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I had yielded to it； he would have seen in my face that I gloried in
having outwitted him。 I sat down； the picture of innocence； in the
nearest chair； and crossed my hands on my lap； a composed and ladylike
person； edifying to see。
The slow minutes followed each otherand still we waited the event in
silence。 Even Mr。 Finch's tongue was； on this solitary occasion； a tongue
incapable of pronouncing a single word。 He sat by his wife at one end of
the room。 Oscar and I were at the other。 Nugent stood by himself at one
of the windows； deep in his own thoughts； plotting how he could pay me
out。
Oscar was the first of the party who broke the silence。 After looking all
round the room； he suddenly addressed himself to me。
〃Madame Pratolungo！〃 he exclaimed。 〃What has become of Jicks？〃
I had completely forgotten the child。 I too looked round the room； and
satisfied myself that she had really disappeared。 Mrs。 Finch； observing
our astonishment； timidly enlightened us。 The maternal eye had seen Jicks
slip out cunningly at Herr Grosse's heels。 The child's object was plain
enough。 While there was any probability of the presence of more
gingerbread in the surgeon's pocket； the wandering Arab of the family （as
stealthy and as quick as a cat） was certain to keep within reach of her
friend。 Nobody who knew her could doubt that she had stolen into
Lucilla's bed…chamber； under cover of Herr Grosse's ample coat…tails。
We had just accounted in this way for the mysterious absence of Jicks；
when we heard the bed…chamber door opened； and the surgeon's voice
calling for Zillah。 In a minute more the nurse appeared； the bearer of a
message from the next room。
We all surrounded her； with one and the same question to ask。 What had
Herr Grosse decided to do？ The answer informed us that he had decided on
forbidding Lucilla to try her eyes that day。
〃Is she very much disappointed？〃 Oscar inquired anxiously。
〃I can hardly say； sir。 She isn't like herself。 I never knew Miss Lucilla
so quiet when she was crossed in her wishes； before。 When the doctor
called me into the room； she said： 'Go in； Zillah； and tell them。' Those
words； sir； and no more。〃
〃Did she express no wish to see me？〃 I inquired。
〃No； ma'am。 I took the liberty of asking her if she wished to see you。
Miss Lucilla shook her head； and sat herself down on the sofa； and made
the doctor sit by her。 'Leave us by ourselves。' Those were the last words
she said to me； before I came in here。〃
Reverend Finch put the next question。 The Pope of Dimchurch was himself
again： the man of many words saw his chance of speaking once more。
〃Good woman；〃 said the rector with ponderous politeness； 〃step this way。
I wish to address an inquiry to you。 Did Miss Finch make any remark； in
your hearing； indicating a desire to be comforted by My Ministrationsas
one bearing the double relation towards her of pastor and parent？〃
〃I didn't hear Miss Lucilla say anything to that effect； sir。〃
Mr。 Finch waved his hand with a look of disgust； intimating that Zillah's
audience was over。 Nugent； upon that； came forward； and stopped her as
she was leaving the room。
〃Have you nothing more to tell us？〃 he asked。
〃No； sir。〃
〃Why don't they come back here？ What are they doing in the other room？〃
〃They were doing what I mentioned just now； sirthey were sitting side
by side on the sofa。 Miss Lucilla was talking； and the doctor was
listening to her。 And Jicks；〃 added Zillah； addressing herself
confidentially to me； 〃was behind them； picking the doctor's pocket。〃
Oscar put in a word thereby no means in his most gracious manner。
〃What was Miss Lucilla saying to the doctor？〃
〃I don't know； sir。〃
〃You don't know？〃
〃I couldn't hear； sir。 Miss Lucilla was speaking to him in a whisper。〃
After that； there was no more to be said。 Zillahdisturbed over her
domestic occupations and eager to get back to her kitchenseized the
first chance of leaving the room； going out in such a hurry that she
forgot to close the door after her。 We all looked at each other。 To what
conclusion did the nurse's strange answers point？ It was plainly
impossible for Oscar （no matter how quick his temper might be） to feel
jealous of a man of Grosse's age and personal appearance。 Still； the
prolonged interview between patient and surgeonafter the decision had
been pronounced and the trial of the eyes definitely deferred to a future
dayhad a strange appearance； to say the least of it。
Nugent returned to his place at the windowpuzzled； suspicious； deep in
his own thoughts。 Reverend Finch； swelling with unspoken words； rose
portentously from his chair by his wife's side。 Had he discovered another
chance of inflicting his eloquence on us？ It was only too evident that he
had！ He looked at us with his ominous smile。 He addressed us in his
biggest voice。
〃My Christian friends〃
Nugent； unassailable by eloquence； persisted in looking out of the
window。 Oscar； insensible to every earthly consideration except the one
consideration of Lucilla； drew me aside unceremoniously out of the
rector's hearing。 Mr。 Finch resumed。
〃My Christian friends； I could wish to say a few appropriate words。〃
〃Go to Lucilla！〃 whispered Oscar； taking me entreatingly by both hands。
〃_You_ needn't stand on ceremony with her。 Do； do see what is going on in
the next room！〃
Mr。 Finch resumed。
〃The occasion seems to call upon one in my position for a little
sustaining advice on Christian dutyI would say； the duty of being
cheerful under disappointment。〃
Oscar persisted。
〃Do me the greatest of all favors！ Pray find out what is keeping Lucilla
with that man！〃
Mr。 Finch cleared his throat； and lifted his right hand persuasively by
way of introduction to his next sentence。
I answered Oscar in a whisper。
〃I don't like intruding on them。 Lucilla told the nurse they were to be
left by themselves。〃
Just as I said the words； I became aware of a sudden bump against me from
behind。 I turned； and discovered Jicks with the battering…ram…doll；
preparing for a second plunge at me。 She stopped； when she found that she
had attracted my attention； and； taking hold of my dress； tried to pull
me out of the room。
〃Remove that child！〃 cried the rector； exasperated by this new
interruption。
The child pulled harder and harder at my dress。 Something had apparently
happened outside the sitting…room which had produced a strong impression
on her。 Her little round face was flushed； her bright blue eyes were wide
open and staring。 〃Jicks wants to speak to you；〃 she saidand pulled at
me impatiently harder than ever。
I stooped down with the double purpose of obeying Mr。 Finch's commands
and of humouring the child's whim； by carrying Jicks out of the room；
when I was startled by a sound from the bed…chamberthe sound； loud and
peremptory； of Lucilla's voice。
〃Let go of me！〃 she cried。 〃I am a womanI won't be treated like a
child。〃
There was a moment of silencefollowed by the rustling sound of her
dress； approaching us along the corridor。
Grosse's voiceunmistakably angry and excitedbecame audible at the
same time。 〃No！ Come back！ come back！〃
The rustling sound of the dress came nearer。
Nugent and Mr。 Finch moved together closer to the door。 Oscar caught me
by the arm。 He and I were on the left…hand side of the door： Nugent and
the rector were on the right…hand side。 It all happened with the
suddenness of a flash of lightning。 My heart stood still。 I couldn't
speak。 I couldn't move。
The half…closed door of the sitting…room was burst wide openroughly；
violently； as if a man； not a woman； had been on the other side。 （The
rector drew back； Nugent remained where he was。） Wildly groping her way
with outstretched arms； as I had never seen her grope it in the time of
her blindness； Lucilla staggered into the room。 Merciful God！ the bandage
was off。 The life； the new life of sight； was in her eyes。 It
transfigured her face： it irradiated her beauty with an awful and
unearthly light。 She saw！ she saw！
For an instant she stopped at the door； swaying to and fro； giddy under
the broad stare of daylight。
She looked at the rectorthen at Mrs。 Finch； who had followed her
husband。 She paused bewildered； and put her hands over her eyes。 She
slightly changed her position； turned her head； as if to look at me；
turned it back sharply towards the right…hand side of the door again； and
threw up her arms in the air； with a burst of hysterical laughter。 The
laughter ended in a scream of triumph； which rang through the house。 She
rushed at Nugent Dubourg； so blindly incapable of measuring her distance
that she struck against him violently； and nearly threw him down。 〃I know
him！ I know him！〃 she criedand flung her arms round his neck。 〃Oh；
Oscar！ Oscar！〃 She clasped him to her with all her strength as the name
passed her lips； and dropped her head on his bosom in an ecstasy of joy。
It was done before any of us had recovered the use of our senses。 The
whole horrible scene must have begun and ended in less than half a minute
of time。 The surgeon； who had run into the room after her； empty…handed；
turned suddenly； and left it again； coming back with th