poor miss finch-第40部分

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the　loss　of　her　pocket…handkerchief。　Would　not　presume　to　differ　in
opinion　with　her　husband；　whom　she　had　never　yet　known　to　be　otherwise
than　perfectly　right　about　everything。　But；　if　the　German　surgeon　_did_
come；　and　if　Mr。　Finch　saw　no　objection　to　it；　she　would　much　like　to
consult　him　（gratis；　if　possible）　on　the　subject　of　〃baby's　eyes。〃　Mrs。
Finch　was　proceeding　to　explain　that　there　was　happily　nothing　the
matter；　that　she　could　see；　with　the　infant's　eyes　at　that　particular
moment；　and　that　she　merely　wished　to　take　a　skilled　medical　opinion；　in
the　event　of　something　happening　on　some　future　occasionwhen　she　was
called　to　order　by　Mr。　Finch。　The　reverend　gentleman；　at　the　same　time；
appealed　to　Madame　Pratolungo　to　close　the　debate　by　giving　frank
expression　to　her　own　opinion。

Madame　Pratolungo；　speaking　in　conclusion；　remarked：

That　the　question　of　consulting　the　German　surgeon　appeared　（after　what
had　fallen　from　Miss　Finch）　to　be　a　question　which　had　passed　beyond　the
range　of　any　expression　of　feeling　on　the　part　of　other　persons。　That　she
proposed；　accordingly；　to　look；　beyond　the　consultation；　at　the　results
which　might　follow　it。　That；　contemplating　these　possible　results；　she
held　very　strong　views　of　her　own；　and　would　proceed　to　give　frank
expression　to　them　as　follows。　That　in　her　opinion；　the　proposed
investigation　of　the　chances　which　might　exist　of　restoring　Miss　Finch's
sight；　involved　consequences　far　too　serious　to　be　trusted　to　the
decision　of　any　one　man；　no　matter　how　skillful　or　how　famous　he　might
be。　That；　in　pursuance　of　this　view；　she　begged　to　suggest　（1）　the
association　of　an　eminent　English　oculist　with　the　eminent　German
oculist；　（2）　an　examination　of　Miss　Finch's　case　by　both　the　professional
gentlemen；　consulting　on　it　together；　and　（3）　a　full　statement　of　the
opinions　at　which　they　might　respectively　arrive；　to　be　laid　before　the
meeting　now　assembled；　and　to　become　the　subject　of　a　renewed　discussion
before　any　decisive　measures　were　taken。

Lastly；　that　this　proposal　be　now　submitted；　in　the　form　of　a　resolution；
and　forthwith　（if　necessary）　put　to　the　vote。

Resolution；　as　above；　put　to　the　vote。

MajorityAyes。

Miss　Finch。　Mr。　Nugent　Dubourg。　Mr。　Oscar　Dubourg。　Madame　Pratolungo。

MinorityNoes。

No　（on　the　score　of　expense）；　Mr。　Finch。　No　（because　Mr。　F。　says　No）；
Mrs。　Finch。

Resolution　carried　by　a　majority　of　two。　Debate　adjourned　to　a　day　to　be
hereafter　decided　on。

By　the　first　train　the　next　morning；　Nugent　Dubourg　started　for　London。

At　luncheon；　the　same　day；　a　telegram　arrived；　reporting　his　proceedings
in　the　following　terms：

〃I　have　seen　my　friend。　He　is　at　our　service。　He　is　also　quite　willing　to
consult　with　any　English　oculist　whom　we　may　choose。　I　am　just　off　to
find　the　man。　Expect　a　second　telegram　later　in　the　day。〃

The　second　telegram　reached　us　in　the　evening；　and　ran　thus：

〃Everything　is　settled。　The　German　oculist　and　the　English　oculist　leave
London　with　me；　by　the　twelve…forty　train　to…morrow　afternoon。〃

After　reading　this　telegram　to　Lucilla；　I　sent　it　to　Oscar　at　Browndown。
Judge　for　yourself　how　he　slept；　and　how　we　slept；　that　night！


CHAPTER　THE　THIRTIETH

Herr　Grosse

SEVERAL　circumstances　deserving　to　be　mentioned　here；　took　place　in　the
early　part　of　the　day　on　which　we　expected　the　visit　of　the　two　oculists。
I　have　all　the　will　to　relate　thembut　the　capacity　to　do　it　completely
fails　me。

When　I　look　back　at　that　eventful　morning；　I　recall　a　scene　of　confusion
and　suspense；　the　bare　recollection　of　which　seems　to　upset　my　mind
again；　even　at　this　distance　of　time。　Things　and　persons　all　blend
distractedly　one　with　another。　I　see　the　charming　figure　of　my　blind
Lucilla；　robed　in　rose…color　and　white；　flitting　hither　and　thither；　in
the　house　and　out　of　the　houseat　one　time　mad　with　impatience　for　the
arrival　of　the　surgeons；　at　another；　shuddering　with　apprehension　of　the
coming　ordeal；　and　the　coming　disappointment　which　might　follow。　A　moment
moreand；　just　as　my　mind　has　seized　it；　the　fair　figure　melts　and
merges　into　the　miserable　apparition　of　Oscar；　hovering　and　hesitating
between　Browndown　and　the　rectory；　painfully　conscious　of　the　new
complications　introduced　into　his　position　towards　Lucilla　by　the　new
state　of　things；　and　yet　not　man　enough；　even　yet；　to　seize　the
opportunity；　and　set　himself　right。　Another　moment　passes；　and　a　new
figurea　little　strutting　consequential　figure　forces　its　way　into　the
foreground；　before　I　am　ready　for　it。　I　hear　a　big　voice　booming　in　my
ear；　with　big　language　to　correspond。　〃No；　Madame　Pratolungo；　nothing
will　induce　me　to　sanction　by　my　presence　this　insane　medical
consultation；　this　extravagant　and　profane　attempt　to　reverse　the　decrees
of　an　all…wise　Providence　by　purely　human　means。　My　foot　is　downI　use
the　language　of　the　people；　observe；　to　impress　it　the　more　strongly　on
your　mindMy　FOOT　is　down！〃　Another　moment　yet；　and　Finch　and　Finch's
Foot　disappear　over　my　mental　horizon　just　as　my　eye　has　caught　them。
Damp　Mrs。　Finch；　and　the　baby　whose　everlasting　programme　is　suction　and
sleep；　take　the　vacant　place。　Mrs。　Finch　pledges　me　with　watery
earnestness　to　secrecy；　and　then　confides　her　intention　of　escaping　her
husband's　supervision　if　she　can；　and　bringing　British　surgery　and　German
surgery　to　bear　both　together　（gratis）　on　baby's　eyes。　Conceive　these
persons　all　twisting　and　turning　in　the　convolutions　of　my　brains；　as　if
those　brains　were　a　labyrinth；　with　the　sayings　and　doings　of　one；
confusing　themselves　with　the　sayings　and　doings　of　the　otherwith　a
thin　stream　of　my　own　private　anxieties　（comprehending　luncheon　on　a
side…table　for　the　doctors）　trickling　at　intervals　through　it　alland
you　will　not　wonder　if　I　take　a　jump；　like　a　sheep；　over　some　six　hours
of　precious　time；　and　present　my　solitary　self　to　your　eye；　posted　alone
in　the　sitting…room　to　receive　the　council　of　surgeons　on　its　arrival　at
the　house。　I　had　but　two　consolations　to　sustain　me。

First；　a　Mayonnaise　of　chicken　of　my　own　making　on　the　luncheon…table；
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
d