Something not Exactly Flirtation by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne), facing page 481. (March 1856). Steel-engraving. 9.3 cm high by 18.5 cm wide (3 ¾ by 6 ½inches), vignetted, full-page illustration for The Martins of Cro' Martin, Chapter XLIX, "Something Not Exactly Flirtation." [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Passage Illustrated: Kate Henderson sketching in Alten-Schloss, Baden
Some fancied resemblance — it was in reality no more — to a view from a window at Cro' Martin had especially endeared this spot to Martin, who regularly was carried up each evening to pass an hour or so, dreaming away in that half-unconsciousness to which his malady had reduced him. There he sat, scarcely a remnant of his former self, a leaden dulness in his eye, and a massive immobility in the features which once were plastic with every passing mood that stirred him. The clasped hands and slightly bent-down head gave a character of patient, unresisting meaning to his figure, which the few words he dropped from time to time seemed to confirm.
At a little distance off, and on the very verge of the cliff, Kate Henderson was seated sketching; and behind her, occasionally turning to walk up and down the terraced space, was Massingbred, once more in full health, and bearing in appearance the signs of his old, impatient humour. Throwing away his half-smoked cigar, and with a face whose expression betokened the very opposite of all calm and ease of mind, he drew nigh to where she sat, and watched her over her shoulder. For a while she worked away without noticing his presence. At last she turned slightly about, and looking up at him, said, “You see, it's very nearly finished.”
“Well, and what then?” asked he, bluntly.
“Do you forget that I gave you until that time to change your opinion? that when I was shadowing in this foreground I said, 'Wait 'till I have done this sketch, and see if you be of the same mind,' and you agreed?”
“This might be very pleasant trifling if nothing were at stake, Miss Henderson,” said he; “but remember that I cannot hold all my worldly chances as cheaply as you seem to do them.”
“Light another cigar, and sit down here beside me, — I don't dislike smoke, and it may, perchance, be a peace calumet between us; and let us talk, if possible, reasonably and calmly.”
He obeyed like one who seemed to feel that her word was a command, and sat down on the cliff at her side. [Chapter XLIX, "Something Not Exactly Flirtation," pp. 481-482]
Commentary: Meanwhile, Back on the Continent
After six illustrations focussing once again on the Oughterard scenes from Chapters XXXIX through XLV (December 1855 through February 1856) Phiz and Lever now bring us back to the Continent. Jack has been convalescing with the Martins and Kate Henderson at a spa town near the Alten-Schloss on the Rhine, amidst the picturesque Vosges Mountains of Baden. If Mr. Martin looks less like a British lord of the manor touring the Continent and more like an invalid wrapped up and slightly comatose, Phiz has described Mr. Martin accurately. From a letter in Chapter 46, Mary has learned that the Martins have arrived in Carlsruhe in Baden, and that her uncle has suffered a seizure or stroke on his left side, the paralysis being particularly evident on that side of his face. He is now, reports Lady Dorothea, quite inarticulate. Jack Massingbred has now told Lady Dorothea that he intends to resign his parliamentary seat. Since her husband is incapable of managing the family finances, Lady Dorothea orders a strict austerity at Cro' Martin.
The scene that ensues involves two very different issues. Massingbred renews his marriage proposal to Kate Henderson. She again refuses, asserting that, when a man marries beneath his social station, the wife inevitably suffers rejection by his class. Meantime, as Karte finishes her sketch, the servant suggests that they wrap up Mr. Martin and get back to the hotel. As Kate puts his shawls on him, he reveals the extent of his dementia, for he mistakes Kate for "Molly," and the present prospect for that he was accustomed to admire from the windows of Castle Cro' Martin.
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Bibliography
Lever, Charles. The Martins of Cro' Martin. Illustrated by Phiz [Hablot Knight Browne]. London: Chapman & Hall, 1856, rpt. 1872.
Lever, Charles. The Martins of Cro' Martin. Illustrated by Phiz [Hablot Knight Browne]. Novels and Romances of Charles Lever. Introduction by Andrew Lang. Lorrequer Edition. Vols. XII and XIII. In two volumes. Boston: Little, Brown, 1907. Project Gutenberg. Last Updated: 28 February 2018.
Created 8 October 2022