poor miss finch-第4章

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breathless　attention　to　what　she　was　about。　〃Speak　again！〃　she　said
suddenly；　holding　her　hand　over　me　in　suspense。　I　said　a　few　words。　She
stopped　me　by　a　kiss。　〃No　more！〃　she　exclaimed　joyously。　〃Your　voice　says
to　my　ears；　what　your　face　says　to　my　fingers。　I　know　I　shall　like　you。
Come　in；　and　see　the　rooms　we　are　going　to　live　in　together。〃

As　I　rose；　she　put　her　arm　round　my　waistthen　instantly　drew　it　away
again；　and　shook　her　fingers　impatiently；　as　if　something　had　hurt　them。

〃A　pin？〃　I　asked。

〃No！　no！　What　colored　dress　have　you　got　on？〃

〃Purple。〃

〃Ah！　I　knew　it！　Pray　don't　wear　dark　colors。　I　have　my　own　blind　horror
of　anything　that　is　dark。　Dear　Madame　Pratolungo；　wear　pretty　bright
colors；　to　please　_me！_〃　She　put　her　arm　caressingly　round　me
againround　my　neck；　however；　this　time；　where　her　hand　could　rest　on　my
linen　collar。　〃You　will　change　your　dress　before　dinnerwon't　you？〃　she
whispered。　〃Let　me　unpack　for　you；　and　choose　which　dress　I　like。〃

The　brilliant　decorations　of　the　corridor　were　explained　to　me　now！

We　entered　the　rooms；　her　bed…room；　my　bed…room；　and　our　sitting…room
between　the　two。　I　was　prepared　to　find　them；　what　they　proved　to　beas
bright　as　looking…glasses；　and　gilding；　and　gaily…colored　ornaments；　and
cheerful　knick…knacks　of　all　sorts　could　make　them。　They　were　more　like
rooms　in　my　lively　native　country　than　rooms　in　sober　colorless　England。
The　one　thing　which　I　own　did　still　astonish　me；　was　that　all　this
sparkling　beauty　of　adornment　in　Lucilla's　habitation　should　have　been
provided　for　the　express　gratification　of　a　young　lady　who　could　not　see。
Experience　was　yet　to　show　me　that　the　blind　can　live　in　their
imaginations；　and　have　their　favorite　fancies　and　illusions　like　the　rest
of　us。

To　satisfy　Lucilla　by　changing　my　dark　purple　dress；　it　was　necessary
that　I　should　first　have　my　boxes。　So　far　as　I　knew；　Finch's　boy　had
taken　my　luggage；　along　with　the　pony；　to　the　stables。　Before　Lucilla
could　ring　the　bell　to　make　inquiries；　my　elderly　guide　（who　had　silently
left　us　while　we　were　talking　together　in　the　corridor）　re…appeared；
followed　by　the　boy　and　a　groom；　carrying　my　things。　These　servants　also
brought　with　them　certain　parcels　for　their　young　mistress；　purchased　in
the　town；　together　with　a　bottle；　wrapped　in　fair　white　paper；　which
looked　like　a　bottle　of　medicineand　which　had　a　part　of　its　own　to　play
in　our　proceedings；　later　in　the　day。

〃This　is　my　old　nurse；〃　said　Lucilla；　presenting　her　attendant　to　me。
〃Zillah　can　do　a　little　of　everythingcooking　included。　She　has　had
lessons　at　a　London　Club。　You　must　like　Zillah；　Madame　Pratolungo；　for　my
sake。　Are　your　boxes　open？〃

She　went　down　on　her　knees　before　the　boxes；　as　she　asked　the　question。
No　girl　with　the　full　use　of　her　eyes　could　have　enjoyed　more　thoroughly
than　she　did　the　trivial　amusement　of　unpacking　my　clothes。　This　time；
however；　her　wonderful　delicacy　of　touch　proved　to　be　at　fault。　Of　two
dresses　of　mine　which　happened　to　be　exactly　the　same　in　texture；　though
widely　different　in　color；　she　picked　out　the　dark　dress　as　being　the
light　one。　I　saw　that　I　disappointed　her　sadly　when　I　told　her　of　her
mistake。　The　next　guess　she　made；　however；　restored　the　tips　of　her
fingers　to　their　place　in　her　estimation：　she　discovered　the　stripes　in　a
smart　pair　of　stockings　of　mine；　and　brightened　up　directly。　〃Don't　be
long　dressing；〃　she　said；　on　leaving　me。　〃We　shall　have　dinner　in　half　an
hour。　French　dishes；　in　honor　of　your　arrival。　I　like　a　nice　dinnerI　am
what　you　call　in　your　country；　_gourmande。_　See　the　sad　consequence！〃　She
put　one　finger　to　her　pretty　chin。　〃I　am　getting　fat！　I　am　threatened
with　a　double　chinat　two　and　twenty。　Shocking！　shocking！〃

So　she　left　me。　And　such　was　the　first　impression　produced　on　my　mind　by
〃Poor　Miss　Finch。〃

CHAPTER　THE　FOURTH

Twilight　View　of　the　Man

OUR　nice　dinner　had　long　since　come　to　an　end。　We　had　chattered；
chattered；　chatteredas　usual　with　womenall　about　ourselves。　The　day
had　declined；　the　setting　sun　was　pouring　its　last　red　luster　into　our
pretty　sitting…roomwhen　Lucilla　started　as　if　she　had　suddenly
remembered　something；　and　rang　the　bell。

Zillah　came　in。　〃The　bottle　from　the　chemist's；〃　said　Lucilla。　〃I　ought
to　have　remembered　it　hours　ago。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　take　it　to　Susan　yourself；　my　dear？〃

I　was　glad　to　hear　the　old　nurse　address　her　young　lady　in　that　familiar
way。　It　was　so　thoroughly　un…English。　Down　with　the　devilish　system　of
separation　between　the　classes　in　this　countrythat　is　what　I　say！

〃Yes；　I　am　going　to　take　it　to　Susan　myself。〃

〃Shall　I　go　with　you？〃

〃No；　no。　Not　the　least　occasion。〃　She　turned　to　me。　〃I　suppose　you　are
too　tired　to　go　out　again；　after　your　walk　on　the　hills？〃　she　said。

I　had　dined；　I　had　rested；　I　was　quite　ready　to　go　out　again；　and　I　said
so。

Lucilla's　face　brightened。　For　some　reason　of　her　own；　she　had　apparently
attached　a　certain　importance　to　persuading　me　to　go　out　with　her。

〃It's　only　a　visit　to　a　poor　rheumatic　woman　in　the　village；〃　she　said。
〃I　have　got　an　embrocation　for　her；　and　I　can't　very　well　send　it。　She　is
old　and　obstinate。　If　I　take　it　to　her；　she　will　believe　in　the　remedy。
If　anybody　else　takes　it；　she　will　throw　it　away。　I　had　utterly　forgotten
her；　in　the　interest　of　our　nice　long　talk。　Shall　we　get　ready？〃

I　had　hardly　closed　the　door　of　my　bedroom　when　there　was　a　knock　at　it。
Lucilla？　No；　the　old　nurse　entering　on　tiptoe；　with　a　face　of　mystery；
and　a　finger　confidentially　placed　on　her　lips。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　ma'am；〃　she　began　in　a　whisper。　〃I　think　you　ought　to
know　that　my　young　lady　has　a　purpose　in　taking　you　out　with　her　this
evening。　She　is　burning　with　curiositylike　all　the　rest　of　us　for　that
matter。　She　took　me　out；　and　used　my　eyes　to　see　with；　yesterday　evening；
and　they　have　not　satisfied　her。　She　is　going　to　try　your　eyes；　now。〃

〃What　is　Miss　Lucilla　so　curious　about？〃　I　inquired。

〃It's　natural　enough；　poor　dear；〃　pursued　the　old　woman；　following　her
own　train　of　thought；　without　the　slightest　reference　to　my　question。　〃We
none　of　us　can　find　out　anything　about　him。　He　usually　takes　his　walk　at
twilight。　You　are　pretty　sure　to　meet　him　to…night；　and　you　will　judge
for　yourself；　ma'amwith　an　innocent　young　creature　like　Miss
Lucillawhat　it　may　be　best　to　do？〃

This　extraordinary　answer　set　_my_　curiosity　in　a　flame。

〃My　good　creature！〃　I　said；　〃you　forget　that　I　am　a　stranger！　I　know
nothing　about　it。　Has　this　mysterious　man　got　a　name？　Who　is　'He'？〃

As　I　said　that；　there　was　another　knock　at　the　door。　Zillah　whispered；
eagerly；　〃Don't　tell　upon　me；　ma'am！　You　will　see　for　yourself。　I　only
speak　for　my　young　lady's　good。〃　She　hobbled　away；　and　opened　the
doorand　there　was　Lucilla；　with　her　smart　garden　hat　on；　waiting　for
me。

We　went　out　by　our　own　door　into　the　garden；　and　passing　through　a　gate
in　the　wall；　entered　the　village。

After　the　caution　which　the　nurse　had　given　me；　it　was　impossible　to　ask
any　questions；　except　at　the　risk　of　making　mischief　in　our　little
household；　on　the　first　day　of　my　joining　it。　I　kept　my　eyes　wide　open；
and　waited　for　events。　I　also　committed　a　blunder　at　startingI　offered
Lucilla　my　hand　to　lead　her。　She　burst　out　laughing。

〃My　dear　Madame　Pratolungo！　I　know　my　way　better　than　you　do。　I　roam　all
over　the　neighborhood；　with　nothing　to　help　me　but　this。〃

She　held　up　a　smart　ivory　walking…cane；　with　a　bright　silk　tassel
attached。　With　her　cane　in　one　hand；　and　her　chemical　bottle　in　the
otherand　her　roguish　little　hat　on　the　top　of　her　headshe　made　the
quaintest　and　prettiest　picture　I　had　seen　for　many　a　long　day。　〃_You_
shall　guide　_me_；　my　dear；〃　I　saidand　took　her　arm。　We　went　on　down　the
village。

Nothing　in　the　least　like　a　mysterious　figure　passed　us　in　the　twilight。
The　few　scattered　laboring　people；　whom　I　had　already　seen；　I　saw
againand　that　was　all。　Lucilla　was　silentsuspiciously　silent　as　I
thought；　after　what　Zillah　had　told　me。　She　had；　as　I　fancied；　the　look
of　a　person　who　was　listening　intently。　Arrived　at　the　cottage　of　the
rheumatic　woman；　she　stopped　and　went　in；　while　I　waited　outside。　The
affair　of　the　embrocation　was　soon　over。　She　was　out　again　in　a
minuteand　this　time；　she　took　my　arm　of　her　own　accord。

〃Shall　we　go　a　little　farther？〃　she　said。　〃It　is　so　nice　and　cool　at　this
hour　of　the　evening。〃

Her　object　in　view；　whatever　it　might　be；　was　evidently　an　object　that
lay　beyond　the　village。　In　the　solemn；　peaceful　twilight　we　followed　the
lonely　windings　of　the　valley　along　which　I　had　passed　in　the　morning。
When　we　came　opposite　the　little　solitary　house；　which　I　had　already
learnt　to　know　as　〃Browndown；〃　I　felt　her　hand　unconsciously　tighten　on
my　arm。　〃Aha！〃　I　said　to　myself。　〃Has　Browndown　anything　to　do　with
this？〃

〃Does　the　view　look　very　lonely　to…night？〃　she　asked；　waving　her　cane
over　the　scene　before　us。

The　true　meaning　of　that　question　I　took　to　be；　〃Do　you　see　anybody
walking　out　to…night？〃　It　was　not　my　business　to　interpret　her　meaning；
before　she　had　thought　fit　to　confide　her　secret　to　me。　〃To　my　mind；　my
dear；〃　was　all　I　said；　〃it　is　a　very　beautiful　view。〃

She　fell　silent　again；　and　absorbed　herself　in　her　own　thoughts。　We
turned　into　a　new　winding　of　the　valleyand　there；　walking　towards　us
from　the　opposite　direction；　was　a　human　figure　at　lastthe　figure　of　a
solitary　man！

As　we　got　nearer　to　each　other　I　perceived　that　he　was　a　gentleman；
dressed　in　a　light　shooting…jacket；　and　wearing　a　felt　hat　of　the　conical
Italian　shape。　A　little　nearerand　I　saw　that　he　was　young。　Nearer
stilland　I　discovered　that　he　was　handsome；　though　in　rather　an
effeminate　way。　At　the　same　moment；　Lucilla　heard　his　footstep。　Her　color
instantly　rose；　and　once　again　I　felt　her　hand　tighten　involuntarily
round　my　arm。　（Good！　Here　was　the　mysterious　object　of　Zillah's　warning
to　me　found　at　last！）

I　have；　and　I　don't　mind　acknowledging　it；　an　eye　for　a　handsome　man。　I
looked　at　him　as　he　passed　us。　Now　I　solemnly　assure　you；　I　am　not　an
ugly　woman。　Nevertheless；　as　our　eyes　met；　I　saw　the　strange　gentleman's
face　suddenly　contract；　with　an　expression　which　told　me　plainly　that　I
had　produced　a　disagreeable　impression　on　him。　With　some　difficultyfor
my　companion　was　holding　my　arm；　and　seemed　to　be　disposed　to　stop
altogetherI　quickened　my　pace　so　as　to　get　by　him　rapidly；　showing　him；
I　dare　say；　that　I　thought　the　change　in　his　face　when　I　looked　at　him；
an　impertinence　on　his　part。　However　that　may　be；　after　a　momentary
interval；　I　heard　his　step　behind。　The　man　had　turned；　and　had　followed
us。

He　came　close　to　me；　on　the　opposite　side　to　Lucilla；　and　took　off　his
hat。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　ma'am；〃　he　said。　〃You　looked　at　me　just　now。〃

At　the　first　sound　of　his　voice；　I　felt　Lucilla　start。　Her　hand　began　to
tremble　on　my　arm　with　some　sudden　agitation；　inconceivable　to　me。　In　the
double　surprise　of　discovering　this；　and　of　finding　myself　charged　so
abruptly　with　the　offense　of　looking　at　a　gentleman；　I　suffered　the　most
exceptional　of　all　losses　（where　a　woman　is　concerned）the　loss　of　my
t