按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
won； and no young vision realised； I offer you the heart so long
your own； and stake my all upon the words with which you greet
the offer。”
“Your behaviour has ever been kind and noble；” said Rose；
mastering the emotions by which she was agitated。 “As you
believe that I am not insensible or ungrateful； so hear my answer。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 371
“It is； that I may endeavour to deserve you； is it； dear Rose？”
“It is；” replied Rose； “that you must endeavour to forget me； not
as your old and dearly…attached companion； for that would wound
me deeply； but； as the object of your love。 Look into the world；
think how many hearts you would be proud to gain are there。
Confide some other passion to me； if you will； I will be the truest；
warmest； and most faithful friend you have。”
There was a pause； during which； Rose； who had covered her
face with one hand； gave free vent to her tears。 Harry still retained
the other。
“And your reasons； Rose；” he said； at length； in a low voice；
“your reasons for this decision？”
“You have a right to know them；” rejoined Rose。 “You can say
nothing to alter my decision。 It is a duty that I must perform。 I owe
it； alike to others； and to myself。”
“To yourself？”
“Yes； Harry。 I owe it to myself； that I； a friendless； portion less
girl； with a blight upon my name； should not give your friends
reason to suspect that I had sordidly yielded to your first passion；
and fastened myself； a clog； on all your hopes and projects。 I owe it
to you and yours； to prevent you from opposing； in the warmth of
your generous nature； this great obstacle to your progress in the
world。”
“If your inclinations chime with your sense of duty—” Harry
began。
“They do not；” replied Rose； colouring deeply。
“Then you return my love？” said Harry。 “Say but that； dear
Rose； say but that； and soften the bitterness of this hard
disappointment！”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 372
“If I could have done so； without doing heavy wrong to him I
loved；” rejoined Rose； “I could have—”
“Have received this declaration very indifferently？” said Harry。
“Do not conceal that from me； at least； Rose。”
“I could；” said Rose。 “Stay；” she added； disengaging her hand；
“why should we prolong this painful interview？ Most painful to
me； and yet productive of lasting happiness； notwithstanding； for
it will be happiness to know that I once held the high place in your
regard which I now occupy； and every triumph you achieve in life
will animate me with new fortitude and firmness。 Farewell； Harry！
As we have met today； we meet no more； but in other relations
than those in which this conversation would have placed us； we
may be long and happily entwined； and may every blessing that
the prayers of a true and earnest heart can call down from the
source of all truth and sincerity； cheer and prosper you！”
“Another word； Rose；” said Harry。 “Your reason in your own
lips； let me hear it？”
“The prospect before you；” answered Rose firmly； “is a brilliant
one。 All the honours to which great talents and powerful
connections can help men in public life； are in store for you。 But
those connections are proud； and I will neither mingle with such
as may hold in scorn the mother who gave me life； nor bring
disgrace or failure on the son of her who had so well supplied that
mother’s place。 In a word；” said the young lady； turning away； as
her temporary firmness forsook her； “there is a stain upon my
name； which the world visits on innocent heads。 I will carry it into
no blood but my own； and the reproach shall rest alone on me。”
“One word more； Rose。 Dearest Rose！ one more！” cried Harry；
throwing himself before her。 “If I had been less—less fortunate；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 373
the world would call it—if some obscure and peaceful life had
been my destiny—if I had been poor； sick； helpless—would you
have turned from me then？ Or has my probable advancement to
riches and honour； given this scruple birth？”
“Do you press me to reply；” answered Rose。 “The question does
not arise； and never will。 It is unfair； almost unkind； to urge it。”
“If your answer be what I almost dare to hope it is；” retorted
Harry； “it will shed a gleam of happiness upon my lonely way； and
light the path before me。 It is not an idle thing to do so much； by
the utterance of a few brief words； for one who loves you beyond
all else。 Oh； Rose！ in the name of my ardent and enduring
attachment； in the name of all I have suffered for you； and all you
doom me to undergo； answer me this one question！”
“Then； if your lot had been differently cast；” rejoined Rose； “if
you had been even a little； but not so far； above me； if I could have
been a help and comfort to you in any humble scene of peace and
retirement； and not a blot and drawback in ambitious and
distinguished crowds； I should have been spared this trial。 I have
every reason to be happy； very happy； now； but then； Harry； I own
I should have been happier。”
Busy recollections of old hopes； cherished as a girl； long ago；
crowded into the mind of Rose； while making this avowal； but they
brought tears with them； as old hopes will when they come back
withered； and they relieved her。
“I cannot help this weakness； and it makes my purpose
stronger；” said Rose； extending her hand。 “I must leave you now；
indeed。”
“I ask one promise；” said Harry。 “Once； and only once…more—
say within a year； but it may be much sooner—I may speak to you
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 374
again on this subject； for the last time？”
“Not to press me to alter my right determination；” replied Rose；
with a melancholy smile； “it will be useless。”
“No；” said Harry； “to hear you repeat it； if you will—finally
repeat it！ I will lay at your feet； whatever of station or fortune I
may possess； and if you still adhere to your present resolution； will
not seek； by word or act； to change it。”
“Then let it be so；” rejoined Rose； “it is but one pang the more；
and by that time I may be enabled to bear it better。”
She extended her hand again。 But the young man caught her to
his bosom； and； imprinting one kiss on her beautiful forehead；
hurried from the room。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 375
Chapter 36
Is a very short one； and may appear of no great
importance in its place； but it should be read
notwithstanding； as a sequel to the last； and a key to
one that will follow when its time arrives。
“A nd so you are resolved to be my travelling
companion this morning； eh？” said the doctor； as
Harry Maylie joined him and Oliver at the breakfast…
table。 “Why； you are not in the same mind or intention two half…
hours together！”
“You will tell me a different tale one of these days；” said Harry；
colouring without any perceptible reason。
“I hope I may have good cause to do so；” replied Mr。 Losberne；
“though I confess I don’t think I shall。 But yesterday morning you
have made up your mind； in a great hurry； to stay here； and to
accompany your mother； like a dutiful son； to the seaside。 Before
noon； you announce that you are going to do me the honour of
accompanying me as far as I go； on your road to London。 And at
night； you urge me； with great mystery； to start before the ladies
are stirring； the consequence of which is； that young Oliver here is
pinned down to his breakfast when he ought to be ranging the
meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds。 Too bad； isn’t it；
Oliver！”
“I should have been very sorry not to have been at home when
you and Mr。 Maylie went away； sir；” rejoined Oliver。
“That’s a fine fellow；” said the doctor； “you shall come and see
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 376
me when you return。 But； to speak seriously； Harry； has any
communication from the great nobs produced this sudden anxiety
on you