Miss Marjoribanks

by Mrs. Oliphant

  _Chapter XL_

  The result of Miss Marjoribanks's wise precaution and reticence was thatSir John Richmond and the Doctor and Colonel Chiley were all on MrAshburton's committee. They might not agree with his principles; butthen when a man does not state any very distinct principles, it isdifficult for any one, however well disposed, to disagree with him; andthe fact that he was the man for Carlingford was so indisputable, thatnobody attempted to go into the minor matters. "Mr Ashburton is agentleman known to us all," Sir John said, with great effect, in hisnomination speech; and it was a sentence which went to the hearts of hisaudience. The other candidate had been a long time from home, and it waslonger still since anybody in Carlingford could be said to havebenefited by his residence there. He had had all his things down fromtown, as Mr Holden, the upholsterer, pithily remarked--and that made agreat difference to start with. As for Mr Ashburton, though it is truenobody knew what he thought about Reform or the Income-tax, everybodyknew that he lived at the Firs, and was supplied in a creditable way byGeorge Street tradesmen. There was no mystery whatever about him. Peopleknew how much he had a year, and how much he paid for everything, andthe way in which his accounts were kept, and all about him. Even when hehad his wine direct from the growers (for naturally his own county couldnot supply the actual liquor), it was put in Carlingford bottles, andpeople knew the kinds he had, and how much, and a hundred agreeabledetails. And then, "he was a gentleman as was always ready to give hisadvice," as some of the people said. All this furnished an immense bodyof evidence in his favour, and made Sir John's remark eloquent. And thenCarlingford, as a general rule, did not care the least in the worldabout Reform. There were a few people who had once done so, and it wasremarked in Grove Street that Mr Tozer had once been in a dreadful stateof mind about it. But he was quite tranquil on the subject now, and sowas the community in general. And what was really wanted, as Lucilla'sgenius had seen at a glance, was not this or that opinion, but a goodman.

  But at the same time it would be vain to deny that Miss Marjoribankslooked forward to a possible visit from Mr Cavendish with a certainamount of anxiety. She was not frightened, for she knew her own powers;but she was a little excited and stimulated by the idea that he mightcome in at any minute, bringing back a crowd of recollections with him;and it was a perpetual wonder to her how he would take the inevitabledifference, whether he would accept it as natural, or put on the airs ofan injured man. Lucilla did not go out the two afternoons after hermeeting with Mrs Woodburn, partly that she might not miss him if hecalled--for it was better to have it over; but Mr Cavendish did not comeon either of these days. After that, of course, she did not wait for himany longer. But on the third or fourth day, when she was in Miss Brown'sphotographing room (the eldest Miss Brown was not married, and was amother to the younger girls, and always enthusiastic about sitters), MrAshburton called about business, and Thomas came to fetch MissMarjoribanks. She was sitting with the greatest good-nature for half adozen pictures, knowing in her secret heart all the time that she wouldlook a perfect fright, and that all Carlingford would see her grinningwith imbecile amiability out of the hazy background of Miss Brown's_cartes_. Lucilla knew this, and had hitherto avoided the process withsuccess; but now she gave in; and as the Major was there, of course theytalked of the coming election, which, indeed, at present was almost theonly topic of conversation in Grange Lane.

  "Of course, you are on Mr Ashburton's committee," said Lucilla; "youmust be, or going to be, after what you said the other day at lunch----"

  "What did I say?" asked Major Brown, with an air of dismay; for, to tellthe truth, his heart inclined a little towards poor Mr Cavendish, whowas an old neighbour, and to whom Major Brown could not but think theMarjoribanks and others had behaved rather cruelly. But then in theseelectioneering matters one never knows what one may have done tocompromise oneself without meaning it; and the Major was a littleanxious to find out what he had said.

  "Dear Major Brown," said Lucilla, seriously, "I am so sorry if you didnot mean it. I am sure it was that as much as anything that influencedMr Ashburton. He was turning it all over in his mind, you know, and wasafraid the people he most esteemed in Carlingford would not agree withhim, and did not know what to do; and then you said, What did it matterabout opinions, if it was a good man?--that was what decided him," saidMiss Marjoribanks, with sad yet gentle reproachfulness. "I am so sorryif you did not mean what you said----"

  "Good heavens! I don't remember saying anything of the sort," said MajorBrown. "I--I am sure I never thought of influencing anybody. It is trueenough about a good man, you know; but if I had imagined for an instantthat any one was paying attention----By George! it was you that said it,Lucilla--I remember now."

  "Please don't make fun of me," said Miss Marjoribanks; "as if anybodycared what _I_ say about politics. But I know that was what decided poorMr Ashburton. Indeed, he told me so; and when he finds you did not meananything----"

  "But, good heavens!--I--I did mean something," cried the accused, withdismay. And he grew quite inarticulate in his confusion, and red in theface, and lost his head altogether, while Lucilla sat calmly looking onwith that air of virtue at once severe and indulgent, which pities, andblames, and hopes that perhaps there is not so much harm done as mighthave been expected. This was the position of affairs when Thomas came tosay that Miss Marjoribanks was wanted, as she had told him to do whenher candidate came; for, to be sure, it was only next door. It wasterrible to hear the soft sigh she gave when she shook hands with MajorBrown. "I hope he will not feel it so much as I think; but I should beafraid to tell him," said Lucilla; and she went away, leaving the goodman in a state of bewilderment and embarrassment and doubt, which wouldhave been much more unpleasant if he had not felt so flattered at thesame time. "I never meant to influence anybody, I am sure!" he said,with a comical mixture of complacence and dismay, when Lucilla was gone."I have always said, papa, that you don't think enough of the weightpeople give to your opinion," Miss Brown replied, as she gave the finalbath to her negatives; and they both left off work with a certain glowof comforted _amour propre_, and the most benevolent sentiments towardsMr Ashburton, who, to tell the truth, until he got his lesson from MissMarjoribanks, had never once thought about the opinion of Major Brown.

  He was sitting with Aunt Jemima when Lucilla came in, and talking to herin a steady sort of a way. Nothing could have made Mr Ashburton sociallyattractive, but still there are many people to whom this steady sort oftalk is more agreeable than brilliancy. When a man is brilliant there isalways a doubt in some minds whether he is trustworthy, or sincere, orto be relied upon; but an ordinary commonsense sort of talker is freefrom such suspicion. Mr Ashburton was very sorry to hear that Mrs JohnMarjoribanks had bad nights, and suggested that it might be nervousness,and hoped that the air of Carlingford would do her good, and was veryglad to hear that her son was getting on so well in India; and AuntJemima could not help approving of him, and feeling that he was a personof substance and reflection, and not one of those fly-away young men whoturn girls' heads, and never mean anything. Lucilla herself gainedsomething in Mrs John's eyes from Mr Ashburton's high opinion; but atthe same time it was quite clear that he was not thinking of anythingsentimental, but was quite occupied about his election, as a man ofsense should be. Lucilla came in with a fine bloom on her cheeks, butstill with a shade of that sadness which had had so great an effect uponMajor Brown. She had taken off her hat before she came in, and droppedinto her chair with an air of languor and fatigue which was quiteunusual to her. "It makes such a difference in life when one hassomething on one's mind," said Lucilla, and she sighed, as was butnatural; for though that did not affect the energy of her proceedings,she knew and remembered at moments of discouragement how seldom one'smost disinterested exertions are appreciated at the end.

  "You want your lunch, my dear," said Mrs John.

  "Perhaps I do," said Miss Marjoribanks, with a mournful affectionatesmile. "I have been sitting to Maria Brown. She has taken six
, and I amsure they are every one more hideous than the other; and they will goall over England, you know, for the Browns have hosts of peoplebelonging to them; and everybody will say, 'So _that_ is MissMarjoribanks.' I don't think I am vain to speak of," said Lucilla, "butthat sort of thing goes to one's heart."

  "These amateurs are terrible people," said Mr Ashburton, in his steadyway; "and photographs are a regular nuisance. For my part----"

  "Don't say that," said Miss Marjoribanks. "I know what you are going tosay; and you _must_ sit to her, please. I have said already she must doone of you; and I will tell you presently about the Major. But wait andtalk to Aunt Jemima a little, for I am so tired," said Lucilla. She waslying back negligently in her seat, with that air of languor which somany young ladies excel in, but which was for her a novel indulgence.Her hand hung over the arm of her chair as if there was no longer anyforce in it. Her head fell back, her eyes were half closed; it was amoment of abandonment to her sensations, such as a high-principled youngwoman like Miss Marjoribanks seldom gives way to. But Lucilla went intoit conscientiously, as into everything she did, that she might regainher strength for the necessary duties that were before her.

  And it was at this moment that Thomas appeared at the door with asuspicion of a grin appearing at the corners of his sober mouth, andannounced Mr Cavendish, who came in before an ordinary woman would havehad time to open her eyes. This was the moment he had chosen for hisfirst visit; and yet it was not he who had chosen it, but fate, whoseemed to have in this respect a spite against Lucilla. It was not onlythe embarrassing presence of his rival, but the fact that neither of thetwo people in the room knew or had ever seen Mr Cavendish, that put aclimax to the horror of the situation. She alone knew him, and had totake upon herself to present and introduce him, and bridge over for himthe long interval of absence, and all this with the sense of being inthe enemy's interest, and to a certain extent false to Mr Cavendish!Lucilla rose at once, but she was not a woman to make pretences. She didnot throw off all in a moment her fatigue, and dash into spasmodicaction. She held out her hand silently to Mr Cavendish, with a lookwhich spoke only affectionate satisfaction in a friend's return. She didnot even speak at all for the first moment, but contented herself with alook, which indeed, if he had been younger and less preoccupied, wouldno doubt have touched his very heart.

  "So you have really come back," she said. "I am so glad! after all thatpeople said about your being married and dead and ever so many stupidthings. Oh! don't look at me, please. It doesn't matter with agentleman, but I know as well as if you had told me that you think medreadfully gone off----"

  "_I_ entertain such a profane idea!" said Mr Cavendish; but he wasconsiderably embarrassed, and he was a great deal stouter, andaltogether different from what he used to be, and he had not the lighthand of his youth for a compliment. And then he sat down on the chairThomas had given him; and he looked uncomfortable, to say the least ofit; and he was getting large in dimensions and a little red in the face,and had by no means the air of thinking that it didn't matter for agentleman. As for Miss Marjoribanks, it would be impossible to say whatmists of illusion dropped away from her mind at the sight of him. Evenwhile she smiled upon the new-comer, she could not but ask herself, withmomentary dismay--Had _she_ really gone off as much in the same time?

  "I have been looking for you," Miss Marjoribanks resumed; "I waited infor you Tuesday and Wednesday, and it is so odd you should have comejust at this minute. Aunt Jemima, this is Mr Cavendish, whom you haveheard so much about--and don't go, please, Mr Ashburton--you two mustknow each other. You will be hearing of each other constantly; and Isuppose you will have to shake hands or something on the hustings--so itwill be much the best to begin it here."

  But the two candidates did not shake hands: they bowed to each other inan alarming way, which did not promise much for their futurebrotherliness, and then they both stood bolt upright and stared at MissMarjoribanks, who had relapsed, in the pleasantest way in the world,into her easy-chair.

  "Now, please sit down and talk a little," said Lucilla; "I am so proudof having you both together. There never has been anybody in the worldthat I have missed so much as _you_--you knew that when you went away,but you didn't mind. Mr Ashburton is very nice, but he is of no use tospeak of in an evening," said Miss Marjoribanks, turning a reflectiveglance upon her own candidate with a certain sadness; and then they bothlaughed as if it was a joke; but it was no joke, as one of them at leastmust have known.

  "Lucilla," said Mrs John, with consternation, "I never heard anybodytalk as you do; I am sure Mr Ashburton is the very best of society, andas for Mr Cavendish----"

  "Dear Aunt Jemima," said Lucilla, "would you mind ringing the bell? Ihave been sitting to Maria Brown, and I am almost fainting. I wish yougentlemen would sit to her; it would please her, and it would not do_you_ much harm; and then for your constituents, you know----"

  "I hope you don't wish me to look like one of Maria Brown's photographsto my constituents," said Mr Cavendish; "but then I am happy to say theyall know me pretty well." This was said with a slight touch ofgentlemanly spite, if there is such a thing; for, after all, he _was_ anold power in Carlingford, though he had been so long away.

  "Yes," said Lucilla reflectively, "but you are a little changed sincethen; a little perhaps--just a little--stouter, and----"

  "Gone off?" said Mr Cavendish, with a laugh; but he felt horriblydisconcerted all the same, and savage with Miss Marjoribanks, and couldnot think why "that fellow" did not go away. What had _he_ to do inLucilla's drawing-room? what did he mean by sitting down again andtalking in that measured way to the old lady, as if all the ordinaryrules of good breeding did not point out to him that he should have goneaway and left the field clear?

  "Oh, you know it does not matter for a gentleman," said Lucilla; andthen she turned to Mr Ashburton--"I am sure the Major wants to see you,and he thinks that it was he who put it into your head to stand. He washere that day at lunch, you know, and it was something he said----"

  "Quite true," said Mr Ashburton in his business way. "I shall go to seehim at once. Thank you for telling me of it, Miss Marjoribanks; I shallgo as soon as I leave here."

  And then Mr Cavendish laughed. "This is what I call interesting," hesaid. "I hope Mr Ashburton sees the fun; but it is trying to an oldfriend to hear of _that_ day at lunch, you know. I remember when thesesort of allusions used to be pleasant enough; but when one has beenbanished for a thousand years----"

  "Yes," said Lucilla, "one leaves all that behind, you know--one leavesever so many things behind. I wish we could always be twenty, for mypart. I always said, you know, that I should be gone off in ten years."

  "Was it the only fib you ever told that you repeat it so?" said MrCavendish; and it was with this pretty speech that he took herdownstairs to the well-remembered luncheon. "But you _have_ gone off insome things when you have to do with a prig like that," he said in herear, as they went down together, "and cast off old friends. It was athing a fellow did not expect of _you_."

  "I never cast off old friends," said Miss Marjoribanks. "We shall lookfor you on Thursday, you know, all the same. Must you go, Mr Ashburton,when lunch is on the table? But then, to be sure, you will be in time atthe Browns'," said Lucilla sweetly, and she gave the one rival her handwhile she held the arm of the other, at the door of the dining-room, inwhich Mr Ashburton had gallantly deposited Aunt Jemima before sayinggood-bye. They were both looking a little black, though the gloom wasmoderate in Mr Ashburton's case; but as for Lucilla, she stood betweenthem a picture of angelic sweetness and goodness, giving a certainmeasure of her sympathy to both--Woman the Reconciler, by the side ofthose other characters of Inspirer and Consoler, of which the world hasheard. The two inferior creatures scowled with politeness at each other,but Miss Marjoribanks smiled upon them both. Such was the way in whichshe overcame the difficulties of the meeting. Mr Ashburton went away alittle annoyed, but still understanding his instructions, and ready toact upon them in that businessli
ke way he had, and Mr Cavendishremained, faintly reassured in the midst of his soreness andmortification, by at least having the field to himself and seeing thelast (for the present) of his antagonist--which was a kind of victory inits way.

  "I thought I knew you better than to think you ever would have anythingto do with _that_ sort of thing," said Mr Cavendish. "There are people,you know, whom I could have imagined--but a prig like that." He becameindeed quite violent, as Aunt Jemima said afterwards, and met with thatlady's decided disapproval, as may be supposed.

  "Mr Ashburton is very well-bred and agreeable," Mrs John said, withemphasis. "I wish all the young men I see nowadays were as nice."

  "Young men!" said Mr Cavendish. "Is that what people call youngnowadays? And he must be insane, you know, or he would never dream ofrepresenting a town without saying a single word about his principles.I dare say he thinks it is original," said the unhappy man. He thoughthe was pointing out his rival's weakness to Lucilla, and he went on withenergy--"I know you better than to think you can like thatmilk-and-water sort of thing."

  "Oh, I don't pretend to know anything about politics," said Lucilla. "Ihear you gentlemen talk, but I never pretend to understand. If we werenot to leave you _that_ all to yourselves, I don't know what you couldfind to do," Miss Marjoribanks added compassionately; and as she spokeshe looked so like the Lucilla of old, who had schemed and plotted forMr Cavendish, that he could not believe in her desertion in his heart.

  "That is a delusion like the going off," he said. "I can't believe youhave gone over to the enemy. When I remember how I have been rovingabout all those ten years, and how different it might have been, andwhose fault it all was----"

  This Mr Cavendish said in a low voice, but it did not the less horrifyAunt Jemima, who felt prepared for any atrocity after it. She would havewithdrawn, in justice to her own sense of propriety; but then shethought it was not impossible that he might propose to Lucilla on thespot, or take her hand or something, and for propriety's sake shestayed.

  "Yes," said Lucilla--and her heart did for one little moment give afaint thump against her breast. She could not help thinking what adifference it might have made to him, poor fellow, had he been under herlawful and righteous sway these ten years. But as she looked at him itbecame more and more apparent to Miss Marjoribanks that Mr Cavendish_had_ gone off, whatever she herself might have done. The outlines ofhis fine figure had changed considerably, and his face was a little red,and he had the look of a man whose circumstances, spiritual andtemporal, would not quite bear a rigid examination. As she looked at himher pity became tinged by a certain shade of resentment to think thatafter all it was his own fault. She could not, notwithstanding hernatural frankness of expression, say to him, "You foolish soul, whydidn't you marry me somehow, and make a man of yourself?" Lucillacarried honesty very far, but she could not go as far as that. "Yes,"she said, turning her eyes upon him with a sort of abstract sympathy,and then she added softly, "Have you ever seen Her again?" with alowering of her voice.

  This interesting question, which utterly bewildered Aunt Jemima, droveMr Cavendish wild with rage. Mrs John said afterwards that she felt ashiver go through her as he took up the carving-knife, though it wasonly to cut some cold beef. He grew white all at once, and pressed hislips tightly together, and fixed his eyes on the wall straight beforehim. "I did not think, after what I once said to you, Miss Marjoribanks,that you would continue to insult my judgment in that way," he said,with a chill which fell upon the whole table, and took the life out ofeverything, and dimmed the very fire in the chimney. And after that theconversation was of a sufficiently ordinary description until they wentback again into the drawing-room, by which time Mr Cavendish seemed tohave concluded that it was best to pocket the affront.

  "I am going to begin my canvass to-morrow," he said. "I have not seenanybody yet. I have nobody but my sister to take _me_ in hand, you know.There was once a time when it might have been different"--and he gaveLucilla a look which she thought on the whole it was best to meet.

  "Yes," said Miss Marjoribanks, with cruel distinctness, "there was atime when you were the most popular man in Grange Lane--everybody wasfond of you. I remember it as if it had been yesterday," said Lucilla,with a sigh.

  "You don't give a man much encouragement, by Jove!" said the unluckycandidate. "You remember it like yesterday? It may be vanity, but Iflatter myself I shall still be found the most popular man in GrangeLane."

  Miss Marjoribanks sighed again, but she did not say anything. On thecontrary she turned to Aunt Jemima, who kept in the background analarmed and alert spectator, to consult her about a shade of wool; andjust then Mr Cavendish, looking out of the window, saw Major Brownconducting his rival through his garden, and shaking hands with himcordially at the door. This was more than the patience of the othercandidate could bear. A sudden resolution, hot and angry, as are theresolutions of men who feel themselves to have a failing cause, cameinto his mind. He had been badgered and baited to such an extent (as hethought) that he had not time to consider if it was wise or not. He,too, had sat to Maria Brown, and commanded once the warmest admirationof the household. He thought he would put it to the test, and see ifafter all his popularity was only a thing to be remembered likeyesterday;--and it was with this intention that he bade a hurriedgood-bye to Lucilla, and, rushing out, threw himself at once upon thetroubled waves of society, which had once been as smooth as glass to themost popular man in Grange Lane.