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第77章

oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第77章

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won; and no young vision realised; I offer you the heart so long 
your own; and stake my all upon the words with which you greet 
the offer。” 

“Your behaviour has ever been kind and noble;” said Rose; 
mastering the emotions by which she was agitated。 “As you 
believe that I am not insensible or ungrateful; so hear my answer。” 

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“It is; that I may endeavour to deserve you; is it; dear Rose?” 

“It is;” replied Rose; “that you must endeavour to forget me; not 
as your old and dearly…attached companion; for that would wound 
me deeply; but; as the object of your love。 Look into the world; 
think how many hearts you would be proud to gain are there。 
Confide some other passion to me; if you will; I will be the truest; 
warmest; and most faithful friend you have。” 

There was a pause; during which; Rose; who had covered her 
face with one hand; gave free vent to her tears。 Harry still retained 
the other。 

“And your reasons; Rose;” he said; at length; in a low voice; 
“your reasons for this decision?” 

“You have a right to know them;” rejoined Rose。 “You can say 
nothing to alter my decision。 It is a duty that I must perform。 I owe 
it; alike to others; and to myself。” 

“To yourself?” 

“Yes; Harry。 I owe it to myself; that I; a friendless; portion less 
girl; with a blight upon my name; should not give your friends 
reason to suspect that I had sordidly yielded to your first passion; 
and fastened myself; a clog; on all your hopes and projects。 I owe it 
to you and yours; to prevent you from opposing; in the warmth of 
your generous nature; this great obstacle to your progress in the 
world。” 

“If your inclinations chime with your sense of duty—” Harry 
began。 

“They do not;” replied Rose; colouring deeply。 

“Then you return my love?” said Harry。 “Say but that; dear 
Rose; say but that; and soften the bitterness of this hard 
disappointment!” 

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“If I could have done so; without doing heavy wrong to him I 
loved;” rejoined Rose; “I could have—” 

“Have received this declaration very indifferently?” said Harry。 
“Do not conceal that from me; at least; Rose。” 

“I could;” said Rose。 “Stay;” she added; disengaging her hand; 
“why should we prolong this painful interview? Most painful to 
me; and yet productive of lasting happiness; notwithstanding; for 
it will be happiness to know that I once held the high place in your 
regard which I now occupy; and every triumph you achieve in life 
will animate me with new fortitude and firmness。 Farewell; Harry! 
As we have met today; we meet no more; but in other relations 
than those in which this conversation would have placed us; we 
may be long and happily entwined; and may every blessing that 
the prayers of a true and earnest heart can call down from the 
source of all truth and sincerity; cheer and prosper you!” 

“Another word; Rose;” said Harry。 “Your reason in your own 
lips; let me hear it?” 

“The prospect before you;” answered Rose firmly; “is a brilliant 
one。 All the honours to which great talents and powerful 
connections can help men in public life; are in store for you。 But 
those connections are proud; and I will neither mingle with such 
as may hold in scorn the mother who gave me life; nor bring 
disgrace or failure on the son of her who had so well supplied that 
mother’s place。 In a word;” said the young lady; turning away; as 
her temporary firmness forsook her; “there is a stain upon my 
name; which the world visits on innocent heads。 I will carry it into 
no blood but my own; and the reproach shall rest alone on me。” 

“One word more; Rose。 Dearest Rose! one more!” cried Harry; 
throwing himself before her。 “If I had been less—less fortunate; 

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the world would call it—if some obscure and peaceful life had 
been my destiny—if I had been poor; sick; helpless—would you 
have turned from me then? Or has my probable advancement to 
riches and honour; given this scruple birth?” 

“Do you press me to reply;” answered Rose。 “The question does 
not arise; and never will。 It is unfair; almost unkind; to urge it。” 

“If your answer be what I almost dare to hope it is;” retorted 
Harry; “it will shed a gleam of happiness upon my lonely way; and 
light the path before me。 It is not an idle thing to do so much; by 
the utterance of a few brief words; for one who loves you beyond 
all else。 Oh; Rose! in the name of my ardent and enduring 
attachment; in the name of all I have suffered for you; and all you 
doom me to undergo; answer me this one question!” 

“Then; if your lot had been differently cast;” rejoined Rose; “if 
you had been even a little; but not so far; above me; if I could have 
been a help and comfort to you in any humble scene of peace and 
retirement; and not a blot and drawback in ambitious and 
distinguished crowds; I should have been spared this trial。 I have 
every reason to be happy; very happy; now; but then; Harry; I own 
I should have been happier。” 

Busy recollections of old hopes; cherished as a girl; long ago; 
crowded into the mind of Rose; while making this avowal; but they 
brought tears with them; as old hopes will when they come back 
withered; and they relieved her。 

“I cannot help this weakness; and it makes my purpose 
stronger;” said Rose; extending her hand。 “I must leave you now; 
indeed。” 

“I ask one promise;” said Harry。 “Once; and only once…more— 
say within a year; but it may be much sooner—I may speak to you 

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again on this subject; for the last time?” 

“Not to press me to alter my right determination;” replied Rose; 
with a melancholy smile; “it will be useless。” 

“No;” said Harry; “to hear you repeat it; if you will—finally 
repeat it! I will lay at your feet; whatever of station or fortune I 
may possess; and if you still adhere to your present resolution; will 
not seek; by word or act; to change it。” 

“Then let it be so;” rejoined Rose; “it is but one pang the more; 
and by that time I may be enabled to bear it better。” 

She extended her hand again。 But the young man caught her to 
his bosom; and; imprinting one kiss on her beautiful forehead; 
hurried from the room。 

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Chapter 36 

Is a very short one; and may appear of no great 
importance in its place; but it should be read 
notwithstanding; as a sequel to the last; and a key to 
one that will follow when its time arrives。 

“A nd so you are resolved to be my travelling 
companion this morning; eh?” said the doctor; as 
Harry Maylie joined him and Oliver at the breakfast…
table。 “Why; you are not in the same mind or intention two half…
hours together!” 

“You will tell me a different tale one of these days;” said Harry; 
colouring without any perceptible reason。 

“I hope I may have good cause to do so;” replied Mr。 Losberne; 
“though I confess I don’t think I shall。 But yesterday morning you 
have made up your mind; in a great hurry; to stay here; and to 
accompany your mother; like a dutiful son; to the seaside。 Before 
noon; you announce that you are going to do me the honour of 
accompanying me as far as I go; on your road to London。 And at 
night; you urge me; with great mystery; to start before the ladies 
are stirring; the consequence of which is; that young Oliver here is 
pinned down to his breakfast when he ought to be ranging the 
meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds。 Too bad; isn’t it; 
Oliver!” 

“I should have been very sorry not to have been at home when 
you and Mr。 Maylie went away; sir;” rejoined Oliver。 

“That’s a fine fellow;” said the doctor; “you shall come and see 

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Oliver Twist 376 

me when you return。 But; to speak seriously; Harry; has any 
communication from the great nobs produced this sudden anxiety 
on you

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