"I had not yet asked you to be my friend. I ask it now." — by John McLenan for Bulwer-Lytton's "A Strange Story" in "Harper's Weekly" (31 August 1861)

"I had not yet asked you to be my friend. I ask it now."

John McLenan

1861

11.4 cm. square (4 ½ inches)

Bulwer-Lytton's A Strange Story

Harper's Weekly 5 (31 August 1861): 558.

[Incident illustrated, Chapter 12, p. 559]

Image scan and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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Passage Illustrated: The Queen of the Hill decides to take up Allen's cause.

At length Mrs. Poyntz came back, and I entered her house, having fully resolved beforehand on the line of policy to be adopted towards the potentate whom I hoped to secure as an ally. It was clear that neither disguise nor half-confidence would baffle the penetration of so keen an intellect, nor propitiate the good will of so imperious and resolute a temper. Perfect frankness here was the wisest prudence; and after all, it was most agreeable to my own nature, and most worthy of my own honour.

Luckily, I found Mrs. Poyntz alone, and taking in both mine the hand she somewhat coldly extended to me, I said, with the earnestness of suppressed emotion, —

“You observed when I last saw you, that I had not yet asked you to be my friend. I ask it now. Listen to me with all the indulgence you can vouchsafe, and let me at least profit by your counsel if you refuse to give me your aid.” [Chapter XII, p. 559]

Commentary: The Queen of the Hill Weighs Lilian's Health against Fenwick's Desire

Lilian seems to be getting worse, but the physician that Mrs. Poyntz has recommended, Dr. Vigors, seems powerless to effect a cure. Mrs. Poyntz has summoned Dr. Allen Fenwick to Kirby Hall to weigh the young physician's desire to marry the beautiful patient against the prospect of his effecting a recovery, certain as he is that she does not have consumption, despite the assertions to the contrary of a clairvoyant and her medical adherent, Dr. Jones (ally of the late Dr. Lloyd and Mr. Vigors candidate for the post of Lilian's physician). In the next chapter, Mrs. Poyntz, having just returned to L— summons Dr. Fenwick back to Kirby Hall. Explaining her anti-mesmerist, anti-clairvoyant bias, she agrees to advocate for him with her friend Mrs. Ashleigh, and accompanies him in his carriage to the Abbots' House. McLenan makes her look shocked and surprised when, in fact, she is determined to be of assistance to Dr. Allen Fenwick.

Bibliography

Bulwer-Lytton, Edward G. D. A Strange Story. Illustrated by John McLenan. Harper's Weekly V, 10 August — 8 March 1862.

Created 21 November 2007

Last modified 23 June 2026