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dropped Painting on the spot； asked for Music； and sat down； a model of
conventional propriety； in a corner of the room。 I inquired afterwards；
why he had checked himself when she came in。 〃Did I？〃 he said。 〃I don't
know why。〃 The thing was really inexplicable。 He honestly admired
herone had only to notice him when he was looking at her to see it。 He
had not the faintest suspicion of her dislike for himshe carefully
concealed it for Oscar's sake。 He felt genuine sympathy for her in her
afflictionhis mad idea that her sight might yet be restored； was the
natural offspring of a true feeling for her。 He was not unfavorable to
his brother's marriageon the contrary； he ruffled the rector's dignity
（he was always giving offense to Mr。 Finch） by suggesting that the
marriage might be hastened。 I heard him say the words myself：〃The
church is close by。 Why can't you put on your surplice and make Oscar
happy to…morrow； after breakfast？〃 More even than this； he showed the
most vivid interestlike a woman's interest rather than a man'sin
learning how the love…affair between Oscar and Lucilla had begun。 I
referred him； so far as Oscar was concerned； to his brother as the
fountain…head of information。 He did not decline to consult his brother。
He did not own to me that he felt any difficulty in doing so。 He simply
dropped Oscar in silence； and asked about Lucilla。 How had it begun on
her side？ I reminded him of his brother's romantic position at Dimchurch
and told him to judge for himself of the effect it would produce on the
excitable imagination of a young girl。 He declined to judge for himself；
he persisted in appealing to me。 When I told the little love…story of the
two young people； one event in it appeared to make a very strong
impression on him。 The effect produced on Lucilla （when she first heard
it） by the sound of his brother's voice； dwelt strangely on his mind。 He
failed to understand it； he ridiculed it； he declined to believe it。 I
was obliged to remind him that Lucilla was blind； and that love which； in
other cases； first finds its way to the heart through the eyes； could
only； in her case； first find its way through the ears。 My explanation；
thus offered； had its effect： it set him thinking。 〃The sound of his
voice！〃 he said to himself； still turning the problem over and over in
his mind。 〃People say my voice is exactly like Oscar's；〃 he added；
suddenly addressing himself to me。 〃Do you think so too？〃 I answered that
there could be no doubt of it。 He got up from his chair； with a quick
little shudder； like a man who feels a chilland changed the subject。 On
the next occasion when he and Lucilla metso far from being more
familiar with her； he was more constrained than ever。 As it had begun
between these two； so it seemed likely to continue to the end。 In my
society； he was always at his ease。 In Lucilla's society； never！
What was the obvious conclusion which a person with my experience ought
to have drawn from all this？
I know well enough what it was； now。 On my oath as an honest woman； I
failed to see it at the time。 We are not always （suffer me to remind you）
consistent with ourselves。 The cleverest people commit occasional lapses
into stupidityjust as the stupid people light up with gleams of
intelligence at certain times。 You may have shown your usual good sense
in conducting your affairs on Monday； Tuesday； and Wednesday in the week。
But it doesn't at all follow from this； that you may not make a fool of
yourself on Thursday。 Account for it as you mayfor a much longer time
than it suits my self…esteem to reckon up； I suspected nothing and
discovered nothing。 I noted his behavior in Lucilla's presence as odd
behavior and unaccountable behaviorand that was all。
During the first fortnight just mentioned； the London doctor came to see
Oscar。
He left again； perfectly satisfied with the results of his treatment。 The
dreadful epileptic malady would torture the patient and shock the friends
about him no more： the marriage might safely be celebrated at the time
agreed on。 Oscar was cured。
The doctor's visitreviving our interest in observing the effect of the
medicinealso revived the subject of Oscar's false position towards
Lucilla。 Nugent and I held a debate about it between ourselves。 I opened
the interview by suggesting that we should unite our forces to persuade
his brother into taking the frank and manly course。 Nugent neither said
Yes nor No to that proposal at the outset。 He； who made up his mind at a
moment's notice about everything else； took time to decide on this one
occasion。
〃There is something that I want to know first；〃 he said。 〃I want to
understand this curious antipathy of Lucilla's which my brother regards
with so much alarm。 Can you explain it？〃
〃Has Oscar attempted to explain it？〃 I inquired on my side。
〃He mentioned it in one of his letters to me； and he tried to explain it；
when I asked （on my arrival at Browndown） if Lucilla had discovered the
change in his complexion。 But he failed entirely to meet my difficulty in
understanding the case。〃
〃What is your difficulty？〃
〃This。 So far as I can see； she fails to discover intuitively the
presence of dark people in a room； or of dark colors in the ornaments of
a room。 It is only when _she is told_ that such persons or such things
are present that her prejudice declares itself。 In what state of mind
does such a strange feeling as this take its rise？ It seems impossible
that she can have any conscious associations with colors； pleasant or
painfulif it is true that she was blind at a year old。 How do you
account for it？ Can there be such a thing as a purely instinctive
antipathy； remaining passive until external influences rouse it； and
resting on no sort of practical experience whatever？〃
〃I think there may be；〃 I replied。 〃Why； when I was a child just able to
walk； did I shrink away from the first dog I saw who barked at me？ I
could not have known； at that age； either by experience or teaching； that
a dog's bark is sometimes the prelude to a dog's bite。 My terror； on that
occasion； was purely instinctive surely？〃
〃Ingeniously put；〃 he said。 〃But I am not satisfied yet。〃
〃You must also remember；〃 I continued； 〃that she has a positively painful
association with dark colors； on certain occasions。 They sometimes
produce a disagreeable impression on her nerves； through her sense of
touch。 She discovered； in that way； that I had a dark gown on； on the day
when I first saw her。〃
〃And yet； she touches my brother's face； and fails to discover any
alteration in it。〃
I met that objection alsoto my own satisfaction； though not to his。
〃I am far from sure that she might not have made the discovery；〃 I said；
〃if she had touched him for the first time； since the discoloration of
his face。 But she examines him now with a settled impression in her mind；
derived from previous experience of what she has felt in touching his
skin。 Allow for the modifying influence of that impression on her sense
of touchand remember at the same time； that it is the color and not the
texture of the skin that is changedand his escape from discovery
becomes； to my mind； intelligible。〃
He shook his head； he owned he could not dispute my view。 But he was not
content for all that。
〃Have you made any inquiries；〃 he asked； 〃about the period of her infancy
before she was blind？ She may be still feeling； indirectly and
unconsciously； the effect of some shock to her nervous system in the time
when she could see。〃
〃I have never thought of making inquiries。〃
〃Is there anybody within our reach； who was familiarly associated with
her in the first year of her life？ It is hardly likely； I am afraid； at
this distance of time？〃
〃There is a person now in the house；〃 I said。 〃Her old nurse is still
living。〃
〃Send for her directly。〃
Zillah appeared。 After first explaining what he wanted with her； Nugent
went straight to the inquiry which he had in view。
〃Was your young lady ever frightened when she was a baby by any dark
person； or any dark thing； suddenly appearing before her？〃
〃Never； sir！ I took good care to let nothing come near her that could
frighten herso long； poor little thing； as she could see。〃
〃Are you quite sure you can depend on your memory？〃
〃Quite sure； sirwhen it's a long time ago。〃
Zillah was dismissed。 Nugentthus far； unusually grave； and unusually
anxiousturned to me with an air of relief。
〃When you proposed to me to join you in forcing Oscar to speak out；〃 he
said； 〃I was not quite easy in my mind about the consequences。 After what
I have just heard； my fear is removed。〃
〃What fear？〃 I asked。
〃The fear of Oscar's confession producing an estrangement between them
which might delay the marriage。 I am against all delays。 I am especially
anxious that Oscar's marriage should not be put off。 When we began our
conversation； I own to you I was of Oscar's opinion that he would do
wisely to let marriage make him sure of his position in her affections；
before he risked the disclosure。 Nowafter what the nurse has told usI
see no risk worth considering。〃
〃In short；〃 I said； 〃you agree with me？〃
〃I agree with youthough