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（if he was satisfied with the state of her health at the time）； he would
perform the operation。
After pledging himself in those terms； Herr Grosse puffed out his
remaining breath in one deep guttural 〃Hah！〃and got briskly on his
short legs。 At the same moment； Zillah knocked at the door； and announced
that the chaise was waiting for the two gentlemen at the rectory…gate。
Mr。 Sebright rosein some doubt； apparently； whether his colleague had
done talking。 〃Don't let me hurry you；〃 he said。 〃I have business in
London； and I must positively catch the next train。〃
〃Soh！ I have my business in London； too；〃 answered his
brother…oculist〃the business of pleasure。〃 （Mr。 Sebright looked
scandalized at the frankness of this confession； coming from a
professional man）。 〃I am so passion…fond of musics；〃 Herr Grosse went
on〃I want to be in goot times for the opera。 Ach Gott！ musics is
expensive in England！ I climb to the gallery； and pay my five silver
shillingses even there。 For five copper pences； in my own country； I can
get the same thingonly better done。 From the deep bottoms of my heart；〃
proceeded this curious man； taking a cordial leave of me； 〃I thank you；
dear madam； for the Mayonnaise。 When I come again； I pray you more of
that lofely dish。〃 He turned to Lucilla； and popped his thumb on her
eyelids for the last time at parting。 〃My sweet…Feench； remember what
your surgeon…optic has said to you。 I shall let the light in herebut in
my own way； at my own time。 Pretty lofe！ Ah； how infinitely much prettier
she will be； when she can see！〃 He took Lucilla's hand； and put it
sentimentally inside the collar of his waistcoat； over the region of the
heart； laying his other hand upon it as if he was keeping it warm。 In
this tender attitude； he blew a prodigious sigh； recovered himself； with
a shake of his shock…head； winked at me through his spectacles； and
waddled out after Mr。 Sebright； who was already at the bottom of the
stairs。 Who would have guessed that this man held the key which was to
open for my blind Lucilla the gates of a new life！
CHAPTER THE THIRTY…SECOND
Alas for the Marriage！
WE were left together； Nugent having accompanied the two oculists to the
garden…gate。
Now that we were alone； Oscar's absence could hardly fail to attract
Lucilla's attention。 Just as she was referring to him in terms which made
it no easy task for me to quiet her successfully； we were interrupted by
the screams of the baby； ascending from the garden below。 I ran to the
window； and looked out。
Mrs。 Finch had actually effected her desperate purpose of waylaying the
two surgeons in the interests of 〃baby's eyes。〃 There she was； in a skirt
and a shawlwith her novel dropped in one part of the lawn； and her
handkerchief in the otherpursuing the oculists on their way to the
chaise。 Reckless of appearances； Herr Grosse had taken to his heels。 He
was retreating from the screeching infant （with his fingers stuffed into
his ears）； as fast as his short legs would let him。 Nugent was ahead of
him； hurrying on to open the garden…gate。 Respectable Mr。 Sebright
（professionally incapable of running） brought up the rear。 At short
intervals； Mrs。 Finch； close on his heels； held up the baby for
inspection。 At short intervals； Mr。 Sebright held up his hands in polite
protest。 Nugent； roaring with laughter； threw open the garden…gate。 Herr
Grosse rushed through the opening； and disappeared。 Mr。 Sebright followed
Herr Grosse； and Mrs。 Finch attempted to follow Mr。 Sebrightwhen a new
personage appeared on the scene。 Startled in the sanctuary of his study
by the noise； the rector himself strutted into the garden； and brought
his wife to a sudden standstill； by inquiring in his deepest base notes；
〃What does this unseemly disturbance mean？〃
The chaise drove off； and Nugent closed the garden…gate。
Some words； inaudible to my ears； passed between Nugent and the
rectorreferring； as I could only suppose； to the visit of the two
departing surgeons。 After awhile； Mr。 Finch turned away （to all
appearance offended by something which had been said to him）； and
addressed himself to Oscar； who now reappeared on the lawn； having
evidently only waited to show himself； until the chaise drove away。 The
rector paternally took his arm； and； beckoning to his wife with the other
hand； took Mrs。 Finch's arm next。 Majestically marching back to the house
between the two； Reverend Finch asserted himself and his authority
alternately； now to Oscar and now to his wife。 His big booming voice
reached my ears distinctly； accompanied in sharp discord by the last
wailings of the exhausted child。
In these terrible words the Pope of Dimchurch began：〃Oscar！ you are to
understand distinctly； if you please； that I maintain my protest against
this impious attempt to meddle with my afflicted daughter's sight。Mrs。
Finch！ _you_ are to understand that I excuse your unseemly pursuit of two
strange surgeons； in consideration of the state that I find you in at
this moment。 After your last confinement but eight you became； I
remember； hysterically irresponsible。 Hold your tongue。 You are
hysterically irresponsible now。Oscar！ I decline； in justice to myself；
to be present at any discussion which may follow the visit of those two
professional persons。 But I am not averse to advising you for your own
good。 My Foot is down。 Put your foot down too。Mrs。 Finch！ how long is
it since you ate last？ Two hours？ Are you sure it is two hours？ Very
good。 You require a sedative application。 I order you； medically； to get
into a warm bath； and stay there till I come to you。Oscar！ you are
deficient； my good fellow； in moral weight。 Endeavor to oppose yourself
resolutely to any scheme； on the part of my unhappy daughter or of those
who advise her； which involves more expenditure of money in fees； and new
appearances of professional persons。Mrs。 Finch！ the temperature is to
be ninety…eight； and the position partially recumbent。Oscar！ I
authorize you （if you can't stop it in any other way） to throw My moral
weight into the scale。 You are free to say 'I oppose This； with Mr。
Finch's approval： I am； so to speak； backed by Mr。 Finch。'Mrs。 Finch！ I
wish you to understand the object of the bath。 Hold your tongue。 The
object is to produce a gentle action on your skin。 One of the women is to
keep her eye on your forehead。 The instant she perceives an appearance of
moisture； she is to run for me。Oscar！ you will let me know at what
decision they arrive； up…stairs in my daughter's room。 Not after they
have merely heard what you have to say； but after My Moral Weight has
been thrown into the scale。Mrs。 Finch！ on leaving the bath； I shall
have you only lightly clothed。 I forbid； with a view to your head； all
compression； whether of stays or strings； round the waist。 I forbid
garterswith the same object。 You will abstain from tea and talking。 You
will lie； loose； on your back。 You will〃
What else this unhappy woman was to do； I failed to hear。 Mr。 Finch
disappeared with her； round the corner of the house。 Oscar waited at the
door of our side of the rectory； until Nugent joined him； on their way
back to the sitting…room in which w