oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第74章

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suffered；　during　the　last　two　days；　wrings　from　me　the　avowal　to　
you　of　a　passion　which；　as　you　well　know；　is　not　one　of　yesterday；　
nor　one　I　have　lightly　formed。　On　Rose；　sweet；　gentle　girl！　my　
heart　is　set；　as　firmly　as　ever　heart　of　man　was　set　on　woman。　I　
have　no　thought；　no　view；　no　hope　in　life；　beyond　her；　and　if　you　

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oppose　me　in　this　great　stake；　you　take　my　peace　and　happiness　in　
your　hands；　and　cast　them　to　the　wind。　Mother；　think　better　of　
this；　and　of　me；　and　do　not　disregard　the　happiness　of　which　you　
seem　to　think　so　little。”　

“Harry；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　“it　is　because　I　think　so　much　of　
warm　and　sensitive　hearts；　that　I　would　spare　them　from　being　
wounded。　But　we　have　said　enough；　and　more　than　enough；　on　
this　matter；　just　now。”　

“Let　it　rest　with　Rose；　then；”　interposed　Harry。　“You　will　not　
press　these　overstrained　opinions　of　yours；　so　far；　as　to　throw　any　
obstacle　in　my　way？”　

“I　will　not；”　rejoined　Mrs。　Maylie；　“but　I　would　have　you　
consider—”　

“I　have　considered！”　was　the　impatient　reply；　“mother；　I　have　
considered；　years　and　years。　I　have　considered；　ever　since　I　have　
been　capable　of　serious　reflection。　My　feelings　remain　unchanged；　
as　they　ever　will；　and　why　should　I　suffer　the　pain　of　a　delay　in　
giving　them　vent；　which　can　be　productive　of　no　earthly　good？　No！　
Before　I　leave　this　place；　Rose　shall　hear　me。”　

“She　shall；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie。　

“There　is　something　in　your　manner；　which　would　almost　imply　
that　she　will　hear　me　coldly；　mother；”　said　the　young　man。　

“Not　coldly；”　rejoined　the　old　lady；　“far　from　it。”　

“How　then？”　urged　the　young　man。　“She　has　formed　no　other　
attachment？”　

“No；　indeed；”　replied　his　mother；　“you　have；　or　I　mistake；　too　
strong　a　hold　on　her　affections　already。　What　I　would　say；”　
resumed　the　old　lady；　stopping　her　son　as　he　was　about　to　speak；　
“is　this。　Before　you　stake　your　all　on　this　chance；　before　you　suffer　

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yourself　to　be　carried　to　the　highest　point　of　hope；　reflect　for　a　few　
moments；　my　dear　child；　on　Rose’s　history；　and　consider　what　
effect　the　knowledge　of　her　doubtful　birth　may　have　on　her　
decision—devoted　as　she　is　to　us；　with　all　the　intensity　of　her　noble　
mind；　and　with　that　perfect　sacrifice　of　self　which；　in　all　matters；　
great　or　trifling；　has　always　been　her　characteristic。”　

“What　do　you　mean？”　

“That　I　leave　you　to　discover；”　replied　Mrs。　Maylie。　“I　must　go　
back　to　her。　God　bless　you！”　

“I　shall　see　you　again　tonight？”　said　the　young　ma　eagerly。　

“By　and　by；”　replied　the　lady；　“when　I　leave　Rose。”　

“You　will　tell　her　I　am　here？”　said　Harry。　

“Of　course；”　replied　Mrs。　Maylie。　

“And　say　how　anxious　I　have　been；　and　how　much　I　have　
suffered；　and　how　I　long　to　see　her。　You　will　not　refuse　to　do　this；　
mother？”　

“No；”　said　the　old　lady；　“I　will　tell　her　all。”　And　pressing　her　
son’s　hand　affectionately；　she　hastened　from　the　room。　

Mr。　Losberne　and　Oliver　had　remained　at　another　end　of　the　
apartment　while　this　hurried　conversation　was　proceeding。　The　
former　now　held　out　his　hand　to　Harry　Maylie；　and　hearty　
salutations　were　exchanged　between　them。　The　doctor　then　
communicated；　in　reply　to　multifarious　questions　from　his　young　
friend；　a　precise　account　of　his　patient’s　situation；　which　was　quite　
as　consolatory　and　full　of　promise；　as　Oliver’s　statement　had　
encouraged　him　to　hope；　and　to　the　whole　of　which；　Mr。　Giles；　who　
affected　to　be　busy　about　the　luggage；　listened　with　greedy　ears。　

“Have　you　shot　anything　particular；　lately；　Giles？”　inquired　the　
doctor；　when　he　had　concluded。　

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“Nothing　particular；　sir；”　replied　Mr。　Giles；　colouring　up　to　the　
eyes。　

“Nor　catching　any　thieves；　nor　identifying　any　housebreakers？”　
said　the　doctor。　

“None　at　all；　sir；”　replied　Mr。　Giles；　with　much　gravity。　

“Well；”　said　the　doctor；　“I　am　sorry　to　hear　it；　because　you　do　
that　sort　of　thing　admirably。　Pray；　how　is　Brittles？”　

“The　boy　is　very　well；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　recovering　his　usual　
tone　of　patronage；　“and　sends　his　respectful　duty；　sir。”　

“That’s　well；”　said　the　doctor。　“Seeing　you　here；　reminds　me；　
Mr。　Giles；　that　on　the　day　before　that　on　which　I　was　called　away　
so　hurriedly；　I　executed；　at　the　request　of　your　good　mistress；　a　
small　commission　in　your　favour。　Just　step　into　this　corner　a　
moment；　will　you？”　

Mr。　Giles　walked　into　the　corner　with　much　importance；　and　
some　wonder；　and　was　honoured　with　a　short　whispering　
conference　with　the　doctor；　on　the　termination　of　which；　he　made　
a　great　many　bows；　and　retired　with　steps　of　unusual　stateliness。　
The　subject　matter　of　this　conference　was　not　disclosed　in　the　
parlour；　but　the　kitchen　was　speedily　enlightened　concerning　it；　
for　Mr。　Giles　walked　straight　thither；　and　having　called　for　a　mug　
of　ale；　announced；　with　an　air　of　majesty；　which　was　highly　
effective；　that　it　had　pleased　his　mistress；　in　consideration　of　his　
gallant　behaviour　on　the　occasion　of　the　attempted　robbery　to　
deposit；　in　the　local　savings…bank；　the　sum　of　five…and…twenty　
pounds；　for　his　sole　use　and　benefit。　At　this；　the　two　women…
servants　lifted　up　their　hands　and　eyes；　and　supposed　that　Mr。　
Giles　would　begin　to　be　quite　proud　now；　whereunto　Mr。　Giles；　
pulling　out　his　shirt　frill；　replied；　“No；　no”；　and　that　if　they　

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observed　that　he　was　at　all　haughty　to　his　inferiors；　he　would　
thank　them　to　tell　him　so。　And　then　he　made　a　great　many　other　
remarks；　no　less　illustrative　of　his　humility；　which　were　received　
with　equal　favour　and　applause；　and　were；　withal；　as　original　and　
as　much　to　the　purpose；　as　the　remarks　of　great　men　commonly　
are。　

Above　stairs；　the　remainder　of　the　evening　passed　cheerfully　
away；　for　the　doctor　was　in　high　spirits；　and　however　fatigued　or　
thoughtful　Harry　Maylie　might　have　been　at　first；　he　was　not　proof　
against　the　worthy　gentleman’s　good…humour；　which　displayed　
itself　in　a　great　variety　of　sallies　and　professional　recollections；　and　
an　abundance　of　small　jokes；　which　struck　Oliver　as　being　the　
drollest　things　he　had　ever　heard；　and　caused　him　to　laugh　
proportionately；　to　the　evident　satisfaction　of　the　doctor；　who　
laughed　immoderately　at　himself；　and　made　Harry　laugh　almost　as　
heartily；　by　the　very　force　of　sympathy。　So；　they　were　as　pleasant　a　
party　as；　under　the　circumstances；　they　could　well　have　been；　and　
it　was　late　before　they　retired；　with　light　and　thankful　hearts；　to　
take　that　rest　of　which；　after　the　doubt　and　suspense　they　had　
recently　undergone；　they　stood　much　in　need。　

Oliver　rose　next　morning；　in　better　heart；　and　went　about　his　
usual　early　occupations；　with　more　hope　and　pleasure　than　he　had　
known　for　many　days。　The　birds　were　once　more　hung　out；　to　sing；　
in　their　old　places；　and　the　sweetest　wild　flowers　that　could　be　
found；　were　once　more　gathered　to　gladden　Rose　with　their　
beauty。　The　melancholy　which　had　seemed　to　the　sad　eyes　of　the　
anxious　boy　to　hang；　for　days　past；　over　every　object；　beautiful　as　
all　were；　was　dispelled　by　magic。　The　dew　seemed　to　sparkle　more　
brightly　on　the　green　leaves；　the　air　to　rustle　among　them　with　a　

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sweeter　music；　and　the　sky　itself　to　look　more　blue　and　bright。　
Such　is　the　influence　which　the　condition　of　our　own　thoughts　
exercises；　even　over　the　appearance　of　external　objects。　Men　who　
look　on　nature；　and　their　fellow…men；　and　cry　that　all　is　dark　and　
gloomy；　are　in　the　right；　but　the　sombre　colours　are　reflections　
from　their　own　jaundiced　eyes　and　hearts。　The　real　hues　are　
delicate；　and　need　a　clearer　vision。　

It　is　worthy　of　remark；　and　Oliver　did　not　fail　to　note　it　at　the　
time；　that　his　morning　expeditions　were　no　longer　made　alone。　
Harry　Maylie；　after　the　very　first　morning　when　he　met　Oliver　
coming　laden　home；　w