English
Itwasalmosttoomuchhappinesstobear.
Oliverfeltstunnedandstupefiedbytheunexpectedintelligence;hecouldnotweep,orspeak,orrest.
Hehadscarcelythepowerofunderstandinganythingthathadpassed,until,afteralongrambleinthequieteveningair,aburstoftearscametohisrelief,andheseemedtoawaken,allatonce,toafullsenseofthejoyfulchangethathadoccurred,andthealmostinsupportableloadofanguishwhichhadbeentakenfromhisbreast.
Thenightwasfastclosingin,whenhereturnedhomeward:ladenwithflowerswhichhehadculled,withpeculiarcare,fortheadornmentofthesickchamber.
Ashewalkedbrisklyalongtheroad,heheardbehindhim,thenoiseofsomevehicle,approachingatafuriouspace.
Lookinground,hesawthatitwasapost-chaise,drivenatgreatspeed;andasthehorsesweregalloping,andtheroadwasnarrow,hestoodleaningagainstagateuntilitshouldhavepassedhim.
Asitdashedon,Olivercaughtaglimpseofamaninawhitenightcap,whosefaceseemedfamiliartohim,althoughhisviewwassobriefthathecouldnotidentifytheperson.
Inanothersecondortwo,thenightcapwasthrustoutofthechaise-window,andastentorianvoicebellowedtothedrivertostop:whichhedid,assoonashecouldpulluphishorses.
Then,thenightcaponceagainappeared:andthesamevoicecalledOliverbyhisname.
‘Here!’criedthevoice.‘Oliver,what’sthenews?MissRose!MasterO-li-ver!’
‘Isisyou,Giles?’criedOliver,runninguptothechaise-door.
Gilespoppedouthisnightcapagain,preparatorytomakingsomereply,whenhewassuddenlypulledbackbyayounggentlemanwhooccupiedtheothercornerofthechaise,andwhoeagerlydemandedwhatwasthenews.
‘Inaword!’criedthegentleman,‘Betterorworse?’
‘Better—muchbetter!’repliedOliver,hastily.
‘ThankHeaven!’exclaimedthegentleman.‘Youaresure?’
‘Quite,sir,’repliedOliver.‘Thechangetookplaceonlyafewhoursago;andMr.Losbernesays,thatalldangerisatanend.’
Thegentlemansaidnotanotherword,but,openingthechaise-door,leapedout,andtakingOliverhurriedlybythearm,ledhimaside.
‘Youarequitecertain?Thereisnopossibilityofanymistakeonyourpart,myboy,isthere?’
demandedthegentlemaninatremulousvoice.
‘Donotdeceiveme,byawakeninghopesthatarenottobefulfilled.’
‘Iwouldnotfortheworld,sir,’repliedOliver.‘Indeedyoumaybelieveme.Mr.Losberne’swordswere,thatshewouldlivetoblessusallformanyyearstocome.Iheardhimsayso.’
ThetearsstoodinOliver’seyesasherecalledthescenewhichwasthebeginningofsomuchhappiness;andthegentlemanturnedhisfaceaway,andremainedsilent,forsomeminutes.
Oliverthoughtheheardhimsob,morethanonce;buthefearedtointerrupthimbyanyfreshremark—forhecouldwellguesswhathisfeelingswere—andsostoodapart,feigningtobeoccupiedwithhisnosegay.
Allthistime,Mr.Giles,withthewhitenightcapon,hadbeensittingonthestepsofthechaise,supportinganelbowoneachknee,andwipinghiseyeswithabluecottonpocket-handkerchiefdottedwithwhitespots.
Thatthehonestfellowhadnotbeenfeigningemotion,wasabundantlydemonstratedbytheveryredeyeswithwhichheregardedtheyounggentleman,whenheturnedroundandaddressedhim.
‘Ithinkyouhadbettergoontomymother’sinthechaise,Giles,’saidhe.‘Iwouldratherwalkslowlyon,soastogainalittletimebeforeIseeher.YoucansayIamcoming.’
‘Ibegyourpardon,Mr.Harry,’saidGiles:givingafinalpolishtohisruffledcountenancewiththehandkerchief;‘butifyouwouldleavethepostboytosaythat,Ishouldbeverymuchobligedtoyou.
Itwouldn’tbeproperforthemaidstoseemeinthisstate,sir;Ishouldneverhaveanymoreauthoritywiththemiftheydid.’
‘Well,’rejoinedHarryMaylie,smiling,‘youcandoasyoulike.
Lethimgoonwiththeluggage,ifyouwishit,anddoyoufollowwithus.
Onlyfirstexchangethatnightcapforsomemoreappropriatecovering,orweshallbetakenformadmen.’
Mr.Giles,remindedofhisunbecomingcostume,snatchedoffandpocketedhisnightcap;andsubstitutedahat,ofgraveandsobershape,whichhetookoutofthechaise.
Thisdone,thepostboydroveoff;Giles,Mr.Maylie,andOliver,followedattheirleisure.
Astheywalkedalong,Oliverglancedfromtimetotimewithmuchinterestandcuriosityatthenewcomer.
Heseemedaboutfive-and-twentyyearsofage,andwasofthemiddleheight;hiscountenancewasfrankandhandsome;andhisdemeanoreasyandprepossessing.
Notwithstandingthedifferencebetweenyouthandage,heboresostrongalikenesstotheoldlady,thatOliverwouldhavehadnogreatdifficultyinimaginingtheirrelationship,ifhehadnotalreadyspokenofherashismother.
Mrs.Mayliewasanxiouslywaitingtoreceivehersonwhenhereachedthecottage.Themeetingdidnottakeplacewithoutgreatemotiononbothsides.
‘Mother!’whisperedtheyoungman;‘whydidyounotwritebefore?’
‘Idid,’repliedMrs.Maylie;‘but,onreflection,IdeterminedtokeepbacktheletteruntilIhadheardMr.Losberne’sopinion.’
‘Butwhy,’saidtheyoungman,‘whyrunthechanceofthatoccurringwhichsonearlyhappened?
IfRosehad—Icannotutterthatwordnow—ifthisillnesshadterminateddifferently,howcouldyoueverhaveforgivenyourself!
HowcouldIeverhaveknowhappinessagain!’
‘Ifthathadbeenthecase,Harry,’saidMrs.Maylie,‘Ifearyourhappinesswouldhavebeeneffectuallyblighted,andthatyourarrivalhere,adaysooneroradaylater,wouldhavebeenofvery,verylittleimport.’
‘Andwhocanwonderifitbeso,mother?’rejoinedtheyoungman;‘orwhyshouldIsay,if?—Itis—itis—youknowit,mother—youmustknowit!’
‘Iknowthatshedeservesthebestandpurestlovetheheartofmancanoffer,’saidMrs.Maylie;‘Iknowthatthedevotionandaffectionofhernaturerequirenoordinaryreturn,butonethatshallbedeepandlasting.
IfIdidnotfeelthis,andknow,besides,thatachangedbehaviourinoneshelovedwouldbreakherheart,Ishouldnotfeelmytasksodifficultofperformance,orhavetoencountersomanystrugglesinmyownbosom,whenItakewhatseemstometobethestrictlineofduty.’
‘Thisisunkind,mother,’saidHarry.‘DoyoustillsupposethatIamaboyignorantofmyownmind,andmistakingtheimpulsesofmyownsoul?’
‘Ithink,mydearson,’returnedMrs.Maylie,layingherhanduponhisshoulder,‘thatyouthhasmanygenerousimpulseswhichdonotlast;andthatamongthemaresome,which,beinggratified,becomeonlythemorefleeting.
Aboveall,Ithink’saidthelady,fixinghereyesonherson’sface,‘thatifanenthusiastic,ardent,andambitiousmanmarryawifeonwhosenamethereisastain,which,thoughitoriginateinnofaultofhers,maybevisitedbycoldandsordidpeopleuponher,anduponhischildrenalso:and,inexactproportiontohissuccessintheworld,becastinhisteeth,andmadethesubjectofsneersagainsthim:hemay,nomatterhowgenerousandgoodhisnature,onedayrepentoftheconnectionheformedinearlylife.
Andshemayhavethepainofknowingthathedoesso.’
‘Mother,’saidtheyoungman,impatiently,‘hewouldbeaselfishbrute,unworthyalikeofthenameofmanandofthewomanyoudescribe,whoactedthus.’
‘Youthinksonow,Harry,’repliedhismother.
‘Andeverwill!’saidtheyoungman.
‘ThementalagonyIhavesuffered,duringthelasttwodays,wringsfrommetheavowaltoyouofapassionwhich,asyouwellknow,isnotoneofyesterday,noroneIhavelightlyformed.OnRose,sweet,gentlegirl!
myheartisset,asfirmlyaseverheartofmanwassetonwoman.
Ihavenothought,noview,nohopeinlife,beyondher;andifyouopposemeinthisgreatstake,youtakemypeaceandhappinessinyourhands,andcastthemtothewind.
Mother,thinkbetterofthis,andofme,anddonotdisregardthehappinessofwhichyouseemtothinksolittle.’
‘Harry,’saidMrs.Maylie,‘itisbecauseIthinksomuchofwarmandsensitivehearts,thatIwouldsparethemfrombeingwounded.
Butwehavesaidenough,andmorethanenough,onthismatter,justnow.’
‘LetitrestwithRose,then,’interposedHarry.‘Youwillnotpresstheseoverstrainedopinionsofyours,sofar,astothrowanyobstacleinmyway?’
‘Iwillnot,’rejoinedMrs.Maylie;‘butIwouldhaveyouconsider—’
‘Ihaveconsidered!’wastheimpatientreply;‘Mother,Ihaveconsidered,yearsandyears.
Ihaveconsidered,eversinceIhavebeencapableofseriousreflection.
Myfeelingsremainunchanged,astheyeverwill;andwhyshouldIsufferthepainofadelayingivingthemvent,whichcanbeproductiveofnoearthlygood?No!
BeforeIleavethisplace,Roseshallhearme.’
‘Sheshall,’saidMrs.Maylie.
‘Thereissomethinginyourmanner,whichwouldalmostimplythatshewillhearmecoldly,mother,’saidtheyoungman.
‘Notcoldly,’rejoinedtheoldlady;‘farfromit.’
‘Howthen?’urgedtheyoungman.‘Shehasformednootherattachment?’
‘No,indeed,’repliedhismother;‘youhave,orImistake,toostrongaholdonheraffectionsalready.
WhatIwouldsay,’resumedtheoldlady,stoppinghersonashewasabouttospeak,‘isthis.
Beforeyoustakeyourallonthischance;beforeyousufferyourselftobecarriedtothehighestpointofhope;reflectforafewmoments,mydearchild,onRose’shistory,andconsiderwhateffecttheknowledgeofherdoubtfulbirthmayhaveonherdecision:devotedassheistous,withalltheintensityofhernoblemind,andwiththatperfectsacrificeofselfwhich,inallmatters,greatortrifling,hasalwaysbeenhercharacteristic.’
‘Whatdoyoumean?’
‘ThatIleaveyoutodiscover,’repliedMrs.Maylie.‘Imustgobacktoher.Godblessyou!’
‘Ishallseeyouagainto-night?’saidtheyoungman,eagerly.
‘Byandby,’repliedthelady;‘whenIleaveRose.’
‘YouwilltellherIamhere?’saidHarry.
‘Ofcourse,’repliedMrs.Maylie.
‘AndsayhowanxiousIhavebeen,andhowmuchIhavesuffered,andhowIlongtoseeher.Youwillnotrefusetodothis,mother?’
‘No,’saidtheoldlady;‘Iwilltellherall.’Andpressingherson’shand,affectionately,shehastenedfromtheroom.
Mr.LosberneandOliverhadremainedatanotherendoftheapartmentwhilethishurriedconversationwasproceeding.
TheformernowheldouthishandtoHarryMaylie;andheartysalutationswereexchangedbetweenthem.
Thedoctorthencommunicated,inreplytomultifariousquestionsfromhisyoungfriend,apreciseaccountofhispatient’ssituation;whichwasquiteasconsolatoryandfullofpromise,asOliver’sstatementhadencouragedhimtohope;andtothewholeofwhich,Mr.Giles,whoaffectedtobebusyabouttheluggage,listenedwithgreedyears.
‘Haveyoushotanythingparticular,lately,Giles?’inquiredthedoctor,whenhehadconcluded.
‘Nothingparticular,sir,’repliedMr.Giles,colouringuptotheeyes.
‘Norcatchinganythieves,noridentifyinganyhouse-breakers?’saidthedoctor.
‘Noneatall,sir,’repliedMr.Giles,withmuchgravity.
‘Well,’saidthedoctor,‘Iamsorrytohearit,becauseyoudothatsortofthingadmirably.Pray,howisBrittles?’
‘Theboyisverywell,sir,’saidMr.Giles,recoveringhisusualtoneofpatronage;‘andsendshisrespectfulduty,sir.’
‘That’swell,’saidthedoctor.‘Seeingyouhere,remindsme,Mr.Giles,thatonthedaybeforethatonwhichIwascalledawaysohurriedly,Iexecuted,attherequestofyourgoodmistress,asmallcommissioninyourfavour.
Juststepintothiscorneramoment,willyou?’
Mr.Gileswalkedintothecornerwithmuchimportance,andsomewonder,andwashonouredwithashortwhisperingconferencewiththedoctor,ontheterminationofwhich,hemadeagreatmanybows,andretiredwithstepsofunusualstateliness.
Thesubjectmatterofthisconferencewasnotdisclosedintheparlour,butthekitchenwasspeedilyenlightenedconcerningit;forMr.Gileswalkedstraightthither,andhavingcalledforamugofale,announced,withanairofmajesty,whichwashighlyeffective,thatithadpleasedhismistress,inconsiderationofhisgallantbehaviourontheoccasionofthatattemptedrobbery,todeposit,inthelocalsavings-bank,thesumoffive-and-twentypounds,forhissoleuseandbenefit.
Atthis,thetwowomen-servantslifteduptheirhandsandeyes,andsupposedthatMr.Giles,pullingouthisshirt-frill,replied,‘No,no’;andthatiftheyobservedthathewasatallhaughtytohisinferiors,hewouldthankthemtotellhimso.
Andthenhemadeagreatmanyotherremarks,nolessillustrativeofhishumility,whichwerereceivedwithequalfavourandapplause,andwere,withal,asoriginalandasmuchtothepurpose,astheremarksofgreatmencommonlyare.
Abovestairs,theremainderoftheeveningpassedcheerfullyaway;forthedoctorwasinhighspirits;andhoweverfatiguedorthoughtfulHarryMayliemighthavebeenatfirst,hewasnotproofagainsttheworthygentleman’sgoodhumour,whichdisplayeditselfinagreatvarietyofsalliesandprofessionalrecollections,andanabundanceofsmalljokes,whichstruckOliverasbeingthedrollestthingshehadeverheard,andcausedhimtolaughproportionately;totheevidentsatisfactionofthedoctor,wholaughedimmoderatelyathimself,andmadeHarrylaughalmostasheartily,bytheveryforceofsympathy.
So,theywereaspleasantapartyas,underthecircumstances,theycouldwellhavebeen;anditwaslatebeforetheyretired,withlightandthankfulhearts,totakethatrestofwhich,afterthedoubtandsuspensetheyhadrecentlyundergone,theystoodmuchinneed.
Oliverrosenextmorning,inbetterheart,andwentabouthisusualoccupations,withmorehopeandpleasurethanhehadknownformanydays.
Thebirdswereoncemorehungout,tosing,intheiroldplaces;andthesweetestwildflowersthatcouldbefound,wereoncemoregatheredtogladdenRosewiththeirbeauty.
Themelancholywhichhadseemedtothesadeyesoftheanxiousboytohang,fordayspast,overeveryobject,beautifulasallwere,wasdispelledbymagic.
Thedewseemedtosparklemorebrightlyonthegreenleaves;theairtorustleamongthemwithasweetermusic;andtheskyitselftolookmoreblueandbright.
Suchistheinfluencewhichtheconditionofourownthoughts,exercise,evenovertheappearanceofexternalobjects.
Menwholookonnature,andtheirfellow-men,andcrythatallisdarkandgloomy,areintheright;butthesombrecoloursarereflectionsfromtheirownjaundicedeyesandhearts.
Therealhuesaredelicate,andneedaclearervision.
Itisworthyofremark,andOliverdidnotfailtonoteitatthetime,thathismorningexpeditionswerenolongermadealone.
HarryMaylie,aftertheveryfirstmorningwhenhemetOlivercomingladenhome,wasseizedwithsuchapassionforflowers,anddisplayedsuchatasteintheirarrangement,aslefthisyoungcompanionfarbehind.
IfOliverwerebehindhandintheserespects,heknewwherethebestweretobefound;andmorningaftermorningtheyscouredthecountrytogether,andbroughthomethefairestthatblossomed.
Thewindowoftheyounglady’schamberwasopenednow;forshelovedtofeeltherichsummerairstreamin,andreviveherwithitsfreshness;buttherealwaysstoodinwater,justinsidethelattice,oneparticularlittlebunch,whichwasmadeupwithgreatcare,everymorning.
Olivercouldnothelpnoticingthatthewitheredflowerswereneverthrownaway,althoughthelittlevasewasregularlyreplenished;nor,couldhehelpobserving,thatwheneverthedoctorcameintothegarden,heinvariablycasthiseyesuptothatparticularcorner,andnoddedhisheadmostexpressively,ashesetforthonhismorning’swalk.
Pendingtheseobservations,thedayswereflyingby;andRosewasrapidlyrecovering.
NordidOliver’stimehangheavyonhishands,althoughtheyoungladyhadnotyetleftherchamber,andtherewerenoeveningwalks,savenowandthen,forashortdistance,withMrs.Maylie.
Heappliedhimself,withredoubledassiduity,totheinstructionsofthewhite-headedoldgentleman,andlabouredsohardthathisquickprogresssurprisedevenhimself.
Itwaswhilehewasengagedinthispursuit,thathewasgreatlystartledanddistressedbyamostunexpectedoccurrence.
Thelittleroominwhichhewasaccustomedtosit,whenbusyathisbooks,wasontheground-floor,atthebackofthehouse.
Itwasquiteacottage-room,withalattice-window:aroundwhichwereclustersofjessamineandhoneysuckle,thatcreptoverthecasement,andfilledtheplacewiththeirdeliciousperfume.
Itlookedintoagarden,whenceawicket-gateopenedintoasmallpaddock;allbeyond,wasfinemeadow-landandwood.
Therewasnootherdwellingnear,inthatdirection;andtheprospectitcommandedwasveryextensive.
Onebeautifulevening,whenthefirstshadesoftwilightwerebeginningtosettleupontheearth,Oliversatatthiswindow,intentuponhisbooks.
Hehadbeenporingoverthemforsometime;and,asthedayhadbeenuncommonlysultry,andhehadexertedhimselfagreatdeal,itisnodisparagementtotheauthors,whoevertheymayhavebeen,tosay,thatgraduallyandbyslowdegrees,hefellasleep.
Thereisakindofsleepthatstealsuponussometimes,which,whileitholdsthebodyprisoner,doesnotfreethemindfromasenseofthingsaboutit,andenableittorambleatitspleasure.
Sofarasanoverpoweringheaviness,aprostrationofstrength,andanutterinabilitytocontrolourthoughtsorpowerofmotion,canbecalledsleep,thisisit;andyet,wehaveaconsciousnessofallthatisgoingonaboutus,and,ifwedreamatsuchatime,wordswhicharereallyspoken,orsoundswhichreallyexistatthemoment,accommodatethemselveswithsurprisingreadinesstoourvisions,untilrealityandimaginationbecomesostrangelyblendedthatitisafterwardsalmostmatterofimpossibilitytoseparatethetwo.
Noristhis,themoststrikingphenomenonincidentaltosuchastate.
Itisanundoubtedfact,thatalthoughoursensesoftouchandsightbeforthetimedead,yetoursleepingthoughts,andthevisionaryscenesthatpassbeforeus,willbeinfluencedandmateriallyinfluenced,bythemeresilentpresenceofsomeexternalobject;whichmaynothavebeennearuswhenweclosedoureyes:andofwhosevicinitywehavehadnowakingconsciousness.
Oliverknew,perfectlywell,thathewasinhisownlittleroom;thathisbookswerelyingonthetablebeforehim;thatthesweetairwasstirringamongthecreepingplantsoutside.Andyethewasasleep.
Suddenly,thescenechanged;theairbecamecloseandconfined;andhethought,withaglowofterror,thathewasintheJew’shouseagain.
Theresatthehideousoldman,inhisaccustomedcorner,pointingathim,andwhisperingtoanotherman,withhisfaceaverted,whosatbesidehim.
‘Hush,mydear!’hethoughtheheardtheJewsay;‘itishe,sureenough.Comeaway.’
‘He!’theothermanseemedtoanswer;‘couldImistakehim,thinkyou?
Ifacrowdofghostsweretoputthemselvesintohisexactshape,andhestoodamongstthem,thereissomethingthatwouldtellmehowtopointhimout.
Ifyouburiedhimfiftyfeetdeep,andtookmeacrosshisgrave,IfancyIshouldknow,iftherewasn’tamarkaboveit,thathelayburiedthere?’
Themanseemedtosaythis,withsuchdreadfulhatred,thatOliverawokewiththefear,andstartedup.
GoodHeaven!whatwasthat,whichsentthebloodtinglingtohisheart,anddeprivedhimofhisvoice,andofpowertomove!
There—there—atthewindow—closebeforehim—soclose,thathecouldhavealmosttouchedhimbeforehestartedback:withhiseyespeeringintotheroom,andmeetinghis:therestoodtheJew!
Andbesidehim,whitewithrageorfear,orboth,werethescowlingfeaturesofthemanwhohadaccostedhimintheinn-yard.
Itwasbutaninstant,aglance,aflash,beforehiseyes;andtheyweregone.
Buttheyhadrecognisedhim,andhethem;andtheirlookwasasfirmlyimpresseduponhismemory,asifithadbeendeeplycarvedinstone,andsetbeforehimfromhisbirth.
Hestoodtransfixedforamoment;then,leapingfromthewindowintothegarden,calledloudlyforhelp.
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