poor miss finch-第51部分

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tears　when　I　remembered　how　hardly　I　had　judged　poor　Oscar　on　more　than
one　occasion；　I　had　decided　that　my　favorite　Nugent　was　the　most　hateful
villain　living；　and　that　I　would　leave　nothing　undone　that　the　craft　of　a
woman　could　compass　to　drive　him　out　of　the　placewhen　I　was　forced　back
to　present　necessities　by　the　sound　of　Zillah's　voice　calling　to　me　from
the　house。　I　went　to　her　directly。　The　nurse　had　a　message　for　me　from
her　young　mistress。　My　poor　Lucilla　was　lonely　and　anxious：　she　was
surprised　at　my　leaving　her；　she　insisted　on　seeing　me　immediately。

I　took　my　first　precaution　against　a　surprise　from　Nugent；　as　I　crossed
the　threshold　of　the　door。

〃Our　dear　child　must　not　be　disturbed　by　visitors　to…day；〃　I　said　to
Zillah。　〃If　Mr。　Nugent　Dubourg　comes　here　and　asks　for　herdon't　tell
Lucilla；　tell　_me。_〃

This　said；　I　went　up…stairs；　and　joined　my　darling　in　the　darkened　room。

CHAPTER　THE　THIRTY…FIFTH

Lucilla　tries　her　Sight

SHE　was　sitting　alone　in　the　dim　light；　with　the　bandage　over　her　eyes；
with　her　pretty　hands　crossed　patiently　on　her　lap。　My　heart　swelled　in
me　as　I　looked　at　her；　and　felt　the　horrid　discovery　that　I　had　made
still　present　in　my　mind。　〃Forgive　me　for　leaving　you；〃　I　said　in　as
steady　a　voice　as　I　could　command　at　the　momentand　kissed　her。

She　instantly　discovered　my　agitation；　carefully　as　I　thought　I　had
concealed　it。

〃You　are　frightened　too！〃　she　exclaimed；　taking　my　hands　in　hers。

〃Frightened；　my　love？〃　I　repeated。　（I　was　perfectly　stupefied；　I　really
did　not　know　what　to　say！）

〃Yes。　Now　the　time　is　so　near；　I　feel　my　courage　failing　me。　I　forbode
all　sorts　of　horrible　things。　Oh！　when　will　it　be　over？　what　will　Oscar
look　like　when　I　see　him？〃

I　answered　the　first　question。　Who　could　answer　the　second？

〃Herr　Grosse　comes　to　us　by　the　morning　train；〃　I　said。　〃It　will　soon　be
over。〃

〃Where　is　Oscar？〃

〃On　his　way　here；　I　have　no　doubt。〃

〃Describe　him　to　me　once　more；〃　she　said　eagerly。　〃For　the　last　time；
before　I　see。　His　eyes；　his　hair；　his　complexioneverything！〃

How　I　should　have　got　through　the　painful　task　which　she　had　innocently
imposed　on　me；　if　I　had　attempted　to　perform　it；　I　hardly　like　to　think。
To　my　infinite　relief；　I　was　interrupted　at　my　first　word　by　the　opening
of　the　door；　and　the　sudden　appearance　of　a　family　deputation　in　the
room。

First；　strutting　with　slow　and　solemn　steps；　with　one　hand　laid
pathetically　on　the　breast　of　his　clerical　waistcoat；　appeared　Reverend
Finch。　After　him；　came　his　wife；　shorn　of　all　her　proper
accompanimentsexcept　the　baby。　Without　her　novel；　without　her　jacket；
petticoat；　or　shawl；　without　even　the　handkerchief　which　she　was　always
losingclothed；　for　the　first　time　in　my　experience；　in　a　complete
gownthe　metamorphosis　of　damp　Mrs。　Finch　was　complete。　But　for　the
baby；　I　believe　I　should　have　taken　her；　in　the　dim　light；　for　a
stranger！　She　stood　（apparently　doubtful　of　her　reception）　hesitating　in
the　doorway；　and　so　hiding　a　third　member　of　the　deputationwho　appealed
piteously　to　the　general　notice　in　a　small　voice　which　I　knew　well；　and
in　a　form　of　address　familiar　to　me　from　past　experience。

〃Jicks　wants　to　come　in。〃

The　rector　took　his　hand　from　his　waistcoat；　and　held　it　up　in　faint
protest　against　the　intrusion　of　the　third　member。　Mrs。　Finch　moved
mechanically　into　the　room。　Jicks　appeared；　hugging　her　disreputable
doll；　and　showing　signs　of　recent　wandering　in　the　white　dust　which
dropped　on　the　carpet　from　her　frock　and　her　shoes；　as　she　advanced
towards　the　place　in　which　I　was　sitting。　Arrived　in　front　of　me；　she
peered　quaintly　up　at　my　face；　through　the　obscurity　of　the　room；　lifted
her　doll　by　the　legs；　hit　me　a　smart　rap　with　the　head　of　it　on　my　knee；
and　said

〃Jicks　will　sit　here。〃

I　rubbed　my　knee；　and　enthroned　Jicks　as　ordered。　At　the　same　time　Mr。
Finch　solemnly　stalked　up　to　his　daughter；　laid　his　hands　on　her　head；
raised　his　eyes　to　the　ceiling；　and　said　in　bass　notes　that　rumbled　with
paternal　emotion；　〃Bless　you；　my　child！〃

At　the　sound　of　her　husband's　magnificent　voice；　Mrs。　Finch　became
herself　again。　She　said　meekly；　〃How　d'ye　do；　Lucilla？〃and　sat　down　in
a　corner；　and　suckled　the　baby。

Mr。　Finch　set　in　for　one　of　his　harangues。

〃My　advice　has　been　neglected；　Lucilla。　My　paternal　influence　has　been
repudiated。　My　Moral　Weight　has　been；　so　to　speak；　set　aside。　I　don't
complain。　Understand　me_I_　simply　state　sad　facts。〃　（Here　he　became
aware　of　my　existence。）　〃Good　morning；　Madame　Pratolungo；　I　hope　I　see
you　well？There　has　been　variance　between　us；　Lucilla。　I　come；　my　child；
with　healing　on　my　wings　（healing　being　understood；　for　present　purposes；
as　reconciliation）I　come；　and　bring　Mrs。　Finch　with　medon't　speak；
Mrs。　Finch！to　offer　my　heartfelt　wishes；　my　fervent　prayers；　on　this
the　most　eventful　day　in　my　daughter's　life。　No　vulgar　curiosity　has
turned　my　steps　this　way。　No　hint　shall　escape　my　lips；　touching　any
misgivings　which　I　may　still　feel　as　to　this　purely　worldly　interference
with　the　ways　of　an　inscrutable　Providence。　I　am　here　as　parent　and
peacemaker。　My　wife　accompanies　medon't　speak；　Mrs。　Finch！as
step…parent　and　step…peacemaker。　（You　understand　the　distinction；　Madame
Pratolungo？　Thank　you。　Good　creature。）　Shall　I　preach　forgiveness　of
injuries　from　the　pulpit；　and　not　practice　that　forgiveness　at　home？　Can
I　remain；　on　this　momentous　occasion；　at　variance　with　my　child？　Lucilla！
I　forgive　you。　With　full　heart　and　tearful　eyes；　I　forgive　you。　（You　have
never　had　any　children；　I　believe；　Madame　Pratolungo？　Ah！　you　cannot
possibly　understand　this。　Not　your　fault。　Good　creature。　Not　your　fault。）
The　kiss　of　peace；　my　child；　the　kiss　of　peace。〃　He　solemnly　bent　his
bristly　head；　and　deposited　the　kiss　of　peace　on　Lucilla's　forehead。　He
sighed　superbly；　and　in　a　burst　of　magnanimity；　held　out　his　hand　next　to
me。　〃My　Hand；　Madame　Pratolungo。　Compose　yourself。　Don't　cry。　God　bless
you。　Mrs。　Finch；　deeply　affected　by　her　husband's　noble　conduct；　began　to
sob　hysterically。　The　baby；　disarranged　in　his　proceedings　by　the
emotions　of　his　mama；　set　up　a　sympathetic　scream。　Mr。　Finch　crossed　the
room　to　them；　with　domestic　healing　on　his　wings。　〃This　does　you　credit；
Mrs。　Finch；　but；　under　the　circumstances；　it　must　not　be　continued。
Control　yourself；　in　consideration　of　the　infant。　Mysterious　mechanism　of
Nature！〃　cried　the　rector；　raising　his　prodigious　voice　over　the　louder
and　louder　screeching　of　the　baby。　〃Marvelous　and　beautiful　sympathy
which　makes　the　maternal　sustenance　the　conducting　medium；　as　it　were；　of
disturbance　between　the　mother　and　child。　What　problems　confront　us；　what
forces　environ　us；　even　in　this　mortal　life！　Nature！　Maternity！
Inscrutable　Providence！〃

〃Inscrutable　Providence〃　was　the　rector's　fatal　phraseit　always　brought
with　it　an　interruption；　and　it　brought　one　now。　Before　Mr。　Finch
（brimful　of　pathetic　apostrophes）　could　burst　into　more　exclamations；　the
door　opened；　and　Oscar　walked　into　the　room。

Lucilla　instantly　recognized　his　footstep。

〃Any　signs；　Oscar；　of　Herr　Grosse？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes。　His　chaise　has　been　seen　on　the　road。　He　will　be　here　directly。〃

Giving　that　answer；　and　passing　by　my　chair　to　place　himself　on　the　other
side　of　Lucilla；　Oscar　cast　at　me　one　imploring　looka　look　which　said
plainly；　〃Don't　desert　me　when　the　time　comes！〃　I　nodded　my　head　to　show
that　I　understood　him　and　felt　for　him。　He　sat　down　in　the　vacant　chair
by　Lucilla；　and　took　her　hand　in　silence。　It　was　hard　to　say　which　of　the
two　felt　the　position；　at　that　trying　moment；　most　painfully。　I　don't
think　I　ever　saw　any　sight　so　simply　and　irresistibly　touching　as　the
sight　of　those　two　poor　young　creatures　sitting　hand　in　hand；　waiting　the
event　which　was　to　make　the　happiness　or　the　misery　of　their　future
lives。

〃Have　you　seen　anything　of　your　brother？〃　I　asked；　putting　the　question
in　as　careless　a　tone　as　my　devouring　anxiety　would　allow　me　to　assume。

〃Nugent　has　gone　to　meet　Herr　Grosse。〃

Oscar's　eyes　once　more　encountered　mine；　as　he　replied　in　those　terms；　I
saw　again　the　imploring　look　more　marked　in　them　than　ever。　It　was　plain
to　him；　as　it　was　plain　to　me；　that　Nugent　had　gone　to　meet　the　German；
with　the　purpose　of　making　Herr　Grosse　the　innocent　means　of　bringing　him
into　the　house。

Before　I　could　speak　again；　Mr。　Finch；　recovering　himself　after　the
interruption　which　had　silenced　him；　saw　his　opportunity　of　setting　in
for　another　harangue。　Mrs。　Finch　had　left　off　sobbing；　the　baby　had　left
off　screaming；　the　rest　of　us　were　silent　and　nervous。　In　a　word；　Mr。
Finch's　domestic　congregation　was　entirely　at　Mr。　Finch's　mercy。　He
strutted　up　to　Oscar's　chair。　Was　he　going　to　propose　to　read　_Hamlet？_
No！　He　was　going　to　invoke　a　blessing　on　Oscar's　head。

〃On　this　interesting　occasion；〃　began　the　rector　in　his　pulpit　tones；
〃now　that　we　are　all　united　in　the　same　room；　all　animated　by　the　same
hopeI　could　wish；　as　pastor　and　parent　（God　bless　you；　Oscar：　I　look　on
you　as　a　son。　Mrs。　Finch；　follow　my　example；　look　on　him　as　a　son！）I
could　wish；　as　pastor　and　parent；　to　say　a　few　pious　and　consoling
words〃

The　doorthe　friendly；　admirable；　judicious　doorstopped　the　coming
sermon；　in　the　nick　of　time；　by　opening　again。　Herr　Grosse's　squat　figure
and　owlish　spectacles　appeared　on　the　threshold。　And　behind　him　（exactly
as　I　had　anticipated）　stood　Nugent　Dubourg。

Lucilla　turned　deadly　pale：　she　had　heard　the　door　open；　she　knew　by
instinct　that　the　surgeon　had　come。　Oscar　got　up；　stole　behind　my　chair；
and　whispered　to　me；　〃For　God's　sake；　get　Nugent　out　of　the　room！〃　I　gave
him　a　reassuring　squeeze　of　the　hand；　and；　putting　Jicks　down　on　the
floor；　rose　to　welcome　our　good　Grosse。

The　child；　as　it　happened；　was　beforehand　with　me。　She　and　the
illustrious　oculist　had　met　in　the　garden　at　one　of　the　German's
professional　visits　to　Lucilla；　and　had　taken　an　amazing　fancy　to　each
other。　Herr　Grosse　never　afterwards　appeared　at　the　rectory　without　some
unwholesome　eatable　thing　in　his　pocket　for　Jicks；　who　gave　him　in　return
as　many　kisses　as　he　might　ask　for；　and　further　distinguis