# Chapter IX explained — Miss Marjoribanks

> Chapter companion for Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant.

## What happens

Tom Marjoribanks, on his last day in Carlingford, intercepts Lucilla in the library while the drawing-room is being redecorated. He confesses his love and proposes marriage, but Lucilla, focused on her domestic duties and her role as her father's companion, deftly deflects his proposal by treating it as a sign of fever or madness. She advises him to go to India and pack for his train, then escapes to oversee the workmen upstairs. The chapter also notes that Lucilla has successfully taken up Mrs. Mortimer's cause after the Rector's failed attempt, restoring her own good humor.

## Themes in this chapter

### Practicality vs. Romance

Lucilla's practical dismissal of Tom's romantic proposal, treating it as a feverish delusion, contrasts sharply with his emotional outpouring.

### Self-Perception and Ego

Lucilla sees herself as a devoted daughter with a mission to be a comfort to her father, and her self-image as a sensible, managing woman drives her actions.

### Performance and Appearance

Lucilla is acutely aware of being observed by the Browns from their photography glasshouse, and she positions herself to maintain a composed appearance during Tom's proposal.

## Character check-ins

### Lucilla Marjoribanks

Handles Tom's proposal with calm practicality, deflecting it as a sign of illness and advising him to pack for his journey.

### Tom Marjoribanks

On his last day in Carlingford, he works himself up to propose to Lucilla, but is rebuffed and advised to go to India.

### Mrs. Chiley

Lucilla confides in her privately about Tom's maladroitness, saying some people are born to do ridiculous things.

### Mrs. Mortimer

Lucilla has taken up her cause after the Rector's failed scheme, and her prospects are brightening under Lucilla's patronage.

### Mr. Holden

The upholsterer waits for Lucilla's opinion on the new green drawing-room paper, confident in her judgment.

### Mr. Bury

The Rector is annoyed by Mrs. Mortimer's fainting at an inopportune moment, and Lucilla finds her opportunity in his failure.

## Key lines

> Tom, have you gone out of your senses? 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.

Lucilla calmly asked Tom if he had lost his mind, looking at him with concern as if he might be ill.

_Lucilla deflects Tom's proposal by treating it as a symptom of fever or madness._

> As for marrying just now at your age, you know you might as well jump into the sea.

She tells Tom that marrying at his age is as impractical as jumping into the sea.

_Lucilla dismisses the idea of marriage as impractical for a young man like Tom._

> 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.

Lucilla states her principle that household tasks require the lady's direct supervision to be done correctly.

_Lucilla uses her domestic duties as an excuse to avoid Tom's romantic advances._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/ix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters