whohad
no
clue
to
Mrs
Chiley
's
special
curiosity
,
and
who
had
a
good
many
things
on
her
mind
just
at
that
moment
which
she
rather
preferred
not
to
talk
about
,
she
was
for
once
struck
with
veritable
astonishment
,
and
did
not
know
what
to
say
.
"
Dear
Mrs
Chiley
,
what
should
I
have
to
tell
you
?
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
"
You
know
very
well
where
I
should
go
the
very
first
moment
if
anything
happened
;
"
and
by
way
of
staving
off
more
particular
questions
,
she
took
her
old
friend
a
cup
of
tea
.
"
Yes
,
my
dear
,
I
hope
so
,
"
said
Mrs
Chiley
,
but
at
the
same
time
her
disappointment
was
evident
.
"
It
is
very
nice
,
thank
you
—
your
tea
is
always
nice
,
Lucilla
—
but
it
was
not
that
I
was
thinking
of
.
I
ca
n't
understand
how
it
is
,
I
am
sure
.
I
saw
him
to-day
with
my
own
eyes
,
and
could
not
help
seeing
how
anxious
he
was
looking
!
I
hope
,
I
do
hope
,
you
have
not
been
so
cruel
as
to
refuse
him
,
Lucilla
—
and
all
for
something
that
is
not
his
fault
,
poor
fellow
,
or
that
could
be
explained
,
you
may
be
sure
.
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
grew
more
and
more
surprised
as
she
listened
.
She
put
away
the
kettle
without
filling
the
teapot
,
and
left
her
own
cup
standing
untasted
,
and
went
and
sat
down
on
the
stool
by
Mrs
Chiley
's
feet
.
"
Tell
me
whom
I
have
refused
this
time
,
for
I
do
n't
know
anything
about
it
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
and
then
her
visitor
burst
forth
.
"
It
must
be
all
that
creature
's
fault
!
He
told
me
he
was
coming
here
;
and
to
tell
the
truth
,
I
stood
and
watched
him
,
for
you
know
how
interested
I
am
,
my
dear
;
and
then
a
little
while
after
he
met
that
Barbara
.
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
why
were
you
ever
so
foolish
as
to
have
her
here
?
I
told
you
how
it
would
end
when
you
brought
those
artist
people
about
your
house
.
They
are
all
a
set
of
adventurers
!
"
cried
Mrs
Chiley
.
"
I
saw
them
meet
,
and
I
was
so
disgusted
that
I
did
not
know
what
I
was
doing
;
but
he
passed
her
as
nicely
as
possible
.
Just
a
civil
word
,
you
know
,
and
then
he
was
past
.
Just
as
I
would
have
done
myself
;
for
it
is
always
best
not
to
be
uncivil
to
anybody
.
I
could
see
her
standing
as
if
she
had
been
struck
with
lightning
;
and
naturally
,
Lucilla
,
I
never
thought
anything
else
than
that
he
had
come
here
,
and
that
all
was
right
between
you
.
Oh
,
my
dear
,
I
hope
you
are
sure
you
have
not
refused
him
,
"
Mrs
Chiley
said
,
piteously
;
"
anyhow
,
Lucilla
,
you
need
not
mind
telling
me
.
I
may
be
sorry
,
but
I
will
not
blame
you
,
my
dear
.
"
"
I
have
not
refused
anybody
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
a
modest
innocence
that
it
was
a
pleasure
to
see
;
"
but
,
dear
Mrs
Chiley
,
"
she
continued
,
raising
her
drooping
eyelids
,
"
I
think
you
make
a
mistake
about
Mr
Cavendish
.
My
own
opinion
is
that
Barbara
would
make
him
a
very
nice
wife
.
Oh
,
please
,
do
n't
be
angry
!
I
do
n't
mean
to
say
,
you
know
,
that
I
think
her
quite
what
one
would
call
nice
—
for
oneself
.
But
then
the
gentlemen
have
such
strange
ways
of
thinking
.
Many
a
girl
whom
we
could
not
put
up
with
is
quite
popular
with
Them
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
a
certain
mild
wonder
at
the
inexplicable
creatures
whom
she
thus
condescended
to
discuss
.
"
I
suppose
they
have
a
different
standard
,
you
know
;
and
for
my
part
,
I
would
advise
Mr
Cavendish
to
marry
Barbara
.
I
think
it
is
the
best
thing
he
could
do
.
"
"
Lucilla
!
"
cried
Mrs
Chiley
,
almost
with
a
shriek
of
horror
.
She
thought
,
as
was
perhaps
natural
,
that
there
was
some
pique
in
what
her
young
companion
said
;
not
doing
Miss
Marjoribanks
justice
—
as
indeed
few
people
did
—
for
that
perfect
truthfulness
which
it
was
Lucilla
's
luck
always
to
be
able
to
maintain
.
Mrs
Chiley
thought
it
was
her
young
friend
's
maidenly
pride
and
determination
not
to
take
up
the
part
of
a
woman
slighted
or
jilted
.
"
You
may
refuse
him
,
my
dear
,
if
your
heart
is
not
with
him
,
"
said
the
old
lady
;
"
but
I
would
not
be
so
hard
upon
him
as
that
,
poor
fellow
.
You
may
say
what
you
please
,
but
I
always
will
think
him
nice
,
Lucilla
.
I
know
I
ought
to
be
on
the
Archdeacon
's
side
,
"
said
Mrs
Chiley
,
putting
her
handkerchief
to
her
eyes
;
"
but
I
am
an
old
woman
,
and
I
like
my
old
friends
best
.
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
it
is
not
kind
of
you
to
keep
up
appearances
with
me
.
I
wish
you
would
give
way
a
little
.
It
would
do
you
good
,
my
darling
;
and
you
know
I
might
be
both
your
grandmothers
,
Lucilla
,
"
she
cried
,
putting
her
arm
round
her
favourite
.
As
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
she
gave
her
old
friend
a
close
embrace
,
which
was
the
only
thing
that
even
her
genius
could
suggest
to
do
.
"
I
have
always
you
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
touching
eloquence
;
and
then
she
freed
herself
a
little
from
Mrs
Chiley
's
arms
.
"
I
do
n't
say
,
perhaps
,
that
everybody
will
receive
her
;
but
I
mean
to
make
an
effort
,
for
my
part
;
and
I
shall
certainly
tell
Mr
Cavendish
so
if
he
ever
speaks
of
it
to
me
.
As
for
Mr
Beverley
,
he
is
going
to
be
married
too
.
Did
not
you
hear
?
He
told
me
all
about
it
himself
one
day
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
and
I
will
ask
him
to-night
if
I
may
not
tell
you
who
the
lady
is
.
It
is
quite
a
little
romance
,
and
I
hope
we
shall
have
two
marriages
,
and
it
will
make
it
quite
gay
for
the
winter
.
When
you
know
all
about
it
,
"
Lucilla
added
tenderly
,
by
way
of
breaking
the
shock
,
"
I
am
sure
you
will
be
pleased
.
"
But
instead
of
being
pleased
,
Mrs
Chiley
was
speechless
for
the
moment
.
Her
fresh
old
cheeks
grew
ashy
with
dismay
and
horror
.
"
The
Archdeacon
too
!
"
she
cried
,
gasping
for
breath
.
"
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
my
dear
?
—
and
you
?
"
Then
the
kind
old
lady
held
Miss
Marjoribanks
fast
,
and
sobbed
over
her
in
the
despair
of
the
moment
.
To
think
,
after
all
the
pains
that
had
been
taken
,
and
all
the
hopes
and
all
the
speculations
,
that
neither
the
one
nor
the
other
was
coming
to
anything
!
"
If
it
should
be
that
General
,
after
all
—
and
I
cannot
abide
him
,
"
sobbed
Lucilla
's
anxious
friend
.
But
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
genius
carried
her
through
this
trial
,
as
well
as
through
all
the
others
which
she
had
yet
encountered
on
her
way
.
"
Dear
Mrs
Chiley
!
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
it
is
so
good
of
you
to
care
;
but
if
it
had
been
that
I
was
thinking
of
,
I
need
never
have
come
home
at
all
,
you
know
;
and
my
object
in
life
is
just
what
it
has
always
been
,
to
be
a
comfort
to
papa
.
"
Upon
which
Mrs
Chiley
kissed
her
young
friend
once
more
with
lingering
meaning
.
"
My
dear
,
I
do
n't
know
what
They
mean
,
"
she
said
,
with
indignation
;
"
everybody
knows
men
are
great
fools
where
women
are
concerned
—
but
I
never
knew
what
idiots
they
were
till
now
;
and
you
are
too
good
for
them
,
my
darling
!
"
said
Mrs
Chiley
,
with
indignant
tenderness
.
Perhaps
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
in
some
respects
of
the
same
way
of
thinking
.
She
conducted
her
sympathetic
friend
to
the
garden
door
,
when
it
came
to
be
time
for
everybody
to
go
and
dress
,
with
a
certain
pathetic
elevation
in
her
own
person
,
which
was
not
out
of
accord
with
Mrs
Chiley
's
virtuous
wrath
.
To
have
Mrs
Mortimer
and
Barbara
Lake
preferred
to
her
did
not
wound
Lucilla
's
pride
—
one
can
be
wounded
in
that
way
only
by
one
's
equals
.
She
thought
of
it
with
a
certain
mild
pity
and
charitable
contempt
.
Both
these
two
men
had
had
the
chance
of
having
her
,
and
this
was
how
they
had
chosen
!
And
there
can
be
little
wonder
if
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
compassion
for
them
was
mingled
with
a
little
friendly
and
condescending
disdain
.
It
was
,
however
,
an
ease
to
Lucilla
's
mind
that
she
had
let
Mrs
Chiley
know
,
and
was
so
far
free
to
work
out
her
plans
without
any
fear
of
misconception
.
And
on
the
whole
,
her
old
friend
's
tender
indignation
was
not
disagreeable
to
her
.
Thus
it
was
,
without
any
interval
of
repose
to
speak
of
,
that
her
lofty
energies
went
on
unwearied
to
overrule
and
guide
the
crisis
which
was
to
decide
so
many
people
's
fate
.
Chapter
XXXII
Dr
Marjoribanks
was
not
a
man
to
take
very
much
notice
of
trivial
external
changes
;
and
he
knew
Lucilla
and
her
constitution
,
and
,
being
a
medical
man
,
was
not
perhaps
so
liable
to
parental
anxieties
as
an
unprofessional
father
might
have
been
;
but
even
he
was
a
little
struck
by
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
appearance
when
he
came
into
the
drawing-room
.
He
said
,
"
You
are
flushed
,
Lucilla
?
is
anything
going
to
happen
?
"
with
the
calmness
of
a
man
who
knew
there
was
not
much
the
matter
—
but
yet
he
did
observe
that
her
colour
was
not
exactly
what
it
always
was
.
"
I
am
quite
well
,
papa
,
thank
you
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
which
,
to
be
sure
,
was
a
fact
the
Doctor
had
never
doubted
;
and
then
the
people
began
to
come
in
,
and
there
was
no
more
to
be
said
.
But
there
could
be
no
doubt
that
Lucilla
had
more
colour
than
usual
.
Her
pulse
was
quite
steady
,
and
her
heart
going
on
at
its
ordinary
rate
;
but
her
admirable
circulation
was
nevertheless
so
far
affected
,
that
the
ordinary
rose-tints
of
her
complexion
were
all
deepened
.
It
was
not
so
distinctly
an
improvement
as
it
would
have
been
had
she
been
habitually
pale
;
but
still
the
flush
was
moderate
,
and
did
Miss
Marjoribanks
no
harm
.
And
then
it
was
a
larger
party
than
usual
.
The
Centums
were
there
,
who
were
General
Travers
's
chaperons
,
and
so
were
the
Woodburns
,
and
of
course
Mrs
Chiley
,
which
made
up
the
number
of
ladies
beyond
what
was
general
at
Dr
Marjoribanks
's
table
.
Lucilla
received
all
her
guests
with
the
sweetest
smiles
and
all
her
ordinary
ease
and
self-possession
,
but
at
the
same
time
her
mind
was
not
free
from
some
excitement
.
She
was
on
the
eve
of
a
crisis
which
would
be
the
greatest
failure
or
the
greatest
success
of
her
public
life
,
and
naturally
she
anticipated
it
with
a
certain
emotion
.
Mr
Cavendish
,
for
his
part
,
had
sufficient
sense
to
come
very
early
,
and
to
get
into
a
dark
corner
and
keep
himself
out
of
the
way
;
for
though
he
was
screwed
up
to
the
emergency
,
his
self-possession
was
nothing
to
that
of
Lucilla
.
But
on
the
whole
,
it
was
perhaps
Mrs
Woodburn
who
suffered
the
most
.
Her
heightened
colour
was
more
conspicuous
than
that
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
because
as
a
general
rule
she
was
pale
.
She
was
pale
,
almost
white
,
and
had
dark
eyes
and
dark
hair
,
and
possessed
precisely
all
the
accessories
which
make
a
sudden
change
of
complexion
remarkable
;
and
the
effect
this
evening
was
so
evident
that
even
her
husband
admired
her
for
a
moment
,
and
then
stopped
short
to
inquire
,
"
By
George
!
had
she
begun
to
paint
?
"
to
which
question
Mrs
Woodburn
naturally
replied
only
by
an
indignant
shrug
of
her
white
shoulders
and
aversion
of
her
head
.
She
would
not
have
been
sorry
,
perhaps
,
for
this
night
only
,
if
he
had
believed
that
it
was
rouge
,
and
not
emotion
.
Of
all
the
people
at
Dr
Marjoribanks
's
table
,
she
perhaps
was
the
only
one
really
to
be
pitied
.
Even
Mr
Cavendish
,
if
vanquished
,
would
at
the
most
receive
only
the
recompense
of
his
deeds
,
and
could
go
away
and
begin
over
again
somewhere
else
,
or
bury
himself
in
the
great
depths
of
general
society
,
where
nobody
would
be
the
wiser
;
but
as
for
his
sister
,
she
could
not
go
away
.
The
first
result
for
her
would
be
to
give
the
master
to
whom
she
belonged
,
and
for
whom
she
had
,
with
some
affection
,
a
great
deal
of
not
unnatural
contempt
,
a
cruel
and
overwhelming
power
over
her
;
and
she
knew
,
poor
soul
,
that
he
was
not
at
all
too
generous
or
delicate
to
make
use
of
such
a
power
.
In
such
a
case
she
would
be
bound
to
the
rock
,
like
a
kind
of
hapless
Andromeda
,
to
be
pecked
at
by
all
the
birds
and
blown
at
by
all
the
winds
,
not
to
speak
of
the
devouring
monster
from
whom
no
hero
could
ever
deliver
her
;
and
with
all
these
horrible
consequences
before
her
eyes
,
she
had
to
sit
still
and
look
on
and
do
nothing
,
to
see
all
the
hidden
meaning
of
every
look
and
movement
without
appearing
to
see
it
,
to
maintain
ordinary
conversation
when
her
ear
was
strained
to
the
uttermost
to
hear
words
of
fate
on
which
her
whole
future
depended
.
No
wonder
her
colour
was
high
;
and
she
could
not
go
into
a
corner
,
as
Mr
Cavendish
did
,
nor
keep
silent
,
nor
withdraw
herself
from
observation
.
Neither
her
pulse
nor
her
heart
would
have
borne
the
scrutiny
to
which
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
calm
organs
might
have
been
subjected
with
perfect
security
;
and
the
chances
are
,
if
the
Doctor
had
by
any
hazard
put
his
finger
on
her
wrist
when
he
shook
hands
with
her
,
that
instead
of
handing
her
over
to
General
Travers
to
be
taken
down
to
dinner
,
he
would
have
,
on
the
contrary
,
sent
her
off
to
bed
.
Fortunately
by
this
time
the
year
was
declining
,
and
that
happy
season
had
returned
in
which
people
once
more
begin
to
dine
by
artificial
light
;
and
at
the
same
time
it
was
not
absolutely
dark
in
the
drawing-room
,
so
that
Lucilla
had
not
,
as
she
said
,
thought
it
necessary
to
have
the
candles
lighted
.
"
If
there
should
happen
to
be
a
mistake
as
to
who
is
to
take
down
who
,
it
will
only
be
all
the
more
amusing
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
so
long
as
you
do
not
go
off
and
leave
me
.
"
This
was
addressed
to
the
Archdeacon
,
to
whom
Lucilla
was
very
particular
in
her
attentions
at
that
moment
.
Mrs
Chiley
,
who
was
looking
on
with
a
great
sense
of
depression
,
could
not
help
wondering
why
—
"
When
she
knows
he
is
engaged
and
everything
settled
,
"
the
old
lady
said
to
herself
,
with
natural
indignation
.
For
her
part
,
she
did
not
see
what
right
a
man
had
to
introduce
himself
thus
under
false
pretences
into
the
confiding
bosom
of
society
—
when
he
was
as
bad
as
married
,
or
even
indeed
worse
.
She
was
ruffled
,
and
she
did
not
think
it
worth
while
to
conceal
that
she
was
so
;
for
there
are
limits
to
human
patience
,
and
a
visitor
who
stays
six
weeks
ought
at
least
to
have
confidence
in
his
entertainers
.
Mrs
Chiley
for
once
in
her
life
could
have
boxed
Lucilla
's
ears
for
her
uncalled-for
civility
.
"
I
think
it
very
strange
that
it
is
not
the
General
who
takes
her
downstairs
,
"
she
said
to
Mrs
Centum
.
"
It
is
all
very
well
to
have
a
respect
for
clergymen
;
but
after
being
here
so
often
,
and
the
General
quite
a
stranger
—
I
am
surprised
at
Lucilla
,
"
said
the
indiscreet
old
lady
.
As
for
Mrs
Centum
,
she
felt
the
neglect
,
but
she
had
too
much
proper
pride
to
own
that
her
man
was
not
receiving
due
attention
.
"
It
is
not
the
first
time
General
Travers
has
been
here
,
"
she
said
,
reserving
the
question
;
and
so
in
the
uncertain
light
,
when
nobody
was
sure
who
was
his
neighbour
,
the
procession
filed
downstairs
.
To
enter
the
dining-room
,
all
brilliant
and
shining
as
it
was
,
radiant
with
light
and
flowers
and
crystal
and
silver
,
and
everything
that
makes
a
dinner-table
pretty
to
look
upon
,
was
,
as
Mrs
Centum
said
,
"
quite
a
contrast
.
"
A
close
observer
might
have
remarked
,
as
Mrs
Woodburn
and
Lucilla
took
their
places
,
that
both
of
them
,
instead
of
that
flush
which
had
been
so
noticeable
a
short
time
before
,
had
become
quite
pale
.
It
was
the
moment
of
trial
.
Poor
Mr
Cavendish
,
in
his
excitement
,
had
taken
just
the
place
he
ought
not
to
have
taken
,
immediately
under
the
lamp
at
the
centre
of
the
table
.
During
the
moment
when
the
unsuspecting
Archdeacon
said
grace
with
his
eyes
decorously
cast
down
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
owned
the
ordinary
weakness
of
humanity
so
much
as
to
drop
her
fan
and
her
handkerchief
,
and
even
the
napkin
which
was
arranged
in
a
symmetrical
pyramid
on
her
plate
.
Such
a
sign
of
human
feebleness
could
but
endear
her
to
everybody
who
was
aware
of
the
momentous
character
of
the
crisis
.
When
these
were
all
happily
recovered
and
everybody
seated
,
Lucilla
kept
her
eyes
fixed
upon
the
Archdeacon
's
face
.
It
was
,
as
we
have
said
,
a
terrible
moment
.
When
he
raised
his
head
and
looked
round
him
,
naturally
Mr
Beverley
's
eyes
went
direct
to
the
mark
like
an
arrow
;
he
looked
,
and
he
saw
at
the
centre
of
the
table
,
surrounded
by
every
kind
of
regard
and
consideration
,
full
in
the
light
of
the
lamp
,
his
favourite
adventurer
,
the
impostor
whom
he
had
denounced
the
first
time
he
took
his
place
by
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
side
.
The
Archdeacon
rose
to
his
feet
in
the
excitement
of
the
discovery
;
he
put
his
hand
over
his
eyes
as
if
to
clear
them
.
He
said
,
"
Good
God
!
"
loud
out
,
with
an
accent
of
horror
which
paralysed
the
two
people
lower
down
than
himself
.
As
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
she
was
not
paralysed
—
she
who
had
not
lost
a
single
glance
of
his
eyes
or
movement
of
his
large
person
.
Lucilla
rose
to
the
height
of
the
position
.
She
put
her
hand
upon
his
arm
sharply
,
and
with
a
certain
energy
.
"
Mr
Beverley
,
Thomas
is
behind
you
with
the
soup
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
The
Archdeacon
turned
round
to
see
what
it
was
,
conscious
that
somebody
had
spoken
to
him
,
but
as
indifferent
to
his
companion
and
to
civility
as
he
was
to
Thomas
and
the
soup
.
"
What
?
"
he
said
hoarsely
,
interrupting
his
scrutiny
for
the
moment
.
But
when
he
had
met
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
eye
the
Archdeacon
sat
down
.
Lucilla
did
not
liberate
him
for
a
moment
from
that
gaze
.
She
fixed
her
eyes
upon
his
eyes
,
and
looked
at
him
as
people
only
look
when
they
mean
something
.
"
If
you
tell
me
what
surprised
you
so
much
,
perhaps
I
can
explain
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
She
spoke
so
that
nobody
could
hear
but
himself
;
and
in
the
meantime
General
Travers
at
her
left
hand
was
making
himself
excessively
agreeable
to
Mrs
Woodburn
,
and
no
doubt
occupying
all
her
attention
;
and
Lucilla
never
turned
her
eyes
for
a
moment
from
the
Archdeacon
's
face
.
"
I
beg
your
pardon
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
.
"
I
was
confounded
by
what
I
saw
.
Good
heavens
!
it
is
not
possible
I
can
deceive
myself
.
I
understand
your
alarm
.
I
am
not
going
to
make
a
disturbance
and
break
up
your
party
.
I
can
wait
,
"
the
Archdeacon
said
,
drawing
a
rapid
forcible
breath
.
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
do
you
know
who
that
man
is
?
"
"
Oh
,
yes
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
softening
into
a
smile
.
"
Perfectly
,
I
assure
you
.
He
is
one
of
papa
's
guests
,
and
very
much
respected
in
Carlingford
;
and
he
is
one
of
my
—
very
particular
friends
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
.
She
laughed
as
she
spoke
,
a
kind
of
laugh
which
is
only
appropriate
to
one
subject
,
and
which
is
as
good
,
any
day
,
as
a
confession
;
and
the
flush
was
so
obliging
as
to
return
at
that
moment
to
her
ingenuous
countenance
.
"
We
have
known
each
other
a
long
time
,
"
Lucilla
went
on
after
that
pretty
pause
;
and
then
she
raised
her
confiding
eyes
,
which
had
been
cast
down
,
once
more
to
the
Archdeacon
's
face
.
"
You
ca
n't
think
how
nice
he
is
,
Mr
Beverley
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
She
clasped
her
hands
together
,
just
for
a
moment
,
as
she
did
so
,
with
an
eloquent
meaning
which
it
was
impossible
to
mistake
.
The
Archdeacon
,
for
his
part
,
gazed
at
her
like
a
man
in
a
dream
.
Whether
it
was
true
—
or
whether
he
was
being
made
a
fool
of
more
completely
than
ever
man
before
was
—
or
whether
he
was
the
victim
of
an
optical
or
some
other
kind
of
delusion
,
—
the
poor
man
could
not
tell
.
He
was
utterly
stricken
dumb
,
and
did
not
know
what
to
say
.
He
accepted
the
soup
humbly
,
which
Thomas
set
before
him
,
though
it
was
a
white
soup
,
an
effeminate
dish
,
which
went
utterly
in
the
face
of
his
principles
.
And
then
he
looked
at
the
innocent
young
creature
at
his
side
in
that
flutter
of
happy
confusion
.
It
was
a
terrible
position
for
the
Broad-Churchman
.
After
such
a
tacit
confession
he
could
not
spring
from
his
seat
and
hurl
the
impostor
out
of
the
room
,
as
in
the
first
place
he
had
a
mind
to
do
.
On
the
contrary
,
it
was
with
a
voice
trembling
with
emotion
that
he
spoke
.
"
My
dear
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
said
the
Archdeacon
,
"
I
am
struck
dumb
by
what
you
tell
me
.
Good
heavens
!
that
it
should
have
come
to
this
;
and
yet
I
should
be
neglecting
my
duty
if
I
kept
silent
.
You
do
not
—
you
cannot
know
who
he
is
.
"
"
Oh
,
yes
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
another
little
laugh
—
"
everything
—
and
how
he
used
to
know
Mrs
Mortimer
,
and
all
about
it
.
He
has
no
secrets
from
me
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
She
caught
Mr
Cavendish
's
eye
at
the
moment
,
who
was
casting
a
stealthy
glance
in
her
direction
,
and
who
looked
cowed
and
silenced
and
unquiet
to
the
most
miserable
degree
;
and
she
gave
him
a
little
reassuring
nod
,
which
the
Archdeacon
watched
with
an
inward
groan
.
What
was
he
to
do
?
He
could
not
publicly
expose
the
man
who
had
just
received
this
mark
of
confidence
from
his
young
hostess
,
who
knew
everything
.
Perhaps
it
was
one
of
the
greatest
trials
of
Christian
patience
and
fortitude
which
the
Archdeacon
,
who
was
not
great
,
as
he
himself
would
have
said
,
in
the
passive
virtues
,
had
undergone
in
all
the
course
of
his
life
.
He
was
so
utterly
subdued
and
confounded
that
he
ate
his
soup
,
and
never
found
out
what
kind
of
soup
it
was
.
That
is
,
he
consumed
it
in
large
spoonfuls
without
being
aware
,
by
way
of
occupying
his
energies
and
filling
up
the
time
.
"
You
cannot
mean
it
,
"
he
said
,
after
a
pause
.
"
You
must
be
imperfectly
informed
.
At
least
let
me
talk
to
your
father
.
You
must
hear
all
the
rights
of
the
story
.
If
you
will
let
me
speak
half
a
dozen
words
to
—
to
that
person
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
I
am
sure
he
will
leave
the
place
;
he
will
give
up
any
claim
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
yes
,
please
talk
to
him
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
it
will
be
so
nice
to
see
you
friends
.
Nothing
would
make
me
so
happy
.
You
know
I
have
heard
all
about
it
from
you
and
from
Mrs
Mortimer
already
,
so
I
am
sure
there
cannot
be
much
more
to
tell
;
and
as
for
papa
,
he
is
very
fond
of
Mr
Cavendish
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
an
imperceptible
elevation
of
her
voice
.
"
Is
it
he
whom
you
call
Mr
Cavendish
?
"
said
the
Archdeacon
.
He
too
had
raised
his
voice
without
knowing
it
,
and
several
people
looked
up
,
who
were
not
at
the
moment
engaged
in
active
conversation
of
their
own
.
The
owner
of
that
name
,
for
his
part
,
also
turned
his
face
towards
the
upper
end
of
the
table
.
He
was
sick
of
the
suspense
and
continued
endurance
,
and
by
this
time
was
ready
to
rush
upon
his
fate
.
"
Did
any
one
call
me
?
"
he
said
;
and
there
was
a
little
pause
,
and
the
company
in
general
fixed
its
regard
upon
those
three
people
with
a
sense
that
something
remarkable
was
going
on
among
them
,
though
it
could
not
tell
what
or
why
.
"
The
Archdeacon
wants
to
make
your
acquaintance
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
"
Mr
Cavendish
—
Mr
Beverley
.
There
,
you
know
each
other
;
and
when
we
are
gone
you
can
talk
to
each
other
if
you
like
,
"
Lucilla
added
;
"
but
in
the
meantime
you
are
too
far
off
,
and
I
want
the
Archdeacon
.
He
is
so
much
liked
in
Carlingford
,
"
she
continued
,
lowering
her
voice
.
"
You
ca
n't
think
how
glad
we
are
to
have
him
back
again
.
I
am
sure
if
you
only
knew
him
better
—
—
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
As
for
the
Archdeacon
,
words
could
not
give
any
idea
of
the
state
of
his
mind
.
He
ate
his
dinner
sternly
after
that
,
and
did
not
look
at
anything
but
his
plate
.
He
consumed
the
most
exquisite
plats
,
the
tenderest
wings
of
chicken
and
morsels
of
paté
,
as
if
they
had
been
his
personal
enemies
.
For
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
he
felt
the
tables
altogether
turned
upon
him
,
and
was
confounded
,
and
did
not
know
what
it
could
mean
.
It
was
the
General
who
took
up
Mr
Beverley
's
abandoned
place
in
the
conversation
.
The
gallant
soldier
talked
for
two
with
the
best
will
in
the
world
.
He
talked
of
Cavendish
,
and
all
the
pleasant
hours
they
had
spent
together
,
and
what
a
good
fellow
he
was
,
and
how
much
the
men
in
the
club
would
be
amused
to
hear
of
his
domesticity
.
It
was
a
kind
of
talk
very
natural
to
a
man
who
found
himself
placed
at
table
between
his
friend
's
sister
,
and
,
as
he
supposed
,
his
friend
's
future
bride
.
And
naturally
the
Archdeacon
got
all
the
benefit
.
As
for
Lucilla
,
she
received
it
with
the
most
perfect
grace
in
the
world
and
saw
all
the
delicate
points
of
the
General
's
wit
,
and
appreciated
him
so
thoroughly
,
that
he
felt
half
inclined
to
envy
Cavendish
.
"
By
Jove
!
he
is
the
luckiest
fellow
I
know
,
"
General
Travers
said
;
and
probably
it
was
the
charms
of
his
intelligent
and
animated
conversation
that
kept
the
ladies
so
long
at
table
.
Mrs
Chiley
,
for
her
part
,
did
not
know
what
to
make
of
it
.
She
said
afterwards
that
she
kept
looking
at
Lucilla
until
she
was
really
quite
ashamed
;
and
though
she
was
at
the
other
end
of
the
table
,
she
could
see
that
the
poor
dear
did
not
enjoy
her
dinner
.
It
happened
,
too
,
that
when
they
did
move
at
last
,
the
drawing-room
was
fuller
than
usual
.
Everybody
had
come
that
evening
—
Sir
John
,
and
some
others
of
the
county
people
,
who
only
came
now
and
then
,
and
without
any
exception
everybody
in
Carlingford
.
And
Lucilla
certainly
was
not
herself
for
the
first
half-hour
.
She
kept
close
to
the
door
,
and
regarded
the
staircase
with
an
anxious
countenance
.
When
she
was
herself
at
the
helm
of
affairs
,
there
was
a
certain
security
that
everything
would
go
on
tolerably
—
but
nobody
could
tell
what
a
set
of
men
left
to
themselves
might
or
might
not
do
.
This
was
the
most
dreadful
moment
of
the
evening
.
Mrs
Mortimer
was
in
the
drawing-room
,
hidden
away
under
the
curtains
of
a
window
,
knowing
nobody
,
speaking
to
nobody
,
and
in
a
state
of
mind
to
commit
suicide
with
pleasure
;
but
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
though
she
had
cajoled
her
into
that
martyrdom
,
took
no
notice
of
Mrs
Mortimer
.
She
was
civil
,
it
is
true
,
to
her
other
guests
,
but
there
could
not
be
a
doubt
that
Lucilla
was
horribly
preoccupied
,
and
in
a
state
of
mind
quite
unusual
to
her
.
"
I
am
sure
she
is
not
well
,
"
Mrs
Chiley
said
,
who
was
watching
her
from
afar
.
"
I
saw
that
she
did
not
eat
any
dinner
"
—
and
the
kind
old
lady
got
up
slowly
and
extricated
herself
from
the
crowd
,
and
put
herself
in
motion
as
best
she
could
,
to
go
to
her
young
friend
's
aid
.
It
was
at
this
moment
that
Lucilla
turned
round
radiant
upon
the
observant
assembly
.
The
change
occurred
in
less
than
a
moment
,
so
suddenly
that
nobody
saw
the
actual
point
of
revolution
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
turned
round
upon
the
company
and
took
Mr
Cavendish
's
arm
,
who
had
just
come
upstairs
.
"
There
is
a
very
,
very
old
friend
of
yours
in
the
corner
who
wants
to
see
you
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
and
she
led
him
across
the
room
as
a
conqueror
might
have
led
a
captive
.
She
took
him
through
the
crowd
,
to
whom
she
dispensed
on
every
side
her
most
gracious
glances
.
"
I
am
coming
directly
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
said
—
for
naturally
she
was
called
on
all
sides
.
What
most
people
remarked
at
this
moment
was
,
that
the
Archdeacon
,
who
had
also
come
in
with
the
other
gentlemen
,
was
standing
very
sullen
and
lowering
at
the
door
,
watching
that
triumphal
progress
.
And
it
certainly
was
not
Lucilla
's
fault
if
Mrs
Chiley
and
Lady
Richmond
,
and
a
few
other
ladies
,
were
thus
led
to
form
a
false
idea
of
the
state
of
affairs
.
"
I
suppose
it
is
all
right
between
them
at
last
,
"
Lady
Richmond
said
,
not
thinking
that
Barbara
Lake
was
standing
by
and
heard
her
.
According
to
appearances
,
it
was
all
perfectly
right
between
them
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
triumphant
,
led
Mr
Cavendish
all
the
length
of
the
room
to
the
corner
where
the
widow
sat
among
the
curtains
,
and
the
Archdeacon
looked
on
with
a
visible
passion
,
and
jealous
rage
,
which
were
highly
improper
in
a
clergyman
,
but
yet
which
were
exciting
to
see
.
And
this
was
how
the
little
drama
was
to
conclude
,
according
to
Lady
Richmond
and
Mrs
Chiley
,
who
,
on
the
whole
,
were
satisfied
with
the
conclusion
.
But
,
naturally
,
there
were
other
people
to
be
consulted
.
There
was
Mr
Beverley
,
whom
Miss
Marjoribanks
held
in
leash
,
but
who
was
not
yet
subdued
;
and
there
was
Dr
Marjoribanks
,
who
began
to
feel
a
little
curiosity
about
his
daughter
's
movements
,
and
did
not
make
them
out
;
and
there
was
Barbara
Lake
,
who
had
begun
to
blaze
like
a
tempest
with
her
crimson
cheeks
and
black
bold
eyes
.
But
by
this
time
Lucilla
was
herself
again
,
and
felt
the
reins
in
her
hands
.
When
she
had
deposited
Mr
Cavendish
in
safety
,
she
faced
round
upon
the
malcontents
and
upon
the
observers
,
and
on
the
world
in
general
.
Now
that
her
mind
was
at
rest
,
and
everything
under
her
own
inspection
,
she
felt
herself
ready
and
able
for
all
.
Chapter
XXXIII
The
Archdeacon
stood
before
the
fireplace
with
Dr
Marjoribanks
and
a
host
of
other
gentlemen
.
Mr
Beverley
's
countenance
was
covered
with
clouds
and
darkness
.
He
stood
,
not
with
the
careless
ease
of
a
man
amusing
himself
,
but
drawn
up
to
his
full
height
and
breadth
,
a
formidably
muscular
Christian
,
in
a
state
of
repression
and
restraint
,
which
it
was
painful
,
and
at
the
same
time
pleasing
to
see
.
The
Berserker
madness
was
upon
him
;
and
yet
such
are
the
restraints
of
society
,
that
a
young
woman
's
eye
was
enough
to
keep
him
down
—
Lucilla
's
eye
,
and
the
presence
of
a
certain
number
of
other
frivolous
creatures
in
white
muslin
,
and
of
some
old
women
,
as
he
irreverently
called
them
,
who
were
less
pleasant
,
but
not
more
imposing
.
He
was
an
Archdeacon
,
and
a
leading
man
of
his
party
,
whose
name
alone
would
have
conferred
importance
upon
any
"
movement
,
"
and
whom
his
bishop
himself
—
not
to
speak
of
the
clergy
whom
he
charged
in
his
visitation
addresses
like
a
regiment
of
cavalry
—
stood
a
little
in
awe
of
.
Yet
such
are
the
beneficial
restraints
of
society
,
that
he
dared
not
follow
his
natural
impulses
,
nor
even
do
what
he
felt
to
be
his
duty
,
for
fear
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
which
was
about
the
highest
testimony
to
the
value
of
social
influence
that
could
be
given
.
At
the
same
time
,
it
was
but
natural
that
under
such
circumstances
the
Archdeacon
should
feel
a
certain
savage
wrath
at
the
bond
that
confined
him
,
and
be
more
indignant
than
usual
at
the
false
and
tyrannical
conventionalism
called
society
.
And
it
was
at
this
moment
,
of
all
times
in
the
world
,
that
General
Travers
,
like
a
half-educated
brute
as
(
according
to
Mr
Beverley
's
ideas
)
he
was
,
took
the
liberty
of
calling
his
attention
to
what
the
soldier
called
"
a
lot
of
pretty
girls
.
"
"
And
everything
admirably
got
up
,
by
Jove
!
"
he
added
;
not
having
the
remotest
idea
what
effect
so
simple
an
observation
might
produce
.
"
Yes
,
it
is
admirably
got
up
,
"
said
the
Archdeacon
,
with
a
snarl
of
concealed
ferocity
.
"
You
never
said
anything
more
profoundly
true
.
It
is
all
got
up
,
the
women
,
and
the
decorations
,
and
the
gaiety
,
and
all
this
specious
seeming
.
And
these
are
creatures
made
in
the
image
of
God
!
"
said
the
Broad-Churchman
—
"
the
future
wives
and
mothers
of
England
.
It
is
enough
to
make
the
devils
laugh
and
the
angels
weep
!
"
It
may
be
supposed
that
everybody
was
stricken
with
utter
amazement
by
this
unlooked-for
remark
.
Dr
Marjoribanks
,
for
his
part
,
took
a
pinch
of
snuff
,
which
,
as
a
general
rule
,
he
only
did
at
consultations
,
or
in
the
face
of
a
difficulty
;
and
as
for
the
unlucky
soldier
who
had
called
it
forth
,
there
can
be
no
doubt
that
a
certain
terror
filled
his
manly
bosom
;
for
he
naturally
felt
as
if
he
must
have
said
something
extraordinary
to
call
forth
such
a
response
.
"
I
never
was
accused
before
of
saying
anything
profoundly
true
,
"
the
General
said
,
and
he
grew
pale
.
"
I
did
n't
mean
it
,
I
'm
sure
,
if
that
is
any
justification
.
Where
has
Cavendish
vanished
to
,
I
wonder
?
"
the
soldier
added
,
looking
round
him
,
scared
and
nervous
—
for
it
was
evident
that
his
only
policy
was
to
escape
from
society
in
which
he
was
thus
liable
to
commit
himself
without
knowing
how
.
"
Female
education
is
a
monstrous
mistake
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
—
"
always
has
been
,
and
,
so
far
as
I
can
see
,
always
will
be
.
Why
should
we
do
our
best
to
make
our
women
idiots
?
They
are
bad
enough
by
nature
.
Instead
of
counterbalancing
their
native
frivolity
by
some
real
instruction
—
—
good
heavens
!
"
The
critic
paused
.
It
was
not
that
his
emotions
were
too
much
for
him
;
it
was
because
the
crowd
opened
a
moment
,
and
afforded
him
a
glimpse
of
a
figure
in
black
silk
,
with
the
lace
for
which
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
stipulated
falling
softly
over
a
head
which
had
not
quite
lost
its
youthful
grace
.
He
gave
a
glance
round
him
to
see
if
the
coast
was
clear
.
Lucilla
was
out
of
the
way
at
the
other
end
of
the
room
,
and
he
was
free
.
He
made
but
one
stride
through
the
unconscious
assembly
which
he
had
been
criticising
so
severely
,
and
all
but
knocked
down
little
Rose
Lake
,
who
was
not
looking
at
the
Archdeacon
,
though
she
stood
straight
in
his
way
.
He
might
have
stepped
over
her
head
without
knowing
it
,
so
much
was
he
moved
.
All
the
gay
crowd
gave
way
before
him
with
a
cry
and
flutter
;
and
Lucilla
,
for
her
part
,
was
out
of
the
way
!
But
there
are
moments
when
to
be
out
of
the
way
is
the
highest
proof
of
genius
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
just
had
a
cup
of
tea
brought
her
,
of
which
she
had
great
need
,
and
her
face
was
turned
in
the
other
direction
,
but
yet
she
was
aware
that
the
Archdeacon
had
passed
like
a
Berserker
through
those
ranks
which
were
not
the
ranks
of
his
enemies
.
She
felt
without
seeing
it
that
the
"
wind
of
his
going
"
agitated
his
own
large
coat
tails
and
heavy
locks
,
and
made
a
perfect
hurricane
among
the
white
muslin
.
Lucilla
's
heart
beat
quicker
,
and
she
put
down
her
tea
,
though
she
had
so
much
need
of
it
.
She
could
not
swallow
the
cordial
at
such
a
moment
of
excitement
.
But
she
never
once
turned
her
head
,
nor
left
off
her
conversation
,
nor
betrayed
the
anxiety
she
felt
.
Up
to
this
time
she
had
managed
everything
herself
,
which
was
comparatively
easy
;
but
she
felt
by
instinct
that
now
was
the
moment
to
make
a
high
effort
and
leave
things
alone
.
And
it
may
be
added
that
nothing
but
an
inherent
sense
of
doing
the
right
thing
under
the
circumstances
could
have
inspired
Miss
Marjoribanks
to
the
crowning
achievement
of
keeping
out
of
the
way
.
When
Mr
Beverley
arrived
in
front
of
the
two
people
who
were
seated
together
in
the
recess
of
the
window
,
he
made
no
assault
upon
them
,
as
his
manner
might
have
suggested
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
placed
himself
in
front
of
them
,
with
his
back
to
the
company
,
creating
thus
a
most
effectual
moral
and
physical
barrier
between
the
little
nook
where
his
own
private
vengeance
and
fate
were
about
to
be
enacted
,
and
the
conventional
world
which
he
had
just
been
denouncing
.
The
Archdeacon
shut
the
two
culprits
off
from
all
succour
,
and
looked
down
upon
them
,
casting
them
into
profound
shade
.
"
I
do
n't
know
what
combination
of
circumstances
has
produced
this
meeting
,
"
he
said
,
"
but
the
time
was
ripe
for
it
,
and
I
am
glad
it
has
happened
,
"
and
it
was
with
dry
lips
and
the
calmness
of
passion
that
he
spoke
.
Mrs
Mortimer
gave
a
little
cry
of
terror
,
but
her
companion
,
for
his
part
,
sat
quite
dumb
and
immovable
.
The
moment
had
arrived
at
last
,
and
perhaps
he
too
was
glad
it
had
come
.
He
sat
still
,
expecting
to
see
the
earth
crumble
under
his
feet
,
expecting
to
hear
the
humble
name
he
had
once
borne
proclaimed
aloud
,
and
to
hear
ridicule
and
shame
poured
upon
the
impostor
who
had
called
himself
one
of
the
Cavendishes
.
But
it
was
no
use
struggling
any
longer
.
He
did
not
even
raise
his
eyes
,
but
sat
still
,
waiting
for
the
thunderbolt
to
fall
.
But
to
tell
the
truth
,
the
Archdeacon
,
though
a
torrent
of
words
came
rushing
to
his
lips
,
felt
at
a
difficulty
how
to
begin
.
"
I
do
n't
understand
how
it
is
that
I
find
you
here
with
the
man
who
has
ruined
your
prospects
,
"
he
said
,
with
a
slight
incoherence
;
and
then
he
changed
the
direction
of
his
attack
.
"
But
it
is
you
with
whom
I
have
to
do
,
"
he
said
;
"
you
,
sir
,
who
venture
to
introduce
yourself
into
society
with
—
with
your
victim
by
your
side
.
Do
you
not
understand
that
compassion
is
impossible
in
such
a
case
,
and
that
it
is
my
duty
to
expose
you
?
You
have
told
some
plausible
story
here
,
I
suppose
,
but
nothing
can
stand
against
the
facts
.
It
is
my
duty
to
inform
Dr
Marjoribanks
that
it
is
a
criminal
who
has
stolen
into
his
house
and
his
confidence
—
that
it
is
a
conspirator
who
has
ventured
to
approach
his
daughter
—
that
it
is
—
—
"
"
A
criminal
?
a
conspirator
?
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
,
and
he
looked
in
his
accuser
's
face
with
an
amazement
which
,
notwithstanding
his
rage
,
struck
the
Archdeacon
.
If
he
had
called
him
an
impostor
,
the
culprit
would
have
quailed
and
made
no
reply
.
But
the
exaggeration
saved
him
.
After
that
first
look
of
surprise
,
he
rose
to
his
feet
and
confronted
the
avenger
,
who
saw
he
had
made
a
blunder
without
knowing
what
it
was
.
"
You
must
be
under
some
strange
mistake
,
"
he
said
.
"
What
do
you
accuse
me
of
?
I
know
nothing
about
crime
or
conspiracy
.
Either
you
are
strangely
mistaken
,
or
you
have
forgotten
what
the
words
mean
.
"
"
They
are
words
which
I
mean
to
prove
,
"
said
the
Archdeacon
;
but
there
can
be
no
doubt
that
his
certainty
was
diminished
by
the
surprise
with
which
his
accusation
was
received
.
It
checked
his
first
heat
,
and
it
was
with
a
slightly
artificial
excitement
that
he
went
on
,
trying
to
work
himself
up
again
to
the
same
point
.
"
You
who
worked
yourself
into
a
wretched
old
man
's
confidence
,
and
robbed
an
unoffending
woman
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
;
and
then
in
spite
of
himself
he
stopped
short
;
for
it
was
easier
to
say
such
things
to
a
woman
,
who
contradicted
without
giving
much
reason
,
than
to
a
man
who
,
with
an
air
of
the
utmost
astonishment
,
stood
regarding
his
accuser
in
the
face
.
"
These
are
very
extraordinary
accusations
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
.
"
Have
you
ever
considered
whether
you
had
any
proof
to
support
them
?
"
He
was
not
angry
to
speak
of
,
because
he
had
been
entirely
taken
by
surprise
,
and
because
at
the
same
time
he
was
unspeakably
relieved
,
and
felt
that
the
real
danger
,
the
danger
which
he
had
so
much
dreaded
,
was
past
and
over
.
He
recovered
all
his
coolness
from
the
moment
he
found
out
that
it
was
not
a
venial
imposition
practised
upon
society
,
but
a
social
crime
of
the
ugliest
character
,
of
which
he
was
accused
.
He
was
innocent
,
and
he
could
be
tranquil
on
that
score
.
"
As
for
robbing
Mrs
Mortimer
,
"
he
added
with
a
little
impatience
,
"
she
knows
,
on
the
contrary
,
that
I
have
always
been
most
anxious
and
ready
to
befriend
her
—
—
"
"
To
befriend
—
—
Her
!
"
cried
the
Archdeacon
,
restored
to
all
his
first
impetuosity
.
He
could
not
swear
,
because
it
was
against
his
cloth
and
his
principles
;
but
he
said
,
"
Good
heavens
!
"
in
a
tone
which
would
have
perfectly
become
a
much
less
mild
expletive
.
"
It
is
better
we
should
understand
each
other
thoroughly
,
"
he
said
.
"
I
am
not
in
a
humour
for
trifling
.
I
consider
it
is
her
fortune
which
enables
you
to
make
an
appearance
here
.
It
is
her
money
you
are
living
upon
,
and
which
gives
you
position
,
and
makes
you
presume
as
—
as
you
are
doing
—
upon
my
forbearance
.
Do
you
think
it
possible
that
I
can
pass
over
all
this
and
let
you
keep
what
is
not
yours
?
If
you
choose
to
give
up
everything
,
and
retire
from
Carlingford
,
and
withdraw
all
your
pretensions
—
—
It
is
not
for
my
part
,
"
said
Mr
Beverley
,
with
solemnity
,
taking
breath
,
"
to
deal
harshly
with
a
penitent
sinner
.
It
is
my
duty
,
as
a
clergyman
,
to
offer
you
at
least
a
place
of
repentance
.
After
that
—
—
"
But
he
was
interrupted
once
more
.
Mrs
Mortimer
made
her
faint
voice
heard
in
a
remonstrance
.
"
Oh
,
Charles
,
I
always
told
you
—
I
had
no
right
to
anything
!
"
cried
the
terrified
widow
;
but
that
was
not
what
stopped
the
Archdeacon
.
It
was
because
his
adversary
laughed
that
he
stopped
short
.
No
doubt
it
was
the
metallic
laugh
of
a
man
in
great
agitation
,
but
still
Mr
Beverley
's
ear
was
not
fine
enough
at
that
moment
to
discriminate
.
He
paused
as
a
man
naturally
pauses
at
the
sound
of
ridicule
,
still
furious
,
yet
abashed
,
and
half
conscious
of
a
ludicrous
aspect
to
his
passion
—
and
turned
his
full
face
to
his
antagonist
,
and
stood
at
bay
.
"
It
is
a
modest
request
,
certainly
,
"
Mr
Cavendish
said
.
"
Give
up
all
I
have
and
all
I
am
,
and
perhaps
you
will
forgive
me
!
You
must
think
me
a
fool
to
make
such
a
proposal
;
but
look
here
,
"
said
the
accused
energetically
;
"
I
will
tell
you
the
true
state
of
affairs
,
if
for
once
you
will
listen
.
I
do
it
,
not
for
my
sake
,
nor
for
your
sake
,
but
for
the
sake
of
—
of
the
women
involved
,
"
he
added
hastily
;
and
it
was
well
for
him
that
,
instead
of
looking
at
the
shrinking
widow
beside
him
as
he
said
so
,
his
eye
had
been
caught
by
the
eager
eye
of
his
sister
,
who
was
watching
from
her
corner
.
With
that
stimulus
he
went
on
,
calming
himself
down
,
and
somehow
subduing
and
imposing
upon
the
angry
man
by
the
mere
act
of
encountering
him
fairly
and
openly
.
"
I
will
tell
you
what
are
the
actual
circumstances
,
and
you
can
see
the
will
itself
if
you
will
take
the
trouble
,
"
said
the
defendant
,
with
a
nervous
moderation
and
self-restraint
,
in
which
there
was
also
a
certain
thrill
of
indignation
.
"
The
old
man
you
speak
of
might
have
left
his
money
to
a
more
worthy
person
than
myself
,
but
he
never
meant
to
leave
it
to
his
grand-niece
;
and
she
knew
that
.
She
was
neither
his
companion
nor
his
nurse
.
There
was
nothing
between
them
but
a
few
drops
of
blood
.
For
my
part
,
I
gave
him
—
—
but
,
to
be
sure
,
it
would
not
interest
you
to
know
how
I
spent
my
youth
.
You
came
upon
the
scene
like
—
a
man
in
a
passion
,
"
Mr
Cavendish
said
,
with
an
abrupt
laugh
,
which
this
time
was
more
feeble
,
and
proved
that
his
composure
was
giving
way
,
"
and
misjudged
everything
,
as
was
natural
.
You
are
doing
the
same
again
,
or
trying
to
do
it
.
But
you
are
a
clergyman
,
and
when
you
insult
a
man
—
—
"
"
I
am
ready
to
give
him
satisfaction
,
"
said
the
Broad-Churchman
hotly
;
and
then
he
made
a
pause
,
and
that
sense
of
ridicule
which
is
latent
in
every
Englishman
's
mind
,
came
to
the
Archdeacon
's
aid
.
He
began
to
feel
ashamed
of
himself
,
and
at
the
same
time
his
eye
caught
his
own
reflection
in
a
mirror
,
and
the
clerical
coat
which
contrasted
so
grotesquely
with
his
offer
of
"
satisfaction
.
"
Mr
Beverley
started
a
little
,
and
changed
his
tone
.
"
This
has
lasted
long
enough
,
"
he
said
,
in
his
abrupt
imperious
way
.
"
This
is
not
the
place
nor
the
time
for
such
a
discussion
.
We
shall
meet
elsewhere
,
"
the
Archdeacon
added
austerely
,
with
a
significance
which
it
is
impossible
to
describe
.
His
air
and
his
words
were
full
of
severe
and
hostile
meaning
,
and
yet
he
did
not
know
what
he
meant
any
more
than
Mr
Cavendish
did
,
who
took
him
at
his
word
,
and
retired
,
and
made
an
end
of
the
interview
.
Whatever
the
Archdeacon
meant
,
it
was
his
adversary
who
was
the
victor
.
He
went
off
,
threading
his
way
through
the
curious
spectators
with
a
sense
of
relief
that
almost
went
the
length
of
ecstasy
.
He
might
have
been
walking
on
his
head
for
anything
he
knew
.
His
senses
were
all
lost
and
swallowed
up
in
the
overwhelming
and
incredible
consciousness
of
safety
.
Where
were
they
to
meet
elsewhere
?
With
pistols
in
a
corner
of
Carlingford
Common
,
or
perhaps
with
their
fists
alone
,
as
Mr
Beverley
was
Broad-Church
?
When
a
man
has
been
near
ruin
and
has
escaped
by
a
hair-breadth
,
he
may
be
permitted
to
be
out
of
his
wits
for
a
few
minutes
afterwards
.
And
the
idea
of
fighting
a
duel
with
a
dignitary
of
the
Church
so
tickled
Mr
Cavendish
,
that
he
had
not
the
prudence
to
keep
it
to
himself
.
"
You
will
stand
by
me
if
he
calls
me
out
?
"
he
said
to
General
Travers
as
he
passed
;
and
the
air
of
utter
consternation
with
which
the
warrior
regarded
him
,
drove
Mr
Cavendish
into
such
agonies
of
laughter
,
that
he
had
to
retire
to
the
landing-place
and
suffocate
himself
to
subdue
it
.
If
any
man
had
said
to
him
that
he
was
hysterical
,
the
chances
are
that
it
was
he
who
would
have
called
that
man
out
,
or
at
least
knocked
him
down
.
But
he
had
to
steal
downstairs
afterwards
and
apply
to
Thomas
for
a
cordial
more
potent
than
tea
;
for
naturally
,
when
a
man
has
been
hanging
over
an
abyss
for
ever
so
long
,
it
is
no
great
wonder
if
he
loses
his
head
and
balance
when
he
suddenly
finds
himself
standing
on
firm
ground
,
and
feels
that
he
has
escaped
.
As
for
the
Archdeacon
,
when
the
other
was
gone
,
he
sat
down
silently
on
his
abandoned
chair
.
He
was
one
of
the
men
who
take
pride
in
seeing
both
sides
of
a
question
;
and
to
tell
the
truth
,
he
was
always
very
candid
about
disputed
points
in
theology
,
and
ready
to
entertain
everybody
's
objection
;
but
it
was
a
different
thing
when
the
matter
was
a
matter
of
fact
.
He
put
down
his
face
into
his
hands
,
and
tried
to
think
whether
it
was
possible
that
what
he
had
just
heard
might
be
the
true
state
of
the
case
.
To
be
sure
,
the
widow
who
was
seated
half
fainting
by
his
side
had
given
him
the
same
account
often
enough
,
but
somehow
it
was
more
effective
from
the
lips
of
a
man
who
confronted
him
than
from
the
mild
and
weeping
woman
whom
he
loved
better
than
anything
else
in
the
world
,
but
whose
opinion
on
any
earthly
(
or
heavenly
)
subject
had
not
the
weight
of
a
straw
upon
him
.
He
tried
to
take
that
view
of
it
;
and
then
it
occurred
to
him
that
nothing
was
more
ludicrous
and
miserable
than
the
position
of
a
man
who
goes
to
law
without
adequate
reason
,
or
without
proof
to
maintain
his
cause
.
Such
a
horrible
divergence
from
everything
that
was
just
and
right
might
be
,
as
that
the
well-known
and
highly-esteemed
Archdeacon
Beverley
might
be
held
up
for
the
amusement
and
edification
of
the
country
in
a
Times
leader
,
which
was
a
martyrdom
the
Archdeacon
would
have
rather
liked
than
otherwise
in
a
worthy
cause
,
but
not
for
a
wretched
private
business
connected
with
money
.
He
sighed
as
he
pondered
,
feeling
,
as
so
many
have
felt
,
the
difficulties
which
attend
a
good
man
's
progress
in
this
life
—
how
that
which
is
just
is
not
always
that
which
is
expedient
,
and
how
the
righteous
have
to
submit
to
many
inconveniences
in
order
that
the
adversary
may
have
no
occasion
to
blaspheme
.
In
this
state
of
mind
a
man
naturally
softens
towards
a
tender
and
wistful
sympathiser
close
at
hand
.
He
sighed
once
more
heavily
,
and
lifted
his
head
,
and
took
into
his
own
a
soft
pale
hand
which
was
visible
near
him
among
the
folds
of
black
silk
.
"
So
you
too
have
been
brought
into
it
,
Helen
,
"
the
Archdeacon
said
pathetically
;
"
I
did
not
expect
to
see
you
here
.
"
"
It
was
Lucilla
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
timidly
;
"
it
was
not
any
wish
of
mine
.
Oh
,
Charles
!
if
you
would
let
me
speak
.
If
you
will
but
forget
all
this
,
and
think
no
more
about
it
;
and
I
will
do
my
best
to
make
you
a
—
—
"
Here
the
poor
woman
stopped
short
all
at
once
.
What
she
meant
to
have
said
was
,
that
she
would
make
him
a
good
wife
,
which
nature
and
truth
and
the
circumstances
all
prompted
her
to
say
—
as
the
only
possible
solution
to
the
puzzle
.
But
when
she
had
got
so
far
,
the
poor
widow
stopped
,
blushing
and
tingling
all
over
,
with
a
sense
of
shame
,
more
overwhelming
than
if
she
had
done
a
wicked
action
.
It
was
nothing
but
pure
honesty
and
affection
that
prompted
her
to
speak
;
and
yet
,
if
it
had
been
the
vilest
sentiment
in
human
nature
,
she
would
not
have
been
so
utterly
ashamed
.
"
That
was
not
what
I
meant
to
say
!
"
she
cried
,
with
sharp
and
sudden
wretchedness
;
and
was
not
the
least
ashamed
of
telling
a
downright
lie
instead
.
But
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
the
Archdeacon
was
paying
no
particular
attention
.
He
had
never
loved
any
other
woman
;
but
he
was
a
little
indifferent
as
to
what
innocent
nonsense
she
might
please
to
say
.
So
that
her
confusion
and
misery
,
and
even
the
half
offer
of
herself
which
occasioned
these
feelings
,
were
lost
upon
him
.
He
kept
her
hand
and
caressed
it
in
the
midst
of
his
own
thoughts
,
as
if
it
was
a
child
's
head
he
was
patting
.
"
My
poor
Helen
,
"
he
said
,
coming
back
to
her
when
he
found
she
had
stopped
speaking
,
"
I
do
n't
see
why
you
should
not
come
,
if
this
sort
of
thing
is
any
pleasure
to
you
;
but
afterwards
—
—
"
he
said
reflectively
.
He
went
