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which。 I only know that I persisted in disputing with him。 〃When she sees
the true man；〃 I went on； 〃do you mean to say she will feel the same
disappointment？〃
I could get no farther than that。 He cut me short there； without
ceremony。
〃You foolish womans！〃 he interposed； 〃she will feel more than the same。 I
have told you already it was one enormous disappointments to her when she
saw the handsome brodder with the fair complexions。 Ask your own self
what it will be when she sees the ugly brodder with the blue face。 I tell
you this！she will think your true man the worst impostor of the two。〃
There I indignantly contradicted him。
〃His face _may_ be a disappointment to her；〃 I said〃I own that。 But
there it will end。 Her hand will tell her； when he takes it； that there
is no impostor deceiving her this time。〃
〃Her hand will tell her nothingno more than yours。 I had not so much
hard hearts in me as to say that to _her；_ when she asked me。 I say it to
_you。_ Hold your tongue and listen。 All those thrill…tingles that she
once had when he touched her； belong to anodder timethe time gone…by
when her sight was in her fingers and not in her eyes。 With those
fine…superfine…feelings of the days when she was blind； she pays now for
her grand new privilege of opening her eyes on the world。 （And worth the
price too！） Do you understand yet？ It is a sort of swop…bargain between
Nature and this poor girls of ours。 I take away your eyesI give you
your fine touch。 I give you your eyesI take away your fine touch。 Soh！
that is plain。 You see now。〃
I was too mortified and too miserable to answer him。 Through all our
later troubles； I had looked forward so confidently to Oscar's
re…appearance as the one sufficient condition on which Lucilla's
happiness would be certainly restored！ What had become of my
anticipations now？ I sat silent； staring in stupid depression at the
pattern of the carpet。 Grosse took out his watch。
〃Your ten…minutes…time has counted himself out；〃 he said。
I neither moved nor heeded him。 His ferocious eyes began to flame again
behind his monstrous spectacles。
〃Go…be…off…with…you！〃 he shouted at me as if I was deaf。 〃Her eyes！ her
eyes！ While you stop chatterboxing here； her eyes are in danger。 What
with her frettings and her cryings and her damn…nonsense…lofe…business； I
swear you my solemn oath her sight was in danger when I saw her a whole
fortnight gone…by。 Do you want my big pillow to fly bang at your head？
You don't want him？ Be…off…away with you then； or you will have him in
one…two…three time！ Be…off…awayand bring her back to me before night！〃
I returned to the railway。 Of all the women whom I passed in the crowded
streets； I doubt if one had a heavier heart in her bosom that morning
than mine。
To make matters worse still； my traveling companions （one in the
refreshment…room； and one pacing the platform） received my account of my
interview with Grosse in a manner which seriously disappointed and
discouraged me。 Mr。 Finch's inhuman conceit treated my melancholy news of
his daughter as a species of complimentary tribute to his own foresight。
〃You remember； Madame Pratolungo； I took high ground in this matter from
the first。 I protested against the proceedings of the man Grosse； as
involving a purely worldly interference with the ways of an inscrutable
Providence。 With what effect？ My paternal influence was repudiated； my
Moral Weight was； so to speak； set aside。 And now you see the result。
Take it to heart； dear friend。 May it be a warning to you！〃 He sighed
with ponderous complacency； and turned from me to the girl behind the
counter。 〃I will take another cup of tea。〃
Oscar's reception of me； when I found him on the platform； and told him
next of Lucilla's critical state； was more than discouraging。 It is no
exaggeration to say that he alarmed me。 〃Another item in the debt I owe
to Nugent！〃 he said。 Not a word of sympathy； not a word of sorrow。 That
vindictive answer； and nothing more。
We started for Sydenham。
From time to time； I looked at Oscar sitting opposite to me； to see if
any change appeared in him as we drew nearer and nearer to the place in
which Lucilla was now living。 No！ Still the same ominous silence； the
same unnatural self…repression possessed him。
Except the momentary outbreak； when Mr。 Finch had placed Nugent's letter
in his hand on the previous evening； not the faintest token of what was
really going on in his mind had escaped him since we had left Marseilles。
He； who could weep over all his other griefs as easily and as
spontaneously as a woman； had not shed a tear since the fatal day when he
had discovered that his brother had played him falsethat brother who
had been the god of his idolatry； the sacred object of his gratitude and
his love！ When a man of Oscar's temperament becomes frozen up for days
together in his own thoughtswhen he keeps his own counsel； when he asks
for no sympathy； and utters no complaintthe sign is a serious one。
There are hidden forces gathering in him which will burst their way to
the surfacefor good or for evilwith an irresistible result。 Watching
Oscar attentively behind my veil； I felt the certain assurance that the
part he would take in the terrible conflict of interests now awaiting us；
would be a part which I should remember to the latest day of my life。
We reached Sydenham； and went to the nearest hotel。
On the railwaywith other travelers in the carriage…it had been
impossible to consult on the safest method of approaching Lucilla； in the
first instance。 That serious question now pressed for instant decision。
We sat down to discuss it； in the room which we had hired at the hotel。
CHAPTER THE FORTY…NINTH
On the Way to the End。 Third Stage
ON former occasions of doubt or difficulty； it had always been Oscar's
habit to follow the opinions of others。 On this occasion he was the first
to speak； and to assert an opinion of his own。
〃It seems needless to waste time in discussing our different views；〃 he
said。 〃There is only one thing to be done。 I am the person principally
concerned in this matter。 Wait here； while I go to the house。〃
He spoke without any of his usual hesitation； he took up his hat without
looking either at Mr。 Finch or at me。 I felt more and more convinced that
the influence which Nugent's vile breach of confidence had exerted over
Oscar's mind； was an influence which had made a dangerous man of him。
Resolved to prevent him from leaving us； I insisted on his returning to
his chair； and hearing what I had to say。 At the same moment； Mr。 Finch
rose； and placed himself between Oscar and the door。 Seeing this； I
thought it might be wise if I kept my interference in reserve； and
allowed the rector to speak first。
〃Wait a moment； Oscar；〃 said Mr。 Finch； gravely。 〃You are forgetting Me。〃
Oscar waited doggedly； hat in hand。
Mr。 Finch paused； evidently considering what words he should use before
he spoke again。 His respect for Oscar's pecuniary position was great； but
his respect for himselfespecially at the present crisiswas； if
possible； greater still。 In deference to the first sentiment he was as
polite； and in deference to the second he was as positive； in phrasing
his remonstrance； as a man could be。 〃Permit me to remind you； dear
Oscar； that my claim to interfere； as Lucilla's father； is at least equal
to yours；〃 proceeded the rector。 〃In the hour of my daughter's need； it
is my parental duty to be present。 If you go to your cousin's house； my
position imperatively requires that I should go too。〃 Oscar's reception
of this proposal confirmed the grave apprehensions with which he had
inspired me。 He flatly refused to have Mr。 Finch for a companion。
〃Excuse me；〃 he answered shortly。 〃I wish to go to the house alone。〃
〃Permit me to ask your reason；〃 said the rector； still preserving his
conciliatory manner。
〃I wish to see my brother in private；〃 Oscar replied； with his eyes on
the ground。
Mr。 Finch； still restraining himself； but still not moving from the door；
looked at me。 I hastened to interfere before there was any serious
disagreement between them。
〃I venture to think；〃 I said； 〃that you are both wrong。 Whether one of
you goes； or both of you go； the result will be the same。 The chances are
a hundred to one； against your being admitted into the house。〃
They both turned on me together； and asked what I meant。
〃You can't force your way in；〃 I said。 〃You must do one of two things。
You must either give your names to the servant at the door； or you must
withhold your names。 If you give them； you warn Nugent of what is
comingand he is not the man to let you into the house under those
circumstances。 If you take the other way； and keep your names concealed；
you present yourselves as strangers。 Is Nugent likely to be accessible to
strangers？ Would Lucilla； in her present position； consent to receive two
men who are unknown to her？ Take my word for ityou will not only gain
nothing if you go to the house you will actually make it more difficult
to communicate with Lucilla than it is already。〃
There was a moment's silence。 Both the men felt that my objections were
not easy to answe