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that we were standing face to face with that grand Event in our lives
which I promised to relate in the opening sentence of these pages。
I was the earliest riser at the rectory that morning。 My excitable French
blood was in a fever。 I was irresistibly reminded of myself； at a time
long pastthe time when my glorious Pratolungo and I； succumbing to Fate
and tyrants； fled to England for safety； martyrs to that ungrateful
Republic （long live the Republic！） for which I laid down my money and my
husband his life。
I opened my window； and hailed the good omen of sunrise in a clear sky。
Just as I was turning away again from the view； I saw a figure steal out
from the shrubbery and appear on the lawn。 The figure came nearer。 I
recognized Oscar。
〃What in the world are you doing there； at this time in the morning？〃 I
called out。
He lifted his finger to his lips； and came close under my window before
he answered。
〃Hush！〃 he said。 〃Don't let Lucilla hear you。 Come down to me as soon as
you can。 I am waiting to speak to you。〃
When I joined him in the garden； I saw directly that something had gone
wrong。
〃Bad news from Browndown？〃 I asked。
〃Nugent has disappointed me；〃 he answered。 〃Do you remember the evening
when you met me after my consultation with Mr。 Sebright？〃
〃Perfectly。〃
〃I told you that I meant to ask Nugent to leave Dimchurch； on the day
when Lucilla tried her sight for the first time。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Wellhe refuses to leave Dimchurch。〃
〃Have you explained your motives to him？〃
〃Carefullybefore I asked him to go。 I told him how impossible it was to
say what might happen。 I reminded him that it might be of the utmost
importance to me to preserve the impression now in Lucilla's mindfor a
certain time onlyafter Lucilla could see。 I promised； the moment she
became reconciled to the sight of me； to recall him； and in his presence
to tell her the truth。 All that I said to himand how do you think he
answered me？〃
〃Did he positively refuse？〃
〃No。 He walked away from me to the window； and considered a little。 Then
he turned round suddenly and said 'What did you tell me was Mr。
Sebright's opinion？ Mr。 Sebright thought she would be relieved instead of
being terrified。 In that case； what need is there for me to go away？ You
can acknowledge at once that she has seen your face； and not mine？' He
put his hands in his pockets when he had said that （you know Nugent's
downright way）and turned back to the window as if he had settled
everything。〃
〃What did you say； on your side？〃
〃I said； 'Suppose Mr。 Sebright is wrong？' He only answered； 'Suppose Mr。
Sebright is right？' I followed him to the windowI never heard him speak
so sourly to me as he spoke at that moment。 'What is your objection to
going away for a day or two？' I asked。 'My objection is soon stated；' he
answered。 'I am sick of these everlasting complications。 It is useless
and cruel to carry on the deception any longer。 Mr。 Sebright's advice is
the wise advice and the right advice。 Let her see you as you are。' With
that answer； he walked out of the room。 Something has upset himI can't
imagine what it is。 Do pray see what you can make of him！ My only hope is
in you。〃
I own I felt reluctant to interfere。 Suddenly and strangely as Nugent had
altered his point of view； it seemed to me undeniable that Nugent was
right。 At the same time； Oscar looked so disappointed and distressed；
that it was really impossible； on that day above all others； to pain him
additionally by roundly saying No。 I undertook to do what I couldand I
inwardly hoped that circumstances would absolve me from the necessity of
doing anything at all。
Circumstances failed to justify my selfish confidence in them。
I was out in the village； after breakfast； on a domestic errand connected
with the necessary culinary preparations for the reception of Herr
Grossewhen I heard my name pronounced behind me； and； turning round；
found myself face to face with Nugent。
〃Has my brother been bothering you this morning；〃 he asked； 〃before I was
up？〃
I instantly noticed a return in him； as he said that； to the same dogged
ungracious manner which had perplexed and displeased me at my last
confidential interview with him in the rectory garden。
〃Oscar has been speaking to me this morning；〃 I replied。
〃About me？〃
〃About you。 You have distressed and disappointed him〃
〃I know！ I know！ Oscar is worse than a child。 I am beginning to lose all
patience with him。〃
〃I am sorry to hear you say that； Nugent。 You have borne with him so
kindly thus farsurely you can make allowances for him to…day？ His whole
future may depend on what happens in Lucilla's sitting…room a few hours
hence。〃
〃He is making a mountain out of a mole…hilland so are you。〃
Those words were spoken bitterlyalmost rudely。 I answered sharply on my
side。
〃You are the last person living who has any right to say that。 Oscar is
in a false position towards Lucilla； with your knowledge and consent。 In
your brother's interests； you agreed to the fraud that has been practiced
on her。 In your brother's interests； again； you are asked to leave
Dimchurch。 Why do you refuse？〃
〃I refuse； because I have come round to your way of thinking。 What did
you say of Oscar and of me； in the summer…house？ You said we were taking
a cruel advantage of Lucilla's blindness。 You were right。 It was cruel
not to have told her the truth。 I won't be a party to concealing the
truth from her any longer！ I refuse to persist in deceiving herin
meanly deceiving heron the day when she recovers her sight！〃
It is entirely beyond my power to describe the tone in which he made that
reply。 I can only declare that it struck me dumb for the moment。 I drew a
step nearer to him。 With vague misgivings in me； I looked him searchingly
in the face。 He looked back at me； without shrinking。
〃Well？〃 he askedwith a hard smile which defied me to put him in the
wrong。
I could discover nothing in his faceI could only follow my instincts as
a woman。 Those instincts warned me to accept his explanation。
〃I am to understand then that you have decided on staying here？〃 I said。
〃Certainly！〃
〃What do you propose to do； when Herr Grosse arrives； and we assemble in
Lucilla's room？〃
〃I propose to be present among the rest of you； at the most interesting
moment of Lucilla's life。〃
〃No！ you don't propose that！〃
〃I do！〃
〃You have forgotten something； Mr。 Nugent Dubourg。〃
〃What is it； Madame Pratolungo？〃
〃You have forgotten that Lucilla believes the brother with the discolored
face to be You； and the brother with the fair complexion to be Oscar。 You
have forgotten that the surgeon has expressly forbidden us to agitate her
by entering into any explanations before he allows her to use her eyes。
You have forgotten that the very deception which you have just positively
refused to go on with； will be nevertheless a deception continued； if you
are present when Lucilla sees。 Your own resolution pledges you not to
enter the rectory doors until Lucilla has discovered the truth。〃 In those
words I closed the vice on him。 I had got Mr。 Nugent Dubourg！
He turned deadly pale。 His e