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agreed with him in believing that the image in her mind of the man with
the blue face； was in all probability something fantastically and
hideously unlike the reality？ After what I had heard； I agreed with him
as a matter of course。 'Very well；' says Mr。 Sebright。 'Now let its
remember that there is one important difference between the case of Miss
Finch； and the case that I have just mentioned。 The husband's blind idea
of his wife was the husband's favorite idea。 The shock of the first sight
of her； was plainly a shock to him on that account。 Now Miss Finch's
blind idea of the blue face is； on the contrary； a hateful idea to
herthe image is an image that she loathes。 Is it not fair to conclude
from this； that the first sight of you as you really are； is likely to
be； in her case； a relief to her instead of a shock？ Reasoning from my
experience； I reach that conclusion； and I advise you； in your own
interests； to be present when the bandage is taken off。 Even if I prove
to be mistakeneven if she is not immediately reconciled to the sight of
youthere is the other example of the child and the Indian nurse to
satisfy you that it is only a question of time。 Sooner or later； she will
take the discovery as any other young lady would take it。 At first； she
will be indignant with you for deceiving her； and then； if you are sure
of your place in her affections； she will end in forgiving you。There is
my view of your position； and there are the grounds on which I form it！
In the meantime； my own opinion remains unshaken。 I firmly believe that
you will never have occasion to act on the advice that I have given to
you。 When the bandage is taken off； the chances are five hundred to one
that she is no nearer to seeing you then than she is now。' These were his
last wordsand on that we parted。〃
Oscar and I walked on again for a little way； in silence。
I had nothing to say against Mr。 Sebright's reasons； it was impossible to
question the professional experience from which they were drawn。 As to
blind people in general； I felt no doubt that his advice was good； and
that his conclusions were arrived at correctly。 But Lucilla's was no
ordinary character。 My experience of her was better experience than Mr。
Sebright'sand the more I thought of the future； the less inclined I
felt to share Oscar's hopeful view。 She was just the person to say
something or do something； at the critical moment of the experiment；
which would take the wisest previous calculation by surprise。 Oscar's
prospects never had looked darker to me than they looked at that moment。
It would have been useless and cruel to have said to him what I have just
said here。 I put as bright a face on it as I could； and asked if he
proposed to follow Mr。 Sebright's advice。
〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃With a certain reservation of my own； which occurred to
me after I had left his house。〃
〃May I ask what it is？〃
〃Certainly。 I mean to beg Nugent to leave Dimchurch； before Lucilla tries
her sight for the first time。 He will do that； I know； to please me。〃
〃And when he has done it； what then？〃
〃Then I mean to be presentas Mr。 Sebright suggestedwhen the bandage
is taken off。〃
〃Previously telling Lucilla；〃 I interposed； 〃that it is you who are in
the room？〃
〃No。 There I take the precaution that I alluded to just now。 I propose to
leave Lucilla under the impression that it is I who have left Dimchurch；
and that Nugent's face is the face she sees。 If Mr。 Sebright proves to be
right； and if her first sensation is a sensation of relief； I will own
the truth to her the same day。 If not； I will wait to make my confession
until she has become reconciled to the sight of me。 That plan meets every
possible emergency。 It is one of the few good ideas that my stupid head
has hit on since I have been at Dimchurch。〃
He said those last words with such an innocent air of triumph； that I
really could not find it in my heart to damp his ardor by telling him
what I thought of his idea。 All I said was； 〃Don't forget； Oscar； that
the cleverest plans are at the mercy of circumstances。 At the last
moment； an accident may happen which will force you to speak out。〃
We came in sight of the rectory as I gave him that final warning。 Nugent
was strolling up and down the road on the look…out for us。 I left Oscar
to tell his story over again to his brother； and went into the house。
Lucilla was at her piano when I entered the sitting…room。 She was not
only playingbut （a rare thing with her） singing too。 The song was；
poetry and music both； of her own composing。 〃I shall see him！ I shall
see him！〃 In those four words the composition began and ended。 She
adapted them to all the happy melodies in her memory。 She accompanied
them with hands that seemed to be mad for joyhands that threatened
every moment to snap the chords of the instrument。 Never； since my first
day at the rectory； had I heard such a noise in our quiet sitting…room as
I heard now。 She was in a fever of exhilaration which； in my foreboding
frame of mind at that moment； it pained and shocked me to see。 I lifted
her off the music…stool； and shut up the piano by main force。
〃Compose yourself for heaven's sake；〃 I said。 〃Do you want to be
completely exhausted when the German comes tomorrow？〃
That consideration instantly checked her。 She suddenly became quiet； with
the abrupt facility of a child。
〃I forgot that；〃 she said； sitting down in a corner； with a face of
dismay。 〃He might refuse to perform the operation！ Oh； my dear； quiet me
down somehow。 Get a book； and read to me。〃
I got the book。 Ah； the poor author！ Neither she nor I paid the slightest
attention to him。 Worse still； we abused him for not interesting usand
then shut him up with a bang； and pushed him rudely into his place on the
book…shelf； and left him upside down and went to bed。
She was standing at her window when I went in to wish her good night。 The
mellow moonlight fell tenderly on her lovely face。
〃Moon that I have never seen；〃 she murmured softly； 〃I feel you looking
at me！ Is the time coming when I shall look at You？〃 She turned from the
window； and eagerly put my fingers on her pulse。 〃Am I quite composed
again？〃 she asked。 〃Will he find me well to…morrow？ Feel it！ feel it！ Is
it quiet now？〃
I felt itthrobbing faster and faster。
〃Sleep will quiet it；〃 I saidand kissed her； and left her。
She slept well。 As for me； I passed such a wretched night； and got up so
completely worn out； that I had to go back to my room after breakfast；
and lie down again。 Lucilla persuaded me to do it。 〃Herr Grosse won't be
here till the afternoon；〃 she said。 〃Rest till he comes。〃
We had reckoned without allowing for the eccentric character of our
German surgeon。 Excepting the business of his profession； Herr Grosse did
everything by impulse； and nothing by rule。 I had not long fallen into a
broken unrefreshing sleep； when I felt Zillah's hand on my shoulder； and
heard Zillah's voice in my ear。
〃Please to get up； ma'am！ He's herehe has come from London by the
morning train。〃
I hurried into the sitting…room。
There； at the table； sat Herr Grosse with an open instrument…case before
h