poor miss finch-第39章

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remind　you　that　she　would　inevitably　form　the　most　confident　hope　of　her
restoration　to　sight。　Remembering　this；　and　believing　as　I　do　that　the
sacrifice　demanded　of　her　would　end　in　failure；　I　think　it　most
undesirable　to　expose　our　patient　to　the　moral　consequences　of　a
disappointment　which　must　seriously　try　her。　She　has　been　resigned　from
childhood　to　her　blindness。　As　an　honest　man；　who　feels　bound　to　speak
out　and　to　speak　strongly；　I　advise　you　not　further　to　disturb　that
resignation。　I　declare　it　to　be；　in　my　opinion；　certainly　useless；　and
possibly　dangerous；　to　allow　her　to　be　operated　on　for　the　restoration　of
her　sight。〃

In　those　uncompromising　words；　the　Englishman　delivered　his　opinion。

Lucilla's　hand　closed　fast　on　mine。　〃Cruel！　cruel！〃　she　whispered　to
herself　angrily。　I　gave　her　a　little　squeeze；　recommending　patienceand
looked　in　silent　expectation　（just　as　Nugent　was　looking　too）　at　Herr
Grosse。　The　German　rose　deliberately　to　his　feet；　and　waddled　to　the
place　in　which　Lucilla　and　I　were　sitting　together。

〃Has　goot　Mr。　Sebrights　done？〃　he　asked。

Mr。　Sebright　only　replied　by　his　everlasting　never…changing　bow。

〃Goot！　I　have　now　my　own　word　to　put　in；〃　said　Herr　Grosse。　〃It　shall　be
one　little　wordno　more。　With　my　best　compliments　to　Mr。　Sebrights；　I
set　up　against　what　he　only　thinks；　what　IGrossewith　these　hands　of
mine　have　done。　The　cataracts　of　Miss　there；　is　a　cataracts　that　I　have
cut　into　before；　a　cataracts　that　I　have　cured　before。　Now　look！〃　He
suddenly　wheeled　round　to　Lucilla；　tucked　up　his　cuffs；　laid　a　forefinger
of　each　hand　on　either　side　of　her　forehead；　and　softly　turned　down　her
eyelids　with　his　two　big　thumbs。　〃I　pledge　you　my　word　as　surgeon…optic；〃
he　resumed；　〃my　knife　shall　let　the　light　in　here。　This　lofable…nice
girls　shall　be　more　lofable…nicer　than　ever。　My　pretty　Feench　must　be
first　in　her　best　goot　health。　She　must　next　gif　me　my　own　ways　with
herand　then　one；　two；　threeping！　my　pretty　Feench　shall　see！〃　He
lifted　Lucilla's　eyelids　again　as　he　said　the　last　wordglared　fiercely
at　her　through　his　spectaclesgave　her　the　loudest　kiss；　on　the
forehead；　that　I　ever　heard　given　in　my　lifelaughed　till　the　room　rang
againand　returned　to　his　post　as　sentinel　on　guard　over　the　Mayonnaise。
〃Now；〃　cried　Herr　Grosse　cheerfully；　〃the　talkings　is　all　done。　Gott　be
thanked；　the　eatings　may　begin！〃

Lucilla　left　her　chair　for　the　second　time。

〃Herr　Grosse；〃　she　said；　〃where　are　you？〃

〃Here；　my　dears！〃

She　crossed　the　room　to　the　table　at　which　he　was　sitting；　already
occupied　in　carving　his　favorite　dish。

〃Did　you　say　you　must　use　a　knife　to　make　me　see？〃　she　asked　quite
calmly。

〃Yes；　yes。　Don't　you　be　frightened　of　that。　Not　much　pains　to　bearnot
much　pains。〃

She　tapped　him　smartly　on　the　shoulder　with　her　hand。

〃Get　up；　Herr　Grosse；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　have　your　knife　about　you；　here
am　Ido　it　at　once！〃

Nugent　started。　Mr。　Sebright　started。　Her　daring　amazed　them　both。　As　for
me；　I　am　the　greatest　coward　living；　in　the　matter　of　surgical　operations
performed　on　myself　or　on　others。　Lucilla　terrified　me。　I　ran　headlong
across　the　room　to　her。　I　was　even　fool　enough　to　scream。

Before　I　could　reach　her；　Herr　Grosse　had　risen；　obedient　to　command；
with　a　choice　morsel　of　chicken　on　the　end　of　his　fork。　〃You　charming
little　fools；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　cut　into　cataracts　in　such　a　hurry　as
that。　I　perform　but　one　operations　on　you　to…day。　It　is　this！〃　He
unceremoniously　popped　the　morsel　of　chicken　into　Lucilla's　mouth。　〃Aha！
Bite　him　well。　He　is　nice…goot！　Now　then！　Sit　down　all　of　you。　Lonch！
lonch！〃

He　was　irresistible。　We　all　sat　down　at　table。

The　rest　of　us　ate。　Herr　Grosse　gobbled。　From　Mayonnaise　to　marmalade
tart。　From　marmalade　tart　back　again　to　Mayonnaise。　From　Mayonnaise；
forward　again　to　ham　sandwiches　and　blancmange；　and　then　back　once　more
（on　the　word　of　an　honest　woman）　to　Mayonnaise！　His　drinking　was　on　the
same　scale　as　his　eating。　Beer；　wine；　brandynothing　came　amiss　to　him；
he　mixed　them　all。　As　for　the　lighter　elements　in　the　feastthe　almonds
and　raisins；　the　preserved　ginger　and　the　crystallized　fruits；　he　ate
them　as　accompaniments　to　everything。　A　dish　of　olives　especially　won　his
favor。　He　plunged　both　hands　into　it；　and　deposited　his　fists…full　of
olives　in　the　pockets　of　his　trousers。　〃In　this　ways；〃　he　explained；　〃I
shall　trouble　nobody　to　pass　the　dishI　shall　have　by　me　continually　all
the　olives　that　I　want。〃　When　he　could　eat　and　drink　no　more；　he　rolled
up　his　napkin　into　a　ball；　and　became　devoutly　thankful。　〃How　goot　of
Gott；〃　he　remarked；　〃when　he　invented　the　worlds　to　invent　eatings　and
drinkings　too！　Ah！〃　sighed　Herr　Grosse；　gently　laying　his　outspread
fingers　on　the　pit　of　his　stomach；　〃what　immense　happiness　there　is　in
This！〃

Mr。　Sebright　looked　at　his　watch。

〃If　there　is　anything　more　to　be　said　on　the　question　of　the　operation；〃
he　announced；　〃it　must　be　said　at　once。　We　have　barely　five　minutes　more
to　spare。　You　have　heard　my　opinion。　I　hold　to　it。〃

Herr　Grosse　took　a　pinch　of　snuff。　〃I　also；〃　he　said；　〃hold　to　mine。〃

Lucilla　turned　towards　the　place　from　which　Mr。　Sebright　had　spoken。

〃I　am　obliged　to　you；　sir；　for　your　opinion；〃　she　said；　very　quietly　and
firmly。　〃I　am　determined　to　try　the　operation。　If　it　does　fail；　it　will
only　leave　me　what　I　am　now。　If　it　succeeds；　it　gives　me　a　new　life。　I
will　bear　anything；　and　risk　anything；　on　the　chance　that　I　may　see。〃

So；　she　announced　her　decision。　In　those　memorable　words；　she　cleared　the
way　for　the　coming　Event　in　her　life　and　in　our　lives；　which　it　is　the
purpose　of　these　pages　to　record。

Mr。　Sebright　answered　her；　in　Mr。　Sebright's　discreet　way。

〃I　cannot　affect　to　be　surprised　at　your　decision；〃　he　said。　〃However
sincerely　I　may　regret　it；　I　admit　that　it　is　the　natural　decision；　in
your　case。〃

Lucilla　addressed　herself　next　to　Herr　Grosse。

〃Choose　your　own　day；〃　she　said。　〃The　sooner；　the　better。　To…morrow；　if
you　can。〃

〃Answer　me　one　little　thing；　Miss；〃　rejoined　the　German；　with　a　sudden
gravity　of　tone　and　manner　which　was　quite　new　in　our　experience　of　him。
〃Do　you　mean　what　you　say？〃

She　answered　him　gravely　on　her　side。　〃I　mean　what　I　say。〃

〃Goot。　There　is　times；　my　lofe；　to　be　funny。　There　is　also　times　to　be
grave。　It　is　grave…times　now。　I　have　my　last　word　to　say　to　you　before　I
go。〃

With　his　wild　black　eyes　staring　through　his　owlish　spectacles　at
Lucilla's　face；　speaking　earnestly　in　his　strange　broken　English；　he　now
impressed　on　his　patient　the　necessity　of　gravely　considering；　and
preparing　for；　the　operation　which　he　had　undertaken　to　perform。

I　was　greatly　relieved　by　the　tone　he　took　with　her。　He　spoke　with
authority：　she　would　be　obliged　to　listen　to　him。

In　the　first　place；　he　warned　Lucilla；　if　the　operation　failed；　that
there　would　be　no　possibility　of　returning　to　it；　and　trying　it　again。
Once　done；　be　the　results　what　they　might；　it　was　done　for　good。

In　the　second　place；　before　he　would　consent　to　operate；　he　must　insist
on　certain　conditions；　essential　to　success；　being　rigidly　complied　with；
on　the　part　of　the　patient　and　her　friends。　Mr。　Sebright　had　by　no　means
exaggerated　the　length　of　the　time　of　trial　which　would　follow　the
operation；　in　the　darkened　room。　Under　no　circumstances　could　she　hope　to
have　her　eyes　uncovered；　even　for　a　few　moments；　to　the　light；　after　a
shorter　interval　than　six　weeks。　During　the　whole　of　that　time；　and
probably　during　another　six　weeks　to　follow；　it　was　absolutely　necessary
that　she　should　be　kept　in　such　a　state　of　health　as　would　assist　her；
constitutionally；　in　her　gradual　progress　towards　complete　restoration　of
sight。　If　body　and　mind　both　were　not　preserved　in　their　best　and
steadiest　condition；　all　that　his　skill　could　do　might　be　done　in　vain。
Nothing　to　excite　or　to　agitate　her；　must　be　allowed　to　find　its　way　into
the　quiet　daily　routine　of　her　life；　until　her　medical　attendant　was
satisfied　that　her　sight　was　safe。　The　success　of　Herr　Grosse's
professional　career　had　been　due；　in　no　small　degree；　to　his　rigid
enforcement　of　these　rules：　founded　on　his　own　experience　of　the
influence　which　a　patient's　general　health；　moral　as　well　as　physical；
exercised　on　that　patient's　chance　of　profiting　under　an　operationmore
especially　under　an　operation　on　an　organ　so　delicate　as　the　organ　of
sight。

Having　spoken　to　this　effect；　he　appealed　to　Lucilla's　own　good　sense　to
recognize　the　necessity　of　taking　time　to　consider　her　decision；　and　to
consult　on　it　with　relatives　and　friends。　In　plain　words；　for　at　least
three　months　the　family　arrangements　must　be　so　shaped；　as　to　enable　the
surgeon　in　attendance　on　her　to　hold　the　absolute　power　of　regulating　her
life；　and　of　deciding　on　any　changes　introduced　into　it。　When　she　and　the
members　of　her　family　circle　were　sure　of　being　able　to　comply　with　these
conditions；　Lucilla　had　only　to　write　to　him　at　his　hotel　in　London。　On
the　next　day　he　would　undertake　to　be　at　Dimchurch。　And　then　and　there
（if　he　was　satisfied　with　the　state　of　her　health　at　the　time）；　he　would
perform　the　operation。

After　pledging　himself　in　those　terms；　Herr　Grosse　puffed　out　his
remaining　breath　in　one　deep　guttural　〃Hah！〃and　got　briskly　on　his
short　legs。　At　the　same　moment；　Zillah　knocked　at　the　door；　and　announced
that　the　chaise　was　waiting　for　the　two　gentlemen　at　the　rectory…gate。

Mr。　Sebright　rosein　some　doubt；　apparently；　whether　his　colleague　had
done　talking。　〃Don't　let　me　hurry　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　business　in
London；　and　I　must　positively　catch　the　next　train。〃

〃Soh！　I　have　my　business　in　London；　too；〃　answered　his
brother…oculist〃the　business　of　pleasure。〃　（Mr。　Sebright　looked
scandalized　at　the　frankness　of　this　confession；　coming　from　a
professional　man）。　〃I　am　so　passion…fond　of　musics；〃　Herr　Grosse　went
on〃I　want　to　be　in　goot　times　for　the　opera。　Ach　Gott！　musics　is
expensive　in　England！　I　climb　to　the　gallery；　and　pay　my　five　silver
shillingses　even　there。　For　five　copper　pences；　in　my　own　country；　I　can
get　the　same　thingonly　better　done。　From　the　deep　bottoms　of　my　heart；〃
proceeded　this　curious　man；　taking　a　cordial　leave　of　me；　〃I　thank　you；
dear　madam；　for　the　Mayonnaise。　When　I　come　again；　I　pray　you　more　of
that　lofely　dish。〃　He　turned　to　Lucilla；　and　popped　his　thumb　on　her
eyelids　for　the　last　time　at　parting。　〃My　sweet…Feench；　remember　what
your　surgeon…optic　has　said　to　you。　I　shall　let　the　light　in　herebut　in
my　own　way；　at　my　own　time。　Pretty　lofe！　Ah；　how　infinitely　much　prettier
she　will　be；　when　she　can　see！〃　He　took　Lucilla's　hand；　and　put　it
sentimentally　inside　the　collar　of　his　waistcoat；　over　the　region　of　the
heart；　laying　his　other　hand　upon　it　as　if　he　was　keeping　it　warm。　In
this　tender　attitude；　he　blew　a　prodigious　sigh；　recovered　himself；　with
a　shake　of　his　shock…head；　winked　at　me　through　his　spectacles；　and
waddled　out　after　Mr。　Sebright；　who　was　already　at　the　bottom　of　the
stairs。　Who　would　have　guessed　that　this　man　held　the　key　which　was　to
open　for　my　blind　Lucilla　the　gates　of　a　new　life！

CHAPTER　THE　THIRTY…SECOND

Alas　for　the　Marri