# XXXVII explained — Miss Marjoribanks

> Chapter companion for Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant.

## What happens

Ten years have passed since Lucilla began her social reign in Grange Lane. Now twenty-nine, she reflects on her unfulfilled expectations of marriage and recognition. The chapter focuses on her strategic promotion of Mr. Ashburton as an independent parliamentary candidate for Carlingford, including her choice of violet-and-green ribbons as his colors and her orchestration of public support. Her campaign is marked by a blend of personal ambition and civic engagement, as she positions herself as a guiding force behind his candidacy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Ambition and Control

Lucilla's orchestration of Mr. Ashburton's candidacy demonstrates her continued drive to shape Carlingford society and her own position within it.

### Performance and Appearance

The choice of ribbon colors and the theatrical presentation of the candidate's address highlight the importance of visual symbols and public performance in politics and social life.

### Self-Perception and Ego

Lucilla's reflection on the ten years and her unfulfilled expectations reveals her evolving self-awareness and the gap between youthful ambition and reality.

## Character check-ins

### Lucilla Marjoribanks

Now twenty-nine, Lucilla reflects on the passage of ten years and her unfulfilled expectations. She actively promotes Mr. Ashburton's candidacy, choosing his colors and orchestrating public support.

### Mr. Ashburton

The new parliamentary candidate for Carlingford, who is persuaded by Lucilla to adopt an independent, non-partisan stance and to use violet-and-green as his colors.

### Dr. Marjoribanks

Lucilla's father, who is not consulted about her political activities but remains a background presence.

### Major Brown

A local figure who echoes Lucilla's sentiment that Carlingford needs a good man, not a party politician, and supports the idea of an independent candidate.

### Old Mr. Chiltern

His recent death is mentioned as a catalyst for the political opportunity that Lucilla seizes.

## Key lines

> The enlightened electors of Carlingford do not demand, like other less educated constituencies, a system of political doctrines cut and dry, or a representative bound to give up his own judgment, and act according to arbitrary promises,” said the daring candidate: “what they want is an honest man, resolved to do his duty by his country, his borough, and his constituency; and it is this idea alone which has induced me to solicit your suffrages.

Mr. Ashburton's campaign address claims that Carlingford voters are too sophisticated to want a rigid party platform; instead, they desire an honest representative who will use his own judgment and serve the nation, the borough, and the voters.

_This speech, crafted under Lucilla's influence, positions Ashburton as an independent candidate above party politics._

> The ten years, as they had really gone by, were very different from the ten years she had looked forward to, when, in the triumph of her youth, she named that period as the time when she might probably begin to go off, and would be disposed to marry.

Lucilla's actual experience of the past decade has not matched her youthful expectations; she had anticipated that by age twenty-nine she would be ready to marry, but that opportunity has not yet arrived.

_This reflection underscores Lucilla's growing awareness of the gap between her earlier ambitions and her current reality._

> If they are your colours they shall be mine,” he said, with a sense of patronage and protection which was very delightful; and the two were still talking and laughing over the silken link thus formed between them, when the people came in whom Lucilla was expecting to lunch.

Mr. Ashburton, charmed by Lucilla's attention, declares that her chosen colors will be his as well, creating a playful bond between them just as other guests arrive for lunch.

_This moment illustrates the personal and political alliance forming between Lucilla and Ashburton, blending flirtation with strategy._

## Links

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