oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第50部分

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Oliver　Twist　300　

with　the　care　and　solicitude　of　a　woman。　

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Oliver　Twist　301　

Chapter　29　

Has　An　Introductory　Account　Of　The　Inmates　Of
The　House；　To　Which　Oliver　Resorted。


In　a　handsome　room；　though　its　furniture　had　rather　the　air　of　
old…fashioned　comfort；　than　of　modern　elegance；　there　sat　two　
ladies　at　a　well…spread　breakfast…table。　Mr。　Giles；　dressed　with　
scrupulous　care　in　a　full　suit　of　black；　was　in　attendance　upon　
them。　He　had　taken　his　station　some　halfway　between　the　
sideboard　and　the　breakfast…table；　and；　with　his　body　drawn　up　to　
its　full　height；　his　head　thrown　back；　and　inclined　the　merest　trifle　
on　one　side；　his　left　leg　advanced；　and　his　right　hand　thrust　into　
his　waistcoat；　while　his　left　hung　down　by　his　side；　grasping　a　
waiter；　looked　like　one　who　laboured　under　a　very　agreeable　sense　
of　his　own　merits　and　importance。　

Of　the　two　ladies；　one　was　well　advanced　in　years；　but　the　high…
backed　oaken　chair　in　which　she　sat；　was　not　more　upright　than　
she。　Dressed　with　the　utmost　nicety　and　precision；　in　a　quaint　
mixture　of　bygone　costume；　with　some　slight　concessions　to　the　
prevailing　taste；　which　rather　served　to　point　the　old　style　
pleasantly　than　to　impair　its　effect；　she　sat；　in　a　stately　manner；　
with　her　hands　folded　on　the　table　before　her。　Her　eyes　（and　age　
had　dimmed　but　little　of　their　brightness）　were　attentively　fixed　
upon　her　young　companion。　

The　younger　lady　was　in　the　lovely　bloom　and　springtime　of　
womanhood；　at　that　age；　when；　if　ever　angels　be　for　God’s　good　
purposes　enthroned　in　mortal　forms；　they　may　be；　without　

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impiety；　supposed　to　abide　in　such　as　hers。　

She　was　not　past　seventeen。　Cast　in　so　slight　and　exquisite　a　
mould；　so　mild　and　gentle；　so　pure　and　beautiful；　that　earth　
seemed　not　her　element；　not　its　rough　creatures　her　fit　
companions。　The　very　intelligence　that　shone　in　her　deep…blue　
eye；　and　was　stamped　upon　her　noble　head；　seemed　scarcely　of　
her　age；　or　of　the　world；　and　yet　the　changing　expression　of　
sweetness　and　good…humour；　the　thousand　lights　that　played　
about　the　face；　and　left　no　shadow　there；　above　all；　the　smile；　the　
cheerful；　happy　smile；　were　made　for　home　and　fireside　peace　and　
happiness。　

She　was　busily　engaged　in　the　little　offices　of　the　table。　
Chancing　to　raise　her　eyes　as　the　elder　lady　was　regarding　her；　she　
playfully　put　back　her　hair；　which　was　simply　braided　on　her　
forehead；　and　threw　into　her　beaming　look；　such　an　expression　of　
affection　and　artless　loveliness；　that　blessed　spirits　might　have　
smiled　to　look　upon　her。　

“And　Brittles　has　been　gone　upwards　of　an　hour；　has　he？”　
asked　the　old　lady；　after　a　pause。　

“An　hour　and　twelve　minutes；　ma’am；”　replied　Mr。　Giles；　
referring　to　a　silver　watch；　which　he　drew　forth　by　a　black　ribbon。　

“He　is　always　slow；”　remarked　the　old　lady。　

“Brittles　always　was　a　slow　boy；　ma’am；”　replied　the　attendant。　
And　seeing；　by　the　bye；　that　Brittles　had　been　a　slow　boy　for　
upwards　of　thirty　years；　there　appeared　no　great　probability　of　his　
ever　being　a　fast　one。　

“He　gets　worse　instead　of　better；　I　think；”　said　the　elder　lady。　

“It　is　very　inexcusable　in　him　if　he　stops　to　play　with　any　other　
boys；”　said　the　young　lady；　smiling。　

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Mr。　Giles　was　apparently　considering　the　propriety　of　indulging　
in　a　respectful　smile　himself；　when　a　gig　drove　up　to　the　garden　
gate；　out　of　which　there　jumped　a　fat　gentleman；　who　ran　straight　
up　to　the　door；　and　who；　getting　quickly　into　the　house　by　some　
mysterious　process；　burst　into　the　room；　and　nearly　overturned　
Mr。　Giles　and　the　breakfast…table　together。　

“I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing！”　exclaimed　the　fat　gentleman。　
“My　dear　Mrs。　Maylie—bless　my　soul—in　the　silence　of　night；　
too—I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing！”　

With　these　expressions　of　condolence；　the　fat　gentleman　shook　
hands　with　both　ladies；　and　drawing　up　a　chair；　inquired　how　they　
found　themselves。　

“You　ought　to　be　dead；　positively　dead　with　the　fright；”　said　the　
fat　gentleman。　“Why　didn’t　you　send？　Bless　me；　my　man　should　
have　come　in　a　minute；　and　so　would　I；　and　my　assistant　would　
have　been　delighted；　or　anybody；　I’m　sure；　under　such　
circumstances。　Dear；　dear！　So　unexpected！　In　the　silence　of　night；　
too！”　

The　doctor　seemed　especially　troubled　by　the　fact　of　the　
robbery　having　been　unexpected；　and　attempted　in　the　night…time；　
as　if　it　were　the　established　custom　of　gentlemen　in　the　housebreaking　way　to　transact　business　at　noon；　and　to　make　an　
appointment；　by　post；　a　day　or　two　previous。　

“And　you；　Miss　Rose；”　said　the　doctor；　turning　to　the　young　
lady；　“I”　

“Oh！　very　much　so；　indeed；”　said　Rose；　interrupting　him；　“but　
there　is　a　poor　creature　upstairs；　whom　aunt　wishes　you　to　see。”　

“Ah！　to　be　sure；”　replied　the　doctor；　“so　there　is。　That　was　your　
handiwork；　Giles；　I　understand。”　

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Mr。　Giles；　who　had　been　feverishly　putting　the　tea…cups　to　
rights；　blushed　very　red；　and　said　that　he　had　had　that　honour。　

“Honour；　eh？”　said　the　doctor；　“well；　I　don’t　know；　perhaps　it’s　
as　honourable　to　hit　a　thief　in　a　back　kitchen；　as　to　hit　your　man　at　
twelve　paces。　Fancy　that　he　fired　in　the　air；　and　you’ve　fought　a　
duel；　Giles。”　

Mr。　Giles；　who　thought　this　light　treatment　of　the　matter　an　
unjust　attempt　at　diminishing　his　glory；　answered　respectfully　that　
it　was　not　for　the　like　of　him　to　judge　about　that；　but　he　rather　
thought　it　was　no　joke　to　the　opposite　party。　

“Gad；　that’s　true！”　said　the　doctor。　“Where　is　he？　Show　me　the　
way。　I’ll　look　in　again；　as　I　come　down；　Mrs。　Maylie。　That’s　the　
little　window　that　he　got　in　at；　eh？　Well；　I　couldn’t　have　believed　
it！”　

Talking　all　the　way；　he　followed　Mr。　Giles　upstairs；　and　while　he　
is　going　upstairs；　the　reader　may　be　informed；　that　Mr。　Losberne；　
a　surgeon　in　the　neighbourhood；　known　through　a　circuit　of　ten　
miles　round　as　“the　doctor；”　had　grown　fat；　more　from　good…
humour　than　from　good　living；　and　was　as　kind　and　hearty；　and　
withal　as　eccentric　an　old　bachelor；　as　will　be　found　in　five　times　
that　space；　by　any　explorer　alive。　

The　doctor　was　absent　much　longer　than　either　he　or　the　ladies　
had　anticipated。　A　large　flat　box　was　fetched　out　of　the　gig；　and　a　
bedroom　bell　was　rung　very　often；　and　the　servants　ran　up　and　
downstairs　perpetually；　from　which　tokens　it　was　justly　concluded　
that　something　important　was　going　on　above。　At　length　he　
returned；　and　in　reply　to　an　anxious　inquiry　after　his　patient；　
looked　very　mysterious；　and　closed　the　door　carefully。　

“This　is　a　very　extraordinary　thing；　Mrs。　Maylie；”　said　the　

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doctor；　standing　with　his　back　to　the　door；　as　if　to　keep　it　shut。　

“He　is　not　in　danger；　I　hope？”　said　the　old　lady。　

“Why；　that　would　not　be　an　extraordinary　thing；　under　the　
circumstances；”　replied　the　doctor；　“though　I　don’t　think　he　is。　
Have　you　seen　this　thief？”　

“No；”　rejoined　the　old　lady。　

“Nor　heard　anything　about　him？”　

“No。”　

“I　beg　your　pardon；　ma’am；”　interposed　Mr。　Giles；　“but　I　was　
going　to　tell　you　about　him　when　Doctor　Losberne　came　in。　

The　fact　was；　that　Mr。　Giles　had　not；　at　first；　been　able　to　bring　
his　mind　to　the　avowal；　that　he　had　only　shot　a　boy。　Such　
commendations　had　been　bestowed　upon　his　bravery；　that　he　
could　not；　for　the　life　of　him；　help　postponing　the　explanation　for　a　
few　delicious　minutes；　during　which　he　had　flourished；　in　the　very　
zenith　of　a　brief　reputation　for　undaunted　courage。　

“Rose　wished　to　see　the　man；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　“but　I　wouldn’t　
hear　of　it。”　

“Humph！”　rejoined　the　doctor。　“There　is　nothing　very　alarming　
in　his　appearance。　Have　you　any　objection　to　see　him　in　my　
presence？”　

“If　it　be　necessary；”　replied　the　old　lady；　“certainly　not。”　

“Then　I　think　it　is　necessary；”　said　the　doctor；　“at　all　events；　I　
am　quite　sure　that　you　would　deeply　regret　not　having　done　so；　if　
you　postponed　it。　He　is　perfectly　quiet　and　comfortable　now。　Allow　
me—Miss　Rose；　will　you　permit　me？　Not　the　slightest　fear；　I　
pledge　you　my　honour！”　

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Oliver　Twist　306　

Chapter　30　

Relates　What　Oliver’s　New　Visitors　Thought　Of
Him。


With　many　loquacious　assurances　that　they　would　be　
agreeably　surprised　in　the　aspect　of　the　criminal；　the　
doctor　drew　the　young　lady’s　arm　through　one　of　his；　
and　offering　his　disengaged　hand　to　Mrs。　Maylie；　led　them；　with　
much　ceremony　and　stateliness；　upstairs。　

“Now；”　said　the　doctor；　in　a　whisper；　as　he　softly　turned　the　
handle　of　a　bedroom　door；　“let　us　hear　what　you　think　of　him。　He　
has　not　been　shaved　very　recently；　but　he　don’t　look　at　all　
ferocious　notwithstanding。　Stop；　though！　Let　me　first　see　that　he　is　
in　visiting　order。”　

Stepping　before　them；　he　looked　into　the　room。　Motioning　them　
to　advance；　he　closed　the　door　when　they　had　entered；　and　gently　
drew　back　the　curtains　of　the　bed。　Upon　it；　in　lieu　of　the　dogged；　
black…visaged　ruffian　they　had　expected　to　behold；　there　lay　a　
mere　child；　worn　with　pain　and　exhaustion　and　sunk　into　a　deep　
sleep。　His　wounded　arm；　bound　and　splintered　up；　was　crossed　
upon　his　breast；　his　head　reclined　upon　the　other　arm；　which　was　
half…hidden　by　his　long　hair；　as　it　streamed　over　the　pillow。　

The　honest　gentleman　held　the　curtain　in　his　hand；　and　looked　
on　for　a　minute　or　so；　in　silence。　Whilst　he　was　watching　the　
patient　thus；　the　younger　lady　glided　softly　past；　and　seating　
herself　in　a　chair　by　the　bedside；　gathered　Oliver’s　hair　from　his　
face。　As　she　stooped　over　him；　her　tears　fell　upon　his　forehead。　

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The　boy　stirred；　and　smiled　in　his　sleep；　as　though　these　marks　
of　pity　and　compassion　had　awakened　some　pleasant　dream　of　a　
love　and　affection　he