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！
door of our side of the rectory； until Nugent joined him； on their way
back to the sitting…room in which we were expecting their return。
After an interval of a few minutes； the brothers appeared。
Throughout the whole of the time during which the surgeons had been in
the house； I had noticed that Nugent persisted in keeping himself
scrupulously in the background。 Having assumed the responsibility of
putting the serious question of Lucilla's sight scientifically to the
test； he appeared to be resolved to pause there； and to interfere no
further in the affair after it had passed its first stage。 And now again；
when we were met in our little committee to discuss； and possibly to
combat； Lucilla's resolution to proceed to extremities； he once more
refrained from interfering actively with the matter in hand。
〃I have brought Oscar back with me；〃 he said to Lucilla； 〃and I have told
him how widely the two oculists differ in opinion on your case。 He knows
also that you have decided on being guided by the more favorable view
taken by Herr Grosseand he knows no more。〃
There he stopped abruptly and seated himself apart from us； at the lower
end of the room。
Lucilla instantly appealed to Oscar to explain his conduct。
〃Why have you kept out of the way？〃 she asked。 〃Why have you not been
with me； at the most important moment of my life？〃
〃Because I felt your anxious position too keenly；〃 Oscar answered。 〃Don't
think me inconsiderate towards you； Lucilla。 If I had not kept away； I
might not have been able to control myself。〃
I thought that reply far too dexterous to have come from Oscar on the
spur of the moment。 Besides； he looked at his brother when he said the
last words。 It seemed more than likelyshort as the interval had been
before they appeared in the sitting…roomthat Nugent had been advising
Oscar； and had been telling him what to say。
Lucilla received his excuses with the readiest grace and kindness。
〃Mr。 Sebright tells me； Oscar； that my sight is hopelessly gone；〃 she
said。 〃Herr Grosse answers for it that an operation will make me see。
Need I tell you which of the two I believe in？ If I could have had my own
way； Herr Grosse should have operated on my eyes； before he went back to
London。〃
〃Did he refuse？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why？〃
Lucilla told him of the reasons which the German oculist had stated as
unanswerable reasons for delay。 Oscar listened attentively； and looked at
his brother again； before he replied。
〃As I understand it；〃 he said； 〃if you decide on risking the operation at
once； you decide on undergoing six weeks' imprisonment in a darkened
room； and on placing yourself entirely at the surgeon's disposal for six
weeks more； after that。 Have you considered； Lucilla； that this means
putting off our marriage again； for at least three months？〃
〃If you were in my place； Oscar； you would let nothing； not even your
marriage； stand in the way of your restoration to sight。 Don't ask me to
consider； love。 I can consider nothing but the prospect of seeing You！〃
That fearlessly frank confession silenced him。 He happened to be sitting
opposite to the glass； so that he could see his face。 The poor wretch
abruptly moved his chair； so as to turn his back on it。
I looked at Nugent； and surprised him trying to catch his brother's eye。
Prompted by him； as I could now no longer doubt； Oscar had laid his
finger on a certain domestic difficulty which I had had in my mind； from
the moment when the question of the operation had been first agitated
among us。
（The marriage of Oscar and Lucillait is here necessary to explainhad
encountered another obstacle； and undergone a new delay； in consequence
of the dangerous illness of Lucilla's aunt。 Miss Batchford； formally
invited to the ceremony as a matter of course； had most considerately
sent a message begging that the marriage might not be deferred on her
account。 Lucilla； however； had refused to allow her wedding to be
celebrated； while the woman who had been a second mother to her； lay at
the point of death。 The rector having an eye to rich Miss Batchford's
moneynot for himself （Miss B。 detested him）； but for Lucillahad
supported his daughter's decision； and Oscar had been compelled to
submit。 These domestic events had taken place about three weeks since；
and we were now in receipt of news which not only assured us of the old
lady's recovery； but informed us also that she would be well enough to
make one of the wedding party in a fortnight's time。 The bride's dress
was in the house； the bride's father was ready to officiateand here；
like a fatality； was the question of the operation unexpectedly starting
up； and threatening another delay yet； for a period which could not
possibly be shorter than a period of three months！ Add to this； if you
please； a new element of embarrassment as follows。 Supposing Lucilla to
persist in her resolution； and Oscar to persist in concealing from her
the personal change in him produced by the medical treatment of the fits；
what would happen？ Nothing less than this。 Lucilla； if the operation
succeeded； would find out for herselfbefore instead of after her
marriagethe deception that had been practiced on her。 And how she might
resent that deception； thus discovered； the cleverest person among us
could not pretend to foresee。 There was our situation； as we sat in
domestic parliament assembled； when the surgeons had left us！）
Finding it impossible to attract his brother's attention； Nugent had no
alternative but to interfere actively for the first time。
〃Let me suggest； Lucilla；〃 he said； 〃that it is your duty to look at the
other side of the question； before you make up your mind。 In the first
place； it is surely hard on Oscar to postpone the wedding…day again。 In
the second place； clever as he is； Herr Grosse is not infallible。 It is
just possible that the operation may fail； and that you may find you have
put off your marriage for three months； to no purpose。 Do think of it！ If
you defer the operation on your eyes till after your marriage； you
conciliate all interests； and you only delay by a month or so the time
when you may see。〃
Lucilla impatiently shook her head。
〃If you were blind；〃 she answered； 〃you would not willingly delay by a
single hour the time when you might see。 You ask me to think of it。 I ask
_you_ to think of the years I have lost。 I ask _you_ to think of the
exquisite happiness I shall feel； when Oscar and I are standing at the
altar； if I can _see_ the husband to whom I am giving myself for life！
Put it off for a month？ You might as well ask me to die for a month。 It
is like death to be sitting here blind； and to know that a man is within
a few hours' reach of me who can give me my sight！ I tell you all
plainly； if you go on opposing me in this； I don't answer for myself。 If
Herr Grosse is not recalled to Dimchurch before the end of the weekI am
my own mistress； I will go to him in London！〃
Both the brothers looked at me。
〃Have you nothing to say； Madame Pratolungo？〃 asked Nugent。
Oscar was too painfully agitated to speak。 He softly crossed to my chair；
and； kneeling by me； put my hand entreatingly to