oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第70部分

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The　grasp　of　his　hand　relaxed；　the　upraised　arm　fell　languidly　by　
his　side；　and　he　lay　like　one　in　a　profound　trance。　

“The　laudanum　has　taken　effect　at　last；”　murmured　the　girl；　as　
she　rose　from　the　bedside。　“I　may　be　too　late；　even　now。”　

She　hastily　dressed　herself　in　her　bonnet　and　shawl；　looking　
fearfully　round；　from　time　to　time；　as　if；　despite　the　sleeping　
draught；　she　expected　every　moment　to　feel　the　pressure　of　Sikes’　

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heavy　hand　upon　her　shoulders；　then　stooping　softly　over　the　bed；　
she　kissed　the　robber’s　lips；　and　then　opening　and　closing　the　
room　door　with　noiseless　touch；　hurried　from　the　house。　

A　watchman　was　crying　half…past　nine；　down　a　dark　passage　
through　which　she　had　to　pass；　in　gaining　the　main　thoroughfare。　

“Has　it　long　gone　the　half…hour？”　asked　the　girl。　

“It’ll　strike　the　hour　in　another　quarter；”　said　the　man；　raising　
the　lantern　to　her　face。　

“And　I　cannot　get　there　in　less　than　an　hour　or　more；”　muttered　
Nancy；　brushing　swiftly　past　him；　and　gliding　rapidly　down　the　
street。　

Many　of　the　shops　were　already　closing　in　the　back　lanes　and　
avenues　through　which　she　tracked　her　way；　in　making　from　
Spitalfields　towards　the　west　end　of　London。　The　clock　struck　ten；　
increasing　her　impatience。　She　tore　along　the　narrow　pavement；　
elbowing　the　passengers　from　side　to　side；　and　darting　almost　
under　the　horses’　heads；　crossed　crowded　streets；　where　clusters　
of　persons　were　eagerly　watching　their　opportunity　to　do　the　like。　

“‘The　woman　is　mad！”　said　the　people；　turning　to　look　after　her　
as　she　rushed　away。　

When　she　reached　the　more　wealthy　quarter　of　the　town；　the　
streets　were　comparatively　deserted；　and　here　her　headlong　
progress　excited　a　still　greater　curiosity　in　the　stragglers　whom　
she　hurried　past。　Some　quickened　their　pace　behind；　as　though　to　
see　whither　she　was　hastening　at　such　an　unusual　rate；　and　a　few　
made　head　upon　her；　and　looked　back；　surprised　at　her　
undiminished　speed；　but　they　fell　off　one　by　one；　and　when　she　
neared　her　place　of　destination；　she　was　alone。　

It　was　a　family　hotel　in　a　quiet　but　handsome　street　near　Hyde　

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Park。　As　the　brilliant　light　of　the　lamp　which　burned　before　its　
door；　guided　her　to　the　spot；　the　clock　struck　eleven。　She　had　
loitered　for　a　few　paces　as　though　irresolute；　and　making　up　her　
mind　to　advance；　but　the　sound　determined　her；　and　she　stepped　
into　the　hall。　The　porter’s　seat　was　vacant。　She　looked　round　with　
an　air　of　incertitude；　and　advanced　towards　the　stairs。　

“Now；　young　woman！”　said　a　smartly…dressed　female；　looking　
out　from　a　door　behind　her；　“who　do　you　want　here　？”　

“A　lady　who　is　stopping　in　this　house；”　answered　the　girl。　

“A　lady！”　was　the　reply；　accompanied　with　a　scornful　look。　
“What　lady？”　

“Miss　Maylie；”　said　Nancy。　

The　young　woman；　who　had　by　this　time　noted　her　appearance；　
replied　only　by　a　look　of　virtuous　disdain；　and　summoned　a　man　to　
answer　her。　To　him；　Nancy　repeated　her　request。　

“What　name　am　I　to　say？”　asked　the　waiter。　

“It’s　of　no　use　saying　any；”　replied　Nancy。　

“Nor　business？”　said　the　man。　

“No；　nor　that　neither；”　rejoined　the　girl。　“I　must　see　the　lady。”　

“Come！”　said　the　man；　pushing　her　towards　the　door。　“None　of　
this。　Take　yourself　off。”　

“I　shall　be　carried　out；　if　I　go！”　said　the　girl　violently；　“and　I　can　
make　that　a　job　that　two　of　you　won’t　like　to　do。　Isn’t　there　
anybody　here；”　she　said；　looking　round；　“that　will　see　a　simple　
message　carried　for　a　poor　wretch　like　me？”　

This　appeal　produced　an　effect　on　a　good…tempered…faced　man…
cook；　who　with　some　other　of　the　servants　was　looking　on；　and　
who　stepped　forward　to　interfere。　

“Take　it　up　for　her；　Joe；　can’t　you？”　said　this　person。　

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“What’s　the　good？”　replied　the　man。　“You　don’t　suppose　the　
young　lady　will　see　such　as　her；　do　you？”　

This　allusion　to　Nancy’s　doubtful　character；　raised　a　vast　
quantity　of　chaste　wrath　in　the　bosoms　of　four　housemaids；　who　
remarked；　with　great　fervour；　that　the　creature　was　a　disgrace　to　
her　sex；　and　strongly　advocated　her　being　thrown；　ruthlessly；　into　
the　kennel。　

“Do　what　you　like　with　me；”　said　the　girl；　turning　to　the　men　
again；　“but　do　what　I　ask　you　first；　and　I　ask　you　to　give　this　
message　for　God　Almighty’s　sake。”　

The　soft…hearted　cook　added　his　intercession；　and　the　result　
was　that　the　man　who　had　first　appeared　undertook　its　delivery。　

“What’s　it　to　be？”　said　the　man；　with　one　foot　on　the　stairs。　

“That　a　young　woman　earnestly　asks　to　speak　to　Miss　Maylie　
alone；”　said　Nancy；　“and　that　if　the　lady　will　only　hear　the　first　
word　she　has　to　say；　she　will　know　whether　to　hear　her　business；　
or　to　have　her　turned　out　of　doors　as　an　impostor。”　

“I　say；”　said　the　man；　“you’re　coming　it　strong！”　

“You　give　the　message；”　said　the　girl　firmly；　“and　let　me　hear　
the　answer。”　

The　man　ran　upstairs。　Nancy　remained；　pale　and　almost　
breathless；　listening　with　quivering　lip　to　the　very　audible　
expressions　of　scorn；　of　which　the　chaste　housemaids　were　very　
prolific；　and　of　which　they　became　still　more　so；　when　the　man　
returned；　and　said　the　young　woman　was　to　walk　upstairs。　

“It’s　no　good　being　proper　in　this　world；”　said　the　first　
housemaid。　

“Brass　can　do　better　than　the　gold　what　has　stood　the　fire；”　said　
the　second。　

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The　third　contented　herself　with　wondering　“what　ladies　was　
made　of；”　and　the　fourth　took　the　first　in　a　quartet　of　“Shameful！”　
with　which　the　Dianas　concluded。　

Regardless　of　all　this；　for　she　had　weightier　matters　at　heart；　
Nancy　followed　the　man；　with　trembling　limbs；　to　a　small　
antechamber；　lighted　by　a　lamp　from　the　ceiling。　Here　he　left　her；　
and　retired。　

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Chapter　40　

A　Strange　Interview；　Which　Is　A　Sequel　To　The
Last　Chapter。


The　girl’s　life　had　been　squandered　in　the　streets；　and　
among　the　most　noisome　of　the　stews　and　dens　of　London；　
but　there　was　something　of　the　woman’s　original　nature　
left　in　her　still；　and　when　she　heard　a　light　step　approaching　the　
door　opposite　to　that　by　which　she　had　entered；　and　thought　of　the　
wide　contrast　which　the　small　room　would　in　another　moment　
contain；　she　felt　burdened　with　the　sense　of　her　own　deep　shame；　
and　shrank　as　though　she　could　scarcely　bear　the　presence　of　her　
with　whom　she　had　sought　this　interview。　

But　struggling　with　these　better　feelings　was　pride—the　vice　of　
the　lowest　and　most　debased　creatures　no　less　than　of　the　high　
and　self…assured。　The　miserable　companion　of　thieves　and　
ruffians；　the　fallen　outcast　of　low　haunts；　the　associate　of　the　
scourings　of　the　jails　and　hulks；　living　within　the　shadow　of　the　
gallows　itself—even　this　degraded　being　felt　too　proud　to　betray　a　
feeble　gleam　of　the　womanly　feeling　which　she　thought　a　
weakness；　but　which　alone　connected　her　with　that　humanity；　of　
which　her　wasting　life　had　obliterated　so　many；　many　traces　when　
a　very　child。　

She　raised　her　eyes　sufficiently　to　observe　that　the　figure　which　
presented　itself　was　that　of　a　slight　and　beautiful　girl；　then；　
bending　them　on　the　ground；　she　tossed　her　head　with　affected　
carelessness　as　she　said：　

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“It’s　a　hard　matter　to　get　to　see　you；　lady。　If　I　had　taken　offence；　
and　gone　away；　as　many　would　have　done；　you’d　have　been　sorry　
for　it　one　day；　and　not　without　reason　either。”　

“I　am　very　sorry　if　any　one　has　behaved　harshly　to　you；”　replied　
Rose。　“Do　not　think　of　that。　Tell　me　why　you　wished　to　see　me。　I　
am　the　person　you　inquired　for。”　

The　kind　tone　of　this　answer；　the　sweet　voice；　the　gentle　
manner；　the　absence　of　any　accent　of　haughtiness　or　displeasure；　
took　the　girl　completely　by　surprise；　and　she　burst　into　tears。　

“Oh；　lady；　lady！”　she　said；　clasping　her　hands　passionately　
before　her　face；　“if　there　was　more　like　you；　there　would　be　fewer　
like　me—there　would—there　would！”　

“Sit　down；”　said　Rose　earnestly。　“If　you　are　in　poverty　or　
affliction　I　shall　be　truly　glad　to　relieve　you　if　I　can—I　shall　indeed。　
Sit　down。”　

“Let　me　stand；　lady；”　said　the　girl；　still　weeping；　“and　do　not　
speak　to　me　so　kindly　till　you　know　me　better。　It　is　growing　late。　
Is—is—that　door　shut？”　

“Yes；”　said　Rose；　recoiling　a　few　steps；　as　if　to　be　nearer　
assistance　in　case　she　should　require　it。　“Why？”　

“Because；”　said　the　girl；　“I　am　about　to　put　my　life；　and　the　
lives　of　others　in　your　hands。　I　am　the　girl　that　dragged　little　Oliver　
back　to　old　Fagin’s　on　the　night　he　went　out　from　the　house　in　
Pentonville。”　

“You！”　said　Rose　Maylie。　

“I；　lady！”　replied　the　girl。　“I　am　the　infamous　creature　you　have　
heard　of；　that　lives　among　the　thieves；　and　that　never；　from　the　
first　moment　I　can　recollect；　my　eyes　and　senses　opening　on　
London　streets；　have　known　any　better　life；　or　kinder　words　than　

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they　have　given　me；　so　help　me　God！　Do　not　mind　shrinking　
openly　from　me；　lady。　I　am　younger　than　you　would　think；　to　look　
at　me；　but　I　am　well　used　to　it。　The　poorest　women　fall　back；　as　I　
make　my　way　along　the　crowded　pavement。”　

“What　dreadful　things　are　these！”　said　Rose；　involuntarily　
falling　from　her　strange　companion。　

“Thank　Heaven　upon　your　knees；　dear　lady；”　cried　the　girl；　
“that　you　had　friends　to　care　for　and　keep　you　in　your　childhood；　
and　that　you　were　never　in　the　midst　of　cold　and　hunger；　and　riot　
and　drunkenness；　and—and—　something　worse　than　all—as　I　
have　been　from　my　cradle。　I　may　use　the　word；　for　the　alley　and　
the　gutter　were　mine；　as　they　will　be　my　death…bed。”　

“I　pity　you！”　said　Rose；　in　a　broken　voice。　“It　wrings　my　heart　to　
hear　you！”　

“Heaven　bless　you　for　y