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of her own accord。 As for me； I was already beginning to weary of the
patronizing politeness of the little priest with the big voice。 It was a
relief to us all； when a message on domestic affairs arrived in the midst
of the proceedings from Mrs。 Finch； requesting to see her husband
immediately on the rectory side of the house。
Forced to leave us； Reverend Finch made his farewell speech； taking
Oscar's hand into a kind of paternal custody in both his own hands。 He
spoke with such sonorous cordiality； that the china and glass ornaments
on Lucilla's chiffonier actually jingled an accompaniment to his booming
bass notes。
〃Come to tea； my dear sir。 Without ceremony。 To…night at six。 We must
keep up your spirits； Mr。 Dubourg。 Cheerful society； and a little music。
Lucilla； my dear child； you will play for Mr。 Dubourg； won't you？ Madame
Pratolungo will do the sameat My requestI am sure。 We shall make even
dull Dimchurch agreeable to our new neighbor before we have done。 What
does the poet say？ 'Fixed to no spot is happiness sincere； 'tis nowhere
to be found； or everywhere。' How cheering！ how true！ Good day； good day。〃
The glasses left off jingling。 Mr。 Finch's wizen little legs took him out
of the room。
The moment his back was turned； we both assailed Oscar with the same
question。 What had passed at the interview between the rector and
himself？ Men are all alike incompetent to satisfy women； when the
question between the sexes is a question of small details。 A woman； in
Oscar's position； would have been able to relate to us； not only the
whole conversation with the rector； but every little trifling incident
which had noticeably illustrated it。 As things were； we could only
extract from our unsatisfactory man the barest outline of the interview。
The coloring and the filling…in we were left to do for ourselves。
Oscar had； on his own confession； acknowledged his visitor's kindness； by
opening his whole heart to the sympathizing rector； and placing that wary
priest and excellent man of business in possession of the completest
knowledge of all his affairs。 In return； Reverend Finch had spoken in the
frankest manner； on his side。 He had drawn a sad picture of the
poverty…stricken condition of Dimchurch； viewed as an ecclesiastical
endowment； and he had spoken in such feeling terms of the neglected
condition of the ancient and interesting church； that poor simple Oscar；
smitten with pity； had produced his cheque…book； and had subscribed on
the spot towards the Fund for repairing the ancient round tower。 They had
been still occupied with the subject of the tower and the subscription；
when we had opened the garden gate and had let them in。 Hearing this； I
now understood the motives under which our reverend friend was acting as
well as if they had been my own。 It was plain to my mind that the rector
had taken his financial measure of Oscar； and had privately satisfied
himself； that if he encouraged the two young people in cultivating each
other's society； money （to use his own phrase） might come of it。 He had；
as I believed； put forward 〃the round tower；〃 in the first instance； as a
feeler； and he would follow it up； in due time； by an appeal of a more
personal nature to Oscar's well…filled purse。 Brief； he was； in my
opinion； quite sharp enough （after having studied his young friend's
character） to foresee an addition to his income； rather than a
subtraction from it； if the relations between Oscar and his daughter
ended in a marriage。
Whether Lucilla arrived； on her side； at the same conclusion as mine； is
what I cannot venture positively to declare。 I can only relate that she
looked ill at ease as the facts came out； and that she took the first
opportunity of extinguishing her father； viewed as a topic of
conversation。
As for Oscar； it was enough for him that he had already secured his place
as friend of the house。 He took leave of us in the highest spirits。 I had
my eye on them when he and Lucilla said good…bye。 She squeezed his hand。
I saw her do it。 At the rate at which things were now going on； I began
to ask myself whether Reverend Finch would not appear at tea…time in his
robes of office； and celebrate the marriage of his 〃sorely…tried〃 young
friend between the first cup and the second。
At our little social assembly in the evening； nothing passed worthy of
much remark。
Lucilla and I （I cannot resist recording this） were both beautifully
dressed； in honor of the occasion； Mrs。 Finch serving us to perfection；
by way of contrast。 She had made an immense effortshe was half dressed。
Her evening costume was an ancient green silk skirt （with traces of past
babies visible on it to an experienced eye）； topped by the everlasting
blue merino jacket。 〃I lose everything belonging to me；〃 Mrs。 Finch
whispered in my ear。 〃I have got a body to this dress； and it can't be
found anywhere。〃 The rector's prodigious voice was never silent： the
pompous and plausible little man talked； talked； talked； in deeper and
deeper bass； until the very teacups on the table shuddered under the
influence of him。 The elder children； admitted to the family festival；
ate till they could eat no more； stared till they could stare no more；
yawned till they could yawn no moreand then went to bed。 Oscar got on
well with everybody。 Mrs。 Finch was naturally interested in him as one of
twinsthough she was also surprised and disappointed at hearing that his
mother had begun and ended with his brother and himself。 As for Lucilla；
she sat in silent happiness； absorbed in the inexhaustible delight of
hearing Oscar's voice。 She found as many varieties of expression in
listening to her beloved tones； as the rest of us find in looking at our
beloved face。 We had music later in the eveningand I then heard； for
the first time； how charmingly Lucilla played。 She was a born musician；
with a delicacy and subtlety of touch such as few even of the greatest
_virtuosi_ possess。 Oscar was enchanted。 In a word； the evening was a
success。
I contrived； when our guest took his departure； to say my contemplated
word to him in private； on the subject of his solitary position at
Browndown。
Those doubts of Oscar's security in his lonely house； which I have
described as having been suggested to me by the discovery of the two
ruffians lurking under the wall； still maintained their place in my mind；
and still urged me to warn him to take precautions of some sort； before
the precious metals which he had sent to London to be melted； came back
to him again。 He gave me the opportunity I wanted； by looking at his
watch； and apologizing for protracting his visit to a terribly late hour；
for the countrythe hour of midnight。
〃Is your servant sitting up for you？〃 I asked； assuming to be ignorant of
his domestic arrangements。
He pulled out of his pocket a great clumsy key。
〃This is my only servant at Browndown；〃 he said。 〃By four or five in the
afternoon； the people at the inn have done all for me that I want。 After
that time； there is nobody in the house but myself。〃
He shook hands with us。 The rector escorted him as far as the front door。
I slipped out while they were saying their last