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required all my influence； backed by Oscar's entreaties； and strengthened
by the furious foreign English of our excellent German surgeon （Herr
Grosse had a temper of his own； I can tell you！） to prevent her from
breaking through the medical discipline which held her in its grasp。 When
she became quite unmanageable； and vehemently abused him to his face； our
good Grosse used to swear at her； in a compound bad language of his own；
with a tremendous aspiration at the beginning of it； which always set
matters right by making her laugh。 I see him again as I write； leaving
the room on these occasions； with his eyes blazing through his
spectacles； and his shabby hat cocked sideways on his head。 〃Soh； you
little…spitfire…Feench！ If you touch that bandages when I have put him
onHo…Damn…Damn！ I say no more。 Good…bye！〃
From Lucilla I turn to the twin…brothers next。
Tranquilized as to the future； after his interview with Mr。 Sebright；
Oscar presented himself at his best during the time of which I am now
writing。 Lucilla's main reliance in her days in the darkened room； was on
what her lover could do to relieve and to encourage her。 He never once
failed her； his patience was perfect； his devotion was inexhaustible。 It
is sad to say so； in view of what happened afterwards； but I only tell a
necessary truth when I declare that he immensely strengthened his hold on
her affections； in those last days of her blindness when his society was
most precious to her。 Ah； how fervently she used to talk of him when she
and I were left together at night！ Forgive me if I leave this part of the
history of the courtship untold。 I don't like to write of itI don't
like to think of it。 Let us get on to something else。
Nugent comes next。 I would give a great deal； poor as I am； to be able to
leave him out。 It is not to be done。 I must write about that lost wretch；
and you must read about him； whether we like it or not。
The days of Lucilla's imprisonment； were also the days when my favorite
disappointed me； for the first time。 He and his brother seemed to change
places。 It was Nugent now who appeared to disadvantage by comparison with
Oscar。 He surprised and grieved his brother by leaving Browndown。 〃All I
can do for you； I have done；〃 he said。 〃I can be of no further use for
the present to anybody。 Let me go。 I am stagnating in this miserable
placeI must； and will； have change。〃 Oscar's entreaties； in Nugent's
present frame of mind； failed to move him。 Away he went one morning；
without bidding anybody goodbye。 He had talked of being absent for a
weekhe remained away for a month。 We heard of him； leading a wild life；
among a vicious set of men。 It was reported that a frantic restlessness
possessed him which nobody could understand。 He came back as suddenly as
he had left us。 His variable nature had swung round； in the interval； to
the opposite extreme。 He was full of repentance for his reckless conduct；
he was in a state of depression which defied rousing； he despaired of
himself and his future。 Sometimes he talked of going back to America； and
sometimes he threatened to close his career by enlisting as a private
soldier。 Would any other person； in my place； have seen which way these
signs pointed？ I doubt it； if that person's mind had been absorbed； as
mine was； in watching Lucilla day by day。 Even if I had been a suspicious
woman by naturewhich； thank God； I am notmy distrust must have lain
dormant； in the all…subduing atmosphere of suspense hanging heavily on me
morning； noon； and night in the darkened room。
So much； briefly； for the sayings and doings of the persons principally
concerned in this narrative； during the six weeks which separate Part the
First from Part the Second。
I begin again on the ninth of August。
This was the memorable day chosen by Herr Grosse for risking the
experiment of removing the bandage； and permitting Lucilla to try her
sight for the first time。 Conceive for yourselves （don't ask me to
describe） the excitement that raged in our obscure little circle； now
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。 Wh