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their own dark sphere； of which we know nothing。 What relief could come
to Lucilla from the world outside？ None！ It was part of her desolate
liberty to be free to dwell unremittingly on the ideal creature of her
own dream。 Within the narrow limit of the one impression that it had been
possible for her to derive of this manthe impression of the beauty of
his voiceher fancy was left to work unrestrained in the changeless
darkness of her life。 What a picture！ I shudder as I draw it。 Oh； yes； it
is easy； I know； to look at it the other wayto laugh at the folly of a
girl； who first excites her imagination about a total stranger； and then；
when she hears him speak； falls in love with his voice！ But add that the
girl is blind； that the girl lives habitually in the world of her own
imagination； that the girl has nobody at home who can exercise a
wholesome influence over her。 Is there nothing pitiable in such a state
of things as this？ For myself； though I come of a light…hearted nation
that laughs at everythingI saw my own face looking horribly grave and
old； as I sat before the glass that night； brushing my hair。
I looked at my bed。 Bah！ what was the use of going to bed？ She was her
own mistress。 She was perfectly free to take her next walk to Browndown
alone！ and to place herself； for all I knew to the contrary； at the mercy
of a dishonorable and designing man。 What was I？ Only her companion。 I
had no right to interfereand yet； if anything happened； I should be
blamed。 It is so easy to say； 〃You ought to have done something。〃 Whom
could I consult？ The worthy old nurse only held the position of servant。
Could I address myself to the lymphatic lady with the baby in one hand；
and the novel in the other？ Absurd！ her stepmother was not to be thought
of。 Her father？ Judging by hearsay； I had not derived a favorable
impression of the capacity of Reverend Finch for interfering successfully
in a matter of this sort。 However； he was her father； and I could feel my
way cautiously with him at first。 Hearing Zillah moving about the
corridor； I went out to her。 In the course of a little gossip； I
introduced the name of the master of the house。 How was it I had not seen
him yet？ For an excellent reason。 He had gone to visit a friend at
Brighton。 It was then Tuesday。 He was expected back on 〃sermon…day〃that
is to say on Saturday in the same week。
I returned to my room； a little out of temper。 In this state my mind
works with wonderful freedom。 I had another of my inspirations。 Mr。
Dubourg had taken the liberty of speaking to me that evening。 Good。 I
determined to go alone to Browndown the next morning； and take the
liberty of speaking to Mr。 Dubourg。
Was this resolution solely inspired by my interest in Lucilla？ Or had my
own curiosity been all the time working under the surface； and
influencing the course of my reflections unknown to myself？ I went to bed
without inquiring。 I recommend you to go to bed without inquiring too。
CHAPTER THE SEVENTH
Daylight View of the Man
WHEN I put out my candle that night； I made a mistakeI trusted entirely
to myself to wake in good time in the morning。 I ought to have told
Zillah to call me。
Hours passed before I could close my eyes。 It was broken rest when it
came； until the day dawned。 Then I fell asleep at last in good earnest。
When I woke； and looked at my watch； I was amazed to find that it was ten
o'clock。
I jumped out of bed； and rang for the old nurse。 Was Lucilla at home？ No：
she had gone out for a little walk。 By herself？ Yesby herself。 In what
direction？ Up the valley； towards Browndown。
I instantly arrived at my own conclusion。
She had got the start of methanks to my laziness in sleeping away the
precious hours of the morning in bed。 The one thing to do； was to follow
her as speedily as possible。 In half an hour more； _I_ was out for a
little walk by myselfand （what do you think？） _my_ direction also was
up the valley； towards Browndown。
A pastoral solitude reigned round the lonely little house。 I went on
beyond it； into the next winding of the valley。 Not a human creature was
to be seen。 I returned to Browndown to reconnoiter。 Ascending the rising
ground on which the house was built； I approached it from the back。 The
windows were all open。 I listened。 （Do you suppose I felt scruples in
such an emergency as this？ Oh； pooh！ pooh！ who but a fool would have felt
anything of the sort！） I listened with both my ears。 Through a window at
the side of the house； I heard the sound of voices。 Advancing noiselessly
on the turf； I heard the voice of Dubourg。 He was answered by a woman。
Aha； I had caught her。 Lucilla herself！
〃Wonderful！〃 I heard him say。 〃I believe you have eyes in the ends of
your fingers。 Take this； nowand try if you can tell me what it is。〃
〃A little vase；〃 she answeredspeaking； I give you my word of honor； as
composedly as if she had known him for years。 〃Wait！ what metal is it？
Silver？ No。 Gold。 Did you really make this yourself as well as the box？〃
〃Yes。 It is an odd taste of mineisn't it？to be fond of chasing in
gold and silver。 Years ago I met with a man in Italy； who taught me。 It
amused me； thenand it amuses me now。 When I was recovering from an
illness last spring； I shaped that vase out of the plain metal； and made
the ornaments on it。〃
〃Another mystery revealed！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Now I know what you wanted
with those gold and silver plates that came to you from London。 Are you
aware of what a character you have got here？ There are some of us who
suspect you of coining false money！〃
They both burst out laughing as gaily as a couple of children。 I declare
I wished myself one of the party！ But no。 I had my duty to do as a
respectable woman。 My duty was to steal a little nearer； and see if any
familiarities were passing between these two merry young people。 One half
of the open window was sheltered； on the outer side； by a Venetian blind。
I stood behind the blind； and peeped in。 （Duty！ oh； dear me； painful； but
necessary duty！） Dubourg was sitting with his back to the window。 Lucilla
faced me opposite to him。 Her cheeks were flushed with pleasure。 She held
in her lap a pretty little golden vase。 Her clever fingers were passing
over it rapidly； exactly as they had passed； the previous evening； over
my face。
〃Shall I tell you what the pattern is on your vase？〃 she went on。
〃Can you really do that？〃
〃You shall judge for yourself。 The pattern is made of leaves； with birds
placed among them； at intervals。 Stop！ I think I have felt leaves like
these on the old side of the rectory； against the wall。 Ivy？〃
〃Amazing！ it _is_ ivy。〃
〃The birds；〃 she resumed。 〃I shan't be satisfied till I have told you
what the birds are。 Haven't I got silver birds like themonly much
largerfor holding pepper； and mustard； and sugar； and so on。 Owls！〃 she
exclaimed； with a cry of triumph。 〃Little owls； sitting in ivy…nests。
What a delightful pattern！ I never heard of anything like it before。〃
〃Keep the vase！〃 he said。 〃You will honor me； you will delight me； if you
will keep the vase。〃
She rose and shook her headwithout giving him back the vase； however。
〃I might take it； if you were not a stranger；〃 she said。 〃Why don't you
tell us who you are； and what your reason is for living all by yourself
in this dull place？〃
He stood before her； with his head down； and sighed bitterly。
〃I know I ought to explain myself；〃 he answered。 〃I can't be surprised if
people are suspicious of me。〃 He paused； and added very earnestly； 〃I
can't tell it to _you。_ Oh； nonot to _you！_〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Don't ask me！〃
She felt for the table； with her ivory cane； and put the vase down on
itvery unwillingly。
〃Good morning； Mr。 Dubourg；〃 she said。
He opened the door of the room for her in silence。 Waiting close against
the side of the house； I saw them appear under the porch； and cross the
little walled enclosure in front。 As she stepped out on the open turf
beyond； she turned； and spoke to him again。
〃If you won't tell _me_ your secret；〃 she said； 〃will you tell it to some
one else？ Will you tell it to a friend of mine？〃
〃To what friend？〃 he asked。
〃To the lady whom you met with me last night。〃
He hesitated。 〃I am afraid I offended the lady；〃 he said。
〃So much the more reason for your explaining yourself；〃 she rejoined。 〃If
you will only satisfy _her；_ I might ask you to come and see usI might
even take the vase。〃 With that strong hint； she actually gave him her
hand at parting。 Her perfect self…possession； her easy familiarity with
this strangerso bold； and yet so innocentpetrified me。 〃I shall send
my friend to you this morning；〃 she said imperiously； striking her cane
on the turf。 〃I insist on your telling her the whole truth。〃
With that； she signed to him that he was to follow her no farther； and
went her way back to the village。
Does it not surprise you； as it surprised me？ Instead of her blindness
making her nervous in the presence of a man unknown to her； it appeared
to have exactly the contrary effect。 It made her fearless。
He stood on the spot where she had left him； watching her as she receded
in the distance。 His manner towards her；