雾都孤儿-第8章

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dly。　'Here's　the　thief！　I　shot　him　last　night！　'

A　young　lady　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　'What's　going　on　here？　Quiet；　please！　Is　this　poor　boy　very　hurt？　'

'Very；　'said　the　servant；　proudly。　

'The　n　one　of　you　go　to　town　as　fast　as　you　can　and　fetch　a　policeman　and　Dr　　Losberne。　The　rest　of　you；　help　to　carry　the　boy　upstairs　and　put　him　to　bed。　Treat　him　kindly；　I　beg　you。　'



　



9　　O　liver　starts　another　life

　　

In　a　comfortable；　pleasant　sitting－room；　the　two　ladies　of　the　house　waited　anxiously　for　the　doctor　and　the　police　to　arrive。　The　owner　of　the　house；　Mrs　May　lie；　was　an　older　woman；　but　her　niece；　Rose；　was　a　girl　of　seventeen；　whose　quiet　beauty　and　gentle　charm　won　all　hearts。　

As　soon　as　the　doctor　arrived；　he　ran　breathlessly　into　the　house　and　burst　into　the　room　without　knocking。　He　was　clearly　a　good　friend　of　the　ladies。　

'I　never　heard　of　such　a　dreadful　thing！　You　should　both　be　dead　of　fright！　he　　said　to　Mrs　May　lie。　'In　the　silence　of　the　night；　too！　Are　you　both　all　right？　Why　didn't　you　send　for　me　at　once？　'

'We　are　quite　all　right；　said　Rose；　smiling。　'But　the　re's　an　injured　boy　upstairs　whom　aunt　wants　you　to　see。　'　

Dr　Losberne　went　up　to　examine　O　liver；　and　was　the　re　for　some　time　He　came　down　looking　rather　puzzled；　and　asked　the　two　ladies　to　see　the　boy　with　him。　

'I　can　promise　you　the　re's　nothing　very　frightening　about　him；　'he　said。　

Instead　of　the　evil－looking　robber　They　expected　to　see；　the　two　ladies　found　only　a　pale；　thin　child；　lying　peacefully　asleep。　

He　looked　to　innocent　that　Mrs　May　lie　said；　'This　child　could　never　have　been　in　a　gang　of　robbers！　'

'It　certainly　seems　strange；　agreed　the　doctor；　'but　wickedness　can　hide　behind　the　most　gentle　face；　you　know。　'

'But　he's　so　young；　too！　'　cried　Rose。　'Can　you　really　believe　this　poor　boy　is　a　criminal？　Oh；　Dr　Losberne；　and　my　dear　aunt；　I　beg　you　both　to　have　pity　on　him。　'

Mrs　May　lie　did　not　need　persuading；　and　the　doctor　could　not　resist　Rose's　tears。　He　had；　in　fact；　an　extremely　kind　heart；　which　he　tried　to　hide　behind　a　quick；　fierce　manner…　though　this　usually　deceived　no　one。　

'Well；　what's　to　be　done；　the　n？　'　he　said　quickly。　'We'll　have　the　police　here　at　any　moment；　ready　to　take　the　boy　away　and　throw　him　into　prison！　'

Rose　begged　him　to　think　of　a　plan；　and　the　doctor　thought　hard　for　a　few　minutes；　frowning　fiercely。　At　last　he　said；　

'I've　got　it！　'　　and　rubbed　his　hand　s　together　in　satisfaction。　

A　little　later；　O　liver　woke　up　and　was　very　anxious　to　tell　his　story；　although　he　had　lost　a　lot　of　blood　and　was　very　weak。　　When　the　doctor　and　the　ladies　had　heard　all　about　his　sad　life；　They　were　quite　sure　that　They　wanted　to　save　O　liver　from　　any　　　unfair　　　punishment。　So　　Dr　　Losberne　　　went　　　down　　　to　the　kitchen　to　talk　to　the　three　servants　who　had　surprised　Sikes　and　O　liver　during　the　robbery。　　The　doctor　folded　his　arms　and　gave　the　men　a　long；　hard　stare。　

'Tell　　me；　'　he　　began；　can　　you　　be　　absolutely　　sure　　that　　the　boy　upstairs　is　the　same　one　that　was　in　the　house　last　night？　Well？　'

The　doctor；　usually　such　a　friendly　man；　seemed　so　angry　that　the　servants　stared　at　him；　open…mouthed。　The　doctor　

gave　the　m　no　time　to　think；　and　went　on　fiercely；　

　‘Three　men　see　a　boy　for　about　a　second　in　the　dark；　in　the　middle　of　a　lot　of　smoke　and　noise。　A　boy　comes　to　the　same　house　the　next　day　and　because　one　arm　is　injured；　They　think　he　must　be　the　robber。　　Are　you　going　to　swear　that　this　is　the　same　boy？　Well？　What　do　you　say？　'　he　finished　impatiently。　

The　servants　looked　at　each　other　in　great　confusion。　

Suddenly　　the　re　　was　　a　　ring　　at　　the　　gate；　the　　police　　officers　　had　finally　arrived。　　Dr　Losberne　gave　orders　that　plenty　of　beer　should　be　served　before　the　officers　went　up　to　see　O　liver。　He　also　made　sure　that　the　servants　had　a　generous　amount　of　beer；　too。　

When　the　Officers　were　finally　allowed　to　see　O　liver；　Dr　Losberne　said；　'This　is　a　boy　who　was　shot　this　morning　while　walking　on　a　farmer's　property　where　he　shouldn't　have　been。　The　servants　saw　him　and　immediately　thought　he　must　be　the　same　boy　from　last　night。　But　now　They　say　They're　sure　it's　not　the　same　boy。　'

The　servants　were　by　now　so　confused　by　beer　and　excitement　that　They　were　not　sure　of　anything　at　all．　The　robbers　had　certainly　had　a　boy　with　the　m；　They　said；　but　whether　this　boy　was　the　same　boy…　　well；　it　seemed　very　doubtful。　The　police；　too；　had　drunk　quite　a　lot　of　beer　by　now；　and　before　long　They　were　very　willing　to　believe　that　O　liver　was　not　the　robber　of　the　night　before。　They　had　their　own　ideas　about　who　committed　all　the　robberies　in　the　area；　and　O　liver　was　unknown　to　the　m。　

At　last　the　police　left；　and　O　liver　was　allowed　to　recover　in　　the　kind　care　of　Mrs　May　lie；　Rose；　and　Dr　Losberne。　It　was　several　weeks　before　he　was　well　enough　to　get　out　of　bed。　But　the　n　he　quickly　grew　stronger；　and　every　day　told　his　rescuers　how　grateful　he　was。　One　thing；　however；　caused　him　unhappiness。　He　wanted　to　find　Mr　　Brown　low　；　the　kind　old　man　who　had　looked　after　him　in　London。　'Mr　　Brown　low　　would　be　pleased　to　know　how　happy　I　am　now；　'he　said。　So　when　Dr　Losberne　offered　to　take　O　liver　to　London　to　see　Mr　　Brown　low　；　the　boy　was　very　pleased。　

They　set　out　by　coach　one　fine　morning；　and　when　They　arrived　in　London；　They　went　straight　to　Mr　　Brown　low　's　house。　O　liver's　heart　beat　with　excitement　as　They　stopped　outside。　But　the　house　was　empty。　They　were　told　by　the　people　next　door　that　Mr　　Brown　low　　had　moved　to　the　West　Indies　six　weeks　before。　O　liver　was　very　disappointed；　he　had　thought　about　Mr　　Brown　low　　so　much　recently；　and　had　always　hoped　to　find　him　again。　But　now　the　kind　old　man　had　moved　abroad；　still　believing　O　liver　was　a　lying　thief；　and　he　might　hold　　this　　belief　　until　　the　　day　　he　　died。　

This　was　a　bitter　disappointment　to　O　liver；　but　his　new　friends　were　still　as　kind　to　him　as　ever。　They　left　the　house　in　Chertsey　and　moved　to　a　quiet　cottage　it　the　country；　taking　O　liver　with　the　m　Spring　came；　and　in　the　fresh　air；　away　from　the　noise　and　smoke　and　trouble　of　the　city；　O　liver　began　a　new　life。　He　went　for　walks　with　Rose　and　Mrs　May　lie；　or　Rose　read　to　him；　and　he　worked　hard　at　his　lessons。　　He　felt　as　if　he　had　left　behind　forever　the　world　of　crime　and　　hardship　and　poverty。　



　



10　　Life　in　the　country

　　

The　weeks　slipped　contentedly　past；　and　spring　turned　into　summer。　O　liver　was　now　a　strong　and　healthy　boy；　and　very　fond　of　Rose　and　Mrs　May　lie　　as　They　were　of　him。　

One　hot　summer　evening；　after　a　walk　in　the　country；　Rose　became　very　weak　and　pale；　and　confessed　she　felt　ill。　By　the　next　morning　she　was　in　a　dangerous　fever；　and　Mrs　May　lie　and　O　liver　were　afraid　she　might　die。　　Mrs　May　lie　sent　O　liver　to　the　nearest　town；　four　miles　away；　to　post　two　express　letters。　One　was　to　Dr　Losberne　in　Chertsey；　the　other　to　

Harry　May　lie；　Mrs　May　lie's　son。　

O　liver；　filled　with　anxiety；　ran　as　fast　as　he　could　along　the　country　roads　and　across　the　fields　until；　hot　and　exhausted；　he　　　reached　　the　　town。　He　　posted　　the　　letters　　and　　turned　　to　　hurry　home　again。　As　he　was　running　past　a　pub　in　the　main　street；　he　　accidentally　　bumped　　into　　a　　　tall　　　man　　　in　　　black　　　coming　　out。　The　man　stared　at　O　liver。　'What　the　devil's　this？　'　he　said；　stepping　　back。　

'I'm　sorry；　sir。　I　was　in　a　hurry；　and　didn'　t　see　you。　'

The　man　murmured　angrily　to　himself；　'Who　would　have　thought　it？　Curse　him！　I　can't　get　away　from　him！　'

'I'm　sorry；　sir；　repeated　O　liver；　frightened　by　the　man'　s　wild；　staring　eyes。　

'The　devil　break　your　bones！　'the　man　said　through　his　teeth。　'What　are　you　doing　here？　He　raised　his　hand　　and　started　towards　O　liver　with　a　mad　look　in　his　eyes；　but　fell　violently　to　the　ground；　shaking　and　gasping；　in　a　fit。　People　hurried　up　and　helped　the　man　into　the　pub　while　O　liver；　thinking　that　the　man　was　mad；　ran　quickly　home/　

Mrs　May　lie　and　O　liver　passed　a　sleepless　night；　and　Rose　grew　steadily　worse　as　the　fever　burned　in　her．O　liver　said　every　prayer　he　had　ever　learnt　ten　times　over。　

Late　the　next　day　Dr　Losberne　and　Harry　May　lie　arrived；　and　the　house　was　full　of　worried　faces　and　anxious　whispers。　But　the　danger　passed；　and　by　the　next　night　Dr　Losberne　was　able　to　announce　that；　though　seriously　ill；　Rose　would　not　die。　O　liver　cried　for　joy。　

A　day　or　two　later；　Mrs　May　lie　talked　privately　to　her　son。　Harry　was　a　hand　some　young　man　of　about　twenty…five；　with　a　cheerful；　honest　face　and　friendly　manners　He　was　clearly　very　　fond　　of　　Rose。　

'I　know　that　you　want　to　marry　Rose，　Mrs　May　lie　told　her　son；　'and　she　　is　the　nicest　　person　I　know　　But　I　want　　you　to　remember　one　thing－her　birth。　'

'Mother；　that　means　nothing　to　me；　'said　The　young　man。　'I　love　her。　'

'I　know　you　do；　Harry；　but　she　herself　is　well　aware　of　her　doubtful　birth；　and　this　might　affect　her　answer　if　you　ask　her　to　marry　you．　I　know　you　have　ambitions　to　enter　politics。　If　you　marry　a　woman　with　a　stain　on　her　name；　even　though　it's　not　her　fault；　it　might　spoil　your　chances　of　success　in　life。　Society　is　cruel；　Harry。　People　might　use　the　knowledge　of　your　wife's　doubtful　birth　against　you，　and　against　your　children；　too。　And　one　day；　you　might　begin　to　regret　your　marriage。　'

'Only　a　selfish　man　would　do　that；　Mother！　'Harry　answered　impatiently。　'No；　I　am　quite　determined。　I　have　loved　Rose　for　a　long　time；　and　nothing　will　ever　change　that。　'

Mrs　May　lie　sighed。　'And　she；　I　know；　is　very　fond　of　you。　But　she　herself　may　try　to　protect　you；　and　refuse　an　offer　of　marriage　frpm　　you；　for　your　sake。　　Remember　that；　Harry。　But　now；　I　must　go　back　and　sit　with　her。　'

'Will　you　tell　her　how　much　I've　worried　about　her？　'　asked　Harry。　'And　how　anxious　I　am　to　see　her　again？　

'Of　course　I　will；　'replied　Mrs　May　lie。　

Some　days　after　this　conversation；　O　liver　was　sitting　in　the　room　where　he　studied　in　the　evenings。　It　was　a　warm　night；　and　he　had　been　studying　hard　for　some　hours。　He　fell　asleep　at　his　desk　and　started　dreaming。　He　dreamt　that　he　was　in　Fagin's　house　again；　and　could　see　the　old　man　sitting　in　his　corner；　whispering　to　another　man。　Yes；　my　dear；　he　heard　Fagin　say；　'you're　right。　That's　him。　'

In　　O　liver's　　dream　　the　　other　　man　　answered。　'Of　　course　　it　is！　I　told　you　I'd　seen　him。　　I'd　recognize　him　anywhere。　If　I　walked　across　his　unmarked　grave；　I'd　know　it　was　him　buried　under　the　ground。　'

He　said　this　with　such　hatred　that　O　liver　woke　up　from　fear。　In　front　of　him；　at　the　open　window；　so　near　he　could　almost　touch　the　m；　were　Fagin　and　the　strange；　wild　man　he　had　bumped　into　outside　the　pub　in　the　town。　In　a　flash；　They　were　gone。　O　liver　sat　still；　white　with　terror；　for　a　second；　the　n　　shouted　　loudly　　for　　help。　

Harry　and　Dr　Losberne　came　running；　and　hearing　what　had　happened；　They　rushed　outside　into　the　night　and　searched　the　garden　and　the　fields　around。　The　re　was　no　sign　of　anybody。　

'It　must　have　been　a　bad　dream；　O　liver；　'　said　Harry；　breathless　after　running　through　the　fields。　　He　had　heard　all　about　O　liver's　past　from　h