poor miss finch-第37节

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see　no　risk　worth　considering。〃

〃In　short；〃　I　said；　〃you　agree　with　me？〃

〃I　agree　with　youthough　I　_am_　the　most　opinionated　man　living。　The
chances　now　seem　to　me　to　be　all　in　Oscar's　favor；　Lucilla's　antipathy　is
not　what　I　feared　it　wasan　antipathy　firmly　rooted　in　a　constitutional
malady。　It　is　nothing　more　serious；〃　said　Nugent；　deciding　the　question；
at　once　and　for　ever；　with　the　air　of　a　man　profoundly　versed　in
physiology〃it　is　nothing　more　serious　than　a　fanciful　growth；　a　morbid
accident；　of　her　blindness。　She　may　live　to　get　over　itshe　would；　I
believe；　certainly　get　over　it；　if　she　could　see。　In　two　words；　after
what　I　have　found　out　this　morning；　I　say　as　you　sayOscar　is　making　a
mountain　out　of　a　molehill。　He　ought　to　have　put　himself　right　with
Lucilla　long　since。　I　have　unbounded　influence　over　him。　It　shall　back
your　influence。　Oscar　shall　make　a　clean　breast　of　it；　before　the　week　is
out。〃

We　shook　hands　on　that　bargain。　As　I　looked　at　himbright　and　dashing
and　resolute；　Oscar；　as　I　had　always　wished　Oscar　to　beI　own　to　my
shame　I　privately　regretted　that　we　had　not　met　Nugent　in　the　twilight；
on　that　evening　of　ours　which　had　opened　to　Lucilla　the　gates　of　a　new
life。

Having　said　to　each　other　all　that　we　had　to　sayour　two　lovers　being
away　together　at　the　time；　for　a　walk　on　the　hillswe　separated；　as　I
then　supposed；　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　Nugent　went　to　the　inn；　to　look
at　a　stable　which　he　proposed　converting　into　a　studio：　no　room　at
Browndown　being　half　large　enough；　for　the　first　prodigious　picture　with
which　the　〃Grand　Consoler〃　in　Art　proposed　to　astonish　the　world。　As　for
me；　having　nothing　particular　to　do；　I　went　out　to　see　if　I　could　meet
Oscar　and　Lucilla　on　their　return　from　their　walk。

Failing　to　find　them；　I　strolled　back　by　way　of　Browndown。　Nugent　was
sitting　alone　on　the　low　wall　in　front　of　the　house；　smoking　a　cigar。　He
rose　and　came　to　meet　me；　with　his　finger　placed　mysteriously　on　his
lips。

〃You　mustn't　come　in；〃　he　said；　〃you　mustn't　speak　loud　enough　to　be
heard。〃　He　pointed　round　the　corner　of　the　house　to　the　little　room　at
the　side；　already　familiar　to　you　in　these　pages。　〃Oscar　and　Lucilla　are
shut　up　together　there。　And　Oscar　is　making　his　confession　to　her　at　this
moment！〃

I　lifted　my　hands　and　eyes　in　astonishment。　Nugent　went　on。

〃I　see　you　want　to　know　how　it　has　all　come　about。　You　shall　know。While
I　was　looking　at　the　stable　（it　isn't　half　big　enough　for　a　studio　for
Me！）；　Oscar's　servant　brought　me　a　little　pencil　note；　entreating　me；　in
Oscar's　name；　to　go　to　him　directly　at　Browndown。　I　found　him　waiting　out
here；　dreadfully　agitated。　He　cautioned　me　（just　as　I　have　cautioned　you）
not　to　speak　loud。　For　the　same　reason　too。　Lucilla　was　in　the　house〃

〃I　thought　they　had　gone　out　for　a　walk；〃　I　interposed。

〃They　did　go　out　for　a　walk。　But　Lucilla　complained　of　fatigue；　and　Oscar
brought　her　back　to　Browndown　to　rest。　Well！　I　inquired　what　was　the
matter。　The　answer　informed　me　that　the　secret　of　Oscar's　complexion　had
forced　its　way　out　for　the　second　time；　in　Lucilla's　hearing。〃

〃Jicks　again！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃Nonot　Jicks。　Oscar's　own　man…servant；　this　time。〃

〃How　did　it　happen？〃

〃It　happened　through　one　of　the　boys　in　the　village。　Oscar　and　Lucilla
found　the　little　imp　howling　outside　the　house。　They　asked　what　was　the
matter。　The　imp　told　them　that　the　servant　at　Browndown　had　beaten　him。
Lucilla　was　indignant。　She　insisted　on　having　the　thing　inquired　into。
Oscar　left　her　in　the　drawing…room　（unluckily；　as　it　turned　out；　without
shutting　the　door）；　called　the　man　up　into　the　passage；　and　asked　what　he
meant　by　ill…using　the　boy。　The　man　answered；　'I　boxed　his　ears；　sir；　as
an　example　to　the　rest　of　them。'　'What　did　he　do？'　'Rapped　at　the　door；
sir；　with　a　stick　（he　is　not　the　first　who　has　done　it　when　you　are　out）；
and　asked　if　Blue　Face　was　at　home。'　Lucilla　heard　every　word　of　it；
through　the　open　door。　Need　I　tell　you　what　happened　next？〃

It　was　quite　needless　to　relate　that　part　of　the　story。　I　remembered　too
well　what　had　happened　on　the　former　occasion；　in　the　garden。　I　saw　too
plainly　that　Lucilla　must　have　connected　the　two　occurrences　in　her　mind；
and　must　have　had　her　ready　suspicion　roused　to　serious　action；　as　the
necessary　result。

〃I　understand；〃　I　said。　〃Of　course；　she　insisted　on　an　explanation。　Of
course；　Oscar　compromised　himself　by　a　clumsy　excuse；　and　wanted　you　to
help　him。　What　did　you　do？〃

〃What　I　told　you　I　should　do　this　morning。　He　had　counted　confidently　on
my　taking　his　sideit　was　pitiable　to　see　him；　poor　fellow！　Still；　for
his　own　sake；　I　refused　to　yield。　I　left　him　the　choice　of　giving　her　the
true　explanation　himself；　or　of　leaving　me　to　do　it。　There　wasn't　a
moment　to　lose；　she　was　in　no　humour　to　be　trifled　with；　I　can　tell　you！
Oscar　behaved　very　well　about　ithe　always　behaves　well　when　I　drive　him
into　a　corner！　In　one　word；　he　was　man　enough　to　feel　that　he　was　the
right　person　to　make　a　clean　breast　of　itnot　I。　I　gave　the　poor　old　boy
a　hug　to　encourage　him；　pushed　him　into　the　room；　shut　the　door　on　him；
and　came　out　here。　He　ought　to　have　done　it　by　this　time。　He　_has_　done
it！　Here　he　comes！〃

Oscar　ran　out；　bareheaded；　from　the　house。　There　were　signs　of
disturbance　in　him；　as　he　approached　us；　which　warned　me　that　something
had　gone　wrong；　before　he　opened　his　lips。

Nugent　spoke　first。

〃What's　amiss　now？〃　he　asked。　〃Have　you　told　her　the　truth？〃

〃I　have　tried　to　tell　her　the　truth。〃

〃Tried？　What　do　you　mean？〃

Oscar　put　his　arm　round　his　brother's　neck；　and　laid　his　head　on　his
brother's　shoulder；　without　answering　one　word。

I　put　a　question　to　him　on　my　side。

〃Did　Lucilla　refuse　to　listen　to　you？〃　I　asked。

〃No。〃

〃Has　she　said　anything　or　done　anything？〃

He　lifted　his　head　from　his　brother's　shoulder；　and　stopped　me　before　I
could　finish　the　sentence。

〃You　need　feel　no　anxiety　about　Lucilla。　Lucilla's　curiosity　is
satisfied。〃

Nugent　and　I　gazed　at　one　another；　in　complete　bewilderment。　Lucilla　had
heard　it　all；　Lucilla's　curiosity　was　satisfied。　He　had　that　incredibly
happy　result　to　communicate　to　usand　he　announced　it　with　a　look　of
humiliation；　in　a　tone　of　despair！　Nugent's　patience　gave　way。

〃Let　us　have　an　end　of　this　mystification；〃　he　said；　putting　Oscar　back
from　him；　sharply；　at　arm's　length。　〃I　want　a　plain　answer　to　a　plain
question。　She　knows　that　the　boy　knocked　at　the　door；　and　asked　if　Blue
Face　was　at　home。　Does　she　know　what　the　boy's　impudence　meant？　Yes？　or
No？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Does　she　know　that　it　is　you　who　are　Blue　Face？〃

〃No。〃

〃No！！！　Who　else　does　she　think　it　is？〃

As　he　asked　the　question；　Lucilla　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　house。　She
moved　her　blind　face　inquiringly　first　one　way；　then　the　other。　〃Oscar！〃
she　called　out；　〃why　have　you　left　me　alone？　where　are　you？〃

Oscar　turned；　trembling；　to　his　brother。

〃For　God's　sake　forgive　me；　Nugent！〃　he　said。　〃She　thinks　it's　YOU。〃


CHAPTER　THE　TWENTY…SIXTH

He　proves　Equal　to　the　Occasion

AT　that　astounding　confession；　abruptly　revealed　in　those　plain　words；
even　resolute　Nugent　lost　all　power　of　self…control。　He　burst　out　with　a
cry　which　reached　Lucilla's　ears。　She　instantly　turned　towards　us；　and
instantly　assumed　that　the　cry　had　come　from　Oscar's　lips。

〃Ah！　there　you　are！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Oscar！　Oscar！　what　is　the　matter
with　you　to…day？〃

Oscar　was　incapable　of　answering　her。　He　had　cast　one　glance　of　entreaty
at　his　brother　as　Lucilla　came　nearer　to　us。　The　mute　reproach　which　had
answered　him；　in　Nugent's　eyes；　had　broken　down　his　last　reserves　of
endurance。　He　was　crying　silently　on　Nugent's　breast。

It　was　necessary　that　one　of　us　should　make　his；　or　her；　voice　heard。　I
spoke　first。

〃Nothing　is　the　matter；　my　dear；〃　I　said；　advancing　to　meet　Lucilla。　〃We
were　passing　the　house；　and　Oscar　ran　out　to　stop　us　and　bring　us　in。〃

My　excuses　roused　a　new　alarm　in　her。

〃Us？〃　she　repeated。　〃Who　is　with　you？〃

〃Nugent　is　with　me。〃

The　result　of　the　deplorable　misunderstanding　which　had　taken　place；
instantly　declared　itself。　She　turned　deadly　pale　under　the　horror　of
feeling　that　she　was　in　the　presence　of　the　man　with　the　blue　face。

〃Take　me　near　enough　to　speak　to　him；　but　not　to　touch　him；〃　she
whispered。　〃I　have　heard　what　he　is　like。　（Oh；　if　you　saw　him；　as　I　see
him；　_in　the　dark！_）　I　must　control　myself。　I　must　speak　to　Oscar's
brother；　for　Oscar's　sake。〃

She　seized　my　arm　and　held　me　close　to　her。　What　ought　I　to　have　said？
What　ought　I　to　have　done？　I　neither　knew　what　to　say　or　what　to　do。　I
looked　from　Lucilla　to　the　twin　brothers。　There　was　Oscar　the　Weak；
overwhelmed　by　the　humiliating　position　in　which　he　had　placed　himself
towards　the　woman　whom　he　was　to　marry；　towards　the　brother　whom　he
loved！　And　there　was　Nugent　the　Strong；　master　of　himself；　with　his　arm
round　his　brother；　with　his　head　erect；　with　his　hand　signing　to　me　to
keep　silence。　He　was　right。　I　had　only　to　look　back　at　Lucilla's　face　to
see　that　the　delicate　and　perilous　work　of　undeceiving　her；　was　not　work
to　be　done　at　a　moment's　notice；　on　the　sp