poor miss finch-第67章

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preparing　for　a　second　plunge　at　me。　She　stopped；　when　she　found　that　she
had　attracted　my　attention；　and；　taking　hold　of　my　dress；　tried　to　pull
me　out　of　the　room。

〃Remove　that　child！〃　cried　the　rector；　exasperated　by　this　new
interruption。

The　child　pulled　harder　and　harder　at　my　dress。　Something　had　apparently
happened　outside　the　sitting…room　which　had　produced　a　strong　impression
on　her。　Her　little　round　face　was　flushed；　her　bright　blue　eyes　were　wide
open　and　staring。　〃Jicks　wants　to　speak　to　you；〃　she　saidand　pulled　at
me　impatiently　harder　than　ever。

I　stooped　down　with　the　double　purpose　of　obeying　Mr。　Finch's　commands
and　of　humouring　the　child's　whim；　by　carrying　Jicks　out　of　the　room；
when　I　was　startled　by　a　sound　from　the　bed…chamberthe　sound；　loud　and
peremptory；　of　Lucilla's　voice。

〃Let　go　of　me！〃　she　cried。　〃I　am　a　womanI　won't　be　treated　like　a
child。〃

There　was　a　moment　of　silencefollowed　by　the　rustling　sound　of　her
dress；　approaching　us　along　the　corridor。

Grosse's　voiceunmistakably　angry　and　excitedbecame　audible　at　the
same　time。　〃No！　Come　back！　come　back！〃

The　rustling　sound　of　the　dress　came　nearer。

Nugent　and　Mr。　Finch　moved　together　closer　to　the　door。　Oscar　caught　me
by　the　arm。　He　and　I　were　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　door：　Nugent　and
the　rector　were　on　the　right…hand　side。　It　all　happened　with　the
suddenness　of　a　flash　of　lightning。　My　heart　stood　still。　I　couldn't
speak。　I　couldn't　move。

The　half…closed　door　of　the　sitting…room　was　burst　wide　openroughly；
violently；　as　if　a　man；　not　a　woman；　had　been　on　the　other　side。　（The
rector　drew　back；　Nugent　remained　where　he　was。）　Wildly　groping　her　way
with　outstretched　arms；　as　I　had　never　seen　her　grope　it　in　the　time　of
her　blindness；　Lucilla　staggered　into　the　room。　Merciful　God！　the　bandage
was　off。　The　life；　the　new　life　of　sight；　was　in　her　eyes。　It
transfigured　her　face：　it　irradiated　her　beauty　with　an　awful　and
unearthly　light。　She　saw！　she　saw！

For　an　instant　she　stopped　at　the　door；　swaying　to　and　fro；　giddy　under
the　broad　stare　of　daylight。

She　looked　at　the　rectorthen　at　Mrs。　Finch；　who　had　followed　her
husband。　She　paused　bewildered；　and　put　her　hands　over　her　eyes。　She
slightly　changed　her　position；　turned　her　head；　as　if　to　look　at　me；
turned　it　back　sharply　towards　the　right…hand　side　of　the　door　again；　and
threw　up　her　arms　in　the　air；　with　a　burst　of　hysterical　laughter。　The
laughter　ended　in　a　scream　of　triumph；　which　rang　through　the　house。　She
rushed　at　Nugent　Dubourg；　so　blindly　incapable　of　measuring　her　distance
that　she　struck　against　him　violently；　and　nearly　threw　him　down。　〃I　know
him！　I　know　him！〃　she　criedand　flung　her　arms　round　his　neck。　〃Oh；
Oscar！　Oscar！〃　She　clasped　him　to　her　with　all　her　strength　as　the　name
passed　her　lips；　and　dropped　her　head　on　his　bosom　in　an　ecstasy　of　joy。

It　was　done　before　any　of　us　had　recovered　the　use　of　our　senses。　The
whole　horrible　scene　must　have　begun　and　ended　in　less　than　half　a　minute
of　time。　The　surgeon；　who　had　run　into　the　room　after　her；　empty…handed；
turned　suddenly；　and　left　it　again；　coming　back　with　the　bandage；　left
forgotten　in　the　bed…room。　Grosse　was　the　first　among　us　to　recover　his
presence　of　mind。　He　approached　her　in　silence。

She　heard　him；　before　he　could　take　her　by　surprise；　and　slip　the　bandage
over　her　eyes。　The　moment　when　I　turned；　horror…struck；　to　look　at　Oscar；
was　also　the　moment　when　she　lifted　her　head　from　Nugent's　bosom　to　look
for　the　surgeon。　Her　eyes　followed　the　direction　taken　by　mine。　They
encountered　Oscar's　face。　She　saw　the　blue…black　hue　of　it　in　full　light。

A　cry　of　terror　escaped　her：　she　started　back；　shuddering；　and　caught
hold　of　Nugent's　arm。　Grosse　motioned　sternly　to　him　to　turn　her　face
from　the　window；　and　lifted　the　bandage。　She　clutched　at　it　with　feverish
eagerness　as　he　held　it　up。　〃Put　it　on　again！〃　she　said；　holding　by
Nugent　with　one　hand；　and　lifting　the　other　to　point　towards　Oscar　with　a
gesture　of　disgust。　〃Put　it　on　again。　I　have　seen　too　much　already。〃

Grosse　fastened　the　bandage　over　her　eyes；　and　waited　a　little。　She　still
held　Nugent's　arm。　The　sting　of　my　indignation　as　I　saw　it；　roused　me
into　doing　something。　I　stepped　forward　to　part　them。　Grosse　stopped　me。
〃No！〃　he　said。　〃Don't　make　bad　worse。〃　I　looked　at　Oscar　for　the　second
time。　There　he　stood；　as　he　had　stood　from　the　first　moment　when　she
appeared　at　the　doorhis　eyes　staring　wildly　straight　before　him；　his
limbs　set　and　fixed。　I　went　to　him；　and　touched　him。　He　seemed　not　to
feel　it。　I　spoke　to　him。　I　might　as　well　have　spoken　to　a　man　of　stone。

Grosse's　voice　drew　my　attention；　for　a　moment；　the　other　way。

〃Come！〃　he　said；　trying　to　take　Lucilla　back　into　her　own　room。

She　shook　her　head；　and　tightened　her　hold　on　Nugent's　arm。

〃_You_　take　me；〃　she　whispered。　〃As　far　as　the　door。〃

I　again　attempted　to　stop　it；　and　again　the　German　put　me　back。

〃Not　to…day！〃　he　said　sternly。　With　that；　he　made　a　sign　to　Nugent；　and
placed　himself　on　Lucilla's　other　side。　In　silence；　the　two　men　led　her
out　of　the　room。　The　door　closed　on　them。　It　was　over。

CHAPTER　THE　THIRTY…SIXTH

The　Brothers　Meet

A　FAINT　sound　of　crying　found　its　way　to　my　ears　from　the　lower　end　of
the　room；　and　reminded　me　that　the　rector　and　his　wife　had　been　present
among　us。　Feeble　Mrs。　Finch　was　lying　back　in　her　chair；　weeping　and
wailing　over　what　had　happened。　Her　husband；　with　the　baby　in　his　arms；
was　trying　to　compose　her。　I　ought　perhaps　to　have　offered　my　helpbut；
I　own；　poor　Mrs。　Finch's　distress　produced　only　a　passing　impression　on
me。　My　whole　heart　was　with　another　person。　I　forgot　the　rector　and　his
wife；　and　went　back　to　Oscar。

This　time　he　movedhe　lifted　his　head　when　he　saw　me。　Shall　I　ever
forget　the　silent　misery　in　that　face；　the　dull　dreadful　stare　in　those
tearless　eyes？

I　took　his　handI　felt　for　the　poor　disfigured；　rejected　man　as　his
mother　might　have　felt　for　himI　gave　him　a　mother's　kiss。　〃Be
comforted；　Oscar；〃　I　said。　〃Trust　me　to　set　this　right。〃

He　drew　a　long　trembling　breath；　and　pressed　my　hand　gratefully。　I
attempted　to　speak　to　him　againhe　stopped　me　by　looking　suddenly
towards　the　door。

〃Is　Nugent　outside？〃　he　asked　in　a　whisper。

I　went　into　the　corridor。　It　was　empty。　I　looked　into　Lucilla's　room。　She
and　Grosse　and　the　nurse　were　the　only　persons　in　it。　I　beckoned　to
Zillah　to　come　out　and　speak　to　me。　I　asked　for　Nugent。　He　had　left
Lucilla　abruptly　at　the　bed…room　doorhe　was　out　of　the　house。　I
inquired　if　it　was　known　in　what　direction　he　had　gone。　Zillah　had　seen
him　in　the　field　at　the　end　of　the　garden；　walking　away　rapidly；　with　his
back　to　the　village；　and　his　face　to　the　hills。

〃Nugent　has　gone；〃　I　said；　returning　to　Oscar。

〃Add　to　your　kindness　to　me；〃　he　answered。　〃Let　_me_　go　too。〃

A　quick　fear　crossed　my　mind；　that　he　might　be　bent　on　following　his
brother。

〃Wait　a　little；〃　I　said；　〃and　rest　here。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃I　must　be　by　myself；〃　he　said。　After　considering　a　little；　he　added　a
question。　〃Has　Nugent　gone　to　Browndown？〃

〃No。　Nugent　has　been　seen　walking　towards　the　hills。〃

He　took　my　hand　again。　〃Be　merciful　to　me；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　go。〃

〃Home？　To　Browndown？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Let　me　go　with　you。〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃Forgive　me。　You　shall　hear　from　me　later　in　the　day。〃

No　tears！　no　flaming…up　of　the　quick　temper　that　I　knew　so　well！　Nothing
in　his　face；　nothing　in　his　voice；　nothing　in　his　manner；　but　a　composure
miserable　to　seethe　composure　of　despair。

〃At　least；　let　me　accompany　you　to　the　gate；〃　I　said。

〃God　bless　and　reward　you！〃　he　answered。　〃Let　me　go。〃

With　a　gentle　handand　yet　with　a　firmness　which　took　me　completely　by
surprisehe　separated　himself　from　me；　and　went　out。

I　could　stand　no　longerI　dropped　trembling　into　a　chair。　The　conviction
forced　itself　on　me　that　there　were　worse　complications；　direr
misfortunes；　still　to　come。　I　was　almost　beside　myselfI　broke　out
vehemently　with　wild　words　spoken　in　my　own　language。　Mrs。　Finch　recalled
me　to　my　senses。　I　saw　her　as　in　a　dream；　drying　her　tears；　and　looking
at　me