# Mrs. Chiley — Miss Marjoribanks character guide > Mrs. Chiley in Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Mrs. Chiley, Dear Mrs. Chiley, dear Mrs. Chiley, kind old Mrs. Chiley, Poor Mrs. Chiley **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot Kindly old Grange Lane widow who serves as Lucilla Marjoribanks's only confidante, watching her brilliant, perilous campaign to rule Carlingford society from the inside. ## Who they are Mrs. Chiley is the sympathetic elder neighbor who grasps Lucilla's hand at supreme moments and feels the flattery of being sole confidante to so daring an undertaking. She supplies the gossip and gentle counsel that keep the reader oriented in Grange Lane's social weather. Her affectionate, slightly dazzled perspective makes Lucilla's Thursday evenings and matrimonial schemes legible as both comedy and genuine social engineering. ## Relationships ### [Lucilla Marjoribanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/lucilla_marjoribanks) _friendship_ Lucilla and Mrs. Chiley are close confidantes, with Mrs. Chiley acting as a mentor and ally in Carlingford society. ### [Mr. Cavendish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mr_cavendish) _social_ Mr. Cavendish and Mrs. Chiley maintain a polite social acquaintance, with Mrs. Chiley wary of his intentions toward Lucilla. ### [Archdeacon Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/archdeacon_beverley) _social_ Archdeacon Beverley and Mrs. Chiley are respected members of Carlingford society who interact cordially. ### [Lucilla Marjoribanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/lucilla_marjoribanks) _friendship_ Lucilla and Mrs. Chiley are close confidantes, with Mrs. Chiley acting as a mentor and ally in Carlingford society. ### [Lucilla Marjoribanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/lucilla_marjoribanks) _friendship_ Lucilla and Mrs. Chiley are close confidantes, with Mrs. Chiley acting as a mentor and ally in Carlingford society. ### [Mr. Cavendish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mr_cavendish) _social_ Mr. Cavendish and Mrs. Chiley maintain a polite social acquaintance, with Mrs. Chiley wary of his intentions toward Lucilla. ### [Archdeacon Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/archdeacon_beverley) _social_ Archdeacon Beverley and Mrs. Chiley are respected members of Carlingford society who interact cordially. ### [Mr. Cavendish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mr_cavendish) _social_ Mr. Cavendish and Mrs. Chiley maintain a polite social acquaintance, with Mrs. Chiley wary of his intentions toward Lucilla. ### [Archdeacon Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/archdeacon_beverley) _social_ Archdeacon Beverley and Mrs. Chiley are respected members of Carlingford society who interact cordially. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/ii) A lady of Grange Lane who tries to coax recipes from Dr. Marjoribanks and is fond of good living. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/iii) An old lady with no children, who dislikes bustle and prefers small dinners. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/v) Visits Lucilla, tells the story of her niece Susan, and is defended by Lucilla against Mrs. Woodburn's mimicry. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/vii) Invited as chaperone; discusses her wardrobe with Lucilla. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/viii) Praises Lucilla's dinner extravagantly, discusses Tom and Mr. Cavendish, and reassures Lucilla about Miss Bury. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/ix) Lucilla confides in her privately about Tom's maladroitness, saying some people are born to do ridiculous things. ### [The First Thursday Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/x) Observes the budding relationship between Lucilla and Mr. Cavendish with approval, calculating his prospects. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xii) Lucilla's confidante; expresses indignation at Barbara's behavior and offers to intervene. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xiii) Supports Lucilla, calls Mr. Cavendish 'my dear,' and begins a quiet canvass for a future M.P. in Lucilla's interests. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xiv) Offers tribute of indignation and sympathy to Lucilla after Mr. Cavendish's defection. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xv) Visits Lucilla to offer consolation and introduce the Archdeacon; acts as Lucilla's confidant and matchmaker. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xvi) Delighted to see Lucilla keeping up well and amused by the story told at dinner. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xvii) Reflects on the Archdeacon's arrival and his lack of tact in attending Lucilla's Thursday on his first night, while still regretting Mr. Cavendish's absence. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xviii) Lucilla's partisan and champion, lectures young girls about not showing disappointment and worries about Lucilla's trust in the Archdeacon. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xix) Deeply apologetic for interrupting Mr. Cavendish's proposal; expresses sympathy for him and later returns to check on Lucilla. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxi) Recipient of Lucilla's note; Lucilla credits her with Providence for interrupting Mr. Cavendish's potential proposal. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxii) Feels burdened by hosting the Archdeacon but bears it for Lucilla's sake. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxx) Greets Mr. Cavendish warmly and encourages him to call on Lucilla, inadvertently increasing his distress. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxi) Shocked and dismayed by the news of the Archdeacon's marriage; expresses indignant tenderness toward Lucilla and sobs over her disappointment. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxii) Observes Lucilla's preoccupation and later her triumph, feeling indignation at the Archdeacon's presence and questioning Lucilla's civility. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxix) Now very old and feeble, reclines on a sofa by the fire; eagerly awaits news of Mr. Cavendish's return but is disappointed by Lucilla's lack of information. ### [Chapter XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xlii) Suffering from severe rheumatism; the Doctor visits her and reports she is better but may be 'thinking about dying.' ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xliii) Recovering from illness, feels guilty and thinks the Doctor was taken by mistake. ### [Chapter XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xlv) Mentioned as having sent the Colonel with the offer of a home for Lucilla. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/li) Lucilla visits her to announce the engagement, but Mrs. Chiley is surprised. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters/mrs_chiley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/characters