oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第54部分

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appearances；　that’s　more！”　said　Mr。　Blathers；　putting　down　his　
wine…glass；　and　clinking　the　handcuffs　together。　

“Very　curious；　indeed；”　observed　the　doctor。　“Now；　if　you　
please；　you　can　walk　upstairs。”　

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“If　you　please；　sir；”　returned　Blathers。　Closely　following　Mr。　
Losberne；　the　two　officers　ascended　to　Oliver’s　bedroom；　Mr。　Giles　
preceding　the　party；　with　a　lighted　candle。　

Oliver　had　been　dozing；　but　looked　worse；　and　was　more　
feverish　than　he　had　appeared　yet。　Being　assisted　by　the　doctor；　
he　managed　to　sit　up　in　bed　for　a　minute　or　so；　and　looked　at　the　
strangers　without　at　all　understanding　what　was　going　forward—　
in　fact；　without　seeming　to　recollect　where　he　was；　or　what　had　
been　passing。　

“This；”　said　Mr。　Losberne；　speaking　softly；　but　with　great　
vehemence　notwithstanding；　“this　is　the　lad；　who；　being　
accidentally　wounded　by　a　spring…gun　in　some　boyish　trespass　on　
Mr。　What…d’ye…call…him’s　grounds；　at　the　back　here；　comes　to　the　
house　for　assistance　this　morning；　and　is　immediately　laid　hold　of　
and　maltreated；　by　that　ingenious　gentleman　with　the　candle　in　
his　hand；　who　had　placed　his　life　in　considerable　danger；　as　I　can　
professionally　certify。”　

Messrs。　Blathers　and　Duff　looked　at　Mr。　Giles；　as　he　was　thus　
recommended　to　their　notice。　The　bewildered　butler　gazed　from　
them　towards　Oliver；　and　from　Oliver　towards　Mr。　Losberne；　with　
a　most　ludicrous　mixture　of　fear　and　perplexity。　

“You　don’t　mean　to　deny　that；　I　suppose？”　said　the　doctor；　
laying　Oliver　gently　down　again。　

“I　was　all　done　for　the—for　the　best；　sir；”　answered　Giles。　“I　am　
sure　I　thought　it　was　the　boy；　or　I　wouldn’t　have　meddled　with　
him。　I　am　not　of　an　inhuman　disposition；　sir。”　

“Thought　it　was　what　boy？”　inquired　the　senior　officer。　

“The　housebreaker’s　boy；　sir！”　replied　Giles。　“They—they　
certainly　had　a　boy。”　

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“Well？　Do　you　think　so　now？”　inquired　Blathers。　

“Think　what　now？”　replied　Giles；　looking　vacantly　at　his　
questioner。　

“Think　it’s　the　same　boy；　stupid…head？”　rejoined　Blathers　
impatiently。　

“I　don’t　know；　I　really　don’t　know；”　said　Giles；　with　a　rueful　
countenance。　“I　couldn’t　swear　to　him。”　

“What　do　you　think？”　asked　Mr。　Blathers。　

“I　don’t　know　what　to　think；”　replied　poor　Giles。　“I　don’t　think　
it　is　the　boy；　indeed；　I’m　almost　certain　that　it　isn’t。　You　know　it　
can’t　be。”　

“Has　this　man　been　a…drinking；　sir？”　inquired　Blathers；　turning　
to　the　doctor。　

“What　a　precious　muddle…headed　chap　you　are！”　said　Duff；　
addressing　Mr。　Giles；　with　supreme　contempt。　

Mr。　Losberne　had　been　feeling　the　patient’s　pulse　during　this　
short　dialogue；　but　he　now　rose　from　the　chair　by　the　bedside；　and　
remarked；　that　if　the　officers　had　any　doubts　upon　the　subject；　
they　would　perhaps　like　to　step　into　the　next　room；　and　have　
Brittles　before　them。　

Acting　upon　this　suggestion；　they　adjourned　to　a　neighbouring　
apartment；　where　Mr。　Brittles；　being　called　in；　involved　himself　
and　his　respected　superior　in　such　a　wonderful　maze　of　fresh　
contradictions　and　impossibilities；　as　tended　to　throw　no　
particular　light　on　anything；　but　the　fact　of　his　own　strong　
mystification；　except；　indeed；　his　declarations　that　he　shouldn’t　
know　the　real　boy；　if　he　were　put　before　him　that　instant；　that　he　
had　only　taken　Oliver　to　be　he；　because　Mr。　Giles　had　said　he　was；　
and　that　Mr。　Giles　had；　five　minutes　previously；　admitted　in　the　

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kitchen；　that　he　began　to　be　very　much　afraid　he　had　been　a　little　
too　hasty。　

Among　other　ingenious　surmises；　the　question　was　then　raised；　
whether　Mr。　Giles　had　really　hit　anybody；　and　upon　examination　
of　the　fellow…pistol　to　that　which　he　had　fired；　it　turned　out　to　have　
no　more　destructive　loading　than　gunpowder　and　brown　paper—a　
discovery　which　made　a　considerable　impression　on　everybody　
but　the　doctor；　who　had　drawn　the　ball　about　ten　minutes　before。　
Upon　no　one；　however；　did　it　make　a　greater　impression　than　on　
Mr。　Giles　himself；　who；　after　labouring；　for　some　hours；　under　the　
fear　of　having　mortally　wounded　a　fellow…creature；　eagerly　caught　
at　this　new　idea；　and　favoured　it　to　the　utmost。　Finally；　the　
officers；　without　troubling　themselves　very　much　about　Oliver；　left　
the　Chertsey　constable　in　the　house；　and　took　up　their　rest　for　that　
night　in　the　town；　promising　to　return　next　morning。　

With　the　next　morning　there　came　a　rumour；　that　two　men　and　
a　boy　were　in　the　cage　at　Kingston；　who　had　been　apprehended　
overnight　under　suspicious　circumstances；　and　to　Kingston　
Messrs。　Blathers　and　Duff　journeyed　accordingly。　The　suspicious　
circumstances；　however；　resolving　themselves；　on　investigation；　
into　the　one　fact；　that　they　had　been　discovered　sleeping　under　a　
haystack；　which；　although　a　great　crime；　is　only　punishable　by　
imprisonment；　and　is；　in　the　merciful　eye　of　the　English　law；　and　
its　comprehensive　love　of　all　the　king’s　subjects；　held　to　be　no　
satisfactory　proof；　in　the　absence　of　all　other　evidence；　that　the　
sleeper；　or　sleepers；　have　committed　burglary　accompanied　with　
violence；　and　have　therefore　rendered　themselves　liable　to　the　
punishment　of　death；　Messrs。　Blathers　and　Duff　came　back　again；　
as　wise　as　they　went。　

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In　short；　after　some　more　examination；　and　a　great　deal　more　
conversation；　a　neighbouring　magistrate　was　readily　induced　to　
take　the　joint　bail　of　Mrs。　Maylie　and　Mr。　Losberne　for　Oliver’s　
appearance　if　he　should　ever　be　called　upon；　and　Blathers　and　
Duff；　being　rewarded　with　a　couple　of　guineas；　returned　to　town　
with　divided　opinions　on　the　subject　of　their　expedition；　the　latter　
gentleman　on　a　mature　consideration　of　all　the　circumstances；　
inclining　to　the　belief　that　the　burglarious　attempt　had　originated　
with　the　Family　Pet；　and　the　former　being　equally　disposed　to　
concede　the　full　merit　of　it　to　the　great　Mr。　Conkey　Chickweed。　

Meanwhile；　Oliver　gradually　throve　and　prospered　under　the　
united　care　of　Mrs。　Maylie；　Rose；　and　the　kind…hearted　Mr。　
Losberne。　If　fervent　prayers；　gushing　from　hearts　overcharged　
with　gratitude；　be　heard　in　Heaven—and　if　they　be　not；　what　
prayers　are？—the　blessings　which　the　orphan　child　called　down　
upon　them；　sank　into　their　souls；　diffusing　peace　and　happiness　

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Chapter　32　

Of　The　Happy　Life　Oliver　Began　To　Lead　With　His
Kind　Friends。


O　liver’s　ailings　were　neither　slight　nor　few。　In　addition　to　
the　pain　and　delay　attendant　on　a　broken　limb；　his　
exposure　to　the　wet　and　cold　had　brought　on　fever　and　
ague；　which　hung　about　him　for　many　weeks；　and　reduced　him　
sadly。　But；　at　length；　he　began；　by　slow　degrees；　to　get　better；　and　
to　be　able　to　say　sometimes；　in　a　few　tearful　words；　how　deeply　he　
felt　the　goodness　of　the　two　sweet　ladies；　and　how　ardently　he　
hoped　that　when　he　grew　strong　and　well　again；　he　could　do　
something　to　show　his　gratitude；　only　something　which　would　let　
them　see　the　love　and　duty　with　which　his　breast　was　full；　
something；　however　slight；　which　would　prove　to　them　that　their　
gentle　kindness　had　not　been　cast　away；　but　that　the　poor　boy　
whom　their　charity　had　rescued　from　misery；　or　death；　was　eager　
to　serve　them　with　his　whole　heart　and　soul。　

“Poor　fellow！”　said　Rose；　when　Oliver　had　been　one　day　feebly　
endeavouring　to　utter　the　words　of　thankfulness　that　rose　to　his　
pale　lips；　“you　shall　have　many　opportunities　of　serving　us；　if　you　
will。　We　are　going　into　the　country；　and　my　aunt　intends　that　you　
shall　accompany　us。　The　quiet　place；　the　pure　air；　and　all　the　
pleasures　and　beauties　of　spring；　will　restore　you　in　a　few　days。　We　
will　employ　you　in　a　hundred　ways；　when　you　can　bear　the　
trouble。”　

“The　trouble！”　cried　Oliver。　“Oh！　dear　lady；　if　I　could　but　work　

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for　you；　if　I　could　only　give　you　pleasure　by　watering　your　flowers；　
or　watching　your　birds；　or　running　up　and　down　the　whole　day　
long；　to　make　you　happy；　what　would　I　give　to　do　it！”　

“You　shall　give　nothing　at　all；”　said　Miss　Maylie；　smiling；　“for；　
as　I　told　you　before；　we　shall　employ　you　in　a　hundred　ways；　and　if　
you　only　take　half　the　trouble　to　please　us；　that　you　promise　now；　
you　will　make　me　very　happy　indeed。”　

“Happy；　ma’am！”　cried　Oliver；　“how　kind　of　you　to　say　so！”　

“You　will　make　me　happier　than　I　can　tell　you；”　replied　the　
young　lady。　“To　think　that　my　dear　good　aunt　should　have　been　
the　means　of　rescuing　any　one　from　such　sad　misery　as　you　have　
described　to　us；　would　be　an　unspeakable　pleasure　to　me；　but　to　
know　that　the　object　of　her　goodness　and　compassion　was　
sincerely　grateful　and　attached；　in　consequence；　would　delight　me　
more　than　you　can　well　imagine。　Do　you　understand　me？”　she　
inquired；　watching　Oliver’s　thoughtful　face。　

“Oh；　yes；　ma’am；　yes！”　replied　Oliver　eagerly；　“but　I　was　
thinking　that　I　am　ungrateful　now。”　

“To　whom？”　inquired　the　young　lady。　

“To　the　kind　gentleman；　and　the　dear　old　nurse；　who　took　so　
much　care　of　me　before；”　rejoined　Oliver。　“If　they　knew　how　
happy　I　am；　they　would　be　pleased；　I　am　sure。”　

“I　am　sure　they　would；”　rejoined　Oliver’s　benefactress；　“and　
Mr。　Losberne　has　already　been　kind　enough　to　promise　that　when　
you　are　well　enough　to　bear　the　journey；　he　will　carry　you　to　see　
them。”　

“Has　he；　ma’am？”　cried　Oliver；　his　face　brightening　with　
pleasure。　“I　don’t　know　what　I　shall　do　for　joy　when　I　see　their　
kind　faces　once　again！”　

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In　a　short　time　Oliver　was　sufficiently　recovered　to　undergo　the　
fatigue　of　this　expedition。　One　morning　he　and　Mr。　Losberne　set　
out；　accordingly；　in　a　little　carriage　which　belonged　to　Mrs。　Maylie。　
When　they　came　to　Chertsey　Bridge；　Oliver　turned　very　pale；　and　
uttered