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a sense so delicate as the sense of sight； lost for one…and…twenty years；
could be restored by any means short of a miracle？ It was monstrous to
suppose it： the thing could not be。 If there had been the faintest chance
of giving my poor dear back the blessing of sight； that chance would have
been tried by competent persons years and years since。 I was ashamed of
myself for having been violently excited at the moment by the new thought
which Nugent had started in my mind； I was honestly indignant at his
uselessly disturbing me with the vainest of all vain hopes。 The one wise
thing to do in the future； was to caution this flighty and inconsequent
young man to keep his mad notion about Lucilla to himselfand to dismiss
it from my own thoughts； at once and for ever。
Just as I arrived at that sensible resolution； I was recalled to what was
going on in the room； by Lucilla's voice； addressing me by my name。
〃The likeness is wonderful；〃 she said。 〃Still； I think I can find a
difference between them。〃
（The only difference between them was in the contrast of complexion and
in the contrast of mannerboth these being dissimilarities which
appealed more or less directly to the eye。）
〃What difference do you find？〃 I asked。
She slowly came towards me； with an anxious perplexed face； pondering as
she advanced。
〃I can't explain it；〃 she answeredafter a long silence。
When Lucilla left him； Nugent rose from his chair。 He abruptlyalmost
roughlytook his brother's hand。 He spoke to his brother in a strangely
excited； feverish； headlong way。
〃My dear fellow； now I have seen her； I congratulate you more heartily
than ever。 She is charming； she is unique。 Oscar！ I could almost envy
you； if you were anyone else！〃
Oscar was radiant with delight。 His brother's opinion ranked above all
human opinions in his estimation。 Before he could say a word in return；
Nugent left him as abruptly as he had approached him； walking away by
himself to the windowand standing there； looking out。
Lucilla had not heard him。 She was still pondering； with the same
perplexed face。 The likeness between the twins was apparently weighing on
her mindan unsolved problem that vexed and irritated it。 Without
anything said by me to lead to resuming the subject； she returned
obstinately to the assertion that she had just made。
〃I tell you again I am sensible of a difference between them；〃 she
repeated〃though you don't seem to believe me。〃
I interpreted this uneasy reiteration as meaning that she was rather
trying to convince herself than to convince me。 In her blind condition；
it was doubly and trebly embarrassing not to know one brother from the
other。 I understood her unwillingness to acknowledge thisI felt （in her
position） how it would have irritated me。 She was waitingimpatiently
waitingfor me to say something on my side。 I am； as you know already；
an indiscreet woman。 I innocently said one of my rash things。
〃I believe whatever you tell me； my dear；〃 I answered。 〃You can find out
a difference between them； I have no doubt。 Still； I own I should like to
see it put to the proof。〃
Her color rose。 〃How？〃 she asked abruptly。
〃Try your touch alternately on both their faces；〃 I suggested； 〃without
knowing beforehand which position they each of them occupy。 Make three
trialsleaving them to change their places or not； between each trial；
just as they please。 If you guess which is which correctly three times
following； there will be the proof that you can really lay your hand on a
difference between them。〃
Lucilla shrank from accepting the challenge。 She drew back a step； and
silently shook her head。 Nugent； who had overheard me； turned round
suddenly from the window； and supported my proposal。
〃A capital notion！〃 he burst out。 〃Let's try it！ You don't object；
Oscardo you？〃
〃_I_ object？〃 cried Oscaramazed at the bare idea of his opposing any
assertion of his will to the assertion of his brother's will。 〃If Lucilla
is willing； I say Yes； with all my heart。〃
The two brothers approached us； arm in arm。 Lucilla； very reluctantly；
allowed herself to be persuaded into trying the experiment。 Two chairs；
exactly alike； were placed in front of her。 At a sign from Nugent； Oscar
silently took the chair on her right。 By this arrangement； the hand which
she had used in touching Nugent's face； would be now the hand that she
would employ in touching Oscar's face。 When they were both seated； I
announced that we were ready。 Lucilla placed her hands on their faces；
right and left； without the faintest idea in her mind of the positions
which the two relatively occupied。
After first touching them with both hands； and both together； she tried
them separately next； beginning with Oscar； and using her right hand
only。 She left him for Nugent； again using her right handthen came back
to him againthen returned to Nugenthesitated…decidedtapped Nugent
lightly on the head。
〃Oscar！〃 she said。
Nugent burst out laughing。 The laugh told her； before any of us could
speak； that she had made a mistake at the first attempt。
〃Try again； Lucilla；〃 said Oscar kindly。
〃Never！〃 she answered； angrily stepping back from both of them。 〃One
mystification is enough。〃
Nugent tried next to persuade her to renew the experiment。 She checked
him sternly at the first word。
〃Do you think if I won't do it for Oscar；〃 she said； 〃that I would do it
for you？ You laughed at me。 What was there to laugh at？ Your brother's
features are your features； your brother's hair is your hair； your
brother's height is your height。 What is there so very ridiculouswith
such a resemblance as thatin a poor blind girl like me mistaking you
one for the other？ I wish to preserve a good opinion of you； for Oscar's
sake。 Don't turn me into ridicule againor I shall be forced to think
that your brother's good heart is not yours also！〃
Nugent and Oscar looked at each other； petrified by this sudden outbreak；
Nugent； of the two； being the most completely overwhelmed by it。
I attempted to interfere and put things right。 My easy philosophy and my
volatile French nature； failed to see any adequate cause for this
vehement exhibition of resentment on Lucilla's part。 Something in my
tone； as I suppose； only added to her irritation。 I； in my turn； was
checked sternly at the first word。 〃You proposed it；〃 she said； 〃You are
the most to blame。〃 I hastened to make my apologies （inwardly remarking
that the habit of raising a storm in a tea…cup is a growing habit with
the rising generation in England）。 Nugent followed me with more apologies
on his side。 Oscar supported us with his superior influence。 He took
Lucilla's handkissed itand whispered something in her ear。 The kiss
and the whisper acted like a charm。 She held out her hand to Nugent； she
put her arm round my neck and embraced me； with all her own grace and
sweetness。 〃Forgive me；〃 she said to us gently。 〃I wish I could learn to
be patient。 But； oh； Mr。 Nugent； it is sometimes so hard to be blind！〃 I
can repeat the words； but I can give no idea of the touching simplicity
with which they were spokenof her innocently earnest anxiety to win her
pardon。 She so affected N