oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第69章
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know that before； Oliver？”
“No； sir。”
“Then don’t forget it another time。”
“An ass；” said the doctor again； after a further silence of some
minutes。 “Even if it had been the right place； and the right fellows
had been there； what could I have done； single…handed？ And if I
had had assistance； I see no good that I should have done； except
leading to my own exposure； and an unavoidable statement of the
manner in which I have hushed up this business。 That would have
served me right； though。 I am always involving myself in some
scrape or other； by acting on impulse。 It might have done me
good。”
Now； the fact was that the excellent doctor had never acted
upon anything but impulse all through his life； and it was no bad
compliment to the nature of the impulses which governed him；
that so far from being involved in any peculiar troubles or
misfortunes； he had the warmest respect and esteem of all who
knew him。 If the truth must be told； he was a little out of temper；
for a minute or two； at being disappointed in procuring
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corroborative evidence of Oliver’s story； on the very first occasion
on which he had a chance of obtaining any。 He soon came round
again； however； and finding that Oliver’s replies to his questions
were still as straightforward and consistent； and still delivered
with as much apparent sincerity and truth； as they had ever been。
he made up his mind to attach full credence to them； from that
time forth。
As Oliver knew the name of the street in which Mr。 Brownlow
resided； they were enabled to drive straight thither。 When the
coach turned into it； his heart beat so violently； that he could
scarcely draw his breath。
“Now； my boy； which house is it？” inquired Mr。 Losberne。
“That！ That！” replied Oliver； pointing eagerly out of the
window。 “The white house。 Oh！ make haste！ Pray make haste！ I
feel as if I should die； it makes me tremble so。”
“Come； come！” said the good doctor； patting him on the
shoulder。 “You will see them directly； and they will be overjoyed
to find you safe and well。”
“Oh！ I hope so！” cried Oliver。 “They were so good to me； so
very； very good to me。”
The coach rolled on。 It stopped。 No； that was the wrong house；
the next door。 It went on a few paces； and stopped again。 Oliver
looked up at the windows； with tears of happy expectation
coursing down his face。
Alas！ the white house was empty and there was a bill in the
window。 “To Let。”
“Knock at the next door；” cried Mr。 Losberne； taking Oliver’s
arm in his。 “What has become of Mr。 Brownlow； who used to live
in the adjoining house； do you know？”
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The servant did not know； but would go and inquire。 She
presently returned； and said； that Mr。 Brownlow had sold off his
goods； and gone to the West Indies； six weeks before。 Oliver
clasped his hands； and sank feebly backward。
“Has his housekeeper gone； too？” inquired Mr。 Losberne； after
a moment’s pause。
“Yes； sir；” replied the servant。 “The old gentleman； the
housekeeper； and a gentleman who was a friend of Mr。
Brownlow’s； all went together。”
“Then turn towards home again；” said Mr。 Losberne to the
driver； “and don’t stop to bait the horses； till you get out of this
confounded London！”
“The book…stall keeper； sir？” said Oliver。 “I know the way there。
See him； pray； sir！ Do see him！”
“My poor boy； this is disappointment enough for one day；” said
the doctor。 “Quite enough for both of us。 If we go to the book…stall
keeper’s； we shall certainly find that he is dead； or has set his
house on fire； or run away。 No； home again； straight！” And in
obedience to the doctor’s impulse； home they went。
This bitter disappointment caused Oliver much sorrow and
grief； even in the midst of his happiness； for he had pleased
himself； many times during his illness； with thinking of all that Mr。
Brownlow and Mrs。 Bedwin would say to him； and what delight it
would be to tell them how many long days and nights he had
passed in reflecting on what they had done for him； and in
bewailing his cruel separation from them。 The hope of eventually
clearing himself with them； too； and explaining how he had been
forced away； had buoyed him up； and sustained him； under many
of his recent trials； and now； the idea that they should have gone
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Oliver Twist 336
so far； and carried with them the belief that he was an impostor
and robber—a belief which might remain uncontradicted to his
dying day—was almost more than he could bear。
The circumstance occasioned no alteration； however； in the
behaviour of his benefactors。 After another fortnight； when the
fine warm weather had fairly begun； and every tree and flower
was putting forth its young leaves and rich blossoms； they made
preparations for quitting the house at Chertsey； for some months。
Sending the plate； which had so excited Fagin’s cupidity； to the
banker’s； and leaving Giles and another servant in care of the
house； they departed to a cottage at some distance in the country；
and took Oliver with them。
Who can describe the pleasure and delight； the peace of mind
and soft tranquillity； the sickly boy felt in the balmy air； and
among the green hills and rich woods； of an inland village！ Who
can tell how scenes of peace and quietude sink into the minds of
pain…worn dwellers in close and noisy places； and carry their own
freshness deep into their jaded hearts！ Men who have lived in
crowded； pent…up streets； through lives of toil； and who had never
wished for change； men； to whom custom has indeed been second
nature； and who have come almost to love each brick and stone
that formed the narrow boundaries of their daily walks； even they；
with the hand of death upon them； have been known to yearn at
last for one short glimpse of Nature’s face； and； carried far from
the scenes of their old pains and pleasures； have seemed to pass at
once into a new state of being。 Crawling forth； from day to day； to
some green sunny spot； they have had such memories wakened up
within them by the sight of sky； and hill； and plain； and glistening
water； that a foretaste of Heaven itself has soothed their quick
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decline； and they have sunk into their tombs； as peacefully as the
sun whose setting they watched from their lonely chamber
window but a few hours before； faded from their dim and feeble
light！ The memories which peaceful country scenes call up； are
not of this world； nor of its thoughts and hopes。 Their gentle
influence may teach us how to weave fresh garlands for the graves
of those we loved； may purify our thoughts； and bear down before
it old enmity and hatred； but beneath all this； there lingers； in the
least reflective mind； a vague and half…formed consciousness of
having held such feelings long before； in some remote and distant
time； which calls up solemn thoughts of distant times to come； and
bends down pride and worldliness beneath it。
It was a lovely spot to which they repaired。 Oliver； whose days
had been spent among squalid crowds； and in the midst of noise
and brawling； seemed to enter on a new existence there。 The rose
and honeysuckle clung to the cottage walls； the ivy crept round the
trunks of the trees； and the garden flowers perfumed the air with
delicious odours。 Hard by； was a little churchyard； not crowded
with tall； unsightly gravestones； but full of humble mounds；
covered with fresh turf and moss； beneath which； the old people of
the village lay at rest。 Oliver often wandered here； and； thinking of
the wretched grave in which his mother lay； would sometimes sit
hum down and sob unseen； but； when he raised his eyes to the
deep sky overhead； he would cease to think of her as lying in the
ground； and would weep for her； sadly； but without pain。
It was a happy time。 The days were peaceful and serene； the
nights broug
