poor miss finch-第25章

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excellent　stomachand　let　us　go　on　with　our　story。

There　was　a　private　interview　at　Browndown；　later　on　that　day；　between
Oscar　and　Reverend　Finch。

Of　what　passed　on　that　occasion；　I　was　not　informed。　The　rector　came　back
among　us　with　his　head　high　in　the　air；　strutting　magnificently　on　his
wizen　little　legs。　He　embraced　his　daughter　in　pathetic　silence；　and　gave
me　his　hand　with　a　serene　smile　of　condescension　worthy　of　the　greatest
humbug　（say　Louis　the　Fourteenth）　that　ever　sat　on　a　throne。　When　he　got
the　better　of　his　paternal　emotion；　and　began　to　speak；　his　voice　was　so
big　that　I　really　thought　it　must　have　burst　him。　The　vapor　of　words　in
which　he　enveloped　himself　（condensed　on　paper）　amounted　to　these　two
statements。　First；　that　he　hailed　in　Oscar　（not　having；　I　suppose；
children　enough　already　of　his　own）　the　advent　of　another　son。　Secondly；
that　he　saw　the　finger　of　Providence　in　everything　that　had　happened。
Alas；　for　me！　My　irreverent　French　nature　saw　nothing　but　the　finger　of
Finchin　Oscar's　pocket。

The　wedding…day　was　not　then　actually　fixed。　It　was　only　generally
arranged　that　the　marriage　should　take　place　in　about　six　weeks。

This　interval　was　intended　to　serve　a　double　purpose。　It　was　to　give　the
lawyers　time　to　prepare　the　marriage　settlements；　and　to　give　Oscar　time
to　completely　recover　his　health。　Some　anxiety　was　felt　by　all　of　us　on
this　latter　subject。　His　wound　was　well；　and　his　mind　was　itself　again。
But　still　there　was　something　wrong　with　him；　for　all　that。

Those　curious　contradictions　in　his　character　which　I　have　already
mentioned；　showed　themselves　more　strangely　than　ever。　The　man　who　had
found　the　courage　（when　his　blood　was　up）　to　measure　himself　alone　and
unarmed　against　two　robbers；　was　now　unable　to　enter　the　room　in　which
the　struggle　had　taken　place；　without　trembling　from　head　to　foot。　He；
who　had　laughed　at　me　when　I　begged　him　not　to　sleep　in　the　house　by
himself；　now　had　two　men　（a　gardener　and　an　indoor　servant）　domiciled　at
Browndown　to　protect　himand　felt　no　sense　of　security　even　in　that。　He
was　constantly　dreaming　that　the　ruffian　with　the　〃life…preserver〃　was
attacking　him　again；　or　that　he　was　lying　bleeding　on　the　floor　and
coaxing　Jicks　to　venture　within　reach　of　his　hand。　If　any　of　us　hinted　at
his　occupying　himself　once　more　with　his　favorite　art；　he　stopped　his
ears；　and　entreated　us　not　to　renew　his　horrible　associations　with　the
past。　He　would　not　even　look　at　his　box　of　chasing　tools。　The
doctorsummoned　to　say　what　was　the　matter　with　himtold　us　that　his
nervous　system　had　been　shaken；　and　frankly　acknowledged　that　there　was
nothing　to　be　done　but　to　wait　until　time　set　it　right　again。

I　am　afraid　I　must　confess　that　I　myself　took　no　very　indulgent　view　of
the　patient's　case。

It　was　his　duty　to　exert　himselfas　I　thought。　He　appeared　to　me　to　be
too　indolent　to　make　a　proper　effort　to　better　his　own　condition。　Lucilla
and　I　had　more　than　one　animated　discussion　about　him。　On　a　certain
evening　when　we　were　at　the　piano　gossiping；　and　playing　in　the
intervals；　she　was　downright　angry　with　me　for　not　sympathizing　with　her
darling　as　unreservedly　as　she　did。　〃I　have　noticed　one　thing；　Madame
Pratolungo；〃　she　said　to　me；　with　a　flushed　face　and　a　heightened　tone。
〃You　have　never　done　Oscar　justice　from　the　first。〃

（Mark　those　trifling　words。　The　time　is　coming　when　you　will　hear　of　them
again。）

The　preparations　for　the　contemplated　marriage　went　on。　The　lawyers
produced　their　sketch　of　the　settlement；　and　Oscar　wrote　（to　an　address
in　New　York；　given　to　him　by　Nugent）　to　tell　his　brother　of　the
approaching　change　in　his　life；　and　of　the　circumstances　which　had
brought　it　about。

The　marriage　settlement　was　not　shown　to　me；　but；　from　certain　signs　and
tokens；　I　guessed　that　Oscar's　perfect　disinterestedness　on　the　question
of　money　had　been　turned　to　profitable　account　by　Oscar's　future
father…in…law。　Reverend　Finch　was　reported　to　have　shed　tears　when　he
first　read　the　document。　And　Lucilla　came　out　of　the　study；　after　an
interview　with　her　father；　more　thoroughly　and　vehemently　indignant　than
I　had　ever　seen　her　yet。　〃Don't　ask　what　is　the　matter！〃　she　said　to　me
between　her　teeth。　〃I　am　ashamed　to　tell　you。〃　When　Oscar　came　in；　a
little　later；　she　fell　on　her　kneesliterally　on　her　kneesbefore　him。
Some　overmastering　agitation　was　in　possession　of　her　whole　being；　which
made　her；　for　the　moment；　reckless　of　what　she　said　or　did。　〃I　worship
you！〃　she　burst　out　hysterically；　kissing　his　hand。　〃You　are　the　noblest
of　living　men。　I　can　never；　never　be　worthy　of　you！〃　The　interpretation
of　these　high…flown　sayings　and　doings　was；　to　my　mind；　briefly　this：
Oscar's　money　in　the　rector's　pocket；　and　the　rector's　daughter　used　as
the　means。

The　interval　expired；　the　weeks　succeeded　each　other。　All　had　been　long
since　ready　for　the　marriageand　still　the　marriage　did　not　take　place。

Far　from　becoming　himself　again；　with　time　to　help　himas　the　doctor　had
foretoldOscar　steadily　grew　worse。　All　the　nervous　symptoms　（to　use　the
medical　phrase）　which　I　have　already　described；　strengthened　instead　of
loosening　their　hold　on　him。　He　grew　thinner　and　thinner；　and　paler　and
paler。　Early　in　the　month　of　November；　we　sent　for　the　doctor　again。　The
question　to　be　put　to　him　this　time；　was　the　question　（suggested　by
Lucilla）　of　trying　as　a　last　remedy　change　of　air。

SomethingI　forget　whatdelayed　the　arrival　of　our　medical　man。　Oscar
had　given　up　all　idea　of　seeing　him　that　day；　and　had　come　to　us　at　the
rectorywhen　the　doctor　drove　into　Dimchurch。　He　was　stopped　before　he
went　on　to　Browndown；　and　he　and　his　patient　saw　each　other　alone　in
Lucilla's　sitting…room。

They　were　a　long　time　together。　Lucilla；　waiting　with　me　in　my
bed…chamber；　grew　impatient。　She　begged　me　to　knock　at　the　sitting…room
door；　and　inquire　when　she　might　be　permitted　to　assist　at　the
consultation。

I　found　doctor　and　patient　standing　together　at　the　window；　talking
quietly。　Evidently；　nothing　had　passed　to　excite　either　of　them　in　the
smallest　degree。　Oscar　looked　a　little　pale　and　wearybut　he；　like　his
medical　adviser；　was　perfectly　composed。

〃There　is　a　young　lady　in　the　next　room；〃　I　said；　〃who　is　getting　anxious
to　hear　what　your　consultation　has　ended　in。〃

The　doctor　looked　at　Oscar；　and　smiled。

〃There　is　really　nothing　to　tell　Miss　Finch；〃　he　said。　〃Mr。　Dubourg　and　I
have　gone　all　over　the　case　againand　nothing　new　has　come　of　it。　His
nervous　system　has　not　recovered　its　balance　so　soon　as　I　expected。　I　am
sorrybut　I　am　not　in　the　least　alarmed。　At　his　age；　things　are　sure　to
come　right　in　the　end。　He　must　be　patient；　and　the　young　lady　must　be
patient。　I　can　say　no　more。〃

〃Do　you　see　any　objection　to　his　trying　change　of　air？〃　I　inquired。

〃None；　whatever！　Let　him　go　where　he　likes；　and　amuse　himself　as　he
likes。　You　are　all　of　you　a　little　disposed　to　take　Mr。　Dubourg's　case
too　seriously。　Except　the　nervous　derangement　（unpleasant　enough　in
itself；　I　grant）；　there　is　really　nothing　the　matter　with　him。　He　has　not
a　trace　of　organic　disease　anywhere。　The　pulse；〃　continued　the　doctor；
laying　his　fingers　lightly　on　Oscar's　wrist；　〃is　perfectly　satisfactory。
I　never　felt　a　quieter　pulse　in　my　life。〃

As　the　words　passed　his　lips；　a　frightful　contortion　fastened　itself　on
Oscar's　face。

His　eyes　turned　up　hideously。

From　head　to　foot　his　whole　body　was　wrenched　round；　as　if　giant　hands
had　twisted　it；　towards　the　right。

Before　I　could　speak；　he　was　in　convulsions　on　the　floor　at　his　doctor's
feet。

〃Good　God；　what　is　this！〃　I　cried　out。

The　doctor　loosened　his　cravat；　and　moved　away　the　furniture　that　was
near　him。　That　done；　he　waitedlooking　at　the　writhing　figure　on　the
floor。

〃Can　you　do　nothing　more？〃　I　asked。

He　shook　his　head　gravely。　〃Nothing　more。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃An　epileptic　fit。〃

CHAPTER　THE　SEVENTEENTH

The　Doctor's　Opinion

BEFORE　another　word　had　been　exchanged　between　us；　Lucilla　entered　the
room。　We　looked　at　each　other。　If　we　could　have　spoken　at　that　moment；　I
believe　we　should　both　have　said；　〃Thank　God；　she　is　blind！〃