English
Whentheinmatesofthehouse,attractedbyOliver’scries,hurriedtothespotfromwhichtheyproceeded,theyfoundhim,paleandagitated,pointinginthedirectionofthemeadowsbehindthehouse,andscarcelyabletoarticulatethewords,‘TheJew!theJew!’
Mr.Gileswasatalosstocomprehendwhatthisoutcrymeant;butHarryMaylie,whoseperceptionsweresomethingquicker,andwhohadheardOliver’shistoryfromhismother,understooditatonce.
‘Whatdirectiondidhetake?’heasked,catchingupaheavystickwhichwasstandinginacorner.
‘That,’repliedOliver,pointingoutthecoursethemanhadtaken;‘Imissedtheminaninstant.’
‘Then,theyareintheditch!’saidHarry.‘Follow!Andkeepasnearme,asyoucan.’
Sosaying,hesprangoverthehedge,anddartedoffwithaspeedwhichrendereditmatterofexceedingdifficultyfortheotherstokeepnearhim.
Gilesfollowedaswellashecould;andOliverfollowedtoo;andinthecourseofaminuteortwo,Mr.Losberne,whohadbeenoutwalking,andjustthenreturned,tumbledoverthehedgeafterthem,andpickinghimselfupwithmoreagilitythanhecouldhavebeensupposedtopossess,struckintothesamecourseatnocontemptiblespeed,shoutingallthewhile,mostprodigiously,toknowwhatwasthematter.
Ontheyallwent;norstoppedtheyoncetobreathe,untiltheleader,strikingoffintoanangleofthefieldindicatedbyOliver,begantosearch,narrowly,theditchandhedgeadjoining;whichaffordedtimefortheremainderofthepartytocomeup;andforOlivertocommunicatetoMr.Losbernethecircumstancesthathadledtosovigorousapursuit.
Thesearchwasallinvain.Therewerenoteventhetracesofrecentfootsteps,tobeseen.
Theystoodnow,onthesummitofalittlehill,commandingtheopenfieldsineverydirectionforthreeorfourmiles.
Therewasthevillageinthehollowontheleft;but,inordertogainthat,afterpursuingthetrackOliverhadpointedout,themenmusthavemadeacircuitofopenground,whichitwasimpossibletheycouldhaveaccomplishedinsoshortatime.
Athickwoodskirtedthemeadow-landinanotherdirection;buttheycouldnothavegainedthatcovertforthesamereason.
‘Itmusthavebeenadream,Oliver,’saidHarryMaylie.
‘Ohno,indeed,sir,’repliedOliver,shudderingattheveryrecollectionoftheoldwretch’scountenance;‘Isawhimtooplainlyforthat.Isawthemboth,asplainlyasIseeyounow.’
‘Whowastheother?’inquiredHarryandMr.Losberne,together.
‘TheverysamemanItoldyouof,whocamesosuddenlyuponmeattheinn,’saidOliver.‘Wehadoureyesfixedfulluponeachother;andIcouldsweartohim.’
‘Theytookthisway?’demandedHarry:‘areyousure?’
‘AsIamthatthemenwereatthewindow,’repliedOliver,pointingdown,ashespoke,tothehedgewhichdividedthecottage-gardenfromthemeadow.
‘Thetallmanleapedover,justthere;andtheJew,runningafewpacestotheright,creptthroughthatgap.’
ThetwogentlemenwatchedOliver’searnestface,ashespoke,andlookingfromhimtoeachother,seemedtofeelsatisfiedoftheaccuracyofwhathesaid.
Still,innodirectionwerethereanyappearancesofthetramplingofmeninhurriedflight.
Thegrasswaslong;butitwastroddendownnowhere,savewheretheirownfeethadcrushedit.
Thesidesandbrinksoftheditcheswereofdampclay;butinnooneplacecouldtheydiscerntheprintofmen’sshoes,ortheslightestmarkwhichwouldindicatethatanyfeethadpressedthegroundforhoursbefore.
‘Thisisstrange!’saidHarry.
‘Strange?’echoedthedoctor.‘BlathersandDuff,themselves,couldmakenothingofit.’
Notwithstandingtheevidentlyuselessnatureoftheirsearch,theydidnotdesistuntilthecomingonofnightrendereditsfurtherprosecutionhopeless;andeventhen,theygaveitupwithreluctance.
Gileswasdispatchedtothedifferentale-housesinthevillage,furnishedwiththebestdescriptionOlivercouldgiveoftheappearanceanddressofthestrangers.
Ofthese,theJewwas,atallevents,sufficientlyremarkabletoberemembered,supposinghehadbeenseendrinking,orloiteringabout;butGilesreturnedwithoutanyintelligence,calculatedtodispelorlessenthemystery.
Onthenextday,freshsearchwasmade,andtheinquiriesrenewed;butwithnobettersuccess.
Onthedayfollowing,OliverandMr.Maylierepairedtothemarket-town,inthehopeofseeingorhearingsomethingofthementhere;butthiseffortwasequallyfruitless.
Afterafewdays,theaffairbegantobeforgotten,asmostaffairsare,whenwonder,havingnofreshfoodtosupportit,diesawayofitself.
Meanwhile,Rosewasrapidlyrecovering.Shehadleftherroom:wasabletogoout;andmixingoncemorewiththefamily,carriedjoyintotheheartsofall.
But,althoughthishappychangehadavisibleeffectonthelittlecircle;andalthoughcheerfulvoicesandmerrylaughterwereoncemoreheardinthecottage;therewasattimes,anunwontedrestraintuponsomethere:evenuponRoseherself:whichOlivercouldnotfailtoremark.
Mrs.Maylieandhersonwereoftenclosetedtogetherforalongtime;andmorethanonceRoseappearedwithtracesoftearsuponherface.
AfterMr.LosbernehadfixedadayforhisdeparturetoChertsey,thesesymptomsincreased;anditbecameevidentthatsomethingwasinprogresswhichaffectedthepeaceoftheyounglady,andofsomebodyelsebesides.
Atlength,onemorning,whenRosewasaloneinthebreakfast-parlour,HarryMaylieentered;and,withsomehesitation,beggedpermissiontospeakwithherforafewmoments.
‘Afew—averyfew—willsuffice,Rose,’saidtheyoungman,drawinghischairtowardsher.
‘WhatIshallhavetosay,hasalreadypresenteditselftoyourmind;themostcherishedhopesofmyheartarenotunknowntoyou,thoughfrommylipsyouhavenotheardthemstated.’
Rosehadbeenverypalefromthemomentofhisentrance;butthatmighthavebeentheeffectofherrecentillness.
Shemerelybowed;andbendingoversomeplantsthatstoodnear,waitedinsilenceforhimtoproceed.
‘I—I—oughttohavelefthere,before,’saidHarry.
‘Youshould,indeed,’repliedRose.‘Forgivemeforsayingso,butIwishyouhad.’
‘Iwasbroughthere,bythemostdreadfulandagonisingofallapprehensions,’saidtheyoungman;‘thefearoflosingtheonedearbeingonwhommyeverywishandhopearefixed.
Youhadbeendying;tremblingbetweenearthandheaven.
Weknowthatwhentheyoung,thebeautiful,andgood,arevisitedwithsickness,theirpurespiritsinsensiblyturntowardstheirbrighthomeoflastingrest;weknow,Heavenhelpus!
thatthebestandfairestofourkind,toooftenfadeinblooming.’
Thereweretearsintheeyesofthegentlegirl,asthesewordswerespoken;andwhenonefelluponthefloweroverwhichshebent,andglistenedbrightlyinitscup,makingitmorebeautiful,itseemedasthoughtheoutpouringofherfreshyoungheart,claimedkindrednaturally,withtheloveliestthingsinnature.
‘Acreature,’continuedtheyoungman,passionately,‘acreatureasfairandinnocentofguileasoneofGod’sownangels,flutteredbetweenlifeanddeath.Oh!
whocouldhope,whenthedistantworldtowhichshewasakin,halfopenedtoherview,thatshewouldreturntothesorrowandcalamityofthis!
Rose,Rose,toknowthatyouwerepassingawaylikesomesoftshadow,whichalightfromabove,castsupontheearth;tohavenohopethatyouwouldbesparedtothosewholingerhere;hardlytoknowareasonwhyyoushouldbe;tofeelthatyoubelongedtothatbrightspherewhithersomanyofthefairestandthebesthavewingedtheirearlyflight;andyettopray,amidalltheseconsolations,thatyoumightberestoredtothosewholovedyou—theseweredistractionsalmosttoogreattobear.
Theyweremine,bydayandnight;andwiththem,camesucharushingtorrentoffears,andapprehensions,andselfishregrets,lestyoushoulddie,andneverknowhowdevotedlyIlovedyou,asalmostboredownsenseandreasoninitscourse.Yourecovered.
Daybyday,andalmosthourbyhour,somedropofhealthcameback,andminglingwiththespentandfeeblestreamoflifewhichcirculatedlanguidlywithinyou,swelleditagaintoahighandrushingtide.
Ihavewatchedyouchangealmostfromdeath,tolife,witheyesthatturnedblindwiththeireagernessanddeepaffection.
DonottellmethatyouwishIhadlostthis;forithassoftenedmyhearttoallmankind.’
‘Ididnotmeanthat,’saidRose,weeping;‘Ionlywishyouhadlefthere,thatyoumighthaveturnedtohighandnoblepursuitsagain;topursuitswellworthyofyou.’
‘Thereisnopursuitmoreworthyofme:moreworthyofthehighestnaturethatexists:thanthestruggletowinsuchaheartasyours,’saidtheyoungman,takingherhand.‘Rose,myowndearRose!
Foryears—foryears—Ihavelovedyou;hopingtowinmywaytofame,andthencomeproudlyhomeandtellyouithadbeenpursuedonlyforyoutoshare;thinking,inmydaydreams,howIwouldremindyou,inthathappymoment,ofthemanysilenttokensIhadgivenofaboy’sattachment,andclaimyourhand,asinredemptionofsomeoldmutecontractthathadbeensealedbetweenus!
Thattimehasnotarrived;buthere,withnotfamewon,andnoyoungvisionrealised,Iofferyoutheheartsolongyourown,andstakemyalluponthewordswithwhichyougreettheoffer.’
‘Yourbehaviourhaseverbeenkindandnoble.’saidRose,masteringtheemotionsbywhichshewasagitated.‘AsyoubelievethatIamnotinsensibleorungrateful,sohearmyanswer.’
‘Itis,thatImayendeavourtodeserveyou;itis,dearRose?’
‘Itis,’repliedRose,‘thatyoumustendeavourtoforgetme;notasyouroldanddearly-attachedcompanion,forthatwouldwoundmedeeply;but,astheobjectofyourlove.
Lookintotheworld;thinkhowmanyheartsyouwouldbeproudtogain,arethere.
Confidesomeotherpassiontome,ifyouwill;Iwillbethetruest,warmest,andmostfaithfulfriendyouhave.’
Therewasapause,duringwhich,Rose,whohadcoveredherfacewithonehand,gavefreeventtohertears.Harrystillretainedtheother.
‘Andyourreasons,Rose,’hesaid,atlength,inalowvoice;‘yourreasonsforthisdecision?’
‘Youhavearighttoknowthem,’rejoinedRose.‘Youcansaynothingtoaltermyresolution.ItisadutythatImustperform.Ioweit,aliketoothers,andtomyself.’
‘Toyourself?’
‘Yes,Harry.Ioweittomyself,thatI,afriendless,portionless,girl,withablightuponmyname,shouldnotgiveyourfriendsreasontosuspectthatIhadsordidlyyieldedtoyourfirstpassion,andfastenedmyself,aclog,onallyourhopesandprojects.
Ioweittoyouandyours,topreventyoufromopposing,inthewarmthofyourgenerousnature,thisgreatobstacletoyourprogressintheworld.’
‘Ifyourinclinationschimewithyoursenseofduty—’Harrybegan.
‘Theydonot,’repliedRose,colouringdeeply.
‘Thenyoureturnmylove?’saidHarry.‘Saybutthat,dearRose;saybutthat;andsoftenthebitternessofthisharddisappointment!’
‘IfIcouldhavedoneso,withoutdoingheavywrongtohimIloved,’rejoinedRose,‘Icouldhave—’
‘Havereceivedthisdeclarationverydifferently?’saidHarry.‘Donotconcealthatfromme,atleast,Rose.’
‘Icould,’saidRose.‘Stay!’
sheadded,disengagingherhand,‘whyshouldweprolongthispainfulinterview?
Mostpainfultome,andyetproductiveoflastinghappiness,notwithstanding;foritwillbehappinesstoknowthatIonceheldthehighplaceinyourregardwhichInowoccupy,andeverytriumphyouachieveinlifewillanimatemewithnewfortitudeandfirmness.Farewell,Harry!
Aswehavemetto-day,wemeetnomore;butinotherrelationsthanthoseinwhichthisconversationhaveplacedus,wemaybelongandhappilyentwined;andmayeveryblessingthattheprayersofatrueandearnestheartcancalldownfromthesourceofalltruthandsincerity,cheerandprosperyou!’
‘Anotherword,Rose,’saidHarry.‘Yourreasoninyourownwords.Fromyourownlips,letmehearit!’
‘Theprospectbeforeyou,’answeredRose,firmly,‘isabrilliantone.
Allthehonourstowhichgreattalentsandpowerfulconnectionscanhelpmeninpubliclife,areinstoreforyou.
Butthoseconnectionsareproud;andIwillneitherminglewithsuchasmayholdinscornthemotherwhogavemelife;norbringdisgraceorfailureonthesonofherwhohassowellsuppliedthatmother’splace.
Inaword,’saidtheyounglady,turningaway,ashertemporaryfirmnessforsookher,‘thereisastainuponmyname,whichtheworldvisitsoninnocentheads.
Iwillcarryitintonobloodbutmyown;andthereproachshallrestaloneonme.’
‘Onewordmore,Rose.DearestRose!onemore!’
criedHarry,throwinghimselfbeforeher.
‘IfIhadbeenless—lessfortunate,theworldwouldcallit—ifsomeobscureandpeacefullifehadbeenmydestiny—ifIhadbeenpoor,sick,helpless—wouldyouhaveturnedfrommethen?
Orhasmyprobableadvancementtorichesandhonour,giventhisscruplebirth?’
‘Donotpressmetoreply,’answeredRose.‘Thequestiondoesnotarise,andneverwill.Itisunfair,almostunkind,tourgeit.’
‘IfyouranswerbewhatIalmostdaretohopeitis,’retortedHarry,‘itwillshedagleamofhappinessuponmylonelyway,andlightthepathbeforeme.
Itisnotanidlethingtodosomuch,bytheutteranceofafewbriefwords,foronewholovesyoubeyondallelse.
Oh,Rose:inthenameofmyardentandenduringattachment;inthenameofallIhavesufferedforyou,andallyoudoommetoundergo;answermethisonequestion!’
‘Then,ifyourlothadbeendifferentlycast,’rejoinedRose;‘ifyouhadbeenevenalittle,butnotsofar,aboveme;ifIcouldhavebeenahelpandcomforttoyouinanyhumblesceneofpeaceandretirement,andnotablotanddrawbackinambitiousanddistinguishedcrowds;Ishouldhavebeensparedthistrial.
Ihaveeveryreasontobehappy,veryhappy,now;butthen,Harry,IownIshouldhavebeenhappier.’
Busyrecollectionsofoldhopes,cherishedasagirl,longago,crowdedintothemindofRose,whilemakingthisavowal;buttheybroughttearswiththem,asoldhopeswillwhentheycomebackwithered;andtheyrelievedher.
‘Icannothelpthisweakness,anditmakesmypurposestronger,’saidRose,extendingherhand.‘Imustleaveyounow,indeed.’
‘Iaskonepromise,’saidHarry.‘Once,andonlyoncemore,—saywithinayear,butitmaybemuchsooner,—Imayspeaktoyouagainonthissubject,forthelasttime.’
‘Nottopressmetoaltermyrightdetermination,’repliedRose,withamelancholysmile;‘itwillbeuseless.’
‘No,’saidHarry;‘tohearyourepeatit,ifyouwill—finallyrepeatit!
Iwilllayatyourfeet,whateverofstationoffortuneImaypossess;andifyoustilladheretoyourpresentresolution,willnotseek,bywordoract,tochangeit.’
‘Thenletitbeso,’rejoinedRose;‘itisbutonepangthemore,andbythattimeImaybeenabledtobearitbetter.’
Sheextendedherhandagain.Buttheyoungmancaughthertohisbosom;andimprintingonekissonherbeautifulforehead,hurriedfromtheroom.
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