oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第66章

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scrap　of　paper；　“here　it　is；　here’s　where　he　lives—I’m　going　there　
directly！　Oh；　dear　me；　dear　me！　What　shall　I　do　when　I　come　to　see　
him　and　hear　him　speak　again！”　

With　her　attention　not　a　little　distracted　by　these　and　a　great　
many　other　incoherent　exclamations　of　joy；　Rose　read　the　address；　
which　was　Craven　Street；　in　the　Strand；　and　very　soon　determined　
upon　turning　the　discovery　to　account。　

“Quick！”　she　said；　“tell　them　to　fetch　a　hackney…coach；　and　be　
ready　to　go　with　me。　I　will　take　you　there　directly；　without　a　
moment’s　loss　of　time。　I　will　only　tell　my　aunt　that　we　are　going　
out　for　an　hour；　and　be　ready　as　soon　as　you　are。”　

Oliver　needed　no　prompting　to　despatch；　and　in　little　more　than　
five　minutes　they　were　on　their　way　to　Craven　Street。　When　they　

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arrived　there；　Rose　left　Oliver　in　the　coach；　under　pretence　of　
preparing　the　old　gentleman　to　receive　him；　and　sending　up　her　
card　by　the　servant；　requested　to　see　Mr。　Brownlow　on　very　
pressing　business。　The　servant　soon　returned；　to　beg　that　she　
would　walk　upstairs；　and　following　him　into　an　upper　room；　Miss　
Maylie　was　presented　to　an　elderly　gentleman　of　benevolent　
appearance；　in　a　bottle…green　coat。　At　no　great　distance　from　
whom；　was　seated　another　old　gentleman；　in　nankeen　breeches　
and　gaiters；　who　did　not　look　particularly　benevolent；　and　who　
was　sitting　with　his　hands　clasped　on　the　top　of　a　thick　stick；　and　
his　chin　propped　thereupon。　

“Dear　me；”　said　the　gentleman　in　the　bottle…green　coat；　hastily　
rising　with　great　politeness；　“I　beg　your　pardon；　young　lady—I　
imagined　it　was　some　importunate　person　who—I　beg　you　will　
excuse　me。　Be　seated；　pray。”　

“Mr。　Brownlow；　I　believe；　sir？”　said　Rose；　glancing　from　the　
other　gentleman　to　the　one　who　had　spoken。　

“That　is　my　name；”　said　the　old　gentleman。　“This　is　my　friend；　
Mr。　Grimwig。　Grimwig；　will　you　leave　us　for　a　few　minutes？”　

“I　believe；”　interposed　Miss　Maylie；　“that　at　this　period　of　our　
interview；　I　need　not　give　the　gentleman　the　trouble　of　going　away。　
If　I　am　correctly　informed；　he　is　cognisant　of　the　business　on　
which　I　wish　to　speak　to　you。”　

Mr。　Brownlow　inclined　his　head。　Mr。　Grimwig；　who　had　made　
one　very　stiff　bow；　and　risen　from　his　chair；　made　another　very　
stiff　bow；　and　dropped　into　it　again。　

“I　shall　surprise　you　very　much；　I　have　no　doubt；”　said　Rose；　
naturally　embarrassed；　“but　you　once　showed　great　benevolence　
and　goodness　to　a　very　dear　young　friend　of　mine；　and　I　am　sure　

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you　will　take　an　interest　in　hearing　of　him　again。”　

“Indeed！”　said　Mr。　Brownlow。　

“Oliver　Twist　you　knew　him　as；”　replied　Rose。　

The　words　no　sooner　escaped　her　lips；　than　Mr。　Grimwig；　who　
had　been　affecting　to　dip　into　a　large　book　that　lay　on　the　table；　
upset　it　with　a　great　crash；　and　falling　back　in　his　chair；　
discharged　from　his　features　every　expression　but　one　of　
unmitigated　wonder；　and　indulged　in　a　prolonged　and　vacant　
stare；　then；　as　if　ashamed　of　having　betrayed　so　much　emotion；　he　
jerked　himself；　as　it　were；　by　a　convulsion　into　his　former　attitude；　
and　looking　out　straight　before　him　emitted　a　long；　deep　whistle；　
which　seemed；　at　last；　not　to　be　discharged　on　empty　air；　but　to　die　
away　in　the　innermost　recesses　of　his　stomach。　

Mr。　Brownlow　was　no　less　surprised；　although　his　astonishment　
was　not　expressed　in　the　same　eccentric　manner。　He　drew　his　
chair　nearer　to　Miss　Maylie’s；　and　said：　

“Do　me　the　favour；　my　dear　young　lady；　to　leave　entirely　out　of　
the　question　that　goodness　and　benevolence　of　which　you　speak；　
and　of　which　nobody　else　knows　anything；　and　if　you　have　it　in　
your　power　to　produce　any　evidence　which　will　alter　the　
unfavourable　opinion　I　was　once　induced　to　entertain　of　that　poor　
child；　in　Heaven’s　name　put　me　in　possession　of　it。”　

“A　bad　one！　I’ll　eat　my　head　if　he　is　not　a　bad　one；”　growled　Mr。　
Grimwig；　speaking　by　some　ventriloquial　power；　without　moving　a　
muscle　of　his　face。　

“He　is　a　child　of　a　noble　nature　and　a　warm　heart；”　said　Rose；　
colouring；　“and　that　Power　which　has　thought　fit　to　try　him　
beyond　his　years；　has　planted　in　his　breast　affections　and　feelings　
which　would　do　honour　to　many　who　have　numbered　his　days　six　

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times　over。”　

“I’m　only　sixty…one；”　said　Mr。　Grimwig；　with　the　same　rigid　
face。　“And；　as　the　devil’s　in　it　if　this　Oliver　is　not　twelve　years　old　
at　least；　I　don’t　see　the　application　of　that　remark。”　

“Do　not　heed　my　friend；　Miss　Maylie；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　“he　
does　not　mean　what　he　says。”　

“Yes；　he　does；”　growled　Mr。　Grimwig。　

“No；　he　does　not；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　obviously　rising　in　wrath　
as　he　spoke。　

“He’ll　eat　his　head；　if　he　doesn’t；”　growled　Mr。　Grimwig。　

“He　would　deserve　to　have　it　knocked　off；　if　he　does；”　said　Mr。　
Brownlow。　

“And　he’d　uncommonly　like　to　see　any　man　offer　to　do　it；”　
responded　Mr。　Grimwig；　knocking　his　stick　upon　the　floor。　

Having　gone　thus　far；　the　two　old　gentleman　severally　took　
snuff；　and　afterwards　shook　hands；　according　to　their　invariable　
custom。　

“Now；　Miss　Maylie；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　“to　return　to　the　
subject　in　which　your　humanity　is　so　much　interested。　Will　you　let　
me　know　what　intelligence　you　have　of　this　poor　child；　allowing　
me　to　premise　that　I　exhausted　every　means　in　my　power　of　
discovering　him；　and　that　since　I　have　been　absent　from　this　
country；　my　first　impression　that　he　had　imposed　upon　me；　and　
had　been　persuaded　by　his　former　associates　to　rob　me；　has　been　
considerably　shaken。”　

Rose；　who　had　had　time　to　collect　her　thoughts；　at　once　related；　
in　a　few　natural　words；　all　that　had　befallen　Oliver　since　he　left　Mr。　
Brownlow’s　house；　reserving　Nancy’s　information　for　that　
gentleman’s　private　ear；　and　concluding　with　the　assurance　that　

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his　only　sorrow；　for　some　months　past；　had　been　the　not　being　able　
to　meet　with　his　former　benefactor　and　friend。　

“Thank　God！”　said　the　old　gentleman。　“This　is　great　happiness　
to　me—great　happiness。　But　you　have　not　told　me　where　he　is　
now；　Miss　Maylie。　You　must　pardon　my　finding　fault　with　you—　
but　why　not　have　brought　him？”　

“He　is　waiting　in　a　coach　at　the　door；”　replied　Rose。　

“At　this　door！”　cried　the　old　gentleman。　With　which　he　hurried　
out　of　the　room；　down　the　stairs；　up　the　coach　steps；　and　into　the　
coach；　without　another　word。　

When　the　room　door　closed　behind　him；　Mr。　Grimwig　lifted　up　
his　head；　and　converting　one　of　the　hind　legs　of　his　chair　into　a　
pivot；　described　three　distinct　circles　with　the　assistance　of　his　
stick　and　the　table；　sitting　in　it　all　the　time。　After　performing　this　
evolution；　he　rose　and　limped　as　fast　as　he　could　up　and　down　the　
room　at　least　a　dozen　times；　and　then　stopping　before　Rose；　kissed　
her　without　the　slightest　preface。　

“Hush！”　he　said；　as　the　young　lady　rose　in　some　alarm　at　this　
unusual　proceeding。　“Don’t　be　afraid。　I’m　old　enough　to　be　your　
grandfather。　You’re　a　sweet　girl。　I　like　you。　Here　they　are！”　

In　fact；　as　he　threw　himself　at　one　dextrous　dive　into　his　former　
seat；　Mr。　Brownlow　returned；　accompanied　by　Oliver；　whom　Mr。　
Grimwig　received　very　graciously；　and　if　the　gratification　of　that　
moment　had　been　the　only　reward　for　all　her　anxiety　and　care　in　
Oliver’s　behalf；　Rose　Maylie　would　have　been　well　repaid。　

“There　is　somebody　else　who　should　not　be　forgotten；　by　the　
bye；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　ringing　the　bell。　“Send　Mrs。　Bedwin　
here；　if　you　please。”　

The　old　housekeeper　answered　the　summons　with　all　despatch；　

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and　dropping　a　curtsey　at　the　door；　waited　for　orders。　

“Why；　you　get　blinder　every　day；　Bedwin；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　
rather　testily。　

“Well；　that　I　do；　sir；”　replied　the　old　lady。　“People’s　eyes；　at　my　
time　of　life；　don’t　improve　with　age；　sir。”　

“I　could　have　told　you　that；”　rejoined　Mr。　Brownlow；　“but　put　
on　your　glasses；　and　see　if　you　can’t　find　out　what　you　were　
wanted　for；　will　you？”　

The　old　lady　began　to　rummage　in　her　pocket　for　her　
spectacles。　But　Oliver’s　patience　was　not　proof　against　this　new　
trial；　and　yielding　to　his　first　impulse；　he　sprang　into　her　arms。　

“God　be　good　to　me！”　cried　the　old　lady；　embracing　him；　“it　is　
my　innocent　boy！”　

“My　dear　old　nurse！”　cried　Oliver。　

“He　would　come　back—I　knew　he　would；”　said　the　old　lady；　
holding　him　in　her　arms。　“How　well　he　looks；　and　how　like　a　
gentleman’s　son　he　is　dressed　again！　Where　have　you　been；　this　
long；　long　while？　Ah！　the　same　sweet　face；　but　not　so　pale；　the　
same　soft　eye；　but　not　so　sad。　I　have　never　forgotten　them；　or　his　
quiet　smile；　but　have　seen　them　every　day；　side　by　side　with　those　
of　my　own　dear　children；　dead　and　gone　since　I　was　a　lightsome　
young　creature。”　Running　on　thus；　and　now　holding　Oliver　from　
her　to　mark　how　he　had　grown；　now　clasping　him　to　her　and　
passing　her　fingers　fondly　through　his　hair；　the　good　soul　laughed　
and　wept　upon　his　neck　by　turns。　

Leaving　her　and　Oliver　to　compare　notes　at　leisure；　Mr。　
Brownlow　led　the　way　into　another　room；　and　there　heard　from　
Rose　a　full　narration　of　her　interview　with　Nancy；　which　
occasioned　him　no　little　surprise　and　perplexity。　Rose　also　

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explained　her　reasons　for　not　confiding　in　her　friend　Mr。　Losberne　
in　the　first　instance。　The　old　gentleman　considered　that　she　had　
acted　prudently；　and　readily　undertook　to　hold　solemn　conference　
with　the　worthy　doctor　himself。　To　afford　him　an　early　opportunity　
for　the　execution　of　this　design；　it　was　arranged　that　he　should　call　
at　the　hotel　at　eight　o’clock　that　evening；　and　that　in　the　meantime　
Mrs。　Maylie　should　be　cautiously　informed　of　all　that　had　
occurred。　These　preliminaries　adjusted；　Rose　and　Oliver　returned　
home。　

Rose　had　by　no　means　overrated　the　measure　of　the　good　
doctor’s　wrath。　Nancy’s　history　was　no　sooner　unfolded　to　him　
than　he　poured　forth　a　shower　of　mingled　threats　and　execrations；　
threatened　to　make　her　the　first　victim　of　the　combined　ingenuity　
of　Messrs。　Blathers　and　Duff；　and　actually　put　on　his　hat　
preparatory　to　sallying　forth　to　obtain　the　assistance　of　those　
worthies。　And；　doubtless；　he　would；　in　this　first　outbreak；　have　
carried　the　intention　into　effect　without　a　moment’s　consideration　
of　the　consequences；　if　he　had　not　been　restrained；　in　part；　by　
corresponding　violence　on　the　side　of　Mr。　Brownlow；　who　was　
himself　of　an　irascible　temperament；　and　partly　by　such　
arguments　and　representations　as　seemed　best　calculated　to　
dissuade　him　from　his　hot…brained　purpose。　

“Then　what　the　devil　is　to　be　done？”　said　the　impetuous　doctor；　
when　they　had　rejoined　the　two　ladies。　“Are　we　to　pass　a　vote　of　
thanks　to　all　these　vagabonds；　male　and　female；　and　beg　them　to　
accept