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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第96部分

小说: oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) 字数: 每页4000字

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prospered either in his hands or in those of his mother) were 
equally divided between himself and Oliver; it would yield; to 
each; little more than three thousand pounds。 By the provisions of 
his father’s will; Oliver would have been entitled to the whole; but 
Mr。 Brownlow; unwilling to deprive the elder son of the 
opportunity of retrieving his former vices and pursuing an honest 
career; proposed this mode of distribution; to which his young 
charge joyfully acceded。 

Monks; still bearing that assumed name; retired with his 

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portion to a distant part of the New World; where; having quickly 
squandered it; he once more fell into his old courses; and; after 
undergoing a long confinement for some fresh act of fraud and 
knavery; at length sank under an attack of his old disorder; and 
died in prison。 As far from home; died the chief remaining 
members of his friend Fagin’s gang。 

Mr。 Brownlow adopted Oliver as his son。 Removing with him 
and the old housekeeper to within a mile of the parsonage house; 
where his dear friends resided; he gratified the only remaining 
wish of Oliver’s warm and earnest heart; and thus linked together 
a little society; whose condition approached as nearly to one of 
perfect happiness as can ever be known in this changing world。 

Soon after the marriage of the young people; the worthy doctor 
returned to Chertsey; where; bereft of the presence of his old 
friends; he would have been discontented if his temperament had 
admitted of such a feeling; and would have turned quite peevish if 
he had known how。 For two or three months; he contented himself 
with hinting that he feared the air began to disagree with him; 
then; finding that the place really no longer was; to him; what it 
had been; he settled his business on his assistant; took a bachelor’s 
cottage outside the village of which his young friend was pastor; 
and instantaneously recovered。 Here; he took to gardening; 
planting; fishing; carpentering; and various other pursuits of a 
similar kind; all undertaken with his characteristic impetuosity; 
and in each and all; he has since become famous throughout the 
neighbourhood; as a most profound authority。 

Before his removal; he had managed to contract a strong 
friendship for Mr。 Grimwig; which that eccentric gentleman 
cordially reciprocated。 He is accordingly visited by Mr。 Grimwig a 

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great many times in the course of the year。 On all such occasions; 
Mr。 Grimwig plants; fishes; and carpenters; with great ardour; 
doing everything in a very singular and unprecedented manner; 
but always maintaining with his favourite asseveration; that his 
mode is the right one On Sundays; he never fails to criticise the 
sermon to the young clergyman’s face; always informing Mr。 
Losberne; in strict confidence afterwards; that he considers it an 
excellent performance; but deems it as well not to say so。 It is a 
standing and very favourite joke for Mr。 Brownlow to rally him on 
his old prophecy concerning Oliver; and to remind him of the 
night on which they sat with the watch between them; waiting his 
return; but Mr。 Grimwig contends that he was right in the main; 
and; in proof thereof; remarks that Oliver did not come back; after 
all; which always calls forth a laugh on his side; and increases his 
good…humour。 

Mr。 Noah Claypole; receiving a free pardon from the Crown in 
consequence of being admitted approver against Fagin; and 
considering his profession not altogether as safe a one as he could 
wish; was; for some little time; at a loss for the means of a 
livelihood; not burdened with too much work。 After some 
consideration; he went into business as an informer; in which 
calling he realises a genteel subsistence。 His plan is to walk out 
once a week during church time attended by Charlotte in 
respectable attire。 The lady faints away at the doors of charitable 
publicans; and the gentleman being accommodated with 
threepennyworth of brandy to restore her; lays an information 
next day; and pockets half the penalty。 Sometimes; Mr。 Claypole 
faints himself; but the result is the same。 

Mr。 and Mrs。 Bumble; deprived of their situations; were 

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gradually reduced to great indigence and misery; and finally 
became paupers in that very same workhouse in which they had 
once lorded it over others。 Mr。 Bumble has been heard to say; that 
in this reverse and degradation; he has not even spirits to be 
thankful for being separated from his wife。 

As to Mr。 Giles and Brittles; they still remain in their old posts; 
although the former is bald; and the last…named boy quite grey。 
They sleep at the parsonage; but divide their attentions so equally 
among its inmates; and Oliver; and Mr。 Brownlow; and Mr。 
Losberne; that to this day the villagers have never been able to 
discover to which establishment they properly belong。 

Master Charles Bates; appalled by Sikes’s crime; fell into a train 
of reflection whether an honest life was not; after all; the best。 
Arriving at the conclusion that it certainly was; he turned his back 
upon the scenes of the past; resolved to amend it in some new 
sphere of action。 He struggled hard; and suffered much; for some 
time; but; having a contented disposition; and a good purpose; 
succeeded in the end; and; from being a farmer’s drudge; and a 
carrier’s lad; he is now the merriest young grazier in all 
Northamptonshire。 

And now; the hand that traces these words; falters; as it 
approaches the conclusion of its task; and would weave; for a little 
longer space; the threads of these adventures。 

I would fain linger yet with a few of those among whom I have 
so long moved; and share their happiness by endeavouring to 
depict it。 I would show Rose Maylie in all the bloom and grace of 
early womanhood; shedding on her secluded path in life soft and 
gentle light; that fell on all who trod it with her; and shone into 
their hearts。 I would paint her the life and joy of the fireside circle 

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and the lively summer group; I would follow her through the 
sultry fields at noon; and hear the low tones of her sweet voice in 
the moonlit evening walk; I would watch her in all her goodness 
and charity abroad; and the smiling; untiring discharge of 
domestic duties at home; I would paint her and her dead sister’s 
child happy in their love for one another; and passing whole hours 
together in picturing the friends whom they had so sadly lost; I 
would summon before me; once again; those joyous little faces that 
clustered round her knee; and listen to their merry prattle; I would 
recall the tones of that clear laugh; and conjure up the 
sympathising tear that glistened in the soft blue eye。 These; and a 
thousand looks and smiles; and turns of thought and speech—I 
would fain recall them every one。 

How Mr。 Brownlow went on; from day to day; filling the mind of 
his adopted child with stores of knowledge; and becoming 
attached to him; more and more; as his nature developed itself; 
and showed the thriving seeds of all he wished him to become— 
how he traced in him new traits of his early friend; that awakened 
in his own bosom old remembrances; melancholy and yet sweet 
and soothing—how the two orphans; tried by adversity; 
remembered its lessons in mercy to others; and mutual love; and 
fervent thanks to Him who had protected and preserved them— 
these are all matters which need not be told。 I have said that they 
were truly happy; and without strong affection and humanity of 
heart; and gratitude to that Being whose code is Mercy; and whose 
great attribute is Benevolence to all things that breathe; happiness 
can never be attained。 

Within the altar of the old village church there stands a white 
marble tablet; which bears as yet but one word: “AGNES。” There 

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is no coffin in that tomb; and may it be many; many years; before 
another name is placed above it! But; if the spirits of the Dead ever 
come back to earth; to visit spots hallowed by the love—the love 
beyond the grave—of those whom they knew in life; I believe that 
the shade of Agnes sometimes hovers round that solemn nook。 I 
believe it none the less because that nook is in a church; and she 
was weak and erring。 

The End 

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