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his daughter as a species of complimentary tribute to his own foresight。
〃You remember； Madame Pratolungo； I took high ground in this matter from
the first。 I protested against the proceedings of the man Grosse； as
involving a purely worldly interference with the ways of an inscrutable
Providence。 With what effect？ My paternal influence was repudiated； my
Moral Weight was； so to speak； set aside。 And now you see the result。
Take it to heart； dear friend。 May it be a warning to you！〃 He sighed
with ponderous complacency； and turned from me to the girl behind the
counter。 〃I will take another cup of tea。〃
Oscar's reception of me； when I found him on the platform； and told him
next of Lucilla's critical state； was more than discouraging。 It is no
exaggeration to say that he alarmed me。 〃Another item in the debt I owe
to Nugent！〃 he said。 Not a word of sympathy； not a word of sorrow。 That
vindictive answer； and nothing more。
We started for Sydenham。
From time to time； I looked at Oscar sitting opposite to me； to see if
any change appeared in him as we drew nearer and nearer to the place in
which Lucilla was now living。 No！ Still the same ominous silence； the
same unnatural self…repression possessed him。
Except the momentary outbreak； when Mr。 Finch had placed Nugent's letter
in his hand on the previous evening； not the faintest token of what was
really going on in his mind had escaped him since we had left Marseilles。
He； who could weep over all his other griefs as easily and as
spontaneously as a woman； had not shed a tear since the fatal day when he
had discovered that his brother had played him falsethat brother who
had been the god of his idolatry； the sacred object of his gratitude and
his love！ When a man of Oscar's temperament becomes frozen up for days
together in his own thoughtswhen he keeps his own counsel； when he asks
for no sympathy； and utters no complaintthe sign is a serious one。
There are hidden forces gathering in him which will burst their way to
the surfacefor good or for evilwith an irresistible result。 Watching
Oscar attentively behind my veil； I felt the certain assurance that the
part he would take in the terrible conflict of interests now awaiting us；
would be a part which I should remember to the latest day of my life。
We reached Sydenham； and went to the nearest hotel。
On the railwaywith other travelers in the carriage…it had been
impossible to consult on the safest method of approaching Lucilla； in the
first instance。 That serious question now pressed for instant decision。
We sat down to discuss it； in the room which we had hired at the hotel。
CHAPTER THE FORTY…NINTH
On the Way to the End。 Third Stage
ON former occasions of doubt or difficulty； it had always been Oscar's
habit to follow the opinions of others。 On this occasion he was the first
to speak； and to assert an opinion of his own。
〃It seems needless to waste time in discussing our different views；〃 he
said。 〃There is only one thing to be done。 I am the person principally
concerned in this matter。 Wait here； while I go to the house。〃
He spoke without any of his usual hesitation； he took up his hat without
looking either at Mr。 Finch or at me。 I felt more and more convinced that
the influence which Nugent's vile breach of confidence had exerted over
Oscar's mind； was an influence which had made a dangerous man of him。
Resolved to prevent him from leaving us； I insisted on his returning to
his chair； and hearing what I had to say。 At the same moment； Mr。 Finch
rose； and placed himself between Oscar and the door。 Seeing this； I
thought it might be wise if I kept my interference in reserve； and
allowed the rector to speak first。
〃Wait a moment； Oscar；〃 said Mr。 Finch； gravely。 〃You are forgetting Me。〃
Oscar waited doggedly； hat in hand。
Mr。 Finch paused； evidently considering what words he should use before
he spoke again。 His respect for Oscar's pecuniary position was great； but
his respect for himselfespecially at the present crisiswas； if
possible； greater still。 In deference to the first sentiment he was as
polite； and in deference to the second he was as positive； in phrasing
his remonstrance； as a man could be。 〃Permit me to remind you； dear
Oscar； that my claim to interfere； as Lucilla's father； is at least equal
to yours；〃 proceeded the rector。 〃In the hour of my daughter's need； it
is my parental duty to be present。 If you go to your cousin's house； my
position imperatively requires that I should go too。〃 Oscar's reception
of this proposal confirmed the grave apprehensions with which he had
inspired me。 He flatly refused to have Mr。 Finch for a companion。
〃Excuse me；〃 he answered shortly。 〃I wish to go to the house alone。〃
〃Permit me to ask your reason；〃 said the rector； still preserving his
conciliatory manner。
〃I wish to see my brother in private；〃 Oscar replied； with his eyes on
the ground。
Mr。 Finch； still restraining himself； but still not moving from the door；
looked at me。 I hastened to interfere before there was any serious
disagreement between them。
〃I venture to think；〃 I said； 〃that you are both wrong。 Whether one of
you goes； or both of you go； the result will be the same。 The chances are
a hundred to one； against your being admitted into the house。〃
They both turned on me together； and asked what I meant。
〃You can't force your way in；〃 I said。 〃You must do one of two things。
You must either give your names to the servant at the door； or you must
withhold your names。 If you give them； you warn Nugent of what is
comingand he is not the man to let you into the house under those
circumstances。 If you take the other way； and keep your names concealed；
you present yourselves as strangers。 Is Nugent likely to be accessible to
strangers？ Would Lucilla； in her present position； consent to receive two
men who are unknown to her？ Take my word for ityou will not only gain
nothing if you go to the house you will actually make it more difficult
to communicate with Lucilla than it is already。〃
There was a moment's silence。 Both the men felt that my objections were
not easy to answer。 Once more； Oscar took the lead。
〃Do you propose to go？〃 he asked。
〃No；〃 I answered。 〃I propose to send a letter to Lucilla。 A letter will
find its way to her。〃
This again was unanswerable。 Oscar inquired next what the purport of the
letter was to be。 I replied that I proposed to ask her to grant me a
private interviewnothing more。
〃Suppose Lucilla refuses？〃 said Mr。 Finch。
〃She will not refuse；〃 I rejoined。 〃There was a little misunderstanding
between usI admitat the time when I went abroad。 I mean to refer
frankly to that misunderstanding as my reason for writing。 I shall put
your daughter on her honor to give me an opportunity of setting things
right between us。 If I summon Lucilla to do an act of justice； I believe
she will not refuse me。〃
（This； let me add in parenthesis； was the plan of action which I had
formed on the way to Sydenham。 I had only waited to mention it； until I
heard what the two men proposed to do first。）
Oscar； standing hat in hand； glanced at Mr。 Finch （also hat in hand）
ke