oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第67节
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looked into a garden； whence a wicket gate opened into a small
paddock； all beyond； was fine meadowland and wood。 There was
no other dwelling near； in that direction； and the prospect it
commanded was very extensive。 One beautiful evening； when the
first shades of twilight were beginning to settle upon the earth；
Oliver sat at this window； intent upon his books。 He had been
poring over them for some time； and； as the day had been
uncommonly sultry； and he had exerted himself a great deal； it is
no disparagement to the authors； whoever they may have been； to
say that gradually and by slow degrees； he fell asleep。
There is a kind of sleep that steals upon us sometimes； which；
while it holds the body prisoner； does not free the mind from a
sense of things about it； and enable it to ramble at its pleasure。 So
far as an overpowering heaviness； a prostration of strength； and an
utter inability to control our thoughts of power of motion； can be
called sleep； this is it； and yet； we have a consciousness of all that
is going on about us； and； if we dream at such a time； words which
are really spoken； or sounds which really exist at the moment；
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accommodate themselves with surprising readiness to our visions；
until reality and imagination become so strangely blended that it
is afterwards almost a matter of impossibility to separate the two。
Nor is this； the most striking phenomenon； incidental to such a
state。 It is an undoubted fact； that although our senses of touch
and sight be for the time dead； yet our sleeping thoughts； and the
visionary scenes that pass before us； will be influenced and
materially influenced； by the mere silent presence of some external
object； which may not have been near us when we closed our eyes；
and of whose vicinity we have had no waking consciousness。
Oliver knew； perfectly well； that he was in his own little room；
that his books were lying on the table before him； that the sweet
air was stirring among the creeping plants outside。 And yet he was
asleep。 Suddenly； the scene changed； the air became close and
confined； and he thought； with a glow of terror； that he was in the
Jew’s house again。 There sat the hideous old man； in his
accustomed corner； pointing at him； and whispering to another
man； with his face averted； who sat beside him。
“Hush； my dear！” he thought he heard the Jew say； “it is he；
sure enough。 Come away。”
“He！” the other man seemed to answer； “could I mistake him；
think you？ If a crowd of ghosts were to put themselves into his
exact shape； and he stood amongst them； there is something that
would tell me how to point him out。 If you buried him fifty feet
deep； and took me across his grave； I fancy I should know； if there
wasn’t a mark above it； that he lay buried there！”
The man seemed to say this； with such dreadful hatred； that
Oliver awoke with the fear； and started up。
“Good Heaven！ what was that； which sent the blood tingling to
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his heart； and deprived him of his choice； and of power to move？
There—there—at the window—close before him—so close； that he
could have almost touched him before he started back； with his
eyes peering into the room； and meeting his； there stood the Jew！
And beside him； white with rage or fear； or both； were the
scowling features of the very man who had accosted him in the
inn…yard。
It was but an instant； a glance； a flash； before his eyes； and they
were gone。 But they had recognised him； and he them； and their
look was as firmly impressed upon his memory； as if it had been
deeply carved in stone； and set before him from his birth。 He stood
transfixed for a moment； then； leaping from the window into the
garden； called loudly for help。
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Chapter 35
Containing The Unsatisfactory Result Of Oliver’s
Adventure； And A Conversation Of Some
Importance Between Harry Maylie And Rose。
When the inmates of the house； attracted by Oliver’s
cries； hurried to the spot from which they proceeded；
they found him； pale and agitated； pointing in the
direction of the meadows behind the house； and scarcely able to
articulate the words； “The Jew！ the Jew！”
Mr。 Giles was at a loss to comprehend what this outcry meant；
but Harry Maylie； whose perceptions were something quicker； and
who had heard Oliver’s history from his mother； understood it at
once。
“What direction did he take？” he asked； catching up a heavy
stick which was standing in a corner。
“That；” replied Oliver； pointing out the course the man had
taken； “I missed them in an instant。”
“Then； they are in the ditch！” said Harry。 “Follow！ And keep as
near me as you can。” So saying； he sprang over the hedge； and
darted off with a speed which rendered it matter of exceeding
difficulty for the others to keep near him。
Giles followed as well as he could； and Oliver followed too； and
in the course of a minute or two； Mr。 Losberne； who had been out
walking； and just then returned； tumbled over the hedge after
them； and picking himself up with more agility than he could have
been supposed to possess； struck into the same course at no
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contemptible speed； shouting all the while； most prodigiously； to
know what was the matter。
On they all went； nor stopped they once to breathe； until the
leader； striking off into an angle of the field indicated by Oliver；
began to search； narrowly； the ditch and hedge adjoining； which
afforded time for the remainder of the party to come up； and for
Oliver to communicate to Mr。 Losberne the circumstances that
had led to so vigorous a pursuit。
The search was all in vain。 There were not even the traces of
recent footsteps to be seen。 They stood now on the summit of a
little hill； commanding the open fields in every direction for three
or four miles。 There was the village in the hollow on the left； but；
in order to gain that； after pursuing the track Oliver had pointed
out； the men must have made a circuit of open ground； which it
was impossible they could have accomplished in so short a time。 A
thick wood skirted the meadowland in another direction； but they
could not have gained that covert for the same reason。
“It must have been a dream； Oliver；” said Harry Maylie。
“Oh； no； indeed； sir；” replied Oliver； shuddering at the very
recollection of the old wretch’s countenance； “I saw him too
plainly for that。 I saw them both； as plainly as I see you now。”
“Who was the other？” inquired Harry and Mr。 Losberne；
together。
“The very same man I told you of； who came so suddenly upon
me at the inn；” said Oliver。 “We had our eyes fixed full upon each
other； and I could swear to him。”
“They took this way？” demanded Harry； “are you sure？”
“As I am that the men were at the window；” replied Oliver；
pointing down； as he spoke； to the hedge which divided the
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cottage garden from the meadow。 “The tall man leaped over； just
there； and the Jew； running a few paces to the right； crept through
that gap。”
The two gentlemen watched Oliver’s earnest face； as he spoke；
and looking from him to each other； seemed to feel satisfied of the
accuracy of what he said。 Still； in no direction were there any
appearances of the trampling of men in hurried flight。 The grass
was long； but it was trodden down nowhere； save where their own
feet had crushed it。 The sides and brinks of the dishes were of
damp clay； but in no one place could they discern the print of
men’s shoes； or the slightest mark which would indicate that any
feet had pressed the ground for hours before。
“This is strange！” said Harry。
“Strange？” echoed the doctor。 “Blathers and Duff； themselves；
could make nothing of it。”
Notwithstanding the evidently useless nature of their search；
they did not desist until the coming on of night rendered its
further prosecution hopeless； and even then； they gave it up with
reluctance。 Giles was despatched to the different ale…houses in the
village； furnished with the best description Oliver could give of the
appearance and dress of the strangers。 Of these； the Jew was； at all
events； sufficiently remarkable to be remembered； supposing he
had been seen drinking； or loitering about； but Giles returned
without any intelligence； calculated to dispel or lessen the
mystery。
On the next day； fresh search was made； and the inquiries
renewed； but with no better success。 On the day following； Oliver
and Mr。 Maylie repaired to the market…town； in the hope of seeing
or hearing something of the men there； but this effort was equally
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fruitless。 After a few days； the affair began to be forgotten； as most
affairs are； when wonder； having no fresh food to support it； dies
away of itself。
Meanwhile； Rose
