oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第87章

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what　they　wanted　there。　

“Steady；”　said　the　turnkey；　still　holding　him　down。　“Now；　sir；　
tell　him　what　you　want。　Quick；　if　you　please；　for　he　grows　worse　as　
the　time　gets　on。”　

‘‘You　have　some　papers；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　advancing；　
“which　were　placed　in　your　hands；　for　better　security；　by　a　man　
called　Monks。”　

“It’s　all　a　lie　together；”　replied　Fagin。　“I　haven’t　one—not　one。”　

“For　the　love　of　God；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow　solemnly；　“do　not　say　
that　now；　upon　the　very　verge　of　death；　but　tell　me　where　they　are。　
You　know　that　Sikes　is　dead；　that　Monks　has　confessed；　that　there　
is　no　hope　of　any　further　gain。　Where　are　those　papers？”　

“Oliver；”　cried　Fagin；　beckoning　to　him。　“Here；　here！　Let　me　
whisper　to　you。”　

“I　am　not　afraid；”　said　Oliver；　in　a　low　voice；　as　he　relinquished　
Mr。　Brownlow’s　hand。　

“The　papers；”　said　Fagin；　drawing　Oliver　towards　him；　“are　in　a　
canvas　bag；　in　a　hole　a　little　way　up　the　chimney　in　the　top　front　
room。　I　want　to　talk　to　you；　my　dear。　I　want　to　talk　to　you。”　

“Yes；　yes；”　returned　Oliver。　“Let　me　say　a　prayer。　Do！　Let　me　
say　one　prayer。　Say　only　one　upon　your　knees；　with　me；　and　we　
will　talk　till　morning。”　

“Outside；　outside；”　replied　Fagin；　pushing　the　boy　before　him　
towards　the　door；　and　looking　vacantly　over　his　head。　“Say　I’ve　
gone　to　sleep—they’ll　believe　you。　You　can　get　me　out；　if　you　take　
me　so。　Now　then；　now　then！”　

“Oh！　God　forgive　this　wretched　man！”　cried　the　boy；　with　a　
burst　of　tears。　

“That’s　right；　that’s　right；”　said　Fagin。　“That’ll　help　us　on。　This　

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door　first。　If　I　shake　and　tremble；　as　we　pass　the　gallows；　don’t　you　

mind；　but　hurry　on。　Now；　now；　now！”　

“Have　you　nothing　else　to　ask　him；　sir？”　inquired　the　turnkey。　

“No　other　question；”　replied　Mr。　Brownlow。　“If　I　hoped　we　
could　recall　him　to　a　sense　of　his　position”—　

“Nothing　will　do　that；　sir；”　replied　the　man；　shaking　his　head。　
“You　had　better　leave　him。”　

The　door　of　the　cell　opened；　and　the　attendants　returned。　

“Press　on；　press　on；”　cried　Fagin。　“Softly；　but　not　so　slow。　
Faster；　faster！”　

The　men　laid　hands　upon　him；　and　disengaging　Oliver　from　his　
grasp；　held　him　back。　He　struggled　with　the　power　of　desperation；　
for　an　instant；　and　then　sent　up　cry　upon　cry　that　penetrated　even　
those　massive　walls；　and　rang　in　their　ears　until　they　reached　the　
open　yard。　

It　was　some　time　before　they　left　the　prison。　Oliver　nearly　
swooned　after　this　frightful　scene；　and　was　so　weak　that　for　an　
hour　or　more；　he　had　not　the　strength　to　walk。　

Day　was　dawning　when　they　again　emerged。　A　great　multitude　
had　already　assembled；　the　windows　were　filled　with　people；　
smoking　and　playing　cards　to　beguile　the　time；　the　crowd　were　
pushing；　quarrelling；　joking。　Everything　told　of　life　and　animation；　
but　one　dark　cluster　of　objects　in　the　centre　of　all—the　black　stage；　
the　cross…beam；　the　rope；　and　all　the　hideous　apparatus　of　death。　

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Chapter　53　

And　Last。　

The　fortunes　of　those　who　have　figured　in　this　tale　are　
nearly　closed。　The　little　that　remains　to　their　historian　to　
relate；　is　told　in　few　and　simple　words。　

Before　three　months　had　passed；　Rose　Fleming　and　Harry　
Maylie　were　married　in　the　village　church　which　was　henceforth　
to　be　the　scene　of　the　young　clergyman’s　labours；　on　the　same　day　
they　entered　into　possession　of　their　new　and　happy　home。　

Mrs。　Maylie　took　up　her　abode　with　her　son　and　daughter…inlaw；　to　enjoy；　during　the　tranquil　remainder　of　her　days；　the　
greatest　felicity　that　age　and　worth　can　know—the　contemplation　
of　the　happiness　of　those　on　whom　the　warmest　affections　and　
tenderest　cares　of　a　well…spent　life　have　been　unceasingly　
bestowed。　

It　appeared；　on　full　and　careful　investigation；　that　if　the　wreck　
of　property　remaining　in　the　custody　of　Monks　（which　had　never　
prospered　either　in　his　hands　or　in　those　of　his　mother）　were　
equally　divided　between　himself　and　Oliver；　it　would　yield；　to　
each；　little　more　than　three　thousand　pounds。　By　the　provisions　of　
his　father’s　will；　Oliver　would　have　been　entitled　to　the　whole；　but　
Mr。　Brownlow；　unwilling　to　deprive　the　elder　son　of　the　
opportunity　of　retrieving　his　former　vices　and　pursuing　an　honest　
career；　proposed　this　mode　of　distribution；　to　which　his　young　
charge　joyfully　acceded。　

Monks；　still　bearing　that　assumed　name；　retired　with　his　

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portion　to　a　distant　part　of　the　New　World；　where；　having　quickly　
squandered　it；　he　once　more　fell　into　his　old　courses；　and；　after　
undergoing　a　long　confinement　for　some　fresh　act　of　fraud　and　
knavery；　at　length　sank　under　an　attack　of　his　old　disorder；　and　
died　in　prison。　As　far　from　home；　died　the　chief　remaining　
members　of　his　friend　Fagin’s　gang。　

Mr。　Brownlow　adopted　Oliver　as　his　son。　Removing　with　him　
and　the　old　housekeeper　to　within　a　mile　of　the　parsonage　house；　
where　his　dear　friends　resided；　he　gratified　the　only　remaining　
wish　of　Oliver’s　warm　and　earnest　heart；　and　thus　linked　together　
a　little　society；　whose　condition　approached　as　nearly　to　one　of　
perfect　happiness　as　can　ever　be　known　in　this　changing　world。　

Soon　after　the　marriage　of　the　young　people；　the　worthy　doctor　
returned　to　Chertsey；　where；　bereft　of　the　presence　of　his　old　
friends；　he　would　have　been　discontented　if　his　temperament　had　
admitted　of　such　a　feeling；　and　would　have　turned　quite　peevish　if　
he　had　known　how。　For　two　or　three　months；　he　contented　himself　
with　hinting　that　he　feared　the　air　began　to　disagree　with　him；　
then；　finding　that　the　place　really　no　longer　was；　to　him；　what　it　
had　been；　he　settled　his　business　on　his　assistant；　took　a　bachelor’s　
cottage　outside　the　village　of　which　his　young　friend　was　pastor；　
and　instantaneously　recovered。　Here；　he　took　to　gardening；　
planting；　fishing；　carpentering；　and　various　other　pursuits　of　a　
similar　kind；　all　undertaken　with　his　characteristic　impetuosity；　
and　in　each　and　all；　he　has　since　become　famous　throughout　the　
neighbourhood；　as　a　most　profound　authority。　

Before　his　removal；　he　had　managed　to　contract　a　strong　
friendship　for　Mr。　Grimwig；　which　that　eccentric　gentleman　
cordially　reciprocated。　He　is　accordingly　visited　by　Mr。　Grimwig　a　

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great　many　times　in　the　course　of　the　year。　On　all　such　occasions；　
Mr。　Grimwig　plants；　fishes；　and　carpenters；　with　great　ardour；　
doing　everything　in　a　very　singular　and　unprecedented　manner；　
but　always　maintaining　with　his　favourite　asseveration；　that　his　
mode　is　the　right　one　On　Sundays；　he　never　fails　to　criticise　the　
sermon　to　the　young　clergyman’s　face；　always　informing　Mr。　
Losberne；　in　strict　confidence　afterwards；　that　he　considers　it　an　
excellent　performance；　but　deems　it　as　well　not　to　say　so。　It　is　a　
standing　and　very　favourite　joke　for　Mr。　Brownlow　to　rally　him　on　
his　old　prophecy　concerning　Oliver；　and　to　remind　him　of　the　
night　on　which　they　sat　with　the　watch　between　them；　waiting　his　
return；　but　Mr。　Grimwig　contends　that　he　was　right　in　the　main；　
and；　in　proof　thereof；　remarks　that　Oliver　did　not　come　back；　after　
all；　which　always　calls　forth　a　laugh　on　his　side；　and　increases　his　
good…humour。　

Mr。　Noah　Claypole；　receiving　a　free　pardon　from　the　Crown　in　
consequence　of　being　admitted　approver　against　Fagin；　and　
considering　his　profession　not　altogether　as　safe　a　one　as　he　could　
wish；　was；　for　some　little　time；　at　a　loss　for　the　means　of　a　
livelihood；　not　burdened　with　too　much　work。　After　some　
consideration；　he　went　into　business　as　an　informer；　in　which　
calling　he　realises　a　genteel　subsistence。　His　plan　is　to　walk　out　
once　a　week　during　church　time　attended　by　Charlotte　in　
respectable　attire。　The　lady　faints　away　at　the　doors　of　charitable　
publicans；　and　the　gentleman　being　accommodated　with　
threepennyworth　of　brandy　to　restore　her；　lays　an　information　
next　day；　and　pockets　half　the　penalty。　Sometimes；　Mr。　Claypole　
faints　himself；　but　the　result　is　the　same。　

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Bumble；　deprived　of　their　situations；　were　

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gradually　reduced　to　great　indigence　and　misery；　and　finally　
became　paupers　in　that　very　same　workhouse　in　which　they　had　
once　lorded　it　over　others。　Mr。　Bumble　has　been　heard　to　say；　that　
in　this　reverse　and　degradation；　he　has　not　even　spirits　to　be　
thankful　for　being　separated　from　his　wife。　

As　to　Mr。　Giles　and　Brittles；　they　still　remain　in　their　old　posts；　
although　the　former　is　bald；　and　the　last…named　boy　quite　grey。　
They　sleep　at　the　parsonage；　but　divide　their　attentions　so　equally　
among　its　inmates；　and　Oliver；　and　Mr。　Brownlow；　and　Mr。　
Losberne；　that　to　this　day　the　villagers　have　never　been　able　to　
discover　to　which　establishment　they　properly　belong。　

Master　Charles　Bates；　appalled　by　Sikes’s　crime；　fell　into　a　train　
of　reflection　whether　an　honest　life　was　not；　after　all；　the　best。　
Arriving　at　the　conclusion　that　it　certainly　was；　he　turned　his　back　
upon　the　scenes　of　the　past；　resolved　to　amend　it　in　some　new　
sphere　of　action。　He　struggled　hard；　and　suffered　much；　for　some　
time；　but；　having　a　contented　disposition；　and　a　good　purpose；　
succeeded　in　the　end；　and；　from　being　a　farmer’s　drudge；　and　a　
carrier’s　lad；　he　is　now　the　merriest　young　grazier　in　all　
Northamptonshire。　

And　now；　the　hand　that　traces　these　words；　falters；　as　it　
approaches　the　conclusion　of　its　task；　and　would　weave；　for　a　little　
longer　space；　the　threads　of　these　adventures。　

I　would　fain　linger　yet　with　a　few　of　those　among　whom　I　have　
so　long　moved；　and　share　their　happiness　by　endeavouring　to　
depict　it。　I　would　show　Rose　Maylie　in　all　the　bloom　and　grace　of　
early　womanhood；　shedding　on　her　secluded　path　in　life　soft　and　
gentle　light；　that　fell　on　all　who　trod　it　with　her；　and　shone　into　
their　hearts。　I　would　paint　her　the　life　and　joy　of　the　fireside　circle　

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and　the　lively　summer　group；　I　would　follow　her　through　the　
sultry　fields　at　noon；　and　hear　the　low　tones　of　her　sweet　voice　in　
the　moonlit　evening　walk；　I　would　watch　her　in　all　her　goodness　
and　charity　abroad；　and　the　smiling；　untiring　discharge　of　
domestic　duties　at　home；　I　would　paint　her　and　her　dead　sister’s　
child　happy　in　their　love　for　one　another；　and　passing　whole　hours　
together　in　picturing　the　friends　whom　they　had　so　sadly　lost；　I　
would　summon　before　me；　once　again；　those　joyous　little　faces　that　
clustered　round　her　knee；　and　listen　to　their　merry　prattle；　I　would　
recall　the　tones　of　that　clear　laugh；　and　conjure　up　the　
sympathising　tear　that　glistened　in　the　soft　blue　eye。　These；　and　a　
thousand　looks　and　smiles；　and　turns　of　thought　and　speech—I　
would　fain　recall　them　every　one。　

How　Mr。　Brownlow　went　on；　from　day　to　day；　filling　the　mind　of　
his　adopted　child　wit