oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第68章

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with　the　Family　Pet；　and　the　former　being　equally　disposed　to　
concede　the　full　merit　of　it　to　the　great　Mr。　Conkey　Chickweed。　

Meanwhile；　Oliver　gradually　throve　and　prospered　under　the　
united　care　of　Mrs。　Maylie；　Rose；　and　the　kind…hearted　Mr。　
Losberne。　If　fervent　prayers；　gushing　from　hearts　overcharged　
with　gratitude；　be　heard　in　Heaven—and　if　they　be　not；　what　
prayers　are？—the　blessings　which　the　orphan　child　called　down　
upon　them；　sank　into　their　souls；　diffusing　peace　and　happiness　

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Chapter　32　

Of　The　Happy　Life　Oliver　Began　To　Lead　With　His
Kind　Friends。


O　liver’s　ailings　were　neither　slight　nor　few。　In　addition　to　
the　pain　and　delay　attendant　on　a　broken　limb；　his　
exposure　to　the　wet　and　cold　had　brought　on　fever　and　
ague；　which　hung　about　him　for　many　weeks；　and　reduced　him　
sadly。　But；　at　length；　he　began；　by　slow　degrees；　to　get　better；　and　
to　be　able　to　say　sometimes；　in　a　few　tearful　words；　how　deeply　he　
felt　the　goodness　of　the　two　sweet　ladies；　and　how　ardently　he　
hoped　that　when　he　grew　strong　and　well　again；　he　could　do　
something　to　show　his　gratitude；　only　something　which　would　let　
them　see　the　love　and　duty　with　which　his　breast　was　full；　
something；　however　slight；　which　would　prove　to　them　that　their　
gentle　kindness　had　not　been　cast　away；　but　that　the　poor　boy　
whom　their　charity　had　rescued　from　misery；　or　death；　was　eager　
to　serve　them　with　his　whole　heart　and　soul。　

“Poor　fellow！”　said　Rose；　when　Oliver　had　been　one　day　feebly　
endeavouring　to　utter　the　words　of　thankfulness　that　rose　to　his　
pale　lips；　“you　shall　have　many　opportunities　of　serving　us；　if　you　
will。　We　are　going　into　the　country；　and　my　aunt　intends　that　you　
shall　accompany　us。　The　quiet　place；　the　pure　air；　and　all　the　
pleasures　and　beauties　of　spring；　will　restore　you　in　a　few　days。　We　
will　employ　you　in　a　hundred　ways；　when　you　can　bear　the　
trouble。”　

“The　trouble！”　cried　Oliver。　“Oh！　dear　lady；　if　I　could　but　work　

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for　you；　if　I　could　only　give　you　pleasure　by　watering　your　flowers；　
or　watching　your　birds；　or　running　up　and　down　the　whole　day　
long；　to　make　you　happy；　what　would　I　give　to　do　it！”　

“You　shall　give　nothing　at　all；”　said　Miss　Maylie；　smiling；　“for；　
as　I　told　you　before；　we　shall　employ　you　in　a　hundred　ways；　and　if　
you　only　take　half　the　trouble　to　please　us；　that　you　promise　now；　
you　will　make　me　very　happy　indeed。”　

“Happy；　ma’am！”　cried　Oliver；　“how　kind　of　you　to　say　so！”　

“You　will　make　me　happier　than　I　can　tell　you；”　replied　the　
young　lady。　“To　think　that　my　dear　good　aunt　should　have　been　
the　means　of　rescuing　any　one　from　such　sad　misery　as　you　have　
described　to　us；　would　be　an　unspeakable　pleasure　to　me；　but　to　
know　that　the　object　of　her　goodness　and　compassion　was　
sincerely　grateful　and　attached；　in　consequence；　would　delight　me　
more　than　you　can　well　imagine。　Do　you　understand　me？”　she　
inquired；　watching　Oliver’s　thoughtful　face。　

“Oh；　yes；　ma’am；　yes！”　replied　Oliver　eagerly；　“but　I　was　
thinking　that　I　am　ungrateful　now。”　

“To　whom？”　inquired　the　young　lady。　

“To　the　kind　gentleman；　and　the　dear　old　nurse；　who　took　so　
much　care　of　me　before；”　rejoined　Oliver。　“If　they　knew　how　
happy　I　am；　they　would　be　pleased；　I　am　sure。”　

“I　am　sure　they　would；”　rejoined　Oliver’s　benefactress；　“and　
Mr。　Losberne　has　already　been　kind　enough　to　promise　that　when　
you　are　well　enough　to　bear　the　journey；　he　will　carry　you　to　see　
them。”　

“Has　he；　ma’am？”　cried　Oliver；　his　face　brightening　with　
pleasure。　“I　don’t　know　what　I　shall　do　for　joy　when　I　see　their　
kind　faces　once　again！”　

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In　a　short　time　Oliver　was　sufficiently　recovered　to　undergo　the　
fatigue　of　this　expedition。　One　morning　he　and　Mr。　Losberne　set　
out；　accordingly；　in　a　little　carriage　which　belonged　to　Mrs。　Maylie。　
When　they　came　to　Chertsey　Bridge；　Oliver　turned　very　pale；　and　
uttered　a　loud　exclamation。　

“What’s　the　matter　with　the　boy？”　cried　the　doctor；　as　usual；　all　
in　a　bustle。　“Do　you　see　anything—hear　anything—feel　anything—　
eh？”　

“That；　sir；”　cried　Oliver；　pointing　out　of　the　carriage　window。　
“That　house！”　

“Yes；　well；　what　of　it？　Stop；　coachman。　Pull　up　here；”　cried　the　
doctor。　“What　of　the　house；　my　man；　eh？”　

“The　thieves—the　house　they　took　me　to！”　whispered　Oliver。　

“The　devil　it　is！”　cried　the　doctor。　“Hallo；　there！　let　me　out！”　

But；　before　the　coachman　could　dismount　from　his　box；　he　had　
tumbled　out　of　the　coach；　by　some　means　or　other；　and；　running　
down　to　the　deserted　tenement；　began　kicking　at　the　door　like　a　
madman。　

“Hallo！”　said　a　little；　ugly；　humpbacked　man；　opening　the　door　
so　suddenly；　that　the　doctor；　from　the　very　impetus　of　his　last　kick；　
nearly　fell　into　the　passage。　“What’s　the　matter　here？”　

“Matter！”　exclaimed　the　other；　collaring　him；　without　a　
moment’s　reflection。　“A　good　deal。　Robbery　is　the　matter。”　

“There’ll　be　murder　the　matter；　too；”　replied　the　humpbacked　
man；　coolly；　“if　you　don’t　take　your　hands　off。　Do　you　hear　me？”　

“I　hear　you；”　said　the　doctor；　giving　his　captive　a　hearty　shake。　
“Where’s—confound　the　fellow；　what’s　his　rascally　name—Sikes；　
that’s　it。　Where’s　Sikes；　you　thief？”　

The　humpbacked　man　stared；　as　if　in　excess　of　amazement　and　

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indignation；　then；　twisting　himself；　dextrously；　from　the　doctor’s　
grasp；　growled　forth　a　volley　of　horrid　oaths；　and　retired　into　the　
house。　Before　he　could　shut　the　door；　however；　the　doctor　had　
passed　into　the　parlour；　without　a　word　of　parley。　He　looked　
anxiously　round；　not　an　article　of　furniture；　not　a　vestige　of　
anything；　animate　or　inanimate；　not　even　the　position　of　the　
cupboards；　answered　Oliver’s　description？　

“Now！”　said　the　humpbacked　man；　who　had　watched　him　
keenly；　“what　do　you　mean　by　coming　into　my　house；　in　this　
violent　way？　Do　you　want　to　rob　me；　or　to　murder　me？　Which　is　
it？”　

“Did　you　ever　know　a　man　come　out　to　do　either；　in　a　chariot　
and　pair；　you　ridiculous　old　vampire？”　said　the　irritable　doctor。　

“What　do　you　want；　then？”　demanded　the　hunchback。　“Will　
you　take　yourself　off；　before　I　do　you　a　mischief？　Curse　you！”　

“As　soon　as　I　think　proper；”　said　Mr。　Losberne；　looking　into　the　
other　parlour；　which；　like　the　first；　bore　no　resemblance　whatever　
to　Oliver’s　account　of　it。　“I　shall　find　you　out；　some　day；　my　
friend。”　

“Will　you？”　sneered　the　ill…favoured　cripple。　“If　you　ever　want　
me；　I’m　here。　I　haven’t　lived　here　mad　and　all　alone；　for　five…andtwenty　years；　to　be　scared　by　you。　You　shall　pay　for　this；　you　shall　
pay　for　this。”　And　so　saying；　the　misshapen　little　demon　set　up　a　
yell；　and　danced　upon　the　ground；　as　if　wild　with　rage。　

“Stupid　enough；　this；”　muttered　the　doctor　to　himself；　“the　boy　
must　have　made　a　mistake。　Here！　Put　that　in　your　pocket；　and　
shut　yourself　up　again。”　With　these　words　he　flung　the　hunchback　
a　piece　of　money；　and　returned　to　the　carriage。　

The　man　followed　to　the　chariot　door；　uttering　the　wildest　

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imprecations　and　curses　all　the　way；　but　as　Mr。　Losberne　turned　
to　speak　to　the　driver；　he　looked　into　the　carriage；　and　eyed　Oliver　
for　an　instant　with　a　glance　so　sharp　and　fierce；　and　at　the　same　
time　so　furious　and　vindictive；　that；　waking　or　sleeping；　he　could　
not　forget　it　for　months　afterwards。　He　continued　to　utter　the　most　
fearful　imprecations；　until　the　driver　had　resumed　his　seat；　and　
when　they　were　once　more　on　their　way；　they　could　see　him　some　
distance　behind；　beating　his　feet　upon　the　ground；　and　tearing　his　
hair；　in　transports　of　real　or　pretended　rage。　

“I　am　an　ass！”　said　the　doctor；　after　a　long　silence。　“Did　you　
know　that　before；　Oliver？”　

“No；　sir。”　

“Then　don’t　forget　it　another　time。”　

“An　as