oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第77章

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won；　and　no　young　vision　realised；　I　offer　you　the　heart　so　long　
your　own；　and　stake　my　all　upon　the　words　with　which　you　greet　
the　offer。”　

“Your　behaviour　has　ever　been　kind　and　noble；”　said　Rose；　
mastering　the　emotions　by　which　she　was　agitated。　“As　you　
believe　that　I　am　not　insensible　or　ungrateful；　so　hear　my　answer。”　

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“It　is；　that　I　may　endeavour　to　deserve　you；　is　it；　dear　Rose？”　

“It　is；”　replied　Rose；　“that　you　must　endeavour　to　forget　me；　not　
as　your　old　and　dearly…attached　companion；　for　that　would　wound　
me　deeply；　but；　as　the　object　of　your　love。　Look　into　the　world；　
think　how　many　hearts　you　would　be　proud　to　gain　are　there。　
Confide　some　other　passion　to　me；　if　you　will；　I　will　be　the　truest；　
warmest；　and　most　faithful　friend　you　have。”　

There　was　a　pause；　during　which；　Rose；　who　had　covered　her　
face　with　one　hand；　gave　free　vent　to　her　tears。　Harry　still　retained　
the　other。　

“And　your　reasons；　Rose；”　he　said；　at　length；　in　a　low　voice；　
“your　reasons　for　this　decision？”　

“You　have　a　right　to　know　them；”　rejoined　Rose。　“You　can　say　
nothing　to　alter　my　decision。　It　is　a　duty　that　I　must　perform。　I　owe　
it；　alike　to　others；　and　to　myself。”　

“To　yourself？”　

“Yes；　Harry。　I　owe　it　to　myself；　that　I；　a　friendless；　portion　less　
girl；　with　a　blight　upon　my　name；　should　not　give　your　friends　
reason　to　suspect　that　I　had　sordidly　yielded　to　your　first　passion；　
and　fastened　myself；　a　clog；　on　all　your　hopes　and　projects。　I　owe　it　
to　you　and　yours；　to　prevent　you　from　opposing；　in　the　warmth　of　
your　generous　nature；　this　great　obstacle　to　your　progress　in　the　
world。”　

“If　your　inclinations　chime　with　your　sense　of　duty—”　Harry　
began。　

“They　do　not；”　replied　Rose；　colouring　deeply。　

“Then　you　return　my　love？”　said　Harry。　“Say　but　that；　dear　
Rose；　say　but　that；　and　soften　the　bitterness　of　this　hard　
disappointment！”　

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“If　I　could　have　done　so；　without　doing　heavy　wrong　to　him　I　
loved；”　rejoined　Rose；　“I　could　have—”　

“Have　received　this　declaration　very　indifferently？”　said　Harry。　
“Do　not　conceal　that　from　me；　at　least；　Rose。”　

“I　could；”　said　Rose。　“Stay；”　she　added；　disengaging　her　hand；　
“why　should　we　prolong　this　painful　interview？　Most　painful　to　
me；　and　yet　productive　of　lasting　happiness；　notwithstanding；　for　
it　will　be　happiness　to　know　that　I　once　held　the　high　place　in　your　
regard　which　I　now　occupy；　and　every　triumph　you　achieve　in　life　
will　animate　me　with　new　fortitude　and　firmness。　Farewell；　Harry！　
As　we　have　met　today；　we　meet　no　more；　but　in　other　relations　
than　those　in　which　this　conversation　would　have　placed　us；　we　
may　be　long　and　happily　entwined；　and　may　every　blessing　that　
the　prayers　of　a　true　and　earnest　heart　can　call　down　from　the　
source　of　all　truth　and　sincerity；　cheer　and　prosper　you！”　

“Another　word；　Rose；”　said　Harry。　“Your　reason　in　your　own　
lips；　let　me　hear　it？”　

“The　prospect　before　you；”　answered　Rose　firmly；　“is　a　brilliant　
one。　All　the　honours　to　which　great　talents　and　powerful　
connections　can　help　men　in　public　life；　are　in　store　for　you。　But　
those　connections　are　proud；　and　I　will　neither　mingle　with　such　
as　may　hold　in　scorn　the　mother　who　gave　me　life；　nor　bring　
disgrace　or　failure　on　the　son　of　her　who　had　so　well　supplied　that　
mother’s　place。　In　a　word；”　said　the　young　lady；　turning　away；　as　
her　temporary　firmness　forsook　her；　“there　is　a　stain　upon　my　
name；　which　the　world　visits　on　innocent　heads。　I　will　carry　it　into　
no　blood　but　my　own；　and　the　reproach　shall　rest　alone　on　me。”　

“One　word　more；　Rose。　Dearest　Rose！　one　more！”　cried　Harry；　
throwing　himself　before　her。　“If　I　had　been　less—less　fortunate；　

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the　world　would　call　it—if　some　obscure　and　peaceful　life　had　
been　my　destiny—if　I　had　been　poor；　sick；　helpless—would　you　
have　turned　from　me　then？　Or　has　my　probable　advancement　to　
riches　and　honour；　given　this　scruple　birth？”　

“Do　you　press　me　to　reply；”　answered　Rose。　“The　question　does　
not　arise；　and　never　will。　It　is　unfair；　almost　unkind；　to　urge　it。”　

“If　your　answer　be　what　I　almost　dare　to　hope　it　is；”　retorted　
Harry；　“it　will　shed　a　gleam　of　happiness　upon　my　lonely　way；　and　
light　the　path　before　me。　It　is　not　an　idle　thing　to　do　so　much；　by　
the　utterance　of　a　few　brief　words；　for　one　who　loves　you　beyond　
all　else。　Oh；　Rose！　in　the　name　of　my　ardent　and　enduring　
attachment；　in　the　name　of　all　I　have　suffered　for　you；　and　all　you　
doom　me　to　undergo；　answer　me　this　one　question！”　

“Then；　if　your　lot　had　been　differently　cast；”　rejoined　Rose；　“if　
you　had　been　even　a　little；　but　not　so　far；　above　me；　if　I　could　have　
been　a　help　and　comfort　to　you　in　any　humble　scene　of　peace　and　
retirement；　and　not　a　blot　and　drawback　in　ambitious　and　
distinguished　crowds；　I　should　have　been　spared　this　trial。　I　have　
every　reason　to　be　happy；　very　happy；　now；　but　then；　Harry；　I　own　
I　should　have　been　happier。”　

Busy　recollections　of　old　hopes；　cherished　as　a　girl；　long　ago；　
crowded　into　the　mind　of　Rose；　while　making　this　avowal；　but　they　
brought　tears　with　them；　as　old　hopes　will　when　they　come　back　
withered；　and　they　relieved　her。　

“I　cannot　help　this　weakness；　and　it　makes　my　purpose　
stronger；”　said　Rose；　extending　her　hand。　“I　must　leave　you　now；　
indeed。”　

“I　ask　one　promise；”　said　Harry。　“Once；　and　only　once…more—　
say　within　a　year；　but　it　may　be　much　sooner—I　may　speak　to　you　

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again　on　this　subject；　for　the　last　time？”　

“Not　to　press　me　to　alter　my　right　determination；”　replied　Rose；　
with　a　melancholy　smile；　“it　will　be　useless。”　

“No；”　said　Harry；　“to　hear　you　repeat　it；　if　you　will—finally　
repeat　it！　I　will　lay　at　your　feet；　whatever　of　station　or　fortune　I　
may　possess；　and　if　you　still　adhere　to　your　present　resolution；　will　
not　seek；　by　word　or　act；　to　change　it。”　

“Then　let　it　be　so；”　rejoined　Rose；　“it　is　but　one　pang　the　more；　
and　by　that　time　I　may　be　enabled　to　bear　it　better。”　

She　extended　her　hand　again。　But　the　young　man　caught　her　to　
his　bosom；　and；　imprinting　one　kiss　on　her　beautiful　forehead；　
hurried　from　the　room。　

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Chapter　36　

Is　a　very　short　one；　and　may　appear　of　no　great　
importance　in　its　place；　but　it　should　be　read　
notwithstanding；　as　a　sequel　to　the　last；　and　a　key　to　
one　that　will　follow　when　its　time　arrives。　

“A　nd　so　you　are　resolved　to　be　my　travelling　
companion　this　morning；　eh？”　said　the　doctor；　as　
Harry　Maylie　joined　him　and　Oliver　at　the　breakfast…
table。　“Why；　you　are　not　in　the　same　mind　or　intention　two　half…
hours　together！”　

“You　will　tell　me　a　different　tale　one　of　these　days；”　said　Harry；　
colouring　without　any　perceptible　reason。　

“I　hope　I　may　have　good　cause　to　do　so；”　replied　Mr。　Losberne；　
“though　I　confess　I　don’t　think　I　shall。　But　yesterday　morning　you　
have　made　up　your　mind；　in　a　great　hurry；　to　stay　here；　and　to　
accompany　your　mother；　like　a　dutiful　son；　to　the　seaside。　Before　
noon；　you　announce　that　you　are　going　to　do　me　the　honour　of　
accompanying　me　as　far　as　I　go；　on　your　road　to　London。　And　at　
night；　you　urge　me；　with　great　mystery；　to　start　before　the　ladies　
are　stirring；　the　consequence　of　which　is；　that　young　Oliver　here　is　
pinned　down　to　his　breakfast　when　he　ought　to　be　ranging　the　
meadows　after　botanical　phenomena　of　all　kinds。　Too　bad；　isn’t　it；　
Oliver！”　

“I　should　have　been　very　sorry　not　to　have　been　at　home　when　
you　and　Mr。　Maylie　went　away；　sir；”　rejoined　Oliver。　

“That’s　a　fine　fellow；”　said　the　doctor；　“you　shall　come　and　see　

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me　when　you　return。　But；　to　speak　seriously；　Harry；　has　any　
communication　from　the　great　nobs　produced　this　sudden　anxiety　
on　you