# V explained — Miss Marjoribanks

> Chapter companion for Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant.

## What happens

Lucilla returns home and begins establishing her social position. She successfully snubs the mimic Mrs. Woodburn, winning prestige in Grange Lane. She also visits Barbara Lake, recruiting her as a singing partner by demonstrating her own confidence and control, despite Barbara's initial resistance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Ambition and Control

Lucilla strategically snubs Mrs. Woodburn to elevate her own prestige and begins recruiting allies for her social campaign.

### Performance and Appearance

Lucilla's confident performance at the piano and her manipulation of Barbara's voice highlight the theme of social performance.

### Class and Social Hierarchy

Barbara Lake's ambition to enter Grange Lane society and her resentment at being held back by family duties illustrate class aspirations.

## Character check-ins

### Lucilla Marjoribanks

Returns home, snubs Mrs. Woodburn, and recruits Barbara Lake for a musical partnership.

### Mrs. Chiley

Visits Lucilla, tells the story of her niece Susan, and is defended by Lucilla against Mrs. Woodburn's mimicry.

### Mrs. Woodburn

Attempts to mimic Mrs. Chiley but is snubbed by Lucilla, who claims to have no sense of humor.

### Mrs. Centum

Visits with Mrs. Woodburn and sympathizes with Lucilla's lack of humor, discussing domestic troubles.

### Barbara Lake

Visited by Lucilla, who persuades her to sing together; Barbara is ambivalent but intrigued by the social opportunity.

### Tom Marjoribanks

Mentioned as arriving at an inconvenient time for Lucilla's plans.

## Key lines

> I never have had a great sense of humour. I know it is singular, but when one has a defect, it is always so much better to confess it.

Lucilla claims she lacks a sense of humor, using this as a tactic to deflect Mrs. Woodburn's mimicry.

_Lucilla's strategic self-deprecation to assert social control._

> I told you your voice was the very thing to go with mine.

Lucilla asserts that Barbara's voice complements her own, justifying her recruitment.

_Lucilla's confident manipulation to secure Barbara as a musical partner._

## Links

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