poor miss finch-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



He　shook　hands　with　us。　The　rector　escorted　him　as　far　as　the　front　door。
I　slipped　out　while　they　were　saying　their　last　words；　and　joined　Oscar；
when　he　advanced　alone　into　the　garden。

〃I　want　a　breath　of　fresh　air；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　go　with　you　as　far　as　the
gate。〃

He　began　to　talk　of　Lucilla　directly。　I　surprised　him　by　returning
abruptly　to　the　subject　of　his　position　at　Browndown。

〃Do　you　think　it's　wise；〃　I　asked；　〃to　be　all　by　yourself　at　night　in
such　a　lonely　house　as　yours？　Why　don't　you　have　a　manservant？〃

〃I　detest　strange　servants；〃　he　answered。　〃I　infinitely　prefer　being　by
myself。〃

〃When　do　you　expect　your　gold　and　silver　plates　to　be　returned　to　you？〃

〃In　about　a　week。〃

〃What　would　be　the　value　of　them；　in　moneyat　a　rough　guess？〃

〃At　a　rough　guessabout　seventy　or　eighty　pounds。〃

〃In　a　week's　time　then；〃　I　said；　〃you　will　have　seventy　or　eighty　pounds'
worth　of　property　at　Browndown。　Property　which　a　thief　need　only　put　into
the　melting…pot；　to　have　no　fear　of　its　being　traced　into　his　hands。〃

Oscar　stopped；　and　looked　at　me。

〃What　_can_　you　be　thinking　of！〃　he　asked。　〃There　are　no　thieves　in　this
primitive　place。〃

〃There　are　thieves　in　other　places；〃　I　answered。　〃And　they　may　come　here。
Have　you　forgotten　those　two　men　whom　we　caught　hanging　about　Browndown
yesterday？〃

He　smiled。　I　had　recalled　to　him　a　humourous　associationnothing　more。

〃It　was　not　we　who　caught　them；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　that　strange　child。
What　do　you　say　to　my　having　Jicks　to　sleep　in　the　house　and　take　care　of
me？〃

〃I　am　not　joking；〃　I　rejoined。　〃I　never　met　with　two　more　ill…looking
villains　in　my　life。　The　window　was　open　when　you　were　telling　me　about
the　necessity　for　melting　the　plates　again。　They　may　know　as　well　as　we
do；　that　your　gold　and　silver　will　be　returned　to　you　after　a　time。〃

〃What　an　imagination　you　have　got！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　see　a　couple　of
shabby　excursionists　from　Brighton；　who　have

wandered　to　Dimchurchand　you　instantly　transform　them　into　a　pair　of
housebreakers　in　a　conspiracy　to　rob　and　murder　me！　You　and　my　brother
Nugent　would　just　suit　each　other。　His　imagination　runs　away　with　him；
exactly　like　yours。〃

〃Take　my　advice；〃　I　answered　gravely。　〃Don't　persist　in　sleeping　at
Browndown　without　a　living　creature　in　the　house　with　you。〃

He　was　in　wild　good　spirits。　He　kissed　my　hand；　and　thanked　me　in　his
voluble　exaggerated　way　for　the　interest　that　I　took　in　him。　〃All　right！〃
he　said；　as　he　opened　the　gate。　〃I'll　have　a　living　creature　in　the　house
with　me。　I'll　get　a　dog。〃

We　parted。　I　had　told　him　what　was　on　my　mind。　I　could　do　no　more。　After
all；　it　might　be　quite　possible　that　his　view　was　the　right　one；　and　mine
the　wrong。

CHAPTER　THE　THIRTEENTH

Second　Appearance　of　Jicks

FIVE　more　days　passed。

During　that　interval；　we　saw　our　new　neighbor　constantly。　Either　Oscar
came　to　the　rectory；　or　we　went　to　Browndown。　Reverend　Finch　waited；　with
a　masterly　assumption　of　suspecting　nothing；　until　the　relations　between
the　two　young　people　were　ripe　enough　to　develop　into　relations　of
acknowledged　love。　They　were　already　（under　Lucilla's　influence）
advancing　rapidly　to　that　point。　You　are　not　to　blame　my　poor　blind　girl；
if　you　please；　for　frankly　encouraging　the　man　she　loved。　He　was　the　most
backward　manviewed　as　a　suitorwhom　I　ever　met　with。　The　fonder　he
grew　of　her；　the　more　timid　and　self…distrustful　he　became。　I　own　I　don't
like　a　modest　man；　and　I　cannot　honestly　say　that　Mr。　Oscar　Dubourg；　on
closer　acquaintance；　advanced　himself　much　in　my　estimation。　However；
Lucilla　understood　him；　and　that　was　enough。　She　was　determined　to　have
the　completest　possible　image　of　him　in　her　mind。　Everybody　in　the　house
who　had　seen　him　（the　children　included）　she　examined　and　cross…examined
on　the　subject　of　his　personal　appearance；　as　she　had　already　examined
and　cross…examined　me。　His　features　and　his　color；　his　height　and　his
breadth；　his　ornaments　and　his　clotheson　all　these　points　she　collected
evidence；　in　every　direction　and　in　the　smallest　detail。　It　was　an
especial　relief　and　delight　to　her　to　hear；　on　all　sides；　that　his
complexion　was　fair。　There　was　no　reasoning　with　her　against　her　blind
horror　of　dark　shades　of　color；　whether　seen　in　men；　women；　or　things。
She　was　quite　unable　to　account　for　it；　she　could　only　declare　it。

〃I　have　the　strangest　instincts　of　my　own　about　some　things；〃　she　said　to
me　one　day。　〃For　instance；　I　knew　that　Oscar　was　bright　and　fairI　mean
I　felt　it　in　myselfon　that　delightful　evening　when　I　first　heard　the
sound　of　his　voice。　It　went　straight　from　my　ear　to　my　heart；　and　it
described　him；　just　as　the　rest　of　you　have　described　him　to　me　since。
Mrs。　Finch　tells　me　his　complexion　is　lighter　than　mine。　Do　you　think　so
too？　I　am　so　glad　to　hear　that　he　is　fairer　than　I　am！　Did　you　ever　meet
before　with　a　person　like　me？　I　have　the　oddest　ideas　in　this　blind　head
of　mine。　I　associate　life　and　beauty　with　light　colors；　and　death　and
crime　with　dark　colors。　If　I　married　a　man　with　a　dark　complexion；　and　if
I　recovered　my　sight　afterwards；　I　should　run　away　from　him。〃

This　singular　prejudice　of　hers　against　dark　people　was　a　little　annoying
to　me　on　personal　grounds。　It　was　a　sort　of　reflection　on　my　own　taste。
Between　ourselves；　the　late　Doctor　Pratolungo　was　of　a　fine　mahogany
brown　all　over。

As　for　affairs　in　general　at　Dimchurch；　my　chronicle　of　the　five　days
finds　little　to　dwell　on　that　is　worth　recording。

We　were　not　startled　by　any　second　appearance　of　the　two　ruffians　at
Browndownneither　was　any　change　made　by　Oscar　in　his　domestic
establishment。　He　was　favored　with　more　than　one　visit　from　our　little
wandering　Jicks。　On　each　occasion；　the　child　gravely　reminded　him　of　his
rash　promise　to　appeal　to　the　police；　and　visit　with　corporal　punishment
the　two　ugly　strangers　who　had　laughed　at　her。　When　were　the　men　to　be
beaten？　and　when　was　Jicks　to　see　it？　Such　were　the　serious　questions
with　which　this　young　lady　regularly　opened　the　proceedings；　on　each
occasion　when　she　favored　Oscar　with　a　morning　call。

On　the　sixth　day；　the　gold　and　silver　plates　were　returned　to　Browndown
from　the　manufactory　in　London。

The　next　morning　a　note　arrived　for　me　from　Oscar。　It　ran　thus：

〃DEAR　MADAME　PRATOLUNGO；I　regret　to　inform　you　that　nothing　happened　to
me　last　night。　My　locks　and　bolts　are　in　their　usual　good　order；　my　gold
and　silver　plates　are　safe　in　the　workshop：　and　I　myself　am　now　eating　my
breakfast　with　an　uncut　throatYours　ever；

〃OSCAR。〃

After　this；　there　was　no　more　to　be　said。　Jicks　might　persist　in
remembering　the　two　ill…looking　strangers。　Older　and　wiser　people
dismissed　them　from　all　further　consideration。

Saturday　camemaking　the　tenth　day　since　the　memorable　morning　when　I
had　forced　Oscar　to　disclose　himself　to　me　in　the　little　side…room　at
Browndown。

In　the　forenoon　we　had　a　visit　from　him　at　the　rectory。　In　the　afternoon
we　went　to　Browndown；　to　see　him　begin　a　new　piece　of　chasing　in　golda
casket　for　holding　glovesdestined　to　take　its　place　on　Lucilla's
toilet…table　when　it　was　done。　We　left　him　industriously　at　work；
determined　to　go　on　as　long　as　the　daylight　lasted。

Early　in　the　evening；　Lucilla　sat　down　at　her　pianoforte；　and　I　paid　a
visit　by　appointment　to　the　rectory　side　of　the　house。

Unhappy　Mrs。　Finch　had　determined　to　institute　a　complete　reform　of　her
wardrobe。　She　had　entreated　me　to　give　her　the　benefit　of　〃my　French
taste；〃　in　the　capacity　of　confidential　critic　and　adviser。　〃I　can't
afford　to　buy　any　new　things；〃　said　the　poor　lady。　〃But　a　deal　might　be
done　in　altering　what　I　have　got　by　me；　if　a　clever　person　took　the
matter　up。〃　Who　could　resist　that　piteous　appeal？　I　resigned　myself　to
the　baby；　the　novel；　and　the　children　in　general；　and　（Reverend　Finch
being　out　of　the　way；　writing　his　sermon）　I　presented　myself　in　Mrs。
Finch's　parlor；　full　of　ideas；　with　my　scissors　and　my　pattern…paper
ready　in　my　hand。

We　had　only　begun　our　operations；　when　one　of　the　elder　children　arrived
with　a　message　from　the　nursery。

It　was　tea…time；　and；　as　usual；　Jicks　was　missing。　She　was　searched　for；
first　in　the　lower　regions　of　the　house；　secondly　in　the　garden。　Not　a
trace　of　her　was　to　be　discovered　in　either　quarter。　Nobody　was　surprised
or　alarmed。　We　said；　〃Oh；　dear；　she　has　gone　to　Browndown　again！〃and
immersed　ourselves　once　more　in　the　shabby　recesses　of　Mrs。　Finch's
wardrobe。

I　had　just　decided　that　the　blue　merino　jacket　was　an　article　of　wearing
apparel　which　had　done　its　duty；　and　earned　its　right　to　final　retirement
from　the　scenewhen　a　plaintive　cry　reached　my　ear；　through　the　open
door　which　led　into　the　back　garden。

I　stopped；　and　looked　at　Mrs。　Finch。

The　cry　was　repeated；　louder　and　nearer：　recognizable　this　time　as　a　cry
in　a　child's　voice。　The　door　of　the　room　had　been　left　ajar；　when　we　sent
the　messenger　back　to　the　nursery。　I　threw　it　open；　and　found　myself　face
to　face　with　Jicks　in　the　passage。

I　felt　every　nerve　in　my　body　shudder　at　the　sight　of　the　child。

The　poor　little　thing　was　white　and　wild　with　terror。　She　was　incapable
of　uttering　a　word。　When　I　knelt　down　to　fondle　and　soothe　her；　she
caught　convulsively　at　my　hand；　and　attempted　to　raise　me。　I　got　on　my
feet　again。　She　repeated　her　dumb　cry　more　loudlyand　tried　to　drag　me
out　of　the　house。　She　was　so　weak　that　she　staggered　under　the　effort。　I
took　her　up　in　my　arms。　One　of　my　hands；　as　I　embraced　her；　touched　the
top　of　her　frock；　just　below　the　back　of　her　neck。　I　felt　something　on　my
fingers。　I　looked　at　them。　Gracious　God！　I　was　stained　with　blood！

I　turned　the　child　round。　My　own　blood　froze。　Her　mother；　standing　behind
me；　screamed　with　horror。

The　dear　little　thing's　white　frock　was　spotted　and　splashed　with　wet
blood。　Not　her　own　blood。　There　was　not　a　scratch　on　her。　I　looked　closer
at　the　horrid　marks。　They　had　been　drawn　purposely　on　herdrawn；　as　it
seemed；　with　a　finger。　I　took　her　out　into　the　light。　It　was　writing！　A
word　had　been　feebly　traced　on　the　back　of　her　frock。　I　made　out
something　like　the　letter　〃H。〃　Then　a　letter　which　it　was　impossible　to
read。

Then　another　next　to　it；　which　might　have　been　〃L；〃　or　might　have　been
〃J。〃　Then　a　last　letter；　which　I　guessed　to　be　〃P。〃

Was　the　word〃Help〃？

Yes！traced　on　the　back　of　the　child's　frock；　with　a　finger　dipped　in
blood〃HELP。〃

CHAPTER　THE　FOURTEENTH

Discoveries　at　Browndown

IT　is　needless　to　tell　you　at　what　conclusion　I　arrived；　as　soon　as　I　was
sufficiently　myself　to　think　at　all。

Thanks　to　my　adventurous　past　life；　I　have　got　the　habit　of　deciding
quickly　in　serious　emergencies　of　all　sorts。　In　the　present　emergencyas
I　saw　itthere　were　two　things　to　be　done。　One；　to　go　instantly　with
help　to　Browndown：　the　other；　to　keep　the　knowledge　of　what　had　happened
from　Lucilla　until　I　could　get　back　again；　and　prepare　her　for　the
discovery。

I　looked　at　Mrs。　Finch。　She　had　dropped　helplessly　into　a　chair。　〃Rouse
yourself！〃　I　saidand　shook　her。　It　was　no　time　for　sympathizing　with
swoons　and　hysterics。　The　child　was　still　in　my　arms；　fast　yielding；　poor
little　thing；　to　t