# Chapter VI explained — Miss Marjoribanks

> Chapter companion for Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant.

## What happens

Lucilla persuades her father to refurnish the drawing-room in a delicate pale green to suit her complexion, revealing her plans to host 'Evenings' rather than dances. Tom Marjoribanks awkwardly assists her measurements, and Dr. Marjoribanks, though amused, is disgusted by the idea of Lucilla marrying a man with no fortune.

## Themes in this chapter

### Performance and Appearance

Lucilla's careful choice of green for the drawing-room to flatter her complexion highlights her strategic management of visual presentation.

### Practicality vs. Romance

Lucilla's pragmatic approach to marriage and society contrasts with Tom's romantic ineptitude, and Dr. Marjoribanks prioritizes financial prudence over romantic attachment.

## Character check-ins

### Lucilla Marjoribanks

Argues for a green drawing-room to suit her complexion and announces her intention to hold 'Evenings' instead of parties.

### Dr. Marjoribanks

Amused by Lucilla's plans but opposed to her marrying Tom; reluctantly considers refurnishing.

### Tom Marjoribanks

Awkwardly measures the room for Lucilla and breaks a table, showing his clumsiness.

## Key lines

> Lucilla was quite in earnest in thinking that the colour of the drawing-room was an important matter, and that a woman of sense had very good reason for suiting it to her complexion

Lucilla genuinely believed that choosing the right color for the drawing-room was crucial, and that a sensible woman would match it to her own coloring.

_Highlights Lucilla's practical yet aesthetic reasoning._

> I give myself ten years here, if you should be very good. By twenty-nine I shall be going off a little, and perhaps it may be tiring, for anything I can tell.

Lucilla plans to stay at home for ten years, expecting to lose her youthful appeal by age twenty-nine.

_Shows Lucilla's calculated view of her own social timeline._

> the idea that, after all her accomplishments, and her expensive education, and her year on the Continent, she should marry a man who had nothing, disgusted the Doctor.

Dr. Marjoribanks was appalled at the thought of Lucilla marrying a man without fortune, given her advantages.

_Reveals the Doctor's pragmatic and class-conscious concerns._

## Links

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