!and
no
doubt
has
a
pretty
little
bit
of
money
into
the
bargain
—
I
respect
your
taste
,
Cavendish
,
"
said
the
friendly
critic
,
with
effusion
;
and
somehow
this
applause
irritated
its
recipient
more
than
all
that
had
gone
before
.
"
I
am
sure
I
am
much
obliged
to
you
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
,
"
though
,
unfortunately
,
I
do
n't
merit
your
approbation
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
is
a
great
friend
of
mine
,
but
she
would
n't
have
me
,
and
I
do
n't
mean
to
ask
her
.
At
the
same
time
,
she
has
very
good
connections
;
and
that
is
not
the
way
to
talk
of
a
girl
of
twenty
.
She
is
worth
a
dozen
of
your
fast
young
ladies
,
"
said
the
sufferer
,
with
some
heat
.
He
was
not
in
the
least
in
love
with
Lucilla
,
and
indeed
had
a
certain
dread
of
her
at
this
present
moment
;
but
he
could
not
forget
that
she
had
once
stood
by
him
in
his
need
—
and
,
besides
,
he
was
glad
of
any
subject
on
which
he
could
contradict
his
visitor
.
"
I
dare
say
her
family
is
better
than
either
yours
or
mine
.
Scotch
,
you
know
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
,
trying
to
laugh
.
As
for
the
General
,
he
leaned
back
on
his
chair
with
an
indulgent
air
,
and
stroked
his
mustache
.
"
Beg
your
pardon
—
meant
no
offence
,
"
he
said
.
"
For
my
part
,
I
do
n't
see
that
it
matters
,
if
a
woman
is
good-looking
and
has
something
,
you
know
.
For
instance
,
there
was
a
pretty
little
thing
—
a
charming
little
thing
—
Lake
,
or
something
like
that
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
.
It
was
a
frightful
want
of
self-control
;
but
he
had
been
a
long
time
at
full
strain
,
and
he
could
not
help
it
.
It
did
not
occur
to
him
,
for
the
moment
,
that
nobody
in
his
senses
would
have
applied
the
term
"
little
thing
"
to
Barbara
;
and
,
after
all
the
slow
aggravation
that
he
had
been
submitting
to
,
the
idea
of
this
insolent
soldier
interfering
in
Grove
Street
was
beyond
his
power
of
endurance
.
As
for
the
General
,
the
tone
of
this
exclamation
was
such
that
he
too
turned
round
on
his
chair
,
and
said
,
"
Yes
?
"
with
equally
unmistakable
meaning
,
startled
,
but
ready
for
the
emergency
,
whatever
it
might
be
.
Thus
the
two
looked
at
each
other
for
a
second
,
friends
in
the
ordinary
acceptation
of
the
word
,
and
yet
,
perhaps
,
on
the
eve
of
becoming
enemies
.
Mr
Cavendish
had
,
up
to
that
moment
,
pretty
nearly
forgotten
Barbara
Lake
.
It
was
a
piquant
sort
of
occupation
when
he
had
nothing
else
to
do
,
and
when
the
world
,
according
to
his
morbid
fancy
,
was
on
the
eve
of
turning
its
back
upon
him
—
but
from
the
moment
when
he
had
said
between
his
teeth
"
Confound
these
women
!
"
and
had
felt
the
excitement
of
the
approaching
crisis
,
Barbara
,
and
her
crimson
cheeks
,
and
her
level
eyebrows
,
and
her
contralto
,
had
gone
altogether
out
of
his
mind
.
At
the
same
time
,
it
is
quite
true
that
a
man
may
feel
himself
at
liberty
to
forget
a
woman
when
other
matters
of
more
immediate
interest
are
absorbing
his
attention
,
and
yet
be
driven
furious
by
the
idea
suddenly
presented
to
him
that
somebody
else
,
who
has
nothing
earthly
to
do
with
it
,
is
about
to
interfere
.
Mr
Cavendish
,
however
,
recovered
himself
while
the
General
sat
staring
at
him
,
and
began
to
see
how
ridiculous
his
defiance
was
.
"
Well
?
—
go
on
.
I
did
not
say
anything
,
"
he
said
,
and
lighted
another
cigar
.
Yet
he
did
not
face
his
companion
as
a
friendly
listener
should
,
but
began
to
beat
measure
to
an
irritating
imaginary
air
on
the
table
,
with
a
certain
savage
energy
by
moments
,
as
if
he
were
beating
time
on
the
General
's
head
.
"
Then
why
do
you
stop
a
fellow
short
like
that
?
"
said
General
Travers
;
"
I
was
going
to
tell
you
of
some
one
I
saw
the
other
day
in
the
house
of
your
—
your
friend
,
you
know
.
She
was
under
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
wing
,
that
was
how
I
saw
her
—
and
I
hope
you
are
not
playing
the
gay
deceiver
,
my
friend
;
—
a
little
thing
,
round-faced
,
hazel-eyed
—
a
little
soft
rosebud
sort
of
creature
,
"
said
the
General
,
growing
eloquent
.
"
By
Jove
!
Cavendish
,
I
hope
you
do
n't
mean
to
make
yourself
disagreeable
.
These
sort
of
looks
,
you
know
—
—
"
"
It
was
Rose
,
I
suppose
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
,
relieved
in
a
moment
;
and
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
he
could
not
help
laughing
.
The
more
eloquent
and
angry
the
General
grew
,
the
more
amused
and
contemptuous
grew
his
entertainer
.
He
was
so
tickled
by
the
position
of
affairs
,
that
he
actually
forgot
his
anxieties
for
the
moment
.
"
No
doubt
it
was
Rose
,
"
he
repeated
,
and
laughed
;
Rose
!
what
anybody
could
see
in
that
little
dragon
!
And
then
the
contrast
between
the
soldier
,
who
prided
himself
on
his
knowledge
of
the
world
,
and
liked
to
talk
of
his
family
and
position
,
to
the
annoyance
of
those
who
had
none
,
and
the
amusement
of
those
who
happen
to
possess
these
valuable
qualifications
—
and
the
mistress
of
the
Female
School
of
Design
,
filled
Mr
Cavendish
with
amusement
:
perhaps
all
the
more
because
he
himself
was
in
a
similar
scrape
.
As
for
General
Travers
,
he
was
as
much
disposed
to
be
angry
as
,
a
moment
before
,
Mr
Cavendish
had
been
.
"
It
might
be
Rose
,
"
he
said
,
"
or
Lily
either
,
for
anything
I
can
tell
;
but
there
is
nothing
laughable
in
it
that
I
can
see
.
You
seem
to
be
perfectly
au
courant
,
at
all
events
—
which
I
hope
is
quite
satisfactory
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
said
the
soldier
;
and
then
he
resumed
,
after
a
disagreeable
little
pause
,
"
they
tell
me
that
everybody
meets
at
the
Doctor
's
on
Thursdays
.
I
suppose
I
shall
see
you
there
.
Thursday
,
ai
n't
it
?
to-morrow
?
"
He
looked
as
he
spoke
,
with
what
seemed
to
his
victim
an
insulting
consciousness
,
in
poor
Cavendish
's
face
.
But
,
in
reality
,
the
General
did
not
mean
to
be
insulting
,
and
knew
nothing
whatever
of
the
horrible
internal
pang
which
rent
his
companion
when
it
was
thus
recalled
to
him
that
it
was
to-morrow
—
a
fact
which
,
up
to
this
moment
,
had
not
occurred
to
the
unfortunate
.
To-morrow
;
and
not
even
to-morrow
—
to-day
—
for
by
this
time
it
was
two
o'clock
in
the
morning
,
and
the
unwelcome
intruder
was
wasting
the
little
time
he
had
for
deciding
what
he
should
do
.
Once
more
his
own
personal
anxieties
,
which
he
had
put
aside
for
a
moment
at
the
sudden
dictate
of
jealousy
,
surged
over
everything
,
and
swallowed
up
all
lesser
sensations
.
To-morrow
!
—
and
by
this
time
everybody
knew
that
he
was
in
Carlingford
,
and
he
could
not
stay
away
from
the
weekly
assembly
without
attracting
general
attention
to
himself
,
and
throwing
open
the
flood-gates
of
suspicion
.
What
was
he
to
do
?
should
he
turn
his
back
on
the
enemy
once
for
all
,
and
run
away
and
break
off
his
connection
with
Carlingford
?
or
should
he
dare
everything
and
face
the
Archdeacon
,
and
put
his
trust
in
Lucilla
,
as
that
high-minded
young
woman
had
invited
him
to
do
?
With
these
thoughts
in
his
mind
,
it
may
be
supposed
that
Mr
Cavendish
gave
but
a
very
mingled
attention
to
the
babble
of
his
visitor
,
who
found
the
wine
and
the
cigars
so
good
,
and
perhaps
had
begun
to
be
a
little
moved
out
of
his
ordinary
lucidity
by
their
effect
.
"
You
've
got
a
nice
little
house
,
Cavendish
,
"
said
the
General
,
"
but
it
's
too
small
for
a
married
man
,
my
boy
.
These
women
are
the
very
deuce
for
turning
a
man
out
of
his
comfortable
quarters
.
You
'll
have
to
go
in
for
boudoirs
and
those
sort
of
things
;
and
,
by
George
!
you
'll
be
an
ass
if
you
do
,
with
a
snug
little
box
like
this
to
retire
into
,
"
said
the
philosophical
warrior
;
and
poor
Cavendish
smiled
a
ghastly
smile
,
with
the
strongest
inclination
all
the
time
to
take
him
by
the
collar
and
turn
him
out
of
doors
.
But
then
he
was
a
warrior
and
a
general
officer
,
and
a
member
of
the
same
club
,
and
six
feet
high
—
all
which
particulars
,
not
to
speak
of
the
sacred
rights
of
hospitality
,
made
it
somewhat
difficult
to
carry
this
idea
out
.
"
Do
n't
you
think
Centum
will
be
sitting
up
for
you
?
"
he
said
mildly
;
"
it
's
past
two
o'clock
;
and
it
's
Thursday
morning
,
"
the
victim
added
,
with
a
sigh
.
The
last
words
were
an
involuntary
utterance
of
his
own
despair
,
but
fortunately
they
struck
General
Travers
's
vein
of
humour
,
which
happened
to
be
lively
at
the
moment
,
and
worked
the
desired
but
unexpected
result
.
The
General
laughed
loud
and
long
,
and
declared
that
he
respected
a
man
who
was
above-board
,
and
meant
to
look
respectable
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
sake
;
and
then
he
poured
a
mighty
libation
to
Lucilla
,
and
took
an
affectionate
leave
of
her
supposed
lover
.
The
General
made
a
great
commotion
in
the
decorous
quiet
of
Grange
Lane
when
he
knocked
at
Mr
Centum
's
door
.
Though
it
was
nearly
three
o'clock
in
the
morning
,
nothing
but
his
inherent
dread
of
a
woman
would
have
prevented
him
from
knocking
up
the
banker
to
share
his
hilarity
;
but
Mrs
Centum
,
in
her
nightcap
,
peaceably
asleep
as
she
was
at
the
moment
,
daunted
the
soul
of
the
gallant
soldier
;
and
naturally
his
recollection
was
not
very
perfect
next
day
.
"
I
had
something
very
funny
to
tell
you
;
but
,
by
Jove
!
I
forget
what
it
was
!
"
General
Travers
said
next
morning
when
he
met
his
host
at
breakfast
;
and
thus
one
bad
joke
at
least
was
spared
.
But
Mr
Cavendish
shut
his
door
upon
his
departing
guest
,
without
any
sense
,
poor
fellow
,
of
having
done
or
said
anything
in
the
least
funny
.
He
said
,
"
Thank
Heaven
!
"
with
a
kind
of
groan
of
relief
when
his
troublesome
visitor
was
gone
.
And
then
he
went
back
again
into
his
library
,
where
they
had
been
sitting
.
Perhaps
he
had
never
fully
appreciated
before
the
comfort
of
everything
,
the
handsome
house
which
he
had
enjoyed
so
long
without
thinking
anything
of
it
,
and
all
the
pleasant
luxurious
accessories
of
life
.
He
had
been
doing
without
them
for
a
week
or
two
,
and
he
had
not
liked
it
;
and
yet
at
that
moment
it
seemed
to
Mr
Cavendish
that
he
could
rather
be
content
to
lose
them
all
at
a
stroke
,
to
make
it
known
in
Carlingford
that
he
was
ruined
and
had
lost
his
fortune
,
than
that
Carlingford
should
find
out
that
he
was
not
,
after
all
,
one
of
the
Cavendishes
,
nor
the
person
it
took
him
for
.
But
,
alas
!
all
his
fortune
could
not
bring
reality
to
these
pretensions
,
nor
hinder
the
exposure
to
which
he
looked
forward
with
such
horror
.
It
is
true
that
he
was
an
adventurer
,
but
he
was
not
a
base
one
;
nor
had
he
done
anything
dishonourable
either
to
gain
his
fortune
or
to
captivate
the
good
opinion
of
society
,
which
had
become
so
important
to
him
.
But
there
are
actual
crimes
that
would
be
sooner
forgiven
to
a
man
than
the
folly
of
having
permitted
himself
to
be
considered
one
of
the
Cavendishes
,
and
having
set
his
heart
on
making
a
figure
in
that
mild
provincial
world
.
Mr
Cavendish
knew
enough
of
human
nature
to
know
that
a
duchess
or
a
lord-chamberlain
would
forgive
more
readily
than
Mr
and
Mrs
Centum
any
such
imposition
upon
them
,
and
intrusion
into
their
exclusive
circle
.
And
then
his
sister
,
who
could
not
run
away
!
For
her
sake
it
seemed
to
him
that
he
had
better
rush
off
at
once
,
and
sell
his
house
and
furniture
and
horses
,
and
give
up
Carlingford
.
As
he
thought
of
that
,
all
the
advantages
of
Carlingford
came
upon
him
stronger
than
ever
.
Perhaps
a
man
who
has
always
been
used
to
be
recognised
as
one
of
the
members
of
a
local
aristocracy
,
would
not
have
seen
anything
half
so
precious
as
Mr
Cavendish
saw
in
the
fact
of
being
everywhere
known
and
acknowledged
as
a
constituent
part
of
Grange
Lane
;
—
recognised
by
the
county
people
,
and
by
the
poor
people
,
and
pointed
out
as
he
passed
by
one
and
another
to
any
stranger
who
might
happen
to
be
so
ignorant
as
not
to
know
Mr
Cavendish
.
To
people
who
are
not
used
to
it
,
there
is
a
charm
in
this
universal
acknowledgment
.
And
then
he
had
more
need
of
it
than
most
men
have
;
and
,
when
Carlingford
signed
his
patent
of
gentility
,
and
acknowledged
and
prized
him
,
it
did
an
infinite
deal
more
than
it
had
any
intention
of
doing
.
To
keep
its
regard
and
recognition
he
would
have
done
anything
,
given
up
the
half
or
three
parts
,
or
even
,
on
emergency
,
all
he
had
.
Perhaps
he
had
an
undue
confidence
in
the
magnanimity
of
society
,
and
was
too
sure
that
in
such
a
case
it
would
behave
with
a
grandeur
worthy
of
the
occasion
;
but
still
he
was
quite
right
in
thinking
that
it
could
forgive
the
loss
of
his
fortune
sooner
than
his
real
offence
.
And
now
it
was
Thursday
morning
,
the
day
upon
which
he
must
either
fight
or
flee
.
He
too
had
laughed
at
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
evenings
in
his
time
,
and
thought
of
Thursday
lightly
as
Lucilla
's
day
;
but
there
was
nothing
in
the
least
amusing
in
the
prospect
of
that
assembly
now
.
When
a
man
has
thoughts
like
these
to
entertain
him
,
nothing
can
be
more
useless
than
to
go
to
bed
,
although
in
ordinary
circumstances
,
at
three
o'clock
in
the
morning
,
that
is
about
the
only
thing
one
can
do
.
Poor
Mr
Cavendish
,
however
,
was
not
quite
free
to
act
as
he
thought
proper
.
He
had
been
a
long
time
away
from
home
,
and
he
did
not
feel
himself
in
a
position
to
shock
his
servants
'
feelings
with
impunity
.
He
went
to
his
room
,
accordingly
,
like
a
martyr
,
carrying
all
his
difficulties
with
him
,
and
these
unpleasant
companions
naturally
made
a
night
of
it
when
they
had
him
all
to
themselves
.
When
sheer
fatigue
and
exhaustion
procured
him
a
moment
's
sleep
,
it
was
only
getting
deeper
and
deeper
into
trouble
:
for
then
it
was
the
Archdeacon
who
had
planted
a
heavy
foot
on
his
neck
,
or
General
Travers
,
who
,
with
still
more
fatal
force
,
had
found
out
the
way
to
Grove
Street
.
When
Mr
Cavendish
awoke
,
he
said
to
himself
,
"
Confound
these
women
!
"
with
more
fervour
than
ever
;
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
he
swore
a
mighty
oath
to
himself
that
he
would
horsewhip
the
fellow
who
ventured
to
come
in
his
way
.
Barbara
Lake
might
be
no
great
things
,
but
at
least
it
was
to
him
,
and
no
one
else
,
that
she
belonged
.
Such
was
the
complication
that
afforded
him
a
little
outlet
for
his
temper
in
the
midst
of
the
dreadful
difficulties
of
his
position
,
and
the
question
which
was
constantly
renewing
itself
in
his
thoughts
,
as
to
whether
he
should
go
or
stay
.
The
idea
of
presenting
himself
in
the
centre
of
society
in
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
drawing-room
,
and
being
met
by
the
Archdeacon
,
and
held
up
to
public
contempt
there
and
then
,
with
all
the
world
looking
on
,
and
even
Travers
,
who
would
carry
the
narrative
out
of
Carlingford
,
was
something
too
horrible
to
be
contemplated
;
and
yet
how
was
he
to
escape
?
He
was
still
in
this
state
of
mind
,
driven
backwards
and
forwards
by
every
new
wind
,
when
the
morning
came
,
and
when
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
note
was
put
into
his
hand
.
For
the
truth
was
,
that
,
after
long
consideration
,
Lucilla
had
determined
that
the
matter
was
one
which
could
not
be
permitted
to
stand
over
.
She
was
of
too
energetic
a
temperament
to
let
things
linger
on
in
an
uncertain
way
when
they
could
be
made
an
end
of
,
and
brought
to
a
conclusion
;
and
then
,
as
nobody
can
predict
what
sudden
and
unexpected
turn
human
affairs
may
take
,
it
was
always
possible
that
,
if
Miss
Marjoribanks
did
not
make
an
end
of
the
business
dramatically
,
and
to
the
satisfaction
of
everybody
concerned
,
it
might
be
found
some
fine
day
to
have
resolved
itself
by
means
of
some
one
of
those
illegitimate
and
incomplete
expedients
which
abound
in
ordinary
life
.
It
was
with
this
view
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
took
the
step
of
writing
to
Mr
Cavendish
.
She
had
written
in
the
sacred
retirement
of
her
own
maiden
chamber
,
when
all
the
world
was
still
;
perhaps
at
the
moment
when
General
Travers
was
,
as
he
would
himself
have
vulgarly
called
it
,
"
chaffing
"
Cavendish
about
the
beautiful
and
disinterested
friendship
which
united
him
to
the
young
sovereign
of
Grange
Lane
.
But
naturally
such
poor
raillery
was
far
from
the
virginal
thoughts
of
Lucilla
at
that
retired
and
sacred
hour
;
and
we
may
venture
to
add
that
the
elevating
influence
of
the
maiden
's
bower
in
which
she
composed
it
,
and
of
that
tranquil
moment
of
meditation
and
solitude
,
breathed
in
every
line
,
and
gave
force
to
every
sentiment
of
the
letter
which
Mr
Cavendish
tore
open
with
an
excited
hand
.
Perhaps
he
was
too
anxious
and
curious
to
give
it
the
solemn
perusal
which
it
ought
to
have
received
.
"
My
dear
Mr
Cavendish
,
—
It
was
very
unlucky
that
we
should
have
been
interrupted
this
evening
at
such
an
important
moment
,
when
I
had
so
much
to
say
to
you
.
But
I
think
the
best
thing
I
can
do
is
to
write
,
feeling
quite
sure
that
when
you
know
all
,
you
cannot
possibly
mistake
my
motives
.
Everybody
has
retired
,
and
I
am
quite
alone
,
and
the
silence
[
2
]
seems
to
me
full
of
meaning
when
I
think
that
the
fate
of
a
person
for
whom
I
have
so
great
a
regard
may
be
hanging
upon
it
.
I
might
be
afraid
of
writing
to
you
so
frankly
,
if
I
did
not
feel
quite
sure
that
you
would
appreciate
my
intention
.
"
Dear
Mr
Cavendish
,
it
is
not
the
Archdeacon
who
has
said
anything
.
He
does
not
know
it
is
you
;
therefore
,
of
course
,
he
could
not
say
anything
directly
bearing
upon
you
.
But
then
,
you
know
,
if
he
were
to
meet
you
by
hazard
,
as
he
is
sure
to
do
some
day
—
and
for
my
part
I
rather
think
he
is
fond
of
Grove
Street
—
you
would
be
exposed
at
once
,
and
everything
would
be
lost
,
for
we
all
know
the
prejudices
that
exist
in
Carlingford
.
I
have
another
plan
of
operations
to
propose
to
you
,
which
I
feel
quite
sure
is
for
your
good
,
and
also
naturally
for
the
good
of
anybody
to
whom
you
may
intend
to
unite
your
fortunes
.
I
feel
quite
sure
that
it
is
far
safer
to
adopt
a
bold
resolution
,
and
to
have
it
over
at
once
.
Come
to
dinner
to-morrow
.
If
you
may
happen
to
find
an
enemy
,
you
will
find
also
an
unlooked-for
friend
;
and
,
so
far
as
I
am
concerned
,
you
know
that
you
may
calculate
on
my
support
.
I
do
not
wonder
at
your
being
anxious
about
it
;
but
if
you
will
only
have
full
confidence
in
me
and
a
little
in
yourself
,
believe
me
it
will
be
all
over
in
a
night
.
If
there
had
ever
been
anything
between
you
and
me
,
as
these
stupid
people
suppose
,
I
might
have
felt
hesitation
in
writing
to
you
like
this
;
but
when
I
know
a
thing
to
be
right
,
I
hope
I
will
never
be
afraid
to
do
it
.
I
have
been
called
upon
to
do
many
things
that
are
not
common
for
girls
of
my
age
,
and
perhaps
that
is
why
I
made
up
my
mind
at
once
to
set
this
all
straight
for
you
.
Once
more
I
repeat
,
dear
Mr
Cavendish
,
have
confidence
in
me
.
Come
to-morrow
evening
as
if
nothing
had
happened
;
and
take
my
word
for
it
that
all
will
go
well
.
—
Your
friend
,
"
Lucilla
Marjoribanks
.
"
P.S.
—
If
you
would
like
to
come
and
talk
it
over
with
me
to-morrow
,
I
shall
be
at
home
till
twelve
o'clock
;
but
unless
it
will
be
a
satisfaction
to
your
own
mind
,
it
is
not
necessary
for
me
,
for
I
have
all
my
plans
laid
.
"
It
would
be
quite
out
of
the
question
to
attempt
any
explanation
of
Mr
Cavendish
's
feelings
when
he
read
this
letter
.
His
utter
bewilderment
,
his
terror
,
his
rage
,
his
final
helpless
sense
that
it
would
be
utterly
hopeless
for
him
,
or
half
a
dozen
men
,
to
enter
the
field
against
this
curious
complication
of
unknown
friends
and
open
enemies
and
generous
protectors
,
took
away
from
him
the
last
remnant
of
courage
.
He
did
not
know
what
to
do
or
to
think
.
He
swallowed
his
coffee
with
a
sense
of
despair
,
and
sent
the
rest
of
his
breakfast
away
untasted
;
thus
betraying
,
without
intending
it
,
his
emotions
to
his
kitchen
.
"
It
stands
to
reason
as
there
's
a
cause
for
it
,
"
Mr
Cavendish
's
domestics
concluded
in
committee
of
the
whole
house
;
and
surely
,
if
ever
man
had
good
reason
for
not
eating
his
breakfast
,
it
was
he
.
When
he
had
gone
over
it
all
again
till
his
head
had
grown
utterly
confused
and
his
thoughts
were
all
topsy-turvy
,
Mr
Cavendish
took
a
sudden
resolution
.
He
went
upstairs
and
changed
his
dress
with
a
certain
solemnity
.
He
made
a
toilette
more
careful
than
if
he
were
going
,
as
he
once
had
gone
,
to
propose
.
It
was
like
Nelson
going
into
gala
uniform
for
a
battle
.
And
then
he
went
out
to
discover
,
if
possible
,
what
was
coming
to
him
.
The
difference
was
,
that
in
this
battle
no
honour
,
but
only
a
possible
salvage
of
reputation
and
fortunate
escape
,
was
to
be
gained
.
Chapter
XXX
It
is
possible
that
some
people
may
think
Mr
Cavendish
's
emotions
too
acute
for
all
the
danger
to
which
he
was
exposed
;
but
no
doubt
every
alarm
gets
intensified
when
a
man
broods
on
it
,
and
thinks
of
nothing
else
for
weeks
at
a
time
.
All
that
he
had
to
do
at
the
present
moment
was
to
walk
into
Carlingford
by
the
most
frequented
way
,
and
to
go
up
Grange
Lane
,
where
every
house
was
open
to
him
,
and
where
nobody
was
so
great
a
favourite
as
he
.
There
were
as
many
chances
in
his
favour
that
he
would
not
in
that
friendly
neighbourhood
encounter
his
one
enemy
,
as
there
is
for
every
man
who
goes
into
action
that
the
bullet
which
is
predestined
to
strike
somebody
will
not
be
directed
to
him
;
but
then
Mr
Cavendish
had
not
the
excitement
of
personal
conflict
,
nor
the
kind
of
security
which
is
given
by
sharing
a
risk
with
a
great
many
other
people
.
And
to
see
everything
smiling
and
serene
around
,
and
yet
to
know
that
the
most
deadly
danger
may
arrive
to
you
at
any
innocent
opening
,
or
round
the
first
street-corner
,
is
a
kind
of
risk
which
naturally
tells
upon
the
nerves
more
than
a
more
open
peril
.
Mr
Cavendish
met
Dr
Marjoribanks
,
and
the
Doctor
was
good
enough
to
stop
his
brougham
and
keep
him
in
conversation
for
five
minutes
with
his
back
to
the
foe
,
if
foe
there
was
approaching
;
and
then
he
met
Mrs
Chiley
,
who
all
but
kissed
him
,
and
was
so
glad
to
see
him
again
,
and
so
pleased
that
he
was
in
time
to
make
acquaintance
with
the
Archdeacon
,
and
so
sure
that
Lucilla
would
be
quite
happy
now
he
had
come
back
.
"
Perhaps
I
ought
not
to
say
so
,
but
I
know
she
has
missed
you
,
"
said
the
injudicious
old
lady
;
and
she
took
both
his
hands
and
held
the
miserable
man
in
a
kind
of
pillory
,
from
whence
he
gazed
with
despairing
eyes
over
her
shoulder
,
feeling
sure
that
now
was
the
fatal
moment
,
and
that
his
enemy
must
be
coming
.
But
fortune
still
favoured
him
,
as
it
happened
.
He
had
the
presence
of
mind
to
say
,
"
I
am
going
to
call
on
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
and
Mrs
Chiley
dropped
his
hands
on
the
instant
as
if
they
burned
her
,
and
patted
him
on
the
arm
and
sent
him
away
.
"
She
is
sure
to
be
in
just
now
,
and
I
am
so
glad
;
and
,
my
dear
,
you
need
not
mind
me
,
for
I
am
both
your
friends
,
"
Mrs
Chiley
said
.
But
when
he
was
delivered
from
that
danger
,
something
still
more
formidable
awaited
the
unfortunate
man
.
He
could
not
believe
his
eyes
at
first
,
nor
conceive
it
possible
that
Fate
would
have
such
a
spite
against
him
;
but
there
was
no
mistaking
the
crumpled
dress
,
any
more
than
the
straight
eyebrows
and
flashing
oblique
glances
that
had
already
found
him
out
.
Of
all
the
horrible
chances
in
the
world
,
it
was
Barbara
—
Barbara
,
who
had
a
right
to
think
he
had
deserted
her
on
the
previous
night
,
and
with
whom
his
next
interview
could
not
be
otherwise
than
stormy
—
who
thus
appeared
like
a
lion
in
his
way
.
When
he
saw
what
awaited
him
,
Mr
Cavendish
lost
courage
.
His
heart
sank
down
into
unfathomable
depths
.
He
did
not
know
what
he
could
say
to
her
to
shorten
the
inevitable
interview
,
nor
how
he
could
escape
,
nor
how
hinder
her
from
discovering
that
it
was
Lucilla
he
was
going
to
see
;
and
he
had
no
longer
any
doubt
in
his
mind
that
while
he
was
thus
engaged
the
Archdeacon
must
inevitably
appear
.
If
he
had
had
time
to
think
of
ordinary
subjects
,
he
would
have
been
sufficiently
annoyed
at
the
idea
of
an
interview
with
Barbara
in
broad
daylight
on
the
sacred
soil
of
Grange
Lane
,
where
all
the
world
could
or
might
be
spectators
;
but
such
a
merely
prudential
sentiment
was
entirely
swallowed
up
to-day
in
much
more
urgent
considerations
.
He
would
have
been
content
just
now
,
in
the
horror
of
the
moment
,
to
plight
his
troth
to
Barbara
by
way
of
getting
rid
of
her
,
and
leaving
his
path
clear
;
but
he
could
not
stop
her
or
himself
from
advancing
,
and
dared
not
give
any
vent
to
the
panic
which
was
consuming
his
soul
.
"
Oh
,
I
am
sure
I
never
thought
of
seeing
you
here
,
Mr
Cavendish
,
"
said
Barbara
,
with
a
toss
of
her
head
.
She
would
have
done
a
great
deal
to
secure
her
wavering
lover
,
but
she
could
not
be
amiable
at
a
moment
when
she
had
him
at
a
disadvantage
.
"
Perhaps
you
are
going
to
see
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
said
the
foolish
young
woman
.
To
tell
the
truth
,
she
did
not
suspect
him
of
any
such
treachery
;
but
her
heart
was
beating
louder
than
usual
,
and
she
had
the
best
position
of
the
two
,
or
thought
she
had
,
and
chose
what
she
supposed
the
most
aggravating
thing
to
say
.
But
it
is
always
hard
to
tell
what
a
man
may
do
when
he
is
in
a
state
of
despair
.
Mr
Cavendish
looked
her
in
the
face
with
the
composure
of
desperation
,
though
she
did
not
know
that
.
All
that
he
was
able
to
think
of
was
how
to
get
rid
of
her
soonest
,
and
to
be
able
to
continue
his
way
.
"
Yes
,
I
am
going
to
see
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
he
said
,
with
a
face
which
extremity
rendered
stolid
and
impassible
.
As
for
poor
Barbara
,
her
colour
changed
in
a
moment
.
The
very
least
that
she
had
a
right
to
expect
was
that
he
should
have
asked
her
pardon
,
put
himself
at
her
feet
;
and
her
mingled
spite
and
humiliation
and
mortification
at
this
response
were
beyond
telling
.
Her
cheeks
blazed
with
sudden
rage
,
her
passion
was
so
furious
that
she
actually
did
what
he
wanted
and
stood
out
of
his
way
,
and
made
him
an
imperious
sign
to
pass
on
and
leave
her
.
But
even
then
she
did
not
expect
to
be
taken
at
her
word
.
When
Mr
Cavendish
took
off
his
hat
in
that
heartless
way
and
passed
on
,
Barbara
stood
aghast
,
not
able
to
believe
her
senses
.
Had
he
really
passed
and
left
her
,
she
who
had
done
so
much
for
him
?
Had
he
actually
gone
over
to
her
adversary
before
her
very
eyes
?
She
stood
stock-still
when
he
left
her
,
gazing
after
him
,
blazing
with
rage
and
despite
,
and
scarcely
able
to
keep
herself
from
shrieking
out
the
torrent
of
reproaches
and
vituperations
that
were
in
her
mind
.
She
made
no
attempt
whatever
to
hide
her
wrath
or
jealous
curiosity
from
any
eyes
that
might
be
there
to
see
;
but
to
be
sure
she
had
,
as
her
sister
said
,
no
proper
pride
.
If
Mr
Cavendish
had
carried
out
his
intentions
,
the
chances
are
that
Barbara
,
driven
desperate
,
would
have
rushed
after
him
,
and
found
some
means
of
breaking
in
upon
his
interview
with
Lucilla
;
but
after
all
this
badgering
,
he
had
not
the
courage
to
carry
out
his
intentions
.
He
looked
down
the
long
sunshiny
line
of
Grange
Lane
with
a
sickening
sense
that
any
of
these
doors
might
open
at
any
moment
,
and
his
fate
rush
out
upon
him
.
There
was
not
a
soul
to
be
seen
,
but
that
only
made
it
all
the
more
likely
to
poor
Mr
Cavendish
's
distempered
fancy
that
somebody
was
coming
.
He
had
not
even
a
single
thought
at
leisure
to
give
to
Barbara
,
and
never
asked
himself
whether
or
not
she
was
standing
watching
him
.
All
his
senses
and
faculties
were
engaged
forecasting
what
might
happen
to
him
before
he
could
reach
Dr
Marjoribanks
's
house
.
He
was
approaching
it
from
the
lower
end
of
Grange
Lane
,
and
consequently
had
everything
to
risk
;
and
when
Mr
Centum
's
door
opened
,
and
all
the
nurses
and
all
the
children
poured
out
,
the
unfortunate
man
felt
his
heart
jump
,
and
drop
again
,
if
possible
,
lower
than
ever
.
It
was
this
that
drove
him
,
instead
of
going
on
to
Lucilla
,
to
take
refuge
in
his
sister
's
house
,
where
the
door
happened
to
be
open
.
He
rushed
in
there
,
and
took
breath
,
and
was
safe
for
the
instant
.
But
Barbara
,
for
her
part
,
watching
him
,
divined
none
of
Mr
Cavendish
's
reasons
.
Her
heart
too
gave
a
jump
,
and
her
wrath
cooled
down
miraculously
.
No
doubt
it
was
a
little
impatience
at
being
questioned
which
had
made
him
answer
as
he
did
.
He
had
not
gone
to
Lucilla
—
he
had
not
deserted
her
standard
,
who
had
always
met
him
half-way
,
and
done
so
much
for
him
.
Barbara
calmed
down
as
she
saw
him
enter
at
Mrs
Woodburn
's
door
.
After
having
thus
witnessed
his
safe
exit
,
she
felt
at
liberty
to
go
back
and
return
to
her
own
affairs
,
and
prepare
her
toilette
for
the
evening
;
for
it
moved
her
very
little
less
than
Mr
Cavendish
to
know
that
it
was
Thursday
,
and
that
there
was
no
telling
what
might
happen
that
night
.
As
for
the
hero
of
all
this
commotion
,
he
went
and
buried
himself
in
Mrs
Woodburn
's
back
drawing-room
,
and
threw
himself
on
the
sofa
in
the
dark
corner
,
and
wiped
his
forehead
like
the
Archdeacon
.
It
was
not
his
fault
if
events
had
overwhelmed
him
.
If
he
had
not
met
in
succession
Dr
Marjoribanks
and
Mrs
Chiley
and
Barbara
,
he
would
have
gone
right
to
Lucilla
without
stopping
to
question
himself
further
—
but
he
could
not
bear
all
this
accumulation
.
Panic
had
seized
upon
him
,
and
this
panic
wrought
more
effectually
than
all
argument
.
It
was
so
terrible
to
live
under
such
a
shadow
,
that
he
felt
it
must
be
put
an
end
to
.
If
only
he
were
left
at
rest
for
this
moment
,
he
felt
that
he
could
make
up
his
mind
to
take
the
perilous
leap
at
night
,
and
dare
everything
.
"
It
ca
n't
be
worse
than
ruin
,
"
he
said
to
himself
,
and
tried
not
to
think
that
for
his
sister
it
might
be
something
even
worse
than
ruin
.
But
the
first
thing
of
all
was
to
get
a
little
rest
in
the
meantime
,
and
hide
himself
,
and
forget
the
nightmare
that
was
seated
on
his
shoulders
.
When
Mrs
Woodburn
came
to
him
in
haste
,
and
saw
his
careful
dress
and
pale
looks
,
she
was
frightened
for
the
moment
.
She
thought
it
possible
for
one
second
that
despair
had
driven
him
out
of
his
wits
,
and
that
there
might
be
,
for
anything
she
could
tell
,
a
little
bottle
of
prussic
acid
in
his
waistcoat
pocket
.
That
was
her
first
idea
,
and
her
second
was
that
he
was
going
to
carry
out
at
last
his
most
wise
and
laudable
resolution
of
proposing
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
and
that
it
was
this
—
naturally
a
serious
and
hazardous
enterprise
—
which
made
him
look
so
pale
.
"
Harry
,
if
you
are
going
to
Lucilla
—
—
!
"
said
Mrs
Woodburn
;
"
wait
and
rest
yourself
a
little
,
and
I
will
get
you
a
glass
of
wine
.
Keep
still
;
there
's
some
Tokay
,
"
said
the
anxious
sister
.
"
Do
n't
you
go
and
worry
yourself
.
You
shall
see
nobody
.
I
'll
bring
it
you
with
my
own
hand
.
"
"
Oh
,
confound
the
Tokay
!
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
.
"
I
know
what
Woodburn
's
Tokay
is
—
if
that
mattered
.
Look
here
,
I
want
to
speak
to
you
.
I
was
going
to
Lucilla
,
but
I
'm
not
up
to
it
.
Oh
,
not
in
the
way
you
think
!
Do
n't
be
a
fool
like
everybody
.
I
tell
you
she
would
n't
have
me
,
and
I
wo
n't
ask
her
.
Read
this
,
which
is
much
more
to
the
purpose
,
"
Mr
Cavendish
added
,
taking
out
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
letter
.
He
watched
her
,
while
she
read
it
,
with
that
sense
of
contempt
and
superiority
which
a
man
naturally
feels
who
has
advanced
much
beyond
the
point
in
any
special
matter
at
which
his
interlocutor
is
still
stationary
.
He
even
smiled
at
her
cry
of
horror
and
amazement
,
and
found
the
agitation
she
showed
ridiculous
.
"
Do
n't
make
a
row
about
it
,
"
he
said
,
regaining
his
colour
as
his
sister
lost
hers
.
"
It
's
all
right
.
I
ca
n't
ask
Lucilla
Marjoribanks
to
have
me
after
that
,
but
I
mean
to
put
my
trust
in
her
,
as
she
says
.
I
was
going
to
ask
her
to
explain
;
but
after
all
,
on
thinking
of
it
,
I
do
n't
see
the
good
of
explanations
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
,
with
lofty
tranquillity
.
"
The
fact
is
,
she
is
right
,
Nelly
,
and
,
stand
or
fall
,
we
'll
have
it
out
to-night
.
"
But
Mrs
Woodburn
was
scarcely
in
a
condition
to
reply
,
much
less
to
give
any
advice
.
"
Oh
,
good
heavens
!
what
does
she
know
?
"
cried
the
trembling
woman
.
"
What
do
you
suppose
she
can
know
?
She
gave
me
a
dreadful
fright
,
coming
and
asking
about
you
and
your
name
.
And
then
she
never
was
a
great
friend
of
mine
—
and
if
she
should
say
anything
to
Woodburn
!
Oh
,
Harry
,
go
away
,
go
away
,
and
do
n't
face
her
.
You
know
you
slighted
her
,
and
she
is
laying
a
snare
for
us
.
Oh
,
Harry
,
go
away
!
She
ca
n't
do
you
much
harm
,
but
she
could
ruin
me
,
and
any
little
peace
I
have
!
Woodburn
would
never
—
never
forgive
—
he
would
be
frantic
,
you
know
.
It
has
always
been
he
that
made
a
fuss
about
the
Cavendishes
—
and
,
good
heavens
!
to
be
in
a
girl
's
power
,
and
she
one
that
you
have
slighted
,
Harry
!
Oh
,
for
Heaven
's
sake
,
for
pity
's
sake
,
if
you
care
anything
for
me
—
—
"
"
Hold
your
tongue
,
Nelly
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
.
"
Do
n't
make
a
row
.
What
on
earth
is
the
use
of
Heaven's-saking
?
I
tell
you
I
am
going
to
make
an
end
of
it
.
If
I
were
to
run
away
now
,
it
would
turn
up
again
at
some
other
corner
,
and
some
other
moment
.
Give
me
a
pen
and
a
bit
of
paper
.
I
will
write
a
note
,
and
say
I
am
coming
.
I
do
n't
want
any
explanations
.
If
it
's
all
a
mistake
,
so
much
the
better
;
but
I
'm
going
to
face
it
out
to-night
.
"
It
was
some
time
before
Mrs
Woodburn
recovered
her
senses
;
but
in
the
meantime
her
brother
wrote
Lucilla
his
note
,
and
in
sight
of
his
sister
's
agitation
felt
himself
perfectly
composed
and
serene
and
manful
.
It
even
made
him
complaisant
to
feel
the
difference
that
there
was
,
when
the
emergency
really
arrived
at
last
,
between
his
own
manly
calm
and
her
womanish
panic
.
But
then
it
was
for
herself
that
she
was
afraid
,
lest
her
husband
should
find
out
that
she
was
not
one
of
the
Cavendishes
.
"
You
must
have
been
giving
yourself
airs
on
the
subject
,
"
Mr
Cavendish
said
,
as
he
fastened
up
his
note
.
"
I
never
was
so
foolish
as
that
,
for
my
part
;
"
and
naturally
the
more
he
admired
his
own
steadiness
and
courage
,
the
steadier
and
more
courageous
he
grew
—
or
at
least
so
he
felt
for
the
moment
,
with
her
terror
before
his
eyes
.
"
If
you
do
go
,
"
said
Mrs
Woodburn
at
last
,
"
oh
,
Harry
,
for
goodness
'
sake
,
mind
that
you
deny
everything
.
If
you
confess
to
anything
,
it
will
all
be
proved
against
you
;
do
n't
allow
a
single
thing
that
's
said
to
you
.
It
is
a
mistaken
identity
,
you
know
—
that
is
what
it
is
;
there
was
a
case
in
the
papers
just
the
other
day
.
Oh
,
Harry
,
for
Heaven
's
sake
do
n't
be
weak
!
—
deny
everything
;
you
do
n't
know
anything
about
it
—
you
do
n't
know
what
they
mean
—
you
ca
n't
understand
—
—
"
"
It
is
I
that
have
to
do
it
,
Nelly
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
,
more
and
more
tranquil
and
superior
.
"
You
must
let
me
do
it
my
way
;
"
and
he
was
very
kind
and
reassuring
to
her
in
his
composure
.
This
was
how
things
ought
to
be
;
and
it
was
astonishing
how
much
he
gained
in
his
own
mind
and
estimation
by
Mrs
Woodburn
's
panic
.
Being
the
stronger
vessel
,
he
was
of
course
superior
to
all
that
.
But
somehow
when
he
had
got
back
to
his
own
house
again
,
and
had
no
longer
the
spectacle
of
his
sister
's
terror
before
him
,
the
courage
began
to
ooze
out
of
Mr
Cavendish
's
finger-points
;
he
tried
hard
to
stimulate
himself
up
to
the
same
point
,
and
to
regain
that
lofty
and
assured
position
;
but
as
the
evening
approached
,
matters
grew
rather
worse
than
better
.
He
did
not
turn
and
flee
,
because
flight
,
in
the
present
alarmed
and
touchy
state
of
public
opinion
,
would
have
equally
been
destruction
;
and
nobody
could
answer
for
it
how
far
,
if
he
failed
to
obey
her
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
discretion
might
go
.
And
thus
the
eventful
evening
fell
,
and
the
sun
went
down
,
which
was
to
Mr
Cavendish
as
if
it
might
be
the
last
sun
he
should
ever
(
metaphorically
)
see
—
while
,
in
the
meantime
,
all
the
other
people
dressed
for
dinner
as
if
nothing
was
going
to
happen
,
and
as
if
it
was
merely
a
Thursday
like
other
Thursdays
,
which
was
coming
to
Grange
Lane
.
Chapter
XXXI
Lucilla
waited
till
twelve
o'clock
,
as
she
had
said
,
for
Mr
Cavendish
's
visit
;
and
so
mingled
are
human
sentiments
,
even
in
the
mind
of
a
person
of
genius
,
that
there
is
no
doubt
she
was
at
once
a
little
disappointed
,
and
that
Mr
Cavendish
gained
largely
in
her
estimation
by
not
coming
.
Her
pity
began
to
be
mingled
by
a
certain
respect
,
of
which
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
he
was
not
worthy
;
but
then
Miss
Marjoribanks
did
not
know
that
it
was
circumstances
,
and
not
self-regard
,
or
any
sense
of
dignity
,
that
had
kept
him
back
.
With
the
truest
consideration
,
it
was
in
the
dining-room
that
Lucilla
had
placed
herself
to
await
his
visit
;
for
she
had
made
up
her
mind
that
he
should
not
be
disturbed
this
time
by
any
untimely
morning
caller
.
But
as
she
sat
at
the
window
and
looked
out
upon
the
garden
,
and
was
tantalised
by
fifty
successive
ringings
of
the
bell
,
none
of
which
heralded
her
expected
visitor
,
a
gentler
sentiment
gradually
grew
in
Lucilla
's
mind
.
Perhaps
it
would
not
be
just
to
call
it
positively
regret
;
but
yet
she
could
not
help
a
kind
of
impression
that
if
the
Archdeacon
had
never
come
to
Carlingford
,
and
if
Mr
Cavendish
had
never
been
so
weak
as
to
be
drawn
aside
by
Barbara
Lake
,
and
if
everything
had
gone
as
might
have
been
expected
from
first
appearances
—
that
,
on
the
whole
,
it
might
have
been
well
.
After
all
,
he
had
a
great
many
good
qualities
.
He
had
yielded
to
panic
for
the
moment
,
but
(
so
far
as
Lucilla
knew
)
he
was
now
girding
up
his
loins
to
meet
the
emergency
in
a
creditable
way
;
and
if
,
as
has
been
just
said
,
nothing
had
come
in
the
way
—
if
there
had
been
no
Archdeacon
,
no
Mrs
Mortimer
,
no
Barbara
—
if
Mr
Chiltern
had
died
,
as
was
to
have
been
expected
,
and
Mr
Cavendish
been
elected
for
Carlingford
—
then
Lucilla
could
not
help
a
momentary
sense
that
the
arrangement
altogether
might
have
been
a
not
undesirable
one
.
Now
,
of
course
,
all
that
was
at
an
end
.
By
dexterous
management
the
crisis
might
be
tided
over
,
and
the
worst
avoided
;
but
Lucilla
became
regretfully
conscious
that
now
no
fate
higher
than
Barbara
was
possible
for
the
unfortunate
man
who
might
once
,
and
with
hope
,
have
aspired
to
herself
.
It
was
very
sad
,
but
there
was
no
help
for
it
.
A
certain
tenderness
of
compassion
entered
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
bosom
as
she
realised
this
change
.
It
would
be
hard
if
a
woman
did
not
pity
a
man
thus
shut
out
by
hard
fate
from
any
possibility
of
ever
becoming
the
companion
of
her
existence
—
a
man
who
,
on
the
whole
,
had
many
capabilities
,
yet
whose
highest
fortune
in
life
could
not
mount
above
Barbara
Lake
!
This
thought
filled
Lucilla
's
heart
with
gentle
regret
.
It
was
sad
,
but
it
was
inevitable
;
and
when
Mr
Cavendish
's
note
was
brought
to
her
,
in
which
he
said
simply
,
and
very
briefly
,
that
though
not
sure
whether
he
understood
the
meaning
of
her
letter
,
he
should
certainly
do
himself
the
pleasure
of
accepting
as
usual
her
kind
invitation
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
regret
grew
more
and
more
profound
.
Such
a
man
,
who
had
been
capable
of
appreciating
herself
,
to
think
that
,
having
known
her
,
he
should
decline
upon
Barbara
!
The
pity
was
entirely
disinterested
,
for
nobody
knew
better
than
Lucilla
that
,
under
the
circumstances
,
no
other
arrangement
was
possible
.
He
might
marry
the
drawing-master
's
daughter
,
but
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
too
well
aware
of
her
duty
to
her
friends
,
and
to
her
position
in
society
,
to
have
given
her
consent
to
his
marriage
with
anybody
's
daughter
in
Grange
Lane
.
But
still
it
was
a
pity
—
nobody
could
say
that
it
was
not
a
pity
—
a
man
so
visibly
capable
of
better
things
.
Lucilla
,
however
,
could
not
afford
to
waste
her
morning
in
unprofitable
regrets
.
An
evening
so
critical
and
conclusive
had
to
be
provided
for
in
many
different
ways
.
Among
other
things
,
she
had
to
invite
,
or
rather
command
,
the
presence
of
a
guest
whom
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
she
had
no
particular
desire
to
see
.
The
Archdeacon
was
only
a
man
when
all
was
said
,
and
might
change
his
mind
like
other
men
;
and
to
bring
Mrs
Mortimer
to
Grange
Lane
in
the
evening
,
looking
interesting
,
as
,
to
be
sure
,
she
could
look
by
times
,
after
that
unpleasant
exhibition
of
Dr
Marjoribanks
's
feelings
,
was
naturally
a
trial
to
Lucilla
.
Mr
Beverley
had
drawn
back
once
before
,
and
that
when
Mrs
Mortimer
was
young
,
and
no
doubt
a
great
deal
more
attractive
than
at
present
;
and
now
that
she
was
a
widow
,
forlorn
and
faded
,
it
would
be
no
wonder
if
he
were
to
draw
back
,
especially
,
as
Lucilla
acknowledged
to
herself
,
when
he
saw
the
ancient
object
of
his
affections
in
her
own
society
,
and
among
all
the
fresh
young
faces
of
Grange
Lane
:
and
if
the
Archdeacon
should
draw
back
,
and
leave
the
field
open
,
and
perhaps
the
Doctor
,
who
ought
to
know
better
,
should
step
in
—
when
she
had
got
so
far
,
Lucilla
rose
up
and
shook
out
her
draperies
,
as
if
by
way
of
shaking
off
the
disagreeable
idea
.
"
At
all
events
I
have
to
do
my
duty
,
"
she
said
to
herself
.
And
thus
it
was
with
that
last
and
most
exquisite
refinement
of
well-doing
,
the
thought
that
she
might
possibly
be
going
to
harm
herself
in
benefiting
others
,
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
heroically
put
on
her
hat
,
and
issued
forth
in
the
dinner-hour
of
the
little
pupils
,
to
invite
her
last
and
most
important
guest
.
This
period
of
suspense
had
not
been
by
any
means
a
happy
or
comfortable
period
for
Mrs
Mortimer
.
The
poor
widow
was
living
in
a
constant
expectation
of
something
happening
,
whereas
her
only
true
policy
was
to
have
made
up
her
mind
that
nothing
would
ever
happen
,
and
shaped
herself
accordingly
to
her
life
.
Instead
of
eating
her
dinner
as
she
ought
to
have
done
at
that
hour
of
leisure
,
and
fortifying
herself
for
the
weary
afternoon
's
work
,
she
was
sitting
as
usual
at
the
window
when
Miss
Marjoribanks
came
to
the
door
.
And
if
it
was
a
tedious
business
looking
out
of
the
window
when
the
rain
was
drenching
the
four
walls
of
the
garden
and
breaking
down
the
flowers
,
and
reducing
all
the
poor
little
shrubs
to
abject
misery
,
it
could
not
be
said
to
be
much
more
cheerful
in
the
sunshine
,
when
pleasant
sounds
came
in
over
that
enclosure
—
voices
and
footsteps
of
people
who
might
be
called
alive
,
while
this
solitary
woman
was
buried
,
and
had
nothing
to
do
with
life
.
Such
a
fate
may
be
accepted
when
people
make
up
their
minds
to
it
;
but
when
,
so
far
from
making
up
one
's
mind
,
one
fixes
one
's
thoughts
upon
the
life
outside
,
and
fancies
that
every
moment
the
call
may
come
,
and
one
may
find
one
's
place
again
in
the
active
world
,
the
tedium
grows
more
and
more
insupportable
.
As
for
Lucilla
,
naturally
she
could
not
see
any
reason
why
Mrs
Mortimer
should
sit
at
the
window
—
why
she
could
not
content
herself
,
and
eat
her
dinner
instead
.
"
There
are
a
great
many
people
in
Carlingford
who
have
not
nearly
such
a
pleasant
lookout
,
"
Lucilla
said
;
"
for
my
part
,
I
think
it
is
a
very
pretty
garden
.
The
wistaria
has
grown
quite
nice
,
and
there
is
a
little
of
everything
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
and
,
so
far
as
that
went
,
she
was
no
doubt
the
best
judge
,
having
done
it
all
herself
.
"
Oh
,
yes
,
it
is
very
pretty
;
and
I
am
sure
I
am
very
grateful
to
Providence
for
giving
me
such
a
home
,
"
said
the
widow
;
but
she
sighed
,
poor
soul
,
as
she
said
it
:
for
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
though
she
was
not
so
young
as
she
once
was
,
it
takes
some
people
a
long
time
to
find
out
that
they
themselves
are
growing
old
,
and
have
done
with
life
.
And
then
outside
,
in
that
existence
which
she
could
hear
but
could
not
see
,
there
was
one
figure
which
was
wonderfully
interesting
to
poor
Mrs
Mortimer
;
which
is
a
complication
which
has
a
remarkable
effect
on
the
question
of
content
or
discontent
.
"
You
ought
to
take
a
walk
every
day
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
that
is
what
is
the
matter
with
you
;
but
,
in
the
meantime
,
there
is
something
else
I
want
you
to
do
.
This
is
Thursday
,
you
know
,
and
I
have
always
some
people
on
Thursday
.
It
is
not
a
party
—
it
is
only
an
Evening
—
and
no
dress
to
speak
of
.
Your
black
silk
will
look
quite
nice
,
and
be
all
that
is
necessary
.
Black
is
very
becoming
to
some
people
,
"
said
Lucilla
reflectively
.
She
looked
at
Mrs
Mortimer
with
her
head
a
little
on
one
side
,
and
saw
in
a
moment
,
with
the
rapid
glance
of
genius
,
just
what
she
wanted
.
"
And
some
lace
for
your
head
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
.
"
I
do
n't
think
you
have
gone
off
at
all
,
and
I
am
sure
you
will
look
very
nice
.
It
is
at
nine
o'clock
.
"
"
This
evening
,
Lucilla
!
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
,
faintly
:
"
but
you
know
I
never
go
out
—
I
am
not
fit
for
society
.
Oh
,
do
n't
ask
me
,
please
!
Since
poor
Edward
died
—
—
'
"
Yes
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
it
must
have
been
a
great
loss
,
I
am
sure
;
though
I
ca
n't
say
I
mind
going
into
a
room
alone
,
as
some
people
do
;
but
you
know
you
can
avoid
that
,
if
you
like
,
by
coming
early
.
Come
at
eight
,
and
there
will
be
nobody
in
the
drawing-room
,
and
you
can
choose
your
own
corner
.
Put
it
quite
back
—
at
the
back
of
your
head
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
a
little
anxiety
.
"
I
could
show
you
how
if
I
had
the
lace
.
I
do
so
want
you
to
look
nice
.
Oh
,
never
mind
the
fashion
.
When
one
has
a
style
of
one
's
own
,
it
is
always
twenty
times
better
.
Put
it
as
you
used
to
wear
it
before
you
were
married
;
and
then
,
with
that
nice
black
silk
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
do
n't
ask
me
,
"
said
the
widow
.
"
I
shall
not
know
how
to
talk
,
nor
look
,
nor
anything
;
and
then
I
know
nobody
;
and
then
—
—
"
"
My
dear
,
you
have
always
me
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
tender
reproach
.
"
I
am
so
sorry
I
ca
n't
stop
any
longer
.
I
leave
it
quite
to
your
own
taste
about
the
lace
.
And
you
will
find
people
you
know
,
you
may
be
quite
sure
of
that
.
Remember
,
not
later
than
nine
o'clock
;
and
come
at
eight
if
you
do
n't
like
to
come
into
the
room
by
yourself
.
Good-bye
now
.
I
want
you
to
look
very
nice
to-night
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
,
giving
her
friend
an
affectionate
kiss
;
"
you
must
,
for
my
sake
.
"
"
But
,
Lucilla
—
—
"
cried
Mrs
Mortimer
.
It
was
vain
to
make
any
further
protest
,
however
,
for
Lucilla
was
gone
,
having
,
in
the
first
place
,
communicated
her
requirements
to
Mary
Jane
,
who
was
not
likely
to
forget
,
nor
to
let
her
mistress
be
late
.
"
And
mind
she
is
nice
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
emphatically
,
as
she
went
out
at
the
door
.
It
was
necessary
she
should
be
nice
;
without
that
the
intended
situation
which
Lucilla
was
preparing
—
the
grand
finale
of
her
exertions
—
would
fall
flat
,
and
probably
fail
of
its
effect
.
For
this
it
was
necessary
that
the
widow
should
look
not
only
pretty
,
but
interesting
,
and
a
little
pathetic
,
and
all
that
a
widow
should
look
when
first
dragged
back
into
society
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
gave
a
momentary
sigh
as
she
emerged
from
the
garden
door
,
and
could
not
but
feel
conscious
that
in
all
this
she
might
be
preparing
the
most
dread
discomfiture
and
downfall
for
herself
.
Even
if
it
passed
over
as
it
ought
to
do
,
and
nobody
was
charmed
but
the
Archdeacon
,
who
was
the
right
person
to
be
charmed
,
Lucilla
felt
that
after
this
she
never
could
have
that
entire
confidence
in
her
father
which
she
had
had
up
to
this
moment
.
The
incipient
sentiment
Dr
Marjoribanks
had
exhibited
was
one
that
struck
at
the
roots
of
all
faith
in
him
as
a
father
;
and
every
person
of
sensibility
will
at
once
perceive
how
painful
such
a
suggestion
must
have
been
to
the
mind
of
a
young
woman
so
entirely
devoted
as
was
Miss
Marjoribanks
to
the
consolation
and
comfort
of
her
dear
papa
.
Lucilla
was
not
allowed
to
spend
the
rest
of
this
momentous
afternoon
in
maturing
her
plans
,
as
might
have
been
necessary
to
a
lesser
intelligence
;
and
when
the
refreshing
moment
came
at
which
she
could
have
her
cup
of
tea
before
preparing
for
the
fatigues
of
the
evening
,
it
was
Mrs
Chiley
who
came
to
assist
at
that
ceremony
.
The
old
lady
came
in
with
an
important
air
,
and
gave
Lucilla
a
long
,
lingering
kiss
,
as
old
ladies
sometimes
do
when
they
particularly
mean
it
.
"
My
dear
,
I
am
not
going
to
stay
a
moment
,
but
I
thought
you
might
have
something
to
tell
me
,
"
the
kind
old
woman
said
,
arranging
herself
in
her
chair
with
the
satisfaction
of
a
listener
who
expects
to
be
confided
in
.
As
for
Lucilla
,
