oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第69节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　374　

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。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　375　

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　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　376　

me　when　you　return。　But；　to　speak　seriously；　Harry；　has　any　
communication　from　the　great　nobs　produced　this　sudden　anxiety　
on　your　part　to　be　gone？”　

“The　great　nobs；”　replied　Harry；　“under　which　designation　I　
presume；　you　include　my　most　stately　uncle；　have　not　
communicated　with　me　at　all；　since　I　have　been　here；　nor；　at　this　
time　of　the　year；　is　it　likely　that　anything　would　occur　to　render　
necessary　my　immediate　attendance　among　them。”　

“Well；”　said　the　doctor；　“you　are　a　queer　fellow。　But　of　course　
they　will　get　you　into　Parliament　at　the　election　before　Christmas；　
and　these　sudden　shiftings　and　changes　are　no　bad　preparation　for　
political　life。　There’s　something　in　that。　Good　training　is　always　
desirable；　whether　the　race　be　for　place；　cup；　or　sweepstakes。”　

Harry　Maylie　looked　as　if　he　could　have　followed　up　this　short　
dialogue　by　one　or　two　remarks　that　would　have　staggered　the　
doctor　not　a　little；　but　he　contented　himself　with　saying；　“We　shall　
see；”　and　pursued　the　subject　no　further。　The　post…chaise　drove　up　
to　the　door　shortly　afterwards；　and　Giles　coming　in　for　the　
baggage；　the　good　doctor　bustled　out；　to　see　it　packed。　

“Oliver；”　said　Harry　Maylie；　in　a　low　voice；　“let　me　speak　a　
word　with　you。”　

Oliver　walked　into　the　window…recess　to　which　Mr。　Maylie　
beckoned　him；　much　surprised　at　the　mixture　of　sadness　and　
boisterous　spirits；　which　his　whole　behaviour　displayed。　

“You　can　write　now？”　said　Harry；　laying　his　hand　upon　his　
arm。　

“I　hope　so；　sir；”　replied　Oliver。　

“I　shall　not　be　at　home　again；　perhaps　for　some　time；　I　wish　you　
would　write　to　me—say　once　a　fortnight；　every　alternate　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　377　

Monday—to　the　General　Post　Office　in　London。　Will　you？”　

“Oh！　certainly；　sir；　I　shall　be　proud　to　do　it；”　exclaimed　Oliver；　
greatly　delighted　with　the　commission。　

“I　should　like　to　know—how　my　mother　and　Miss　Maylie　are；”　
said　the　young　man；　“and　you　can　fill　up　a　sheet　by　telling　me　
what　walks　you　take；　and　what　you　talk　about；　and　whether　she—　
they；　I　mean—seem　happy　and　quite　well。　You　understand　me？”　

“Oh！　quite；　sir；　quite；”　replied　Oliver。　

“I　would　rather　you　did　not　mention　it　to　them；”　said　Harry；　
hurrying　over　his　words；　“because　it　might　make　my　mother　
anxious　to　write　to　me　oftener；　and　it　is　a　trouble　and　worry　to　her。　
Let　it　be　a　secret　between　you　and　me；　and　mind　you　tell　me　
everything！　I　depend　upon　you。”　

Oliver；　quite　elated　and　honoured　by　a　sense　of　his　importance；　
faithfully　promised　to　be　secret　and　explicit　in　his　
communications。　Mr。　Maylie　took　leave　of　him；　with　many　
assurances　of　his　regard　and　protection。　

The　doctor　was　in　the　chaise；　Giles　（who；　it　had　been　arranged；　
should　be　left　behind）　held　the　door　open　in　his　hand；　and　the　
women…servants　were　in　the　garden；　looking　on。　Harry　cast　one　
slight　glance　at　the　latticed　window；　and　jumped　into　the　carriage。　

“Drive　on！”　he　cried；　“hard；　fast；　full　gallop！　Nothing　short　of　
flying　will　keep　pace　with　me；　today。”　

“Hallo！”　cried　the　doctor；　letting　down　the　front　glass　in　a　great　
hurry；　and　shouting　to　the　postillion；　“something　very　short　of　
flying　will　keep　pace　with　me。　Do　you　hear？”　

Jingling　and　clattering；　till　distance　rendered　its　noise　
inaudible；　and　its　progress　only　perceptible　to　the　eye；　the　vehicle　
wound　its　way　along　the　road；　almost　hidden　in　a　cloud　of　dust；　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　378　

now　wholly　disappearing；　and　now　becoming　visible　again；　as　
intervening　objects；　or　the　intricacies　of　the　way；　permitted。　It　was　
not　until　even　the　dusty　cloud　was　no　longer　to　be　seen；　that　the　
gazers　dispersed。　

And　there　was　one　looker…on；　who　remained　with　eyes　fixed　
upon　the　spot　where　the　carriage　had　disappeared；　long　after　it　
was　many　miles　away；　for；　behind　the　white　curtain　which　had　
shrouded　her　from　view　when　Harry　raised　his　eyes　towards　the　
window；　sat　Rose　herself。　

“He　seems　in　high　spirits　and　happy；”　she　said；　at　length。　“I　
feared　for　a　time　he　might　be　otherwise。　I　was　mistaken。　I　am　very；　
very　glad。”　

Tears　are　signs　of　gladness　as　well　as　grief；　but　those　which　
coursed　down　Rose’s　face；　as　she　sat　pensively　at　the　window；　still　
gazing　in　the　same　direction；　seemed　to　tell　more　of　sorrow　than　of　
joy。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　379　

Chapter　37　

In　Which　The　Reader　May　Perceive　A　Contrast；　Not
Uncommon　In　Matrimonial　Cases。


Mr。　Bumble　sat　in　the　workhouse　parlour；　with　his　eyes　
moodily　fixed　on　the　cheerless　grate；　whence；　as　it　was　
summer　time；　no　brighter　gleam　proceeded；　than　the　
reflection　of　certain　sickly　rays　of　the　sun；　which　were　sent　back　
from　its　cold　and　shining　surface。　A　paper　fly…cage　dangled　from　
the　ceiling；　to　which　he　occasionally　raised　his　eyes　in　gloomy　
thought；　and；　as　the　heedless　insects　hovered　round　the　gaudy　
network；　Mr。　Bumble　would　heave　a　deep　sigh；　while　a　more　
gloomy　shadow　overspread　his　countenance。　Mr。　Bumble　was　
meditating；　it　might　be　that