oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第63章

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is　going　upstairs；　the　reader　may　be　informed；　that　Mr。　Losberne；　
a　surgeon　in　the　neighbourhood；　known　through　a　circuit　of　ten　
miles　round　as　“the　doctor；”　had　grown　fat；　more　from　good…
humour　than　from　good　living；　and　was　as　kind　and　hearty；　and　
withal　as　eccentric　an　old　bachelor；　as　will　be　found　in　five　times　
that　space；　by　any　explorer　alive。　

The　doctor　was　absent　much　longer　than　either　he　or　the　ladies　
had　anticipated。　A　large　flat　box　was　fetched　out　of　the　gig；　and　a　
bedroom　bell　was　rung　very　often；　and　the　servants　ran　up　and　
downstairs　perpetually；　from　which　tokens　it　was　justly　concluded　
that　something　important　was　going　on　above。　At　length　he　
returned；　and　in　reply　to　an　anxious　inquiry　after　his　patient；　
looked　very　mysterious；　and　closed　the　door　carefully。　

“This　is　a　very　extraordinary　thing；　Mrs。　Maylie；”　said　the　

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doctor；　standing　with　his　back　to　the　door；　as　if　to　keep　it　shut。　

“He　is　not　in　danger；　I　hope？”　said　the　old　lady。　

“Why；　that　would　not　be　an　extraordinary　thing；　under　the　
circumstances；”　replied　the　doctor；　“though　I　don’t　think　he　is。　
Have　you　seen　this　thief？”　

“No；”　rejoined　the　old　lady。　

“Nor　heard　anything　about　him？”　

“No。”　

“I　beg　your　pardon；　ma’am；”　interposed　Mr。　Giles；　“but　I　was　
going　to　tell　you　about　him　when　Doctor　Losberne　came　in。　

The　fact　was；　that　Mr。　Giles　had　not；　at　first；　been　able　to　bring　
his　mind　to　the　avowal；　that　he　had　only　shot　a　boy。　Such　
commendations　had　been　bestowed　upon　his　bravery；　that　he　
could　not；　for　the　life　of　him；　help　postponing　the　explanation　for　a　
few　delicious　minutes；　during　which　he　had　flourished；　in　the　very　
zenith　of　a　brief　reputation　for　undaunted　courage。　

“Rose　wished　to　see　the　man；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　“but　I　wouldn’t　
hear　of　it。”　

“Humph！”　rejoined　the　doctor。　“There　is　nothing　very　alarming　
in　his　appearance。　Have　you　any　objection　to　see　him　in　my　
presence？”　

“If　it　be　necessary；”　replied　the　old　lady；　“certainly　not。”　

“Then　I　think　it　is　necessary；”　said　the　doctor；　“at　all　events；　I　
am　quite　sure　that　you　would　deeply　regret　not　having　done　so；　if　
you　postponed　it。　He　is　perfectly　quiet　and　comfortable　now。　Allow　
me—Miss　Rose；　will　you　permit　me？　Not　the　slightest　fear；　I　
pledge　you　my　honour！”　

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Chapter　30　

Relates　What　Oliver’s　New　Visitors　Thought　Of
Him。


With　many　loquacious　assurances　that　they　would　be　
agreeably　surprised　in　the　aspect　of　the　criminal；　the　
doctor　drew　the　young　lady’s　arm　through　one　of　his；　
and　offering　his　disengaged　hand　to　Mrs。　Maylie；　led　them；　with　
much　ceremony　and　stateliness；　upstairs。　

“Now；”　said　the　doctor；　in　a　whisper；　as　he　softly　turned　the　
handle　of　a　bedroom　door；　“let　us　hear　what　you　think　of　him。　He　
has　not　been　shaved　very　recently；　but　he　don’t　look　at　all　
ferocious　notwithstanding。　Stop；　though！　Let　me　first　see　that　he　is　
in　visiting　order。”　

Stepping　before　them；　he　looked　into　the　room。　Motioning　them　
to　advance；　he　closed　the　door　when　they　had　entered；　and　gently　
drew　back　the　curtains　of　the　bed。　Upon　it；　in　lieu　of　the　dogged；　
black…visaged　ruffian　they　had　expected　to　behold；　there　lay　a　
mere　child；　worn　with　pain　and　exhaustion　and　sunk　into　a　deep　
sleep。　His　wounded　arm；　bound　and　splintered　up；　was　crossed　
upon　his　breast；　his　head　reclined　upon　the　other　arm；　which　was　
half…hidden　by　his　long　hair；　as　it　streamed　over　the　pillow。　

The　honest　gentleman　held　the　curtain　in　his　hand；　and　looked　
on　for　a　minute　or　so；　in　silence。　Whilst　he　was　watching　the　
patient　thus；　the　younger　lady　glided　softly　past；　and　seating　
herself　in　a　chair　by　the　bedside；　gathered　Oliver’s　hair　from　his　
face。　As　she　stooped　over　him；　her　tears　fell　upon　his　forehead。　

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The　boy　stirred；　and　smiled　in　his　sleep；　as　though　these　marks　
of　pity　and　compassion　had　awakened　some　pleasant　dream　of　a　
love　and　affection　he　had　never　known。　Thus；　a　strain　of　gentle　
music；　or　the　rippling　of　water　in　a　silent　place；　or　the　odour　of　a　
flower；　or　the　mention　of　a　familiar　word；　will　sometimes　call　up　
sudden　dim　remembrances　of　scenes　that　never　were；　in　this　life；　
which　vanish　like　a　breath；　which　some　brief　memory　of　a　happier　
existence；　long　gone　by；　would　seem　to　have　awakened；　which　no　
voluntary　exertion　of　the　mind　can　ever　recall。　

“What　can　this　mean？”　exclaimed　the　elder　lady。　“This　poor　
child　can　never　have　been　the　pupil　of　robbers！”　

“Vice；”　sighed　the　surgeon；　replacing　the　curtain；　“takes　up　her　
abode　in　many　temples；　and　who　can　say　that　a　fair　outside　shall　
not　enshrine　her？”　

“But　at　so　early　an　age！”　urged　Rose。　

“My　dear　young　lady；”　rejoined　the　surgeon；　mournfully　
shaking　his　head；　“crime；　like　death；　is　not　confined　to　the　old　and　
withered　alone。　The　youngest　and　fairest　are　too　often　its　chosen　
victims。”　

“But；　can　you—oh！　can　you　really　believe　that　this　delicate　boy　
has　been　the　voluntary　associate　of　the　worst　outcasts　of　society？”　
said　Rose。　

The　surgeon　shook　his　head；　in　a　manner　which　intimated　that　
he　feared　it　was　very　possible；　and　observing　that　they　might　
disturb　the　patient；　led　the　way　into　an　adjoining　apartment。　

“But　even　if　he　has　been　wicked；”　pursued　Rose；　“think　how　
young　he　is；　think　that　he　may　never　have　known　a　mother’s　love；　
or　the　comfort　of　a　home；　that　ill…usage　and　blows；　or　the　want　of　
bread；　may　have　driven　him　to　herd　with　men　who　have　forced　

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him　to　guilt。　Aunt；　dear　aunt；　for　mercy’s　sake；　think　of　this；　before　
you　let　them　drag　this　sick　child　to　a　prison；　which　in　any　case　
must　be　the　grave　of　all　his　chances　of　amendment。　Oh！　as　you　
love　me；　and　know　that　I　have　never　felt　the　want　of　parents　in　
your　goodness　and　affection；　but　that　I　might　have　done　so；　and　
might　have　been　equally　helpless　and　unprotected　with　this　poor　
child；　have　pity　upon　him　before　it　is　too　late！　

“My　dear　love；”　said　the　elder　lady；　as　she　folded　the　weeping　
girl　to　her　bosom；　“do　you　think　I　would　harm　a　hair　of　his　head？”　

“Oh；　no！”　replied　Rose　eagerly。　

“No；　surely；”　said　the　old　lady；　“my　days　are　drawing　to　their　
close；　and　may　mercy　be　shown　to　me　as　I　show　it　to　others！　What　
can　I　do　to　save　him；　sir？”　

“Let　me　think；　ma’am；”　said　the　doctor；　“let　me　think。”　

Mr。　Losberne　thrust　his　hands　into　his　pockets；　and　took　
several　turns　up　and　down　the　room；　often　stopping；　and　
balancing　himself　on　his　toes；　and　frowning　frightfully。　After　
various　exclamations　of　“I’ve　got　it　now；”　and　“no；　I　haven’t；”　and　
as　many　renewals　of　the　walking　and　frowning；　he　at　length　made　
a　dead　halt；　and　spoke　as　follows：　

“I　think　if　you　give　me　a　full　and　unlimited　commission　to　bully　
Giles；　and　that　little　boy；　Brittles；　I　can　manage　it。　Giles　is　a　
faithful　fellow　and　an　old　servant；　I　know；　but　you　can　make　it　up　
to　him　in　a　thousand　ways；　and　reward　him　for　being　such　a　good　
shot　besides。　You　don’t　object　to　that？”　

“Unless　there　is　some　other　way　of　preserving　the　child；”　
replied　Mrs。　Maylie。　

“There　is　no　other；”　said　the　doctor。　“No　other；　take　my　word　
for　it。”　

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“Then　my　aunt　invests　you　with　full　power；”　said　Rose；　smiling　
through　her　tears；　“but　pray　don’t　be　harder　upon　the　poor　fellows　
than　is　indispensably　necessary。”　

“You　seem　to　think；”　retorted　the　doctor；　“that　everybody　is　
disposed　to　be　hard…hearted　today；　except　yourself；　Miss　Rose。　I　
only　hope；　for　the　sake　of　the　rising　male　sex　generally；　that　you　
may　be　found　in　as　vulnerable　and　soft…hearted　a　mood　by　the　first　
eligible　young　fellow　who　appeals　to　your　compassion；　and　I　wish　I　
were　a　young　fellow；　that　I　might　avail　myself；　on　the　spot；　of　such　
a　favourable　opportunity　for　doing　so；　as　the　present。”　

“Yo