oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第51部分

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of　pity　and　compassion　had　awakened　some　pleasant　dream　of　a　
love　and　affection　he　had　never　known。　Thus；　a　strain　of　gentle　
music；　or　the　rippling　of　water　in　a　silent　place；　or　the　odour　of　a　
flower；　or　the　mention　of　a　familiar　word；　will　sometimes　call　up　
sudden　dim　remembrances　of　scenes　that　never　were；　in　this　life；　
which　vanish　like　a　breath；　which　some　brief　memory　of　a　happier　
existence；　long　gone　by；　would　seem　to　have　awakened；　which　no　
voluntary　exertion　of　the　mind　can　ever　recall。　

“What　can　this　mean？”　exclaimed　the　elder　lady。　“This　poor　
child　can　never　have　been　the　pupil　of　robbers！”　

“Vice；”　sighed　the　surgeon；　replacing　the　curtain；　“takes　up　her　
abode　in　many　temples；　and　who　can　say　that　a　fair　outside　shall　
not　enshrine　her？”　

“But　at　so　early　an　age！”　urged　Rose。　

“My　dear　young　lady；”　rejoined　the　surgeon；　mournfully　
shaking　his　head；　“crime；　like　death；　is　not　confined　to　the　old　and　
withered　alone。　The　youngest　and　fairest　are　too　often　its　chosen　
victims。”　

“But；　can　you—oh！　can　you　really　believe　that　this　delicate　boy　
has　been　the　voluntary　associate　of　the　worst　outcasts　of　society？”　
said　Rose。　

The　surgeon　shook　his　head；　in　a　manner　which　intimated　that　
he　feared　it　was　very　possible；　and　observing　that　they　might　
disturb　the　patient；　led　the　way　into　an　adjoining　apartment。　

“But　even　if　he　has　been　wicked；”　pursued　Rose；　“think　how　
young　he　is；　think　that　he　may　never　have　known　a　mother’s　love；　
or　the　comfort　of　a　home；　that　ill…usage　and　blows；　or　the　want　of　
bread；　may　have　driven　him　to　herd　with　men　who　have　forced　

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him　to　guilt。　Aunt；　dear　aunt；　for　mercy’s　sake；　think　of　this；　before　
you　let　them　drag　this　sick　child　to　a　prison；　which　in　any　case　
must　be　the　grave　of　all　his　chances　of　amendment。　Oh！　as　you　
love　me；　and　know　that　I　have　never　felt　the　want　of　parents　in　
your　goodness　and　affection；　but　that　I　might　have　done　so；　and　
might　have　been　equally　helpless　and　unprotected　with　this　poor　
child；　have　pity　upon　him　before　it　is　too　late！　

“My　dear　love；”　said　the　elder　lady；　as　she　folded　the　weeping　
girl　to　her　bosom；　“do　you　think　I　would　harm　a　hair　of　his　head？”　

“Oh；　no！”　replied　Rose　eagerly。　

“No；　surely；”　said　the　old　lady；　“my　days　are　drawing　to　their　
close；　and　may　mercy　be　shown　to　me　as　I　show　it　to　others！　What　
can　I　do　to　save　him；　sir？”　

“Let　me　think；　ma’am；”　said　the　doctor；　“let　me　think。”　

Mr。　Losberne　thrust　his　hands　into　his　pockets；　and　took　
several　turns　up　and　down　the　room；　often　stopping；　and　
balancing　himself　on　his　toes；　and　frowning　frightfully。　After　
various　exclamations　of　“I’ve　got　it　now；”　and　“no；　I　haven’t；”　and　
as　many　renewals　of　the　walking　and　frowning；　he　at　length　made　
a　dead　halt；　and　spoke　as　follows：　

“I　think　if　you　give　me　a　full　and　unlimited　commission　to　bully　
Giles；　and　that　little　boy；　Brittles；　I　can　manage　it。　Giles　is　a　
faithful　fellow　and　an　old　servant；　I　know；　but　you　can　make　it　up　
to　him　in　a　thousand　ways；　and　reward　him　for　being　such　a　good　
shot　besides。　You　don’t　object　to　that？”　

“Unless　there　is　some　other　way　of　preserving　the　child；”　
replied　Mrs。　Maylie。　

“There　is　no　other；”　said　the　doctor。　“No　other；　take　my　word　
for　it。”　

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“Then　my　aunt　invests　you　with　full　power；”　said　Rose；　smiling　
through　her　tears；　“but　pray　don’t　be　harder　upon　the　poor　fellows　
than　is　indispensably　necessary。”　

“You　seem　to　think；”　retorted　the　doctor；　“that　everybody　is　
disposed　to　be　hard…hearted　today；　except　yourself；　Miss　Rose。　I　
only　hope；　for　the　sake　of　the　rising　male　sex　generally；　that　you　
may　be　found　in　as　vulnerable　and　soft…hearted　a　mood　by　the　first　
eligible　young　fellow　who　appeals　to　your　compassion；　and　I　wish　I　
were　a　young　fellow；　that　I　might　avail　myself；　on　the　spot；　of　such　
a　favourable　opportunity　for　doing　so；　as　the　present。”　

“You　are　as　great　a　boy　as　poor　Brittles　himself；”　returned　
Rose；　blushing。　

“Well；”　said　the　doctor；　laughing　heartily；　“that　is　no　very　
difficult　matter。　But　to　return　to　this　boy。　The　great　point　of　our　
agreement　is　yet　to　come。　He　will　wake　in　an　hour　or　so；　I　dare　say；　
and　although　I　have　told　that　thick…headed　constable…fellow　
downstairs　that　he　mustn’t　be　moved　or　spoken　to；　on　peril　of　his　
life；　I　think　we　may　converse　with　him　without　danger。　Now　I　
make　this　stipulation—that　I　shall　examine　him　in　your　presence；　
and　that；　if；　from　what　he　says；　we　judge；　and　I　can　show　to　the　
satisfaction　of　your　cool　reason；　that　he　is　a　real　and　thorough　bad　
one　（which　is　more　than　possible）；　he　shall　be　left　to　his　fate；　
without　any　further　interference　on　my　part；　at　all　events。”　

“Oh；　no；　aunt！”　entreated　Rose。　

“Oh；　yes；　aunt！”　said　the　doctor。　“Is　it　a　bargain？”　

“He　cannot　be　hardened　in　vice；”　said　Rose；　“it　is　impossible。　

“Very　good；”　retorted　the　doctor；　“then　so　much　the　more　
reason　for　acceding　to　my　proposition。”　

Finally　the　treaty　was　entered　into；　and　the　parties　thereunto　

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sat　down　to　wait；　with　some　impatience；　until　Oliver　should　awake。　

The　patience　of　the　two　ladies　was　destined　to　undergo　a　longer　
trial　than　Mr。　Losberne　had　led　them　to　expect；　for　hour　after　hour　
passed　on；　and　still　Oliver　slumbered　heavily。　It　was　evening；　
indeed；　before　the　kind…hearted　doctor　brought　them　the　
intelligence；　that　he　was　at　length　sufficiently　restored　to　be　
spoken　to。　The　boy　was　very　ill；　he　said；　and　weak　from　the　loss　of　
blood；　but　his　mind　was　so　troubled　with　anxiety　to　disclose　
something；　that　he　deemed　it　better　to　give　him　the　opportunity；　
than　to　insist　upon　his　remaining　quiet　until　next　morning；　which　
he　should　otherwise　have　done。　

The　conference　was　a　long　one。　Oliver　told　them　all　his　simple　
history；　and　was　often　compelled　to　stop；　by　pain　and　want　of　
strength。　It　was　a　solemn　thing　to　hear；　in　the　darkened　room；　the　
feeble　voice　of　the　sick　child　recounting　a　weary　catalogue　of　evils　
and　calamities　which　hard　men　had　brought　upon　him。　Oh！　if　
when　we　oppress　and　grind　our　fellow…creatures；　we　bestowed　but　
one　thought　on　the　dark　evidences　of　human　error；　which；　like　
dense　and　heavy　clouds；　are　rising；　slowly　it　is　true；　but　not　less　
surely；　to　Heaven；　to　pour　their　after…vengeance　on　our　heads；　if　
we　heard　but　one　instant；　in　imagination；　the　deep　testimony　of　
dead　men’s　voices；　which　no　power　can　stifle；　and　no　pride　shut　
out；　where　would　be　the　injury　and　injustice；　the　suffering　misery；　
cruelty；　and　wrong；　that　each　day’s　life　brings　with　it！　

Oliver’s　pillow　was　smoothed　by　gentle　hands　that　night；　and　
loveliness　and　virtue　watched　him　as　he　slept。　He　felt　calm　and　
happy；　and　could　have　died　without　a　murmur。　

The　momentous　interview　was　no　sooner　concluded；　and　Oliver　
composed　to　rest　again；　than　the　doctor；　after　wiping　his　eyes；　and　

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condemning　them　for　being　weak　all　at　once；　betook　himself　
downstairs　to　open　upon　Mr。　Giles。　And　finding　nobody　about　the　
parlours；　it　occurred　to　him；　that　he　could　perhaps　originate　the　
proceedings　with　better　effect　in　the　kitchen；　so　into　the　kitchen　
he　went。　

There　were　assembled；　in　that　lower　house　of　the　domestic　
parliament；　the　women…servants；　Mr。　Brittles；　Mr。　Giles；　the　tinker　
（who　had　received　a　special　invitation　to　regale　himself　for　the　
remainder　of　the　day；　in　consideration　of　his　services）；　and　the　
constable。　The　latter　gentleman　had　a　large　staff；　a　large　head；　
large　features；　and　large　half…boots；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　had　
been　taking　a　proportionate　allowance　of　ale—as　indeed　he　had。　

The　adventures　of　the　previous　night　were　still　under　
discussion；　for　Mr。　Giles　was　expatiating　upon　his　presence　of　
mind；　when　the　doctor　entered；　Mr。　Brittles；　with　a　mug　of　ale　in　
his　hand；　was　corroborating　everything；　before　his　superior　said　it。　

“Sit　still！”　said　the　doctor；　waving　his　hand。　

“Thank　you；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Giles。　“Missis　wished　some　ale　to　be　
given　out；　sir；　and　as　I　felt　no　ways　inclined　for　my　own　little　room；　
sir；　and　was　disposed　for　company；　I　am　taking　mine　among　’em　
here。”　

Brittles　headed　a　low　murmur；　by　which　the　ladies　and　
gentlemen　generally　were　understood　to　express　the　gratification　
they　derived　from　Mr。　Giles’s　condescension。　Mr。　Giles　looked　
round　with　a　patronising　air；　as　much　as　to　say　that　so　long　as　they　
behaved　properly；　he　would　never　desert　them。　

“How　is　the　patient　tonight；　sir？”　asked　Giles。　

“So…so；”　returned　the　doctor。　“I　am　afraid　you　have　got　yourself　
into　a　scrape　there；　Mr。　Giles。”　

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“I　hope　you　don’t　mean　to　say；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　trembling；　
“that　he’s　going　to　die。　If　I　thought　it；　I　should　never　be　happy　
again。　I　wouldn’t　cut　a　boy　off—no；　not　even　Brittles　here—not　for　
all　the　plate　in　the　county；　sir。”　

“That’s　not　the　point；”　said　the　doctor　mysteriously。　“Mr。　Giles；　
are　you　a　Protestant？”　

“Yes；　sir；　I　hope　so；”　faltered　Mr。　Giles；　who　had　turned　very　
pale。　

“And　what　are　you；　boy？”　said　the　doctor；　turning　sharply　upon　
Brittles。　

“Lord　bless　me；　sir！”　replied　Brittles；　starting　violently；　“I’m—　
the　same　as　Mr。　Giles；　sir。”　

“Then　tell　me　this；”　said　the　doctor；　“both　of　you—both　of　you！　
Are　you　going　to　take　upon　yourselves　to　swear　that　that　boy　
upstairs　is　the　boy　that　was　put　through　the　little　window　last　
night？　Out　with　it！　Come！　We　are　prepared　for　you！”　

The　doctor；　who　was　universally　considered　one　of　the　best…
tempered　creatures　on　earth；　made　this　demand　in　such　a　
dreadful　tone　of　anger；　that　Giles　and　Brittles；　who　were　
considerably　muddled　by　ale　and　excitement；　stared　at　each　other　
in　a　state　of　stupefaction。　

“Pay　attention　to　the　reply；　constable；　will　you？”　said