English
Theeventsnarratedinthelastchapterwereyetbuttwodaysold,whenOliverfoundhimself,atthreeo’clockintheafternoon,inatravelling-carriagerollingfasttowardshisnativetown.
Mrs.Maylie,andRose,andMrs.Bedwin,andthegooddoctorwerewithhim:andMr.Brownlowfollowedinapost-chaise,accompaniedbyoneotherpersonwhosenamehadnotbeenmentioned.
Theyhadnottalkedmuchupontheway;forOliverwasinaflutterofagitationanduncertaintywhichdeprivedhimofthepowerofcollectinghisthoughts,andalmostofspeech,andappearedtohavescarcelylesseffectonhiscompanions,whosharedit,inatleastanequaldegree.
HeandthetwoladieshadbeenverycarefullymadeacquaintedbyMr.BrownlowwiththenatureoftheadmissionswhichhadbeenforcedfromMonks;andalthoughtheyknewthattheobjectoftheirpresentjourneywastocompletetheworkwhichhadbeensowellbegun,stillthewholematterwasenvelopedinenoughofdoubtandmysterytoleavetheminenduranceofthemostintensesuspense.
Thesamekindfriendhad,withMr.Losberne’sassistance,cautiouslystoppedallchannelsofcommunicationthroughwhichtheycouldreceiveintelligenceofthedreadfuloccurrencesthatsorecentlytakenplace.
‘Itwasquitetrue,’hesaid,‘thattheymustknowthembeforelong,butitmightbeatabettertimethanthepresent,anditcouldnotbeataworse.’
So,theytravelledoninsilence:eachbusiedwithreflectionsontheobjectwhichhadbroughtthemtogether:andnoonedisposedtogiveutterancetothethoughtswhichcrowdeduponall.
ButifOliver,undertheseinfluences,hadremainedsilentwhiletheyjourneyedtowardshisbirth-placebyaroadhehadneverseen,howthewholecurrentofhisrecollectionsranbacktooldtimes,andwhatacrowdofemotionswerewakenedupinhisbreast,whentheyturnedintothatwhichhehadtraversedonfoot:apoorhouseless,wanderingboy,withoutafriendtohelphim,orarooftoshelterhishead.
‘Seethere,there!’criedOliver,eagerlyclaspingthehandofRose,andpointingoutatthecarriagewindow;‘that’sthestileIcameover;therearethehedgesIcreptbehind,forfearanyoneshouldovertakemeandforcemeback!
Yonderisthepathacrossthefields,leadingtotheoldhousewhereIwasalittlechild!
OhDick,Dick,mydearoldfriend,ifIcouldonlyseeyounow!’
‘Youwillseehimsoon,’repliedRose,gentlytakinghisfoldedhandsbetweenherown.
‘Youshalltellhimhowhappyyouare,andhowrichyouhavegrown,andthatinallyourhappinessyouhavenonesogreatasthecomingbacktomakehimhappytoo.’
‘Yes,yes,’saidOliver,‘andwe’ll—we’lltakehimawayfromhere,andhavehimclothedandtaught,andsendhimtosomequietcountryplacewherehemaygrowstrongandwell,—shallwe?’
Rosenodded‘yes,’fortheboywassmilingthroughsuchhappytearsthatshecouldnotspeak.
‘Youwillbekindandgoodtohim,foryouaretoeveryone,’saidOliver.
‘Itwillmakeyoucry,Iknow,tohearwhathecantell;butnevermind,nevermind,itwillbeallover,andyouwillsmileagain—Iknowthattoo—tothinkhowchangedheis;youdidthesamewithme.
Hesaid“Godblessyou”tomewhenIranaway,’criedtheboywithaburstofaffectionateemotion;‘andIwillsay“Godblessyou”now,andshowhimhowIlovehimforit!’
Astheyapproachedthetown,andatlengthdrovethroughitsnarrowstreets,itbecamematterofnosmalldifficultytorestraintheboywithinreasonablebounds.
TherewasSowerberry’stheundertaker’sjustasitusedtobe,onlysmallerandlessimposinginappearancethanherememberedit—therewereallthewell-knownshopsandhouses,withalmosteveryoneofwhichhehadsomeslightincidentconnected—therewasGamfield’scart,theverycartheusedtohave,standingattheoldpublic-housedoor—therewastheworkhouse,thedrearyprisonofhisyouthfuldays,withitsdismalwindowsfrowningonthestreet—therewasthesameleanporterstandingatthegate,atsightofwhomOliverinvoluntarilyshrunkback,andthenlaughedathimselfforbeingsofoolish,thencried,thenlaughedagain—therewerescoresoffacesatthedoorsandwindowsthatheknewquitewell—therewasnearlyeverythingasifhehadleftitbutyesterday,andallhisrecentlifehadbeenbutahappydream.
Butitwaspure,earnest,joyfulreality.
Theydrovestraighttothedoorofthechiefhotel(whichOliverusedtostareupat,withawe,andthinkamightypalace,butwhichhadsomehowfallenoffingrandeurandsize);andherewasMr.Grimwigallreadytoreceivethem,kissingtheyounglady,andtheoldonetoo,whentheygotoutofthecoach,asifhewerethegrandfatherofthewholeparty,allsmilesandkindness,andnotofferingtoeathishead—no,notonce;notevenwhenhecontradictedaveryoldpostboyaboutthenearestroadtoLondon,andmaintainedheknewitbest,thoughhehadonlycomethatwayonce,andthattimefastasleep.
Therewasdinnerprepared,andtherewerebedroomsready,andeverythingwasarrangedasifbymagic.
Notwithstandingallthis,whenthehurryofthefirsthalf-hourwasover,thesamesilenceandconstraintprevailedthathadmarkedtheirjourneydown.
Mr.Brownlowdidnotjointhematdinner,butremainedinaseparateroom.
Thetwoothergentlemenhurriedinandoutwithanxiousfaces,and,duringtheshortintervalswhentheywerepresent,conversedapart.
Once,Mrs.Mayliewascalledaway,andafterbeingabsentfornearlyanhour,returnedwitheyesswollenwithweeping.
AllthesethingsmadeRoseandOliver,whowerenotinanynewsecrets,nervousanduncomfortable.
Theysatwondering,insilence;or,iftheyexchangedafewwords,spokeinwhispers,asiftheywereafraidtohearthesoundoftheirownvoices.
Atlength,whennineo’clockhadcome,andtheybegantothinktheyweretohearnomorethatnight,Mr.LosberneandMr.Grimwigenteredtheroom,followedbyMr.BrownlowandamanwhomOliveralmostshriekedwithsurprisetosee;fortheytoldhimitwashisbrother,anditwasthesamemanhehadmetatthemarket-town,andseenlookinginwithFaginatthewindowofhislittleroom.
Monkscastalookofhate,which,eventhen,hecouldnotdissemble,attheastonishedboy,andsatdownnearthedoor.
Mr.Brownlow,whohadpapersinhishand,walkedtoatablenearwhichRoseandOliverwereseated.
‘Thisisapainfultask,’saidhe,‘butthesedeclarations,whichhavebeensignedinLondonbeforemanygentlemen,mustbeinsubstancerepeatedhere.
Iwouldhavesparedyouthedegradation,butwemusthearthemfromyourownlipsbeforewepart,andyouknowwhy.’
‘Goon,’saidthepersonaddressed,turningawayhisface.‘Quick.Ihavealmostdoneenough,Ithink.Don’tkeepmehere.’
‘Thischild,’saidMr.Brownlow,drawingOlivertohim,andlayinghishanduponhishead,‘isyourhalf-brother;theillegitimatesonofyourfather,mydearfriendEdwinLeeford,bypooryoungAgnesFleming,whodiedingivinghimbirth.’
‘Yes,’saidMonks,scowlingatthetremblingboy:thebeatingofwhosehearthemighthaveheard.‘Thatisthebastardchild.’
‘Thetermyouuse,’saidMr.Brownlow,sternly,‘isareproachtothoselongsincepassedbeyondthefeeblecensureoftheworld.
Itreflectsdisgraceonnooneliving,exceptyouwhouseit.Letthatpass.Hewasborninthistown.’
‘Intheworkhouseofthistown,’wasthesullenreply.‘Youhavethestorythere.’Hepointedimpatientlytothepapersashespoke.
‘Imusthaveithere,too,’saidMr.Brownlow,lookingrounduponthelisteners.
‘Listenthen!You!’returnedMonks.
‘HisfatherbeingtakenillatRome,wasjoinedbyhiswife,mymother,fromwhomhehadbeenlongseparated,whowentfromParisandtookmewithher—tolookafterhisproperty,forwhatIknow,forshehadnogreataffectionforhim,norheforher.
Heknewnothingofus,forhissensesweregone,andheslumberedontillnextday,whenhedied.
Amongthepapersinhisdesk,weretwo,datedonthenighthisillnessfirstcameon,directedtoyourself’;headdressedhimselftoMr.Brownlow;‘andenclosedinafewshortlinestoyou,withanintimationonthecoverofthepackagethatitwasnottobeforwardedtillafterhewasdead.
OneofthesepaperswasalettertothisgirlAgnes;theotherawill.’
‘Whatoftheletter?’askedMr.Brownlow.
‘Theletter?—Asheetofpapercrossedandcrossedagain,withapenitentconfession,andprayerstoGodtohelpher.
Hehadpalmedataleonthegirlthatsomesecretmystery—tobeexplainedoneday—preventedhismarryingherjustthen;andsoshehadgoneon,trustingpatientlytohim,untilshetrustedtoofar,andlostwhatnonecouldevergiveherback.
Shewas,atthattime,withinafewmonthsofherconfinement.
Hetoldherallhehadmeanttodo,tohidehershame,ifhehadlived,andprayedher,ifhedied,nottocursehismemory,orthinktheconsequencesoftheirsinwouldbevisitedonherortheiryoungchild;foralltheguiltwashis.
Heremindedherofthedayhehadgivenherthelittlelocketandtheringwithherchristiannameengraveduponit,andablankleftforthatwhichhehopedonedaytohavebestoweduponher—prayedheryettokeepit,andwearitnextherheart,asshehaddonebefore—andthenranon,wildly,inthesamewords,overandoveragain,asifhehadgonedistracted.Ibelievehehad.’
‘Thewill,’saidMr.Brownlow,asOliver’stearsfellfast.
Monkswassilent.
‘Thewill,’saidMr.Brownlow,speakingforhim,‘wasinthesamespiritastheletter.
Hetalkedofmiserieswhichhiswifehadbroughtuponhim;oftherebelliousdisposition,vice,malice,andprematurebadpassionsofyouhisonlyson,whohadbeentrainedtohatehim;andleftyou,andyourmother,eachanannuityofeighthundredpounds.
Thebulkofhispropertyhedividedintotwoequalportions—oneforAgnesFleming,andtheotherfortheirchild,ifitshouldbebornalive,andevercomeofage.
Ifitwereagirl,itwastoinheritthemoneyunconditionally;butifaboy,onlyonthestipulationthatinhisminorityheshouldneverhavestainedhisnamewithanypublicactofdishonour,meanness,cowardice,orwrong.
Hedidthis,hesaid,tomarkhisconfidenceintheother,andhisconviction—onlystrengthenedbyapproachingdeath—thatthechildwouldsharehergentleheart,andnoblenature.
Ifheweredisappointedinthisexpectation,thenthemoneywastocometoyou:forthen,andnottillthen,whenbothchildrenwereequal,wouldherecogniseyourpriorclaimuponhispurse,whohadnoneuponhisheart,buthad,fromaninfant,repulsedhimwithcoldnessandaversion.’
‘Mymother,’saidMonks,inaloudertone,‘didwhatawomanshouldhavedone.Sheburntthiswill.
Theletterneverreacheditsdestination;butthat,andotherproofs,shekept,incasetheyevertriedtolieawaytheblot.
Thegirl’sfatherhadthetruthfromherwitheveryaggravationthatherviolenthate—Iloveherforitnow—couldadd.
GoadedbyshameanddishonourhefledwithhischildrenintoaremotecornerofWales,changinghisverynamethathisfriendsmightneverknowofhisretreat;andhere,nogreatwhileafterwards,hewasfounddeadinhisbed.
Thegirlhadleftherhome,insecret,someweeksbefore;hehadsearchedforher,onfoot,ineverytownandvillagenear;itwasonthenightwhenhereturnedhome,assuredthatshehaddestroyedherself,tohidehershameandhis,thathisoldheartbroke.’
Therewasashortsilencehere,untilMr.Brownlowtookupthethreadofthenarrative.
‘Yearsafterthis,’hesaid,‘thisman’s—EdwardLeeford’s—mothercametome.
Hehadlefther,whenonlyeighteen;robbedherofjewelsandmoney;gambled,squandered,forged,andfledtoLondon:wherefortwoyearshehadassociatedwiththelowestoutcasts.
Shewassinkingunderapainfulandincurabledisease,andwishedtorecoverhimbeforeshedied.
Inquiriesweresetonfoot,andstrictsearchesmade.
Theywereunavailingforalongtime,butultimatelysuccessful;andhewentbackwithhertoFrance.’
‘Thereshedied,’saidMonks,‘afteralingeringillness;and,onherdeath-bed,shebequeathedthesesecretstome,togetherwithherunquenchableanddeadlyhatredofallwhomtheyinvolved—thoughsheneednothaveleftmethat,forIhadinheriteditlongbefore.
Shewouldnotbelievethatthegirlhaddestroyedherself,andthechildtoo,butwasfilledwiththeimpressionthatamalechildhadbeenborn,andwasalive.
Isworetoher,ifeveritcrossedmypath,tohuntitdown;nevertoletitrest;topursueitwiththebitterestandmostunrelentinganimosity;toventuponitthehatredthatIdeeplyfelt,andtospitupontheemptyvauntofthatinsultingwillbydragginit,ifIcould,totheverygallows-foot.Shewasright.Hecameinmywayatlast.
Ibeganwell;and,butforbabblingdrabs,IwouldhavefinishedasIbegan!’
Asthevillainfoldedhisarmstighttogether,andmutteredcursesonhimselfintheimpotenceofbaffledmalice,Mr.Brownlowturnedtotheterrifiedgroupbesidehim,andexplainedthattheJew,whohadbeenhisoldaccompliceandconfidant,hadalargerewardforkeepingOliverensnared:ofwhichsomepartwastobegivenup,intheeventofhisbeingrescued:andthatadisputeonthisheadhadledtotheirvisittothecountryhouseforthepurposeofidentifyinghim.
‘Thelocketandring?’saidMr.Brownlow,turningtoMonks.
‘IboughtthemfromthemanandwomanItoldyouof,whostolethemfromthenurse,whostolethemfromthecorpse,’answeredMonkswithoutraisinghiseyes.‘Youknowwhatbecameofthem.’
Mr.BrownlowmerelynoddedtoMr.Grimwig,whodisappearingwithgreatalacrity,shortlyreturned,pushinginMrs.Bumble,anddraggingherunwillingconsortafterhim.
‘Domyhi’sdeceiveme!’criedMr.Bumble,withill-feignedenthusiasm,‘oristhatlittleOliver?OhO-li-ver,ifyouknow’dhowI’vebeena-grievingforyou—’
‘Holdyourtongue,fool,’murmuredMrs.Bumble.
‘Isn’tnatur,natur,Mrs.Bumble?’remonstratedtheworkhousemaster.
‘Can’tIbesupposedtofeel—Iasbroughthimupporochially—whenIseehima-settinghereamongladiesandgentlemenoftheveryaffablestdescription!
Ialwayslovedthatboyasifhe’dbeenmy—my—myowngrandfather,’saidMr.Bumble,haltingforanappropriatecomparison.
‘MasterOliver,mydear,youremembertheblessedgentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat?Ah!
hewenttoheavenlastweek,inaoakcoffinwithplatedhandles,Oliver.’
‘Come,sir,’saidMr.Grimwig,tartly;‘suppressyourfeelings.’
‘Iwilldomyendeavours,sir,’repliedMr.Bumble.‘Howdoyoudo,sir?Ihopeyouareverywell.’
ThissalutationwasaddressedtoMr.Brownlow,whohadsteppeduptowithinashortdistanceoftherespectablecouple.Heinquired,ashepointedtoMonks,
‘Doyouknowthatperson?’
‘No,’repliedMrs.Bumbleflatly.
‘Perhapsyoudon’t?’saidMr.Brownlow,addressingherspouse.
‘Ineversawhiminallmylife,’saidMr.Bumble.
‘Norsoldhimanything,perhaps?’
‘No,’repliedMrs.Bumble.
‘Youneverhad,perhaps,acertaingoldlocketandring?’saidMr.Brownlow.
‘Certainlynot,’repliedthematron.‘Whyarewebroughtheretoanswertosuchnonsenseasthis?’
AgainMr.BrownlownoddedtoMr.Grimwig;andagainthatgentlemanlimpedawaywithextraordinaryreadiness.
Butnotagaindidhereturnwithastoutmanandwife;forthistime,heledintwopalsiedwomen,whoshookandtotteredastheywalked.
‘YoushutthedoorthenightoldSallydied,’saidtheforemostone,raisinghershrivelledhand,‘butyoucouldn’tshutoutthesound,norstopthechinks.’
‘No,no,’saidtheother,lookingroundherandwagginghertoothlessjaws.‘No,no,no.’
‘Weheardhertrytotellyouwhatshe’ddone,andsawyoutakeapaperfromherhand,andwatchedyoutoo,nextday,tothepawnbroker’sshop,’saidthefirst.
‘Yes,’addedthesecond,‘anditwasa“locketandgoldring.”Wefoundoutthat,andsawitgivenyou.Wewereby.Oh!wewereby.’
‘Andweknowmorethanthat,’resumedthefirst,‘forshetoldusoften,longago,thattheyoungmotherhadtoldherthat,feelingsheshouldnevergetoverit,shewasonherway,atthetimethatshewastakenill,todienearthegraveofthefatherofthechild.’
‘Wouldyouliketoseethepawnbrokerhimself?’askedMr.Grimwigwithamotiontowardsthedoor.
‘No,’repliedthewoman;‘ifhe—shepointedtoMonks—’hasbeencowardenoughtoconfess,asIseehehas,andyouhavesoundedallthesehagstillyouhavefoundtherightones,Ihavenothingmoretosay.
Ididsellthem,andthey’rewhereyou’llnevergetthem.Whatthen?’
‘Nothing,’repliedMr.Brownlow,‘exceptthatitremainsforustotakecarethatneitherofyouisemployedinasituationoftrustagain.Youmayleavetheroom.’
‘Ihope,’saidMr.Bumble,lookingabouthimwithgreatruefulness,asMr.Grimwigdisappearedwiththetwooldwomen:‘Ihopethatthisunfortunatelittlecircumstancewillnotdeprivemeofmyporochialoffice?’
‘Indeeditwill,’repliedMr.Brownlow.‘Youmaymakeupyourmindtothat,andthinkyourselfwelloffbesides.’
‘ItwasallMrs.Bumble.Shewoulddoit,’urgedMr.Bumble;firstlookingroundtoascertainthathispartnerhadlefttheroom.
‘Thatisnoexcuse,’repliedMr.Brownlow.
‘Youwerepresentontheoccasionofthedestructionofthesetrinkets,andindeedarethemoreguiltyofthetwo,intheeyeofthelaw;forthelawsupposesthatyourwifeactsunderyourdirection.’
‘Ifthelawsupposesthat,’saidMr.Bumble,squeezinghishatemphaticallyinbothhands,‘thelawisaass—aidiot.
Ifthat’stheeyeofthelaw,thelawisabachelor;andtheworstIwishthelawis,thathiseyemaybeopenedbyexperience—byexperience.’
Layinggreatstressontherepetitionofthesetwowords,Mr.Bumblefixedhishatonverytight,andputtinghishandsinhispockets,followedhishelpmatedownstairs.
‘Younglady,’saidMr.Brownlow,turningtoRose,‘givemeyourhand.Donottremble.Youneednotfeartohearthefewremainingwordswehavetosay.’
‘Iftheyhave—Idonotknowhowtheycan,butiftheyhave—anyreferencetome,’saidRose,‘prayletmehearthematsomeothertime.Ihavenotstrengthorspiritsnow.’
‘Nay,’returnedtheoldgentlman,drawingherarmthroughhis;‘youhavemorefortitudethanthis,Iamsure.Doyouknowthisyounglady,sir?’
‘Yes,’repliedMonks.
‘Ineversawyoubefore,’saidRosefaintly.
‘Ihaveseenyouoften,’returnedMonks.
‘ThefatheroftheunhappyAgneshadtwodaughters,’saidMr.Brownlow.‘Whatwasthefateoftheother—thechild?’
‘Thechild,’repliedMonks,‘whenherfatherdiedinastrangeplace,inastrangename,withoutaletter,book,orscrapofpaperthatyieldedthefaintestcluebywhichhisfriendsorrelativescouldbetraced—thechildwastakenbysomewretchedcottagers,whoreareditastheirown.’
‘Goon,’saidMr.Brownlow,signingtoMrs.Maylietoapproach.‘Goon!’
‘Youcouldn’tfindthespottowhichthesepeoplehadrepaired,’saidMonks,‘butwherefriendshipfails,hatredwilloftenforceaway.
Mymotherfoundit,afterayearofcunningsearch—ay,andfoundthechild.’
‘Shetookit,didshe?’
‘No.Thepeoplewerepoorandbegantosicken—atleastthemandid—oftheirfinehumanity;sosheleftitwiththem,givingthemasmallpresentofmoneywhichwouldnotlastlong,andpromisedmore,whichshenevermeanttosend.
Shedidn’tquiterely,however,ontheirdiscontentandpovertyforthechild’sunhappiness,buttoldthehistoryofthesister’sshame,withsuchalterationsassuitedher;badethemtakegoodheedofthechild,forshecameofbadblood;andtoldthemshewasillegitimate,andsuretogowrongatonetimeorother.
Thecircumstancescountenancedallthis;thepeoplebelievedit;andtherethechilddraggedonanexistence,miserableenougheventosatisfyus,untilawidowlady,residing,then,atChester,sawthegirlbychance,pitiedher,andtookherhome.
Therewassomecursedspell,Ithink,againstus;forinspiteofalloureffortssheremainedthereandwashappy.
Ilostsightofher,twoorthreeyearsago,andsawhernomoreuntilafewmonthsback.’
‘Doyouseehernow?’
‘Yes.Leaningonyourarm.’
‘Butnotthelessmyniece,’criedMrs.Maylie,foldingthefaintinggirlinherarms;‘notthelessmydearestchild.
Iwouldnotlosehernow,forallthetreasuresoftheworld.Mysweetcompanion,myowndeargirl!’
‘TheonlyfriendIeverhad,’criedRose,clingingtoher.‘Thekindest,bestoffriends.Myheartwillburst.Icannotbearallthis.’
‘Youhavebornemore,andhavebeen,throughall,thebestandgentlestcreaturethatevershedhappinessoneveryonesheknew,’saidMrs.Maylie,embracinghertenderly.
‘Come,come,mylove,rememberwhothisiswhowaitstoclaspyouinhisarms,poorchild!Seehere—look,look,mydear!’
‘Notaunt,’criedOliver,throwinghisarmsaboutherneck;‘I’llnevercallheraunt—sister,myowndearsister,thatsomethingtaughtmyhearttolovesodearlyfromthefirst!Rose,dear,darlingRose!’
Letthetearswhichfell,andthebrokenwordswhichwereexchangedinthelongcloseembracebetweentheorphans,besacred.
Afather,sister,andmother,weregained,andlost,inthatonemoment.
Joyandgriefweremingledinthecup;buttherewerenobittertears:forevengriefitselfarosesosoftened,andclothedinsuchsweetandtenderrecollections,thatitbecameasolemnpleasure,andlostallcharacterofpain.
Theywerealong,longtimealone.Asofttapatthedoor,atlengthannouncedthatsomeonewaswithout.Oliveropenedit,glidedaway,andgaveplacetoHarryMaylie.
‘Iknowitall,’hesaid,takingaseatbesidethelovelygirl.‘DearRose,Iknowitall.’
‘Iamnotherebyaccident,’headdedafteralengthenedsilence;‘norhaveIheardallthisto-night,forIknewityesterday—onlyyesterday.
DoyouguessthatIhavecometoremindyouofapromise?’
‘Stay,’saidRose.‘Youdoknowall.’
‘All.Yougavemeleave,atanytimewithinayear,torenewthesubjectofourlastdiscourse.’
‘Idid.’
‘Nottopressyoutoalteryourdetermination,’pursuedtheyoungman,‘buttohearyourepeatit,ifyouwould.
IwastolaywhateverofstationorfortuneImightpossessatyourfeet,andifyoustilladheredtoyourformerdetermination,Ipledgedmyself,bynowordoract,toseektochangeit.’
‘Thesamereasonswhichinfluencedmethen,willinfluencemenow,’saidRosefirmly.
‘IfIeverowedastrictandrigiddutytoher,whosegoodnesssavedmefromalifeofindigenceandsuffering,whenshouldIeverfeelit,asIshouldto-night?
Itisastruggle,’saidRose,‘butoneIamproudtomake;itisapang,butonemyheartshallbear.’
‘Thedisclosureofto-night,’—Harrybegan.
‘Thedisclosureofto-night,’repliedRosesoftly,‘leavesmeinthesameposition,withreferencetoyou,asthatinwhichIstoodbefore.’
‘Youhardenyourheartagainstme,Rose,’urgedherlover.
‘OhHarry,Harry,’saidtheyounglady,burstingintotears;‘IwishIcould,andsparemyselfthispain.’
‘Thenwhyinflictitonyourself?’saidHarry,takingherhand.‘Think,dearRose,thinkwhatyouhaveheardto-night.’
‘AndwhathaveIheard!WhathaveIheard!’criedRose.‘Thatasenseofhisdeepdisgracesoworkeduponmyownfatherthatheshunnedall—there,wehavesaidenough,Harry,wehavesaidenough.’
‘Notyet,notyet,’saidtheyoungman,detainingherassherose.
‘Myhopes,mywishes,prospects,feeling:everythoughtinlifeexceptmyloveforyou:haveundergoneachange.
Iofferyou,now,nodistinctionamongabustlingcrowd;nominglingwithaworldofmaliceanddetraction,wherethebloodiscalledintohonestcheeksbyaughtbutrealdisgraceandshame;butahome—aheartandhome—yes,dearestRose,andthose,andthosealone,areallIhavetooffer.’
‘Whatdoyoumean!’shefaltered.
‘Imeanbutthis—thatwhenIleftyoulast,Ileftyouwithafirmdeterminationtolevelallfanciedbarriersbetweenyourselfandme;resolvedthatifmyworldcouldnotbeyours,Iwouldmakeyoursmine;thatnoprideofbirthshouldcurlthelipatyou,forIwouldturnfromit.ThisIhavedone.
Thosewhohaveshrunkfrommebecauseofthis,haveshrunkfromyou,andprovedyousofarright.
Suchpowerandpatronage:suchrelativesofinfluenceandrank:assmileduponmethen,lookcoldlynow;buttherearesmilingfieldsandwavingtreesinEngland’srichestcounty;andbyonevillagechurch—mine,Rose,myown!
—therestandsarusticdwellingwhichyoucanmakemeprouderof,thanallthehopesIhaverenounced,measuredathousandfold.
Thisismyrankandstationnow,andhereIlayitdown!’
******
‘It’satryingthingwaitingsupperforlovers,’saidMr.Grimwig,wakingup,andpullinghispocket-handkerchieffromoverhishead.
Truthtotell,thesupperhadbeenwaitingamostunreasonabletime.NeitherMrs.Maylie,norHarry,norRose(whoallcameintogether),couldofferawordinextenuation.
‘Ihadseriousthoughtsofeatingmyheadto-night,’saidMr.Grimwig,‘forIbegantothinkIshouldgetnothingelse.I’lltaketheliberty,ifyou’llallowme,ofsalutingthebridethatistobe.’
Mr.Grimwiglostnotimeincarryingthisnoticeintoeffectupontheblushinggirl;andtheexample,beingcontagious,wasfollowedbothbythedoctorandMr.Brownlow:somepeopleaffirmthatHarryMayliehadbeenobservedtosetit,originally,inadarkroomadjoining;butthebestauthoritiesconsiderthisdownrightscandal:hebeingyoungandaclergyman.
‘Oliver,mychild,’saidMrs.Maylie,‘wherehaveyoubeen,andwhydoyoulooksosad?Therearetearsstealingdownyourfaceatthismoment.Whatisthematter?’
Itisaworldofdisappointment:oftentothehopeswemostcherish,andhopesthatdoournaturethegreatesthonour.
PoorDickwasdead!
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