wasnot
a
woman
to
be
discouraged
by
appearances
,
but
she
felt
her
heart
beat
as
she
collected
all
her
powers
to
meet
this
mysterious
assault
.
She
took
off
her
hat
with
an
instinctive
certainty
that
,
for
this
morning
at
least
,
the
duet
was
impracticable
,
when
she
heard
Mr
Bury
's
steady
step
ascending
the
stairs
;
but
,
notwithstanding
,
it
was
with
a
perfectly
cheerful
politeness
that
she
bade
him
welcome
when
he
came
into
the
room
.
"
It
is
so
good
of
you
to
come
,
"
Lucilla
said
;
"
you
that
have
so
much
to
do
.
I
scarcely
could
believe
it
when
I
saw
you
come
in
:
I
thought
it
must
be
for
papa
.
"
"
I
did
hope
to
find
Dr
Marjoribanks
,
"
said
the
Rector
,
"
but
as
he
is
not
at
home
,
I
thought
it
best
to
come
to
you
.
This
is
Mrs
Mortimer
,
"
said
Mr
Bury
,
taking
the
chair
Lucilla
had
indicated
with
a
certain
want
of
observance
of
his
companion
which
betrayed
to
the
keen
perceptions
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
that
she
was
a
dependant
of
some
kind
or
other
.
The
Rector
was
a
very
good
man
,
but
was
Evangelical
,
and
had
a
large
female
circle
who
admired
and
swore
by
him
;
and
,
consequently
,
he
felt
it
in
a
manner
natural
that
he
should
take
his
seat
first
,
and
the
place
that
belonged
to
him
as
the
principal
person
present
;
and
then
,
to
be
sure
,
his
mission
here
was
for
Mrs
Mortimer
's
as
well
as
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
"
good
.
"
After
this
introduction
,
the
figure
in
black
put
up
its
veil
,
and
revealed
a
deprecating
woman
,
with
a
faint
sort
of
pleading
smile
on
her
face
.
Probably
she
was
making
believe
to
smile
at
the
position
in
which
she
found
herself
;
but
anyhow
she
took
her
seat
humbly
on
another
chair
at
a
little
distance
,
and
waited
,
as
Lucilla
did
,
for
the
next
golden
words
that
it
might
please
the
Rector
to
say
.
"
My
sister
told
me
what
happened
yesterday
,
"
said
Mr
Bury
.
"
She
is
very
sorry
for
you
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
It
is
sad
for
you
to
be
left
alone
so
young
,
and
without
a
mother
,
and
exposed
to
—
to
temptations
which
it
is
difficult
to
withstand
at
your
age
.
Indeed
,
at
all
ages
,
we
have
great
occasion
to
pray
not
to
be
led
into
temptation
;
for
the
heart
of
man
is
terribly
deceitful
.
After
hearing
what
she
had
to
say
,
I
thought
it
best
to
come
up
at
once
this
morning
and
talk
to
Dr
Marjoribanks
.
I
am
sure
his
natural
good
sense
will
teach
him
that
you
ought
not
to
be
left
alone
in
the
house
.
"
"
I
do
not
see
how
papa
can
help
it
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
I
am
sure
it
is
very
sad
for
him
as
well
;
but
since
dear
mamma
died
there
has
been
nobody
but
me
to
be
a
comfort
to
him
.
I
think
he
begins
to
look
a
little
cheerful
now
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
continued
,
with
beautiful
simplicity
,
looking
her
adversary
in
the
face
.
"
Everybody
knows
that
to
be
a
comfort
to
him
is
the
object
of
my
life
.
"
"
That
is
a
very
good
feeling
,
"
said
the
Rector
,
"
but
it
does
not
do
to
depend
too
much
upon
our
feelings
.
You
are
too
young
to
be
placed
in
a
position
of
so
much
responsibility
,
and
open
to
so
much
temptation
.
I
was
deeply
grieved
for
Dr
Marjoribanks
when
his
partner
in
life
was
taken
from
him
;
but
my
dear
Miss
Lucilla
,
now
you
have
come
home
,
who
stand
so
much
in
need
of
a
mother
's
care
,
we
must
try
to
find
some
one
to
fill
her
place
.
"
Lucilla
uttered
a
scream
of
genuine
alarm
and
dismay
;
and
then
she
came
to
herself
,
and
saw
the
force
of
her
position
.
She
had
it
in
her
power
to
turn
the
tables
on
the
Rector
,
and
she
did
not
hesitate
,
as
a
weaker
woman
might
have
done
,
out
of
consideration
for
anybody
's
feelings
.
"
Do
you
mean
you
have
found
some
one
for
him
to
marry
?
"
she
asked
,
with
a
look
of
artless
surprise
,
bending
her
earnest
gaze
on
Mr
Bury
's
face
.
As
for
the
Rector
,
he
looked
at
Lucilla
aghast
,
like
a
man
caught
in
a
trap
.
"
Of
course
not
,
of
course
not
,
"
he
stammered
,
after
his
first
pause
of
consternation
;
and
then
he
had
to
stop
again
to
take
breath
.
Lucilla
kept
up
the
air
of
amazement
and
consternation
which
had
come
naturally
at
the
first
,
and
had
her
eyes
fixed
on
him
,
leaning
forward
with
all
the
eager
anxiety
natural
to
the
circumstances
,
and
the
unfortunate
clergyman
reddened
from
the
edge
of
his
white
cravat
to
the
roots
of
his
gray
hair
.
He
was
almost
as
sensitive
to
the
idea
of
having
proposed
something
improper
as
his
sister
could
have
been
,
though
indeed
,
at
the
worst
,
there
would
have
been
nothing
improper
in
it
had
Dr
Marjoribanks
made
up
his
mind
to
another
wife
.
"
It
is
very
dreadful
for
me
that
am
so
young
to
go
against
you
"
said
Lucilla
;
"
but
if
it
is
that
,
I
cannot
be
expected
to
take
any
part
in
it
—
it
would
not
be
natural
.
It
is
the
great
object
of
my
life
to
be
a
comfort
to
papa
;
but
if
that
is
what
you
mean
,
I
could
not
give
in
to
it
.
I
am
sure
Miss
Bury
would
understand
me
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
and
she
looked
so
nearly
on
the
point
of
tears
,
that
the
Rector
's
anxious
disclaimer
found
words
for
itself
.
"
Nothing
of
the
kind
,
my
dear
Miss
Lucilla
—
nothing
of
the
kind
,
"
cried
Mr
Bury
;
"
such
an
idea
never
came
into
my
mind
.
I
cannot
imagine
how
I
could
have
said
anything
—
I
ca
n't
fancy
what
put
such
an
idea
—
—
Mrs
Mortimer
,
you
are
not
going
away
?
"
Lucilla
had
already
seen
with
the
corner
of
her
eye
that
the
victim
had
started
violently
,
and
that
her
heavy
veil
had
fallen
over
her
face
—
but
she
had
not
taken
any
notice
,
for
there
are
cases
in
which
it
is
absolutely
necessary
to
have
a
victim
.
By
this
time
,
however
,
the
poor
woman
had
risen
in
her
nervous
,
undecided
way
.
"
I
had
better
go
—
I
am
sure
I
had
better
go
,
"
she
said
hurriedly
,
clasping
together
a
pair
of
helpless
hands
,
as
if
they
could
find
a
little
strength
in
union
.
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
will
understand
you
better
,
and
you
will
perhaps
understand
Miss
Marjoribanks
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
sit
down
,
sit
down
,
"
said
Mr
Bury
,
who
was
not
tolerant
of
feelings
.
"
Perhaps
I
expressed
myself
badly
.
What
I
meant
to
say
was
,
that
Mrs
Mortimer
,
who
has
been
a
little
unfortunate
in
circumstances
—
sit
down
,
pray
—
had
by
a
singular
providence
just
applied
to
me
when
my
sister
returned
home
yesterday
.
These
things
do
not
happen
by
chance
,
Lucilla
.
We
are
taken
care
of
when
we
are
not
thinking
of
it
.
Mrs
Mortimer
is
a
Christian
lady
for
whom
I
have
the
greatest
respect
.
A
situation
to
take
the
superintendence
of
the
domestic
affairs
,
and
to
have
charge
of
you
,
would
be
just
what
would
suit
her
.
It
must
be
a
great
anxiety
to
the
Doctor
to
leave
you
alone
,
and
without
any
control
,
at
your
age
.
You
may
think
the
liberty
is
pleasant
at
first
,
but
if
you
had
a
Christian
friend
to
watch
over
and
take
care
of
you
—
—
What
is
the
matter
?
"
said
the
Rector
,
in
great
alarm
.
It
was
only
that
the
poor
widow
who
was
to
have
charge
of
Lucilla
,
according
to
his
benevolent
intention
,
looked
so
like
fainting
,
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
jumped
up
from
her
chair
and
rang
the
bell
hastily
.
It
was
not
Lucilla
's
way
to
lose
time
about
anything
;
she
took
the
poor
woman
by
the
shoulders
and
all
but
lifted
her
to
the
sofa
,
where
she
was
lying
down
with
her
bonnet
off
when
the
Rector
came
to
his
senses
.
To
describe
the
feelings
with
which
Mr
Bury
contemplated
this
little
entr'acte
,
which
was
not
in
his
programme
,
would
be
beyond
our
powers
.
He
went
off
humbly
and
opened
the
window
when
he
was
told
to
do
so
,
and
tried
to
find
the
eau-de-Cologne
on
the
table
;
while
Thomas
rushed
downstairs
for
water
at
a
pace
very
unlike
his
usual
steady
rate
of
progress
.
As
for
Lucilla
,
she
stood
by
the
side
of
her
patient
quite
self-possessed
,
while
the
Rector
looked
so
foolish
.
"
She
will
be
all
right
directly
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
saying
;
"
luckily
she
never
went
right
off
.
When
you
do
n't
go
right
off
,
lying
down
is
everything
.
If
there
had
been
any
one
to
run
and
get
some
water
she
would
have
got
over
it
;
but
luckily
I
saw
it
in
time
.
"
What
possible
answer
Mr
Bury
could
make
to
this
,
or
how
he
could
go
on
with
his
address
in
sight
of
the
strange
turn
things
had
taken
,
it
would
have
been
hard
to
say
.
Fortunately
for
the
moment
he
did
not
attempt
it
,
but
walked
about
in
dismay
,
and
put
himself
in
the
draught
(
with
his
rheumatism
)
,
and
felt
dreadfully
vexed
and
angry
with
Mrs
Mortimer
,
who
,
for
her
part
,
now
she
had
done
with
fainting
,
manifested
an
inclination
to
cry
,
for
which
Mr
Bury
in
his
heart
could
have
whipped
her
,
had
that
mode
of
discipline
been
permitted
in
the
Church
of
England
.
Lucilla
was
merciful
,
but
she
could
not
help
taking
a
little
advantage
of
her
victory
.
She
gave
the
sufferer
a
glass
of
water
,
and
the
eau-de-Cologne
to
keep
her
from
a
relapse
,
and
whispered
to
her
to
lie
quiet
;
and
then
she
came
back
and
took
her
seat
,
and
begged
the
Rector
not
to
stand
in
the
draught
.
"
I
do
n't
think
she
is
strong
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
confidentially
,
when
she
had
wiled
the
disconcerted
clergyman
back
to
her
side
,
"
her
colour
changes
so
;
she
never
would
be
able
for
what
there
is
to
do
here
,
even
if
papa
would
consent
to
think
of
it
.
For
my
part
I
am
sure
I
should
be
glad
of
a
little
assistance
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
but
I
never
like
to
give
false
hopes
,
and
I
do
n't
think
papa
would
consent
;
—
she
looks
nice
if
she
was
not
so
weak
,
poor
thing
!
—
and
there
are
such
quantities
of
things
to
be
done
here
:
but
if
you
wish
it
,
Mr
Bury
,
I
will
speak
to
papa
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
lifting
her
eyes
,
which
were
so
open
and
straightforward
,
to
the
Rector
's
face
.
To
tell
the
truth
,
he
did
not
in
the
least
know
what
to
say
,
and
the
chances
are
he
would
not
have
been
half
so
vexed
and
angry
,
nor
felt
in
so
unchristian
a
disposition
with
the
poor
woman
on
the
sofa
,
had
he
meant
to
do
her
harm
instead
of
good
.
"
Yes
,
I
should
be
glad
if
you
would
mention
it
to
Dr
Marjoribanks
,
"
he
said
,
without
very
well
knowing
what
he
said
;
and
got
up
to
shake
hands
with
Lucilla
,
and
then
recollected
that
he
could
not
leave
his
protégée
behind
him
,
and
hesitated
,
and
did
not
know
what
to
do
.
He
was
really
grateful
,
without
being
aware
of
it
,
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
when
once
again
she
came
to
his
aid
.
"
Please
,
leave
her
a
little
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
and
I
can
make
acquaintance
with
her
,
you
know
,
in
case
papa
should
be
disposed
to
think
of
it
;
—
she
must
lie
still
till
it
quite
wears
off
.
I
would
ask
you
to
stay
to
lunch
if
I
was
not
afraid
of
wasting
your
precious
time
—
—
"
Mr
Bury
gave
a
little
gasp
of
indignation
,
but
he
did
not
say
anything
.
On
the
whole
,
even
though
smarting
under
the
indignity
of
being
asked
to
lunch
,
as
his
sister
had
been
,
when
probably
there
might
be
a
repetition
of
the
scene
of
yesterday
,
he
was
glad
to
get
safely
out
of
the
house
,
even
at
the
risk
of
abandoning
his
enterprise
.
As
for
a
woman
in
want
of
a
situation
,
who
had
so
little
common
sense
as
to
faint
at
such
a
critical
moment
,
the
Rector
was
disposed
to
wash
his
hands
of
her
;
for
Mr
Bury
,
"
like
them
all
,
"
as
Lucilla
said
,
was
horribly
frightened
by
a
faint
when
he
saw
one
,
and
afterwards
pretended
to
disbelieve
it
,
and
called
it
one
of
the
things
which
a
little
self-command
could
always
prevent
.
When
he
was
gone
Miss
Marjoribanks
felt
the
full
importance
of
her
victory
;
and
then
,
though
she
had
not
hesitated
to
sacrifice
this
poor
woman
when
it
was
necessary
to
have
a
victim
,
that
moment
was
over
,
and
she
had
no
pleasure
in
being
cruel
;
on
the
contrary
,
she
went
and
sat
by
her
patient
,
and
talked
,
and
was
very
kind
to
her
;
and
after
a
while
heard
all
her
story
,
and
was
more
comforting
than
the
Rector
could
have
been
for
his
life
.
"
I
knew
it
would
hurt
your
feelings
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
said
candidly
,
"
but
I
could
not
do
anything
else
—
and
you
know
it
was
Mr
Bury
's
fault
;
but
I
am
sure
if
I
can
be
of
any
use
to
you
—
—
"
It
was
thus
that
Lucilla
added
,
without
knowing
it
,
another
complication
to
her
fortunes
;
but
then
,
to
be
sure
,
clear-sighted
as
she
was
,
she
could
not
see
into
the
future
,
nor
know
what
was
to
follow
.
She
told
the
Doctor
in
the
evening
with
the
greatest
faithfulness
,
and
described
how
Mr
Bury
looked
,
and
that
she
had
said
she
did
not
think
papa
would
be
disposed
to
think
of
it
;
and
Dr
Marjoribanks
was
so
much
entertained
that
he
came
upstairs
to
hear
the
end
,
and
took
a
cup
of
tea
.
It
was
the
third
night
in
succession
that
the
Doctor
had
taken
this
step
,
though
it
was
against
his
principles
;
and
thus
it
will
be
seen
that
good
came
out
of
evil
in
a
beautifully
distinct
and
appropriate
way
.
Chapter
IX
It
was
not
till
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
surmounted
to
a
certain
extent
the
vexation
caused
her
by
her
unlucky
confidence
in
Tom
,
that
that
unhappy
young
man
took
the
step
which
Lucilla
had
so
long
dreaded
,
but
which
she
trusted
to
her
own
genius
to
hinder
him
from
carrying
into
execution
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
extricated
herself
so
triumphantly
from
the
consequences
of
that
unhappy
commencement
of
her
very
charming
luncheon-parties
,
that
she
had
begun
to
forget
the
culpability
of
her
cousin
.
She
had
defeated
the
Rector
in
his
benevolent
intentions
,
and
she
had
taken
up
his
protégée
just
at
the
moment
when
Mr
Bury
was
most
disgusted
with
the
unfortunate
woman
's
weakness
.
Poor
Mrs
Mortimer
,
to
be
sure
,
had
fainted
,
or
had
been
near
fainting
,
at
the
most
inopportune
moment
,
and
it
was
only
natural
that
the
Rector
should
be
annoyed
;
but
as
for
Lucilla
,
who
was
always
prompt
in
her
actions
,
and
whose
good
nature
and
liberality
were
undoubted
,
she
found
her
opportunity
in
the
failure
of
Mr
Bury
's
scheme
.
After
the
Rector
had
gone
away
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
herself
conducted
the
widow
home
;
and
by
this
time
Mrs
Mortimer
's
prospects
were
beginning
to
brighten
under
the
active
and
efficient
patronage
of
her
new
friend
.
This
being
the
case
,
Lucilla
's
good
humour
was
perfectly
restored
,
and
she
had
forgiven
Tom
his
maladroitness
.
"
He
cannot
help
it
,
you
know
,
"
she
said
privately
to
old
Mrs
Chiley
:
"
I
suppose
some
people
are
born
to
do
ridiculous
things
.
"
And
it
was
indeed
as
if
he
had
intended
to
give
a
practical
illustration
of
the
truth
of
this
conclusion
that
Tom
chose
the
particular
moment
he
did
for
driving
Miss
Marjoribanks
to
the
extremity
of
her
patience
.
The
upholsterers
were
in
the
house
,
and
indeed
had
just
finished
putting
up
the
pictures
on
the
new
paper
in
the
drawing-room
(
which
was
green
,
as
Lucilla
had
determined
it
should
be
,
of
the
most
delicate
tint
,
and
looked
,
as
she
flattered
herself
,
exactly
like
silk
hangings
)
;
and
Mr
Holden
himself
waited
with
a
certain
complaisance
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
opinion
of
the
effect
.
He
had
no
doubt
on
the
subject
himself
;
but
he
was
naturally
impressed
,
as
most
people
were
,
with
that
confidence
in
Lucilla
's
judgment
which
so
much
facilitates
the
operations
of
those
persons
who
are
born
to
greatness
.
It
was
precisely
at
this
moment
that
his
evil
genius
persuaded
Tom
Marjoribanks
to
interrupt
Thomas
,
who
was
carrying
Mr
Holden
's
message
to
his
young
mistress
,
and
to
shut
the
library
door
upon
the
external
world
.
Lucilla
had
taken
refuge
in
the
library
during
the
renovation
of
the
drawing-room
;
and
she
was
aware
that
this
was
Tom
's
last
day
at
Carlingford
,
and
had
no
intention
of
being
unkind
to
him
.
To
tell
the
truth
,
she
had
at
the
bottom
of
her
heart
a
certain
regard
and
impulse
of
protection
and
patronage
towards
Tom
,
of
which
something
might
have
come
had
the
unlucky
fellow
known
how
to
manage
.
But
,
at
the
same
time
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
aware
that
things
must
be
approaching
a
crisis
upstairs
,
and
was
listening
intently
to
the
movements
overhead
,
and
wondering
why
she
was
not
sent
for
.
This
was
the
moment
of
all
others
at
which
Tom
thought
fit
to
claim
a
hearing
;
and
the
state
of
Lucilla
's
feelings
may
be
easily
imagined
when
she
saw
him
plant
himself
by
her
side
,
with
his
face
alternately
red
and
white
,
and
all
the
signs
of
a
desperate
resolution
in
his
countenance
.
For
the
first
time
in
her
life
a
certain
despair
took
possession
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
mind
.
The
sounds
had
suddenly
ceased
upstairs
,
as
if
the
artists
were
making
a
pause
to
contemplate
the
effect
of
their
completed
work
—
which
indeed
was
precisely
the
case
—
and
at
the
same
time
nobody
came
to
call
her
,
important
though
the
occasion
was
.
She
made
a
last
effort
to
emancipate
herself
before
it
was
too
late
.
"
Ring
,
please
,
Tom
,
"
she
said
;
"
I
want
to
know
if
they
have
finished
upstairs
.
I
am
so
sorry
you
are
going
away
;
but
you
know
it
is
one
of
my
principles
never
to
neglect
my
duty
.
I
am
sure
they
must
be
waiting
for
me
—
if
you
would
only
be
kind
enough
to
ring
.
"
"
Lucilla
,
"
said
Tom
,
"
you
know
I
would
do
anything
in
the
world
you
liked
to
tell
me
;
but
do
n't
ask
me
to
ring
just
now
:
I
am
going
to
leave
you
,
and
there
is
something
I
must
say
to
you
,
Lucilla
,
"
said
the
young
man
,
with
agitation
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
seated
near
the
window
,
and
she
had
a
moral
certainty
that
if
any
of
the
Browns
happened
to
be
in
that
ridiculous
glass-house
where
they
did
their
photography
,
they
must
have
a
perfectly
good
view
of
her
,
with
Tom
in
the
background
,
who
had
placed
himself
so
as
to
shut
her
into
the
recess
of
the
window
.
This
,
coupled
with
the
evidence
of
her
senses
that
the
workmen
up
stairs
had
ceased
their
work
,
and
that
a
slow
footstep
traversing
the
floor
now
and
then
was
all
that
was
audible
,
drove
Lucilla
to
despair
.
"
Yes
,
"
she
said
,
temporising
a
little
,
which
was
the
only
thing
she
could
do
,
"
I
am
sure
I
am
very
sorry
;
but
then
,
you
know
,
with
the
house
in
such
a
condition
!
Next
time
you
come
I
shall
be
able
to
enjoy
your
society
,
"
said
the
designing
young
woman
;
"
but
at
present
I
am
so
busy
.
It
is
one
of
my
principles
,
you
know
,
that
things
are
never
rightly
done
if
the
lady
of
the
house
does
not
pay
proper
attention
.
They
are
sure
to
make
some
dreadful
mistake
upstairs
if
I
do
n't
look
after
them
.
I
shall
see
you
again
before
you
go
.
"
"
Lucilla
,
do
n't
be
so
cruel
!
"
cried
the
unlucky
Tom
,
and
he
caught
her
hand
though
they
were
at
the
window
;
"
do
stop
a
moment
and
listen
to
me
.
Lucilla
!
what
does
it
matter
about
furniture
and
things
when
a
man
's
heart
is
bursting
?
"
cried
the
unfortunate
lover
;
and
just
at
that
moment
Miss
Marjoribanks
could
see
that
the
curtain
was
drawn
aside
a
little
—
ever
so
little
—
in
the
glass-house
.
She
sat
down
again
with
a
sigh
,
and
drew
her
hand
away
,
and
prepared
herself
to
meet
her
fate
with
heroism
at
least
.
"
What
in
the
world
can
you
have
been
doing
?
"
said
Lucilla
innocently
;
"
you
used
always
to
tell
me
,
you
know
,
when
you
got
into
any
difficulty
,
and
I
am
sure
if
I
can
be
of
any
use
to
you
,
Tom
—
—
But
as
for
furniture
and
things
,
they
matter
a
great
deal
,
I
assure
you
,
to
people
's
happiness
;
and
then
,
you
know
,
it
is
the
object
of
my
life
to
be
a
comfort
to
dear
papa
.
"
When
she
said
this
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
settled
herself
again
in
the
recess
of
the
window
,
so
that
the
Miss
Browns
could
command
a
full
view
if
they
chose
;
for
Lucilla
's
courage
was
of
the
highest
order
,
and
nothing
,
except
,
perhaps
,
a
strategical
necessity
of
profound
importance
,
would
have
moved
her
to
retreat
before
an
enemy
.
As
for
Tom
,
he
was
bewildered
,
to
start
with
,
by
this
solemn
repetition
of
her
great
purpose
.
"
I
know
how
good
you
are
,
Lucilla
,
"
he
said
,
with
humility
;
"
but
then
my
uncle
,
you
know
—
I
do
n't
think
he
is
a
man
to
appreciate
—
—
Oh
,
Lucilla
!
why
should
you
go
and
sacrifice
to
him
the
happiness
of
your
life
?
"
"
Tom
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
some
solemnity
,
"
I
wish
you
would
not
talk
to
me
of
happiness
.
I
have
always
been
brought
up
to
believe
that
duty
was
happiness
;
and
everybody
has
known
for
a
long
time
what
was
the
object
of
my
life
.
As
for
poor
papa
,
it
is
the
worse
for
him
if
he
does
not
understand
;
but
that
does
not
make
any
difference
to
my
duty
,
"
said
the
devoted
daughter
.
She
gave
a
little
sigh
as
she
spoke
,
the
sigh
of
a
great
soul
,
whose
motives
must
always
remain
to
some
extent
unappreciated
;
and
the
sight
of
her
resignation
and
beautiful
perseverance
overwhelmed
her
unlucky
suitor
;
for
indeed
,
up
to
this
moment
,
Lucilla
still
entertained
the
hope
of
preventing
Tom
from
,
as
she
herself
described
it
,
"
saying
the
very
words
,
"
which
,
to
be
sure
,
are
awkward
words
to
hear
and
to
say
.
"
Lucilla
,
when
you
are
so
good
to
my
uncle
,
you
ought
to
have
a
little
pity
on
me
,
"
said
Tom
,
driven
to
the
deepest
despondency
.
"
How
do
you
think
I
can
bear
it
,
to
see
you
getting
everything
done
here
,
as
if
you
meant
to
stay
all
your
life
—
when
you
know
I
love
you
?
"
said
the
unfortunate
young
man
;
"
when
you
know
I
have
always
been
so
fond
of
you
,
Lucilla
,
and
always
looked
forward
to
the
time
—
—
;
and
now
it
is
very
hard
to
see
you
care
so
little
for
me
.
"
"
Tom
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
indignant
surprise
,
"
how
can
you
say
I
care
little
for
you
?
you
know
I
was
always
very
fond
of
you
,
on
the
contrary
.
I
am
sure
I
always
stood
your
friend
at
home
,
whatever
happened
,
and
never
said
a
word
when
you
broke
that
pretty
little
pearl
ring
I
was
so
fond
of
,
and
tore
the
scarf
that
my
aunt
gave
me
.
I
wonder
,
for
my
part
,
how
you
can
be
so
unkind
as
so
say
so
.
We
have
always
been
the
very
best
friends
in
the
world
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
an
air
of
injury
.
"
I
always
said
at
school
I
liked
you
the
best
of
all
my
cousins
;
and
I
am
very
fond
of
all
my
cousins
.
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
concluded
,
after
a
little
pause
,
"
It
is
so
unkind
to
tell
me
that
I
do
n't
care
for
you
.
"
Poor
Tom
groaned
within
himself
as
he
listened
.
He
did
not
know
what
to
answer
to
Lucilla
's
aggrieved
yet
frank
confession
.
Naturally
it
would
have
been
much
less
displeasing
to
Tom
to
understand
that
she
hated
him
,
and
never
desired
to
see
him
any
more
.
But
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
far
from
entertaining
any
such
unchristian
sentiments
.
She
even
began
to
forget
her
anxiety
about
what
was
going
on
upstairs
in
that
delightful
sense
of
power
and
abundant
resources
with
which
she
was
mastering
the
present
difficulty
.
She
reflected
in
herself
that
though
it
was
excessively
annoying
to
be
thus
occupied
at
such
a
moment
,
still
it
was
nearly
as
important
to
make
an
end
of
Tom
as
to
see
that
the
pictures
were
hung
rightly
;
for
,
to
be
sure
,
it
was
always
easy
to
return
to
the
latter
subject
.
Accordingly
,
she
drew
her
chair
a
little
nearer
to
the
window
,
and
regarded
Tom
with
a
calm
gaze
of
benevolent
interest
which
was
in
perfect
accordance
with
the
sentiments
she
had
just
expressed
;
a
look
in
which
a
gentle
reproach
was
mingled
.
"
I
have
always
been
like
a
sister
to
you
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
"
how
can
you
be
so
unkind
as
to
say
I
do
n't
care
?
"
As
for
the
unhappy
Tom
,
he
got
up
,
as
was
natural
,
and
took
a
little
walk
in
front
of
the
table
,
as
a
young
man
in
trouble
is
apt
to
do
.
"
You
know
very
well
that
is
not
what
I
mean
,
Lucilla
,
"
he
said
disconsolately
.
"
It
is
you
who
are
unkind
.
I
do
n't
know
why
it
is
that
ladies
are
so
cruel
;
I
am
not
such
a
snob
as
to
persecute
anybody
.
But
what
is
the
good
of
pretending
not
to
know
what
I
mean
?
"
"
Tom
,
listen
!
"
cried
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
rising
in
her
turn
;
"
I
feel
sure
they
must
have
finished
.
There
is
Mr
Holden
going
through
the
garden
.
And
everybody
knows
that
hanging
pictures
is
just
the
thing
of
all
others
that
requires
a
person
of
taste
.
If
they
have
spoiled
the
room
,
it
will
be
all
your
fault
.
"
"
Oh
,
for
Heaven
's
sake
never
mind
the
room
!
"
said
Tom
.
"
I
never
thought
you
would
have
trifled
with
a
man
,
Lucilla
.
You
know
quite
well
what
I
mean
;
you
know
it
is
n't
a
—
a
new
thing
,
"
said
the
lover
,
beginning
to
stammer
and
get
confused
.
"
You
know
that
is
what
I
have
been
thinking
of
all
along
,
as
soon
as
ever
I
had
anything
to
live
on
.
I
love
you
,
Lucilla
;
you
know
I
love
you
!
how
can
you
trifle
with
me
so
?
"
"
It
is
you
who
are
trifling
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
especially
when
you
know
I
have
really
something
of
importance
to
do
.
You
can
come
upstairs
with
me
if
you
like
.
Of
course
we
all
love
each
other
.
What
is
the
good
of
being
relations
otherwise
?
"
said
Lucilla
calmly
;
"
it
is
such
a
natural
thing
,
you
know
.
I
suppose
it
is
because
you
are
going
away
that
you
are
so
affectionate
to-day
.
It
is
very
nice
of
you
,
I
am
sure
;
but
,
Tom
,
I
feel
quite
certain
you
have
not
packed
your
things
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
,
in
an
admonitory
tone
.
"
Come
along
with
me
upstairs
.
"
And
by
this
time
Lucilla
's
curiosity
was
beginning
again
to
get
the
upper
hand
.
If
she
only
could
have
escaped
,
it
would
have
been
impossible
for
her
cousin
to
have
renewed
the
conversation
;
and
luckily
he
was
to
leave
Carlingford
the
same
evening
;
but
then
a
man
is
always
an
inconsequent
creature
,
and
not
to
be
calculated
on
.
This
time
,
instead
of
obeying
as
usual
,
Tom
—
having
,
as
Miss
Marjoribanks
afterwards
described
(
but
only
in
the
strictest
confidence
)
,
"
worked
himself
up
to
it
"
—
set
himself
directly
in
her
way
,
and
seized
upon
both
her
hands
.
"
Lucilla
,
"
cried
the
unlucky
fellow
,
"
is
it
possible
that
you
really
have
misunderstood
me
all
this
time
?
Do
you
mean
to
say
that
you
do
n't
know
?
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
listen
just
five
minutes
.
It
is
n't
because
I
am
your
cousin
.
I
wish
to
Heaven
I
was
not
your
cousin
,
but
some
one
you
had
never
seen
before
.
I
mean
I
want
you
to
consent
to
—
to
—
to
—
marry
me
,
Lucilla
.
That
is
what
I
mean
.
I
am
called
to
the
bar
,
and
I
can
work
for
you
,
and
make
a
reputation
.
Lucilla
,
listen
to
what
I
have
to
say
.
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
left
her
hands
in
his
with
a
calmness
which
froze
poor
Tom
's
heart
in
his
breast
.
She
did
not
even
take
the
trouble
to
draw
them
away
.
"
Have
you
gone
out
of
your
senses
,
Tom
?
"
she
asked
,
in
her
sensible
way
;
and
she
lifted
her
eyes
to
the
face
of
the
poor
young
fellow
who
was
in
love
,
with
an
inquiring
look
,
as
if
she
felt
a
little
anxious
about
him
.
"
If
you
have
any
feeling
as
if
fever
was
coming
on
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
I
think
you
should
go
upstairs
and
lie
down
a
little
till
papa
comes
in
.
I
heard
there
had
been
some
cases
down
about
the
canal
.
I
hope
it
is
not
the
assizes
that
have
been
too
much
for
you
.
"
When
Miss
Marjoribanks
said
this
,
she
herself
took
fast
hold
of
Tom
's
hands
with
a
motherly
grasp
to
feel
if
they
were
hot
,
and
looked
into
his
eyes
with
a
certain
serious
inspection
,
which
,
under
the
circumstances
,
poor
fellow
!
was
enough
to
drive
him
out
of
the
little
rationality
he
had
left
.
Tom
was
so
far
carried
away
by
his
frenzy
,
that
he
gave
her
a
little
shake
in
his
impatience
.
"
You
are
trying
to
drive
me
mad
,
Lucilla
!
"
cried
the
young
man
.
"
I
have
got
no
fever
.
It
is
only
you
who
are
driving
me
out
of
my
senses
.
This
time
you
must
hear
me
.
I
will
not
let
you
go
till
you
have
given
me
an
answer
.
I
am
called
to
the
bar
,
and
I
have
begun
my
Career
,
"
said
Tom
,
making
a
pause
for
breath
.
"
I
knew
you
would
have
laughed
at
me
when
I
was
depending
on
my
mother
;
but
now
all
that
is
over
,
Lucilla
.
I
have
loved
you
as
long
as
I
can
remember
;
and
I
always
thought
—
that
you
—
cared
for
me
a
little
.
If
you
will
have
me
,
there
is
nothing
I
could
not
do
,
"
said
Tom
,
who
thoroughly
believed
what
he
was
saying
;
"
and
if
you
will
not
have
me
,
I
will
not
answer
for
the
consequences
.
If
I
go
off
to
India
,
or
if
I
go
to
the
bad
—
—
"
"
Tom
,
"
said
Lucilla
solemnly
,
and
this
time
she
drew
away
her
hands
,
"
if
you
ever
want
to
get
married
,
I
think
the
very
best
thing
you
can
do
is
to
go
to
India
.
As
for
marrying
just
now
at
your
age
,
you
know
you
might
as
well
jump
into
the
sea
.
You
need
not
be
vexed
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
in
her
motherly
way
.
"
I
would
not
speak
so
if
I
was
not
your
best
friend
.
As
for
marrying
me
,
you
know
it
is
ridiculous
.
I
have
not
the
least
intention
of
marrying
anybody
.
If
I
had
thought
of
that
,
I
need
never
have
come
home
at
all
.
As
for
your
going
to
the
bad
,
I
am
not
afraid
of
that
.
If
I
were
to
let
you
carry
on
with
such
a
ridiculous
idea
,
I
should
never
forgive
myself
.
It
would
be
just
as
sensible
to
go
into
a
lunatic
asylum
at
once
.
It
is
very
lucky
for
you
that
you
said
this
to
me
,
"
Lucilla
went
on
,
"
and
not
to
one
of
the
girls
that
think
it
great
fun
to
be
married
.
And
if
I
were
you
,
Tom
,
I
would
go
and
pack
my
things
.
You
know
you
are
always
too
late
;
and
do
n't
jump
on
your
portmanteau
and
make
such
a
dreadful
noise
if
it
wo
n't
shut
,
but
ring
the
bell
for
Thomas
.
You
know
we
are
to
dine
at
half-past
five
to-day
,
to
give
you
time
for
the
train
.
"
These
were
the
last
words
Tom
Marjoribanks
heard
as
Lucilla
left
the
room
.
She
ran
up
to
the
drawing-room
without
losing
a
minute
,
and
burst
in
upon
the
vacant
place
where
Mr
Holden
had
stood
so
long
waiting
for
her
.
To
be
sure
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
forebodings
were
so
far
fulfilled
that
the
St
Cecilia
,
which
she
meant
to
have
over
the
piano
,
was
hung
quite
in
the
other
corner
of
the
room
,
by
reason
of
being
just
the
same
size
as
another
picture
at
the
opposite
angle
,
which
the
workmen
,
sternly
symmetrical
,
thought
it
necessary
to
"
match
.
"
But
,
after
all
,
that
was
a
trifling
defect
.
She
stood
in
the
middle
of
the
room
,
and
surveyed
the
walls
,
well
pleased
,
with
a
heart
which
kept
beating
very
steadily
in
her
bosom
.
On
the
whole
,
perhaps
,
she
was
not
sorry
to
have
had
it
out
with
Tom
.
So
far
as
he
was
personally
concerned
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
being
a
physician
's
daughter
,
had
great
faith
in
the
vis
medicatrix
,
and
was
not
afraid
for
her
cousin
's
health
or
his
morals
,
as
a
less
experienced
woman
might
have
been
.
If
she
was
angry
with
anybody
,
it
was
with
herself
,
who
had
not
taken
sufficient
precautions
to
avoid
the
explanation
.
"
But
,
after
all
,
everything
is
for
the
best
,
"
Lucilla
said
to
herself
,
with
that
beautiful
confidence
which
is
common
to
people
who
have
things
their
own
way
;
and
she
devoted
her
mind
to
the
St
Cecilia
,
and
paid
no
more
attention
to
Tom
.
It
was
not
till
more
than
an
hour
after
that
a
succession
of
dreadful
thumps
was
not
only
heard
but
felt
throughout
the
house
.
It
was
Tom
,
but
he
was
not
doing
any
harm
to
himself
.
He
was
not
blowing
out
his
brains
or
knocking
his
head
against
the
wall
.
He
was
only
jumping
on
his
portmanteau
,
notwithstanding
that
Lucilla
had
warned
him
against
such
a
proceeding
—
and
in
his
state
of
mind
the
jumps
were
naturally
more
frantic
than
usual
.
When
Lucilla
heard
it
,
she
rang
the
bell
,
and
told
Thomas
to
go
and
help
Mr
Tom
with
his
packing
;
from
which
it
will
be
seen
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
bore
no
grudge
against
her
cousin
but
was
disposed
to
send
him
forth
in
friendship
and
peace
.
Chapter
X
It
was
nearly
six
weeks
after
this
before
all
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
arrangements
were
completed
,
and
she
was
able
with
satisfaction
to
herself
to
begin
her
campaign
.
It
was
just
before
Christmas
,
at
the
time
above
all
others
when
society
has
need
of
a
ruling
spirit
.
For
example
,
Mrs
Chiley
expected
the
Colonel
's
niece
,
Mary
Chiley
,
who
had
been
married
about
six
months
before
,
and
who
was
not
fond
of
her
husband
's
friends
,
and
at
the
same
time
had
no
home
of
her
own
to
go
to
,
being
an
orphan
.
The
Colonel
had
invited
the
young
couple
by
way
of
doing
a
kind
thing
,
but
he
grumbled
a
little
at
the
necessity
,
and
had
never
liked
the
fellow
,
he
said
—
and
then
what
were
two
old
people
to
do
to
amuse
them
?
Then
Mrs
Centum
had
her
two
eldest
boys
home
from
school
,
and
was
driven
out
of
her
senses
by
the
noise
and
the
racket
,
as
she
confided
to
her
visitors
.
"
It
is
all
very
well
to
make
pretty
pictures
about
Christmas
,
"
said
the
exasperated
mother
,
"
but
I
should
like
to
know
how
one
can
enjoy
anything
with
such
a
commotion
going
on
.
I
get
up
every
morning
with
a
headache
,
I
assure
you
;
and
then
Mr
Centum
expects
me
to
be
cheerful
when
he
comes
in
to
dinner
;
men
are
so
unreasonable
.
I
should
like
to
know
what
they
would
do
if
they
had
what
we
have
to
go
through
:
to
look
after
all
the
servants
—
and
they
are
always
out
of
their
senses
at
Christmas
—
and
to
see
that
the
children
do
n't
have
too
much
pudding
,
and
to
support
all
the
noise
.
The
holidays
are
the
hardest
work
a
poor
woman
can
have
,
"
she
concluded
,
with
a
sigh
;
and
when
it
is
taken
into
consideration
that
this
particular
Christmas
was
a
wet
Christmas
,
without
any
frost
or
possibility
of
amusement
out
of
doors
,
English
matrons
in
general
will
not
refuse
their
sympathy
to
Mrs
Centum
.
Mrs
Woodburn
perhaps
was
equally
to
be
pitied
in
a
different
way
.
She
had
to
receive
several
members
of
her
husband
's
family
,
who
were
,
like
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
without
any
sense
of
humour
,
and
who
stared
,
and
did
not
in
the
least
understand
her
when
she
"
took
off
"
any
of
her
neighbours
;
not
to
say
that
some
of
them
were
Low-Church
,
and
thought
the
practice
sinful
.
Under
these
circumstances
it
will
be
readily
believed
that
the
commencement
of
Lucilla
's
operations
was
looked
upon
with
great
interest
in
Carlingford
.
It
was
so
opportune
that
society
forgot
its
usual
instincts
of
criticism
,
and
forgave
Miss
Marjoribanks
for
being
more
enlightened
and
enterprising
than
her
neighbours
;
and
then
most
people
were
very
anxious
to
see
the
drawing-room
,
now
it
had
been
restored
.
This
was
a
privilege
,
however
,
not
accorded
to
the
crowd
.
Mrs
Chiley
had
seen
it
under
a
vow
of
secrecy
,
and
Mr
Cavendish
owned
to
having
made
a
run
upstairs
one
evening
after
one
of
Dr
Marjoribanks
's
little
dinners
,
when
the
other
convives
were
in
the
library
,
where
Lucilla
had
erected
her
temporary
throne
.
But
this
clandestine
inspection
met
with
the
failure
it
deserved
,
for
there
was
no
light
in
the
room
except
the
moonlight
,
which
made
three
white
blotches
on
the
carpet
where
the
windows
were
,
burying
everything
else
in
the
profoundest
darkness
;
and
the
spy
knocked
his
foot
against
something
which
reduced
him
to
sudden
and
well-merited
agony
.
As
for
Mrs
Chiley
,
she
was
discretion
itself
,
and
would
say
nothing
even
to
her
niece
.
"
I
mean
to
work
her
a
footstool
in
water-lilies
,
my
dear
,
like
the
one
I
did
for
you
when
you
were
married
,
"
the
old
lady
said
;
and
that
was
the
only
light
she
would
throw
on
the
subject
.
"
My
opinion
is
that
it
must
be
in
crimson
,
"
Mrs
Woodburn
said
,
when
she
heard
this
,
"
for
I
know
your
aunt
's
water-lilies
.
When
I
see
them
growing
,
I
always
think
of
you
.
It
would
be
quite
like
Lucilla
Marjoribanks
to
have
it
in
crimson
—
for
it
is
a
cheerful
colour
,
you
know
,
and
quite
different
from
the
old
furniture
;
and
that
would
always
be
a
comfort
to
her
dear
papa
.
"
From
this
it
will
be
seen
that
the
curiosity
of
Carlingford
was
excited
to
a
lively
extent
.
Many
people
even
went
so
far
as
to
give
the
Browns
a
sitting
in
their
glass-house
,
with
the
hope
of
having
a
peep
at
the
colour
of
the
hangings
at
least
.
But
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
too
sensible
a
woman
to
leave
her
virgin
drawing-room
exposed
to
the
sun
when
there
was
any
,
and
to
the
photographers
,
who
were
perhaps
more
dangerous
.
"
I
think
it
is
blue
,
for
my
part
,
"
said
Miss
Brown
,
who
had
got
into
the
habit
of
rising
early
in
hopes
of
finding
the
Doctor
's
household
off
its
guard
.
"
Lucilla
was
always
a
great
one
for
blue
;
she
thinks
it
is
becoming
to
her
complexion
;
"
which
,
indeed
,
as
the
readers
of
this
history
are
aware
,
was
a
matter
of
fact
.
As
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
she
did
her
best
to
keep
up
this
agreeable
mystery
.
"
For
my
part
,
I
am
fond
of
neutral
tints
,
"
she
herself
said
,
when
she
was
questioned
on
the
subject
;
"
anybody
who
knows
me
can
easily
guess
my
taste
.
I
should
have
been
born
a
Quaker
,
you
know
,
I
do
so
like
the
drabs
and
grays
,
and
all
those
soft
colours
.
You
can
have
as
much
red
and
green
as
you
like
abroad
,
where
the
sun
is
strong
,
but
here
it
would
be
bad
style
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
from
which
the
most
simple-minded
of
her
auditors
drew
the
natural
conclusion
.
Thus
all
the
world
contemplated
with
excitement
the
first
Thursday
which
was
to
open
this
enchanted
chamber
to
their
admiring
eyes
.
"
Do
n't
expect
any
regular
invitation
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
said
.
"
I
hope
you
will
all
come
,
or
as
many
of
you
as
can
.
Papa
has
always
some
men
to
dinner
with
him
that
day
,
you
know
,
and
it
is
so
dreadfully
slow
for
me
with
a
heap
of
men
.
That
is
why
I
fixed
on
Thursday
.
I
want
you
to
come
every
week
,
so
it
would
be
absurd
to
send
an
invitation
;
and
remember
it
is
not
a
party
,
only
an
Evening
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
I
shall
wear
a
white
frock
high
,
as
I
always
do
.
Now
be
sure
you
come
.
"
"
But
we
ca
n't
all
go
in
high
white
frocks
,
"
said
Mrs
Chiley
's
niece
,
Mary
,
who
,
if
her
trousseau
had
been
subtracted
from
the
joys
of
marriage
,
would
not
,
poor
soul
!
have
found
very
much
left
.
This
intimation
dismayed
the
bride
a
little
;
for
,
to
be
sure
,
she
had
decided
which
dress
she
was
to
wear
before
Lucilla
spoke
.
"
But
,
my
dear
,
you
are
married
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
that
makes
it
quite
different
:
come
in
that
pretty
pink
that
is
so
becoming
.
I
do
n't
want
to
have
any
dowdies
,
for
my
part
;
and
do
n't
forget
that
I
shall
expect
you
all
at
nine
o'clock
.
"
When
she
had
said
this
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
proceeded
on
her
way
,
sowing
invitations
and
gratification
round
her
.
She
asked
the
youngest
Miss
Brown
to
bring
her
music
,
in
recognition
of
her
ancient
claims
as
the
songstress
of
society
in
Carlingford
;
for
Lucilla
had
all
that
regard
for
constituted
rights
which
is
so
necessary
to
a
revolutionary
of
the
highest
class
.
She
had
no
desire
to
shock
anybody
's
prejudices
or
wound
anybody
's
feelings
.
"
And
she
has
a
nice
little
voice
,
"
Lucilla
said
to
herself
,
with
the
most
friendly
and
tolerant
feelings
.
Thus
Miss
Marjoribanks
prepared
to
establish
her
kingdom
with
a
benevolence
which
was
almost
Utopian
,
not
upon
the
ruins
of
other
thrones
,
but
with
the
goodwill
and
co-operation
of
the
lesser
powers
,
who
were
,
to
be
sure
,
too
feeble
to
resist
her
advance
,
but
whose
rights
she
was
quite
ready
to
recognise
,
and
even
to
promote
,
in
her
own
way
.
At
the
same
time
it
is
necessary
here
to
indicate
a
certain
vague
and
not
disagreeable
danger
,
which
appeared
to
some
experienced
persons
to
shadow
Lucilla
's
conquering
way
.
Mr
Cavendish
,
who
was
a
young
man
of
refinement
,
not
to
say
that
he
had
a
very
nice
property
,
had
begun
to
pay
attention
to
Miss
Marjoribanks
in
what
Mrs
Chiley
thought
quite
a
marked
manner
.
To
be
sure
,
he
could
not
pretend
to
the
honour
of
taking
her
in
to
dinner
,
which
was
not
his
place
,
being
a
young
man
;
but
he
did
what
was
next
best
,
and
manœuvred
to
get
the
place
on
her
left
hand
,
which
,
in
a
party
composed
chiefly
of
men
,
was
not
difficult
to
manage
.
For
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
most
of
the
gentlemen
present
were
at
that
special
moment
more
interested
in
the
dinner
than
in
Lucilla
.
And
after
dinner
it
was
Mr
Cavendish
who
was
the
first
to
leave
the
room
;
and
to
hear
the
two
talking
about
all
the
places
they
had
been
to
,
and
all
the
people
they
had
met
,
was
as
good
as
a
play
,
Mrs
Chiley
said
.
Mr
Cavendish
confided
to
Lucilla
his
opinions
upon
things
in
general
,
and
accepted
the
reproofs
which
she
administered
(
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
quite
unquestionable
in
her
orthodoxy
,
and
thought
it
a
duty
,
as
she
said
,
always
to
speak
with
respect
of
religion
)
when
his
sentiments
were
too
speculative
,
and
said
,
"
How
charming
is
divine
philosophy
!
"
so
as
,
for
the
moment
,
to
dazzle
Lucilla
herself
,
who
thought
it
a
very
pretty
compliment
.
He
came
to
her
assistance
when
she
made
tea
,
and
generally
fulfilled
all
the
duties
which
are
expected
of
a
man
who
is
paying
attention
to
a
young
lady
.
Old
Mrs
Chiley
watched
the
nascent
regard
with
her
kind
old
grandmotherly
eyes
.
She
calculated
over
in
her
own
mind
the
details
of
his
possessions
,
so
far
as
the
public
was
aware
of
them
,
and
found
them
on
the
whole
satisfactory
.
He
had
a
nice
property
,
and
then
he
was
a
very
nice
,
indeed
an
unexceptionable
young
man
;
and
to
add
to
this
,
it
had
been
agreed
to
between
Colonel
Chiley
and
Mr
Centum
,
and
several
other
of
the
leading
people
in
Carlingford
,
that
he
was
the
most
likely
man
to
represent
the
borough
when
old
Mr
Chiltern
,
who
was
always
threatening
to
retire
,
fulfilled
his
promise
.
Mr
Cavendish
had
a
very
handsome
house
a
little
out
of
town
,
where
a
lady
would
be
next
thing
to
a
county
lady
—
indeed
,
quite
a
county
lady
,
if
her
husband
was
the
Member
for
Carlingford
.
All
these
thoughts
passed
through
Mrs
Chiley
's
mind
,
and
,
as
was
natural
,
in
the
precious
moments
after
dinner
,
were
suggested
in
occasional
words
of
meaning
to
the
understanding
ear
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
"
My
dear
Lucilla
,
it
is
just
the
position
that
would
suit
you
—
with
your
talents
!
"
the
old
lady
said
;
and
Lucilla
did
not
say
No.
To
be
sure
,
she
had
not
at
the
present
moment
the
least
inclination
to
get
married
,
as
she
truly
said
;
it
would
,
indeed
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
disturb
her
plans
considerably
;
but
still
,
if
such
was
the
intention
of
Providence
,
and
if
it
was
to
the
Member
for
Carlingford
,
Lucilla
felt
that
it
was
still
credible
that
everything
might
be
for
the
best
.
"
But
it
is
a
great
deal
too
soon
to
think
of
anything
of
that
sort
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
would
reply
.
"
If
I
had
thought
of
that
,
I
need
never
have
come
home
at
all
;
and
especially
when
papa
has
been
so
good
about
everything
.
"
Yet
for
all
that
she
was
not
ungracious
to
Mr
Cavendish
when
he
came
in
first
as
usual
.
To
marry
a
man
in
his
position
would
not
,
after
all
,
be
deranging
her
plans
to
any
serious
extent
.
Indeed
,
it
would
,
if
his
hopes
were
realised
,
constitute
Lucilla
a
kind
of
queen
in
Carlingford
,
and
she
could
not
but
feel
that
,
under
these
circumstances
,
it
might
be
a
kind
of
duty
to
reconsider
her
resolution
.
And
thus
the
time
passed
while
the
drawing-room
was
undergoing
renovation
.
Mr
Cavendish
had
been
much
tantalised
,
she
said
,
by
the
absence
of
the
piano
,
which
prevented
them
from
having
any
music
,
and
Lucilla
had
even
been
tempted
into
a
few
snatches
of
song
,
which
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
some
of
the
gentlemen
present
,
especially
the
Doctor
himself
and
Colonel
Chiley
,
being
old-fashioned
,
preferred
without
the
accompaniment
.
And
thus
it
was
,
under
the
most
brilliant
auspices
,
and
with
the
full
confidence
of
all
her
future
constituency
,
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
superintended
the
arrangement
of
the
drawing-room
on
that
momentous
Thursday
,
which
was
to
be
the
real
beginning
of
her
great
work
in
Carlingford
.
"
My
dear
,
you
must
leave
yourself
entirely
in
my
hands
,
"
Lucilla
said
to
Barbara
Lake
on
the
morning
of
that
eventful
day
.
"
Do
n't
get
impatient
.
I
dare
say
you
do
n't
know
many
people
,
and
it
may
be
a
little
slow
for
you
at
first
;
but
everybody
has
to
put
up
with
that
,
you
know
,
for
a
beginning
.
And
,
by
the
bye
,
what
are
you
going
to
wear
?
"
"
I
have
not
thought
about
it
,
"
said
Barbara
,
who
had
the
painful
pride
of
poverty
,
aggravated
much
by
a
sense
that
the
comforts
of
other
people
were
an
injury
to
her
.
Poor
soul
!
she
had
been
thinking
of
little
else
for
at
least
a
week
past
;
and
then
she
had
not
very
much
choice
in
her
wardrobe
;
but
her
disposition
was
one
which
rejected
sympathy
,
and
she
thought
it
would
look
best
to
pretend
to
be
indifferent
.
At
the
same
time
,
she
said
this
with
a
dull
colour
on
her
cheeks
,
the
colour
of
irritation
;
and
she
could
not
help
asking
herself
why
Lucilla
,
who
was
not
so
handsome
as
she
was
,
had
the
power
to
array
herself
in
gorgeous
apparel
,
while
she
,
Barbara
,
had
nothing
but
a
white
frock
.
There
are
differences
even
in
white
frocks
,
though
the
masculine
mind
may
be
unaware
of
them
.
Barbara
's
muslin
had
been
washed
six
times
,
and
had
a
very
different
air
from
the
vestal
robes
of
her
patroness
.
To
be
sure
,
Lucilla
was
not
taken
in
,
in
the
least
,
by
her
companion
's
look
of
indifference
,
and
would
even
have
been
delighted
to
bestow
a
pretty
dress
upon
Barbara
,
if
that
had
been
a
possible
thing
to
do
.
"
There
will
be
no
dress
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
solemnity
.
"
I
have
insisted
upon
that
.
You
know
it
is
not
a
party
,
it
is
only
an
Evening
.
A
white
frock
,
high
—
that
is
all
I
mean
to
wear
;
and
mind
you
do
n't
lose
patience
.
I
shall
keep
my
eye
on
you
;
and
after
the
first
,
I
feel
sure
you
will
enjoy
yourself
.
Good-bye
for
the
present
.
"
When
she
had
uttered
these
encouraging
words
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
went
away
to
pursue
her
preparations
,
and
Barbara
proceeded
to
get
out
her
dress
and
examine
it
.
It
was
as
important
to
her
as
all
the
complicated
paraphernalia
of
the
evening
's
arrangements
were
to
Lucilla
.
It
is
true
that
there
were
greater
interests
involved
in
the
case
of
the
leader
;
but
then
Barbara
was
the
soldier
of
fortune
who
had
to
open
the
oyster
with
her
sword
,
and
she
was
feeling
the
point
of
it
metaphorically
while
she
pulled
out
the
breadths
of
her
white
dress
,
and
tried
to
think
that
they
would
not
look
limp
at
night
;
and
what
her
sentiments
lost
in
breadth
,
as
compared
with
Lucilla
's
,
they
gained
in
intensity
,
for
—
for
anything
she
could
tell
—
her
life
might
change
colour
by
means
of
this
Thursday
Evening
;
and
such
,
indeed
,
was
her
hope
.
Barbara
prepared
for
her
first
appearance
in
Grange
Lane
,
with
a
mind
wound
up
to
any
degree
of
daring
.
It
did
not
occur
to
her
that
she
required
to
keep
faith
with
Miss
Marjoribanks
in
anything
except
the
duet
.
As
regarded
other
matters
,
Barbara
was
quite
unscrupulous
,
for
at
the
bottom
she
could
not
but
feel
that
any
one
who
was
kind
to
her
was
taking
an
unwarrantable
liberty
.
What
right
had
Lucilla
Marjoribanks
to
be
kind
to
her
?
as
if
she
was
not
as
good
as
Lucilla
any
day
!
and
though
it
might
be
worth
her
while
to
take
advantage
of
it
for
the
moment
,
it
was
still
an
insult
,
in
its
way
,
to
be
avenged
if
an
opportunity
ever
should
arise
.
The
evening
came
,
as
evenings
do
come
,
quite
indifferently
whether
people
are
glad
or
sorry
;
and
it
was
with
a
calmness
which
the
other
ladies
regarded
as
next
to
miraculous
,
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
took
Colonel
Chiley
's
arm
to
go
to
the
dining-room
.
We
say
the
other
ladies
,
for
on
this
great
occasion
Mrs
Centum
and
Mrs
Woodburn
were
both
among
the
dinner-guests
.
"
To
see
her
eat
her
dinner
as
if
she
had
nothing
on
her
mind
!
"
Mrs
Centum
said
in
amazement
:
"
as
for
me
,
though
nobody
can
blame
me
if
anything
goes
wrong
,
I
could
enjoy
nothing
for
thinking
of
it
.
And
I
must
say
I
was
disappointed
with
the
dinner
,
"
she
added
,
with
a
certain
air
of
satisfaction
,
in
Mrs
Woodburn
's
ear
.
It
was
when
they
were
going
upstairs
,
and
Lucilla
was
behind
with
Mrs
Chiley
.
"
The
fuss
the
men
have
always
made
about
these
dinners
!
and
except
for
a
few
made
dishes
that
were
really
nothing
,
you
know
,
I
ca
n't
say
I
saw
anything
particular
in
it
.
And
as
for
Lucilla
,
I
ca
n't
think
she
has
any
feeling
,
"
said
the
banker
's
wife
.
"
Oh
,
my
dear
,
it
is
because
you
do
n't
understand
,
"
said
Mrs
Woodburn
.
"
She
is
kept
up
,
you
know
,
by
a
sense
of
duty
.
It
is
all
because
she
has
set
her
heart
on
being
a
comfort
to
her
dear
papa
!
"
Such
,
it
is
true
,
were
the
comments
that
were
