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texture of the skin that is changedand his escape from discovery
becomes； to my mind； intelligible。〃
He shook his head； he owned he could not dispute my view。 But he was not
content for all that。
〃Have you made any inquiries；〃 he asked； 〃about the period of her infancy
before she was blind？ She may be still feeling； indirectly and
unconsciously； the effect of some shock to her nervous system in the time
when she could see。〃
〃I have never thought of making inquiries。〃
〃Is there anybody within our reach； who was familiarly associated with
her in the first year of her life？ It is hardly likely； I am afraid； at
this distance of time？〃
〃There is a person now in the house；〃 I said。 〃Her old nurse is still
living。〃
〃Send for her directly。〃
Zillah appeared。 After first explaining what he wanted with her； Nugent
went straight to the inquiry which he had in view。
〃Was your young lady ever frightened when she was a baby by any dark
person； or any dark thing； suddenly appearing before her？〃
〃Never； sir！ I took good care to let nothing come near her that could
frighten herso long； poor little thing； as she could see。〃
〃Are you quite sure you can depend on your memory？〃
〃Quite sure； sirwhen it's a long time ago。〃
Zillah was dismissed。 Nugentthus far； unusually grave； and unusually
anxiousturned to me with an air of relief。
〃When you proposed to me to join you in forcing Oscar to speak out；〃 he
said； 〃I was not quite easy in my mind about the consequences。 After what
I have just heard； my fear is removed。〃
〃What fear？〃 I asked。
〃The fear of Oscar's confession producing an estrangement between them
which might delay the marriage。 I am against all delays。 I am especially
anxious that Oscar's marriage should not be put off。 When we began our
conversation； I own to you I was of Oscar's opinion that he would do
wisely to let marriage make him sure of his position in her affections；
before he risked the disclosure。 Nowafter what the nurse has told usI
see no risk worth considering。〃
〃In short；〃 I said； 〃you agree with me？〃
〃I agree with youthough I _am_ the most opinionated man living。 The
chances now seem to me to be all in Oscar's favor； Lucilla's antipathy is
not what I feared it wasan antipathy firmly rooted in a constitutional
malady。 It is nothing more serious；〃 said Nugent； deciding the question；
at once and for ever； with the air of a man profoundly versed in
physiology〃it is nothing more serious than a fanciful growth； a morbid
accident； of her blindness。 She may live to get over itshe would； I
believe； certainly get over it； if she could see。 In two words； after
what I have found out this morning； I say as you sayOscar is making a
mountain out of a molehill。 He ought to have put himself right with
Lucilla long since。 I have unbounded influence over him。 It shall back
your influence。 Oscar shall make a clean breast of it； before the week is
out。〃
We shook hands on that bargain。 As I looked at himbright and dashing
and resolute； Oscar； as I had always wished Oscar to beI own to my
shame I privately regretted that we had not met Nugent in the twilight；
on that evening of ours which had opened to Lucilla the gates of a new
life。
Having said to each other all that we had to sayour two lovers being
away together at the time； for a walk on the hillswe separated； as I
then supposed； for the rest of the day。 Nugent went to the inn； to look
at a stable which he proposed converting into a studio： no room at
Browndown being half large enough； for the first prodigious picture with
which the 〃Grand Consoler〃 in Art proposed to astonish the world。 As for
me； having nothing particular to do； I went out to see if I could meet
Oscar and Lucilla on their return from their walk。
Failing to find them； I strolled back by way of Browndown。 Nugent was
sitting alone on the low wall in front of the house； smoking a cigar。 He
rose and came to meet me； with his finger placed mysteriously on his
lips。
〃You mustn't come in；〃 he said； 〃you mustn't speak loud enough to be
heard。〃 He pointed round the corner of the house to the little room at
the side； already familiar to you in these pages。 〃Oscar and Lucilla are
shut up together there。 And Oscar is making his confession to her at this
moment！〃
I lifted my hands and eyes in astonishment。 Nugent went on。
〃I see you want to know how it has all come about。 You shall know。While
I was looking at the stable （it isn't half big enough for a studio for
Me！）； Oscar's servant brought me a little pencil note； entreating me； in
Oscar's name； to go to him directly at Browndown。 I found him waiting out
here； dreadfully agitated。 He cautioned me （just as I have cautioned you）
not to speak loud。 For the same reason too。 Lucilla was in the house〃
〃I thought they had gone out for a walk；〃 I interposed。
〃They did go out for a walk。 But Lucilla complained of fatigue； and Oscar
brought her back to Browndown to rest。 Well！ I inquired what was the
matter。 The answer informed me that the secret of Oscar's complexion had
forced its way out for the second time； in Lucilla's hearing。〃
〃Jicks again！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Nonot Jicks。 Oscar's own man…servant； this time。〃
〃How did it happen？〃
〃It happened through one of the boys in the village。 Oscar and Lucilla
found the little imp howling outside the house。 They asked what was the
matter。 The imp told them that the servant at Browndown had beaten him。
Lucilla was indignant。 She insisted on having the thing inquired into。
Oscar left her in the drawing…room （unluckily； as it turned out； without
shutting the door）； called the man up into the passage； and asked what he
meant by ill…using the boy。 The man answered； 'I boxed his ears； sir； as
an example to the rest of them。' 'What did he do？' 'Rapped at the door；
sir； with a stick （he is not the first who has done it when you are out）；
and asked if Blue Face was at home。' Lucilla heard every word of it；
through the open door。 Need I tell you what happened next？〃
It was quite needless to relate that part of the story。 I remembered too
well what had happened on the former occasion； in the garden。 I saw too
plainly that Lucilla must have connected the two occurrences in her mind；
and must have had her ready suspicion roused to serious action； as the
necessary result。
〃I understand；〃 I said。 〃Of course； she insisted on an explanation。 Of
course； Oscar compromised himself by a clumsy excuse； and wanted you to
help him。 What did you do？〃
〃What I told you I should do this morning。 He had counted confidently on
my taking his sideit was pitiable to see him； poor fellow！ Still； for
his own sake； I refused to yield。 I left him the choice of giving her the
true explanation himself； or of leaving me to do it。 There wasn't a
moment to lose； she was in no humour to be trifled with； I can tell you！
Oscar behaved very well about ithe always behaves well when I drive him
into a corner！ In one word； he was man enough to feel that he was the
right person to make a clean breast of itnot I。 I gave the poor old boy
a hug to encourage him； pushed him into the room； shut the door on him；
and came out here。 He oug