poor miss finch-第51章

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on　a　fat　white　sauce！　This　I　call　a　heavenly　dish。　He　is　nice…cool　in　two
different　ways；　nice…cool；　to　the　eye；　nice…cool　to　the　taste！　Soh！　we
will　break　into　his　inside。　Madame　Pratolungo；　you　shall　begin。　Here　goes
for　the　liver…wings！〃

In　this　extraordinary　Englishturning　words　in　the　singular　into　words
in　the　plural；　and　banishing　from　the　British　vocabulary　the　copulative
conjunction　〃and〃Herr　Grosse　announced　his　readiness　to　sit　down　to
lunch。　He　was　politely　recalled　from　the　Mayonnaise　to　the　patient　by　his
discreet　English　colleague。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Mr。　Sebright。　Would　it　not　be　advisable　to　see
the　young　lady；　before　we　do　anything　else？　I　am　obliged　to　return　to
London　by　the　next　train。〃

Herr　Grosse…with　a　fork　in　one　hand　and　a　spoon　in　the　other；　and　a
napkin　tied　round　his　neckstared　piteously；　shook　his　shock　head；　and
turned　his　back　on　the　Mayonnaise；　with　a　heavy　heart　at　parting。

〃Goot。　We　shall　do　our　works　first：　then　eat　our　lunches　afterwards。
Where　is　the　patients？　Come…begin…begin！〃　He　removed　the　napkin；　blew　a
sigh　（there　is　no　other　way　of　expressing　it）and　plunged　his　finger　and
thumb　into　his　tea…caddy　snuff…box。　〃Where　is　the　patients？〃　he　repeated
irritably。　〃Why　is　she　not　close…handy　in　here？〃

〃She　is　waiting　in　the　next　room；〃　I　said。　〃I　will　bring　her　in　directly。
You　will　make　allowances　for　her；　gentlemen；　I　am　sure；　if　you　find　her　a
little　nervous？〃　I　added；　looking　at　both　the　oculists。　Silent　Mr。
Sebright　bowed。　Herr　Grosse　grinned　diabolically；　and　said；　〃Make　your
mind　easy；　my　goot　creature。　I　am　not　such　a　brutes　as　I　look！〃

〃Where　is　Oscar？〃　asked　Nugent；　as　I　passed　him　on　my　way　to　Lucilla's
room。

〃After　altering　his　mind　a　dozen　times　at　least；〃　I　replied；　〃he　has
decided　on　not　being　present　at　the　examination。〃

I　had　barely　said　the　words　before　the　door　opened；　and　Oscar　entered　the
room。　He　had　altered　his　mind　for　the　thirteenth　timeand　here　he　was　as
the　result　of　it！

Herr　Grosse　burst　out　with　an　exclamation　in　his　own　language；　at　the
sight　of　Oscar's　face。　〃Ach；　Gott！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃he　has　been　taking
Nitrates　of　Silvers。　His　complexions　is　spoilt。　Poor　boys！　poor　boys！〃　He
shook　his　shaggy　headturnedand　spat　compassionately　into　a　corner　of
the　room。　Oscar　looked　offended；　Mr。　Sebright　looked　disgusted；　Nugent
thoroughly　enjoyed　it。　I　left　the　room　and　closed　the　door　behind　me。

I　had　not　taken　two　steps　in　the　corridor　when　I　heard　the　door　opened
again。　Looking　back　directly；　I　found　myself；　to　my　amazement；　face　to
face　with　Herr　Grossestaring　ferociously　at　me　through　his　spectacles；
and　offering　me　his　arm！

〃Hosh！〃　said　the　famous　oculist　in　a　heavy　whisper。　〃Say　nothing　to
nobody。　I　am　come　to　help　you。〃

〃To　help　me？〃　I　repeated。

Herr　Grosse　nodded　vehementlyso　vehemently　that　his　prodigious
spectacles　hopped　up　and　down　on　his　nose。

〃What　did　you　tell　me　just　now？〃　he　asked。　〃You　told　me　the　patient　was
nervous。　Goot！　I　am　come　to　go　with　you　to　the　patients；　and　help　you　to
fetch　her。　Soh！　soh！　I　am　not　such　a　brutes　as　I　look。　Come…begin…begin！
Where　is　she？〃

I　hesitated　for　a　moment　about　introducing　this　remarkable　ambassador
into　Lucilla's　bedroom。　One　look　at　him　decided　me。　After　all；　he　was　a
doctor；and　such　an　ugly　one！　I　took　his　arm。

We　went　together　into　Lucilla's　room。　She　started　up　from　the　sofa　on
which　she　was　reclining　when　she　heard　the　strange　footsteps　entering；
side　by　side　with　mine。

〃Who　is　it？〃　she　cried。

〃It　is　me；　my　dears；〃　said　Herr　Grosse。　〃Ach；　Gott！　what　a　pretty　girls！
Here　is　jost　the　complexions　I　like…nice…fair！　nice…fair！　I　am　come　to
see　what　I　can　do；　my　pretty　Miss；　for　this　eyes　of　yours。　If　I　can　let
the　light　in　on　youhey！　you　will　lofe　me；　won't　you？　You　will　kees　even
an　ugly　Germans　like　me。　Soh！　Come　under　my　arm。　We　will　go　back　into　the
odder　rooms。　There　is　anodder　one　waiting　to　let　the　light　in　tooMr。
Sebrights。　Two　surgeon…optic　to　one　pretty　MissEnglish　surgeon…optic；
German　surgeon…optichey！　between　us　we　shall　cure　this　nice　girls。
Madame　Pratolungo；　here　is　my　odder　arms　at　your　service。　Hey！　what？　You
look　at　my　coatsleeve。　He　is　shabby…greasyI　am　ashamed　of　him。　No
matter。　You　have　got　Mr。　Sebrights　to　look　at　in　the　odder　rooms。　He　is
spick…span；　beautiful…new。　Come！　Forwards！　Marsch！〃

Nugent；　waiting　in　the　corridor；　threw　the　door　open　for　us。　〃Isn't　he
delightful？〃　Nugent　whispered　behind　me；　pointing　to　his　friend。　Escorted
by　Herr　Grosse；　we　made　a　magnificent　entry　into　the　room。　Our　German
doctor　had　done　Lucilla　good　already。　The　examination　was　relieved　of　all
its　embarrassments　and　its　terrors　at　the　outset。　Herr　Grosse　had　made
her　laughHerr　Grosse　had　set　her　completely　at　her　ease。

Mr。　Sebright　and　Oscar　were　talking　together　in　a　perfectly　friendly　way
when　we　returned　to　the　sitting…room。　The　reserved　Englishman　appeared　to
have　his　attraction　for　the　shy　Oscar。　Even　Mr。　Sebright　was　struck　by
Lucilla；　his　cold　face　lit　up　with　interest　when　he　was　presented　to　her。
He　placed　a　chair　for　her　in　front　of　the　window。　There　was　a　warmth　in
his　tone　which　I　had　not　heard　yet；　when　he　begged　her　to　be　seated　in
that　place。　She　took　the　chair。　Mr。　Sebright　thereupon　drew　back；　and
bowed　to　Herr　Grosse；　with　a　courteous　wave　of　his　hand　towards　Lucilla
which　signified；　〃You　first！〃

Herr　Grosse　met　this　advance　with　a　counter…wave　of　the　hand；　and　a
vehement　shake　of　his　shock…head；　which　signified；　〃I　couldn't　think　of
such　a　thing！〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　entreated　Mr。　Sebright。　〃As　my　senior；　as　a　visitor　to
England；　as　a　master　in　our　art。〃

Herr　Grosse　responded　by　regaling　himself　with　three　pinches　of　snuff　in
rapid　successiona　pinch　as　senior；　a　pinch　as　visitor　to　England；　a
pinch　as　master　in　the　art。　An　awful　pause　followed。　Neither　of　the
surgeons　would　take　precedence　of　the　other。　Nugent　interfered。

〃Miss　Finch　is　waiting；〃　he　said。　〃Come；　Grosse；　you　were　first　presented
to　her。　You　examine　her　first。〃

Herr　Grosse　took　Nugent's　ear　between　his　finger　and　thumb；　and　gave　it　a
good…humoured　pinch。　〃You　clever　boys！〃　he　said。　〃You　have　the　right　word
always　at　the　tips　of　your　tongue。〃　He　waddled　to　Lucilla's　chair；　and
stopped　short　with　a　scandalized　look。　Oscar　was　bending　over　her；　and
whispering　to　her　with　her　hand　in　his。　〃Hey！　what？〃　cried　Herr　Grosse。
〃Is　this　a　third　surgeon…optic？　What；　sir！　you　treat　young　Miss's　eyes　by
taking　hold　of　young　Miss's　hand？　You　are　a　Quack。　Get　out！〃　Oscar
withdrewnot　very　graciously。　Herr　Grosse　took　a　chair　in　front　of
Lucilla；　and　removed　his　spectacles。　As　a　short…sighted　man；　he　had
necessarily　excellent　eyes　for　all　objects　which　were　sufficiently　near
to　him。　He　bent　forward；　with　his　face　close　to　Lucilla's；　and　parted　her
eyelids　alternately　with　his　finger　and　thumb；　peering　attentively；　first
into　one　eye；　then　into　the　other。

It　was　a　moment　of　breathless　interest。　Who　could　say　what　an　influence
on　her　future　life　might　be　exercised　by　this　quaint　kindly　uncouth
little　foreign　man？　How　anxiously　we　watched　those　shaggy　eyebrows；　those
piercing　goggle　eyes！　And；　oh；　heavens；　how　disappointed　we　were　at　the
first　result！　Lucilla　suddenly　gave　a　little　irrepressible　shudder　of
disgust。　Herr　Grosse　drew　back　from　her；　and　glared　at　her　benignantly
with　his　diabolical　smile。

〃Aha！〃　he　said。　〃I　see　what　it　is。　I　snuff；　I　smoke；　I　reek　of　tobaccos。
The　pretty　Miss　smells　me。　She　says　in　her　inmost　heartAch　Gott；　how　he
stink！〃

Lucilla　burst　into　a　fit　of　laughter。　Herr　Grosse；　unaffectedly　amused　on
his　side；　grinned　with　delight；　and　snatched　her　handkerchief　out　of　her
apron…pocket。　〃Gif　me　scents；〃　said　this　excellent　German。　〃I　shall　stop
up　her　nose　with　her　handkerchiefs。　So　she　will　not　smell　my
tobacco…stinksall　will　be　nice…right　againwe　shall　go　on。〃　I　gave　him
some　lavender…water　from　a　scent…bottle　on　the　table。　He　gravely　drenched
the　handkerchief　with　it；　and　popped　it　suddenly　on　Lucilla's　nose。　〃Hold
him　there；　Miss。　You　cannot　for　the　life　of　you　smell　Grosse　now。　Goot！
We　may　go　on　again。〃

He　took　a　magnifying　glass　out　of　his　waistcoat　p