poor miss finch-第11章

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magnanimity；　I　took　advantage　of　the　first　opportunity　to　change　the
subject。　The　most　tiresome　information　that　I　am　acquainted　with；　is　the
information　which　tells　us　of　the　virtues　of　an　absent　personwhen　that
absent　person　happens　to　be　a　stranger。

〃Is　it　true　that　you　have　taken　Browndown　for　six　months？〃　I　asked。　〃Are
you　really　going　to　settle　at　Dimchurch？〃

〃Yesif　you　keep　my　secret；〃　he　answered。　〃The　people　here　know　nothing
about　me。　Don't；　pray　don't；　tell　them　who　I　am！　You　will　drive　me　away；
if　you　do。〃

〃I　must　tell　Miss　Finch　who　you　are；〃　I　said。

〃No！　no！　no！〃　he　exclaimed　eagerly。　〃I　can't　bear　the　idea　of　her　knowing
it。　I　have　been　so　horribly　degraded。　What　will　she　think　of　me？〃　He
burst　into　another　explosion　of　rhapsodies　on　the　subject　of
Lucillamixed　up　with　renewed　petitions　to　me　to　keep　his　story
concealed　from　everybody。　I　lost　all　patience　with　his　want　of　common
fortitude　and　common　sense。

〃Young　Oscar；　I　should　like　to　box　your　ears！〃　I　said。　〃You　are　in　a
villainously　unwholesome　state　about　this　matter。　Have　you　nothing　else
to　think　of？　Have　you　no　profession？　Are　you　not　obliged　to　work　for　your
living？〃

I　spoke；　as　you　perceive；　with　some　force　of　expressionaided　by　a
corresponding　asperity　of　voice　and　manner。

Mr。　Oscar　Dubourg　looked　at　me　with　the　puzzled　air　of　a　man　who　feels　an
overflow　of　new　ideas　forcing　itself　into　his　mind。　He　modestly　admitted
the　degrading　truth。　From　his　childhood　upwards；　he　had　only　to　put　his
hand　in　his　pocket；　and　to　find　the　money　there；　without　any　preliminary
necessity　of　earning　it　first。　His　father　had　been　a　fashionable
portrait…painter；　and　had　married　one　of　his　sittersan　heiress。　Oscar
and　Nugent　had　been　left　in　the　detestable　position　of　independent
gentlemen。　The　dignity　of　labor　was　a　dignity　unknown　to　these　degraded
young　men。　〃I　despise　a　wealthy　idler；〃　I　said　to　Oscar；　with　my
republican　severity。　〃You　want　the　ennobling　influence　of　labor　to　make　a
man　of　you。　Nobody　has　a　right　to　be　idlenobody　has　a　right　to　be　rich。
You　would　be　in　a　more　wholesome　state　of　mind　about　yourself；　my　young
gentleman；　if　you　had　to　earn　your　bread　and　cheese　before　you　ate　it。〃

He　stared　at　me　piteously。　The　noble　sentiments　which　I　had　inherited
from　Doctor　Pratolungo；　completely　bewildered　Mr。　Oscar　Dubourg。

〃Don't　be　angry　with　me；〃　he　said；　in　his　innocent　way。　〃I　couldn't　eat
my　cheese；　if　I　did　earn　it。　I　can't　digest　cheese。　Besides；　I　employ
myself　as　much　as　I　can。〃　He　took　his　little　golden　vase　from　the　table
behind　him；　and　told　me　what　I　had　already　heard　him　tell　Lucilla　while　I
was　listening　at　the　window。　〃You　would　have　found　me　at　work　this
morning；〃　he　went　on；　〃if　the　stupid　people　who　send　me　my　metal　plates
had　not　made　a　mistake。　The　alloy；　in　the　gold　and　silver　both；　is　all
wrong　this　time。　I　must　return　the　plates　to　be　melted　again　before　I　can
do　anything　with　them。　They　are　all　ready　to　go　back　to…day；　when　the
cart　comes。　If　there　are　any　laboring　people　here　who　want　money；　I'm
sure　I　will　give　them　some　of　mine　with　the　greatest　pleasure。　It　isn't
my　fault；　ma'am；　that　my　father　married　my　mother。　And　how　could　I　help
it　if　he　left　two　thousand　a　year　each　to　my　brother　and　me？〃

Two　thousand　a　year　each　to　his　brother　and　him！　And　the　illustrious
Pratolungo　had　never　known　what　it　was　to　have　five　pounds　sterling　at
his　disposal　before　his　union　with　Me！

I　lifted　my　eyes　to　the　ceiling。　In　my　righteous　indignation；　I　forgot
Lucilla　and　her　curiosity　about　OscarI　forgot　Oscar　and　his　horror　of
Lucilla　discovering　who　he　was。　I　opened　my　lips　to　speak。　In　another
moment　I　should　have　launched　my　thunderbolts　against　the　whole　infamous
system　of　modern　society；　when　I　was　silenced　by　the　most　extraordinary
and　unexpected　interruption　that　ever　closed　a　woman's　lips。

CHAPTER　THE　TENTH

First　Appearance　of　Jicks

THERE　walked　in；　at　the　open　door　of　the　roomsoftly；　suddenly；　and
composedlya　chubby　female　child；　who　could　not　possibly　have　been　more
than　three　years　old。　She　had　no　hat　or　cap　on　her　head。　A　dirty　pinafore
covered　her　from　her　chin　to　her　feet。　This　amazing　apparition　advanced
into　the　middle　of　the　room；　holding　hugged　under　one　arm　a　ragged　and
disreputable…looking　doll；　stared　hard；　first　at　Oscar；　then　at　me；
advanced　to　my　knees；　laid　the　disreputable　doll　on　my　lap；　and；　pointing
to　a　vacant　chair　at　my　side；　claimed　the　rights　of　hospitality　in　these
words：

〃Jicks　will　sit　down。〃

How　was　it　possible；　under　these　circumstances；　to　attack　the　infamous
system　of　modern　society？　It　was　only　possible　to　kiss　〃Jicks。〃

〃Do　you　know　who　this　is？〃　I　inquired；　as　I　lifted　our　visitor　on　to　the
chair。

Oscar　burst　out　laughing。　Like　me；　he　now　saw　this　mysterious　young　lady
for　the　first　time。　Like　me；　he　wondered　what　the　extraordinary　nick…name
under　which　she　had　presented　herself　could　possibly　mean。

We　looked　at　the　child。　The　childwith　its　legs　stretched　out　straight
before　it；　terminating　in　a　pair　of　little　dusty　boots　with　holes　in
themlifted　its　large　round　eyes；　overshadowed　by　a　penthouse　of
unbrushed　flaxen　hair；　looked　gravely　at　us　in　return；　and　made　a　second
call　on　our　hospitality；　as　follows：

〃Jicks　will　have　something　to　drink。〃

While　Oscar　ran　into　the　kitchen　for　some　milk；　I　succeeded　in
discovering　the　identity　of　〃Jicks。〃

SomethingI　cannot　well　explain　whatin　the　manner　in　which　the　child
had　drifted　into　the　room　with　her　doll；　reminded　me　of　the　lymphatic
lady　of　the　rectory；　drifting　backwards　and　forwards　with　the　baby　in　one
hand　and　the　novel　in　the　other。　I　took　the　liberty　of　examining
〃Jicks's〃　pinafore；　and　discovered　the　mark　in　one　corner：〃Selina
Finch。〃　Exactly　as　I　had　supposed；　here　was　a　member　of　Mrs。　Finch's
numerous　family。　Rather　a　young　member；　as　it　struck　me；　to　be　wandering
hatless　round　the　environs　of　Dimchurch；　all　by　herself。

Oscar　returned　with　the　milk　in　a　mug。　The　childinsisting　on　taking　the
mug　into　her　own　handssteadily　emptied　it　to　the　last　droprecovered
her　breath　with　a　gasplooked　at　me　with　a　white　mustache　of　milk　on　her
upper　lipand　announced　the　conclusion　of　her　visit；　in　these　terms：

〃Jicks　will　get　down　again。〃

I　deposited　our　young　friend　on　the　floor。　She　took　her　doll；　and　stood
for　a　moment　deep　in　thought。　What　was　she　going　to　do　next？　We　were　not
kept　long　in　suspense。　She　suddenly　put　her　little　hot　fat　hand　into
mine；　and　tried　to　pull　me　after　her　out　of　the　room。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　asked。

Jicks　answered　in　one　untranslatable　compound　word：

〃Man…Gee…gee。〃

I　suffered　myself　to　be　pulled　out　of　the　roomto　see　〃Man…Gee…gee；〃　to
play　〃Man…Gee…gee；〃　or　to　eat　〃Man…Gee…gee；〃　it　was　impossible　to　tell
which。　I　was　pulled　along　the　passageI　was　pulled　out　to　the　front
door。　Therehaving　approached　the　house　inaudibly　to　us；　over　the
grassstood　the　horse；　cart；　and　man；　waiting　to　take　the　case　of　gold
and　silver　plates　back　to　London。　I　looked　at　Oscar；　who　had　followed　me。
We　now　understood；　not　only　the　masterly　compound　word　of　Jicks
（signifying　man　and　horse；　and　passing　over　cart　as　unimportant）；　but　the
polite　attention　of　Jicks　in　entering　the　house　to　inform　us；　after　a
rest　and　a　drink；　of　a　circumstance　which　had　escaped　our　notice。　The
driver　of　the　cart　had；　on　his　own　acknowledgment；　been　investigated　and
questioned　by　this　extraordinary　child；　strolling　up　to　the　door　of
Browndown　to　see　what　he　was　doing　there。　Jicks　was　a　public　character　at
Dimchurch。　The　driver　knew　all　about　her。　She　had　been　nicknamed　〃Gipsy〃
from　her　wandering　habits；　and　had　shortened　the　name　in　her　own　dialect；
into　〃Jicks。〃　There　was　no　keeping　her　in　at　the　rectory；　try　how　you
might：　they　had　long　since　abandoned　the　effort　in　despair。　Sooner　or
later；　she　turned　up　againor　somebody　brought　her　backor　one　of　the
sheep…dogs　found　her　asleep　under　a　bush；　and　gave　the　alarm。　〃What　goes
on　in　that　child's　head；〃　said　the　driver；　regarding　Jicks　with　a　sort　of
superstitious　admiration；　〃the　Lord　only　knows。　She　has　a　will　of　her
own；　and　a　way　of　her　own。　She　_is_　a　child；　and　she　_aint_　a　child。　At
three　years　of　age；　she's　a　riddle　none　of　us　can　guess。　And　that's　the
long　and　the　short　of　what　I　know　about　her。〃

While　this　explanation　was　in　progress；　the　carpenter　who　had　nailed　up
the　case；　and　the　carpenter's　son；　accompanying　him；　joined　us　in　front
of　the　house。　They　followed　Oscar　in；　and　came　out　again；　bearing　the
heavy　burden　of　precious　metalmore　than　one　man　could　conveniently
liftbetween　them。

The　case　deposited　in　the　cart；　carpenter　senior　and　carpenter　junior　got
in　after　it；　wanting　〃a　lift〃　to　Brighton。

Carpenter　senior；　a　big　burly　man；　made　a　joke。　〃It's　a　lonely　country
between　this　and　Brighton；　sir；〃　he　said　to　Oscar。　Three　of　us　will　be
none　too　many　to　see　your　precious　packing…case　safe　into　the　railway
station。〃　Oscar　took　it　seriously。　〃Are　there　any　robbers　in　this
neighborhood？〃　he　asked。　〃Lord　love　you；　sir！〃　said　the　driver；　〃robbers
would　starve　in　these　parts；　we　have　got　nothing　worth　thieving　here。〃
Jicksstill　watching　the　proceedings　with　an　interest　which　allowed　no
detail　to　escape　unnoticedassumed　the　responsibility　of　starting　the
men　on　their　journey。　The　odd　child　waved　her　chubby　hand　imperiously　to
her　friend　the　driver；　and　cried　in　her　loudest　voice；　〃Away！〃　The　driver
touched　his　hat　with　comic　respect。　〃All　right；　misstime's　money；　aint
it？〃　He　cracked　his　whip；　and　the　cart　rolled　off　noiselessly　over　the
thick　close　turf　of　the　South　Downs。

It　was　time　for　me　to　go　back　to　the　rectory；　and　to　restore　the
wandering　Jicks；　for　the　time　being；　to　the　protection　of　home。　I
returned　to　Oscar；　to　say　good…bye。

〃I　wish　I　was　going　back　with　you；〃　he　said。

〃You　will　be　as　free　as　I　am　to　come　and　to　go　at　the　rectory；〃　I
answered；　〃when　they　know　what　has　passed　this　morning　between　you　and
me。　In　your　own　interests；　I　am　determined　to　tell　them　who　you　are。　You
have　nothing　to　fear；　and　everything　to　gain；　by　my　speaking　out。　Clear
your　mind　of　fancies　and　suspicions　that　are　unworthy　of　you。　By
to…morrow　we　shall　be　good　neighbors；　by　the　end　of　the　week　we　shall　be
good　friends。　For　the　present；　as　we　say　in　France；　_au　revoir！_〃

I　turned　to　take　Jicks　by　the　hand。　While　I　had　been　speaking　to　Oscar
the　child　had　slipped　away　from　me。　Not　a　sign　of　her　was　to　be　seen。

Before　we　could　stir　a　step　to　search　for　our　lost　Gipsy；　her　voice
reached　our　ears；　raised　shrill　and　angry　in　the　regions　behind　us；　at
the　side　of　the　house。

〃Go　away！〃　we　heard　the　child　cry　out　impatiently。　〃Ugly　men；　go　away！〃

We　turned　the　corner；　and　discovered　two　shabby　strangers；　resting
themselves　against　the　side　wall　of　the　house。　Their　cadaverous　faces；
their　brutish　expressions；　and　their　frowzy　clothes；　proclaimed　them；　to
my　eye；　as　belonging　to　the　vilest　blackguard　type　that　the　civilized
earth　has　yet　producedthe　blackguard　of　London　growth。　There　they
lounged；　with　their　hands　in　their　pockets　and　their　backs　against　the
wall；　as　if　they　were　airing　themselves　on　the　outer　side　of　a
public…house