pieceof
news
,
conjoining
with
it
benevolent
intimations
of
their
intention
to
call
upon
her
,
and
make
the
poor
thing
feel
herself
at
home
.
"
Perhaps
she
may
be
amusing
,
"
Mrs
Woodburn
was
good
enough
to
add
;
but
these
words
meant
only
that
perhaps
Lucilla
,
who
was
coming
to
set
them
all
right
,
was
worthy
of
being
placed
in
the
satirist
's
collection
along
with
Mrs
Centum
and
Mrs
Chiley
.
Thus
,
while
the
town
ripened
more
and
more
for
her
great
mission
,
and
the
ignorant
human
creatures
,
who
were
to
be
her
subjects
,
showed
their
usual
blindness
and
ignorance
,
the
time
drew
nearer
and
nearer
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
return
.
Chapter
IV
"
My
daughter
is
coming
home
,
Nancy
,
"
said
Dr
Marjoribanks
.
"
You
will
have
to
make
preparations
for
her
immediately
.
So
far
as
I
can
make
out
from
this
letter
,
she
will
arrive
to-morrow
by
the
half-past
five
train
.
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
"
said
Nancy
,
with
the
tone
of
a
woman
who
makes
the
best
of
a
misfortune
,
"
it
ai
n't
every
young
lady
as
would
have
the
sense
to
fix
an
hour
like
that
.
Ladies
is
terrible
tiresome
in
that
way
;
they
'll
come
in
the
middle
o
'
the
day
,
when
a
body
do
n't
know
in
the
world
what
to
have
for
them
;
or
they
'll
come
at
night
,
when
a
body
's
tired
,
and
ai
n't
got
the
heart
to
go
into
a
supper
.
There
was
always
a
deal
of
sense
in
Miss
Lucilla
,
when
she
had
n't
got
nothing
in
her
head
.
"
"
Just
so
,
"
said
Dr
Marjoribanks
,
who
was
rather
relieved
to
have
got
through
the
announcement
so
easily
.
"
You
will
see
that
her
room
is
ready
,
and
everything
comfortable
;
and
,
of
course
,
to-morrow
she
and
I
will
dine
alone
.
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
"
said
Nancy
;
but
this
assent
was
not
given
in
the
decisive
tone
of
a
woman
whose
audience
was
over
;
and
then
she
was
seized
with
a
desire
to
arrange
in
a
more
satisfactory
manner
the
cold
beef
on
the
sideboard
.
When
she
had
secured
this
little
interval
for
thought
,
she
returned
again
to
the
table
,
where
her
master
ate
his
breakfast
,
with
a
presentiment
.
"
If
you
please
,
sir
,
"
said
Nancy
,
"
not
to
give
you
no
vexation
nor
trouble
,
which
every
one
knows
as
it
has
been
the
aim
o
'
my
life
to
spare
you
,
as
has
so
much
on
your
mind
.
But
it
's
best
to
settle
afore
commencing
,
and
then
we
need
n't
have
no
heartburning
.
If
you
please
,
am
I
to
take
my
orders
of
Miss
Lucilla
,
or
of
you
,
as
I
've
always
been
used
to
?
In
the
missus
's
time
,
"
said
Nancy
,
with
modest
confidence
,
"
as
was
a
good
missus
,
and
never
gave
no
trouble
as
long
as
she
had
her
soup
and
her
jelly
comfortable
,
it
was
always
you
as
said
what
there
was
to
be
for
dinner
.
I
do
n't
make
no
objection
to
doing
up
a
nice
little
luncheon
for
Miss
Lucilla
,
and
giving
a
little
more
thought
now
and
again
to
the
sweets
;
but
it
ai
n't
my
part
to
tell
you
,
sir
,
as
a
lady
's
taste
,
and
more
special
a
young
lady
's
,
ai
n't
to
be
expected
to
be
the
same
as
yours
and
mine
as
has
been
cultivated
like
.
I
'm
not
one
as
likes
contention
,
"
continued
the
domestic
oracle
,
"
but
I
could
n't
abear
to
see
a
good
master
put
upon
;
and
if
it
should
be
as
Miss
Lucilla
sets
her
mind
upon
messes
as
ai
n't
got
no
taste
in
them
,
and
milk-puddings
and
stuff
,
like
the
most
of
the
ladies
,
I
'd
just
like
to
know
out
of
your
own
mouth
,
afore
the
commencement
,
what
I
'm
to
do
?
"
Dr
Marjoribanks
was
so
moved
by
this
appeal
that
he
laid
down
his
knife
and
contemplated
the
alarming
future
with
some
dismay
.
"
It
is
to
be
hoped
Miss
Lucilla
will
know
better
,
"
he
said
.
"
She
has
a
great
deal
of
good
sense
,
and
it
is
to
be
hoped
that
she
will
be
wise
enough
to
consult
the
tastes
of
the
house
.
"
But
the
Doctor
was
not
to
be
let
off
so
easily
.
"
As
you
say
,
sir
,
everything
's
to
be
hoped
,
"
said
Nancy
steadily
;
"
but
there
's
a-many
ladies
as
do
n't
seem
to
me
to
have
got
no
taste
to
their
mouths
;
and
it
ai
n't
as
if
it
was
a
thing
that
could
be
left
to
hopes
.
Supposin
'
as
it
comes
to
that
,
sir
,
what
am
I
to
do
?
"
"
Well
,
"
said
the
Doctor
,
who
was
himself
a
little
puzzled
,
"
you
know
Miss
Lucilla
is
nineteen
,
Nancy
,
and
my
only
child
,
and
the
natural
mistress
of
the
house
.
"
"
Sir
,
"
said
Nancy
austerely
,
"
them
is
things
as
it
ai
n't
needful
to
name
;
that
ai
n't
the
question
as
I
was
asking
.
Supposin
'
as
things
come
to
such
a
point
,
what
am
I
to
do
?
"
"
Bless
me
!
it
's
half-past
nine
,
"
said
the
Doctor
,
"
and
I
have
an
appointment
.
You
can
come
just
as
usual
when
we
are
at
breakfast
,
that
will
be
the
best
way
,
"
he
said
as
he
went
out
at
the
door
,
and
chuckled
a
little
to
himself
when
he
felt
he
had
escaped
.
"
Lucilla
is
her
mother
's
daughter
,
it
is
true
,
"
he
said
to
himself
when
he
had
got
into
the
safe
seclusion
of
his
brougham
,
with
a
degree
of
doubt
in
his
tone
which
was
startling
,
to
say
the
least
of
it
,
from
the
lips
of
a
medical
man
;
"
but
she
is
my
child
all
the
same
,
"
he
added
briskly
,
with
returning
confidence
;
and
in
this
conviction
there
was
something
which
reassured
the
Doctor
.
He
rubbed
his
hands
as
he
bowled
along
to
his
appointment
,
and
thought
within
himself
that
if
she
turned
out
a
girl
of
spirit
,
as
he
expected
,
it
would
be
good
fun
to
see
Lucilla
's
struggle
with
Nancy
for
the
veritable
reins
of
government
.
If
Dr
Marjoribanks
had
entertained
any
positive
apprehensions
that
his
dinners
would
be
spoiled
in
consequence
,
his
amusement
would
have
come
to
an
abrupt
conclusion
;
but
he
trusted
entirely
in
Nancy
and
a
little
in
Lucilla
,
and
suffered
his
long
upper-lip
to
relax
at
the
thought
without
much
fear
.
Her
father
had
not
returned
from
the
labours
of
his
long
day
when
Lucilla
arrived
,
but
he
made
his
last
visits
on
foot
in
order
to
be
able
to
send
the
brougham
for
her
,
which
was
a
great
thing
for
the
Doctor
to
do
.
There
was
,
indeed
,
a
mutual
respect
between
the
two
,
who
were
not
necessary
to
each
other
's
comfort
,
it
is
true
,
as
such
near
relations
sometimes
are
;
but
who
,
at
the
same
time
,
except
on
the
sole
occasion
of
Mrs
Marjoribanks
's
death
,
had
never
misunderstood
each
other
,
as
sometimes
happens
.
This
time
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
rather
pleased
,
on
the
whole
,
that
the
Doctor
did
not
come
to
meet
her
.
At
other
times
she
had
been
a
visitor
;
now
she
had
come
into
her
kingdom
,
and
had
no
desire
to
be
received
like
a
guest
.
A
sense
of
coming
home
,
warmer
than
she
remembered
to
have
felt
before
,
came
into
Lucilla
's
active
mind
as
she
stepped
into
the
brougham
.
Not
that
the
words
bore
any
special
tender
meaning
,
notwithstanding
that
it
was
the
desire
of
her
heart
,
well
known
to
all
her
friends
,
to
live
henceforward
as
a
comfort
to
dear
papa
,
but
that
now
at
last
she
was
coming
into
her
kingdom
,
and
entering
the
domain
in
which
she
intended
her
will
to
be
law
.
After
living
for
a
year
with
friends
whose
arrangements
(
much
inferior
to
those
which
she
could
have
made
had
she
had
the
power
)
she
had
to
acquiesce
in
,
and
whose
domestic
economy
could
only
be
criticised
up
to
a
certain
point
,
it
was
naturally
a
pleasure
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
to
feel
that
now
at
length
she
was
emancipated
,
and
at
liberty
to
exercise
her
faculty
.
There
were
times
during
the
past
year
when
Lucilla
had
with
difficulty
restrained
herself
from
snatching
the
reins
out
of
the
hands
of
her
hosts
,
and
showing
them
how
to
manage
.
But
,
impatient
as
she
was
,
she
had
to
restrain
herself
,
and
make
the
best
of
it
.
Now
all
that
bondage
was
over
.
She
felt
like
a
young
king
entering
in
secret
a
capital
which
awaits
him
with
acclamations
.
Before
she
presented
herself
to
the
rejoicing
public
,
there
were
arrangements
to
be
made
and
things
to
be
done
;
and
Miss
Marjoribanks
gave
a
rapid
glance
at
the
shops
in
George
Street
as
she
drove
past
,
and
decided
which
of
them
she
meant
to
honour
with
her
patronage
.
When
she
entered
the
garden
it
was
with
the
same
rapid
glance
of
reorganising
genius
that
she
cast
her
eyes
around
it
;
and
still
more
decided
was
the
look
with
which
she
regarded
her
own
room
,
where
she
was
guided
by
the
new
housemaid
,
who
did
not
know
Miss
Lucilla
.
Nancy
,
who
knew
no
better
(
being
,
like
most
gifted
persons
,
a
woman
of
one
idea
)
,
had
established
her
young
mistress
in
the
little
chamber
which
had
been
Lucilla
's
when
she
was
a
child
;
but
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
who
had
no
sentimental
notions
about
white
dimity
,
shook
her
head
at
the
frigid
little
apartment
,
where
,
however
,
she
was
not
at
all
sorry
to
be
placed
at
present
;
for
if
Dr
Marjoribanks
had
been
a
man
of
the
prevenant
class
,
disposed
to
make
all
the
preparations
possible
for
his
daughter
,
and
arrange
elegant
surprises
for
her
,
he
would
have
thoroughly
disgusted
Lucilla
,
who
was
bent
on
making
all
the
necessary
improvements
in
her
own
person
.
When
she
went
down
to
the
drawing-room
to
await
her
father
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
look
of
disapprobation
was
mingled
with
so
much
satisfaction
and
content
in
herself
that
it
was
pleasant
to
behold
.
She
shook
her
head
and
shrugged
her
shoulders
as
she
paused
in
the
centre
of
the
large
faded
room
,
where
there
was
no
light
but
that
of
the
fire
,
which
burned
brightly
,
and
kept
up
a
lively
play
of
glimmer
and
shadow
in
the
tall
glass
over
the
fireplace
,
and
even
twinkled
dimly
in
the
three
long
windows
,
where
the
curtains
hung
stiff
and
solemn
in
their
daylight
form
.
It
was
not
an
uncomfortable
sort
of
big
,
dull
,
faded
,
respectable
drawing-room
;
and
if
there
had
been
a
family
in
it
,
with
recollections
attached
to
every
old
ottoman
and
easy-chair
,
no
doubt
it
would
have
been
charming
;
but
it
was
only
a
waste
and
howling
wilderness
to
Lucilla
.
When
she
had
walked
from
one
end
to
the
other
,
and
verified
all
the
plans
she
had
already
long
ago
conceived
for
the
embellishment
of
this
inner
court
and
centre
of
her
kingdom
,
Lucilla
walked
with
her
unhesitating
step
to
the
fire
,
and
took
a
match
and
lighted
all
the
candles
in
the
large
old-fashioned
candlesticks
,
which
had
been
flickering
in
grotesque
shadows
all
over
the
roof
.
This
proceeding
threw
a
flood
of
light
on
the
subject
of
her
considerations
,
and
gave
Miss
Marjoribanks
an
idea
,
in
passing
,
about
the
best
mode
of
lighting
,
which
she
afterwards
acted
upon
with
great
success
.
She
was
standing
in
this
flood
of
light
,
regarding
everything
around
her
with
the
eye
of
an
enlightened
critic
and
reformer
,
when
Dr
Marjoribanks
came
in
.
Perhaps
there
arose
in
the
soul
of
the
Doctor
a
momentary
thought
that
the
startling
amount
of
éclairage
which
he
witnessed
was
scarcely
necessary
,
for
it
is
certain
that
he
gave
a
momentary
glance
at
the
candles
as
he
went
up
to
greet
his
daughter
;
but
he
was
far
too
well-bred
a
man
to
suggest
such
an
idea
at
the
moment
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
kissed
her
with
a
sentiment
of
real
pleasure
,
and
owned
to
himself
that
,
if
she
was
not
a
fool
,
and
could
keep
to
her
own
department
,
it
might
be
rather
agreeable
on
the
whole
to
have
a
woman
in
the
house
.
The
sentiment
was
not
enthusiastic
,
and
neither
were
the
words
of
his
salutation
:
"
Well
,
Lucilla
;
so
this
is
you
!
"
said
the
moderate
and
unexcited
father
.
"
Yes
,
papa
,
it
is
me
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
and
very
glad
to
get
home
;
"
and
so
the
two
sat
down
and
discussed
the
journey
—
whether
she
had
been
cold
,
and
what
state
the
railway
was
in
—
till
the
Doctor
bethought
himself
that
he
had
to
prepare
for
dinner
.
"
Nancy
is
always
very
punctual
,
and
I
am
sure
you
are
hungry
,
"
he
said
;
"
so
I
'll
go
upstairs
,
with
your
permission
,
Lucilla
,
and
change
my
coat
;
"
and
with
this
the
actual
arrival
terminated
,
and
the
new
reign
began
.
But
it
was
only
next
morning
that
the
young
sovereign
gave
any
intimation
of
her
future
policy
.
She
had
naturally
a
great
deal
to
tell
that
first
night
;
and
though
it
was
exclusively
herself
,
and
her
own
adventures
and
achievements
,
which
Miss
Marjoribanks
related
,
the
occasion
of
her
return
made
that
sufficiently
natural
;
and
the
Doctor
was
not
altogether
superior
to
the
natural
prejudice
which
makes
a
man
interested
,
even
when
they
are
not
in
themselves
particularly
interesting
,
in
the
doings
of
his
children
.
She
succeeded
in
doing
what
is
certainly
one
of
the
first
duties
of
a
woman
—
she
amused
her
father
.
He
followed
her
to
the
drawing-room
for
a
marvel
,
and
took
a
cup
of
tea
,
though
it
was
against
his
principles
;
and
,
on
the
whole
,
Lucilla
had
the
satisfaction
of
feeling
that
she
had
made
a
conquest
of
the
Doctor
,
which
,
of
course
,
was
the
grand
and
most
essential
preliminary
.
In
the
little
interval
which
he
spent
over
his
claret
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
succeeded
in
effecting
another
fundamental
duty
of
woman
—
she
had
,
as
she
herself
expressed
it
,
harmonised
the
rooms
,
by
the
simple
method
of
rearranging
half
the
chairs
and
covering
the
tables
with
trifles
of
her
own
—
a
proceeding
which
converted
the
apartment
from
an
abstract
English
drawing-room
of
the
old
school
into
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
drawing-room
,
an
individual
spot
of
ground
revealing
something
of
the
character
of
its
mistress
.
The
Doctor
himself
was
so
moved
by
this
,
that
he
looked
vaguely
round
when
he
came
in
,
as
if
a
little
doubtful
where
he
was
—
but
that
might
only
be
the
effect
of
the
sparkling
mass
of
candles
on
the
mantelpiece
,
which
he
was
too
well-bred
to
remark
upon
the
first
night
.
But
it
was
only
in
the
morning
that
Lucilla
unfolded
her
standard
.
She
was
down
to
breakfast
,
ready
to
pour
out
the
coffee
,
before
the
Doctor
had
left
his
room
.
He
found
her
,
to
his
intense
amazement
,
seated
at
the
foot
of
the
table
,
in
the
place
which
he
usually
occupied
himself
,
before
the
urn
and
the
coffee-pot
.
Dr
Marjoribanks
hesitated
for
one
momentous
instant
,
stricken
dumb
by
this
unparalleled
audacity
;
but
so
great
was
the
effect
of
his
daughter
's
courage
and
steadiness
,
that
after
that
moment
of
fate
he
accepted
the
seat
by
the
side
where
everything
was
arranged
for
him
,
and
to
which
Lucilla
invited
him
sweetly
,
though
not
without
a
touch
of
mental
perturbation
.
The
moment
he
had
seated
himself
,
the
Doctor
's
eyes
were
opened
to
the
importance
of
the
step
he
had
taken
.
"
I
am
afraid
I
have
taken
your
seat
,
papa
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
ingenuous
sweetness
.
"
But
then
I
should
have
had
to
move
the
urn
,
and
all
the
things
,
and
I
thought
you
would
not
mind
.
"
The
Doctor
said
nothing
but
"
Humph
!
"
and
even
that
in
an
undertone
;
but
he
became
aware
all
the
same
that
he
had
abdicated
,
without
knowing
it
,
and
that
the
reins
of
state
had
been
smilingly
withdrawn
from
his
unconscious
hands
.
When
Nancy
made
her
appearance
the
fact
became
still
more
apparent
,
though
still
in
the
sweetest
way
.
"
It
is
so
dreadful
to
think
papa
should
have
been
bothered
with
all
these
things
so
long
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
"
After
this
I
am
sure
you
and
I
,
Nancy
,
can
arrange
it
all
without
giving
him
the
trouble
.
Perhaps
this
morning
,
papa
,
as
I
am
a
stranger
,
you
will
say
if
there
is
anything
you
would
like
,
and
then
I
shall
have
time
to
talk
it
all
over
with
Nancy
,
and
find
out
what
is
best
,
"
—
and
Lucilla
smiled
so
sweetly
upon
her
two
amazed
subjects
that
the
humour
of
the
situation
caught
the
fancy
of
the
Doctor
,
who
had
a
keen
perception
of
the
ridiculous
.
He
laughed
out
,
much
to
Nancy
's
consternation
,
who
was
standing
by
in
open-eyed
dismay
.
"
Very
well
,
Lucilla
,
"
he
said
;
"
you
shall
try
what
you
can
do
.
I
daresay
Nancy
will
be
glad
to
have
me
back
again
before
long
;
but
in
the
meantime
I
am
quite
content
that
you
should
try
,
"
and
he
went
off
laughing
to
his
brougham
,
but
came
back
again
before
Lucilla
could
take
Nancy
in
hand
,
who
was
an
antagonist
more
formidable
.
"
I
forgot
to
tell
you
,
"
said
the
Doctor
,
"
that
Tom
Marjoribanks
is
coming
on
Circuit
,
and
that
I
have
asked
him
to
stay
here
,
as
a
matter
of
course
.
I
suppose
he
'll
arrive
to-morrow
.
Good-bye
till
the
evening
.
"
This
,
though
Dr
Marjoribanks
did
not
in
the
least
intend
it
,
struck
Lucilla
like
a
Parthian
arrow
,
and
brought
her
down
for
the
moment
.
"
Tom
Marjoribanks
!
"
she
ejaculated
in
a
kind
of
horror
.
"
Of
all
people
in
the
world
,
and
at
this
moment
!
"
but
when
she
saw
the
open
eyes
and
rising
colour
of
Nancy
the
young
dictator
recovered
herself
—
for
a
conqueror
in
the
first
moment
of
his
victory
has
need
to
be
wary
.
She
called
Nancy
to
her
in
her
most
affectionate
tones
as
she
finished
her
breakfast
.
"
I
sent
papa
away
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
because
I
wanted
to
have
a
good
talk
with
you
,
Nancy
.
I
want
to
tell
you
my
object
in
life
.
It
is
to
be
a
comfort
to
papa
.
Ever
since
poor
mamma
died
that
is
what
I
have
been
thinking
of
;
and
now
I
have
come
home
,
and
I
have
made
up
my
mind
that
he
is
not
to
be
troubled
about
anything
.
I
know
what
a
good
,
faithful
,
valuable
woman
you
are
,
I
assure
you
.
You
need
not
think
me
a
foolish
girl
who
is
not
able
to
appreciate
you
.
The
dinner
was
charming
last
night
,
Nancy
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
much
feeling
;
"
and
I
never
saw
anything
more
beautifully
cooked
than
papa
's
cutlets
to-day
.
"
"
Miss
Lucilla
,
I
may
say
as
I
am
very
glad
I
have
pleased
you
,
"
said
Nancy
,
who
was
not
quite
conquered
as
yet
.
She
stood
very
stiffly
upright
by
the
table
,
and
maintained
her
integrity
.
"
Master
is
particular
,
I
do
n't
deny
,
"
continued
the
prime
minister
,
who
felt
herself
dethroned
.
"
I
've
always
done
my
best
to
go
in
with
his
little
fancies
,
and
I
do
n't
mean
to
say
as
it
is
n't
right
and
natural
as
you
should
be
the
missis
.
But
I
ai
n't
used
to
have
ado
with
ladies
,
and
that
's
the
truth
.
Ladies
is
stingy
in
a-many
things
as
is
the
soul
of
a
good
dinner
to
them
as
knows
.
I
may
be
valleyable
or
not
,
it
ai
n't
for
me
to
say
;
but
I
'm
not
one
as
can
always
be
kept
to
a
set
figger
in
my
gravy-beef
,
and
my
bacon
,
and
them
sorts
of
things
.
As
for
the
butter
,
I
do
n't
know
as
I
could
give
nobody
an
idea
.
I
ai
n't
one
as
likes
changes
,
but
I
ca
n't
abide
to
be
kept
to
a
set
figger
;
and
that
's
the
chief
thing
,
Miss
Lucilla
,
as
I
've
got
to
say
.
"
"
And
quite
reasonable
too
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
you
and
I
will
work
perfectly
well
together
,
Nancy
.
I
am
sure
we
have
both
the
same
meaning
;
and
I
hope
you
do
n't
think
I
am
less
concerned
about
dear
papa
than
about
the
gravy-beef
.
He
must
have
been
very
desolate
,
with
no
one
to
talk
to
,
though
he
has
been
so
good
and
kind
and
self-sacrificing
in
leaving
me
to
get
every
advantage
;
but
I
mean
to
make
it
up
to
him
,
now
I
've
come
home
.
"
"
Yes
,
miss
,
"
said
Nancy
,
somewhat
mystified
;
"
not
but
what
master
has
had
his
little
parties
now
and
again
,
to
cheer
him
up
a
bit
;
and
I
make
bold
to
say
,
miss
,
as
I
have
heard
compliments
,
which
it
was
Thomas
that
brought
'
em
downstairs
,
as
might
go
nigh
to
turn
a
body
's
head
,
if
it
was
vanity
as
I
was
thinking
of
;
but
I
ai
n't
one
as
thinks
of
anything
but
the
comfort
of
the
family
,
"
said
Nancy
,
yielding
in
spite
of
herself
to
follow
the
leadings
of
the
higher
will
in
presence
of
which
she
found
herself
,
"
and
I
'm
always
one
as
does
my
best
,
Miss
Lucilla
,
if
I
ai
n't
worried
nor
kept
to
a
set
figger
with
my
gravy-beef
.
"
"
I
have
heard
of
papa
's
dinners
,
"
said
Lucilla
graciously
,
"
and
I
do
n't
mean
to
let
down
your
reputation
,
Nancy
.
Now
we
are
two
women
to
manage
everything
,
we
ought
to
do
still
better
.
I
have
two
or
three
things
in
my
head
that
I
will
tell
you
after
;
but
in
the
meantime
I
want
you
to
know
that
the
object
of
my
life
is
to
be
a
comfort
to
poor
papa
;
and
now
let
us
think
what
we
had
better
have
for
dinner
,
"
said
the
new
sovereign
.
Nancy
was
so
totally
unprepared
for
this
manner
of
dethronement
,
that
she
gave
in
like
her
master
.
She
followed
Miss
Marjoribanks
humbly
into
those
details
in
which
Lucilla
speedily
proved
herself
a
woman
of
original
mind
,
and
powers
quite
equal
to
her
undertaking
.
The
Doctor
's
formidable
housekeeper
conducted
her
young
mistress
downstairs
afterwards
,
and
showed
her
everything
with
the
meekness
of
a
saint
.
Lucilla
had
won
a
second
victory
still
more
exhilarating
and
satisfactory
than
the
first
;
for
,
to
be
sure
,
it
is
no
great
credit
to
a
woman
of
nineteen
to
make
a
man
of
any
age
throw
down
his
arms
;
but
to
conquer
a
woman
is
a
different
matter
,
and
Lucilla
was
thoroughly
sensible
of
the
difference
.
Now
,
indeed
,
she
could
feel
with
a
sense
of
reality
that
her
foundations
were
laid
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
enough
of
occupation
for
that
day
,
and
for
many
days
.
But
her
mind
was
a
little
distracted
by
her
father
's
parting
intelligence
,
and
she
had
,
besides
,
a
natural
desire
to
view
the
country
she
had
come
to
conquer
.
When
she
had
made
a
careful
supervision
of
the
house
,
and
shifted
her
own
quarters
into
the
pleasantest
of
the
two
best
bedrooms
,
and
concluded
that
the
little
bare
dimity
chamber
she
had
occupied
the
previous
night
was
quite
good
enough
for
Tom
Marjoribanks
,
Lucilla
put
on
her
hat
and
went
out
to
make
a
little
reconnaissance
.
She
walked
down
to
the
spot
where
St
Roque
's
now
stands
,
on
her
own
side
of
Grange
Lane
,
and
up
on
the
other
side
into
George
Street
,
surveying
all
the
capabilities
of
the
place
with
a
rapid
but
penetrating
glance
.
Dr
Marjoribanks
's
house
could
not
have
been
better
placed
as
a
strategic
position
,
commanding
as
it
did
all
Grange
Lane
,
of
which
it
was
,
so
to
speak
,
the
key
,
and
yet
affording
a
base
of
communication
with
the
profaner
public
,
which
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
wise
enough
to
know
a
leader
of
society
should
never
ignore
completely
;
for
,
indeed
,
one
of
the
great
advantages
of
that
brilliant
position
is
,
that
it
gives
a
woman
a
right
to
be
arbitrary
,
and
to
select
her
materials
according
to
her
judgment
.
It
was
more
from
a
disinclination
to
repeat
herself
than
any
other
motive
that
Lucilla
,
when
she
had
concluded
this
preliminary
survey
,
went
up
into
Grove
Street
,
meaning
to
return
home
that
way
.
At
that
hour
in
the
morning
the
sun
was
shining
on
the
little
gardens
on
the
north
side
of
the
street
,
which
was
the
plebeian
side
;
and
as
it
was
the
end
of
October
,
and
by
no
means
warm
,
Lucilla
was
glad
to
cross
over
and
continue
her
walk
by
the
side
of
those
little
enclosures
where
the
straggling
chrysanthemums
propped
each
other
up
,
and
the
cheerful
Michaelmas
daisies
made
the
best
of
it
in
the
sunshine
that
remained
to
them
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
nearly
reached
Salem
Chapel
,
which
pushed
itself
forward
amid
the
cosy
little
line
of
houses
,
pondering
in
her
mind
the
unexpected
hindrance
which
was
about
to
be
placed
in
her
triumphant
path
,
in
the
shape
of
Tom
Marjoribanks
,
when
that
singular
piece
of
good
fortune
occurred
to
her
which
had
so
much
effect
upon
her
career
in
Carlingford
.
Such
happy
accidents
rarely
happen
,
except
to
great
generals
or
heroes
of
romance
;
and
it
would
have
been
,
perhaps
,
a
presumption
on
the
part
of
Lucilla
to
place
herself
conspicuously
in
either
of
these
categories
.
The
fact
is
,
however
,
that
at
this
eventful
moment
she
was
walking
along
under
the
shade
of
her
pretty
parasol
,
not
expecting
anything
,
but
absorbed
in
many
thoughts
,
and
a
little
cast
down
in
her
expectations
of
success
by
a
consciousness
that
this
unlucky
cousin
would
insist
upon
making
love
to
her
,
and
perhaps
even
,
as
she
herself
expressed
it
,
saying
the
words
which
it
had
taken
all
her
skill
to
prevent
him
from
saying
before
.
Not
that
we
would
have
any
one
believe
that
love-making
in
the
abstract
was
disagreeable
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
but
she
was
only
nineteen
,
well
off
and
good-looking
,
and
with
plenty
of
time
for
all
that
;
and
at
the
present
moment
she
had
other
matters
of
more
importance
in
hand
.
It
was
while
occupied
with
these
reflections
,
and
within
three
doors
of
Salem
Chapel
,
in
front
of
a
little
garden
where
a
great
deal
of
mignonette
had
run
to
seed
,
and
where
the
Michaelmas
daisies
had
taken
full
possession
,
that
Lucilla
was
roused
suddenly
out
of
her
musings
.
The
surprise
was
so
great
that
she
stopped
short
and
stood
still
before
the
house
in
the
extremity
of
her
astonishment
and
delight
.
Who
could
it
be
that
possessed
that
voice
which
Miss
Marjoribanks
felt
by
instinct
was
the
very
one
thing
wanting
—
a
round
,
full
,
delicious
contralto
,
precisely
adapted
to
supplement
without
supplanting
her
own
high-pitched
and
much-cultivated
organ
?
She
stopped
short
before
the
door
and
made
a
rapid
observation
even
in
the
first
moment
of
her
surprise
.
The
house
was
not
exactly
like
the
other
humble
houses
in
Grove
Street
.
Two
little
blank
squares
hung
in
the
centre
of
each
of
the
lower
windows
,
revealed
to
Lucilla
's
educated
eye
the
existence
of
so
much
"
feeling
"
for
art
as
can
be
satisfied
with
a
transparent
porcelain
version
of
a
famous
Madonna
;
and
she
could
even
catch
a
glimpse
,
through
the
curtains
of
the
best
room
—
which
,
contrary
to
the
wont
of
humble
gentility
in
Carlingford
,
were
well
drawn
back
,
and
allowed
the
light
to
enter
fully
—
of
the
glimmer
of
gilt
picture-frames
.
And
in
the
little
garden
in
front
,
half
buried
among
the
mignonette
,
were
some
remains
of
plaster-casts
,
originally
placed
there
for
ornament
,
but
long
since
cast
down
by
rain
and
neglect
.
Lucilla
made
her
observations
with
the
promptitude
of
an
accomplished
warrior
,
and
before
the
second
bar
of
the
melody
indoors
was
finished
,
had
knocked
very
energetically
.
"
Is
Miss
Lake
at
home
?
"
she
asked
,
with
confidence
,
of
the
little
maid-servant
who
opened
the
door
to
her
.
And
it
was
thus
that
Lucilla
made
her
first
bold
step
out
of
the
limits
of
Grange
Lane
for
the
good
of
society
,
and
secured
at
once
several
important
personal
advantages
,
and
the
great
charm
of
those
Thursday
evenings
which
made
so
entire
a
revolution
in
the
taste
and
ideas
of
Carlingford
.
Chapter
V
Miss
Marjoribanks
did
not
leave
the
contralto
any
time
to
recover
from
her
surprise
;
she
went
up
to
her
direct
where
she
stood
,
with
her
song
arrested
on
her
lips
,
as
she
had
risen
hastily
from
the
piano
.
"
Is
it
Rose
?
"
said
Lucilla
,
going
forward
with
the
most
eager
cordiality
,
and
holding
out
both
her
hands
;
though
,
to
be
sure
,
she
knew
very
well
it
was
not
Rose
,
who
was
about
half
the
height
of
the
singer
,
and
was
known
to
everybody
in
Mount
Pleasant
to
be
utterly
innocent
of
a
voice
.
"
No
,
"
said
Miss
Lake
,
who
was
much
astonished
and
startled
and
offended
,
as
was
unfortunately
rather
her
custom
.
She
was
a
young
woman
without
any
of
those
instincts
of
politeness
,
which
make
some
people
pleasant
in
spite
of
themselves
;
and
she
added
nothing
to
soften
this
abrupt
negative
,
but
drew
her
hands
away
from
the
stranger
and
stood
bolt
upright
,
looking
at
her
,
with
a
burning
blush
,
caused
by
temper
much
more
than
by
embarrassment
,
on
her
face
.
"
Then
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
dropping
lightly
into
the
most
comfortable
chair
she
could
get
sight
of
in
the
bare
little
parlour
,
"
it
is
Barbara
—
and
that
is
a
great
deal
better
;
Rose
is
a
good
little
thing
,
but
—
she
is
different
,
you
know
.
It
is
so
odd
you
should
not
remember
me
;
I
thought
everybody
knew
me
in
Carlingford
.
You
know
I
have
been
a
long
time
away
,
and
now
I
have
come
home
for
good
.
Your
voice
is
just
the
very
thing
to
go
with
mine
:
was
it
not
a
lucky
thing
that
I
should
have
passed
just
at
the
right
moment
?
I
do
n't
know
how
it
is
,
but
somehow
these
lucky
chances
always
happen
to
me
.
I
am
Lucilla
Marjoribanks
,
you
know
.
"
"
Indeed
!
"
said
Barbara
,
who
had
not
the
least
intention
of
being
civil
,
"
I
did
not
recognise
you
in
the
least
.
"
"
Yes
,
I
remember
you
were
always
shortsighted
a
little
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
calmly
.
"
I
should
so
like
if
we
could
try
a
duet
.
I
have
been
having
lessons
in
Italy
,
you
know
,
and
I
am
sure
I
could
give
you
a
few
hints
.
I
always
like
,
when
I
can
,
to
be
of
use
.
Tell
me
what
songs
you
have
that
we
could
sing
together
.
You
know
,
my
dear
,
it
is
not
as
if
I
was
asking
you
for
mere
amusement
to
myself
;
my
grand
object
in
life
is
to
be
a
comfort
to
papa
—
—
"
"
Do
you
mean
Dr
Marjoribanks
?
"
said
the
uncivil
Barbara
.
"
I
am
sure
he
does
not
care
in
the
least
for
music
.
I
think
you
must
be
making
a
mistake
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
no
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
I
never
make
mistakes
.
I
do
n't
mean
to
sing
to
him
,
you
know
;
but
you
are
just
the
very
person
I
wanted
.
As
for
the
ridiculous
idea
some
people
have
that
nobody
can
be
called
on
who
does
not
live
in
Grange
Lane
,
I
assure
you
I
mean
to
make
an
end
of
that
.
Of
course
I
cannot
commence
just
all
in
a
moment
.
But
it
would
always
be
an
advantage
to
practise
a
little
together
.
I
like
to
know
exactly
how
far
one
can
calculate
upon
everybody
;
then
one
can
tell
,
without
fear
of
breaking
down
,
just
what
one
may
venture
to
do
.
"
"
I
do
n't
understand
in
the
least
,
"
said
Barbara
,
whose
pride
was
up
in
arms
.
"
Perhaps
you
think
I
am
a
professional
singer
?
"
"
My
dear
,
a
professional
singer
spoils
everything
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
it
changes
the
character
of
an
evening
altogether
.
There
are
so
few
people
who
understand
that
.
When
you
have
professional
singers
,
you
have
to
give
yourself
up
to
music
;
and
that
is
not
my
view
in
the
least
.
My
great
aim
,
as
all
my
friends
are
aware
,
is
to
be
a
comfort
to
dear
papa
.
"
"
I
wish
you
would
not
talk
in
riddles
,
"
said
Lucilla
's
amazed
and
indignant
companion
,
in
her
round
rich
contralto
.
"
I
suppose
you
really
are
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
I
have
always
heard
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
a
little
—
—
"
"
There
!
"
said
Lucilla
triumphantly
;
"
really
it
is
almost
like
a
recitativo
to
hear
you
speak
.
I
am
so
glad
.
What
have
you
got
there
?
Oh
,
to
be
sure
,
it
's
that
duet
out
of
the
Trovatore
.
Do
let
us
try
it
;
there
is
nobody
here
,
and
everything
is
so
convenient
—
and
you
know
it
would
never
do
to
risk
a
breakdown
.
Will
you
play
the
accompaniment
,
or
shall
I
?
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
taking
off
her
gloves
.
As
for
the
drawing-master
's
daughter
,
she
stood
aghast
,
lost
in
such
sudden
bewilderment
and
perplexity
that
she
could
find
no
words
to
reply
.
She
was
not
in
the
least
amiable
or
yielding
by
nature
;
but
Lucilla
took
it
so
much
as
a
matter
of
course
that
Barbara
could
not
find
a
word
to
say
;
and
before
she
could
be
sure
that
it
was
real
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
seated
herself
at
the
piano
.
Barbara
was
so
obstinate
that
she
would
not
sing
the
first
part
,
which
ought
to
have
been
hers
;
but
she
was
not
clever
enough
for
her
antagonist
.
Lucilla
sang
her
part
by
herself
gallantly
;
and
when
it
came
to
Barbara
's
turn
the
second
time
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
essayed
the
second
in
a
false
voice
,
which
drove
the
contralto
off
her
guard
;
and
then
the
magnificent
volume
of
sound
flowed
forth
,
grand
enough
to
have
filled
Lucilla
with
envy
if
she
had
not
been
sustained
by
that
sublime
confidence
in
herself
which
is
the
first
necessity
to
a
woman
with
a
mission
.
She
paused
a
moment
in
the
accompaniment
to
clap
her
hands
after
that
strophe
was
accomplished
,
and
then
resumed
with
energy
.
For
,
to
be
sure
,
she
knew
by
instinct
what
sort
of
clay
the
people
were
made
of
by
whom
she
had
to
work
,
and
gave
them
their
reward
with
that
liberality
and
discrimination
which
is
the
glory
of
enlightened
despotism
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
naturally
elated
when
she
had
performed
this
important
and
successful
tour
.
She
got
up
from
the
piano
,
and
closed
it
in
her
open
,
imperial
way
.
"
I
do
not
want
to
tire
you
,
you
know
,
"
she
said
;
"
that
will
do
for
to-day
.
I
told
you
your
voice
was
the
very
thing
to
go
with
mine
.
Give
my
love
to
Rose
when
she
comes
in
,
but
do
n't
bring
her
with
you
when
you
come
to
me
.
She
is
a
good
little
thing
—
but
then
she
is
different
,
you
know
,
"
said
the
bland
Lucilla
;
and
she
held
out
her
hand
to
her
captive
graciously
,
and
gathered
up
her
parasol
,
which
she
had
left
on
her
chair
.
Barbara
Lake
let
her
visitor
go
after
this
,
with
a
sense
that
she
had
fallen
asleep
,
and
had
dreamt
it
all
;
but
,
after
all
,
there
was
something
in
the
visit
which
was
not
disagreeable
when
she
came
to
think
it
over
.
The
drawing-master
was
poor
,
and
he
had
a
quantity
of
children
,
as
was
natural
,
and
Barbara
had
never
forgiven
her
mother
for
dying
just
at
the
moment
when
she
had
a
chance
of
seeing
a
little
of
what
she
called
the
world
.
At
that
time
Mr
Lake
and
his
portfolio
of
drawings
were
asked
out
frequently
to
tea
;
and
when
he
had
pupils
in
the
family
,
some
kind
people
asked
him
to
bring
one
of
his
daughters
with
him
—
so
that
Barbara
,
who
was
ambitious
,
had
beheld
herself
for
a
month
or
two
almost
on
the
threshold
of
Grange
Lane
.
And
it
was
at
this
moment
of
all
others
,
just
at
the
same
time
as
Mrs
Marjoribanks
finished
her
pale
career
,
that
poor
Mrs
Lake
thought
fit
to
die
,
to
the
injury
of
her
daughter
's
prospects
and
the
destruction
of
her
hopes
.
Naturally
Barbara
had
never
quite
forgiven
that
injury
.
It
was
this
sense
of
having
been
ill-used
which
made
her
so
resolute
about
sending
Rose
to
Mount
Pleasant
,
though
the
poor
little
girl
did
not
in
the
least
want
to
go
,
and
was
very
happy
helping
her
papa
at
the
School
of
Design
.
But
Barbara
saw
no
reason
why
Rose
should
be
happy
,
while
she
herself
had
to
resign
her
inclinations
and
look
after
a
set
of
odious
children
.
To
be
sure
,
it
was
a
little
hard
upon
a
young
woman
of
a
proper
ambition
,
who
knew
she
was
handsome
,
to
fall
back
into
housekeeping
,
and
consent
to
remain
unseen
and
unheard
;
for
Barbara
was
also
aware
that
she
had
a
remarkable
voice
.
In
these
circumstances
,
it
may
be
imagined
that
,
after
the
first
movement
of
a
passionate
temper
was
over
,
when
she
had
taken
breath
,
and
had
time
to
consider
this
sudden
and
extraordinary
visit
,
a
glimmer
of
hope
and
interest
penetrated
into
the
bosom
of
the
gloomy
girl
.
She
was
two
years
older
than
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
and
as
different
in
"
style
"
as
she
was
in
voice
.
She
was
not
stout
as
yet
,
though
it
is
the
nature
of
a
contralto
to
be
stout
;
but
she
was
tall
,
with
all
due
opportunity
for
that
development
which
might
come
later
.
And
then
Barbara
possessed
a
kind
of
beauty
,
the
beauty
of
a
passionate
and
somewhat
sullen
brunette
,
dark
and
glowing
,
with
straight
black
eyebrows
,
very
dark
and
very
straight
,
which
gave
,
oddly
enough
,
a
suggestion
of
oblique
vision
to
her
eyes
;
but
her
eyes
were
not
in
the
least
oblique
,
and
looked
at
you
straight
from
under
that
black
line
of
shadow
with
no
doubtful
expression
.
She
was
shy
in
a
kind
of
way
,
as
was
natural
to
a
young
woman
who
had
never
seen
any
society
,
and
felt
herself
,
on
the
whole
,
injured
and
unappreciated
.
But
no
two
things
could
be
more
different
than
this
shyness
which
made
Barbara
look
you
straight
in
the
face
with
a
kind
of
scared
defiance
,
and
the
sweet
shyness
that
pleaded
for
kind
treatment
in
the
soft
eyes
of
little
Rose
,
who
was
plain
,
and
had
the
oddest
longing
to
make
people
comfortable
,
and
please
them
in
her
way
,
which
,
to
be
sure
,
was
not
always
successful
.
Barbara
sat
down
on
the
stool
before
the
piano
,
which
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
been
so
obliging
as
to
close
,
and
thought
it
all
over
with
growing
excitement
.
No
doubt
it
was
a
little
puzzling
to
make
out
how
the
discovery
of
a
fine
contralto
,
and
the
possibility
of
getting
up
unlimited
duets
,
could
further
Lucilla
in
the
great
aim
of
her
life
,
which
was
to
be
a
comfort
to
her
dear
papa
.
But
Barbara
was
like
a
young
soldier
of
fortune
,
ready
to
take
a
great
deal
for
granted
,
and
swallow
much
that
was
mysterious
in
the
programme
of
the
adventurous
general
who
might
lead
her
on
to
glory
.
In
half
an
hour
her
dreams
had
gone
so
far
that
she
saw
herself
receiving
in
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
drawing-room
the
homage
,
not
only
of
Grange
Lane
,
but
even
of
the
county
families
,
who
would
be
attracted
by
rumours
of
her
wonderful
performance
;
and
Barbara
was
,
to
her
own
consciousness
,
walking
up
the
middle
aisle
of
Carlingford
Church
in
a
veil
of
real
Brussels
,
before
little
Mr
Lake
came
in
,
hungry
and
good-tempered
,
from
his
round
.
To
be
sure
,
she
had
not
concluded
who
was
to
be
the
bridegroom
;
but
that
was
one
of
those
matters
of
detail
which
could
not
be
precisely
concluded
on
till
the
time
.
Such
was
the
immediate
result
,
so
far
as
this
secondary
personage
was
concerned
,
of
Lucilla
's
masterly
impromptu
;
and
it
is
needless
to
say
that
the
accomplished
warrior
,
who
had
her
wits
always
about
her
,
and
had
made
,
while
engaged
in
a
simple
reconnaissance
,
so
brilliant
and
successful
a
capture
,
withdrew
from
the
scene
still
more
entirely
satisfied
with
herself
.
Nothing
,
indeed
,
could
have
come
more
opportunely
for
Lucilla
,
who
possessed
in
perfection
that
faculty
of
throwing
herself
into
the
future
,
and
anticipating
the
difficulties
of
a
position
,
which
is
so
valuable
to
all
who
aspire
to
be
leaders
of
mankind
.
With
a
prudence
which
Dr
Marjoribanks
himself
would
have
acknowledged
to
be
remarkable
"
in
a
person
of
her
age
and
sex
,
"
Lucilla
had
already
foreseen
that
to
amuse
her
guests
entirely
in
her
own
person
,
would
be
at
once
impracticable
and
"
bad
style
.
"
The
first
objection
might
have
been
got
over
,
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
a
soul
above
the
ordinary
limits
of
possibility
,
but
the
second
unanswerable
.
This
discovery
,
however
,
satisfied
all
the
necessities
of
the
position
.
Lucilla
,
who
was
liberal
,
as
genius
ought
always
to
be
,
was
perfectly
willing
that
all
the
young
ladies
in
Carlingford
should
sing
their
little
songs
while
she
was
entertaining
her
guests
;
and
then
at
the
right
moment
,
when
her
ruling
mind
saw
it
was
necessary
,
would
occur
the
duet
—
the
one
duet
which
would
be
the
great
feature
of
the
evening
.
Thus
it
will
be
seen
that
another
quality
of
the
highest
order
developed
itself
during
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
deliberations
;
for
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
she
set
a
good
deal
of
store
by
her
voice
,
and
had
been
used
to
applause
,
and
had
tasted
the
sweetness
of
individual
success
.
This
,
however
,
she
was
willing
to
sacrifice
for
the
enhanced
and
magnificent
effect
which
she
felt
could
be
produced
by
the
combination
of
the
two
voices
;
and
the
sacrifice
was
one
which
a
weaker
woman
would
have
been
incapable
of
making
.
She
went
home
past
Salem
Chapel
by
the
little
lane
which
makes
a
line
of
communication
between
the
end
of
Grove
Street
and
the
beginning
of
Grange
Lane
,
with
a
sentiment
of
satisfaction
worthy
the
greatness
of
her
mission
.
Dr
Marjoribanks
never
came
home
to
lunch
,
and
indeed
had
a
contempt
for
that
feminine
indulgence
;
which
,
to
be
sure
,
might
be
accounted
for
by
the
fact
that
about
that
time
in
the
day
the
Doctor
very
often
found
himself
to
be
passing
close
by
one
or
other
of
the
houses
in
the
neighbourhood
which
had
a
reputation
for
good
sherry
or
madeira
,
such
as
exists
no
more
.
Lucilla
,
accordingly
,
had
her
lunch
alone
,
served
to
her
with
respectful
care
by
Nancy
,
who
was
still
under
the
impression
of
the
interview
of
the
morning
;
and
it
occurred
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
as
she
sat
at
table
alone
,
that
this
was
an
opportunity
too
valuable
to
be
left
unimproved
;
for
,
to
be
sure
,
there
are
few
things
more
pleasant
than
a
little
impromptu
luncheon-party
,
where
everybody
comes
without
being
expected
,
fresh
from
the
outside
world
,
and
ready
to
tell
all
that
is
going
on
;
though
,
on
the
other
hand
,
it
was
a
little
doubtful
how
it
might
work
in
Carlingford
,
where
the
men
had
generally
something
to
do
,
and
where
the
married
ladies
took
their
luncheon
when
the
children
had
their
dinner
,
and
presided
at
the
nursery
meal
.
And
as
for
a
party
of
young
ladies
,
even
supposing
they
had
the
courage
to
come
,
with
no
more
solid
admixture
of
the
more
important
members
of
society
,
Lucilla
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
had
no
particular
taste
for
that
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
reflected
as
she
ate
—
and
indeed
,
thanks
to
her
perfect
health
and
her
agreeable
morning
walk
,
Lucilla
had
a
very
pretty
appetite
,
and
enjoyed
her
meal
in
a
way
that
would
have
been
most
satisfactory
to
her
many
friends
—
that
it
must
be
by
way
of
making
his
visit
,
which
was
aggravating
under
all
circumstances
,
more
aggravating
still
,
that
Tom
Marjoribanks
had
decided
to
come
now
,
of
all
times
in
the
world
.
"
If
he
had
waited
till
things
were
organised
,
he
might
have
been
of
a
little
use
,
"
Lucilla
said
to
herself
;
"
for
at
least
he
could
have
brought
some
of
the
men
that
come
on
circuit
,
and
that
would
have
made
a
little
novelty
;
but
,
of
course
,
just
now
it
would
never
do
to
make
a
rush
at
people
,
and
invite
them
all
at
once
.
"
After
a
moment
's
consideration
,
however
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
her
usual
candour
,
reflected
that
it
was
not
in
Tom
Marjoribanks
's
power
to
change
the
time
of
the
Carlingford
assizes
,
and
that
,
accordingly
,
he
was
not
to
be
blamed
in
this
particular
at
least
.
"
Of
course
it
is
not
his
fault
,
"
she
added
,
to
herself
,
"
but
it
is
astonishing
how
things
happen
with
some
men
always
at
the
wrong
moment
;
and
it
is
so
like
Tom
.
"
These
reflections
were
interrupted
by
the
arrival
of
visitors
,
whom
Miss
Marjoribanks
received
with
her
usual
grace
.
The
first
was
old
Mrs
Chiley
,
who
kissed
Lucilla
,
and
wanted
to
know
how
she
had
enjoyed
herself
on
the
Continent
,
and
if
she
had
brought
many
pretty
things
home
.
"
My
dear
,
you
have
grown
ever
so
much
since
the
last
time
I
saw
you
,
"
the
old
lady
said
in
her
grandmotherly
way
,
"
and
stout
with
it
,
which
is
such
a
comfort
with
a
tall
girl
;
and
then
your
poor
dear
mamma
was
so
delicate
.
I
have
always
been
a
little
anxious
about
you
on
that
account
,
Lucilla
;
and
I
am
so
glad
,
my
dear
,
to
see
you
looking
so
strong
.
"
"
Dear
Mrs
Chiley
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
who
perhaps
in
her
heart
was
not
quite
so
gratified
by
this
compliment
as
the
old
lady
intended
,
"
the
great
aim
of
my
life
is
to
be
a
comfort
to
dear
papa
.
"
Mrs
Chiley
was
very
much
moved
by
this
filial
piety
,
and
she
told
Lucilla
that
story
about
the
Colonel
's
niece
,
Susan
,
who
was
such
a
good
daughter
,
and
had
refused
three
excellent
offers
,
to
devote
herself
to
her
father
and
mother
,
with
which
the
public
in
Grange
Lane
were
tolerably
acquainted
.
"
And
one
of
them
was
a
baronet
,
my
dear
,
"
said
Mrs
Chiley
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
did
not
make
any
decided
response
,
for
she
felt
that
it
would
be
dangerous
to
commit
herself
to
such
a
height
of
self-abnegation
as
that
;
but
the
old
lady
was
quite
pleased
to
hear
of
her
travels
and
adventures
instead
;
and
stayed
so
long
that
Mrs
Centum
and
Mrs
Woodburn
,
who
happened
to
arrive
at
the
same
moment
,
found
her
still
there
.
Mrs
Chiley
was
a
little
afraid
of
Mrs
Woodburn
,
and
she
took
her
leave
hastily
,
with
another
kiss
;
and
Lucilla
found
herself
face
to
face
with
the
only
two
women
who
could
attempt
a
rival
enterprise
to
her
own
in
Carlingford
.
As
for
Mrs
Woodburn
,
she
had
settled
herself
in
an
easy-chair
by
the
fire
,
and
was
fully
prepared
to
take
notes
.
To
be
sure
,
Lucilla
was
the
very
person
to
fall
victim
to
her
arts
;
for
that
confidence
in
herself
which
,
in
one
point
of
view
,
gave
grandeur
to
the
character
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
gave
her
also
a
certain
naïveté
and
openness
which
the
most
simple
rustic
could
not
have
surpassed
.
"
I
am
sure
by
her
face
she
has
been
telling
you
about
my
niece
Susan
,
"
said
the
mimic
,
assuming
Mrs
Chiley
's
tone
,
and
almost
her
appearance
,
for
the
moment
,
"
and
that
one
of
them
was
a
baronet
,
my
dear
.
I
always
know
from
her
looks
what
she
has
been
saying
;
and
'
the
Colonel
was
much
as
usual
,
but
suffering
a
little
from
the
cold
,
as
he
always
does
in
this
climate
.
'
She
must
be
a
good
soul
,
for
she
always
has
her
favourite
little
speeches
written
in
her
face
.
"
"
I
am
sure
I
do
n't
know
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
who
felt
it
was
her
duty
to
make
an
example
;
"
there
has
always
been
one
thing
remarked
of
me
all
my
life
,
that
I
never
have
had
a
great
sense
of
humour
.
I
know
it
is
singular
,
but
when
one
has
a
defect
,
it
is
always
so
much
better
to
confess
it
.
I
always
get
on
very
well
with
anything
else
,
but
I
never
had
any
sense
of
humour
,
you
know
;
and
I
am
very
fond
of
Mrs
Chiley
.
She
has
always
had
a
fancy
for
me
from
the
time
I
was
born
;
and
she
has
such
nice
manners
.
But
then
,
it
is
so
odd
I
should
have
no
sense
of
humour
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
addressing
herself
to
Mrs
Centum
,
who
was
sitting
on
the
sofa
by
her
.
"
Do
n't
you
think
it
is
very
odd
?
"
"
I
am
sure
it
is
very
nice
,
"
said
Mrs
Centum
.
"
I
hate
people
that
laugh
at
everything
.
I
do
n't
see
much
to
laugh
at
myself
,
I
am
sure
,
in
this
distracting
world
;
any
one
who
has
a
lot
of
children
and
servants
like
me
to
look
after
,
finds
very
little
to
laugh
at
.
"
And
she
seized
the
opportunity
to
enter
upon
domestic
circumstances
.
Mrs
Woodburn
did
not
answer
a
word
.
She
made
a
most
dashing
murderous
sketch
of
Lucilla
,
but
that
did
the
future
ruler
of
Carlingford
very
little
harm
;
and
then
,
by
the
evening
,
it
was
known
through
all
Grange
Lane
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
snubbed
the
caricaturist
who
kept
all
the
good
people
in
terror
of
their
lives
.
Snubbed
her
absolutely
,
and
took
the
words
out
of
her
very
mouth
,
was
the
report
that
flew
through
Grange
Lane
;
and
it
may
be
imagined
how
Lucilla
's
prestige
rose
in
consequence
,
and
how
much
people
began
to
expect
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
who
had
performed
such
a
feat
almost
on
the
first
day
of
her
return
home
.
Chapter
VI
Tom
Marjoribanks
arrived
that
night
,
according
to
the
Doctor
's
expectation
.
He
arrived
,
with
that
curious
want
of
adaptation
to
the
circumstances
which
characterised
the
young
man
,
at
an
hour
which
put
Nancy
entirely
out
,
and
upset
the
equanimity
of
the
kitchen
for
twenty-four
hours
at
least
.
He
came
,
if
any
one
can
conceive
of
such
an
instance
of
carelessness
,
by
the
nine
o'clock
train
,
just
as
they
had
finished
putting
to
rights
downstairs
.
After
this
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
conclusion
that
the
fact
of
the
Carlingford
assizes
occurring
a
day
or
two
after
her
arrival
,
when
as
yet
she
was
not
fully
prepared
to
take
advantage
of
them
,
was
so
like
Tom
,
may
be
partially
understood
.
And
of
course
he
was
furiously
hungry
,
and
could
have
managed
perfectly
to
be
in
time
for
dinner
if
he
had
not
missed
the
train
at
Didcot
Junction
,
by
some
wonderful
blunder
of
the
railway
people
,
which
never
could
have
occurred
but
for
his
unlucky
presence
among
the
passengers
.
Lucilla
took
Thomas
apart
,
and
sent
him
downstairs
with
the
most
conciliatory
message
.
"
Tell
Nancy
not
to
put
herself
about
,
but
to
send
up
something
cold
—
the
cold
pie
,
or
anything
she
can
find
handy
.
Tell
her
I
am
so
vexed
,
but
it
is
just
like
Mr
Tom
;
and
he
never
knows
what
he
is
eating
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
As
for
Nancy
,
this
sweetness
did
not
subdue
her
in
the
least
.
She
said
,
"
I
'll
thank
Miss
Lucilla
to
mind
her
own
business
.
The
cold
pie
is
for
master
's
breakfast
.
I
ai
n't
such
a
goose
as
not
to
know
what
to
send
upstairs
,
and
that
Tummas
can
tell
her
if
he
likes
.
"
In
the
meantime
the
Doctor
was
in
the
drawing-room
,
much
against
his
will
,
with
the
two
young
people
,
spinning
about
the
room
,
and
looking
at
Lucilla
's
books
and
knick-knacks
on
the
tables
by
way
of
covering
his
impatience
.
He
wanted
to
carry
off
Tom
,
who
was
rather
a
favourite
,
to
his
own
den
downstairs
,
where
the
young
man
's
supper
was
to
be
served
;
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
Dr
Marjoribanks
could
not
deny
that
Lucilla
had
a
right
to
the
greetings
and
homage
of
her
cousin
.
He
could
not
help
thinking
,
on
the
whole
,
as
he
looked
at
the
two
,
what
a
much
more
sensible
arrangement
it
would
have
been
if
he
had
had
the
boy
,
instead
of
his
sister
,
who
had
been
a
widow
for
ever
so
long
,
and
no
doubt
had
spoiled
her
son
,
as
women
always
do
;
and
then
Lucilla
might
have
passed
under
the
sway
of
Mrs
Marjoribanks
,
who
no
doubt
would
have
known
how
to
manage
her
.
Thus
the
Doctor
mused
,
with
that
sense
of
mild
amazement
at
the
blunders
of
Providence
,
which
so
many
people
experience
,
and
without
any
idea
that
Mrs
Marjoribanks
would
have
found
a
task
a
great
deal
beyond
her
powers
in
the
management
of
Lucilla
.
As
for
Tom
,
he
was
horribly
hungry
,
having
found
,
as
was
to
be
expected
,
no
possible
means
of
lunching
at
Didcot
;
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
he
was
exhilarated
by
Lucilla
's
smile
,
and
delighted
to
think
of
having
a
week
at
least
to
spend
in
her
society
.
"
I
do
n't
think
I
ever
saw
you
looking
so
well
,
"
he
was
saying
;
"
and
you
know
my
opinion
generally
on
that
subject
.
"
To
which
Lucilla
responded
in
a
way
to
wither
all
the
germs
of
sentiment
in
the
bud
