forMiss
Marjoribanks
,
if
it
is
possible
to
imagine
her
clear
spirit
altogether
lost
in
bewilderment
,
it
would
have
been
at
that
moment
;
but
she
recovered
as
soon
as
she
had
administered
her
cup
of
tea
.
"
Now
tell
me
all
about
it
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
again
sitting
down
by
the
sofa
;
and
this
time
Mrs
Mortimer
,
to
whom
her
excitement
had
given
a
little
spur
and
stimulus
,
did
not
waste
any
more
time
.
"
He
is
my
cousin
,
"
she
said
;
"
not
my
real
cousin
,
but
distant
;
and
I
will
not
deny
that
long
,
long
ago
—
when
we
were
both
quite
young
,
you
know
,
Lucilla
—
—
"
"
Yes
,
yes
,
I
understand
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
pressing
her
hand
.
"
He
was
very
nice
in
those
days
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
,
faltering
;
"
that
is
,
I
do
n't
mean
to
say
he
was
not
always
nice
,
you
know
,
but
only
—
—
I
never
had
either
father
or
mother
.
I
was
living
with
my
Uncle
Garrett
—
my
uncle
on
the
other
side
;
and
he
thought
he
should
have
made
me
his
heiress
;
but
instead
of
that
,
he
left
his
money
,
you
know
,
to
him
;
and
then
he
was
dreadfully
put
out
,
and
wanted
me
to
go
to
law
with
him
and
change
the
will
;
but
I
never
blamed
him
,
for
my
part
,
Lucilla
—
he
knows
I
never
blamed
him
—
and
nothing
he
said
would
make
me
give
in
to
go
to
the
law
with
him
—
—
"
"
Stop
a
minute
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
I
am
not
quite
sure
that
I
understand
.
Who
was
it
he
wanted
you
to
go
to
law
with
?
and
was
it
to
the
Archdeacon
the
money
was
left
?
"
"
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
"
said
the
widow
,
with
momentary
exasperation
,
"
you
who
are
so
quick
and
pick
up
everything
,
to
think
you
should
not
understand
me
when
I
speak
of
a
thing
so
important
!
Of
course
it
was
not
to
Charles
Beverley
the
money
was
left
:
if
it
had
been
left
to
him
,
how
could
he
have
wanted
me
to
go
to
law
?
It
has
always
been
the
question
between
us
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
,
once
more
lighting
up
with
exceptional
and
unwonted
energy
.
"
He
said
I
was
to
indict
him
for
conspiracy
;
and
I
declare
to
you
,
Lucilla
,
that
he
was
not
to
blame
.
Uncle
Garrett
might
be
foolish
,
but
I
do
n't
say
even
that
he
was
foolish
:
he
was
so
good
to
him
,
like
a
son
;
and
he
had
no
son
of
his
own
,
and
I
was
only
a
girl
.
He
never
was
anything
to
me
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
,
wiping
her
eyes
—
"
never
,
whatever
Charles
may
choose
to
say
;
but
if
ever
I
was
sure
of
anything
in
the
world
,
I
am
sure
that
he
was
not
to
blame
.
"
Lucilla
's
head
began
to
whirl
;
but
after
her
first
unsuccessful
essay
,
she
was
wise
enough
not
to
ask
any
more
direct
questions
.
She
made
all
the
efforts
possible
,
with
ears
and
eyes
intent
,
to
disentangle
this
web
of
pronouns
,
and
failing
,
waited
on
in
the
hope
that
time
and
patience
would
throw
a
little
light
upon
them
.
"
I
suppose
Mr
Beverley
thought
he
was
to
blame
?
"
she
said
,
when
the
narrator
paused
to
take
breath
.
"
Is
not
that
what
I
am
saying
?
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
.
"
It
was
through
that
it
was
all
broke
off
.
I
am
sure
I
do
n't
know
whether
he
has
regretted
it
or
not
,
Lucilla
.
It
is
not
always
very
easy
to
understand
a
gentleman
,
you
know
.
After
I
was
married
to
poor
Edward
,
naturally
I
never
had
any
more
correspondence
with
him
;
and
to
see
him
to-day
without
any
warning
,
and
to
find
him
just
as
bent
as
he
was
upon
making
me
prosecute
,
and
just
as
full
of
bad
feeling
,
and
speaking
as
if
there
was
some
reason
more
than
truth
and
justice
why
I
should
be
so
determined
.
No
,
Lucilla
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
,
raising
herself
up
on
the
sofa
,
"
it
is
just
the
same
thing
as
ever
,
and
the
same
obstacle
as
ever
,
and
it
never
will
come
to
that
.
"
"
You
are
agitating
yourself
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
lie
down
—
there
's
a
dear
—
and
keep
quite
still
,
and
see
whether
we
cannot
make
anything
better
of
it
.
Tell
me
,
what
would
you
go
to
law
with
him
for
?
"
Lucilla
continued
,
with
the
natural
humility
of
imperfect
comprehension
.
It
was
perhaps
the
first
time
in
her
life
that
such
a
singular
chance
had
happened
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
as
to
have
a
matter
explained
to
her
,
and
yet
be
unable
to
understand
.
"
He
says
he
could
be
indicted
for
conspiracy
,
or
for
having
too
much
influence
over
him
,
and
making
him
do
what
he
liked
.
But
he
was
very
good
to
him
,
Lucilla
,
and
to
my
poor
Edward
;
and
when
I
was
married
to
him
—
—
"
"
Goodness
gracious
!
were
you
married
to
him
as
well
?
"
cried
Lucilla
,
fairly
losing
the
thread
and
her
balance
in
this
confusing
circle
.
Mrs
Mortimer
grew
pale
,
and
rose
quite
up
from
the
sofa
,
and
went
with
the
air
of
an
insulted
woman
to
seat
herself
in
her
usual
chair
.
"
I
do
n't
know
why
you
should
address
me
so
,
"
she
said
.
"
He
is
nothing
to
me
,
and
never
was
.
It
is
an
insult
to
me
to
think
that
I
must
have
a
personal
reason
for
refusing
to
do
a
wicked
and
unjust
thing
.
I
could
give
up
anything
,
"
said
the
widow
,
losing
a
little
of
her
dignity
,
and
growing
again
pathetic
—
"
I
would
give
in
in
a
moment
if
it
was
any
fancy
of
mine
—
you
know
I
would
;
but
I
am
sure
it
would
be
wicked
and
unjust
—
—
"
"
I
am
sure
I
am
not
the
person
to
bid
you
do
anything
unjust
or
wicked
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
who
,
in
the
utter
confusion
of
her
faculties
,
began
to
feel
offended
in
her
turn
.
"
Then
I
beg
you
will
never
speak
to
me
of
it
again
!
"
cried
Mrs
Mortimer
.
"
How
is
it
possible
that
either
he
or
you
can
know
the
rights
of
it
as
I
do
,
who
was
in
the
house
at
the
time
and
saw
everything
?
He
may
say
what
he
likes
,
but
I
know
there
was
no
conspiracy
;
he
was
just
as
much
surprised
as
you
could
be
,
or
Charles
,
or
anybody
.
Of
course
it
was
for
his
advantage
—
nobody
denies
that
—
but
you
do
n't
mean
to
say
that
a
man
is
to
reject
everything
that
is
for
his
advantage
?
"
said
the
widow
,
turning
eyes
of
indignant
inquiry
upon
her
visitor
;
and
Miss
Marjoribanks
for
once
was
so
utterly
perplexed
that
she
did
not
know
how
to
respond
.
"
But
you
said
when
you
were
married
to
him
?
"
said
Lucilla
,
who
felt
that
the
tables
were
turned
upon
her
for
the
moment
.
"
I
am
sure
I
beg
your
pardon
for
being
so
stupid
;
but
whom
were
you
married
to
?
"
This
was
said
in
the
most
deprecating
tone
in
the
world
,
but
still
it
irritated
Mrs
Mortimer
,
whose
mind
was
all
unhinged
,
and
who
somehow
felt
that
she
was
not
finding
in
Miss
Marjoribanks
the
help
and
support
to
which
her
clear
and
detailed
explanation
entitled
her
.
Though
her
head
was
aching
dreadfully
,
she
sat
up
more
upright
than
ever
in
her
chair
.
"
I
do
n't
think
you
can
mean
to
insult
me
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
said
the
widow
,
"
after
being
so
kind
.
Perhaps
I
have
been
trying
you
too
much
by
what
I
have
said
;
though
I
am
sure
I
would
have
given
up
everything
,
and
gone
away
anywhere
,
rather
than
be
the
cause
of
anything
unpleasant
.
You
know
that
it
was
my
poor
dear
Edward
I
was
married
to
;
you
know
I
have
a
—
a
horror
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
,
faltering
,
"
in
general
—
of
second
marriages
.
"
"
Oh
,
yes
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
but
there
are
always
exceptions
,
you
know
;
and
when
people
have
no
children
,
nor
anything
—
and
you
that
were
so
young
.
I
always
make
exceptions
,
for
my
part
;
and
if
you
could
only
get
over
this
one
point
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
,
making
a
dexterous
strategical
movement
.
But
Mrs
Mortimer
only
shook
her
head
.
"
I
do
n't
think
I
am
hard
to
get
on
with
,
"
she
said
;
"
but
my
poor
Edward
always
said
one
must
make
a
stand
somewhere
.
He
used
to
say
I
was
so
easy
to
be
persuaded
.
He
was
glad
to
see
I
had
a
point
to
make
a
stand
on
,
instead
of
being
disagreeable
about
it
,
or
thinking
he
was
anything
to
me
.
And
oh
,
Lucilla
,
he
was
so
kind
to
him
,
"
said
the
widow
,
with
tears
in
her
eyes
.
"
We
met
him
quite
by
chance
,
and
he
was
so
kind
.
I
will
never
forget
it
,
if
I
should
live
a
hundred
years
.
And
why
should
Charles
be
in
such
a
way
?
He
never
did
him
any
harm
!
If
any
one
was
injured
,
it
was
me
,
and
I
never
felt
myself
injured
—
neither
did
Edward
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
always
did
him
justice
,
Lucilla
,
"
Mrs
Mortimer
continued
,
fixing
a
pathetic
look
upon
her
friend
.
What
could
Lucilla
do
?
She
was
burning
to
take
it
all
in
her
own
hands
,
and
arrange
it
somehow
,
and
unite
the
two
lovers
who
had
been
so
long
separated
;
but
unless
she
could
understand
what
the
point
was
on
which
Mrs
Mortimer
made
her
stand
,
what
could
she
do
?
"
I
never
could
understand
,
"
said
the
widow
,
who
began
to
feel
her
heart
sick
with
the
disappointment
of
that
hope
which
she
had
fixed
in
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
why
he
should
take
it
so
much
to
heart
.
Poor
Edward
never
thought
of
such
a
thing
!
and
why
he
should
be
so
set
against
poor
Mr
Kavan
,
and
so
—
—
Lucilla
!
oh
,
tell
me
,
do
you
see
anything
?
what
do
you
mean
?
"
"
I
want
to
know
who
Mr
Kavan
is
?
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
much
startled
.
She
had
for
the
moment
forgotten
the
Archdeacon
's
discovery
and
her
own
suspicions
;
and
the
idea
of
connecting
the
man
who
had
(
apparently
)
fled
from
Mr
Beverley
's
presence
,
with
the
innocent
and
helpless
woman
upon
whom
the
appearance
of
the
Broad
Churchman
had
so
overwhelming
an
effect
,
had
never
hitherto
entered
her
imagination
.
But
this
name
,
which
was
not
the
name
of
anybody
she
knew
,
and
yet
seemed
to
bear
an
odd
sort
of
rudimentary
relationship
to
another
name
,
struck
her
like
a
sudden
blow
and
brought
everything
back
to
her
mind
.
It
was
a
bewildering
sort
of
explanation
,
if
it
was
an
explanation
;
but
still
a
confused
light
began
to
break
upon
Lucilla
's
understanding
.
If
this
was
what
it
all
meant
then
there
was
the
widest
opening
for
charitable
exertions
,
and
much
to
be
done
which
only
a
mind
like
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
could
do
.
"
That
is
not
his
name
now
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
,
"
I
do
n't
see
,
if
he
liked
it
,
why
he
should
not
change
his
name
.
I
am
sure
a
great
many
people
do
;
but
his
name
was
Kavan
when
he
lived
with
my
uncle
.
I
do
n't
remember
what
it
was
after
,
for
of
course
he
was
always
Mr
Kavan
to
me
;
and
Charles
Beverley
never
could
bear
him
.
He
used
to
think
—
—
But
oh
,
Lucilla
,
forgive
me
—
oh
,
forgive
me
,
if
it
is
too
much
for
you
!
"
she
added
,
a
moment
after
,
as
another
idea
struck
her
.
"
It
was
not
with
the
idea
of
—
of
anything
coming
of
it
,
you
know
;
it
will
never
come
to
that
—
not
now
;
—
I
do
n't
know
if
it
is
to
be
wished
.
I
am
sure
he
is
quite
free
so
far
as
I
am
concerned
.
It
was
not
with
that
idea
I
asked
for
your
advice
,
Lucilla
,
"
said
the
poor
woman
,
in
piteous
tones
.
If
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
pressed
her
,
and
insisted
upon
knowing
what
was
the
idea
which
had
moved
her
friend
to
ask
her
advice
,
Mrs
Mortimer
would
no
doubt
have
found
it
very
hard
to
reply
;
but
Lucilla
had
no
such
cruel
intentions
;
and
the
widow
,
notwithstanding
her
piteous
denial
of
any
motive
,
now
that
her
mind
was
cleared
,
and
she
had
caught
the
comprehension
of
her
auditor
,
began
to
regard
her
with
a
certain
instinct
of
hope
.
As
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
this
revelation
at
once
troubled
and
cleared
her
mind
.
If
this
was
the
culprit
,
he
was
a
culprit
and
yet
he
was
innocent
;
and
to
heap
coals
of
fire
upon
his
head
was
in
some
respects
a
Christian
duty
.
Her
ideas
went
forward
at
a
bound
to
a
grand
finale
of
reconciliation
and
universal
brotherhood
.
She
saw
the
tools
under
her
hands
,
and
her
very
fingers
itched
to
begin
.
Large
and
varied
as
her
experience
was
,
she
had
never
yet
had
any
piece
of
social
business
on
so
important
a
scale
to
manage
,
and
her
eyes
sparkled
and
her
heart
beat
at
the
idea
.
Instead
of
shrinking
from
interference
,
her
spirits
rose
at
the
thought
.
To
vanquish
the
Archdeacon
,
to
pluck
out
from
the
darkness
,
and
rehabilitate
and
set
at
his
ease
the
mysterious
adventurer
,
whom
,
to
be
sure
,
she
could
not
say
she
knew
—
for
Lucilla
was
very
careful
,
even
in
her
own
thoughts
,
not
to
commit
herself
on
this
subject
—
and
to
finish
off
by
a
glorious
and
triumphant
marriage
—
not
her
own
,
it
is
true
,
but
of
her
making
,
which
was
more
to
the
purpose
—
such
was
the
programme
she
made
out
for
herself
with
the
speed
of
lightning
,
the
moment
she
had
laid
hold
of
the
clue
which
guided
or
seemed
to
guide
her
through
the
labyrinth
.
It
would
be
too
lengthy
a
matter
to
go
into
all
her
tender
cares
for
the
widow
's
comfort
during
the
rest
of
her
stay
,
and
the
pains
and
delicacy
with
which
she
managed
to
elicit
further
particulars
,
and
to
make
out
her
brief
,
so
to
speak
,
while
she
cheered
up
and
encouraged
the
witness
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
jumped
to
the
conclusion
that
"
poor
Edward
"
had
been
,
after
all
,
but
a
temporary
tenant
of
the
heart
,
which
was
now
again
free
for
the
reception
of
the
Archdeacon
,
if
he
could
be
got
to
accept
the
conditions
.
When
half-past
six
arrived
,
and
Thomas
came
for
her
with
the
great
umbrella
,
she
went
off
quite
resplendent
in
her
waterproof
cloak
,
and
utterly
indifferent
to
the
rain
,
leaving
Mrs
Mortimer
worn
out
,
but
with
a
glimmer
of
hope
in
her
mind
.
Such
was
the
great
work
which
,
without
a
moment
's
hesitation
,
Lucilla
took
upon
her
shoulders
.
She
had
no
more
fear
of
the
result
than
she
had
of
wetting
her
feet
,
which
was
a
thing
Mrs
Mortimer
and
Thomas
were
both
concerned
about
.
But
then
Lucilla
knew
her
own
resources
,
and
what
she
was
capable
of
,
and
proceeded
upon
her
way
with
that
unconscious
calm
of
genius
which
is
always
so
inexplicable
to
the
ordinary
world
.
Chapter
XXIV
It
was
the
most
unlucky
moment
for
the
weather
to
change
,
being
the
middle
of
July
,
and
as
near
as
possible
to
St
Swithin
's
Day
;
but
the
season
had
been
so
delightful
up
to
that
time
that
nobody
in
Carlingford
at
least
had
any
reason
to
complain
.
So
far
as
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
concerned
,
she
was
rather
glad
,
on
the
whole
,
that
the
next
day
was
wet
,
and
that
she
could
not
go
out
all
the
morning
,
nor
was
likely
to
be
interrupted
by
visitors
.
She
had
all
her
plans
to
settle
and
mature
for
the
great
enterprise
which
she
had
taken
in
hand
.
By
this
time
,
so
far
from
feeling
any
personal
interest
in
the
Archdeacon
,
or
considering
herself
injured
by
his
sudden
desertion
,
that
little
episode
had
gone
out
of
Lucilla
's
mind
as
completely
as
if
it
had
never
been
.
In
one
point
,
however
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
conviction
remained
firm
;
it
was
impressed
upon
her
mind
that
Carlingford
would
not
be
made
into
a
bishopric
,
or
,
if
made
into
a
bishopric
,
that
it
was
not
Mr
Beverley
who
would
be
chosen
to
occupy
the
new
see
.
It
was
one
of
those
instinctive
certainties
which
are
not
capable
of
explanation
,
which
was
thus
borne
in
upon
her
spirit
,
and
she
could
not
have
felt
more
sure
of
it
had
she
seen
it
under
the
Queen
's
own
hand
and
seal
.
While
she
went
about
her
usual
morning
occupations
,
her
mind
was
full
of
her
great
and
novel
undertaking
.
Mr
Beverley
was
not
a
man
to
be
revolutionised
in
a
moment
;
and
many
people
would
have
shrunk
from
the
attempt
to
work
in
a
few
days
or
weeks
,
with
no
better
arms
than
those
of
acquaintance
,
a
change
which
the
influence
of
love
had
not
been
able
to
do
in
so
many
years
.
But
it
was
not
in
Lucilla
's
nature
to
be
daunted
by
a
difficulty
so
unimportant
.
There
was
,
thank
Heaven
,
some
difference
between
herself
and
the
widow
,
who
,
in
a
strait
,
could
think
of
nothing
better
to
do
,
poor
soul
!
than
to
faint
;
and
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
the
advantage
of
never
as
yet
having
been
beaten
,
whereas
Mrs
Mortimer
had
undergone
numberless
defeats
.
The
hardest
matter
in
the
whole
business
,
however
,
was
the
identification
of
the
Mr
Kavan
whom
the
Archdeacon
thought
he
had
seen
in
Carlingford
,
and
was
not
afraid
to
speak
of
as
a
clever
rascal
and
adventurer
.
Mr
Beverley
had
never
seen
the
fellow
again
,
as
he
had
told
Lucilla
not
many
days
back
,
and
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
been
unfeignedly
glad
to
hear
it
;
but
now
matters
had
changed
.
In
the
course
of
her
reflections
,
she
decided
that
it
would
now
be
best
that
these
two
men
,
if
possible
,
should
meet
and
recognise
each
other
,
and
that
the
business
should
once
for
all
be
definitively
settled
.
If
all
the
offence
he
had
committed
against
society
was
to
have
had
a
large
sum
of
money
left
him
by
a
childless
old
man
,
Lucilla
saw
no
reason
why
this
mysterious
culprit
should
conceal
himself
;
and
even
if
he
had
taken
a
little
liberty
with
his
name
,
that
was
not
a
crime
—
his
name
was
his
own
surely
,
if
anything
was
his
own
.
At
the
same
time
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
took
pains
to
impress
upon
herself
,
as
it
is
to
be
hoped
a
friendly
audience
will
also
have
the
goodness
to
do
,
that
she
had
no
real
foundation
for
her
suspicions
as
to
the
identity
of
this
personage
,
and
might
turn
out
to
be
completely
mistaken
.
He
might
have
made
no
change
whatever
on
his
name
;
he
might
be
flourishing
in
some
other
quarter
of
England
or
the
world
,
with
all
his
antecedents
perfectly
well
known
,
and
unconscious
of
anything
to
be
ashamed
about
;
which
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
was
,
as
Lucilla
confessed
to
herself
,
a
much
more
likely
hypothesis
than
the
supposition
which
had
taken
such
possession
of
her
mind
.
But
then
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
a
just
faith
in
her
instincts
,
and
in
those
brief
but
telling
pieces
of
evidence
which
supported
her
conclusion
.
She
was
thinking
over
this
important
branch
of
the
subject
with
the
greatest
care
and
devotion
,
when
,
looking
out
by
chance
into
the
rain
,
she
saw
the
Archdeacon
crossing
the
garden
.
Perhaps
it
was
just
as
well
that
she
thus
had
warning
and
a
moment
to
prepare
for
his
visit
;
not
that
Lucilla
was
a
person
to
be
taken
at
disadvantage
;
but
still
,
in
a
matter
so
practical
and
pressing
,
it
was
always
better
to
be
prepared
.
Mr
Beverley
came
in
with
an
air
and
expression
so
different
from
that
which
he
had
borne
in
their
intercourse
no
further
gone
than
yesterday
,
that
,
notwithstanding
the
corresponding
revolution
in
her
own
mind
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
could
not
but
regard
him
with
mingled
admiration
and
surprise
.
She
judged
him
as
the
general
world
so
often
judged
herself
,
and
gave
him
credit
for
skill
and
courage
in
assuming
such
an
attitude
,
when
the
fact
was
he
was
only
preoccupied
and
natural
,
and
did
not
think
of
his
attitude
at
all
.
It
did
not
occur
to
the
Archdeacon
that
he
had
sinned
towards
Lucilla
.
He
thought
it
right
to
explain
to
her
his
extreme
surprise
at
the
sight
of
Mrs
Mortimer
,
and
possibly
to
make
her
aware
,
at
the
same
time
,
of
his
grievances
,
in
so
far
as
Mrs
Mortimer
was
concerned
;
but
perhaps
Mr
Beverley
was
,
on
the
whole
,
innocent
of
those
intentions
which
Mrs
Chiley
had
attributed
to
him
,
and
which
even
Lucilla
,
more
clear-sighted
,
had
seen
dawning
in
their
last
interview
;
for
,
to
be
sure
,
this
is
one
of
the
questions
which
the
female
intellect
is
apt
to
judge
in
a
different
light
from
that
in
which
it
is
regarded
by
a
man
.
The
Archdeacon
,
accordingly
,
came
in
preoccupied
,
with
a
cloud
on
his
brow
,
but
without
the
smallest
appearance
of
penitence
or
deprecation
;
by
which
demeanour
he
gained
,
without
deserving
it
,
the
respect
,
and
to
a
certain
extent
the
admiration
,
of
Lucilla
.
His
expression
was
not
that
of
a
man
repentant
,
but
of
a
man
aggrieved
.
He
had
a
cloud
upon
his
countenance
,
and
a
certain
air
of
offence
and
temper
;
and
when
he
sat
down
,
he
breathed
a
short
impatient
sigh
.
"
Thank
you
for
receiving
me
so
early
,
"
he
said
.
"
I
called
yesterday
afternoon
,
but
found
you
out
.
You
must
have
had
very
particular
business
to
take
you
out
in
that
rain
,
"
Mr
Beverley
continued
,
with
subdued
exasperation
;
for
naturally
,
being
a
clergyman
,
he
was
a
little
impatient
to
find
,
when
it
was
he
who
wanted
her
,
any
of
his
female
friends
out
of
the
way
.
"
Yes
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
who
thought
it
was
best
to
open
her
battery
boldly
and
at
once
.
"
I
was
spending
the
afternoon
with
poor
Mrs
Mortimer
;
poor
dear
,
she
is
so
solitary
!
"
and
to
meet
Mr
Beverley
's
ill-temper
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
put
on
her
most
heavenly
air
of
sympathy
,
and
rounded
her
words
with
a
soft
sigh
,
as
different
from
his
as
a
flute
is
from
a
trumpet
.
It
was
with
an
exclamation
of
impatience
that
the
Archdeacon
replied
.
"
Poor
Mrs
Mortimer
!
"
he
cried
;
"
I
do
n't
know
whether
you
are
aware
how
much
her
obstinacy
has
cost
me
;
and
herself
,
I
suppose
,
"
he
added
,
in
a
parenthesis
.
"
Not
to
depreciate
your
kindness
,
or
the
truly
human
and
Christian
way
in
which
you
have
conducted
yourself
—
fancy
what
my
feelings
naturally
must
have
been
to
find
her
an
object
of
charity
—
actually
of
charity
!
I
do
n't
mean
to
say
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
,
controlling
himself
,
"
that
it
is
degrading
to
accept
succour
when
given
as
from
man
to
man
—
quite
the
contrary
;
but
you
will
excuse
me
from
entering
into
the
general
question
.
She
knew
perfectly
well
that
if
I
had
known
where
she
was
—
if
she
had
consented
to
yield
to
me
on
one
point
—
solely
on
one
point
—
—
"
"
And
she
such
an
obstinate
woman
!
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
fine
scorn
.
"
How
could
you
ever
think
of
such
a
thing
?
A
woman
that
never
gives
in
to
anybody
.
If
you
knew
her
as
well
as
I
do
—
—
"
The
Archdeacon
glanced
up
with
a
momentary
intense
surprise
,
as
if
it
was
within
the
possibilities
that
such
a
change
might
have
taken
place
in
the
widow
's
nature
;
and
then
he
caught
Lucilla
's
eye
,
and
grew
red
and
more
aggrieved
than
ever
.
"
Mrs
Mortimer
happens
to
be
a
relative
of
mine
,
"
he
said
,
in
his
authoritative
voice
.
"
I
have
known
her
from
her
youth
.
I
am
better
instructed
in
all
her
affairs
than
she
can
possibly
be
.
When
I
urge
her
to
any
step
,
however
much
it
may
be
against
her
inclinations
,
she
ought
to
know
that
it
can
only
be
for
her
good
.
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
It
will
give
me
great
grief
to
find
that
you
,
upon
whose
superior
good
sense
I
have
so
much
calculated
,
should
support
her
in
her
folly
.
I
know
how
much
she
owes
to
you
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
no
,
she
does
not
owe
me
anything
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
It
was
just
my
luck
,
you
know
.
I
knew
she
would
turn
out
to
be
a
lady
.
I
do
n't
want
to
stand
up
for
her
if
she
is
wrong
;
but
I
have
only
heard
her
side
.
When
you
tell
me
about
it
,
I
shall
be
able
to
form
an
opinion
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
prudently
;
"
for
of
course
everything
has
two
sides
.
"
"
Most
things
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
,
"
but
this
is
precisely
one
of
the
things
which
have
not
two
sides
.
Nothing
except
some
sort
of
infatuation
or
other
—
but
never
mind
,
you
shall
hear
the
facts
,
"
said
the
Archdeacon
,
once
more
making
an
effort
upon
himself
.
"
Her
uncle
,
Mr
Garrett
,
was
above
eighty
.
Why
Providence
should
have
let
him
live
to
such
an
age
to
do
so
much
mischief
,
Heaven
alone
knows
.
Some
different
rule
seems
to
exist
up
there
about
those
matters
,
from
what
we
find
to
answer
on
earth
,
"
the
Broad-Churchman
said
,
with
a
certain
air
of
disapproval
.
"
He
had
this
young
fellow
to
see
him
and
then
to
live
with
him
,
and
took
some
sort
of
idiotic
fancy
to
him
;
and
when
the
will
was
made
,
it
was
found
that
,
with
the
exception
of
a
small
sum
to
Helen
,
everything
was
left
to
this
impostor
.
No
,
I
ca
n't
say
I
have
any
patience
with
her
folly
.
How
could
any
man
have
two
opinions
on
the
subject
?
He
was
neither
related
to
him
,
nor
connected
with
him
,
"
cried
Mr
Beverley
,
with
a
momentary
inclination
,
as
Lucilla
thought
,
to
get
aground
among
the
pronouns
,
as
Mrs
Mortimer
had
done
.
"
I
do
not
suspect
my
cousin
,
"
the
Archdeacon
continued
,
with
an
air
so
severe
and
indignant
that
it
was
evident
he
was
contradicting
his
own
sentiments
,
"
of
having
any
partiality
for
such
a
person
;
but
certainly
her
obstinacy
and
determination
are
such
—
—
"
"
Hush
,
please
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
"
you
are
only
laughing
when
you
use
such
words
.
Now
,
tell
me
one
thing
,
and
do
n't
be
angry
if
it
is
a
stupid
question
—
If
there
was
any
one
that
knew
her
and
you
,
and
perhaps
him
,
and
was
to
try
—
do
n't
you
think
it
might
be
arranged
?
"
"
By
money
?
"
said
the
Archdeacon
;
and
he
smiled
one
of
those
disagreeable
smiles
which
youthful
writers
describe
by
saying
that
his
lip
curled
with
scorn
.
"
You
seem
to
take
me
for
Mortimer
,
who
could
go
into
that
sort
of
compromise
.
I
suppose
he
did
give
them
money
before
—
before
she
was
left
a
widow
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
,
grinding
his
teeth
slightly
with
a
savage
expression
.
"
No
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
Where
everlasting
truth
and
justice
are
concerned
,
I
do
not
understand
how
things
can
be
arranged
.
"
After
such
a
truculent
statement
,
what
was
the
peacemaker
to
do
?
She
left
the
fire
to
blaze
out
by
itself
for
a
minute
or
two
,
and
then
she
came
down
upon
the
enemy
on
another
wind
.
"
I
am
sure
I
am
very
sorry
,
"
said
Lucilla
softly
,
"
to
think
you
should
be
so
fond
of
her
and
she
so
fond
of
you
,
and
nothing
but
this
standing
in
the
way
;
and
then
she
is
too
good
for
this
world
,
and
never
thinks
of
herself
.
I
often
think
,
if
anything
was
to
happen
to
me
—
and
my
life
is
no
safer
than
other
people
's
lives
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
a
sigh
—
"
what
would
become
of
her
,
poor
dear
!
I
am
sure
,
if
I
knew
of
any
way
—
—
As
for
obstinate
,
you
know
it
is
not
in
her
to
be
obstinate
.
She
thinks
she
is
right
,
and
you
think
you
are
right
;
and
I
suppose
neither
of
you
will
give
in
,
"
cried
Lucilla
.
"
What
is
anybody
to
do
?
"
"
If
any
one
gives
in
,
it
should
be
she
,
"
said
the
Archdeacon
.
"
For
my
part
,
I
will
never
stand
by
and
consent
to
such
a
robbery
,
—
never
.
In
these
matters
,
at
least
,
a
man
must
be
a
better
judge
than
a
woman
.
If
you
are
her
friend
you
will
persuade
her
of
her
duty
,
"
Mr
Beverley
added
;
and
he
did
not
show
so
much
as
a
symptom
of
yielding
.
To
say
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
not
discouraged
would
be
more
than
the
truth
;
but
she
was
still
at
the
beginning
of
her
forces
,
and
no
thought
of
giving
in
was
in
her
courageous
soul
.
"
I
will
tell
you
what
occurs
to
me
,
"
said
Lucilla
frankly
.
"
Let
us
find
out
something
about
him
.
Do
you
know
anything
about
him
?
If
she
were
to
hear
that
he
was
,
as
you
say
,
an
impostor
,
you
know
,
and
a
villain
?
—
What
is
his
name
?
—
Where
does
he
live
?
—
Is
he
a
very
,
very
wicked
man
?
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
and
she
looked
up
with
that
ingenuous
look
of
appeal
,
which
was
always
so
touching
in
her
,
to
the
Archdeacon
's
face
.
As
for
Mr
Beverley
,
in
his
haste
and
excitement
,
he
gave
vent
to
two
very
contradictory
statements
.
"
She
knows
all
about
him
.
I
do
n't
know
anything
about
him
,
"
he
said
,
with
some
heat
.
"
I
mean
,
she
knows
as
much
as
I
do
,
though
she
draws
such
a
different
conclusion
.
I
am
sure
I
saw
him
in
Carlingford
the
first
day
I
was
here
.
For
anything
I
can
tell
,
she
knows
more
of
him
than
I
do
,
"
said
the
Broad
Churchman
,
with
a
sudden
flash
of
jealousy
and
anger
.
It
occurred
to
Lucilla
then
for
the
first
time
that
she
had
found
the
grand
clue
to
the
whole
.
"
That
would
be
dreadful
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
if
she
knew
him
,
and
was
keeping
him
out
of
the
way
till
you
were
gone
.
I
did
not
think
of
that
.
If
such
a
thing
should
be
the
case
,
fond
as
I
am
of
Mrs
Mortimer
,
I
never
could
go
near
her
any
more
,
"
said
Lucilla
sadly
.
"
Oh
,
do
n't
say
you
think
so
,
please
.
I
should
have
to
give
her
up
,
and
that
would
be
dreadful
;
for
I
owe
it
to
papa
,
when
he
gives
me
so
much
liberty
,
to
be
very
careful
.
Oh
,
Mr
Beverley
,
do
n't
say
you
think
so
,
"
cried
Lucilla
,
deeply
moved
.
She
put
her
handkerchief
to
her
eyes
,
and
yet
she
kept
watch
upon
the
Archdeacon
through
one
of
the
corners
.
He
had
got
up
by
this
time
,
and
was
walking
about
the
room
like
any
other
man
in
trouble
.
To
throw
suspicion
on
the
widow
,
or
separate
her
from
so
effectual
a
protector
,
was
the
very
last
thing
he
had
any
inclination
to
do
:
for
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
he
made
that
jealous
suggestion
only
in
order
to
receive
an
indignant
denial
,
and
to
be
assured
that
such
a
thing
was
impossible
.
But
then
Mr
Beverley
did
not
know
whom
he
had
to
deal
with
,
nor
that
he
was
not
the
first
man
whom
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
reduced
to
his
proper
place
.
"
If
that
was
the
case
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
drying
her
eyes
,
"
dreadful
as
it
is
to
think
of
it
—
oh
,
Mr
Beverley
,
if
such
a
thing
were
the
case
—
it
would
be
far
better
for
her
to
marry
him
,
and
then
she
would
have
all
the
fortune
without
going
to
law
.
If
things
have
gone
so
far
,
though
it
is
miserable
to
think
of
it
,
and
to
believe
that
she
could
be
so
unkind
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
a
sob
,
"
and
so
double-minded
,
and
so
deceitful
to
me
—
—
"
"
In
Heaven
's
name
what
are
you
thinking
of
?
"
said
the
Archdeacon
.
He
had
grown
as
pale
as
he
was
before
red
,
and
came
to
a
dead
stop
in
front
of
Lucilla
,
and
stood
lowering
and
menacing
over
her
.
His
shadow
was
so
big
and
strong
,
and
stood
so
directly
between
her
and
the
window
,
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
heart
gave
one
bound
of
something
like
alarm
.
"
Dear
Mr
Beverley
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
try
and
compose
yourself
.
It
would
be
a
dreadful
trial
to
me
,
but
I
should
endeavour
to
bear
it
.
If
we
love
her
,
we
should
,
on
the
contrary
,
urge
her
to
do
it
,
"
said
the
young
moralist
,
with
solemnity
,
"
however
hard
it
may
be
to
us
.
It
would
be
better
than
—
than
dreadful
concealment
and
misery
—
it
would
be
better
than
knowing
and
not
telling
,
as
you
say
.
Oh
,
Mr
Beverley
,
if
you
are
sure
that
is
the
case
,
let
us
both
go
to
her
,
and
beg
her
to
marry
him
.
I
could
never
,
never
,
never
see
her
again
,
"
sobbed
Lucilla
,
"
but
she
would
be
happy
,
and
that
would
be
the
end
of
all
.
"
The
Archdeacon
,
though
he
was
not
a
weakling
,
was
altogether
stunned
by
this
address
.
He
sank
into
the
nearest
chair
,
and
drew
it
closer
to
Lucilla
,
and
looked
perfectly
flabby
and
ghastly
in
his
white
tie
,
with
his
alarmed
countenance
.
"
For
the
sake
of
all
that
is
sacred
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
,
bending
forward
towards
her
,
"
tell
me
what
foundation
you
have
—
tell
me
all
you
know
.
"
Now
was
the
critical
moment
,
and
Lucilla
felt
it
.
If
Mrs
Chiley
,
for
example
,
had
only
advised
herself
to
come
in
then
instead
of
interrupting
people
's
proposals
,
and
driving
a
likely
suitor
to
desperation
!
But
such
happy
chances
do
not
occur
at
the
real
crises
of
life
.
What
she
wanted
was
,
naturally
,
not
to
explain
herself
,
but
to
let
that
arrow
rankle
in
her
opponent
's
heart
until
it
should
have
served
her
purpose
.
All
that
she
said
in
answer
to
Mr
Beverley
's
appeal
was
to
hide
her
face
in
her
handkerchief
,
which
was
the
only
means
that
occurred
to
her
for
the
moment
of
gaining
a
little
time
for
reflection
.
"
It
is
so
hard
to
have
such
thoughts
put
into
one
's
head
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
of
a
person
who
has
been
one
's
friend
.
And
she
always
looked
so
nice
and
so
true
!
I
never
thought
she
would
deceive
any
one
.
I
thought
she
was
so
transparent
,
you
know
.
Oh
,
Mr
Beverley
,
it
is
so
dreadful
to
be
disappointed
in
one
's
friends
!
I
wish
I
had
never
heard
of
it
—
I
wish
you
had
never
told
me
.
I
almost
wish
,
though
it
is
dreadful
to
say
such
a
thing
,
that
you
had
never
come
to
Carlingford
and
found
it
all
out
.
"
"
My
dear
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
said
the
Archdeacon
solemnly
,
"
I
implore
you
,
as
the
greatest
kindness
you
can
do
me
,
to
tell
me
all
you
know
.
"
"
Indeed
,
I
do
n't
know
what
I
know
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
partially
raising
her
face
out
of
her
handkerchief
;
"
I
do
n't
think
I
know
anything
,
for
my
part
.
I
always
thought
if
one
could
rely
upon
any
one
,
one
could
rely
upon
her
—
for
truthfulness
,
and
for
yieldingness
,
and
doing
what
any
one
asked
her
.
I
did
think
so
;
and
it
is
perfectly
bewildering
to
think
,
after
all
,
that
she
should
be
obstinate
and
deceiving
,
and
yet
look
so
different
!
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
But
if
it
has
come
to
that
,
we
must
be
firm
,
Mr
Beverley
.
If
you
ask
my
opinion
,
I
say
she
should
be
allowed
to
marry
him
.
That
would
solve
everything
,
you
know
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
,
with
sad
decision
.
"
She
would
get
all
the
fortune
without
going
to
law
,
and
she
would
be
settled
,
and
off
one
's
mind
.
That
would
be
my
final
advice
,
if
everything
has
happened
as
you
say
.
"
Mr
Beverley
was
driven
as
nearly
out
of
his
senses
by
this
counsel
as
it
was
possible
for
a
man
of
ordinary
self-control
and
warm
temper
to
be
.
He
got
up
again
and
made
a
stride
to
and
fro
,
and
wiped
the
moisture
from
his
forehead
,
which
,
as
Lucilla
remarked
at
the
moment
,
had
a
Low-Church
look
,
which
she
would
not
have
expected
from
him
.
But
,
on
the
other
hand
,
he
gave
vent
to
some
stifled
and
unintelligible
exclamations
which
,
whatever
they
might
be
,
were
not
blessings
.
Then
he
came
to
himself
a
little
,
which
was
what
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
most
afraid
of
,
and
stood
over
her
,
large
and
imposing
as
before
.
"
Tell
me
,
for
Heaven
's
sake
,
what
you
mean
!
"
cried
the
Archdeacon
.
"
You
do
not
think
,
surely
,
that
I
for
a
moment
meant
to
imply
that
Helen
would
waste
a
thought
upon
such
a
miscreant
.
Good
Heavens
,
marry
him
!
You
must
be
raving
.
She
would
as
soon
think
of
—
going
for
a
soldier
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
,
with
a
hoarse
and
perfectly
unmirthful
laugh
,
"
or
doing
anything
else
that
was
mad
and
unnatural
.
That
is
how
you
women
stand
up
for
your
friends
—
always
ready
to
suggest
something
inconceivably
horrible
and
debasing
!
Happily
you
always
go
too
far
,
"
he
added
,
once
more
wiping
his
forehead
.
It
was
a
very
Low-Church
,
not
to
say
Dissenterish
,
sort
of
thing
to
do
,
and
it
unconsciously
reduced
her
adversary
's
dignity
in
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
opinion
,
besides
affording
a
proof
that
he
was
not
nearly
so
much
convinced
of
what
he
said
,
as
he
professed
to
be
,
in
his
secret
heart
.
"
Mr
Beverley
,
I
think
you
forget
a
little
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
dignity
.
"
I
know
nobody
but
yourself
who
has
any
suspicions
of
Mrs
Mortimer
.
If
it
had
been
anybody
but
you
,
I
should
have
laughed
at
them
.
But
to
return
to
the
question
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
,
with
calm
grace
:
"
I
always
used
to
be
taught
at
Mount
Pleasant
that
feelings
had
nothing
to
do
with
an
abstract
subject
.
I
do
n't
see
,
for
my
part
,
now
you
have
mentioned
it
,
why
she
should
not
marry
him
.
It
would
arrange
the
money
matter
without
any
trouble
;
and
I
have
always
heard
he
was
very
nice
,
"
said
the
bold
experimentalist
,
fixing
her
eyes
calmly
upon
the
Archdeacon
's
face
.
"
I
am
sure
I
should
never
have
thought
of
it
,
if
it
had
been
left
to
me
;
but
speaking
calmly
,
I
do
n't
see
the
objections
,
now
it
has
been
proposed
.
Oh
,
it
is
only
the
bell
for
luncheon
that
Thomas
is
ringing
.
Is
it
actually
half-past
one
?
and
I
expect
some
people
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
She
got
up
as
she
spoke
and
went
to
the
mirror
,
and
looked
at
herself
with
that
beautiful
simplicity
which
was
one
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
distinguishing
features
.
"
When
one
has
been
crying
it
always
shows
,
"
she
said
,
with
a
little
anxiety
.
As
for
Mr
Beverley
,
his
state
of
mind
,
as
the
newspapers
say
,
could
better
be
imagined
than
described
.
"
I
must
go
away
,
"
he
said
,
taking
up
his
hat
.
"
I
do
n't
feel
capable
of
meeting
strangers
after
this
exciting
conversation
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
continued
the
Archdeacon
,
taking
her
hand
,
and
holding
it
fast
over
his
hat
to
give
emphasis
to
his
address
,
"
at
least
I
can
trust
to
you
not
to
breathe
a
word
to
Mrs
Mortimer
—
not
a
syllable
—
of
the
horrible
suggestion
which
has
got
utterance
,
I
do
n't
know
how
.
I
may
surely
trust
to
your
honour
,
"
Mr
Beverley
said
,
with
emphasis
;
but
by
this
time
Miss
Marjoribanks
considered
it
time
to
bring
the
crisis
to
an
end
.
"
I
wish
you
would
stay
to
luncheon
,
"
she
said
;
"
there
are
only
one
or
two
of
my
friends
.
As
for
honour
,
you
know
you
gentlemen
say
that
we
have
no
sense
of
honour
,
"
said
Lucilla
airily
;
"
and
to
think
that
two
women
could
be
together
and
not
talk
of
what
might
perhaps
be
a
marriage
—
—
"
At
this
moment
some
one
rang
the
door-bell
.
Lucilla
knew
perfectly
well
that
it
was
only
the
baker
,
but
it
could
not
be
expected
that
the
Archdeacon
should
be
similarly
initiated
into
the
secrets
of
the
house
.
He
thought
,
as
was
natural
,
that
it
was
the
people
she
expected
,
and
almost
wrung
her
hand
as
he
let
it
go
.
"
You
will
let
me
see
you
again
first
,
"
he
said
,
in
a
tone
of
entreaty
.
"
Before
you
see
her
,
you
will
let
me
see
you
again
.
For
Heaven
's
sake
do
n't
refuse
me
,
"
cried
Mr
Beverley
.
If
anybody
had
but
heard
him
!
as
Lucilla
said
to
herself
the
minute
he
was
gone
.
And
the
truth
was
that
Thomas
did
hear
him
,
who
had
just
opened
the
door
to
tell
his
young
mistress
that
her
luncheon
was
waiting
,
and
whom
the
Archdeacon
did
all
but
knock
downstairs
in
his
sudden
and
unlooked-for
exit
.
The
impression
naturally
conveyed
to
Thomas
by
these
words
was
of
the
clearest
and
most
distinct
description
.
He
was
even
known
to
say
afterwards
,
"
That
he
never
knew
a
gentleman
as
spoke
more
plain
.
"
But
Mr
Beverley
rushed
downstairs
,
without
thinking
of
Thomas
,
in
a
most
unenviable
frame
of
mind
,
into
the
rain
.
He
was
more
afraid
of
meeting
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
friends
than
a
man
of
his
size
and
principles
should
have
been
afraid
of
meeting
anybody
;
but
then
there
is
a
vast
distinction
,
as
everybody
is
aware
,
and
no
one
more
than
the
Archdeacon
,
between
physical
and
moral
strength
.
As
for
Lucilla
,
her
tears
and
anxieties
passed
off
in
a
miraculous
manner
as
soon
as
her
visitor
was
gone
.
She
went
downstairs
and
ate
her
luncheon
with
the
serenest
brow
and
a
most
agreeable
ladylike
appetite
.
And
it
was
not
a
fib
,
as
may
perhaps
be
supposed
,
that
she
was
expecting
people
—
for
at
that
hour
Miss
Marjoribanks
always
did
expect
people
,
who
,
to
be
sure
,
might
be
kept
back
by
the
rain
,
but
whom
she
was
always
justified
in
looking
for
.
Perhaps
,
on
the
whole
,
notwithstanding
her
warm
sense
of
the
duties
of
hospitality
,
Lucilla
was
glad
that
it
rained
so
heavily
,
and
that
nobody
came
.
She
had
a
great
deal
to
think
of
as
she
took
her
maidenly
and
delicate
repast
.
The
first
step
had
been
taken
,
and
taken
triumphantly
.
Henceforward
,
whatever
the
Archdeacon
's
illusions
might
be
,
he
could
no
longer
stand
calm
upon
his
eminence
,
and
conclude
that
it
was
he
,
and
he
alone
,
who
could
raise
the
widow
from
her
lowly
estate
.
Lucilla
,
it
is
true
,
knew
that
no
such
idea
as
that
of
marrying
her
uncle
's
heir
would
ever
present
itself
to
Mrs
Mortimer
;
and
that
—
at
least
so
far
as
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
information
went
—
such
a
thought
was
equally
removed
from
the
mind
of
the
personage
unknown
,
whom
Mr
Beverley
denounced
as
an
impostor
.
But
this
did
not
in
the
least
affect
the
value
of
the
suggestion
as
an
instrument
to
be
used
against
the
Archdeacon
,
who
was
big
enough
to
defend
himself
,
and
on
whose
account
the
young
philanthropist
had
no
compunctions
.
The
first
step
was
thus
taken
,
and
taken
successfully
,
but
it
was
only
after
this
that
the
real
difficulties
began
;
and
Lucilla
knew
no
more
as
yet
how
she
was
to
find
and
identify
,
not
to
say
assail
and
vanquish
,
the
other
side
,
the
mysterious
Mr
Kavan
,
the
man
whom
the
Archdeacon
abused
and
the
widow
defended
,
than
even
the
greatest
military
genius
knows
at
the
commencement
of
the
first
campaign
how
to
conduct
the
second
.
This
was
what
she
considered
so
closely
as
she
sat
alone
in
the
dull
afternoon
.
She
did
not
go
to
Mrs
Mortimer
,
because
it
was
impossible
that
every
day
could
be
a
half-holiday
,
and
because
,
on
the
whole
,
she
judged
it
best
not
to
subject
herself
,
in
the
present
undeveloped
state
of
the
position
,
to
much
questioning
;
but
she
sent
her
a
little
note
to
satisfy
her
mind
,
telling
her
to
keep
herself
easy
,
and
not
to
let
the
Archdeacon
bully
her
,
and
to
confide
in
the
devotion
of
her
affectionate
Lucilla
.
When
she
had
thus
satisfied
the
immediate
demands
of
friendship
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
took
her
work
and
sat
down
to
reflect
.
Nothing
could
be
more
exciting
than
the
position
in
which
she
found
herself
;
but
the
difficulties
were
only
such
as
stimulated
her
genius
;
and
then
it
was
not
any
selfish
advantage
,
but
the
good
of
her
neighbour
in
its
most
sublime
manifestation
—
the
good
of
her
neighbour
who
had
injured
her
,
and
been
insensible
to
her
attractions
,
which
,
according
to
the
world
in
general
,
is
the
one
thing
unpardonable
to
a
woman
—
which
Lucilla
sought
.
And
it
was
not
even
the
scriptural
coals
of
fire
she
was
thinking
of
as
she
pondered
her
great
undertaking
in
her
mind
.
The
enterprise
might
not
be
free
from
a
touch
of
human
vanity
,
but
it
was
vanity
of
a
loftier
description
:
the
pleasure
of
exercising
a
great
faculty
,
and
the
natural
confidence
of
genius
in
its
own
powers
.
Chapter
XXV
The
fruit
of
Lucilla
's
long
and
mature
reflection
was
that
next
morning
being
fine
and
all
the
clouds
dispersed
,
she
went
out
with
her
usual
firm
step
and
self-possession
,
and
,
what
was
rather
unusual
with
her
,
except
on
necessary
occasions
of
ceremony
,
knocked
at
Mrs
Woodburn
's
door
.
Mrs
Woodburn
and
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
never
,
as
people
say
,
taken
to
each
other
.
They
were
as
different
in
their
ways
as
it
is
possible
to
imagine
.
The
mimic
was
a
little
indolent
,
and
would
not
take
the
trouble
to
make
any
exertions
for
the
good
of
the
community
,
except
in
the
exercise
of
her
peculiar
talent
,
though
she
had
been
known
,
when
excited
,
to
go
through
real
fatigue
for
that
;
but
she
had
none
of
the
steady
force
,
the
persevering
energy
—
or
,
to
sum
up
all
in
one
word
,
the
genius
—
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
who
,
for
her
part
,
recognised
the
use
of
such
an
instrument
of
entertainment
as
Mrs
Woodburn
possessed
without
appreciating
it
in
her
own
person
;
for
Lucilla
had
no
sense
of
humour
,
as
she
candidly
admitted
,
with
that
consciousness
of
her
own
faults
,
and
slight
disposition
to
consider
them
virtues
,
which
is
common
to
persons
of
great
endowments
.
It
was
accordingly
with
a
slight
sense
of
effort
on
both
sides
that
they
met
thus
in
the
familiarity
of
an
early
visit
,
at
a
moment
when
people
doing
their
duty
to
each
other
in
a
ceremonial
way
would
not
have
thought
of
calling
.
She
was
aware
that
Mrs
Woodburn
regarded
her
,
even
when
she
kissed
her
in
the
most
neighbourly
and
affectionate
manner
,
with
a
look
which
seemed
to
say
,
"
What
can
she
want
,
coming
here
so
early
?
"
As
for
Lucilla
,
she
was
too
wise
to
pretend
that
it
was
a
mere
visit
of
regard
.
She
was
too
wise
,
and
her
interlocutor
was
too
clever
,
and
prone
to
catch
every
touch
of
expression
,
though
Miss
Marjoribanks
flattered
herself
she
had
sufficient
experience
to
enable
her
to
dismiss
,
when
there
was
occasion
for
it
,
all
expression
from
her
face
.
But
such
was
not
her
policy
at
this
moment
.
When
the
two
faces
had
touched
each
other
in
that
loving
and
sisterly
salutation
,
their
owners
immediately
separated
,
and
regarded
each
other
from
two
opposite
chairs
,
without
decided
hostility
,
it
is
true
,
but
with
the
watchful
air
of
two
people
whom
the
fates
may
range
on
different
sides
,
and
whom
it
behoves
to
be
mutually
watchful
.
And
Lucilla
thought
it
the
most
expedient
course
,
under
the
circumstances
,
to
begin
her
investigations
at
once
.
"
I
have
come
to
make
an
inquisition
,
"
she
said
;
"
I
may
as
well
confess
it
at
once
,
for
you
would
find
me
out
if
I
did
n't
.
Mrs
Woodburn
,
where
is
Mr
Cavendish
?
I
am
not
going
to
put
up
with
it
any
longer
.
He
must
be
written
to
,
and
had
back
again
.
The
only
man
that
was
to
be
depended
upon
in
Carlingford
!
"
said
Lucilla
;
"
and
to
think
he
should
disappear
like
this
and
never
say
a
word
!
"
Mrs
Woodburn
fairly
gasped
in
her
companion
's
face
.
She
could
no
more
tell
what
this
meant
,
than
if
she
had
been
a
person
utterly
unacquainted
with
human
motives
and
ways
of
working
;
and
,
indeed
,
it
was
only
the
tricks
of
the
surface
for
which
she
had
any
real
insight
.
"
My
brother
!
"
she
exclaimed
,
with
something
between
an
impulse
of
defence
and
denial
,
and
a
quite
opposite
instinct
of
confidence
.
Had
he
proposed
,
after
all
,
without
telling
his
sister
?
Had
Lucilla
a
right
to
ask
the
question
she
uttered
so
frankly
?
Had
he
been
prudent
for
once
in
his
life
,
and
secured
this
sensible
alliance
and
prop
to
his
position
?
All
these
questions
rushed
at
lightning-speed
through
Mrs
Woodburn
's
mind
;
but
she
was
not
so
prompt
as
Miss
Marjoribanks
would
have
been
under
the
circumstances
,
and
all
she
did
was
to
open
her
eyes
wide
,
and
give
a
start
on
her
chair
,
and
say
,
"
My
brother
?
"
with
a
voice
which
trembled
,
and
was
half
extinguished
by
surprise
.
"
Yes
;
Mr
Cavendish
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
Do
tell
me
his
address
.
There
is
not
a
man
in
Carlingford
who
is
good
for
anything
,
now
that
he
is
gone
.
You
must
see
that
as
well
as
I
do
.
As
for
flirting
,
I
have
always
said
he
was
the
only
man
that
knew
anything
about
it
.
Do
tell
me
where
he
is
,
and
I
will
write
to
him
;
or
,
please
,
send
him
word
for
me
,
that
absolutely
he
must
come
back
.
We
are
all
dying
for
him
,
you
may
say
.
"
Mrs
Woodburn
had
recovered
a
little
,
and
found
a
moment
to
think
,
but
her
faculties
were
not
so
handy
,
except
in
her
own
particular
way
,
as
might
have
been
expected
from
such
a
clever
woman
.
She
could
even
at
that
moment
have
taken
off
Miss
Marjoribanks
to
the
life
,
but
she
was
in
the
most
profound
bewilderment
as
to
what
Lucilla
could
mean
;
whether
she
was
really
laying
herself
out
to
"
catch
"
Mr
Cavendish
,
or
whether
she
was
merely
talking
nonsense
without
any
particular
meaning
;
or
whether
she
was
feigning
indifference
by
way
of
getting
information
;
and
the
stupidest
person
in
Carlingford
would
have
acquitted
herself
as
well
as
Mrs
Woodburn
felt
able
to
do
in
the
emergency
.
"
I
should
think
he
would
rather
hear
that
some
of
you
were
willing
to
live
for
him
,
"
she
said
,
in
a
tremulous
way
;
finding
nothing
better
come
to
her
lips
than
the
echo
of
an
old
compliment
,
which
went
against
her
nature
,
but
yet
with
an
instinct
of
serving
her
brother
so
far
as
it
might
be
in
her
power
.
"
Not
me
,
"
said
Lucilla
frankly
.
"
Some
people
once
thought
so
,
you
know
;
but
I
ca
n't
say
I
ever
thought
so
.
There
never
will
be
anything
about
living
or
dying
between
him
and
me
.
I
hope
we
know
better
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
besides
,
if
I
were
so
much
as
to
think
of
that
sort
of
thing
I
should
feel
I
was
swindling
papa
.
Oh
,
no
;
I
assure
you
I
am
quite
disinterested
.
I
want
him
for
my
Thursdays
.
Do
write
,
and
say
he
must
come
home
.
"
"
I
do
n't
like
people
to
be
too
disinterested
,
"
said
Mrs
Woodburn
;
"
and
I
do
n't
think
Harry
would
be
at
all
glad
to
hear
it
.
I
wish
he
would
come
back
,
I
am
sure
.
I
am
always
bullying
him
about
it
.
I
thought
perhaps
some
of
you
young
ladies
had
been
unkind
to
him
,
"
said
the
anxious
sister
,
who
had
recovered
her
head
,
and
thought
it
might
be
possible
to
get
at
the
secret
,
if
there
was
a
secret
,
by
means
like
this
.
"
No
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
I
have
not
been
unkind
to
him
;
and
there
is
nobody
else
I
know
of
,
"
said
the
candid
Lucilla
,
"
unless
poor
Barbara
;
and
she
will
never
be
unkind
,
you
know
.
I
will
write
him
a
letter
if
you
will
give
me
his
address
.
Is
it
true
that
somebody
has
left
him
a
great
deal
of
