari seems to be of the same social class as Daphne and they seem to have more in common with each other than anyone else.