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part of my letter stronglyI can tell you！ He will get it to…morrow； by
the afternoon post。 And the next dayif he is a man of his wordhe will
be here。〃
〃Oh； Lucilla！ not to operate on your eyes？〃
〃Yesto operate on my eyes！〃
CHAPTER THE THIRTY…THIRD
The Day Between
THE interval…day before the second appearance of Herr Grosse； and the
experiment on Lucilla's sight that was to follow it； was marked by two
incidents which ought to be noticed in this place。
The first incident was the arrival； early in the morning； of another
letter addressed to me privately by Oscar Dubourg。 Like many other shy
people； he had a perfect mania； where any embarrassing circumstances were
concerned； for explaining himself； with difficulty； by means of his pen；
in preference to explaining himself； with ease； by means of his tongue。
Oscar's present communication informed me that he had left us for London
by the first morning train； and that his object in taking this sudden
journey wasto state his present position towards Lucilla to a gentleman
especially conversant with the peculiarities of blind people。 In plain
words； he had resolved on applying to Mr。 Sebright for advice。
〃I like Mr。 Sebright〃 （Oscar wrote） 〃as cordially as I detest Herr
Grosse。 The short conversation I had with him has left me with the
pleasantest impression of his delicacy and his kindness。 If I freely
reveal to this skillful surgeon the sad situation in which I am placed； I
believe his experience will throw an entirely new light on the present
state of Lucilla's mind； and on the changes which we may expect to see
produced in her； if she really does recover her sight。 The result may be
of incalculable benefit in teaching me how I may own the truth； most
harmlessly to her； as well as to myself。 Pray don't suppose I undervalue
your advice。 I only want to be doubly fortified； before I risk my
confession； by the advice of a scientific man。〃
All this I took to mean； in plain English； that vacillating Oscar wanted
to quiet his conscience by gaining time； and that his absurd idea of
consulting Mr。 Sebright was nothing less than a new and plausible excuse
for putting off the evil day。 His letter ended by pledging me to secrecy；
and by entreating me so to manage matters as to grant him a private
interview on his return to Dimchurch by the evening train。
I confess I felt some curiosity as to what would come of the proposed
consultation between unready Oscar and precise Mr。 Sebrightand I
accordingly arranged to take my walk alone； towards eight o'clock that
evening； on the road that led to the distant railway station。
The second incident of the day may be described as a confidential
conversation between Lucilla and myself； on the subject which now equally
absorbed us boththe momentous subject of her restoration to the
blessing of sight。
She joined me at the breakfast…table with her ready distrust newly
excited； poor thing； by Oscar。 He had accounted to her for his journey to
London by putting forward the commonplace excuse of 〃business。〃 She
instantly suspected （knowing how he felt about it） that he was secretly
bent on interfering with the performance of the operation by Herr Grosse。
I contrived to compose the anxiety thus aroused in her mind； by informing
her； on Oscar's own authority； that he personally disliked and distrusted
the German oculist。 〃Make your mind easy；〃 I said。 〃I answer for his not
venturing near Herr Grosse。〃
A long silence between us followed those words。 When Lucilla next
referred to Oscar in connection with the coming operation； the depressed
state of her spirits seemed to have quite altered her view of her own
prospects。 She； of all the people in the world； now spoke in
disparagement of the blessing conferred on the blind by the recovery of
their sight！
〃Do you know one thing？〃 she said。 〃If I had not been going to be married
to Oscar； I doubt if I should have cared to put any oculist； native or
foreign； to the trouble of coming to Dimchurch。〃
〃I don't think I understand you；〃 I answered。 〃You cannot surely mean to
say that you would not have been glad； under any circumstances； to
recover your sight？〃
〃That is just what I do mean to say。〃
〃What！ you； who have written to Grosse to hurry the operation； don't care
to see？〃
〃I only care to see Oscar。 And； what is more； I only care to see him
because I am in love with him。 But for that； I really don't feel as if it
would give me any particular pleasure to use my eyes。 I have been blind
so long； I have learnt to do without them。〃
〃And yet； you looked perfectly entranced when Nugent first set you
doubting whether you were blind for life？〃
〃Nugent took me by surprise；〃 she answered； 〃Nugent startled me out of my
senses。 I have had time to think since； I am not carried away by the
enthusiasm of the moment now。 You people who can see attach such an
absurd importance to your eyes！ I set my touch； my dear； against your
eyes； as much the most trustworthy； and much the most intelligent sense
of the two。 If Oscar was not； as I have said； the uppermost feeling with
me； shall I tell you what I should have infinitely preferred to
recovering my sightsupposing it could have been done？〃 She shook her
head with a comic resignation to circumstances。 〃Unfortunately； it can't
be done！〃
〃What can't be done？〃
She suddenly held out both her arms over the breakfast…table。
〃The stretching out of _these_ to an enormous and unheard…of length。 That
is what I should have liked！〃 she answered。 〃I could find out better what
was going on at a distance with my hands； than you could with your eyes
and your telescopes。 What doubts I might set at rest for instance about
the planetary system； among the people who can see； if I could only
stretch out far enough to touch the stars。〃
〃This is talking sheer nonsense； Lucilla！〃
〃Is it？ Just tell me which knows best in the darkmy touch or your eyes？
Who has got a sense that she can always trust to serve her equally well
through the whole four…and…twenty hours？ You or me？ But for Oscarto
speak in sober earnest； this timeI tell you I would much rather perfect
the sense in me that I have already got； than have a sense given to me
that I have _not_ got。 Until I knew Oscar； I don't think I ever honestly
envied any of you the use of your eyes。〃
〃You astonish me； Lucilla！〃
She rattled her teaspoon impatiently in her empty cup。
〃Can you always trust your eyes； even in broad daylight？〃 she burst out。
〃How often do they deceive you； in the simplest things？ What did I hear
you all disputing about the other day in the garden？ You were looking at
some view？〃
〃Yesat the view down the alley of trees at the other end of the
churchyard wall。〃
〃Some object in the alley had attracted general noticehad it not？〃
〃Yesan object at the further end of it。〃
〃I heard you up here。 You all differed in opinion； in spite of your
wonderful eyes。 My father said it moved。 You said it stood still。 Oscar
said it was a man。 Mrs。 Finch said it was a calf。 Nugent ran off； and
examined this amazing object at close quarters。 And what did it turn out
to be？ A stump of an old tree b