oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第65章

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“He　spoke　in　hard　and　angry　earnest；　if　a　man　ever　did；”　
replied　the　girl；　shaking　her　head。　“He　is　an　earnest　man　when　his　
hatred　is　up。　I　know　many　who　do　worse　things；　but　I’d　rather　
listen　to　them　all　a　dozen　times；　than　to　that　Monks　once。　It　is　
growing　late；　and　I　have　to　reach　home　without　suspicion　of　
having　been　on　such　an　errand　as　this。　I　must　get　back　quickly。”　

“But　what　can　I　do？”　said　Rose。　“To　what　use　can　I　turn　this　
communication　without　you？　Back！　Why　do　you　wish　to　return　to　
companions　you　paint　in　such　terrible　colours？　If　you　repeat　this　
information　to　a　gentleman　whom　I　can　summon　in　an　instant　

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from　the　next　room；　you　can　be　consigned　to　some　place　of　safety　
without　half　an　hour’s　delay。”　

“I　wish　to　go　back；”　said　the　girl。　“I　must　go　back；　because—　
how　can　I　tell　such　things　to　an　innocent　lady　like　you？—because　
among　the　men　I　have　told　you　of；　there　is　one—the　most　
desperate　among　them　all—that　I　can’t　leave；　no；　not　even　to　be　
saved　from　the　life　I　am　leading　now。”　

“Your　having　interfered　in　this　dear　boy’s　behalf　before；”　said　
Rose；　“your　coming　here；　at　so　great　a　risk；　to　tell　me　what　you　
have　heard；　your　manner；　which　convinces　me　of　the　truth　of　what　
you　say；　your　evident　contrition　and　sense　of　shame；　all　lead　me　to　
believe　that　you　might　be　yet　reclaimed。　Oh！”　said　the　earnest　girl；　
folding　her　hands　as　the　tears　coursed　down　her　face；　“do　not　turn　
a　deaf　ear　to　the　entreaties　of　one　of　your　own　sex；　the　first—the　
first；　I　do　believe；　who　ever　appealed　to　you　in　the　voice　of　pity　and　
compassion。　Do　hear　my　words；　and　let　me　save　you　yet；　for　better　
things。”　

“Lady；”　cried　the　girl；　sinking　on　her　knees；　“dear；　sweet　angel…
lady；　you　are　the　first　that　ever　blessed　me　with　such　words　as　
these；　and　if　I　had　heard　them　years　ago；　they　might　have　turned　
me　from　a　life　of　sin　and　sorrow；　but　it　is　too　late—it　is　too　late！”　

“It　is　never　too　late；”　said　Rose；　“for　penitence　and　atonement。”　

“It　is；”　cried　the　girl；　writhing　in　the　agony　of　her　mind；　“I　
cannot　leave　him　now！　I　could　not　be　his　death！”　

“Why　should　you　be？”　asked　Rose。　

“Nothing　could　save　him；”　cried　the　girl。　“If　I　told　others　what　I　
have　told　you；　and　led　to　their　being　taken；　he　would　be　sure　to　
die。　He　is　the　boldest；　and　has　been　so　cruel！”　

“Is　it　possible；”　cried　Rose；　“that　for　such　a　man　as　this；　you　can　

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resign　every　future　hope；　and　the　certainty　of　immediate　rescue？　
It　is　madness。”　

“I　don’t　know　what　it　is；”　answered　the　girl；　“I　only　know　that　it　
is　so；　and　not　with　me　alone；　but　with　hundreds　of　others　as　bad　
and　wretched　as　myself。　I　must　go　back。　Whether　it　is　God’s　wrath　
for　the　wrong　I　have　done；　I　do　not　know；　but　I　am　drawn　back　to　
him　through　every　suffering　and　ill…usage；　and　I　should　be；　I　
believe；　if　I　know　that　I　was　to　die　by　his　hand　at　last。”　

“What　am　I　to　do？”　said　Rose。　“I　should　not　let；　you　depart　from　
me　thus。”　

“You　should；　lady；　and　I　know　you　will；”　rejoined　the　girl；　
rising。　“You　will　not　stop　my　going　because　I　have　trusted　in　your　
goodness；　and　forced　no　promise　from　you；　as　I　might　have　done。”　

“Of　what　use；　then；　is　the　communication　you　have　made？”　said　
Rose。　“This　mystery　must　be　investigated；　or　how　will　its　
disclosure　to　me　benefit　Oliver；　whom　you　are　anxious　to　serve？”　

“You　must　have　some　kind　of　gentleman　about　you　that　will　
hear　it　as　a　secret；　and　advise　you　what　to　do；”　rejoined　the　girl。　

“But　where　can　I　find　you　again　when　it　is　necessary？”　asked　
Rose。　“I　do　not　seek　to　know　where　these　dreadful　people　live；　but　
where　will　you　be　walking　or　passing　at　any　settled　period　from　
thus　time？”　

“Will　you　promise　me　that　you　will　have　my　secret　strictly　kept；　
and　come　alone；　or　with　the　only　other　person　that　knows　it；　and　
that　I　shall　not　be　watched　or　followed？”　asked　the　girl。　

“I　promise　you　solemnly；”　answered　Rose。　

“Every　Sunday　night；　from　eleven　until　the　clock　strikes　
twelve；”　said　the　girl　without　hesitation；　“I　will　walk　on　London　
Bridge；　if　I　am　alive。”　

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“Stay　another　moment；”　interposed　Rose；　as　the　girl　moved　
hurriedly　towards　the　door。　“Think　once　again　on　your　own　
condition；　and　the　opportunity　you　have　of　escaping　from　it。　You　
have　a　claim　on　me；　not　only　as　the　voluntary　bearer　of　this　
intelligence；　but　as　a　woman　lost　almost　beyond　redemption。　Will　
you　return　to　this　gang　of　robbers；　and　to　this　man；　when　a　word　
can　save　you？　What　fascination　is　it　that　can　take　you　back；　and　
make　you　cling　to　wickedness　and　misery？　Oh！　is　there　no　chord　
in　your　heart　that　I　can　touch！　Is　there　nothing　left；　to　which　I　can　
appeal　against　this　terrible　infatuation！　

“When　ladies　as　young；　and　good；　and　beautiful　as　you　are；”　
replied　the　girl　steadily；　“give　away　your　hearts；　love　will　carry　you　
all　lengths—even　such　as　you；　who　have　a　home；　friends；　other　
admirers；　everything；　to　fill　them。　When　such　as　I；　who　have　no　
certain　roof　but　the　coffin…lid；　and　no　friend　in　sickness　or　death　
but　the　hospital　nurse；　set　our　rotten　hearts　on　any　man；　and　let　
him　fill　the　place　that　has　been　a　blank　through　all　our　wretched　
lives；　who　can　hope　to　cure　us？　Pity　us；　lady—pity　us　for　having　
only　one　feeling　of　the　woman　left；　and　for　having　that　turned；　by　a　
heavy　judgement；　from　a　comfort　and　a　pride；　into　a　new　means　of　
violence　and　suffering。”　

“You　will；”　said　Rose；　after　a　pause；　“take　some　money　from　
me；　which　may　enable　you　to　live　without　dishonesty—at　all　
events　until　we　meet　again。”　

“Not　a　penny；”　replied　the　girl；　waving　her　hand。　

“Do　not　close　your　heart　against　all　my　efforts　to　help　you；”　said　
Rose；　stepping　gently　forward。　“I　wish　to　serve　you　indeed。”　

“You　would　serve　me　best；　lady；”　replied　the　girl；　wringing　her　
hands；　“if　you　could　take　my　life　at　once；　for　I　have　felt　more　grief　

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to　think　of　what　I　am；　tonight；　than　I　ever　did　before；　and　it　would　
be　something　not　to　die　in　the　hell　in　which　I　have　lived。　God　bless　
you；　sweet　lady；　and　send　as　much　happiness　on　your　head　as　I　
have　brought　shame　on　mine！”　

Thus　speaking；　and　sobbing　aloud；　the　unhappy　creature　
turned　away；　while　Rose　Maylie；　overpowered　by　this　
extraordinary　interview；　which　had　more　the　semblance　of　a　rapid　
dream　than　an　actual　occurrence；　sank　into　a　chair　and　
endeavoured　to　collect　her　wandering　

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Chapter　41　

Containing　Fresh　Discoveries；　And　Showing　That
Surprises；　Like　Misfortunes；　Seldom　Come　Alone。


Her　situation　was；　indeed；　one　of　no　common　trial　and　
difficulty。　While　she　felt　the　most　eager　and　burning　
desire　to　penetrate　the　mystery　in　which　Oliver’s　history　
was　enveloped；　she　could　not　but　hold　sacred　the　confidence　
which　the　miserable　woman　with　whom　she　had　just　conversed；　
had　reposed　in　her；　as　a　young　and　guileless　girl。　Her　words　and　
manner　had　touched　Rose　Maylie’s　heart；　and；　mingled　with　her　
love　for　her　young　charge；　and　scarcely　less　intense　in　its　truth　
and　fervour；　was　her　fond　wish　to　win　the　outcast　back　to　
repentance　and　hope。　

They　purposed　remaining　in　London　only　three　days；　prior　to　
departing　for　some　weeks　to　a　distant　part　of　the　coast。　It　was　now　
midnight　of　the　first　day。　What　course　of　action　could　she　
determine　upon；　which　could　be　adopted　in　eight…and…forty　hours？　
Or　how　could　she　postpone　the　journey　without　exciting　
suspicion？　

Mr。　Losberne　was　with　them；　and　would　be　for　the　next　two　
days；　but　Rose　was　too　well　acquainted　with　the　excellent　
gentleman’s　impetuosity；　and　foresaw　too　clearly　the　wrath　with　
which；　in　the　first　explosion　of　his　indignation；　he　would　regard　
the　instrument　of　Oliver’s　recapture；　to　trust　him　with　the　secret；　
when　her　representations　in　the　girl’s　behalf　could　be　seconded　by　
no　experienced　person。　These　were　all　reasons　for　the　greatest　

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caution　and　most　circumspect　behaviour　in　communicating　it　to　
Mrs。　Maylie；　whose　first　impulse　would　infallibly　be　to　hold　a　
conference　with　the　worthy　doctor　on　the　subject。　As　to　resorting　
to　any　legal　adviser；　even　if　she　had　known　how　to　do　so；　it　was　
scarcely　to　be　thought　of；　for　the　same　reasons。　Once　the　thought　
occurred　to　her　of　seeking　assistance　from　Harry；　but　this　
awakened　the　recollection　of　their　last　parting；　and　it　seemed　
unworthy　of　her　to　call　him　back；　when—the　tears　rose　to　her　eyes　
as　she　pursued　this　train　of　reflection—he　might　have　by　this　time　
learned　to　forget　her；　and　to　be　happier　away。　

Disturbed　by　these　different　reflections；　inclining　now　to　one　
course　and　then　to　another；　and　again　recoiling　from　all；　as　each　
successive　consideration　presented　itself　to　her　mind；　Rose　passed　
a　sleepless　and　anxious　night。　After　more　communing　with　herself　
next　day；　she　arrived　at　the　desperate　conclusion　of　consulting　
Harry。　

“If　it　be　painful　to　him；”　she　thought；　“to　come　back　here；　how　
painful　it　will　be　to　me！　But　perhaps　he　will　not　come；　he　may　
write；　or　he　may　come　himself；　and　studiously　abstain　from　
meeting　me—he　did　when　he　went　away。　I　hardly　thought　he　
would；　but　it　was　better　for　us　both。”　And　here　Rose　dropped　the　
pen；　and　turned　away；　as　though　the　very　paper　which　was　to　be　
her　messenger　should　not　see　her　weep。　

She　had　taken　up　the　same　pen；　and　laid　it　down　again　fifty　
times；　and　had　considered　and　reconsidered　the　first　line　of　her　
letter　without　writing　the　first　word；　when　Oliver；　who　had　been　
walking　in　the　streets；　with　Mr。　Giles　for　a　bodyguard；　entered　the　
room　in　such　breathless　haste　and　violent　agitation；　as　seemed　to　
betoken　some　new　cause　of　alarm。　

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“What　makes　you　look　so　hurried？”　asked　Rose；　advancing　to　
meet　him。　

“I　hardly　know　how；　I　feel　as　if　I　should　be　choked；”　replied　the　
boy。　“Oh；　dear！　To　think　that　I　should　see　him　at　last；　and　you　
should　be　able　to　know　that　I　have　told　you　all　the　truth！”　

“I　never　thought　you　had　told　us　anything　but　the　truth；”　said　
Rose；　soothing　him。　“But　what　is　this？—of　whom　do　you　speak？”　

“I　have　seen　the　gentleman；”　replied　Oliver；　scarcely　able　to　
articulate；　“the　gentleman　who　was　so　good　to　me—Mr。　Brownlow；　
that　we　have　so　often　talked　about。”　

“Where？”　asked　Rose。　

“Getting　out　of　a　coach；”　replied　Oliver；　shedding　tears　of　
delight；　“and　going　into　a　house。　I　didn’t　speak　to　him—I　couldn’t　
speak　to　him；　for　he　didn’t　see　me；　and　I　trembled　so；　that　I　was　
not　able　to　go　up　to　him。　But　Giles　asked；　for　me；　whether　he　lived　
there；　and　they　said　he　did。　Look　here；”　said　Oliver；　opening　a　
scrap　of　paper；　“here　it　is；　here’s　where　he　lives—I’m　going　there　
directly！　Oh；　dear　me