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interview with her father； more thoroughly and vehemently indignant than
I had ever seen her yet。 〃Don't ask what is the matter！〃 she said to me
between her teeth。 〃I am ashamed to tell you。〃 When Oscar came in； a
little later； she fell on her kneesliterally on her kneesbefore him。
Some overmastering agitation was in possession of her whole being； which
made her； for the moment； reckless of what she said or did。 〃I worship
you！〃 she burst out hysterically； kissing his hand。 〃You are the noblest
of living men。 I can never； never be worthy of you！〃 The interpretation
of these high…flown sayings and doings was； to my mind； briefly this：
Oscar's money in the rector's pocket； and the rector's daughter used as
the means。
The interval expired； the weeks succeeded each other。 All had been long
since ready for the marriageand still the marriage did not take place。
Far from becoming himself again； with time to help himas the doctor had
foretoldOscar steadily grew worse。 All the nervous symptoms （to use the
medical phrase） which I have already described； strengthened instead of
loosening their hold on him。 He grew thinner and thinner； and paler and
paler。 Early in the month of November； we sent for the doctor again。 The
question to be put to him this time； was the question （suggested by
Lucilla） of trying as a last remedy change of air。
SomethingI forget whatdelayed the arrival of our medical man。 Oscar
had given up all idea of seeing him that day； and had come to us at the
rectorywhen the doctor drove into Dimchurch。 He was stopped before he
went on to Browndown； and he and his patient saw each other alone in
Lucilla's sitting…room。
They were a long time together。 Lucilla； waiting with me in my
bed…chamber； grew impatient。 She begged me to knock at the sitting…room
door； and inquire when she might be permitted to assist at the
consultation。
I found doctor and patient standing together at the window； talking
quietly。 Evidently； nothing had passed to excite either of them in the
smallest degree。 Oscar looked a little pale and wearybut he； like his
medical adviser； was perfectly composed。
〃There is a young lady in the next room；〃 I said； 〃who is getting anxious
to hear what your consultation has ended in。〃
The doctor looked at Oscar； and smiled。
〃There is really nothing to tell Miss Finch；〃 he said。 〃Mr。 Dubourg and I
have gone all over the case againand nothing new has come of it。 His
nervous system has not recovered its balance so soon as I expected。 I am
sorrybut I am not in the least alarmed。 At his age； things are sure to
come right in the end。 He must be patient； and the young lady must be
patient。 I can say no more。〃
〃Do you see any objection to his trying change of air？〃 I inquired。
〃None； whatever！ Let him go where he likes； and amuse himself as he
likes。 You are all of you a little disposed to take Mr。 Dubourg's case
too seriously。 Except the nervous derangement （unpleasant enough in
itself； I grant）； there is really nothing the matter with him。 He has not
a trace of organic disease anywhere。 The pulse；〃 continued the doctor；
laying his fingers lightly on Oscar's wrist； 〃is perfectly satisfactory。
I never felt a quieter pulse in my life。〃
As the words passed his lips； a frightful contortion fastened itself on
Oscar's face。
His eyes turned up hideously。
From head to foot his whole body was wrenched round； as if giant hands
had twisted it； towards the right。
Before I could speak； he was in convulsions on the floor at his doctor's
feet。
〃Good God； what is this！〃 I cried out。
The doctor loosened his cravat； and moved away the furniture that was
near him。 That done； he waitedlooking at the writhing figure on the
floor。
〃Can you do nothing more？〃 I asked。
He shook his head gravely。 〃Nothing more。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃An epileptic fit。〃
CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH
The Doctor's Opinion
BEFORE another word had been exchanged between us； Lucilla entered the
room。 We looked at each other。 If we could have spoken at that moment； I
believe we should both have said； 〃Thank God； she is blind！〃
〃Have you all forgotten me？〃 she asked。 〃Oscar！ where are you？ What does
the doctor say？〃
She advanced into the room。 In a moment more； she would have stumbled
against the prostrate man still writhing on the floor。 I laid my hand on
her arm； and stopped her。
She suddenly caught my hand in hers。 〃Why did you tremble；〃 she asked；
〃when you took me by the arm？ Why are you trembling now？〃 Her delicate
sense of touch was not to be deceived。 I vainly denied that anything had
happened： my hand had betrayed me。 〃There is something wrong！〃 she
exclaimed； 〃Oscar has not answered me。〃
The doctor came to my assistance。
〃There is nothing to be alarmed about；〃 he said。 〃Mr。 Dubourg is not very
well to…day。〃
She turned on the doctor； with a sudden burst of anger。
〃You are deceiving me！〃 she cried。 〃Something serious has happened to
him。 The truth！ tell me the truth！ Oh！ it's shameful； it's heartless of
both of you to deceive a wretched blind creature like me！〃
The doctor still hesitated。 I told her the truth。
〃Where is he？〃 she asked； seizing me by the two shoulders； and shaking me
in the violence of her agitation。
I entreated her to wait a little； I tried to place her in a chair。 She
pushed me contemptuously away； and went down on the floor on her hands
and knees。 〃I shall find him；〃 she said to herself； 〃I shall find him in
spite of them！〃 She began to crawl over the floor； feeling the empty
space before her with her hand。 It was horrible。 I followed her； and
raised her again； by main force。
〃Don't struggle with her；〃 said the doctor。 〃Let her come here。 He is
quiet now。〃
I looked at Oscar。 The worst of it was over。 He was exhaustedhe was
quite still now。 The doctor's voice guided her to the place。 She sat down
by Oscar on the floor； and laid his head on her lap。 The moment she
touched him； the same effect was produced on her which would be produced
（if our eyes were bandaged） on you or me when the bandage was taken off。
An instant sense of relief diffused itself through her whole being。 She
became her gentler and sweeter self again。 〃I am sorry I lost my temper；〃
she said with the simplicity of a child。 〃But you don't know how hard it
is to be deceived when you are blind。〃 She stooped as she said those
words； and passed her handkerchief lightly over his forehead。 〃Doctor；〃
she asked； 〃will this happen again？〃
〃I hope not。〃
〃Are you sure not？〃
〃I can't say that。〃
〃What has brought it on？〃
〃I am afraid the blow he received on the head has brought it on。〃
She asked no more questions； her eager face passed suddenly into a state
of repose。 Something seemed to have come into her mindafter the
doctor's answer to her own questionwhich absorbed her in herself。 When
Oscar recovered his consciousness； she left it to me to answer the first
natural questions which he put。 When he personally addressed her she
spoke to him kindly； but briefly。 Something in her； at that moment；
seemed to keep her apart； even from _him。_ When the doctor proposed
taking him back to Browndown； she did not insist； as