poor miss finch-第48章

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missing　idea　turned　up　in　my　brains　at　last。

〃Soh！〃　cried　Grosse；　dropping　her　hand　with　a　sudden　outbreak　of
annoyance　and　surprise。　Who　has　been　frightening　my　pretty　Feench？　Why
these　cold　trembles？　these　sinking　pulses？　Some　of　you　tell　mewhat　does
it　mean？〃

Here　was　my　opportunity！　I　tried　my　idea　on　the　spot。

〃It　means；〃　I　said；　〃that　there　are　too　many　people　in　this　room。　We
confuse　her；　and　frighten　her。　Take　her　into　her　bedroom；　Herr　Grosse；
and　only　let　the　rest　of　us　in；　when　you　think　rightone　at　a　time。〃

Our　excellent　surgeon　instantly　seized　on　my　idea；　and　made　it　his　own。

〃You　are　a　phenix　among　womens；〃　he　said；　paternally　patting　me　on　the
shoulder。　〃Which　is　most　perfectest；　your　advice　or　your　Mayonnaise；　I　am
at　a　loss　to　know。〃　He　turned　to　Lucilla；　and　raised　her　gently　from　her
chair。　〃Come　into　your　own　rooms　with　me；　my　poor　little　Feench。　I　shall
see　if　I　dare　take　off　your　bandages　to…day。〃

Lucilla　clasped　her　hands　entreatingly。

〃You　promised！〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　Herr　Grosse；　you　promised　to　let　me　use　my
eyes　to…day！〃

〃Answer　me　this！〃　retorted　the　German。　〃Did　I　know；　when　I　promised；　that
I　should　find　you　all　shaky…pale；　as　white　as　my　shirts　when　he　comes
back　from　the　wash？〃

〃I　am　quite　myself　again；〃　she　pleaded　faintly。　〃I　am　quite　fit　to　have
the　bandage　taken　off。〃

〃What！　you　know　better　than　I　do？　Which　of　us　is　surgeon…opticyou　or
me？　No　more　of　this。　Come　under　my　arms！　Come　into　the　odder　rooms！〃

He　put　her　arm　in　his；　and　walked　with　her　to　the　door。　There；　her
variable　humour　suddenly　changed。　She　rallied　on　the　instant。　Her　face
flushed；　her　courage　came　back。　To　my　horror；　she　snatched　her　arm　away
from　the　surgeon；　and　refused　to　leave　the　room。

〃No！〃　she　said。　〃I　am　quite　composed　again；　I　claim　your　promise。　Examine
me　here。　I　must　and　will　have　my　first　look　at　Oscar　in　this　room。〃

（I　was　afraidliterally　afraidto　turn　my　eyes　Oscar's　way。　I　glanced
at　Nugent　instead。　There　was　a　devilish　smile　on　his　face　that　it　nearly
drove　me　mad　to　see。）

〃You　must　and　weel？〃　repeated　Grosse。　〃Now；　mind！〃　He　took　out　his　watch。
〃I　give　you　one　little　minutes；　to　think　in。　If　you　don't　come　with　me　in
that　time；　you　shall　find　it　is　I　who　must　and　weel。　Now！〃

〃Why　do　you　object　to　go　into　your　room？〃　I　asked。

〃Because　I　want　everybody　to　see　me；〃　she　answered。　〃How　many　of　you　are
there　here？〃

〃There　are　five　of　us。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Finch；　Mr。　Nugent　Dubourg；　Oscar；　and
myself。〃

〃I　wish　there　were　five　hundred　of　you；　instead　of　five？〃　she　burst　out。

〃Why？〃

〃Because　you　would　see　me　pick　out　Oscar　from　all　the　rest；　the　instant
the　bandage　was　off　my　eyes！〃

Still　holding　to　her　own　fatal　conviction　that　the　image　in　her　mind　of
Oscar　was　the　right　one！　For　the　second　time；　though　I　felt　the　longing
in　me　to　look　at　him；　I　shrank　from　doing　it。

Herr　Grosse　put　his　watch　back　in　his　pocket。

〃The　minutes　is　passed；〃　he　said。　〃Will　you　come　into　the　odder　rooms？
Will　you　understand　that　I　cannot　properly　examine　you　before　all　these
peoples？　Say；　my　lofely　FeenchYes？　or　No？〃

〃No！〃　she　cried　obstinately；　with　a　childish　stamp　of　her　foot。　〃I　insist
on　showing　everybody　that　I　can　pick　out　Oscar；　the　moment　I　open　my
eyes。〃

Herr　Grosse　buttoned　his　coat；　settled　his　owlish　spectacles　firmly　on
his　nose；　and　took　up　his　hat。　〃Goot　morning；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　nothing
more　to　do　with　you　or　your　eyes。　Cure　yourself；　you
little…spitfire…Feench。　I　am　going　back　to　London。〃

He　opened　the　door。　Even　Lucilla　was　obliged　to　yield；　when　the　surgeon
in　attendance　on　her　threatened　to　throw　up　the　case。

〃You　brute！〃　she　said　indignantlyand　took　his　arm　again。

Grosse　indulged　himself　in　his　diabolical　grin。　〃Wait　till　you　are　able
to　use　your　eyes；　my　lofe。　Then　you　will　see　what　a　brutes　I　am！〃　With
those　words　he　took　her　out。

We　were　left　in　the　sitting…room；　to　wait　until　the　surgeon　had　decided
whether　he　would；　or　would　not；　let　Lucilla　try　her　sight　on　that　day。

While　the　others　were；　in　their　various　ways；　all　suffering　the　same
uneasy　sense　of　expectation；　I　was　as　quiet　in　my　mind　as　the　baby　now
sleeping　in　his　mother's　arms。　Thanks　to　Grosse's　resolution　to　act　on
the　hint　that　I　had　given　to　him；　I　had　now　made　it　impossibleeven　if
the　bandage　was　removed　on　that　dayfor　Nugent　to　catch　Lucilla's　first
look　when　she　opened　her　eyes。　Her　betrothed　husband　might　certainly；　on
such　a　special　occasion　as　this；　be　admitted　into　her　bed…chamber；　in
company　with　her　father　or　with　me。　But　the　commonest　sense　of　propriety
would　dictate　the　closing　of　the　door　on　Nugent。　In　the　sitting…room　he
must　wait　（if　he　still　persisted　in　remaining　at　the　rectory）　until　she
was　allowed　to　join　him　there。　I　privately　resolved；　having　the　control
of　the　matter　in　my　own　hands；　that　this　should　not　happen　until　Lucilla
knew　which　of　the　twins　was　Nugent；　and　which　was　Oscar。　A　delicious
inward　glow　of　triumph　diffused　itself　all　through　me。　I　resisted　the
strong　temptation　that　I　felt　to　discover　how　Nugent　bore　his　defeat。　If
I　had　yielded　to　it；　he　would　have　seen　in　my　face　that　I　gloried　in
having　outwitted　him。　I　sat　down；　the　picture　of　innocence；　in　the
nearest　chair；　and　crossed　my　hands　on　my　lap；　a　composed　and　ladylike
person；　edifying　to　see。

The　slow　minutes　followed　each　otherand　still　we　waited　the　event　in
silence。　Even　Mr。　Finch's　tongue　was；　on　this　solitary　occasion；　a　tongue
incapable　of　pronouncing　a　single　word。　He　sat　by　his　wife　at　one　end　of
the　room。　Oscar　and　I　were　at　the　other。　Nugent　stood　by　himself　at　one
of　the　windows；　deep　in　his　own　thoughts；　plotting　how　he　could　pay　me
out。

Oscar　was　the　first　of　the　party　who　broke　the　silence。　After　looking　all
round　the　room；　he　suddenly　addressed　himself　to　me。

〃Madame　Pratolungo！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃What　has　become　of　Jicks？〃

I　had　completely　forgotten　the　child。　I　too　looked　round　the　room；　and
satisfied　myself　that　she　had　really　disappeared。　Mrs。　Finch；　observing
our　astonishment；　timidly　enlightened　us。　The　maternal　eye　had　seen　Jicks
slip　out　cunningly　at　Herr　Grosse's　heels。　The　child's　object　was　plain
enough。　While　there　was　any　probability　of　the　presence　of　more
gingerbread　in　the　surgeon's　pocket；　the　wandering　Arab　of　the　family　（as
stealthy　and　as　quick　as　a　cat）　was　certain　to　keep　within　reach　of　her
friend。　Nobody　who　knew　her　could　doubt　that　she　had　stolen　into
Lucilla's　bed…chamber；　under　cover　of　Herr　Grosse's　ample　coat…tails。

We　had　just　accounted　in　this　way　for　the　mysterious　absence　of　Jicks；
when　we　heard　the　bed…chamber　door　opened；　and　the　surgeon's　voice
calling　for　Zillah。　In　a　minute　more　the　nurse　appeared；　the　bearer　of　a
message　from　the　next　room。

We　all　surrounded　her；　with　one　and　the　same　question　to　ask。　What　had
Herr　Grosse　decided　to　do？　The　answer　informed　us　that　he　had　decided　on
forbidding　Lucilla　to　try　her　eyes　that　day。

〃Is　she　very　much　disappointed？〃　Oscar　inquired　anxiously。

〃I　can　hardly　say；　sir。　She　isn't　like　herself。　I　never　knew　Miss　Lucilla
so　quiet　when　she　was　crossed　in　her　wishes；　before。　When　the　doctor
called　me　into　the　room；　she　said：　'Go　in；　Zillah；　and　tell　them。'　Those
words；　sir；　and　no　more。〃

〃Did　she　express　no　wish　to　see　me？〃　I　inquired。

〃No；　ma'am。　I　took　the　liberty　of　asking　her　if　she　wished　to　see　you。
Miss　Lucilla　shook　her　head；　and　sat　herself　down　on　the　sofa；　and　made
the　doctor　sit　by　her。　'Leave　us　by　ourselves。'　Those　were　the　last　words
she　said　to　me；　before　I　came　in　here。〃

Reverend　Finch　put　the　next　question。　The　Pope　of　Dimchurch　was　himself
again：　the　man　of　many　words　saw　his　chance　of　speaking　once　more。

〃Good　woman；〃　said　the　rector　with　ponderous　politeness；　〃step　this　way。
I　wish　to　address　an　inquiry　to　you。　Did　Miss　Finch　make　any　remark；　in
your　hearing；　indicating　a　desire　to　be　comforted　by　My　Ministrationsas
one　bearing　the　double　relation　towards　her　of　pastor　and　parent？〃

〃I　didn't　hear　Miss　Lucilla　say　anything　to　that　effect；　sir。〃

Mr。　Finch　waved　his　hand　with　a　look　of　disgust；　intimating　that　Zillah's
audience　was　over。　Nugent；　upon　that；　came　forward；　and　stopped　her　as
she　was　leaving　the　room。

〃Have　you　nothing　more　to　tell　us？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Why　don't　they　come　back　here？　What　are　they　doing　in　the　other　room？〃

〃They　were　doing　what　I　mentioned　just　now；　sirthey　were　sitting　side
by　side　on　the　sofa。　Miss　Lucilla　was　talking；　and　the　doctor　was

listening　to　her。　And　Jicks；〃　added　Zillah；　addressing　herself
confidentially　to　me；　〃was　behind　them；　picking　the　doctor's　pocket。〃

Oscar　put　in　a　word　thereby　no　means　in　his　most　gracious　manner。

〃What　was　Miss　Lucilla　saying　to　the　doctor？〃

〃I　don't　know；　sir。〃

〃You　don't　know？〃

〃I　couldn't　hear；　sir。　Miss　Lucilla　was　speaking　to　him　in　a　whisper。〃

After　that；　there　was　no　more　to　be　said。　Zillahdisturbed　over　her
domestic　occupations　and　eager　to　get　back　to　her　kitchenseized　the
first　chance　of　leaving　the　room；　going　out　in　such　a　hurry　that　she
forgot　to　close　the　door　after　her。　We　all　looked　at　each　other。　To　what
conclusion　did　the　nurse's　strange　answers　point？　It　was　plainly
impossible　for　Oscar　（no　matter　how　quick　his　temper　might　be）　to　feel
jealous　of　a　man　of　Grosse's　age　and　personal　appearance。　Still；　the
prolonged　interview　between　patient　and　surgeonafter　the　decision　had
been　pronounced　and　the　trial　of　the　eyes　definitely　deferred　to　a　future
dayhad　a　strange　appearance；　to　say　the　least　of　it。

Nugent　returned　to　his　place　at　the　windowpuzzled；　suspicious；　deep　in
his　own　thoughts。　Reverend　Finch；　swelling　with　unspoken　words；　rose
portentously　from　his　chair　by　his　wife's　side。　Had　he　discovered　another
chance　of　inflicting　his　eloquence　on　us？　It　was　only　too　evident　that　he
had！　He　looked　at　us　with　his　ominous　smile。　He　addressed　us　in　his
biggest　voice。

〃My　Christian　friends〃

Nugent；　unassailable　by　eloquence；　persisted　in　looking　out　of　the
window。　Oscar；　insensible　to　every　earthly　consideration　except　the　one
consideration　of　Lucilla；　drew　me　aside　unceremoniously　out　of　the
rector's　hearing。　Mr。　Finch　resumed。

〃My　Christian　friends；　I　could　wish　to　say　a　few　appropriate　words。〃

〃Go　to　Lucilla！〃　whispered　Oscar；　taking　me　entreatingly　by　both　hands。
〃_You_　needn't　stand　on　ceremony　with　her。　Do；　do　see　what　is　going　on　in
the　next　room！〃

Mr。　Finch　resumed。

〃The　occasion　seems　to　call　upon　one　in　my　position　for　a　little
sustaining　advice　on　Christian　dutyI　would　say；　the　duty　of　being
cheerful　under　disappointment。〃

Oscar　persisted。

〃Do　me　the　greatest　of　all　favors！　Pray　find　out　what　is　keeping　Lucilla
with　that　man！〃

Mr。　Finch　cleared　his　throat；　and　lifted　his　right　hand　persuasively　by
way　of　introduction　to　his　next　sentence。

I　answered　Oscar　in　a　whisper。

〃I　don't　like　intruding　on　them。　Lucilla　told　the　nurse　they　were　to　be
left　by　themselves。〃

Just　as　I　said　the　words；　I　became　aware　of　a　sudden　bump　against　me　from
behind。　I　turned；　and　discovered　Jicks　with　the　battering…ram…doll；
preparing　for　a　second　plunge　at　me。　She　stopped；　when　she　found　that　she
ha