poor miss finch-第25章

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by　the　announcement　of　your　contemplated　marriage？　Your　happiness　is　my
happiness。　I　feel　with　you；　I　congratulate　you；　I　long　to　see　my　future
sister…in…law'　〃

Lucilla　got　up　again。　Oscar；　in　astonishment；　asked　what　was　wrong　now？

〃I　am　not　comfortable　at　this　end　of　the　room。〃

She　walked　to　the　other　end　of　the　room。　Patient　Oscar　walked　after　her；
with　his　precious　letter　in　his　hand。　He　offered　her　a　third　chair。　She
petulantly　declined　to　take　it；　and　selected　another　chair　for　herself。
Oscar　returned　to　the　letter：

〃　'How　melancholy；　and　yet　how　interesting　it　is；　to　hear　that　she　is
blind！　My　sketches　of　American　scenery　happened　to　be　lying　about　in　the
room　when　I　read　your　letter。　The　first　thought　that　came　to　me；　on
hearing　of　Miss　Finch's　affliction；　was　suggested　by　my　sketches。　I　said
to　myself；　〃Sad！　sad！　my　sister…in…law　will　never　see　my　Works。〃　The　true
artist；　Oscar；　is　always　thinking　of　his　Works。　I　shall　bring　back；　let
me　tell　you；　some　very　remarkable　studies　for　future　pictures。　They　will
not　be　so　numerous；　perhaps；　as　you　may　expect。　I　prefer　to　trust　to　my
intellectual　perception　of　beauty；　rather　than　to　mere　laborious
transcripts　from　Nature。　In　certain　moods　of　mine　（speaking　as　an　artist）
Nature　puts　me　out。'　〃　There　Oscar　paused；　and　appealed　to　me。　〃What
writing！eh？　I　always　told　you；　Madame　Pratolungo；　that　Nugent　was　a
genius。　You　see　it　now。　Don't　get　up；　Lucilla。　I　am　going　on。　There　is　a
message　to　you　in　this　part　of　the　letter。　So　neatly　expressed！〃

Lucilla　persisted　in　getting　up；　the　announcement　of　the　neatly…expressed
message　to　be　read　next；　produced　no　effect　on　her。　She　walked　to　the
window；　and　trifled　impatiently　with　the　flowers　placed　in　it。　Oscar
looked　in　mild　astonishment；　first　at　methen　at　the　rector。　Reverend
Finchlistening　thus　far　with　the　complimentary　attention　due　to　the
correspondence　of　one　young　man　of　fortune　with　another　young　man　of
fortuneinterfered　in　Oscar's　interests；　to　secure　him　a　patient
hearing。

〃My　dear　Lucilla；　endeavor　to　control　your　restlessness。　You　interfere
with　our　enjoyment　of　this　interesting　letter。　I　could　wish　to　see　fewer
changes　of　place；　my　child；　and　a　more　undivided　attention　to　what　Oscar
is　reading　to　you。〃

〃I　am　not　interested　in　what　he　is　reading　to　me。〃　In　the　nervous
irritation　which　produced　this　ungracious　answer；　she　overthrew　one　of
the　flower…pots。　Oscar　set　it　up　again　for　her　with　undiminished
good…temper。

〃Not　interested！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Wait　a　little。　You　haven't　heard
Nugent's　message　yet。　Listen　to　this！　'Present　my　best　and　kindest
regards　to　the　future　Mrs。　Oscar'　（dear　fellow！）；　'and　say　that　she　has
given　me　a　new　interest　in　hastening　my　return　to　England。'　There！　Isn't
that　prettily　put？　Come　Lucilla！　own　that　Nugent　is　worth　listening　to
when　he　writes　about　_you！_〃

She　turned　towards　him　for　the　first　time。　The　charm　of　the　tone　in　which
he　spoke　those　words　subdued　her；　in　spite　of　herself。

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　your　brother；〃　she　answered　gently；　〃and　very　much
ashamed　of　myself　for　what　I　said　just　now。〃　She　stole　her　hand　into　his；
and　whispered；　〃You　are　so　fond　of　NugentI　begin　to　be　almost　afraid
there　will　be　no　love　left　for　me。〃

Oscar　was　enchanted。　〃Wait　till　you　see　him；　and　you　will　be　as　fond　of
him　as　I　am；〃　he　said。　〃Nugent　is　not　like　me。　He　fascinates　people　the
moment　they　come　in　contact　with　him。　Nobody　can　resist　Nugent。〃

She　still　held　his　hand；　with　a　perplexed　and　saddened　face。　The
admirable　absence　of　any　jealousy　on　his　sidehis　large　and　generous
confidence　in　_her_　love　for　_himwas　just　the　rebuke　to　her　that　she
could　feel；　just　the　rebuke　also　（in　my　opinion）　that　she　had　deserved。

〃Go　on；　Oscar；〃　said　the　rector；　in　his　deepest　notes　of　encouragement。
〃What　next；　dear　boy？　what　next？〃

〃Another　interesting　bit；　of　quite　a　new　kind；〃　Oscar　replied。　〃There　is
a　little　mystery　to　stir　us　up　on　the　last　page　of　the　letter。　Nugent
says：'I　have　become　acquainted　（here；　in　New　York）　with　a　very
remarkable　man；　a　German　who　has　made　a　great　deal　of　money　in　the　United
States。　He　proposes　visiting　England　early　in　the　present　year；　and　he
will　write　and　let　me　know　when　he　has　arrived。　I　shall　feel　particular
pleasure　in　presenting　him　to　you　and　your　future　wife。　It　is　quite
possible　that　you　may　have　special　reason　to　congratulate　yourselves　on
making　his　acquaintance。　For　the　present；　no　more　of　my　new　friend　until
we　meet　at　Browndown。''Special　reason　to　congratulate　ourselves　on
making　his　acquaintance。'　〃　repeated　Oscar；　folding　up　the　letter。
〃Nugent　never　writes　in　that　way　without　a　reason　for　it。　Who　can　the
German　gentleman　be？〃

Mr。　Finch　suddenly　lifted　his　head；　and　looked　at　Oscar　with　a　certain
appearance　of　alarm。

〃Your　brother　mentions　that　he　has　made　his　fortune　in　America；〃　said　the
Reverend　gentleman。　〃I　hope　he　is　not　connected　with　the　money…market。　He
might　infect　Mr。　Nugent　with　the　spirit　of　reckless　speculation　which　is；
so　to　speak；　the　national　sin　of　the　United　States。　Your　brother；　having
no　doubt　the　same　generous　disposition　as　yours〃

〃A　far　finer　disposition　than　mine；　Mr。　Finch；〃　interposed　Oscar。

〃Possessed；　like　you；　of　the　gifts　of　fortune；〃　proceeded　the　rector；
with　mounting　enthusiasm。

〃Once　possessed　of　them；〃　said　Oscar。　〃Far　from　being　overburdened　with
the　gifts　of　fortune；　now！〃

〃What！！！〃　cried　Mr。　Finch；　with　a　start　of　consternation。

〃Nugent　has　run　through　his　fortune；〃　proceeded　Oscar；　quite　composedly。
〃I　lent　him　the　money　to　go　to　America。　My　brother　is　a　genius；　Mr。
Finch。　When　did　you　ever　hear　of　a　genius　who　could　keep　within　limits？
Nugent　is　not　content　to　live　in　my　humble　way。　He　has　the　tastes　of　a
princemoney　is　nothing　to　him。　It　doesn't　matter。　He　will　make　a　new
fortune　Out　of　his　pictures；　and；　in　the　meantime；　you　know；　I　can　always
lend　him　something　to　go　on　with。〃

Mr。　Finch　rose　from　his　seat；　with　the　air　of　a　man　whose　just
anticipations　have　not　been　realizedwhose　innocent　confidence　has　been
scandalously　betrayed。　Here　was　a　prospect！　Another　person　in　perpetual
want　of　money；　going　to　settle　under　the　shadow　of　the　rectory！　Another
man　likely　to　borrow　of　Oscarand　that　man　his　brother！

〃I　fail　to　take　your　light　view　of　your　brother's　extravagance；〃　said　the
rector；　addressing　Oscar　with　his　loftiest　severity　of　manner；　at　the
door。　〃I　deplore　and　reprehend　Mr。　Nugent's　misuse　of　the　bounty　bestowed
on　him　by　an　all…wise　Providence。　You　will　do　well　to　consider；　before
you　encourage　your　brother's　extravagance　by　lending　him　money。　What　does
the　great　poet　of　humanity　say　of　lenders？　The　Bard　of　Avon　tells　us；
that　'loan　oft　loses　both　itself　and　friend。'　Lay　that　noble　line　to
heart；　Oscar！　Lucilla；　be　on　your　guard　against　that　restlessness　which　I
have　already　had　occasion　to　reprove。　I　find　I　must　leave　you；　Madame
Pratolungo。　I　had　forgotten　my　parish　duties。　My　parish　duties　are
waiting　for　me。　Good　day！　good　day！〃

He　looked　round　on　us　all　three；　in　turn；　with　a　very　sour　face；　and
walked　out。　〃Surely；〃　I　thought　to　myself；　〃this　brother　of　Oscar's　is
not　beginning　well！　First；　the　daughter　takes　offense　at　him；　and　now　the
father　follows　her　example。　Even　on　the　other　side　of　the　Atlantic；　Mr。
Nugent　Dubourg　exercises　a　malignant　influence；　and　disturbs　the　family
tranquillity　before　he　has　shown　his　nose　in　the　house！〃



Nothing　more　that　is　worth　recording　happened　on　that　day。　We　had　a　very
dull　evening。　Lucilla　was　out　of　spirits。　As　for　me；　I　had　not　yet　had
time　to　accustom　myself　to　the　shocking　spectacle　of　Oscar's　discolored
face。　I　was　serious　and　silent。　You　would　never　have　guessed　me　to　be　a
Frenchwoman；　if　you　had　seen　me　for　the　first　time　on　the　occasion　of　my
return　to　the　rectory。

The　next　day　a　small　domestic　event　happened；　which　must　be　chronicled　in
this　place。

Our　Dimchurch　doctor；　always　dissatisfied　with　his　position　in　an　obscure
country　place；　had　obtained　an　appointment　in　India　which　offered　great
professional　advantages　to　an　ambitious　man。　He　called　to　take　leave　of
us　on　his　departure。　I　found　an　opportunity　of　speaking　to　him　about
Oscar。　He　entirely　agreed　with　me　that　the　attempt　to　keep　the　change
produced　in　his　former　patient　by　the　Nitrate　of　Silver　from　Lucilla's
knowledge；　was　simply　absurd。　The　truth　would　reach　her；　he　said；　before
many　days　were　over　our　heads。　With　that　prediction；　addressed　to　my
private　ear；　he　left　us。　The　removal　of　him　from　the　scene　was；　you　will
please　to　bear　in　mind；　the　removal　of　an　important　local　witness　to　the
medical　treatment　of　Oscar；　and　was；　as　such；　an　incident　with　a　bearing
of　its　own　on　the　future；　which　claims　a　place　for　it　in　the　present
narrative。

Two　more　days　passed；　and　nothing　happened。　On　the　morning　of　the　third
day；　the　doctor's　prophecy　was　all　but　fulfilled；　through　the　medium　of
the　wandering　Arab　of　the　family；　our　funny　little　Jicks。

While　Lucilla　and　I　were　strolling　about　the　garden　with　Oscar；　the　child
suddenly　darted　out　on　us　from　behind　a　tree；　and；　seizing　Oscar　round
the　legs；　hailed　him　affectionately　at　the　top　of　her　voice　as　〃The　Blue
Man！〃　Lucilla　instantly　stopped；　and　said；　〃Who　do　you　call　'The　Blue
Man'？〃　Jicks　answered　boldly；　〃Oscar。〃　Lucilla　caught　the　child　up　in　her
arms。　〃Why　do　you　call　Oscar　'The　Blue　Man'？〃　she　asked。　Jicks　pointed　to
Oscar's　face；　and　then；　remembering　Lucilla's　blindness；　appealed　to　me。
〃You　tell　her！〃　said　Jicks；　in　high　glee。　Oscar　seized　my　hand；　and
looked　at　me　imploringly。　I　determined　not　to　interfere。　It　was　bad
enough　to　remain　passive；　and　to　let　her　be　kept　in　the　dark。　Actively；　I
was　resolved　to　take　no　part　in　deceiving　her。　Her　color　rose；　she　put
Jicks　down　on　the　ground。　〃Are　you　both　dumb？〃　she　asked。　〃Oscar！　I
insist　on　knowing　ithow　have　you　got　the　nick…name　of　'The　Blue　Man'？〃
Left　helpless；　Oscar　（to　my　disgust）　took　refuge　in　a　lieand；　worse
still；　a　clumsy　lie。　He　declared　that　he　had　got　his　nick…name　in　the
nursery；　at　the　time　of　Lucilla's　absence　in　London；　by　one　day　painting
his　face　in　the　character　of　Bluebeard　to　amuse　the　children！　If　Lucilla
had　felt　the　faintest　suspicion　of　the　truth；　blind　as　she　was；　she　must
now　have　discovered　it。　As　things　were；　Oscar　annoyed　and　irritated　her。
I　could　see　that　it　cost　her　a　struggle　to　suppress　something　like　a
feeling　of　contempt　for　him。　〃Amuse　the　children；　the　next　time；　in　some
other　way；〃　she　said。　〃Though　I　can't　see　you；　still　I　don't　like　to　hear
of　your　disfiguring　your　face　by　painting　it　blue。〃　With　that　answer；　she
walked　away　a　little　by　herself；　evidently　disappointed　in　her　betrothed
husband　for　the　first　time　in　her　experience　of　him。

He　cast　another　imploring　look　at　me。　〃Did　you　hear　what　she　said　about
my　face？〃　he　whispered。

〃You　have　lost　an　excellent　opportunity　of　speaking　out；〃　I　answered。　〃I
believe　you　will　bitterly　regret　the　folly　and　the　cruelty　of　deceiving
her。〃

He　shook　his　head；　with　the　immovable　obstinacy　of　a　weak　man。

〃Nugent　doesn't　think　as　you　do；〃　he　said；　handing　me　the　letter。　〃Read
that　bit　therenow　Lucilla　is　out　of　he