poor miss finch-第45节

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which；　as　a　work　of　Art；　was　simply　adorableI　say　no　more。　Secondly；　my
green　silk　dress；　trimmed　with　my　mother's　famous　laceanother　work　of
Art；　equally　adorable　with　the　first。　Whether　I　looked　at　the
luncheon…table；　or　whether　I　looked　in　the　glass；　I　could　feel　that　I
worthily　asserted　my　nation；　I　could　say　to　myself；　Even　in　this　remote
corner　of　the　earth；　the　pilgrim　of　civilization　searching　for　the
elegant　luxuries　of　life；　looks　and　seesFrance　supreme！



The　clock　chimed　the　quarter　past　three。　Lucilla；　wearying；　for　the
hundredth　time　of　waiting　in　her　own　room；　put　her　head　in　at　the　door；
and　still　repeated　the　never…changing　question〃No　signs　of　them　yet？〃

〃None；　my　love。〃

〃Oh；　how　much　longer　will　they　keep　us　waiting！〃

〃Patience；　Lucillapatience！〃

She　disappeared　again；　with　a　weary　sigh。　Five　minutes　more　passed；　and
old　Zillah　peeped　into　the　room　next。

〃Here　they　are；　ma'am；　in　a　chaise　at　the　gate！〃

I　shook　out　the　skirts　of　my　green　silk；　I　cast　a　last　inspiriting　glance
at　the　Mayonnaise。　Nugent's　cheerful　voice　reached　me　from　the　garden；
conducting　the　strangers。　〃This　way；　gentlemenfollow　me。〃　A　pause。
Steps　outside。　The　door　opened。　Nugent　brought　them　in。

Herr　Grosse；　from　America。　Mr。　Sebright　of　London。

The　German　gave　a　little　start　when　my　name　was　mentioned。　The　Englishman
remained　perfectly　unaffected　by　it。　Herr　Grosse　had　heard　of　my　glorious
Pratolungo。　Mr。　Sebright　was　barbarously　ignorant　of　his　existence。　I
shall　describe　Herr　Grosse　first；　and　shall　take　the　greatest　pains　with
him。

A　squat；　broad；　sturdy　body；　waddling　on　a　pair　of　short　bandy　legs；
slovenly；　shabby；　unbrushed　clothes；　a　big　square　bilious…yellow　face；
surmounted　by　a　mop　of　thick　iron…grey　hair；　dark　beetle…brows；　a　pair　of
staring；　fierce；　black；　goggle　eyes；　with　huge　circular　spectacles
standing　up　like　fortifications　in　front　of　them；　a　shaggy　beard　and
mustache　of　mixed　black；　white；　and　grey；　a　prodigious　cameo　ring　on　the
forefinger　of　one　hairy　hand；　the　other　hand　always　in　and　out　of　a　deep
silver　snuff…box　like　a　small　tea…caddy；　a　rough　rasping　voice；　a
diabolically　humourous　smile；　a　curtly　confident　way　of　speaking；
resolution；　independence；　power；　expressed　all　over　him　from　head　to
footthere　is　the　portrait　of　the　man　who　held　in　his　hands　（if　Nugent
was　to　be　trusted）　the　restoration　of　Lucilla's　sight！

The　English　oculist　was　as　unlike　his　German　colleague　as　it　is　possible
for　one　human　being　to　be　to　another。

Mr。　Sebright　was　slim　and　spare；　and　scrupulously　（painfully）　clean　and
neat。　His　smooth　light　hair　was　carefully　parted；　his　well…shaved　face
exhibited　two　little　crisp　morsels　of　whisker　about　two　inches　long；　and
no　hair　more。　His　decent　black　clothes　were　perfectly　made；　he　wore　no
ornaments；　not　even　a　watch…chain；　he　moved　deliberately；　he　spoke
gravely　and　quietly；　disciplined　attention　looked　coldly　at　you　out　of
his　light　grey　eyes；　and　said；　Here　I　am　if　you　want　me；　in　every
movement　of　his　thin　finely…cut　lips。　A　thoroughly　capable　man；　beyond
all　doubtbut　defend　me　from　accidentally　sitting　next　to　him　at　dinner；
or　traveling　with　him　for　my　only　companion　on　a　long　journey！

I　received　these　distinguished　persons　with　my　best　grace。　Herr　Grosse
complimented　me　in　return　on　my　illustrious　name；　and　shook　hands。　Mr。
Sebright　said　it　was　a　beautiful　day；　and　bowed。　The　German；　the　moment
he　was　at　liberty　to　look　about　him；　looked　at　the　luncheon…table。　The
Englishman　looked　out　of　window。

〃Will　you　take　some　refreshment；　gentlemen？〃

Herr　Grosse　nodded　his　shock　head　in　high　approval。　His　wild　eyes　glared
greedily　at　the　Mayonnaise　through　his　prodigious　spectacles。　〃Aha！　I
like　that；〃　said　the　illustrious　surgeon；　pointing　at　the　dish　with　his
ringed　forefinger。　〃You　know　how　to　make　himyou　make　him　with　creams。
Is　he　chickens　or　lobsters？　I　like　lobsters　best；　but　chickens　is　goot
too。　The　garnish　is　lofelyanchovy；　olive；　beetroots；　brown；　green；　red；
on　a　fat　white　sauce！　This　I　call　a　heavenly　dish。　He　is　nice…cool　in　two
different　ways；　nice…cool；　to　the　eye；　nice…cool　to　the　taste！　Soh！　we
will　break　into　his　inside。　Madame　Pratolungo；　you　shall　begin。　Here　goes
for　the　liver…wings！〃

In　this　extraordinary　Englishturning　words　in　the　singular　into　words
in　the　plural；　and　banishing　from　the　British　vocabulary　the　copulative
conjunction　〃and〃Herr　Grosse　announced　his　readiness　to　sit　down　to
lunch。　He　was　politely　recalled　from　the　Mayonnaise　to　the　patient　by　his
discreet　English　colleague。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Mr。　Sebright。　Would　it　not　be　advisable　to　see
the　young　lady；　before　we　do　anything　else？　I　am　obliged　to　return　to
London　by　the　next　train。〃

Herr　Grosse…with　a　fork　in　one　hand　and　a　spoon　in　the　other；　and　a
napkin　tied　round　his　neckstared　piteously；　shook　his　shock　head；　and
turned　his　back　on　the　Mayonnaise；　with　a　heavy　heart　at　parting。

〃Goot。　We　shall　do　our　works　first：　then　eat　our　lunches　afterwards。
Where　is　the　patients？　Come…begin…begin！〃　He　removed　the　napkin；　blew　a
sigh　（there　is　no　other　way　of　expressing　it）and　plunged　his　finger　and
thumb　into　his　tea…caddy　snuff…box。　〃Where　is　the　patients？〃　he　repeated
irritably。　〃Why　is　she　not　close…handy　in　here？〃

〃She　is　waiting　in　the　next　room；〃　I　said。　〃I　will　bring　her　in　directly。
You　will　make　allowances　for　her；　gentlemen；　I　am　sure；　if　you　find　her　a
little　nervous？〃　I　added；　looking　at　both　the　oculists。　Silent　Mr。
Sebright　bowed。　Herr　Grosse　grinned　diabolically；　and　said；　〃Make　your
mind　easy；　my　goot　creature。　I　am　not　such　a　brutes　as　I　look！〃

〃Where　is　Oscar？〃　asked　Nugent；　as　I　passed　him　on　my　way　to　Lucilla's
room。

〃After　altering　his　mind　a　dozen　times　at　least；〃　I　replied；　〃he　has
decided　on　not　being　present　at　the　examination。〃

I　had　barely　said　the　words　before　the　door　opened；　and　Oscar　entered　the
room。　He　had　altered　his　mind　for　the　thirteenth　timeand　here　he　was　as
the　result　of　it！

Herr　Grosse　burst　out　with　an　exclamation　in　his　own　language；　at　the
sight　of　Oscar's　face。　〃Ach；　Gott！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃he　has　been　taking
Nitrates　of　Silvers。　His　complexions　is　spoilt。　Poor　boys！　poor　boys！〃　He
shook　his　shaggy　headturnedand　spat　compassionately　into　a　corner　of
the　room。　Oscar　looked　offended；　Mr。　Sebright　looked　disgusted；　Nugent
thoroughly　enjoyed　it。　I　left　the　room　and　closed　the　door　behind　me。

I　had　not　taken　two　steps　in　the　corridor　when　I　heard　the　door　opened
again。　Looking　back　directly；　I　found　myself；　to　my　amazement；　face　to
face　with　Herr　Grossestaring　ferociously　at　me　through　his　spectacles；
and　offering　me　his　arm！

〃Hosh！〃　said　the　famous　oculist　in　a　heavy　whisper。　〃Say　nothing　to
nobody。　I　am　come　to　help　you。〃

〃To　help　me？〃　I　repeated。

Herr　Grosse　nodded　vehementlyso　vehemently　that　his　prodigious
spectacles　hopped　up　and　down　on　his　nose。

〃What　did　you　tell　me　just　now？〃　he　asked。　〃You　told　me　the　patient　was
nervous。　Goot！　I　am　come　to　go　with　you　to　the　patients；　and　help　you　to
fetch　her。　Soh！　soh！　I　am　not　such　a　brutes　as　I　look。　Come…begin…begin！
Where　is　she？〃

I　hesitated　for　a　moment　about　introducing　this　remarkable　ambassador
into　Lucilla's　bedroom。　One　look　at　him　decided　me。　After　all；　he　was　a
doctor；and　such　an　ugly　one！　I　took　his　arm。

We　went　together　into　Lucilla's　room。　She　started　up　from　the　sofa　on
which　she　was　reclining　when　she　heard　the　strange　footsteps　entering；
side　by　side　with　mine。

〃Who　is　it？〃　she　cried。

〃It　is　me；　my　dears；〃　said　Herr　Grosse。　〃Ach；　Gott！　what　a　pretty　girls！
Here　is　jost　the　complexions　I　like…nice…fair！　nice…fair！　I　am　come　to
see　what　I　can　do；　my　pretty　Miss；　for　this　eyes　of　yours。　If　I　can　let
the　light　in　on　youhey！　you　will　lofe　me；　won't　you？　You　will　kees　even
an　ugly　Germans　like　me。　Soh！　Come　under　my　arm。　We　will　go　back　into　the
odder　rooms。　There　is　anodder　one　waiting　to　let　the　light　in　tooMr。
Sebrights。　Two　surgeon…optic　to　one　pretty　MissEnglish　surgeon…optic；
German　surgeon…optichey！　between　us　we　shall　cure　this　nice　girls。
Madame　Pratolungo；　here　is　my　odder　arms　at　your　service。　Hey！　what？　You
look　at　my　coatsleeve。　He　is　shabby…greasyI　am　ashamed　of　him。　No
matter。　You　have　got　Mr。　Sebrights　to　look　at　in　the　odder　rooms。　He　is
spick…span；　beautiful…new。　Come！　Forwards！　Marsch！〃

Nugent；　waiting　in　the　corridor；　threw　the　door　open　for　us。　〃Isn't　he
delightful？〃　Nugent　whispered　behind　me；　pointing　to　his　friend。　Escorted
by　Herr　Grosse；　we　made　a　magnificent　entry　into　the　room。　Our　German
doctor　had　done　Lucilla　good　already。　The　examination　was　relieved　of　all
its　embarrassments　and　its　terrors　at　the　outset。　Herr　Grosse　had　made
her　laughHerr　Grosse　had　set　her　completely　at　her　ease。

Mr。　Sebright　and　Oscar　were　talking　together　in　a　perfectly　friendly　way
when　we　returned　to　the　sitting…room。　The　reserved　Englishman　appeared　to
have　his　attraction　for　the　shy　Oscar。　Even　Mr。　Sebright　was　struck　by
Lucilla；　his　cold　face　lit　up　with　interest　when　he　was　presented　to　her。
He　placed　a　chair　for　her　in　front　of　the　window。　There　was　a　warmth　in
his　tone　which　I　had　not　heard　yet；　when　he