poor miss finch-第47章

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sob　hysterically。　The　baby；　disarranged　in　his　proceedings　by　the
emotions　of　his　mama；　set　up　a　sympathetic　scream。　Mr。　Finch　crossed　the
room　to　them；　with　domestic　healing　on　his　wings。　〃This　does　you　credit；
Mrs。　Finch；　but；　under　the　circumstances；　it　must　not　be　continued。
Control　yourself；　in　consideration　of　the　infant。　Mysterious　mechanism　of
Nature！〃　cried　the　rector；　raising　his　prodigious　voice　over　the　louder
and　louder　screeching　of　the　baby。　〃Marvelous　and　beautiful　sympathy
which　makes　the　maternal　sustenance　the　conducting　medium；　as　it　were；　of
disturbance　between　the　mother　and　child。　What　problems　confront　us；　what
forces　environ　us；　even　in　this　mortal　life！　Nature！　Maternity！
Inscrutable　Providence！〃

〃Inscrutable　Providence〃　was　the　rector's　fatal　phraseit　always　brought
with　it　an　interruption；　and　it　brought　one　now。　Before　Mr。　Finch
（brimful　of　pathetic　apostrophes）　could　burst　into　more　exclamations；　the
door　opened；　and　Oscar　walked　into　the　room。

Lucilla　instantly　recognized　his　footstep。

〃Any　signs；　Oscar；　of　Herr　Grosse？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes。　His　chaise　has　been　seen　on　the　road。　He　will　be　here　directly。〃

Giving　that　answer；　and　passing　by　my　chair　to　place　himself　on　the　other
side　of　Lucilla；　Oscar　cast　at　me　one　imploring　looka　look　which　said
plainly；　〃Don't　desert　me　when　the　time　comes！〃　I　nodded　my　head　to　show
that　I　understood　him　and　felt　for　him。　He　sat　down　in　the　vacant　chair
by　Lucilla；　and　took　her　hand　in　silence。　It　was　hard　to　say　which　of　the
two　felt　the　position；　at　that　trying　moment；　most　painfully。　I　don't
think　I　ever　saw　any　sight　so　simply　and　irresistibly　touching　as　the
sight　of　those　two　poor　young　creatures　sitting　hand　in　hand；　waiting　the
event　which　was　to　make　the　happiness　or　the　misery　of　their　future
lives。

〃Have　you　seen　anything　of　your　brother？〃　I　asked；　putting　the　question
in　as　careless　a　tone　as　my　devouring　anxiety　would　allow　me　to　assume。

〃Nugent　has　gone　to　meet　Herr　Grosse。〃

Oscar's　eyes　once　more　encountered　mine；　as　he　replied　in　those　terms；　I
saw　again　the　imploring　look　more　marked　in　them　than　ever。　It　was　plain
to　him；　as　it　was　plain　to　me；　that　Nugent　had　gone　to　meet　the　German；
with　the　purpose　of　making　Herr　Grosse　the　innocent　means　of　bringing　him
into　the　house。

Before　I　could　speak　again；　Mr。　Finch；　recovering　himself　after　the
interruption　which　had　silenced　him；　saw　his　opportunity　of　setting　in
for　another　harangue。　Mrs。　Finch　had　left　off　sobbing；　the　baby　had　left
off　screaming；　the　rest　of　us　were　silent　and　nervous。　In　a　word；　Mr。
Finch's　domestic　congregation　was　entirely　at　Mr。　Finch's　mercy。　He
strutted　up　to　Oscar's　chair。　Was　he　going　to　propose　to　read　_Hamlet？_
No！　He　was　going　to　invoke　a　blessing　on　Oscar's　head。

〃On　this　interesting　occasion；〃　began　the　rector　in　his　pulpit　tones；
〃now　that　we　are　all　united　in　the　same　room；　all　animated　by　the　same
hopeI　could　wish；　as　pastor　and　parent　（God　bless　you；　Oscar：　I　look　on
you　as　a　son。　Mrs。　Finch；　follow　my　example；　look　on　him　as　a　son！）I
could　wish；　as　pastor　and　parent；　to　say　a　few　pious　and　consoling
words〃

The　doorthe　friendly；　admirable；　judicious　doorstopped　the　coming
sermon；　in　the　nick　of　time；　by　opening　again。　Herr　Grosse's　squat　figure
and　owlish　spectacles　appeared　on　the　threshold。　And　behind　him　（exactly
as　I　had　anticipated）　stood　Nugent　Dubourg。

Lucilla　turned　deadly　pale：　she　had　heard　the　door　open；　she　knew　by
instinct　that　the　surgeon　had　come。　Oscar　got　up；　stole　behind　my　chair；
and　whispered　to　me；　〃For　God's　sake；　get　Nugent　out　of　the　room！〃　I　gave
him　a　reassuring　squeeze　of　the　hand；　and；　putting　Jicks　down　on　the
floor；　rose　to　welcome　our　good　Grosse。

The　child；　as　it　happened；　was　beforehand　with　me。　She　and　the
illustrious　oculist　had　met　in　the　garden　at　one　of　the　German's
professional　visits　to　Lucilla；　and　had　taken　an　amazing　fancy　to　each
other。　Herr　Grosse　never　afterwards　appeared　at　the　rectory　without　some
unwholesome　eatable　thing　in　his　pocket　for　Jicks；　who　gave　him　in　return
as　many　kisses　as　he　might　ask　for；　and　further　distinguished　him　as　the
only　living　creature　whom　she　permitted　to　nurse　the　disreputable　doll。
Grasping　this　same　doll　now；　with　both　hands；　and　using　it　head…foremost；
as　a　kind　of　battering…ram；　Jicks　plunged　in　front　of　me；　and　butted　with
all　her　might　at　the　surgeon's　bandy　legs；　insisting　on　a　monopoly　of　his
attention　before　he　presumed　to　speak　to　any　other　person　in　the　room。
While　he　was　lifting　her　to　a　level　with　his　face；　and　talking　to　her　in
his　wonderful　broken　Englishwhile　the　rector　and　Mrs。　Finch　were　making
the　necessary　apologies　for　the　child's　conductNugent　came　round　from
behind　Herr　Grosse；　and　drew　me　mysteriously　into　a　corner　of　the　room。
As　I　followed　him；　I　saw　the　silent　torture　of　anxiety　expressed　in
Oscar's　face　as　he　stood　by　Lucilla's　chair。　It　did　me　good；　it　strung　up
my　resolution　to　the　right　pitch；　it　made　me　feel　myself　a　match；　and
more　than　a　match；　for　Nugent　Dubourg。

〃I　am　afraid　I　behaved　in　a　very　odd　manner；　when　we　met　in　the　village？〃
he　said。　〃The　fact　is；　I　am　not　at　all　well。　I　have　been　in　a　strange
feverish　state　lately。　I　don't　think　the　air　of　this　place　suits　me。〃
There　he　stopped；　keeping　his　eyes　steadily　fixed　on　mine；　trying　to　read
my　mind　in　my　face。

〃I　am　not　surprised　to　hear　you　say　that；〃　I　answered。　〃I　have　noticed
that　you　have　not　been　looking　well　lately。〃

My　tone　and　manner　（otherwise　perfectly　composed）　expressed　polite
sympathyand　nothing　more。　I　saw　I　puzzled　him。　He　tried　again。

〃I　hope　I　didn't　say　or　do　anything　rude？〃　he　went　on。

〃Oh；　no！〃

〃I　was　excitedpainfully　excited。　You　are　too　kind　to　admit　it；　I　am
sure　I　owe　you　my　apologies？〃

〃No；　indeed！　you　were　certainly　excited；　as　you　say。　But　we　are　all　in
the　same　state　to…day。　The　occasion；　Mr。　Nugent；　is　your　sufficient
apology。〃

Not　the　slightest　sign　in　my　face　of　any　sort　of　suspicion　of　him
rewarded　the　close　and　continued　scrutiny　with　which　he　regarded　me。　I
saw　in　his　perplexed　expression；　the　certain　assurance　that　I　was　beating
him　at　his　own　weapons。　He　made　a　last　effort　to　entrap　me　into　revealing
that　I　suspected　his　secrethe　attempted；　by　irritating　my　quick　temper；
to　take　me　by　surprise。

〃You　are　no　doubt　astonished　at　seeing　me　here；〃　he　resumed。　〃I　have　not
forgotten　that　I　promised　to　remain　at　Browndown　instead　of　coming　to　the
rectory。　Don't　be　angry　with　me：　I　am　under　medical　orders　which　forbid
me　to　keep　my　promise。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　I　said　just　as　coolly　as　ever。

〃I　will　explain　myself；〃　he　rejoined。　〃You　remember　that　we　long　since
took　Grosse　into　our　confidence；　on　the　subject　of　Oscar's　position
towards　Lucilla？〃

〃I　am　not　likely　to　have　forgotten　it；〃　I　answered；　〃considering　that　it
was　I　who　first　warned　your　brother　that　Herr　Grosse　might　do　terrible
mischief　by　innocently　letting　out　the　truth。〃

〃Do　you　recollect　how　Grosse　took　the　warning　when　we　gave　it　to　him？〃

〃Perfectly。　He　promised　to　be　careful。　But；　at　the　same　time；　he　gruffly
forbade　us　to　involve　him　in　any　more　of　our　family　troubles。　He　said　he
was　determined　to　preserve　his　professional　freedom　of　action；　without
being　hampered　by　domestic　difficulties　which　might　concern　_us；_　but
which　did　not　concern　_him。_　Is　my　memory　accurate　enough　to　satisfy
you？〃

〃Your　memory　is　wonderful。　You　will　now　understand　me　when　I　tell　you
that　Grosse　asserts　his　professional　freedom　of　action　on　this　occasion。
I　had　it　from　his　own　lips　on　our　way　here。　He　considers　it　very
important　that　Lucilla　should　not　be　frightened　at　the　moment　when　she
tries　her　sight。　Oscar's　face　is　sure　to　startle　her；　if　it　is　the　first
face　she　sees。　Grosse　has　accordingly　requested　me　to　be　present　（as　the
only　other　young　man　in　the　room）；　and　to　place　myself　so　that　I　shall　be
the　first　person　who　attracts　her　notice。　Ask　him　yourself；　Madame
Pratolungo；　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃

〃Of　course　I　believe　you！〃　I　answered。　〃It　is　useless　to　dispute　the
surgeon's　orders　at　such　a　time　as　this。〃

With　that；　I　left　him；　showing　just　as　much　annoyance　as　an　unsuspecting
woman；　in　my　position；　might　have　naturally　betrayedand　no　more。
Knowing；　as　I　did；　what　was　going　on　under　the　surface；　I　understood　only
too　plainly　what　had　happened。　Nugent　had　caught　at　the　opportunity　which
the　surgeon　had　innocently　offered　to　him；　as　a　means　of　misleading
Lucilla　at　the　moment；　and　（possibly）　of　taking　some　base　advantage　of
her　afterwards。　I　trembled　inwardly　with　rage　and　fear；　as　I　turned　my
back　on　him。　Our　one　chance　was　to　make　sure　of　his　absence；　at　the
critical　momentand；　cudgel　my　brains　as　I　might；　how　to　reach　that　end
successfully　was　more　than　I　could　see。

When　I　returned　to　the　other　persons　in　the　room；　Oscar　and　Lucilla　were
still　occupying　the　same　positions。　Mr。　Finch　had　presented　himself　（at
full　length）　to　Herr　Grosse。　And　Jicks　was　established　on　a　stool　in　a
corner：　devouring　a　rampant　horse；　carved　in　bilious…yellow　German
gingerbread；　with　a　voracious　relish　wonderful　and　terrible　to　see。

〃Ah；　my　goot　Madame　Pratolungo！〃　said　Herr　Grosse；　stopping　on　his　way　to
Lucilla　to　shake　hands　with　me。　〃Have　you　made　anodder　lofely　Mayonnaise？
I　have　come　on　purpose　with　an　empty…stomachs；　and　a　wolf's…appetite　in
fine　order。　Look　at　that　little　Imps；〃　he　went　on；　pointing　to　Jicks。
〃Ach　Gott！　I　believe　I　am　in　lofe　with　her。　I　have　sent　all　the　ways　to
Germany　for　gingerbreads　for　Jick。　Aha；　you　Jick！　does　it　stick　in　your
tooths？　Is　it　nice…clammy…sweet？〃　He　glared　benevolently　at　the　child
through　his　spectacles；　and　tucked　my　hand　sentimentally　into　the　breast
of　his　waistcoat。　〃Promise　me　a　child　like　adorable　Jick；〃　he　said
solemnly；　〃I　will　marry　the　first　wife　you　bring　menice　womans；　nasty
womans；　I　don't　care　which。　Soh！　there　is　my　domestic　sentiments　laid
bare　before　you。　Enough　of　that。　Now　for　my　pretty…Feench！
Come…begin…begin！〃

He　crossed　the　room　to　Lucilla；　and　called　to　Nugent　to　follow　him。

〃Open　the　shutters；〃　he　said。　〃Light…light…light；　and　plenty　of　him；　for
my　lofely　Feench！〃

Nugent　opened　the　shutters；　beginning　with　the　lower　window；　and　ending
with　the　window　at　which　Lucilla　was　sitting。　Acting　on　this　plan；　he　had
only　to　wait　where　he　was；　to　place　himself　close　by　herto　be　the　first
object　she　saw。　He　did　it。　The　villain　did　it。　I　stepped　forward；
determined　to　interfereand　stopped；　not　knowing　what　to　say　or　do。　I
could　have　beaten　my　own　stupid　brains　out　against　the　wall。　There　stood
Nugent　right　before　her；　as　the　surgeon　turned　his　patient　towards　the
window。　And　not　the　ghost　of　an　idea　came　to　me！

The　German　stretched　out　his　hairy　hands；　and　took　hold　of　the　knot　of
the　bandage　to　undo　it。

Lucilla　trembled　from　head　to　foot。

Herr　Grosse　hesitatedlooked　at　herlet　go　of　the　bandage…and　lifting
one　of　her　hands；　laid　his　fingers　on　her　pulse。

In　the　moment　of　silence　that　followed；　I　had　one　of　my　inspirations。　The
missing　idea　turned　up　in　my　brains　at　last。

〃Soh！〃　cried　Grosse；　dropping　her　hand　with　a　sudden　outbreak　of
annoyance