oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第73章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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；　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　353　

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　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　354　

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　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　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　355　

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；　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　356　

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　y