oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第58部分

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shake　his　frame；　and　cold　drops　of　terror　start　upon　his　brow；　
when　a　sudden　tramping　of　feet　caused　him　to　fear　that　something　
too　dreadful　to　think　of；　had　even　then　occurred！　And　what　had　
been　the　fervency　of　all　the　prayers　he　had　ever　uttered；　compared　
with　those　he　poured　forth；　now；　in　the　agony　and　passion　of　his　
supplication　for　the　life　and　health　of　the　gentle　creature；　who　was　
tottering　on　the　deep　grave’s　verge！　

Oh！　the　suspense；　the　fearful；　acute　suspense；　of　standing　idly　

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by　while　the　life　of　one　we　dearly　love；　is　trembling　in　the　balance！　
Oh！　the　racking　thoughts　that　crowd　upon　the　mind；　and　make　the　
heart　beat　violently　and；　the　breath　come　thick；　by　the　force　of　the　
images　they　conjure　up　before　it；　the　desperate　anxiety　to　be　doing　
something　to　relieve　the　pain；　or　lessen　the　danger；　which　we　have　
no　power　to　alleviate；　the　sinking　of　soul　and　spirit；　which　the　sad　
remembrance　of　our　helplessness　produces；　what　tortures　can　
equal　these；　what　reflections　or　endeavours　can；　in　the　full　tide　
and　fever　of　the　time；　allay　them！　

Morning　came；　and　the　little　cottage　was　lonely　and　still。　People　
spoke　in　whispers；　anxious　faces　appeared　at　the　gate；　from　time　
to　time；　women　and　children　went　away　in　tears。　All　the　livelong　
day；　and　for　hours　after　it　had　grown　dark；　Oliver　paced　softly　up　
and　down　the　garden；　raising　his　eyes　every　instant　to　the　sick　
chamber；　and　shuddering　to　see　the　darkened　window；　looking　as　
if　death　lay　stretched　inside。　Late　at　night；　Mr。　Losberne　arrived。　
“It　is　hard；”　said　the　good　doctor；　turning　away　as　he　spoke；　“so　
young；　so　much　beloved；　but　there　is　very　little　hope。”　

Another　morning。　The　sun　shone　brightly—as　brightly　as　if　it　
looked　upon　no　misery　or　care；　and；　with　every　leaf　and　flower　in　
full　bloom　about　her；　with　life；　and—health；　and　sounds　and　sights　
of　joys　surrounding　her　on　every　side；　the　fair　young　creature　lay；　
wasting　fast。　Oliver　crept　away　to　the　old　churchyard；　and　sitting　
down　on　one　of　the　green　mounds；　wept　and　prayed　for　her；　in　
silence。　

There　was　such　peace　and　beauty　in　the　scene；　so　much　of　
brightness　and　mirth　in　the　sunny　landscape；　such　blithsome　
music　in　the　songs　of　the　summer　birds；　such　freedom　in　the　rapid　
flight　of　the　rook；　careering　overhead；　so　much　of　life　and　

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joyousness；　in　all；　that；　when　the　boy　raised　his　aching　eyes；　and　
looked　about；　the　thought　instinctively　occurred　to　him；　that　this　
was　not　a　time　for　death；　that　Rose　could　surely　never　die　when　
humbler　things　were　all　so　glad　and　gay；　that　graves　were　for　cold　
and　cheerless　winter；　not　for　sunlight　and　fragrance。　He　almost　
thought　that　shrouds　were　for　the　old　and　shrunken；　and　that　they　
never　wrapped　the　young　and　graceful　form　in　their　ghastly　folds。　

A　knell　from　the　church　bell　broke　harshly　on　these　youthful　
thoughts。　Another！　Again！　It　was　tolling　for　the　funeral　service。　A　
group　of　humble　mourners　entered　the　gate；　wearing　white　
favours；　for　the　corpse　was　young。　They　stood　uncovered　by　a　
grave；　and　there　was　a　mother—a　mother　once—among　the　
weeping　train。　But　the　sun　shone　brightly；　and　the　birds　sang　on。　

Oliver　turned　homeward；　thinking　on　the　many　kindnesses　he　
had　received　from　the　young　lady；　and　wishing　that　the　time　could　
come　over　again；　that　he　might　never　cease　showing　her　how　
grateful　and　attached　he　was。　He　had　no　cause　for　self…reproach　on　
the　score　of　neglect；　or　want　of　thought；　for　he　had　been　devoted　to　
her　service；　and　yet　a　hundred　little　occasions　rose　up　before　him；　
on　which　he　fancied　he　might　have　been　more　zealous；　and　more　
earnest；　and　wished　he　had　been。　We　need　be　careful　how　we　deal　
with　those　about　us；　when　every　death　carries　to　some　small　circle　
of　survivors；　thoughts　of　so　much　omitted；　and　so　little　done—of　so　
many　things　forgotten；　and　so　many　more　which　might　have　been　
repaired！　There　is　no　remorse　so　deep　as　that　which　is　unavailing；　
if　we　would　be　spared　its　tortures；　let　us　remember　this；　in　time。　

When　he　reached　home；　Mrs。　Maylie　was　sitting　in　the　little　
parlour。　Oliver’s　heart　sank　at　sight　of　her；　for　she　had　never　left　
the　bedside　of　her　niece；　and　he　trembled　to　think　what　change　

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could　have　driven　her　away。　He　learned　that　she　had　fallen　into　a　
deep　sleep；　from　which　she　would　waken；　either　to　recovery　and　
life；　or　to　bid　them　farewell；　and　die。　

They　sat；　listening；　and　afraid　to　speak；　for　hours。　The　untasted　
meal　was　removed；　and　with　looks　which　showed　that　their　
thoughts　were　elsewhere；　they　watched　the　sun　as　he　sank　lower　
and　lower；　and；　at　length；　cast　over　sky　and　earth　those　brilliant　
hues　which　herald　his　departure。　Their　quick　ears　caught　the　
sound　of　an　approaching　footstep。　They　both　involuntarily　darted　
to　the　door；　as　Mr。　Losberne　entered。　

“What　of　Rose？”　cried　the　old　lady。　“Tell　me　at　once！　I　can　bear　
it；　anything　but　suspense！　Oh；　tell　me！　in　the　name　of　Heaven！”　

“You　must　compose　yourself；”　said　the　doctor；　supporting　her。　
“Be　calm；　my　dear　ma’am；　pray。”　

“Let　me　go；　in　God’s　name！　My　dear　child！　She　is　dead！　She　is　
dying！”　

“No！”　cried　the　doctor　passionately。　“As　He　is　good　and　
merciful；　she　will　live　to　bless　us　all；　for　years　to　come。”　

The　lady　fell　upon　her　knees；　and　tried　to　fold　her　hands　
together；　but　the　energy　which　had　supported　her　so　long；　fled　up　
to　Heaven　with　her　first　thanksgiving；　and　she　sank　into　the　
friendly　arms　which　were　extended　to　receive　her。　

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Chapter　34　

Contains　Some　Introductory　Particulars　Relative　To
A　Young　Gentleman　Who　Now　Arrives　Upon　The
Scene；　And　A　New　Adventure　Which　Happened　To
Oliver。


It　was　almost　too　much　happiness　to　bear。　Oliver　felt　stunned　
and　stupefied　by　the　unexpected　intelligence；　he　could　not　
weep；　or　speak；　or　rest。　He　had　scarcely　the　power　of　
understanding　anything　that　had　passed；　until；　after　a　long　ramble　
in　the　quiet　evening　air；　a　burst　of　tears　came　to　his　relief；　and　he　
seemed　to　awaken　all　at　once；　to　a　full　sense　of　the　joyful　change　
that　had　occurred；　and　the　almost　insupportable　load　of　anguish　
which　had　been　taken　from　his　breast。　

The　night　was　fast　closing　in；　when　he　returned　homeward；　
laden　with　flowers　which　he　had　culled；　with　peculiar　care；　for　the　
adornment　of　the　sick　chamber。　As　he　walked　briskly　along　the　
road　he　heard　behind　him；　the　noise　of　some　vehicle；　approaching　
at　a　furious　pace。　Looking　round；　he　saw　that　it　was　a　post…chaise；　
driven　at　great　speed；　and　as　the　horses　were　galloping；　and　the　
road　was　narrow；　he　stood　leaning　against　a　gate　until　it　should　
have　passed　him。　

As　it　dashed　on；　Oliver　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　man；　in　a　white　
night…cap；　whose　face　seemed　familiar　to　him；　although　his　view　
was　so　brief　that　he　could　not　identify　the　person。　In　another　
second　or　two；　the　night…cap　was　thrust　out　of　the　chaise　window；　
and　a　stentorian　voice　bellowed　to　the　driver　to　stop；　which　he　did；　

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as　soon　as　he　could　pull　up　his　horses。　Then；　the　night…cap　once　
again　appeared；　and　the　same　voice　called　Oliver　by　his　name。　

“Here！”　cried　the　voice。　“Oliver；　what’s　the　news？　Miss　Rose！　
Master　O…li…ver！”　

“Is　it　you；　Giles？”　cried　Oliver；　running　up　to　the　chaise　door。　

Giles　popped　out　his　night…cap　again；　preparatory　to　making　
some　reply；　when　he　was　suddenly　pulled　back　by　a　young　
gentleman　who　occupied　the　other　corner　of　the　chaise；　and　who　
eagerly　demanded　what　was　the　news。　“In　a　word！”　cried　the　
gentleman；　“better　or　worse？”　

“Better—much　better！”　replied　Oliver　hastily。　

“Thank　Heaven！”　exclaimed　the　gentleman。　“You　are　sure？”　

“Quite；　sir；”　replied　Oliver。　“The　change　took　place—only　a　few　
hours　ago；　and　Mr。　Losberne　says　that　all　danger　is　at　an　end。”　

The　gentleman　did　not　say　another　word；　but；　opening　the　
chaise　door；　leaped　out；　and　taking　Oliver　hurriedly　by　the　arm；　
led　him　aside。　

“You　are　quite　certain？　There　is　no　possibility　of　any　mistake　
on　your　part；　my　boy；　is　there？”　demanded　the　gentleman　in　a　
tremulous　voice。　“Do　not　deceive　me；　by　awakening　hopes　that　are　
not　to　be　fulfilled。”　

“I　would　not　for　the　world；　sir；”　replied　Oliver。　“Indeed　you　may　
believe　me。　Mr。　Losberne’s　words　were；　that　she　would　live　to　
bless　us　all　for　many　years　to　come。　I　heard　him　say　so。”　

The　tears　stood　in　Oliver’s　eyes　as　he　recalled　the　scene　which　
was　the　beginning　of　so　much　happiness；　and　the　gentleman　
turned　his　face　away；　and　remained　silent；　for　some　minutes。　
Oliver　thought　he　heard　him　sob；　more　than　once；　but　he　feared　to　
interrupt　him　by　any　fresh　remark—for　he　could　well　guess　what　

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his　feelings　were—and　so　stood　apart；　feigning　to　be　occupied　with　
his　nosegay。　

All　this　time；　Mr。　Giles；　with　the　white　night…cap　on；　had　been　
sitting　on　the　steps　of　the　chaise；　supporting　an　elbow　on　each　
knee；　and　wiping　his　eyes　with　a　blue　cotton　pocket…handkerchief　
dotted　with　white　spots。　That　the　honest　fellow　had　not　been　
feigning　emotion；　was　abundantly　demonstrated　by　the　very　red　
eyes　with　which　he　regarded　the　young　gentleman；　when　he　
turned　round　and　addressed　him。　

“I　think　you　had　better　go　on　to　my　mother’s　in　the　chaise；　
Giles；”　said　he。　“I　would　rather　walk　slowly　on；　so　as　to　gain　a　little　
time　before　I　see　her。　You　can　say　I　am　coming。”　

“I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Harry；”　said　Giles；　giving　a　final　polish　
to　his　ruffled　countenance　with　the　handkerchief；　“but　if　you　
would　leave　the　postboy　to　say　that；　I　should　be　very　much　obliged　
to　you。　It　wouldn’t　be　proper　for　the　maids　to　see　me　in　this　state；　
sir；　I　should　never　have　any　more　authority　with　them　if　they　did。”　

“Well；”　rejoined　Harry　Maylie；　smiling；　“you　can　do　as　you　like。　
Let　him　g