English
Thegirl’slifehadbeensquanderedinthestreets,andamongthemostnoisomeofthestewsanddensofLondon,buttherewassomethingofthewoman’soriginalnatureleftinherstill;andwhensheheardalightstepapproachingthedooroppositetothatbywhichshehadentered,andthoughtofthewidecontrastwhichthesmallroomwouldinanothermomentcontain,shefeltburdenedwiththesenseofherowndeepshame,andshrunkasthoughshecouldscarcelybearthepresenceofherwithwhomshehadsoughtthisinterview.
Butstrugglingwiththesebetterfeelingswaspride,—theviceofthelowestandmostdebasedcreaturesnolessthanofthehighandself-assured.
Themiserablecompanionofthievesandruffians,thefallenoutcastoflowhaunts,theassociateofthescouringsofthejailsandhulks,livingwithintheshadowofthegallowsitself,—eventhisdegradedbeingfelttooproudtobetrayafeeblegleamofthewomanlyfeelingwhichshethoughtaweakness,butwhichaloneconnectedherwiththathumanity,ofwhichherwastinglifehadobliteratedsomany,manytraceswhenaverychild.
Sheraisedhereyessufficientlytoobservethatthefigurewhichpresenteditselfwasthatofaslightandbeautifulgirl;then,bendingthemontheground,shetossedherheadwithaffectedcarelessnessasshesaid:
‘It’sahardmattertogettoseeyou,lady.IfIhadtakenoffence,andgoneaway,asmanywouldhavedone,you’dhavebeensorryforitoneday,andnotwithoutreasoneither.’
‘Iamverysorryifanyonehasbehavedharshlytoyou,’repliedRose.‘Donotthinkofthat.Tellmewhyyouwishedtoseeme.Iamthepersonyouinquiredfor.’
Thekindtoneofthisanswer,thesweetvoice,thegentlemanner,theabsenceofanyaccentofhaughtinessordispleasure,tookthegirlcompletelybysurprise,andsheburstintotears.
‘Oh,lady,lady!’shesaid,claspingherhandspassionatelybeforeherface,‘iftherewasmorelikeyou,therewouldbefewerlikeme,—therewould—therewould!’
‘Sitdown,’saidRose,earnestly.‘IfyouareinpovertyorafflictionIshallbetrulygladtorelieveyouifIcan,—Ishallindeed.Sitdown.’
‘Letmestand,lady,’saidthegirl,stillweeping,‘anddonotspeaktomesokindlytillyouknowmebetter.Itisgrowinglate.Is—is—thatdoorshut?’
‘Yes,’saidRose,recoilingafewsteps,asiftobenearerassistanceincasesheshouldrequireit.‘Why?’
‘Because,’saidthegirl,‘Iamabouttoputmylifeandthelivesofothersinyourhands.
IamthegirlthatdraggedlittleOliverbacktooldFagin’sonthenighthewentoutfromthehouseinPentonville.’
‘You!’saidRoseMaylie.
‘I,lady!’repliedthegirl.
‘Iamtheinfamouscreatureyouhaveheardof,thatlivesamongthethieves,andthatneverfromthefirstmomentIcanrecollectmyeyesandsensesopeningonLondonstreetshaveknownanybetterlife,orkinderwordsthantheyhavegivenme,sohelpmeGod!
Donotmindshrinkingopenlyfromme,lady.
Iamyoungerthanyouwouldthink,tolookatme,butIamwellusedtoit.
Thepoorestwomenfallback,asImakemywayalongthecrowdedpavement.’
‘Whatdreadfulthingsarethese!’saidRose,involuntarilyfallingfromherstrangecompanion.
‘ThankHeavenuponyourknees,dearlady,’criedthegirl,‘thatyouhadfriendstocareforandkeepyouinyourchildhood,andthatyouwereneverinthemidstofcoldandhunger,andriotanddrunkenness,and—and—somethingworsethanall—asIhavebeenfrommycradle.
Imayusetheword,forthealleyandthegutterweremine,astheywillbemydeathbed.’
‘Ipityyou!’saidRose,inabrokenvoice.‘Itwringsmyhearttohearyou!’
‘Heavenblessyouforyourgoodness!’rejoinedthegirl.
‘IfyouknewwhatIamsometimes,youwouldpityme,indeed.
ButIhavestolenawayfromthosewhowouldsurelymurderme,iftheyknewIhadbeenhere,totellyouwhatIhaveoverheard.DoyouknowamannamedMonks?’
‘No,’saidRose.
‘Heknowsyou,’repliedthegirl;‘andknewyouwerehere,foritwasbyhearinghimtelltheplacethatIfoundyouout.’
‘Ineverheardthename,’saidRose.
‘Thenhegoesbysomeotheramongstus,’rejoinedthegirl,‘whichImorethanthoughtbefore.
Sometimeago,andsoonafterOliverwasputintoyourhouseonthenightoftherobbery,I—suspectingthisman—listenedtoaconversationheldbetweenhimandFagininthedark.
Ifoundout,fromwhatIheard,thatMonks—themanIaskedyouabout,youknow—’
‘Yes,’saidRose,‘Iunderstand.’
’—ThatMonks,’pursuedthegirl,‘hadseenhimaccidentlywithtwoofourboysonthedaywefirstlosthim,andhadknownhimdirectlytobethesamechildthathewaswatchingfor,thoughIcouldn’tmakeoutwhy.
AbargainwasstruckwithFagin,thatifOliverwasgotbackheshouldhaveacertainsum;andhewastohavemoreformakinghimathief,whichthisMonkswantedforsomepurposeofhisown.’
‘Forwhatpurpose?’askedRose.
‘HecaughtsightofmyshadowonthewallasIlistened,inthehopeoffindingout,’saidthegirl;‘andtherearenotmanypeoplebesidesmethatcouldhavegotoutoftheirwayintimetoescapediscovery.
ButIdid;andIsawhimnomoretilllastnight.’
‘Andwhatoccurredthen?’
‘I’lltellyou,lady.Lastnighthecameagain.
Againtheywentupstairs,andI,wrappingmyselfupsothatmyshadowwouldnotbetrayme,againlistenedatthedoor.
ThefirstwordsIheardMonkssaywerethese:“Sotheonlyproofsoftheboy’sidentitylieatthebottomoftheriver,andtheoldhagthatreceivedthemfromthemotherisrottinginhercoffin.”
Theylaughed,andtalkedofhissuccessindoingthis;andMonks,talkingonabouttheboy,andgettingverywild,saidthatthoughhehadgottheyoungdevil’smoneysafelynow,he’dratherhavehadittheotherway;for,whatagameitwouldhavebeentohavebroughtdowntheboastofthefather’swill,bydrivinghimthrougheveryjailintown,andthenhaulinghimupforsomecapitalfelonywhichFagincouldeasilymanage,afterhavingmadeagoodprofitofhimbesides.’
‘Whatisallthis!’saidRose.
‘Thetruth,lady,thoughitcomesfrommylips,’repliedthegirl.
‘Then,hesaid,withoathscommonenoughinmyears,butstrangetoyours,thatifhecouldgratifyhishatredbytakingtheboy’slifewithoutbringinghisownneckindanger,hewould;but,ashecouldn’t,he’dbeuponthewatchtomeethimateveryturninlife;andifhetookadvantageofhisbirthandhistory,hemightharmhimyet.
“Inshort,Fagin,”hesays,“Jewasyouare,youneverlaidsuchsnaresasI’llcontriveformyyoungbrother,Oliver.”’
‘Hisbrother!’exclaimedRose.
‘Thosewerehiswords,’saidNancy,glancinguneasilyround,asshehadscarcelyceasedtodo,sinceshebegantospeak,foravisionofSikeshauntedherperpetually.‘Andmore.
Whenhespokeofyouandtheotherlady,andsaiditseemedcontrivedbyHeaven,orthedevil,againsthim,thatOlivershouldcomeintoyourhands,helaughed,andsaidtherewassomecomfortinthattoo,forhowmanythousandsandhundredsofthousandsofpoundswouldyounotgive,ifyouhadthem,toknowwhoyourtwo-leggedspanielwas.’
‘Youdonotmean,’saidRose,turningverypale,‘totellmethatthiswassaidinearnest?’
‘Hespokeinhardandangryearnest,ifamaneverdid,’repliedthegirl,shakingherhead.
‘Heisanearnestmanwhenhishatredisup.
Iknowmanywhodoworsethings;butI’dratherlistentothemalladozentimes,thantothatMonksonce.
Itisgrowinglate,andIhavetoreachhomewithoutsuspicionofhavingbeenonsuchanerrandasthis.Imustgetbackquickly.’
‘ButwhatcanIdo?’saidRose.
‘TowhatusecanIturnthiscommunicationwithoutyou?Back!
Whydoyouwishtoreturntocompanionsyoupaintinsuchterriblecolors?
IfyourepeatthisinformationtoagentlemanwhomIcansummoninaninstantfromthenextroom,youcanbeconsignedtosomeplaceofsafetywithouthalfanhour’sdelay.’
‘Iwishtogoback,’saidthegirl.‘Imustgoback,because—howcanItellsuchthingstoaninnocentladylikeyou?
—becauseamongthemenIhavetoldyouof,thereisone:themostdesperateamongthemall;thatIcan’tleave:no,noteventobesavedfromthelifeIamleadingnow.’
‘Yourhavinginterferedinthisdearboy’sbehalfbefore,’saidRose;‘yourcominghere,atsogreatarisk,totellmewhatyouhaveheard;yourmanner,whichconvincesmeofthetruthofwhatyousay;yourevidentcontrition,andsenseofshame;allleadmetobelievethatyoumightyetbereclaimed.Oh!’
saidtheearnestgirl,foldingherhandsasthetearscourseddownherface,‘donotturnadeafeartotheentreatiesofoneofyourownsex;thefirst—thefirst,Idobelieve,whoeverappealedtoyouinthevoiceofpityandcompassion.
Dohearmywords,andletmesaveyouyet,forbetterthings.’
‘Lady,’criedthegirl,sinkingonherknees,‘dear,sweet,angellady,youarethefirstthateverblessedmewithsuchwordsasthese,andifIhadheardthemyearsago,theymighthaveturnedmefromalifeofsinandsorrow;butitistoolate,itistoolate!’
‘Itisnevertoolate,’saidRose,‘forpenitenceandatonement.’
‘Itis,’criedthegirl,writhinginagonyofhermind;‘Icannotleavehimnow!Icouldnotbehisdeath.’
‘Whyshouldyoube?’askedRose.
‘Nothingcouldsavehim,’criedthegirl.‘IfItoldotherswhatIhavetoldyou,andledtotheirbeingtaken,hewouldbesuretodie.Heistheboldest,andhasbeensocruel!’
‘Isitpossible,’criedRose,‘thatforsuchamanasthis,youcanresigneveryfuturehope,andthecertaintyofimmediaterescue?Itismadness.’
‘Idon’tknowwhatitis,’answeredthegirl;‘Ionlyknowthatitisso,andnotwithmealone,butwithhundredsofothersasbadandwretchedasmyself.Imustgoback.
WhetheritisGod’swrathforthewrongIhavedone,Idonotknow;butIamdrawnbacktohimthrougheverysufferingandillusage;andIshouldbe,Ibelieve,ifIknewthatIwastodiebyhishandatlast.’
‘WhatamItodo?’saidRose.‘Ishouldnotletyoudepartfrommethus.’
‘Youshould,lady,andIknowyouwill,’rejoinedthegirl,rising.‘YouwillnotstopmygoingbecauseIhavetrustedinyourgoodness,andforcednopromisefromyou,asImighthavedone.’
‘Ofwhatuse,then,isthecommunicationyouhavemade?’saidRose.‘Thismysterymustbeinvestigated,orhowwillitsdisclosuretome,benefitOliver,whomyouareanxioustoserve?’
‘Youmusthavesomekindgentlemanaboutyouthatwillhearitasasecret,andadviseyouwhattodo,’rejoinedthegirl.
‘ButwherecanIfindyouagainwhenitisnecessary?’askedRose.
‘Idonotseektoknowwherethesedreadfulpeoplelive,butwherewillyoubewalkingorpassingatanysettledperiodfromthistime?’
‘Willyoupromisemethatyouwillhavemysecretstrictlykept,andcomealone,orwiththeonlyotherpersonthatknowsit;andthatIshallnotbewatchedorfollowed?’askedthegirl.
‘Ipromiseyousolemnly,’answeredRose.
‘EverySundaynight,fromelevenuntiltheclockstrikestwelve,’saidthegirlwithouthesitation,‘IwillwalkonLondonBridgeifIamalive.’
‘Stayanothermoment,’interposedRose,asthegirlmovedhurriedlytowardsthedoor.
‘Thinkonceagainonyourowncondition,andtheopportunityyouhaveofescapingfromit.
Youhaveaclaimonme:notonlyasthevoluntarybearerofthisintelligence,butasawomanlostalmostbeyondredemption.
Willyoureturntothisgangofrobbers,andtothisman,whenawordcansaveyou?
Whatfascinationisitthatcantakeyouback,andmakeyouclingtowickednessandmisery?Oh!
istherenochordinyourheartthatIcantouch!
Istherenothingleft,towhichIcanappealagainstthisterribleinfatuation!’
‘Whenladiesasyoung,andgood,andbeautifulasyouare,’repliedthegirlsteadily,‘giveawayyourhearts,lovewillcarryyoualllengths—evensuchasyou,whohavehome,friends,otheradmirers,everything,tofillthem.
WhensuchasI,whohavenocertainroofbutthecoffinlid,andnofriendinsicknessordeathbutthehospitalnurse,setourrottenheartsonanyman,andlethimfilltheplacethathasbeenablankthroughallourwretchedlives,whocanhopetocureus?
Pityus,lady—pityusforhavingonlyonefeelingofthewomanleft,andforhavingthatturned,byaheavyjudgment,fromacomfortandapride,intoanewmeansofviolenceandsuffering.’
‘Youwill,’saidRose,afterapause,‘takesomemoneyfromme,whichmayenableyoutolivewithoutdishonesty—atalleventsuntilwemeetagain?’
‘Notapenny,’repliedthegirl,wavingherhand.
‘Donotcloseyourheartagainstallmyeffortstohelpyou,’saidRose,steppinggentlyforward.‘Iwishtoserveyouindeed.’
‘Youwouldservemebest,lady,’repliedthegirl,wringingherhands,‘ifyoucouldtakemylifeatonce;forIhavefeltmoregrieftothinkofwhatIam,to-night,thanIeverdidbefore,anditwouldbesomethingnottodieinthehellinwhichIhavelived.
Godblessyou,sweetlady,andsendasmuchhappinessonyourheadasIhavebroughtshameonmine!’
Thusspeaking,andsobbingaloud,theunhappycreatureturnedaway;whileRoseMaylie,overpoweredbythisextraordinaryinterview,whichhadmorethesemblanceofarapiddreamthananactualoccurrence,sankintoachair,andendeavouredtocollectherwanderingthoughts.
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