poor miss finch-第31部分

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at　her；　spell…bound；　his　color　came　and　went；　his　breath　quickened
audibly　when　her　fingers　touched　his　face。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　Oscar；　looking　at　him　in　surprise。

〃Nothing　is　the　matter；〃　he　answered；　in　the　low　absent　tone　of　a　man
whose　mind　was　secretly　pursuing　its　own　train　of　thought。

Oscar　said　no　more。　Once；　twice；　three　times；　Lucilla's　hand　passed
slowly　over　Nugent's　face。　He　submitted　to　it；　silently；　gravely；
immovablya　perfect　contrast　to　the　talkative；　lively　young　man　of　half
an　hour　since。　Lucilla　employed　a　much　longer　time　in　examining　him　than
she　had　occupied　in　examining　me。

While　the　investigation　was　proceeding；　I　had　leisure　to　think　again　over
what　had　passed　between　Nugent　and　me　on　the　subject　of　Lucilla's
blindness；　before　she　entered　the　room。　My　mind　had　by　this　time
recovered　its　balance。　I　was　able　to　ask　myself　what　this　young　fellow's
daring　idea　was　really　worth。　Was　it　within　the　range　of　possibility　that
a　sense　so　delicate　as　the　sense　of　sight；　lost　for　one…and…twenty　years；
could　be　restored　by　any　means　short　of　a　miracle？　It　was　monstrous　to
suppose　it：　the　thing　could　not　be。　If　there　had　been　the　faintest　chance
of　giving　my　poor　dear　back　the　blessing　of　sight；　that　chance　would　have
been　tried　by　competent　persons　years　and　years　since。　I　was　ashamed　of
myself　for　having　been　violently　excited　at　the　moment　by　the　new　thought
which　Nugent　had　started　in　my　mind；　I　was　honestly　indignant　at　his
uselessly　disturbing　me　with　the　vainest　of　all　vain　hopes。　The　one　wise
thing　to　do　in　the　future；　was　to　caution　this　flighty　and　inconsequent
young　man　to　keep　his　mad　notion　about　Lucilla　to　himselfand　to　dismiss
it　from　my　own　thoughts；　at　once　and　for　ever。

Just　as　I　arrived　at　that　sensible　resolution；　I　was　recalled　to　what　was
going　on　in　the　room；　by　Lucilla's　voice；　addressing　me　by　my　name。

〃The　likeness　is　wonderful；〃　she　said。　〃Still；　I　think　I　can　find　a
difference　between　them。〃

（The　only　difference　between　them　was　in　the　contrast　of　complexion　and
in　the　contrast　of　mannerboth　these　being　dissimilarities　which
appealed　more　or　less　directly　to　the　eye。）

〃What　difference　do　you　find？〃　I　asked。

She　slowly　came　towards　me；　with　an　anxious　perplexed　face；　pondering　as
she　advanced。

〃I　can't　explain　it；〃　she　answeredafter　a　long　silence。

When　Lucilla　left　him；　Nugent　rose　from　his　chair。　He　abruptlyalmost
roughlytook　his　brother's　hand。　He　spoke　to　his　brother　in　a　strangely
excited；　feverish；　headlong　way。

〃My　dear　fellow；　now　I　have　seen　her；　I　congratulate　you　more　heartily
than　ever。　She　is　charming；　she　is　unique。　Oscar！　I　could　almost　envy
you；　if　you　were　anyone　else！〃

Oscar　was　radiant　with　delight。　His　brother's　opinion　ranked　above　all
human　opinions　in　his　estimation。　Before　he　could　say　a　word　in　return；
Nugent　left　him　as　abruptly　as　he　had　approached　him；　walking　away　by
himself　to　the　windowand　standing　there；　looking　out。

Lucilla　had　not　heard　him。　She　was　still　pondering；　with　the　same
perplexed　face。　The　likeness　between　the　twins　was　apparently　weighing　on
her　mindan　unsolved　problem　that　vexed　and　irritated　it。　Without
anything　said　by　me　to　lead　to　resuming　the　subject；　she　returned
obstinately　to　the　assertion　that　she　had　just　made。

〃I　tell　you　again　I　am　sensible　of　a　difference　between　them；〃　she
repeated〃though　you　don't　seem　to　believe　me。〃

I　interpreted　this　uneasy　reiteration　as　meaning　that　she　was　rather
trying　to　convince　herself　than　to　convince　me。　In　her　blind　condition；
it　was　doubly　and　trebly　embarrassing　not　to　know　one　brother　from　the
other。　I　understood　her　unwillingness　to　acknowledge　thisI　felt　（in　her
position）　how　it　would　have　irritated　me。　She　was　waitingimpatiently
waitingfor　me　to　say　something　on　my　side。　I　am；　as　you　know　already；
an　indiscreet　woman。　I　innocently　said　one　of　my　rash　things。

〃I　believe　whatever　you　tell　me；　my　dear；〃　I　answered。　〃You　can　find　out
a　difference　between　them；　I　have　no　doubt。　Still；　I　own　I　should　like　to
see　it　put　to　the　proof。〃

Her　color　rose。　〃How？〃　she　asked　abruptly。

〃Try　your　touch　alternately　on　both　their　faces；〃　I　suggested；　〃without
knowing　beforehand　which　position　they　each　of　them　occupy。　Make　three
trialsleaving　them　to　change　their　places　or　not；　between　each　trial；
just　as　they　please。　If　you　guess　which　is　which　correctly　three　times
following；　there　will　be　the　proof　that　you　can　really　lay　your　hand　on　a
difference　between　them。〃

Lucilla　shrank　from　accepting　the　challenge。　She　drew　back　a　step；　and
silently　shook　her　head。　Nugent；　who　had　overheard　me；　turned　round
suddenly　from　the　window；　and　supported　my　proposal。

〃A　capital　notion！〃　he　burst　out。　〃Let's　try　it！　You　don't　object；
Oscardo　you？〃

〃_I_　object？〃　cried　Oscaramazed　at　the　bare　idea　of　his　opposing　any
assertion　of　his　will　to　the　assertion　of　his　brother's　will。　〃If　Lucilla
is　willing；　I　say　Yes；　with　all　my　heart。〃

The　two　brothers　approached　us；　arm　in　arm。　Lucilla；　very　reluctantly；
allowed　herself　to　be　persuaded　into　trying　the　experiment。　Two　chairs；
exactly　alike；　were　placed　in　front　of　her。　At　a　sign　from　Nugent；　Oscar
silently　took　the　chair　on　her　right。　By　this　arrangement；　the　hand　which
she　had　used　in　touching　Nugent's　face；　would　be　now　the　hand　that　she
would　employ　in　touching　Oscar's　face。　When　they　were　both　seated；　I
announced　that　we　were　ready。　Lucilla　placed　her　hands　on　their　faces；
right　and　left；　without　the　faintest　idea　in　her　mind　of　the　positions
which　the　two　relatively　occupied。

After　first　touching　them　with　both　hands；　and　both　together；　she　tried
them　separately　next；　beginning　with　Oscar；　and　using　her　right　hand
only。　She　left　him　for　Nugent；　again　using　her　right　handthen　came　back
to　him　againthen　returned　to　Nugenthesitated…decidedtapped　Nugent
lightly　on　the　head。

〃Oscar！〃　she　said。

Nugent　burst　out　laughing。　The　laugh　told　her；　before　any　of　us　could
speak；　that　she　had　made　a　mistake　at　the　first　attempt。

〃Try　again；　Lucilla；〃　said　Oscar　kindly。

〃Never！〃　she　answered；　angrily　stepping　back　from　both　of　them。　〃One
mystification　is　enough。〃

Nugent　tried　next　to　persuade　her　to　renew　the　experiment。　She　checked
him　sternly　at　the　first　word。

〃Do　you　think　if　I　won't　do　it　for　Oscar；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　would　do　it
for　you？　You　laughed　at　me。　What　was　there　to　laugh　at？　Your　brother's
features　are　your　features；　your　brother's　hair　is　your　hair；　your
brother's　height　is　your　height。　What　is　there　so　very　ridiculouswith
such　a　resemblance　as　thatin　a　poor　blind　girl　like　me　mistaking　you
one　for　the　other？　I　wish　to　preserve　a　good　opinion　of　you；　for　Oscar's
sake。　Don't　turn　me　into　ridicule　againor　I　shall　be　forced　to　think
that　your　brother's　good　heart　is　not　yours　also！〃

Nugent　and　Oscar　looked　at　each　other；　petrified　by　this　sudden　outbreak；
Nugent；　of　the　two；　being　the　most　completely　overwhelmed　by　it。

I　attempted　to　interfere　and　put　things　right。　My　easy　philosophy　and　my
volatile　French　nature；　failed　to　see　any　adequate　cause　for　this
vehement　exhibition　of　resentment　on　Lucilla's　part。　Something　in　my
tone；　as　I　suppose；　only　added　to　her　irritation。　I；　in　my　turn；　was
checked　sternly　at　the　first　word。　〃You　proposed　it；〃　she　said；　〃You　are
the　most　to　blame。〃　I　hastened　to　make　my　apologies　（inwardly　remarking
that　the　habit　of　raising　a　storm　in　a　tea…cup　is　a　growing　habit　with
the　rising　generation　in　England）。　Nugent　followed　me　with　more　apologies
on　his　side。　Oscar　supported　us　with　his　superior　influence。　He　took
Lucilla's　handkissed　itand　whispered　something　in　her　ear。　The　kiss
and　the　whisper　acted　like　a　charm。　She　held　out　her　hand　to　Nugent；　she
put　her　arm　round　my　neck　and　embraced　me；　with　all　her　own　grace　and
sweetness。　〃Forgive　me；〃　she　said　to　us　gently。　〃I　wish　I　could　learn　to
be　patient。　But；　oh；　Mr。　Nugent；　it　is　sometimes　so　hard　to　be　blind！〃　I
can　repeat　the　words；　but　I　can　give　no　idea　of　the　touching　simplicity
with　which　they　were　spokenof　her　innocently　earnest　anxiety　to　win　her
pardon。　She　so　affected　Nugent　that　he　tooafter　a　look　at　Oscar　which
said；　〃May　I？〃kissed　the　hand　that　she　offered　to　him。　As　his　lips
touched　her；　she　started。　The　bright　flush　which　always　indicated　the
sudden　rising　of　a　thought　in　her　mind；　flew　over　her　face。　She
unconsciously　held　Nugent's　hand　in　her　own；　absorbed　in　the　interest　of
realizing　the　new　thought。　For　a　moment；　she　stood；　still　as　a　statue；
consulting　with　herself。　The　moment　passed；　she　dropped　Nugent's　hand；
and　turned　gaily　to　me。

〃Will　you　think　me　very　obstinate？〃　she　asked。

〃Why；　my　love？〃

〃I　am　not　satisfied　yet。　I　want　to　try　again。〃

〃No！　no！　At　any　rate　not　to…day。〃

〃I　want　to　try　again；〃　she　repeated。　〃Not　in　your　way。　In　a　way　of　my　own
that　has　just　come　into　my　head。〃　She　turned　to　Oscar。　〃Will　you　humour
me　in　this？〃　It　is　needless　to　set　down　Oscar's　reply。　She　turned　to
Nugent。　〃Will　you？〃

〃Only　say　what　you　wish　me　to　do！〃　he　answered。

〃Go　with　your　brother；〃　she　said；　〃to　the　other　end　of　the　room。　I　know
where　you　are　each　of　you　standing；　at　this　end。　Madame　Pratolungo　will
lead　me　to　the　place；　and　will　put　me　just　within　reach　of　both　your
hands。　I　want　each　of　you　in　turn　（arrange　by　a　sign　between　yourselves
which　is　to　begin）　to　take　my　hand；　and　hold　it　for　a　moment；　and　then
drop　it。　I　have　an　idea　that　I　can　distinguish　between　you；　in　that
wayand　I　want　very　much　to　try　it。〃

The　brothers　went　silently　to　the　other　end　of　the　room。　I　led　Lucilla；
after　them；　to　the　place　in　which　they　stood。　At　my　suggestion；　Nugent
was　the　first　to　take　her　hand；　as　she　had　requested；　to　hold　it　for　a
moment；　and　then　to　drop　it。

〃Nugent！〃　she　said；　without　the　slightest　hesitation。

〃Quite　right；〃　I　answered。

She　laughed　gaily。　〃Go　on！　Puzzle　me　if　you　possibly　can。

The　brothers　noiselessly　changed　places。　Oscar　took　her　hand；　standing
exactly　where　Nugent　had　stood。

〃Oscar！〃　she　said。

〃Right　again；〃　I　told　her。

At　a　sign　from　Nugent；　Oscar　took　her　hand　for　the　second　time。　She
repeated　his　name。　At　a　sign　from　me；　the　brothe