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finding her handkerchief or holding her baby。 A duplicate key of the door
of communication between the two sides of the house was given to me； and
I left the room。
Before performing my errand； I went for a minute into my bedchamber to
put away my hat and parasol。 Returning into the corridor； and passing the
door of the sitting…room； I found that it had been left ajar by some one
who had entered after I had left； and I heard Lucilla's voice say； 〃Take
that letter out of the envelope； and read it to me。〃
I pursued my way along the passagevery slowly； I ownand I heard the
first sentences of the letter which I had written under Lucilla's
dictation； read aloud to her in the old nurse's voice。 The incurable
suspicion of the blindalways abandoned to the same melancholy distrust
of the persons about them； always doubting whether some deceit is not
being practiced on them by the happy people who can seehad urged
Lucilla； even in the trifling matter of the letter； to put me to the
test； behind my back。 She was using Zillah's eyes to make sure that I had
really written all that she had dictated to meexactly as； on many an
after occasion； she used my eyes to make sure of Zillah's complete
performance of tasks allotted to her in the house。 No experience of the
faithful devotion of those who live with them ever thoroughly satisfies
the blind。 Ah； poor things； always in the dark！ always in the dark！
In opening the door of communication； it appeared as if I had also opened
all the doors of all the bedchambers in the rectory。 The moment I stepped
into the passage； out popped the children from one room after another；
like rabbits out of their burrows。
〃Where is your mamma？〃 I asked。
The rabbits answered by one universal shriek； and popped back again into
their burrows。
I went down the stairs to try my luck on the ground floor。 The window on
the landing had a view over the front garden。 I looked out； and saw the
irrepressible Arab of the family； our small chubby Jicks； wandering in
the garden； all by herself； evidently on the watch for her next
opportunity of escaping from the house。 This curious little creature
cared nothing for the society of the other children。 Indoors； she sat
gravely retired in corners； taking her meals （whenever she could） on the
floor。 Out of doors； she roamed till she could walk no longer； and then
lay down anywhere； like a little animal； to sleep。 She happened to look
up as I stood at the window。 Seeing me； she waved her hand indicatively
in the direction of the rectory gate。 〃What is it？〃 I asked。 The Arab
answered； 〃Jicks wants to get out。〃
At the same moment； the screaming of a baby below； informed me that I was
in the near neighborhood of Mrs。 Finch。
I advanced towards the noise； and found myself standing before the open
door of a large store…room at the extreme end of the passage。 In the
middle of the room （issuing household commodities to the cook） sat Mrs。
Finch。 She was robed this time in a petticoat and a shawl； and she had
the baby and the novel laid together flat on their backs in her lap。
〃Eight pounds of soap？ Where does it all go to I wonder！〃 groaned Mrs。
Finch to the accompaniment of the baby's screams。 〃Five pounds of soda
for the laundry？ One would think we did the washing for the whole
village。 Six pounds of candles？ You must eat candles； like the Russians：
who ever heard of burning six pounds of candles in a week？ Ten pounds of
sugar？ Who gets it all？ I never taste sugar from one year's end to
another。 Waste； nothing but waste。〃 Here Mrs。 Finch looked my way； and
saw me at the door。 〃Oh？ Madame Pratolungo？ How d'ye do？ Don't go
awayI've just done。 A bottle of blacking？ My shoes are a disgrace to
the house。 Five pounds of rice？ If I had Indian servants； five pounds of
rice would last them for a year。 There！ take the things away into the
kitchen。 Excuse my dress； Madame Pratolungo。 How _am_ I to dress； with
all I have got to do？ What do you say？ My time must indeed be fully
occupied？ Ah； that's just where it is！ When you have lost half an hour in
the morning； and can't pick it up againto say nothing of having the
store…room on your mind； and the children's dinner late； and the baby
fractiousone slips on a petticoat and a shawl； and gives it up in
despair。 What _can_ I have done with my handkerchief？ Would you mind
looking among those bottles behind you？ Oh； here it is； under the baby。
Might I trouble you to hold my book for one moment？ I think the baby will
be quieter if I put him the other way。〃 Here Mrs。 Finch turned the baby
over on his stomach； and patted him briskly on the back。 At this change
in his circumstances； the unappeasable infant only roared louder than
ever。 His mother appeared to be perfectly unaffected by the noise。 This
resigned domestic martyr looked placidly up at me； as I stood before her；
bewildered； with the novel in my hand。 〃Ah； that's a very interesting
story；〃 she went on。 〃Plenty of love in it； you know。 You have come for
it； haven't you？ I remember I promised to lend it to you yesterday。〃
Before I could answer the cook appeared again； in search of more
household commodities。 Mrs。 Finch repeated the woman's demands； one by
one as she made them； in tones of despair。 〃Another bottle of vinegar？ I
believe you water the garden with vinegar！ More starch？ The Queen's
washing； I'm firmly persuaded； doesn't come to so much as ours。
Sandpaper？ Sandpaper means wastepaper in this profligate house。 I shall
tell your master。 I really _can_ NOT make the housekeeping money last at
this rate。 Don't go； Madame Pratolungo！ I shall have done directly。 What！
You must go！ Oh； then； put the book back on my lap； pleaseand look
behind that sack of flour。 The first volume slipped down there this
morning； and I haven't had time to pick it up since。 （Sandpaper！ Do you
think I'm made of sandpaper！） Have you found the first volume？ Ah； that's
it。 All over flour！ there's a hole in the sack I suppose。 Twelve sheets
of sandpaper used in a week！ What for？ I defy any of you to tell me what
for。 Waste！ waste！ shameful sinful waste！〃 At this point in Mrs。 Finch's
lamentations； I made my escape with the book； and left the subject of
Oscar Dubourg to be introduced at a fitter opportunity。 The last words I
heard； through the screams of the baby； as I ascended the stairs； were
words still relating to the week's prodigal consumption of sandpaper。 Let
us drop a tear； if you please； over the woes of Mrs。 Finch； and leave the
British matron apostrophizing domestic economy in the odorous seclusion
of her own storeroom。
I had just related to Lucilla the failure of my expedition to the other
side of the house； when the groom returned； bringing with him the gold
vase； and a letter。
Oscar's answer was judiciously modeled to imitate the brevity of
Lucilla's note。 〃You have made me a happy man again。 When may I follow
the vase？〃 There； in two sentences； was the whole letter。
I had another discussion with Lucilla； relating to the propriety of our
receiving Oscar in Reverend Finch's absence。 It was only possible to
persuade her to wait until she had at least heard from her father； by
consenting to take