# Mr. Cavendish — Miss Marjoribanks character guide > Mr. Cavendish in Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** young Mr. Cavendish, poor Mr. Cavendish, Cavendish, young Cavendish, Poor Mr. Cavendish, poor Cavendish, Dear Mr. Cavendish **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Snapshot A charming, well-connected young man whom Lucilla enlists as her right hand — until his eyes and his magnificent voice betray him toward Barbara Lake. ## Who they are Mr. Cavendish is exactly what Lucilla needs: a man who can flirt, who is under efficient discipline, and who is capable of carrying out a grand conception. For a virtuous interval he behaves with perfect decorum, and Mrs. Chiley begins a quiet canvass for the future M.P. But his weakness for Barbara's contralto reasserts itself, and his backsliding becomes the first real test of whether Lucilla's social order can survive the return of the repressed. He is less a villain than a force of nature — the Cavendish predisposition, as the narrator might say, doing what Cavendishes do. ## Relationships ### [Lucilla Marjoribanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/lucilla_marjoribanks) _romantic_ Lucilla and Mr. Cavendish share a flirtatious and ambiguous romantic tension, with Cavendish as a persistent suitor. ### [Mrs. Chiley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mrs_chiley) _social_ Mr. Cavendish and Mrs. Chiley maintain a polite social acquaintance, with Mrs. Chiley wary of his intentions toward Lucilla. ### [Barbara Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/barbara_lake) _romantic_ Barbara Lake is infatuated with Mr. Cavendish, pursuing him despite his greater interest in Lucilla. ### [Archdeacon Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/archdeacon_beverley) _social_ Archdeacon Beverley and Mr. Cavendish have a polite but distant social relationship, with the Archdeacon disapproving of Cavendish's character. ### [Rose Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/rose_lake) _social_ Mr. Cavendish is courteous to Rose Lake, but their interactions are largely superficial and tied to her sister Barbara. ### [General Travers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/general_travers) _social_ General Travers and Mr. Cavendish are fellow members of Carlingford society, with no particular closeness or enmity. ### [Lucilla Marjoribanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/lucilla_marjoribanks) _romantic_ Lucilla and Mr. Cavendish share a flirtatious and ambiguous romantic tension, with Cavendish as a persistent suitor. ### [Lucilla Marjoribanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/lucilla_marjoribanks) _romantic_ Lucilla and Mr. Cavendish share a flirtatious and ambiguous romantic tension, with Cavendish as a persistent suitor. ### [Mrs. Chiley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mrs_chiley) _social_ Mr. Cavendish and Mrs. Chiley maintain a polite social acquaintance, with Mrs. Chiley wary of his intentions toward Lucilla. ### [Rose Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/rose_lake) _social_ Mr. Cavendish is courteous to Rose Lake, but their interactions are largely superficial and tied to her sister Barbara. ### [Mrs. Chiley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mrs_chiley) _social_ Mr. Cavendish and Mrs. Chiley maintain a polite social acquaintance, with Mrs. Chiley wary of his intentions toward Lucilla. ### [Barbara Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/barbara_lake) _romantic_ Barbara Lake is infatuated with Mr. Cavendish, pursuing him despite his greater interest in Lucilla. ## In the story ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/iii) Mrs. Woodburn's brother, a wit and man of fashion who brings fresh gossip to Grange Lane. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/viii) Attends the dinner, appreciates the refined table, and is mentioned as a potential suitor and future MP. ### [The First Thursday Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/x) Pays attentive court to Lucilla, confiding his opinions and assisting with tea; seen as a potential suitor and future Member for Carlingford. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xi) Shows marked attentions to Lucilla, praised for his statesmanlike views and interest in her social politics. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xii) Pays attention to Barbara Lake, causing concern, but is later sent downstairs with her by Lucilla. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xiii) Flirts with Barbara Lake, then returns to Lucilla's side, behaving with decorum and becoming her 'right hand' for a period. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xiv) Openly courts Barbara Lake at Lucilla's gathering, causing a scandal and losing the approval of Carlingford society. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xv) Referenced as having deserted Lucilla; his potential attendance at the evening gathering is a source of speculation. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xvi) Arrives late and is publicly shamed by the silent stares of the guests; later flees the room after a tense moment with Barbara Lake. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xvii) His sudden disappearance is the subject of much speculation in Carlingford, with theories ranging from his entanglement with Barbara Lake to financial troubles. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xix) Returns after three weeks to propose to Lucilla; his attempt is interrupted by Mrs. Chiley's arrival. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xx) Reluctantly considers marrying Lucilla under his sister's pressure, then visits the Lake household and is captivated by Barbara's singing. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxi) Torn between his attraction to Barbara Lake and his interest in Lucilla; feels gratitude toward Lucilla for saving him from embarrassment with Mr. Beverley, yet is reluctant to propose. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxiii) Frightened out of Carlingford by the Archdeacon's arrival, his mysterious past is a subject of Lucilla's curiosity. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxv) Absent from Carlingford; subject of Lucilla's inquiry; rumored to have changed his name and inherited money. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxvii) Lucilla plans to confront him about his secret meetings with Barbara Lake. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxviii) Walks Lucilla home; is confronted about rumors and experiences relief when he learns the source is a lady who spoke well of him. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxix) Torn between fleeing and facing public shame; receives Lucilla's letter and is bewildered by her proposal. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxx) Tormented by panic and the fear of exposure, he attempts to visit Lucilla but is intercepted by Barbara Lake; he retreats to his sister's house and resolves to face the evening. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxi) Does not visit Lucilla as expected but sends a note accepting her invitation; Lucilla pities him as a man capable of better things now doomed to marry Barbara Lake. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxii) Arrives early and hides in a dark corner, but is later led by Lucilla to sit under the lamp at the center of the table, becoming the focus of the Archdeacon's discovery. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxiii) Sits dumb and immovable as the Archdeacon accuses him, but his genuine surprise at the exaggerated charges gives him an advantage. ### [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxiv) Mr. Cavendish is shocked and furious when Lucilla advises him about Barbara Lake, feeling insulted and humiliated. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxvi) Was led away by Barbara Lake instead of proposing to Lucilla. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxviii) Returning to Carlingford, his political address aligns with Dr. Marjoribanks's sentiments; Lucilla is conflicted about his reappearance. ### [Chapter XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xl) Returns to Carlingford visibly older, stouter, and red-faced; embarrassed by Lucilla's frankness and angered by her reference to 'Her'; decides to begin his canvass immediately. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xli) Returns to Carlingford for the election, feeling the sting of aging and loss of former influence. ### [Chapter XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xlii) Mentioned as a former pet of Mrs. Chiley; Lucilla reflects on his poor choices and contrasts his fate with her own. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xliii) Walks side by side with Mr. Ashburton at the funeral. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xlvii) Pauses at Grove Street, recalls past, hears a contralto voice, and hesitates before the Lake house. ### [Chapter XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xlviii) Initially leads the poll but loses support due to gossip about marrying Barbara Lake. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xlix) Walks to Mr. Lake's door after his public humiliation, a decisive step in his fate. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mr_cavendish - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters