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Withmanyloquaciousassurancesthattheywouldbeagreeablysurprisedintheaspectofthecriminal,thedoctordrewtheyounglady’sarmthroughoneofhis;andofferinghisdisengagedhandtoMrs.Maylie,ledthem,withmuchceremonyandstateliness,upstairs.
‘Now,’saidthedoctor,inawhisper,ashesoftlyturnedthehandleofabedroom-door,‘letushearwhatyouthinkofhim.
Hehasnotbeenshavedveryrecently,buthedon’tlookatallferociousnotwithstanding.Stop,though!
Letmefirstseethatheisinvisitingorder.’
Steppingbeforethem,helookedintotheroom.
Motioningthemtoadvance,heclosedthedoorwhentheyhadentered;andgentlydrewbackthecurtainsofthebed.
Uponit,inlieuofthedogged,black-visagedruffiantheyhadexpectedtobehold,therelayamerechild:wornwithpainandexhaustion,andsunkintoadeepsleep.
Hiswoundedarm,boundandsplinteredup,wascrosseduponhisbreast;hisheadreclinedupontheotherarm,whichwashalfhiddenbyhislonghair,asitstreamedoverthepillow.
Thehonestgentlemanheldthecurtaininhishand,andlookedon,foraminuteorso,insilence.
Whilsthewaswatchingthepatientthus,theyoungerladyglidedsoftlypast,andseatingherselfinachairbythebedside,gatheredOliver’shairfromhisface.
Asshestoopedoverhim,hertearsfelluponhisforehead.
Theboystirred,andsmiledinhissleep,asthoughthesemarksofpityandcompassionhadawakenedsomepleasantdreamofaloveandaffectionhehadneverknown.
Thus,astrainofgentlemusic,ortheripplingofwaterinasilentplace,ortheodourofaflower,orthementionofafamiliarword,willsometimescallupsuddendimremembrancesofscenesthatneverwere,inthislife;whichvanishlikeabreath;whichsomebriefmemoryofahappierexistence,longgoneby,wouldseemtohaveawakened;whichnovoluntaryexertionofthemindcaneverrecall.
‘Whatcanthismean?’exclaimedtheelderlady.‘Thispoorchildcanneverhavebeenthepupilofrobbers!’
‘Vice,’saidthesurgeon,replacingthecurtain,‘takesupherabodeinmanytemples;andwhocansaythatafairoutsideshellnotenshrineher?’
‘Butatsoearlyanage!’urgedRose.
‘Mydearyounglady,’rejoinedthesurgeon,mournfullyshakinghishead;‘crime,likedeath,isnotconfinedtotheoldandwitheredalone.Theyoungestandfairestaretoooftenitschosenvictims.’
‘But,canyou—oh!canyoureallybelievethatthisdelicateboyhasbeenthevoluntaryassociateoftheworstoutcastsofsociety?’saidRose.
Thesurgeonshookhishead,inamannerwhichintimatedthathefeareditwasverypossible;andobservingthattheymightdisturbthepatient,ledthewayintoanadjoiningapartment.
‘Butevenifhehasbeenwicked,’pursuedRose,‘thinkhowyoungheis;thinkthathemayneverhaveknownamother’slove,orthecomfortofahome;thatill-usageandblows,orthewantofbread,mayhavedrivenhimtoherdwithmenwhohaveforcedhimtoguilt.
Aunt,dearaunt,formercy’ssake,thinkofthis,beforeyouletthemdragthissickchildtoaprison,whichinanycasemustbethegraveofallhischancesofamendment.Oh!
asyouloveme,andknowthatIhaveneverfeltthewantofparentsinyourgoodnessandaffection,butthatImighthavedoneso,andmighthavebeenequallyhelplessandunprotectedwiththispoorchild,havepityuponhimbeforeitistoolate!’
‘Mydearlove,’saidtheelderlady,asshefoldedtheweepinggirltoherbosom,‘doyouthinkIwouldharmahairofhishead?’
‘Oh,no!’repliedRose,eagerly.
‘No,surely,’saidtheoldlady;‘mydaysaredrawingtotheirclose:andmaymercybeshowntomeasIshowittoothers!WhatcanIdotosavehim,sir?’
‘Letmethink,ma’am,’saidthedoctor;‘letmethink.’
Mr.Losbernethrusthishandsintohispockets,andtookseveralturnsupanddowntheroom;oftenstopping,andbalancinghimselfonhistoes,andfrowningfrightfully.
Aftervariousexclamationsof‘I’vegotitnow’and‘no,Ihaven’t,’andasmanyrenewalsofthewalkingandfrowning,heatlengthmadeadeadhalt,andspokeasfollows:
‘IthinkifyougivemeafullandunlimitedcommissiontobullyGiles,andthatlittleboy,Brittles,Icanmanageit.
Gilesisafaithfulfellowandanoldservant,Iknow;butyoucanmakeituptohiminathousandways,andrewardhimforbeingsuchagoodshotbesides.Youdon’tobjecttothat?’
‘Unlessthereissomeotherwayofpreservingthechild,’repliedMrs.Maylie.
‘Thereisnoother,’saidthedoctor.‘Noother,takemywordforit.’
‘Thenmyauntinvestsyouwithfullpower,’saidRose,smilingthroughhertears;‘butpraydon’tbeharderuponthepoorfellowsthanisindispensablynecessary.’
‘Youseemtothink,’retortedthedoctor,‘thateverybodyisdisposedtobehard-heartedto-day,exceptyourself,MissRose.
Ionlyhope,forthesakeoftherisingmalesexgenerally,thatyoumaybefoundinasvulnerableandsoft-heartedamoodbythefirsteligibleyoungfellowwhoappealstoyourcompassion;andIwishIwereayoungfellow,thatImightavailmyself,onthespot,ofsuchafavourableopportunityfordoingso,asthepresent.’
‘YouareasgreataboyaspoorBrittleshimself,’returnedRose,blushing.
‘Well,’saidthedoctor,laughingheartily,‘thatisnoverydifficultmatter.Buttoreturntothisboy.
Thegreatpointofouragreementisyettocome.
Hewillwakeinanhourorso,Idaresay;andalthoughIhavetoldthatthick-headedconstable-fellowdownstairsthathemusn’tbemovedorspokento,onperilofhislife,Ithinkwemayconversewithhimwithoutdanger.
NowImakethisstipulation—thatIshallexaminehiminyourpresence,andthat,if,fromwhathesays,wejudge,andIcanshowtothesatisfactionofyourcoolreason,thatheisarealandthoroughbadone(whichismorethanpossible),heshallbelefttohisfate,withoutanyfartherinterferenceonmypart,atallevents.’
‘Ohno,aunt!’entreatedRose.
‘Ohyes,aunt!’saidthedoctor.‘Isisabargain?’
‘Hecannotbehardenedinvice,’saidRose;‘Itisimpossible.’
‘Verygood,’retortedthedoctor;‘thensomuchthemorereasonforaccedingtomyproposition.’
Finallythetreatywasenteredinto;andthepartiesthereuntosatdowntowait,withsomeimpatience,untilOlivershouldawake.
ThepatienceofthetwoladieswasdestinedtoundergoalongertrialthanMr.Losbernehadledthemtoexpect;forhourafterhourpassedon,andstillOliverslumberedheavily.
Itwasevening,indeed,beforethekind-hearteddoctorbroughtthemtheintelligence,thathewasatlengthsufficientlyrestoredtobespokento.
Theboywasveryill,hesaid,andweakfromthelossofblood;buthismindwassotroubledwithanxietytodisclosesomething,thathedeemeditbettertogivehimtheopportunity,thantoinsistuponhisremainingquietuntilnextmorning:whichheshouldotherwisehavedone.
Theconferencewasalongone.Olivertoldthemallhissimplehistory,andwasoftencompelledtostop,bypainandwantofstrength.
Itwasasolemnthing,tohear,inthedarkenedroom,thefeeblevoiceofthesickchildrecountingawearycatalogueofevilsandcalamitieswhichhardmenhadbroughtuponhim.Oh!
ifwhenweoppressandgrindourfellow-creatures,webestowedbutonethoughtonthedarkevidencesofhumanerror,which,likedenseandheavyclouds,arerising,slowlyitistrue,butnotlesssurely,toHeaven,topourtheirafter-vengeanceonourheads;ifweheardbutoneinstant,inimagination,thedeeptestimonyofdeadmen’svoices,whichnopowercanstifle,andnoprideshutout;wherewouldbetheinjuryandinjustice,thesuffering,misery,cruelty,andwrong,thateachday’slifebringswithit!
Oliver’spillowwassmoothedbygentlehandsthatnight;andlovelinessandvirtuewatchedhimasheslept.Hefeltcalmandhappy,andcouldhavediedwithoutamurmur.
Themomentousinterviewwasnosoonerconcluded,andOlivercomposedtorestagain,thanthedoctor,afterwipinghiseyes,andcondemningthemforbeingweakallatonce,betookhimselfdownstairstoopenuponMr.Giles.
Andfindingnobodyabouttheparlours,itoccurredtohim,thathecouldperhapsoriginatetheproceedingswithbettereffectinthekitchen;sointothekitchenhewent.
Therewereassembled,inthatlowerhouseofthedomesticparliament,thewomen-servants,Mr.Brittles,Mr.Giles,thetinker(whohadreceivedaspecialinvitationtoregalehimselffortheremainderoftheday,inconsiderationofhisservices),andtheconstable.
Thelattergentlemanhadalargestaff,alargehead,largefeatures,andlargehalf-boots;andhelookedasifhehadbeentakingaproportionateallowanceofale—asindeedhehad.
Theadventuresofthepreviousnightwerestillunderdiscussion;forMr.Gileswasexpatiatinguponhispresenceofmind,whenthedoctorentered;Mr.Brittles,withamugofaleinhishand,wascorroboratingeverything,beforehissuperiorsaidit.
‘Sitstill!’saidthedoctor,wavinghishand.
‘Thankyou,sir,saidMr.Giles.‘Misseswishedsomealetobegivenout,sir;andasIfeltnowaysinclinedformyownlittleroom,sir,andwasdisposedforcompany,Iamtakingmineamong‘emhere.’
Brittlesheadedalowmurmur,bywhichtheladiesandgentlemengenerallywereunderstoodtoexpressthegratificationtheyderivedfromMr.Giles’scondescension.
Mr.Gileslookedroundwithapatronisingair,asmuchastosaythatsolongastheybehavedproperly,hewouldneverdesertthem.
‘Howisthepatientto-night,sir?’askedGiles.
‘So-so’;returnedthedoctor.‘Iamafraidyouhavegotyourselfintoascrapethere,Mr.Giles.’
‘Ihopeyoudon’tmeantosay,sir,’saidMr.Giles,trembling,‘thathe’sgoingtodie.
IfIthoughtit,Ishouldneverbehappyagain.
Iwouldn’tcutaboyoff:no,notevenBrittleshere;notforalltheplateinthecounty,sir.’
‘That’snotthepoint,’saidthedoctor,mysteriously.‘Mr.Giles,areyouaProtestant?’
‘Yes,sir,Ihopeso,’falteredMr.Giles,whohadturnedverypale.
‘Andwhatareyou,boy?’saidthedoctor,turningsharplyuponBrittles.
‘Lordblessme,sir!’repliedBrittles,startingviolently;‘I’mthesameasMr.Giles,sir.’
‘Thentellmethis,’saidthedoctor,‘bothofyou,bothofyou!
Areyougoingtotakeuponyourselvestoswear,thatthatboyupstairsistheboythatwasputthroughthelittlewindowlastnight?Outwithit!Come!Wearepreparedforyou!’
Thedoctor,whowasuniversallyconsideredoneofthebest-temperedcreaturesonearth,madethisdemandinsuchadreadfultoneofanger,thatGilesandBrittles,whowereconsiderablymuddledbyaleandexcitement,staredateachotherinastateofstupefaction.
‘Payattentiontothereply,constable,willyou?’
saidthedoctor,shakinghisforefingerwithgreatsolemnityofmanner,andtappingthebridgeofhisnosewithit,tobespeaktheexerciseofthatworthy’sutmostacuteness.
‘Somethingmaycomeofthisbeforelong.’
Theconstablelookedaswiseashecould,andtookuphisstaffofoffice:whichhadbeenrecliningindolentlyinthechimney-corner.
‘It’sasimplequestionofidentity,youwillobserve,’saidthedoctor.
‘That’swhatitis,sir,’repliedtheconstable,coughingwithgreatviolence;forhehadfinishedhisaleinahurry,andsomeofithadgonethewrongway.
‘Here’sthehousebrokeninto,’saidthedoctor,‘andacoupleofmencatchonemoment’sglimpseofaboy,inthemidstofgunpowdersmoke,andinallthedistractionofalarmanddarkness.
Here’saboycomestothatverysamehouse,nextmorning,andbecausehehappenstohavehisarmtiedup,thesemenlayviolenthandsuponhim—bydoingwhich,theyplacehislifeingreatdanger—andswearheisthethief.
Now,thequestionis,whetherthesemenarejustifiedbythefact;ifnot,inwhatsituationdotheyplacethemselves?’
Theconstablenoddedprofoundly.Hesaid,ifthatwasn’tlaw,hewouldbegladtoknowwhatwas.
‘Iaskyouagain,’thunderedthedoctor,‘areyou,onyoursolemnoaths,abletoidentifythatboy?’
BrittleslookeddoubtfullyatMr.Giles;Mr.GileslookeddoubtfullyatBrittles;theconstableputhishandbehindhisear,tocatchthereply;thetwowomenandthetinkerleanedforwardtolisten;thedoctorglancedkeenlyround;whenaringwasheardatthegate,andatthesamemoment,thesoundofwheels.
‘It’stherunners!’criedBrittles,toallappearancemuchrelieved.
‘Thewhat?’exclaimedthedoctor,aghastinhisturn.
‘TheBowStreetofficers,sir,’repliedBrittles,takingupacandle;‘meandMr.Gilessentfor‘emthismorning.’
‘What?’criedthedoctor.
‘Yes,’repliedBrittles;‘Isentamessageupbythecoachman,andIonlywondertheyweren’therebefore,sir.’
‘Youdid,didyou?Thenconfoundyour—slowcoachesdownhere;that’sall,’saidthedoctor,walkingaway.
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