oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第59部分

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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　go　on　with　the　luggage；　if　you　wish　it；　and　do　you　follow　
with　us。　Only　first　exchange　that　night…cap　for　some　more　
appropriate　covering；　or　we　shall　be　taken　for　madmen。”　

Mr。　Giles；　reminded　of　his　unbecoming　costume；　snatched　off　
and　pocketed　his　night…cap；　and　substituted　a　hat；　of　grave　and　
sober　shape；　which　he　took　out　of　the　chaise。　This　done；　the　
postboy　drove　off；　Giles；　Mr。　Maylie；　and　Oliver；　followed　at　their　
leisure。　

As　they　walked　along；　Oliver　glanced　from　time　to　time　with　
much　interest　and　curiosity　at　the　newcomer。　He　seemed　about　
five…and…twenty　years　of　age；　and　was　of　the　middle　height；　his　

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countenance　was　frank　and　handsome；　and　his　demeanour　easy　
and　prepossessing。　Notwithstanding　the　difference　between　youth　
and　age；　he　bore　so　strong　a　likeness　to　the　old　lady；　that　Oliver　
would　have　had　no　great　difficulty　in　imagining　their　relationship；　
if　he　had　not　already　spoken　of　her　as　his　mother。　

Mrs。　Maylie　was　anxiously　waiting　to　receive　her　son　when　he　
reached　the　cottage。　The　meeting　did　not　take　place　without　great　
emotion　on　both　sides。　

“Mother！”　whispered　the　young　man；　“why　did　you　not　write　
before？”　

“I　did；”　replied　Mrs。　Maylie；　“but；　on　reflection；　I　determined　to　
keep　back　the　letter　until　I　had　heard　Mr。　Losberne’s　opinion。”　

“But　why；”　said　the　young　man—“why　run　the　chance　of　that　
occurring　which　so　nearly　happened？　If　Rose　had—I　cannot　utter　
that　word　now—if　this　illness　had　terminated　differently；　how　
could　you　ever　have　forgiven　yourself！　How　could　I　ever　have　
known　happiness　again！”　

“If　that　had　been　the　case；　Harry；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　“I　fear　your　
happiness　would　have　been　effectually　blighted；　and　that　your　
arrival　here；　a　day　sooner；　or　a　day　later；　would　have　been　of　very；　
very　little　import。”　

“And　who　can　wonder　if　it　be　so；　mother？”　rejoined　the　young　
man；　“or　why　should　I　say；　if？—It　is—it　is—You　know　it；　mother—　
you　must　know　it！”　

“I　know　that　she　deserves　the　best　and　purest　love　the　heart　of　
man　can　offer；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　“I　know　that　the　devotion　and　
affection　of　her　nature　require　no　ordinary　return；　but　one　that　
shall　be　deep　and　lasting。　If　I　did　not　feel　this；　and　know；　besides；　
that　a　changed　behaviour　in　one　she　loved　would　break　her　heart；　

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I　should　not　feel　my　task　so　difficult　of　performance；　or　have　to　
encounter　so　many　struggles　in　my　own　bosom；　when　I　take　what　
seems　to　me　to　be　the　strict　line　of　duty。”　

“This　is　unkind；　mother；”　said　Harry。　“Do　you　still　suppose　that　
I　am　a　boy　ignorant　of　my　own　mind；　and　mistaking　the　impulses　
of　my　own　soul？”　

“I　think；　my　dear　son；”　returned　Mrs。　Maylie；　laying　her　hand　
upon　his　shoulder；　“that　youth　has　many　generous　impulses　which　
do　not　last；　and　that　among　them　are　some；　which；　being　gratified；　
become　only　the　more　fleeting。　Above　all；　I　think；”　said　the　lady；　
fixing　her　eyes　on　her　son’s　face；　“that　if　an　enthusiastic；　ardent；　
and　ambitious　man　marry　a　wife　on　whose　name　there　is　a　stain；　
which；　though　it　originate　in　no　fault　of　hers；　may　be　visited　by　
cold　and　sordid　people　upon　her；　and　upon　his　children　also；　and；　
in　exact　proportion　to　his　success　in　the　world；　be　cast　in　his　teeth；　
and　made　the　subject　of　sneers　against　him；　he　may；　no　matter　
how　generous　and　good　his　nature；　one　day　repent　of　the　
connection　he　formed　in　early　life。　And　she　may　have　the　pain　of　
knowing　that　he　does　so。”　

“Mother；”　said　the　young　man　impatiently；”　he　would　be　a　
selfish　brute；　unworthy　alike　of　the　name　of　man　and　of　the　
woman　you　describe；　who　acted　thus。”　

“You　think　so　now；　Harry；”　replied　his　mother。　

“And　ever　will！”　said　the　young　man。　“The　mental　agony　I　have　
suffered；　during　the　last　two　days；　wrings　from　me　the　avowal　to　
you　of　a　passion　which；　as　you　well　know；　is　not　one　of　yesterday；　
nor　one　I　have　lightly　formed。　On　Rose；　sweet；　gentle　girl！　my　
heart　is　set；　as　firmly　as　ever　heart　of　man　was　set　on　woman。　I　
have　no　thought；　no　view；　no　hope　in　life；　beyond　her；　and　if　you　

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oppose　me　in　this　great　stake；　you　take　my　peace　and　happiness　in　
your　hands；　and　cast　them　to　the　wind。　Mother；　think　better　of　
this；　and　of　me；　and　do　not　disregard　the　happiness　of　which　you　
seem　to　think　so　little。”　

“Harry；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie；　“it　is　because　I　think　so　much　of　
warm　and　sensitive　hearts；　that　I　would　spare　them　from　being　
wounded。　But　we　have　said　enough；　and　more　than　enough；　on　
this　matter；　just　now。”　

“Let　it　rest　with　Rose；　then；”　interposed　Harry。　“You　will　not　
press　these　overstrained　opinions　of　yours；　so　far；　as　to　throw　any　
obstacle　in　my　way？”　

“I　will　not；”　rejoined　Mrs。　Maylie；　“but　I　would　have　you　
consider—”　

“I　have　considered！”　was　the　impatient　reply；　“mother；　I　have　
considered；　years　and　years。　I　have　considered；　ever　since　I　have　
been　capable　of　serious　reflection。　My　feelings　remain　unchanged；　
as　they　ever　will；　and　why　should　I　suffer　the　pain　of　a　delay　in　
giving　them　vent；　which　can　be　productive　of　no　earthly　good？　No！　
Before　I　leave　this　place；　Rose　shall　hear　me。”　

“She　shall；”　said　Mrs。　Maylie。　

“There　is　something　in　your　manner；　which　would　almost　imply　
that　she　will　hear　me　coldly；　mother；”　said　the　young　man。　

“Not　coldly；”　rejoined　the　old　lady；　“far　from　it。”　

“How　then？”　urged　the　young　man。　“She　has　formed　no　other　
attachment？”　

“No；　indeed；”　replied　his　mother；　“you　have；　or　I　mistake；　too　
strong　a　hold　on　her　affections　already。　What　I　would　say；”　
resumed　the　old　lady；　stopping　her　son　as　he　was　about　to　speak；　
“is　this。　Before　you　stake　your　all　on　this　chance；　before　you　suffer　

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yourself　to　be　carried　to　the　highest　point　of　hope；　reflect　for　a　few　
moments；　my　dear　child；　on　Rose’s　history；　and　consider　what　
effect　the　knowledge　of　her　doubtful　birth　may　have　on　her　
decision—devoted　as　she　is　to　us；　with　all　the　intensity　of　her　noble　
mind；　and　with　that　perfect　sacrifice　of　self　which；　in　all　matters；　
great　or　trifling；　has　always　been　her　characteristic。”　

“What　do　you　mean？”　

“That　I　leave　you　to　discover；”　replied　Mrs。　Maylie。　“I　must　go　
back　to　her。　God　bless　you！”　

“I　shall　see　you　again　tonight？”　said　the　young　ma　eagerly。　

“By　and　by；”　replied　the　lady；　“when　I　leave　Rose。”　

“You　will　tell　her　I　am　here？”　said　Harry。　

“Of　course；”　replied　Mrs。　Maylie。　

“And　say　how　anxious　I　have　been；　and　how　much　I　have　
suffered；　and　how　I　long　to　see　her。　You　will　not　refuse　to　do　this；　
mother？”　

“No；”　said　the　old　lady；　“I　will　tell　her　all。”　And　pressing　her　
son’s　hand　affectionately；　she　hastened　from　the　room。　

Mr。　Losberne　and　Oliver　had　remained　at　another　end　of　the　
apartment　while　this　hurried　conversation　was　proceeding。　The　
former　now　held　out　his　hand　to　Harry　Maylie；　and　hearty　
salutations　were　exchanged　between　them。　The　doctor　then　
communicated；　in　reply　to　multifarious　questions　from　his　young　
friend；　a　precise　account　of　his　patient’s　situation；　which　was　quite　
as　consolatory　and　full　of　promise；　as　Oliver’s　statement　had　
encouraged　him　to　hope；　and　to　the　whole　of　which；　Mr。　Giles；　who　
affected　to　be　busy　about　the　luggage；　listened　with　greedy　ears。　

“Have　you　shot　anything　particular；　lately；　Giles？”　inquired　the　
doctor；　when　he　had　concluded。　

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“Nothing　particular；　sir；”　replied　Mr。　Giles；　colouring　up　to　the　
eyes。　

“Nor　catching　any　thieves；　nor　identifying　any　housebreakers？”　
said　the　doctor。　

“None　at　all；　sir；”　replied　Mr。　Giles；　with　much　gravity。　

“Well；”　said　the　doctor；　“I　am　sorry　to　hear　it；　because　you　do　
that　sort　of　thing　admirably。　Pray；　how　is　Brittles？”　

“The　boy　is　very　well；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　recovering　his　usual　
tone　of　patronage；　“and　sends　his　respectful　duty；　sir。”　

“That’s　well；”　said　the　doctor。　“Seeing　you　here；　reminds　me；　
Mr。　Giles；　that　on　the　day　before　that　on　which　I　was　called　away　
so　hurriedly；　I　executed；　at　the　request　of　your　good　mistress；　a　
small　commission　in　your　favour。　Just　step　into　this　corner　a　
moment；　will　you？”　

Mr。　Giles　walked　into　the　corner　with　much　importance；　and　
some　wonder；　and　was　honoured　with　a　short　whispering　
conference　with　the　doctor；　on　the　termination　of　which；　he　made　
a　great　many　bows；　and　retired　with　steps　of　unusual　stateliness。　
The　subject　matter　of　this　conference　was　not　disclosed　in　the　
parlour；　but　the　kitchen　was　speedily　enlightened　concerning　it；　
for　Mr。　Giles　walked　straight　thither；　and　having　called　for　a　mug　
of　ale；　announced；　with　an　air　of　majesty；　which　was　highly　
effective；　that　it　had　pleased　his　mistress；　in　consideration　of　his　
gallant　behaviour　on　the　occasion　of　the　attempted　robbery　to　
deposit；　in　the　local　savings…bank；　the　sum　of　five…and…twenty　
pounds；　for　his　sole　use　and　benefit。　At　this；　the　two　women…
servants　lifted　up　their　hands　and　eyes；　and　supposed　that　Mr。　
Giles　would　begin　to　be　quite　proud　now；　whereunto　Mr。　Giles；　
pulling　out　his　shirt　frill；　replied；　“No；　no”；　and　that　if　they　

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observed　that　he　was　at　all　haughty　to　his　inferiors；　he　would　
thank　them　to　tell　him　so。　And　then　he　made　a　great　many　other　
remarks；　no　less　illustrative　of　his　humility；　which　were　received　
with　equal　favour　and　applause；　and　were；　withal；　as　original　and　
as　much　to　the　purpose；　as　the　remarks　of　great　men　commonly　
are。　

Above　stairs；　the　remainder　of　the　evening　passed　cheerfully　
away；　for　the　doctor　was　in　high　spirits；　and　however　fatigued　or　
thoughtful　Harry　Maylie　might　have　been