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four…and…twenty hours； he must keep watch over her eyes。 At the end of
that timeno earlierhe might be able to say whether the mischief done
would be fatal to her sight or not。 I asked how she had contrived to get
her bandage off； and to make her fatal entrance into the sitting…room。
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃There are times；〃 he said cynically； 〃when
every womans is a hussy； and every mans is a fool。 This was one of the
times。〃
It appeared； on further explanation； that my poor Lucilla had pleaded so
earnestly （after the nurse had left the room） to be allowed to try her
eyes； and had shown such ungovernable disappointment when he persisted in
saying No； that he had yieldednot so much to her entreaties； as to his
own conviction that it would be less dangerous to humour her than to
thwart her； with such a sensitive and irritable temperament as hers。 He
had first bargained however； on his side； that she should remain in the
bed…chamber； and be content； for that time； with using her sight on the
objects round her in the room。 She had promised all that he askedand he
had been foolish enough to trust to her promise。 The bandage once off；
she had instantly set every consideration at defiancehad torn herself
out of his hands like a mad creatureand had rushed into the
sitting…room before he could stop her。 The rest had followed as a matter
of course。 Feeble as it was at the first trial of it； her sense of sight
was sufficiently restored to enable her to distinguish objects dimly。 Of
the three persons who had offered themselves to view on the right…hand
side of the door； one （Mrs。 Finch） was a woman； another （Mr。 Finch） was a
short； grey…headed； elderly man； the third （Nugent）； in his heightwhich
she could seeand in the color of his hairwhich she could see…was the
only one of the three who could possibly represent Oscar。 The catastrophe
that followed was （as things were） inevitable。 Now that the harm was
done； the one alternative left was to check the mischief at the point
which it had already reached。 Not the slightest hint at the terrible
mistake that she had made must be suffered to reach her ears。 If we any
of us said one word about it before he authorized us to do so； he would
refuse to answer for the consequences； and would then and there throw up
the case。
So； in his broken English； Herr Grosse explained what had happened； and
issued his directions for our future conduct。
〃No person is to go into her；〃 he said； in conclusion； 〃but you and goot
Mrs。 Zillahs。 You two watch her； turn…about…turn…about。 In a whiles； she
will sleep。 For me； I go to smoke my tobaccos in the garden。 Hear this；
Madame Pratolungo。 When Gott made the womens； he was sorry afterwards for
the poor mensand he made tobaccos to comfort them。〃
Favoring me with this peculiar view of the scheme of creation； Herr
Grosse shook his shock head； and waddled away to the garden。
I softly opened the bed…room door； and looked indisappearing just in
time to escape the rector and Mrs。 Finch returning to their own side of
the house。
Lucilla was lying on the sofa。 She asked who it was in a drowsy
voiceshe was happily just sinking into slumber。 Zillah occupied a chair
near her。 I was not wanted for the momentand I was glad； for the first
time in my experience at Dimchurch； to get out of the room again。 By some
contradiction in my character which I am not able to explain； there was a
certain hostile influence in the sympathy that I felt for Oscar； which
estranged me； for the moment； from Lucilla。 It was not her faultand yet
（I am ashamed to own it） I almost felt angry with her for reposing so
comfortably； when I thought of the poor fellow； without a creature to say
a kind word to him； alone at Browndown。
Out again in the corridor； the question faced me：What was I to do next？
The loneliness of the house was insupportable； my anxiety about Oscar
grew more than I could endure。 I put on my hat； and went out。
Having no desire to interfere with Herr Grosse's enjoyment of his pipe； I
made my way through the garden as quickly as possible； and found myself
in the village again。 My uneasiness on the subject of Oscar； was matched
by my angry desire to know what Nugent would do。 Now that he had worked
the very mischief which his brother had foreseen to be possiblethe very
mischief which it had been Oscar's one object to prevent in asking him to
leave Dimchurchwould he take his departure？ would he rid us； at once
and for ever； of the sight of him？ The bare idea of the other
alternativeI mean； of his remaining in the placeshook me with such an
unutterable dread of what might happen next； that my feet refused to
support me。 I was obliged； just beyond the village； to sit down by the
road…side； and wait till my giddy head steadied itself before I attempted
to move again。
After a minute or two； I heard footsteps coming along the road。 My heart
gave one great leap in me。 I thought it was Nugent。
A moment more brought the person in view。 It was only Mr。 Gootheridge of
the village inn； on his way home。 He stopped； and took off his hat。
〃Tired； ma'am？〃 he said。
The uppermost idea in my mind found its way somehow； ill as I was； to
expression on my lipsin the form of a question addressed to the
landlord。
〃Do you happen to have seen anything of Mr。 Nugent Dubourg？〃 I asked。
〃I saw him not five minutes since； ma'am。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Going into Browndown。〃
I started up； as if I had been struck or shot。 Worthy Mr。 Gootheridge
stared。 I wished him good…day； and went on as fast as my feet would take
me； straight to Browndown。 Had the brothers met in the house？ I turned
cold at the bare thought of itbut I still kept on。 There was an
obstinate resolution in me to part them； which served me in place of
courage。 Account for it as you may； I was bold and frightened both at the
same time。 At one moment； I was fool enough to say to myself； 〃They will
kill me。〃 At another； just as foolishly； I found comfort in the opposite
view。 〃Bah！ They are gentlemen； they can't hurt a woman！〃
The servant was standing idling at the front door； when I arrived in
sight of the house。 This； in itself； was unusual。 He was a hard…working
well…trained man。 On other occasions； nobody had ever seen him out of his
proper place。 He advanced a few steps to meet me。 I looked at him
carefully。 Not the slightest appearance of disturbance was visible in his
face。
〃Is Mr。 Oscar at home？〃 I asked。
〃I beg your pardon； ma'am。 Mr。 Oscar is at homebut you can't see him。
He and Mr。 Nugent are together。〃
I rested my hand on the low wall in front of the house； and made a
desperate effort to put a calm face on it。
〃Surely Mr。 Oscar will see _me？_〃 I said。
〃I have Mr。 Oscar's orders； ma'am； to wait at the door； and tell
everybody who comes to the house （without exception） that he is engaged。〃
The house…door was half open。 I listened intently while the man was
speaking。 If they had been at high words together； I must have heard them
in the silence of the lonely hills all round us。 I heard nothing。
It was strange； it was inconceivable。 At the same time it relieved me。
There they were together； and no harm h