poor miss finch-第58节

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〃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　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
h