按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Lastly； that this proposal be now submitted； in the form of a resolution；
and forthwith （if necessary） put to the vote。
Resolution； as above； put to the vote。
MajorityAyes。
Miss Finch。 Mr。 Nugent Dubourg。 Mr。 Oscar Dubourg。 Madame Pratolungo。
MinorityNoes。
No （on the score of expense）； Mr。 Finch。 No （because Mr。 F。 says No）；
Mrs。 Finch。
Resolution carried by a majority of two。 Debate adjourned to a day to be
hereafter decided on。
By the first train the next morning； Nugent Dubourg started for London。
At luncheon； the same day； a telegram arrived； reporting his proceedings
in the following terms：
〃I have seen my friend。 He is at our service。 He is also quite willing to
consult with any English oculist whom we may choose。 I am just off to
find the man。 Expect a second telegram later in the day。〃
The second telegram reached us in the evening； and ran thus：
〃Everything is settled。 The German oculist and the English oculist leave
London with me； by the twelve…forty train to…morrow afternoon。〃
After reading this telegram to Lucilla； I sent it to Oscar at Browndown。
Judge for yourself how he slept； and how we slept； that night！
CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH
Herr Grosse
SEVERAL circumstances deserving to be mentioned here； took place in the
early part of the day on which we expected the visit of the two oculists。
I have all the will to relate thembut the capacity to do it completely
fails me。
When I look back at that eventful morning； I recall a scene of confusion
and suspense； the bare recollection of which seems to upset my mind
again； even at this distance of time。 Things and persons all blend
distractedly one with another。 I see the charming figure of my blind
Lucilla； robed in rose…color and white； flitting hither and thither； in
the house and out of the houseat one time mad with impatience for the
arrival of the surgeons； at another； shuddering with apprehension of the
coming ordeal； and the coming disappointment which might follow。 A moment
moreand； just as my mind has seized it； the fair figure melts and
merges into the miserable apparition of Oscar； hovering and hesitating
between Browndown and the rectory； painfully conscious of the new
complications introduced into his position towards Lucilla by the new
state of things； and yet not man enough； even yet； to seize the
opportunity； and set himself right。 Another moment passes； and a new
figurea little strutting consequential figure forces its way into the
foreground； before I am ready for it。 I hear a big voice booming in my
ear； with big language to correspond。 〃No； Madame Pratolungo； nothing
will induce me to sanction by my presence this insane medical
consultation； this extravagant and profane attempt to reverse the decrees
of an all…wise Providence by purely human means。 My foot is downI use
the language of the people； observe； to impress it the more strongly on
your mindMy FOOT is down！〃 Another moment yet； and Finch and Finch's
Foot disappear over my mental horizon just as my eye has caught them。
Damp Mrs。 Finch； and the baby whose everlasting programme is suction and
sleep； take the vacant place。 Mrs。 Finch pledges me with watery
earnestness to secrecy； and then confides her intention of escaping her
husband's supervision if she can； and bringing British surgery and German
surgery to bear both together （gratis） on baby's eyes。 Conceive these
persons all twisting and turning in the convolutions of my brains； as if
those brains were a labyrinth； with the sayings and doings of one；
confusing themselves with the sayings and doings of the otherwith a
thin stream of my own private anxieties （comprehending luncheon on a
side…table for the doctors） trickling at intervals through it alland
you will not wonder if I take a jump； like a sheep； over some six hours
of precious time； and present my solitary self to your eye； posted alone
in the sitting…room to receive the council of surgeons on its arrival at
the house。 I had but two consolations to sustain me。
First； a Mayonnaise of chicken of my own making on the luncheon…table；
which； as a work of Art； was simply adorableI say no more。 Secondly； my
green silk dress； trimmed with my mother's famous laceanother work of
Art； equally adorable with the first。 Whether I looked at the
luncheon…table； or whether I looked in the glass； I could feel that I
worthily asserted my nation； I could say to myself； Even in this remote
corner of the earth； the pilgrim of civilization searching for the
elegant luxuries of life； looks and seesFrance supreme！
The clock chimed the quarter past three。 Lucilla； wearying； for the
hundredth time of waiting in her own room； put her head in at the door；
and still repeated the never…changing question〃No signs of them yet？〃
〃None； my love。〃
〃Oh； how much longer will they keep us waiting！〃
〃Patience； Lucillapatience！〃
She disappeared again； with a weary sigh。 Five minutes more passed； and
old Zillah peeped into the room next。
〃Here they are； ma'am； in a chaise at the gate！〃
I shook out the skirts of my green silk； I cast a last inspiriting glance
at the Mayonnaise。 Nugent's cheerful voice reached me from the garden；
conducting the strangers。 〃This way； gentlemenfollow me。〃 A pause。
Steps outside。 The door opened。 Nugent brought them in。
Herr Grosse； from America。 Mr。 Sebright of London。
The German gave a little start when my name was mentioned。 The Englishman
remained perfectly unaffected by it。 Herr Grosse had heard of my glorious
Pratolungo。 Mr。 Sebright was barbarously ignorant of his existence。 I
shall describe Herr Grosse first； and shall take the greatest pains with
him。
A squat； broad； sturdy body； waddling on a pair of short bandy legs；
slovenly； shabby； unbrushed clothes； a big square bilious…yellow face；
surmounted by a mop of thick iron…grey hair； dark beetle…brows； a pair of
staring； fierce； black； goggle eyes； with huge circular spectacles
standing up like fortifications in front of them； a shaggy beard and
mustache of mixed black； white； and grey； a prodigious cameo ring on the
forefinger of one hairy hand； the other hand always in and out of a deep
silver snuff…box like a small tea…caddy； a rough rasping voice； a
diabolically humourous smile； a curtly confident way of speaking；
resolution； independence； power； expressed all over him from head to
footthere is the portrait of the man who held in his hands （if Nugent
was to be trusted） the restoration of Lucilla's sight！
The English oculist was as unlike his German colleague as it is possible
for one human being to be to another。
Mr。 Sebright was slim and spare； and scrupulously （painfully） clean and
neat。 His smooth light hair was carefully parted； his well…shaved face
exhibited two little crisp morsels of whisker about two inches long； and
no hair more。 His decent black clothes were perfectly made； he wore no
ornaments； not even a watch…chain； he moved deliberately； he spoke
gravely and quietly； disciplined attention looked coldly at you out of
his light grey eyes； and said； Here I am if you want me； in every
movement of his thin finely…cut lips。 A thoroughly capable man； beyond
all d