oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第57部分

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and　there　was　an　anxious；　haggard　look　about　the　gentle　face；　
which　it　had　never　worn　before。　Another　minute；　and　it　was　
suffused　with　a　crimson　flush；　and　a　heavy　wildness　came　over　the　
soft　blue　eye。　Again　this　disappeared；　like　the　shadow　thrown　by　a　
passing　cloud；　and　she　was　once　more　deadly　pale。　

Oliver；　who　watched　the　old　lady　anxiously；　observed　that　she　
was　alarmed　by　these　appearances；　and　so　in　truth；　was　he；　but；　
seeing　that　she　affected　to　make　light　of　them；　he　endeavoured　to　
do　the　same；　and　they　so　far　succeeded；　that　when　Rose　was　
persuaded　by　her　aunt　to　retire　for　the　night；　she　was　in　better　
spirits；　and　appeared　even　in　better　health；　assuring　them　that　she　
felt　certain　she　should　rise　in　the　morning；　quite　well。　“I　hope；”　
said　Oliver；　when　Mrs。　Maylie　returned；　“that　nothing　is　the　
matter？　She　don’t　look　well　tonight；　but—”　The　old　lady　motioned　
to　him　not　to　speak；　and；　sitting　herself　down　in　a　dark　corner　of　
the　room；　remained　silent　for　some　time。　At　length；　she　said；　in　a　
trembling　voice：　

“I　hope　not；　Oliver。　I　have　been　very　happy　with　her　for　some　
years—too　happy；　perhaps。　It　may　be　time　that　I　should　meet　with　
some　misfortune；　but　I　hope　it　is　not　this。”　

“What？”　inquired　Oliver。　

“The　heavy　blow；”　said　the　old　lady；　“of　losing　the　dear　girl　who　
has　so　long　been　my　comfort　and　happiness。”　

“Oh！　God　forbid！”　exclaimed　Oliver　hastily。　

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“Amen　to　that；　my　child！”　said　the　old　lady；　wringing　her　hands。　

“Surely　there　is　no　danger　of　anything　so　dreadful？”　said　
Oliver。　“Two　hours　ago；　she　was　quite　well。”　

“She　is　very　ill　now；”　rejoined　Mrs。　Maylie；　“and　will　be　worse；　I　
am　sure。　My　dear；　dear　Rose！　Oh；　what　should　I　do　without　her！”　

She　gave　way　to　such　great　grief；　that　Oliver；　suppressing　his　
own　emotion；　ventured　to　remonstrate　with　her；　and　to　beg；　
earnestly；　that；　for　the　sake　of　the　dear　young　lady　herself；　she　
would　be　more　calm。　

“And　consider；　ma’am；”　said　Oliver；　as　the　tears　forced　
themselves　into　his　eyes；　despite　of　his　efforts　to　the　contrary。　“Oh！　
consider　how　young　and　good　she　is；　and　what　pleasure　and　
comfort　she　gives　to　all　about　her。　I　am　sure—certain—quite　
certain—that；　for　your　sake；　who　are　so　good　yourself；　and　for　her　
own；　and　for　the　sake　of　all　she　makes　so　happy；　she　will　not　die。　
Heaven　will　never　let　her　die　so　young。”　

“Hush！”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　laying　her　hand　on　Oliver’s　head。　
“You　think　like　a　child；　poor　boy。　But　you　teach　me　my　duty；　
notwithstanding。　I　had　forgotten　it　for　a　moment；　Oliver；　but　I　
hope　I　may　be　pardoned；　for　I　am　old；　and　have　seen　enough　of　
illness　and　death　to　know　the　agony　of　separation　from　the　objects　
of　our　love。　I　have　seen　enough；　too；　to　know　that　it　is　not　always　
the　youngest　and　best　who　are　spared　to　those　that　love　them；　but　
this　should　give　us　comfort　in　our　sorrow；　for　Heaven　is　just；　and　
such　things　teach　us；　impressively；　that　there　is　a　brighter　world　
than　this；　and　that　the　passage　to　it　is　speedy。　God’s　will　be　done！　I　
love　her；　and　He　knows　how　well！”　

Oliver　was　surprised　to　see　that　as　Mrs。　Maylie　said　these　
words；　she　checked　her　lamentations　as　though　by　one　effort；　and　

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drawing　herself　up　as　she　spoke；　became　composed　and　firm。　He　
was　still　more　astonished　to　find　that　this　firmness　lasted；　and　
that；　under　all　the　care　and　watching　which　ensued；　Mrs。　Maylie　
was　ever　ready　and　collected；　performing　all　the　duties　which　
devolved　upon　her；　steadily；　and；　to　all　external　appearance；　even　
cheerfully。　But　he　was　young；　and　did　not　know　what　strong　
minds　are　capable　of；　under　trying　circumstances。　How　should　he；　
when　their　possessors　so　seldom　know　themselves？　

An　anxious　night　ensued。　When　morning　came；　Mrs。　Maylie’s　
predictions　were　but　too　well　verified。　Rose　was　in　the　first　stage　
of　a　high　and　dangerous　fever。　

“We　must　be　active；　Oliver；　and　not　give　way　to　useless　grief；”　
said　Mrs。　Maylie；　laying　her　finger　on　her　lip；　as　she　looked　
steadily　into　his　face；　“this　letter　must　be　sent；　with　all　possible　
expedition；　to　Mr。　Losberne。　It　must　be　carried　to　the　market…
town；　which　is　not　more　than　four　miles　off；　by　the　footpath　across　
the　fields；　and　thence　despatched；　by　an　express　on　horseback；　
straight　to　Chertsey。　The　people　at　the　inn　will　undertake　to　do　
this；　and　I　can　trust　to　you　to　see　it　done；　I　know。”　

Oliver　could　make　no　reply；　but　looked　with　anxiety　to　be　gone　
at　once。　

“Here　is　another　letter；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　pausing　to　reflect；　
“but　whether　to　send　it　now；　or　wait　until　I　see　how　Rose　goes　on；　I　
scarcely　know。　I　would　not　forward　it；　unless　I　feared　the　worst。”　

“Is　it　for　Chertsey；　too；　ma’am？”　inquired　Oliver；　impatient　to　
execute　his　commission；　and　holding　out　his　trembling　hand　for　
the　letter。　

“No；”　replied　the　old　lady；　giving　it　to　him　mechanically。　Oliver　
glanced　at　it；　and　saw　that　it　was　directed　to　Harry　Maylie；　

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Esquire；　at　some　great　lord’s　house　in　the　country；　where；　he　could　

not　make　out。　

“Shall　it　go；　ma’am？”　asked　Oliver；　looking　up　impatiently。　

“I　think　not；”　replied　Mrs。　Maylie；　taking　it　back。　“I　will　wait　
until　tomorrow。”　

With　these　words；　she　gave　Oliver　her　purse；　and　he　started　off；　
without　more　delay；　at　the　greatest　speed　he　could　muster。　

Swiftly　he　ran　across　the　fields；　and　down　the　little　lanes　which　
sometimes　divided　them；　now　almost　hidden　by　the　high　corn　on　
either　side；　and　now　emerging　on　an　open　field；　where　the　mowers　
and　hay…makers　were　busy　at　their　work；　nor　did　he　stop　once；　
save　now　and　then；　for　a　few　seconds；　to　recover　breath；　until　he　
came；　in　a　great　heat；　and　covered　with　dust；　on　the　little　marketplace　of　the　market…town。　

Here　he　paused；　and　looked　about　for　the　inn。　There　were　a　
white　bank；　and　a　red　brewery；　and　a　yellow　town…hall；　and　in　one　
corner　there　was　a　large　house；　with　all　the　wood　about　it　painted　
green；　before　which　was　the　sign　of　“The　George”。　To　this　he　
hastened；　as　soon　as　it　caught　his　eye。　

He　spoke　to　a　postboy；　who　was　dozing　under　the　gateway；　
and—who；　after　hearing　what　he　wanted；　referred　him　to　the　
hostler；　who；　after　hearing　all　he　had　to　say　again；　referred　him　to　
the　landlord；　who　was　a　tall　gentleman　in　a　blue　neckcloth；　a　white　
hat；　drab　breeches；　and　boots　with　tops　to　match；　leaning　against　a　
pump　by　the　stable　door；　picking　his　teeth　with　a　silver　toothpick。　

This　gentleman　walked　with　much　deliberation　into　the　bar　to　
make　out　the　bill；　which　took　a　long　time　making　out；　and　after　it　
was　ready；　and　paid；　a　horse　had　to　be　saddled；　and　a　man　to　be　
dressed；　which　took　up　ten　good　minutes　more。　Meanwhile　Oliver　

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was　in　such　a　desperate　state　of　impatience　and　anxiety；　that　he　
felt　as　if　he　could　have　jumped　upon　the　horse　himself；　and　
galloped　away；　full　tear；　to　the　next　stage。　At　length；　all　was　ready；　
and　the　little　parcel　having　been　handed　up；　with　many　
injunctions　and　entreaties　for　its　speedy　delivery；　the　man　set　
spurs　to　his　horse；　and　rattling　over　the　uneven　paving　of　the　
market…place；　was　out　of　the　town；　and　galloping　along　the　
turnpike…road；　in　a　couple　of　minutes。　

As　it　was　something　to　feel　certain　that　assistance　was　sent　for；　
and　that　no　time　had　been　lost；　Oliver　hurried　up　the　inn…yard；　
with　a　somewhat　lighter　heart。　He　was　turning　out　of　the　gateway　
when　he　accidentally　stumbled　against　a　tall　man　wrapped　in　a　
cloak；　who　was　at　that　moment　coming　out　of　the　inn　door。　

“Hah！”　cried　the　man；　fixing　his　eyes　on　Oliver；　and　suddenly　
recoiling。　“What　the　devil’s　this？”　

“I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；”　said　Oliver；　“I　was　in　a　great　hurry　to　
get　home；　and　didn’t　see　you　were　coming。”　

“Death！”　muttered　the　man　to　himself；　glaring　at　the　boy　with　
his　large　dark　eyes。　“Who　would　have　thought　it？　Grind　him　to　
ashes！　He’d　start　up　from　a　stone　coffin；　to　come　in　my　way！”　

“I　am　sorry；”　stammered　Oliver；　confused　by　the　strange　man’s　
wild　look。　“I　hope　I　have　not　hurt　you！”　

“Rot　you！”　murmured　the　man；　in　a　horrible　passion；　between　
his　clenched　teeth；　“if　I　had　only　the　courage　to　say　the　word；　I　
might　have　been　free　of　you　in　a　night。　Curses　on　your　head；　and　
black　death　on　your　heart；　you　imp！　What　are　you　doing　here？”　

The　man　shook　his　fist；　as　he　uttered　these　words　incoherently。　
He　advanced　towards　Oliver；　as　if　with　the　intention　of　aiming　a　
blow　at　him；　but　fell　violently　on　the　ground；　writhing　and　foaming　

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in　a　fit。　

Oliver　gazed；　for　a　moment；　at　the　struggle　of　the　madman　（for　
such　he　supposed　him　to　be）；　and　then　darted　into　the　house　for　
help。　Having　seen　him　safely　carried　into　the　hotel；　he　turned　his　
face　homewards；　running　as　fast　as　he　could；　to　make　up　for　lost　
time；　and　recalling　with　a　great　deal　of　astonishment　and　some　
fear；　the　extraordinary　behaviour　of　the　person　from　whom　he　had　
just　parted。　

The　circumstance　did　not　dwell　in　his　recollection　long；　
however：　for　when　he　reached　the　cottage；　there　was　enough　to　
occupy　his　mind；　and　to　drive　all　considerations　of　self…
complacency　from　his　memory。　

Rose　Maylie　had　rapidly　grown　worse；　before　midnight　she　was　
delirious。　A　medical　practitioner；　who　resided　on　the　spot；　was　in　
constant　attendance　upon　her；　and　after　first　seeing　the　patient；　he　
had　taken　Mrs。　Maylie　aside；　and　pronounced　her　disorder　to　be　
one　of　a　most　alarming　nature。　“In　fact；”　he　said；　“it　would　be　little　
short　of　a　miracle；　if　she　recovered。”　

How　often　did　Oliver　start　from　his　bed　that　night；　and　stealing　
out；　with　noiseless　footsteps；　to　the　staircase；　listen　for　the　
slightest　sound　from　the　sick　chamber！　How　often　did　a　tremble　
shake　his　frame；　and　cold　drops　of　terror　start　upon　his　brow；　
when　a　sudden　tramping　of　feet　caused　him