poor miss finch-第34章

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she　left　Browndown　to　return　to　the　rectorywhen　Lucilla's　keen　sense　of
hearing　decided　the　question　which　I　had　been　unable　to　settle　for
myself。　The　door　of　the　room　opened；　and　Oscar　advanced　into　the　hall。

〃Lucilla　insisted　that　she　heard　somebody　outside；〃　he　said。　〃Who　could
have　guessed　it　was　you？　Why　did　you　wait　in　the　hall？　Come　in！　come　in！〃

He　held　open　the　door　for　me；　and　I　went　in。　Oscar　announced　me　to
Lucilla。　〃It　was　Madame　Pratolungo　you　heard；〃　he　said。　She　took　no
notice　either　of　him　or　of　me。　A　heap　of　flowers　from　Oscar's　garden　lay
in　her　lap。　With　the　help　of　her　clever　fingers；　she　was　sorting　them　to
make　a　nosegay；　as　quickly　and　as　tastefully　as　if　she　had　possessed　the
sense　of　sight。　In　all　my　experience　of　that　charming　face；　it　had　never
looked　so　hard　as　it　looked　now。　Nobody　would　have　recognized　her
likeness　to　the　Madonna　of　Raphael's　picture。　Offendedmortally　offended
with　meI　saw　it　at　a　glance。

〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　my　intrusion；　Lucilla；　when　you　know　my　motive；〃
I　said。　〃I　have　followed　you　here　to　make　my　excuses。〃

〃Oh；　don't　think　of　making　excuses！〃　she　rejoined；　giving　three…fourths
of　her　attention　to　the　flowers；　and　one…fourth　to　me。　〃It's　a　pity　you
took　the　trouble　of　coming　here。　I　quite　agree　with　what　you　said　in　the
garden。　Considering　the　object　I　had　in　view　at　Browndown；　I　could　not
possibly　expect　you　to　accompany　me。　True！　quite　true！〃

I　kept　my　temper。　Not　that　I　am　a　patient　woman：　not　that　I　possess　a
meek　disposition。　Very　far　from　it；　I　regret　to　say。　Nevertheless；　I　kept
my　temperso　far。

〃I　wish　to　apologize　for　what　I　said　in　the　garden；〃　I　resumed。　〃I　spoke
thoughtlessly；　Lucilla。　It　is　impossible　that　I　could　intentionally
offend　you。〃

I　might　as　well　have　spoken　to　one　of　the　chairs。　The　whole　of　her
attention　became　absorbed　in　the　breathless　interest　of　making　her
nosegay。

〃_Was_　I　offended？〃　she　said；　addressing　herself　to　the　flowers。
〃Excessively　foolish　of　me；　if　I　was。〃　She　suddenly　became　conscious　of
my　existence。　〃You　had　a　perfect　right　to　express　your　opinion；〃　she　said
loftily。　〃Accept　_my_　excuses　if　I　appeared　to　dispute　it。〃

She　tossed　her　pretty　head；　she　showed　her　brightest　color；　she　tapped
her　nice　little　foot　briskly　on　the　floor。　（Oh；　Lucilla！　Lucilla！）　I
still　kept　my　temper。　More；　by　this　time　（I　admit；）　for　Oscar's　sake　than
for　her　sake。　He　looked　so　distressed；　poor　fellowso　painfully　anxious
to　interfere；　without　exactly　knowing　how。

〃My　dear　Lucilla！〃　he　began。　〃Surely　you　might　answer　Madame
Pratolungo〃

She　petulantly　interrupted　him；　with　another　toss　of　the　heada　little
higher　than　the　last。

〃I　don't　attempt　to　answer　Madame　Pratolungo！　I　prefer　admitting　that
Madame　Pratolungo　may　have　been　quite　right。　I　dare　say　I　am　ready　to
fall　in　love　with　the　first　man　who　comes　my　way。　I　dare　sayif　I　had
met　your　brother　before　I　met　youI　should　have　fallen　in　love　with
_him。_　Quite　likely！〃

〃Quite　likelyas　you　say；〃answered　poor　Oscar；　humbly。　〃I　am　sure　I
think　it　very　lucky　for　_me；_　that　you　didn't　meet　Nugent　first。〃

She　threw　her　lapful　of　flowers　away　from　her　on　the　table　at　which　she
was　sitting。　She　became　perfectly　furious　with　him　for　taking　my　side。　I
permitted　myself　（the　poor　child　could　not　see　it；　remember）；　the
harmless　indulgence　of　a　smile。

〃You　agree　with　Madame　Pratolungo；〃　she　said　to　him　viciously。　〃Madame
Pratolungo　thinks　your　brother　a　much　more　agreeable　man　than　you。〃

Humble　Oscar　shook　his　head　in　melancholy　acknowledgment　of　this
self…evident　fact。　〃There　can　be　no　two　opinions　about　that；〃　he　said
resignedly。

She　stamped　her　foot　on　the　carpetand　raised　quite　a　little　cloud　of
dust。　My　lungs　are　occasionally　delicate。　I　permitted　myself　another
harmless　indulgenceindulgence　in　a　slight　cough。　She　heard　the　second
indulgenceand　suddenly　controlled　herself；　the　instant　it　reached　her
ears。　I　am　afraid　she　took　my　cough　as　my　commentary　on　what　was　going
on。

〃Come　here；　Oscar；〃　she　said；　with　a　complete　change　of　tone　and　manner。
〃Come　and　sit　down　by　me。〃

Oscar　obeyed。

〃Put　your　arm　round　my　waist。〃

Oscar　looked　at　me。　Having　the　use　of　his　sight；　he　was　sensible　of　the
absurd　side　of　the　demonstration　required　of　himin　the　presence　of　a
third　person。　She；　poor　soul；　strong　in　her　blind　insensibility　to　all
shafts　of　ridicule　shot　from　the　eye；　cared　nothing　for　the　presence　of　a
third　person。　She　repeated　her　commands；　in　a　tone　which　said　sharply；
〃Embrace　meI　am　not　to　be　trifled　with。〃

Oscar　timidly　put　his　arm　round　her　waistwith　an　appealing　look　at　me。
She　issued　another　command　instantly。

〃Say　you　love　me。〃

Oscar　hesitated。

〃Say　you　love　me！〃

Oscar　whispered　it。

〃Out　loud！〃

Endurance　has　its　limits：　I　began　to　lose　my　temper。　She　could　not　have
been　more　superbly　indifferent　to　my　presence；　if　there　had　been　a　cat　in
the　room　instead　of　a　lady。

〃Permit　me　to　inform　you；〃　I　said；　〃that　I　have　not　（as　you　appear　to
suppose）　left　the　room。〃

She　took　no　notice。　She　went　on　with　her　commands；　rising　irrepressibly
from　one　amatory　climax　to　another。

〃Give　me　a　kiss！〃

Unhappy　Oscarsacrificed　between　usblushed。　Stop！　Don't　revel
prematurely　in　the　greatest　enjoyment　a　reader　hasnamely；　catching　a
writer　out　in　a　mistake。　I　have　not　forgotten　that　his　disfigured
complexion　would　prevent　his　blush　from　showing　on　the　surface。　I　beg　to
say　I　saw　it　under　the　surfacesaw　it　in　his　expression：　I　repeathe
blushed。

I　felt　it　necessary　to　assert　myself　for　the　second　time。

〃I　have　only　one　object　in　remaining　in　the　room；　Miss　Finch。　I　merely
wish　to　know　whether　you　refuse　to　accept　my　excuses。

〃Oscar！　give　me　a　kiss！〃

He　still　hesitated。　She　threw　her　arm　round　his　neck。　My　duty　to　myself
was　plainmy　duty　was　to　go。

〃Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Dubourg；〃　I　saidand　turned　to　the　door。　She　heard
me　cross　the　room；　and　called　to　me　to　stop。　I　paused。　There　was　a　glass
on　the　wall　opposite　to　me。　On　the　authority　of　the　glass；　I　beg　to
mention　that　I　paused　in　my　most　becoming　manner。　Grace　tempered　with
dignity：　dignity　tempered　with　grace。

〃Madame　Pratolungo！〃

〃Miss　Finch？〃

〃This　is　the　man　who　is　not　half　so　agreeable　as　his　brother。　Look！〃

She　tightened　her　hold　round　his　neck；　and　gave　himostentatiously　gave
himthe　kiss　which　he　was　ashamed　to　give　_her。_　I　advanced；　in
contemptuous　silence；　to　the　door。　My　attitude　expressed　disgust
accompanied　by　sorrow：　sorrow；　accompanied　by　disgust。

〃Madame　Pratolungo！〃

I　made　no　answer。

〃This　is　the　man　whom　I　should　never　have　loved　if　I　had　happened　to　meet
his　brother　first。　Look！〃

She　put　both　arms　round　his　neck；　and　gave　him　a　shower　of　kisses　all　in
one。　I　indignantly　withdrew。　The　door　had　been　imperfectly　closed　when　I
had　entered　the　room：　it　was　ajar。　I　pulled　it　openand　found　myself
face　to　face　with　Nugent　Dubourg；　standing　by　the　table；　with　his　letter
from　Liverpool　in　his　hand！　He　must　have　certainly　heard　Lucilla　cast　my
own　words　back　in　my　teethif　he　had　heard　no　more。

I　stopped　short；　looking　at　him　in　silent　surprise。　He　smiled；　and　held
out　the　open　letter　to　me。　Before　we　could　speak；　we　heard　the　door　of
the　room　closed。　Oscar　had　followed　me　out　（shutting　the　door　behind　him）
to　apologize　for　Lucilla's　behavior　to　me。　He　explained　what　had　happened
to　his　brother。　Nugent　nodded；　and　tapped　his　open　letter　smartly。　〃Leave
me　to　manage　it。　I　shall　give　you　something　better　to　do　than　quarreling
among　yourselves。　You　will　hear　what　it　is　directly。　In　the　meantime；　I
have　got　a　message　for　our　friend　at　the　inn。　Gootheridge　is　on　his　way
here；　to　speak　to　me　about　altering　the　stable。　Run　and　tell　him　I　have
other　business　on　hand；　and　I　can't　keep　my　appointment　to…day。　Stop！
Give　him　this　at　the　same　time；　and　ask　him　to　leave　it　at　the　rectory。〃

He　took　one　of　his　visiting　cards　out　of　the　case；　wrote　a　few　lines　on
it　in　pencil；　and　handed　it　to　his　brother。　Oscar　（always　ready　to　go　on
errands　for　Nugent）　hurried　out　to　meet　the　landlord。　Nugent　turned　to
me。

〃The　German　is　in　England；〃　he　said。　〃Now　I　may　open　my　lips。〃

〃At　once！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃At　once。　I　have　put　off　my　own　business　（as　you　heard）　in　favor　of　this。
My　friend　will　be　in　London　to…morrow。　I　mean　to　get　my　authority　to
consult　him　to…day；　and　to　start　tomorrow　for　town。　Prepare　yourself　to
meet　one　of　the　strangest　characters　you　ever　set　eyes　on！　You　saw　me
write　on　my　card。　It　was　a　message　to　Mr。　Finch；　asking　him　to　join　us
immediately　（on　important　family　business）　at　Browndown。　As　Lucilla's
father；　he　has　a　voice　in　the　matter。　When　Oscar　comes　back；　and　when　the
rector　joins　us；　our　domestic　privy　council　will　be　complete。〃

He　spoke　with　his　customary　spirit；　he　moved　with　his　customary
brisknesshe　had　become　quite　himself　again；　since　I　had　seen　him　last。

〃I　am　stagnating　in　this　place；〃　he　went　on；　seeing　that　I　noticed　the
change　in　him。　〃It　puts　me　in　spirits　again；　having　something　to　do。　I　am
not　like　OscarI　must　have　action　to　stir　my　bloodaction　to　keep　me
from　fretting　over　my　anxieties。　How　do　you　think　I　found　the　witness　to
my　brother's　innocence　at　the　Trial？　In　that　way。　I　said　to　myself；　'I
shall　go　mad　if　I　don't　do　something。'　I　did　somethingand　saved　Oscar。
I　am　going　to　do　something　again。　Mark　my　words！　Now　I　am　stirring　in　it；
Lucilla　will　recover　her　sight。〃

〃This　is　a　serious　matter；〃　I　said。　〃Pray　give　it　serious　consideration。〃

〃Consideration？〃　he　repeated。　〃I　hate　the　word。　I　always　decide　on　the
instant。　If　I　am　wrong　in　my　view　of　Lucilla's　case；　consideration　is　of
no　earthly　use。　If　I　am　right；　every　day's　delay　is　a　day　of　sight　lost
to　the　blind。　I'll　wait　for　Oscar　and　Mr。　Finch；　and　then　I'll　open　the
business。　Why　are　we　talking　in　the　hall？　Come　in！〃

He　led　the　way　to　the　sitting…room。　I　had　a　new　interest；　now；　in　going
back。　Still；　Lucilla's　behavior　hung　on　my　mind。　Suppose　she　treated　me
with　renewed　coldness　and　keener　contempt？　I　remained　standing　at　the
table　in　the　hall。　Nugent　looked　back　at　me；　over　his　shoulder。

〃Nonsense！〃　he　said。　〃I'll　set　things　right。　It's　beneath　a　woman　like
you　to　take　notice　of　what　a　girl　says　in　a　pet。　Come　in！〃

I　doubt　if　I　should　have　yielded　to　please　any　other　living　man。　But；
there　is　no　denying　it；　some　people　have　a　magnetic　attracting　power　over
others。　Nugent　had　that　power　over　me。　Against　my　own　willfor　I　was
really　hurt　and　offended　by　her　usage　of　meI　went　back　with　him　into
the　room。

Lucilla　was　still　sitting　in　the　place　which　she　had　occupied　when　I
withdrew。　On　hearing　the　door　open；　and　a　man's　footsteps　entering；　she
of　course　assumed　that　the　man　was　Oscar。　She　had　penetrated　his　object
in　leaving　her　to　follow　me　out；　and　it　had　not　improved　her　temper。

〃Oh？〃　she　said。　〃You　have　come　back　at　last？　I　thought　you　had　offered
yourself　as　Madame　Pratolungo's　escort　to　the　rectory。〃　She　stopped；　with
a　sudden　frown。　Her　quick　ears　had　detected　my　return　into　the　room。
〃Oscar！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃what　does　this　mean？　Madame　Pratolungo　and　I
have　nothing　more　to　say　to　each　other。　What　has　she　come　back　for？　Why
d