oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第68部分

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affairs　are；　when　wonder；　having　no　fresh　food　to　support　it；　dies　
away　of　itself。　

Meanwhile；　Rose　was　rapidly　recovering。　She　had　left　her　
room；　was　able　to　go　out；　and　mixing　once　more　with　the　family；　
carried　joy　into　the　hearts　of　all。　

But；　although　this　happy　change　had　a　visible　effect　on　the　little　
circle；　and　although　cheerful　voices　and　merry　laughter　were　once　
more　heard　in　the　cottage；　there　was　at　times；　an　unwonted　
restraint　upon　some　there；　even　upon　Rose　herself；　which　Oliver　
could　not　fail　to　remark。　Mr。　Maylie　and　her　son　were　often　
closeted　together　for　a　long　time；　and　more　than　once　Rose　
appeared　with　traces　of　tears　upon　her　face。　After　Mr。　Losberne　
had　fixed　a　day　for　his　departure　to　Chertsey；　these　symptoms　
increased；　and　it　became　evident　that　something　was　in　progress　
which　affected　the　peace　of　the　young　lady；　and　of　somebody　else　
besides。　

At　length；　one　morning；　when　Rose　was　alone　in　the　breakfast…
parlour；　Harry　Maylie　entered；　and；　with　some　hesitation；　begged　
permission　to　speak　with　her　for　a　few　moments。　

“A　few—a　very　few—will　suffice；　Rose；”　said　the　young　man；　
drawing　his　chair　towards　her。　“What　I　shall　have　to　say；　has　
already　presented　itself　to　your　mind；　the　most　cherished　hopes　of　
my　heart　are　not　unknown　to　you；　though　from　my　lips　you　have　
not　yet　heard　them　stated。”　

Rose　had　been　very　pale　from　the　moment　of　his　entrance；　but　
that　might　have　been　the　effect　of　her　recent　illness。　She　merely　
bowed；　and　bending　over　some　plants　that　stood　near；　waited　in　
silence　for　him　to　proceed。　ought　to　have　left　here；　before；”　said　

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Harry。　

“You　should；　indeed；”　replied　Rose。　“Forgive　me　for　saying　so；　
but　I　wish　you　had。”　

“I　was　brought　here；　by　the　most　dreadful　and　agonising　of　all　
apprehensions；”　said　the　young　man：　“the　fear　of　losing　the　one　
dear　being　on　whom　my　every　wish　and　hope　are　fixed。　You　had　
been　dying；　trembling　between　earth　and　heaven。　We　know　that　
when　the　young；　the　beautiful；　and　good；　are　visited　with　sickness；　
their　pure　spirits　insensibly　turn　towards　their　bright　home　of　
lasting　rest；　we　know；　Heaven　help　us；　that　the　best　and　fairest　of　
our　kind；　too　often　fade　in　blooming。”　

There　were　tears　in　the　eyes　of　the　gentle　girl；　as　these　words　
were　spoken；　and　when　one　fell　upon　the　flower　over　which　she　
bent；　and　glistened　brightly　in　its　cup；　making　it　more　beautiful；　it　
seemed　as　though　the　out…pouring　of　her　fresh　young　heart；　
claimed　kindred　naturally；　with　the　loveliest　things　in　nature。　

“A　creature；”　continued　the　young　man　passionately；　“a　
creature　as　fair　and　innocent　of　guile　as　one　of　God’s　own　angels；　
fluttered　between　life　and　death。　Oh；　who　could　hope；　when　the　
distant　world　to　which　she　was　akin；　half…opened　to　her　view；　that　
she　would　return　to　the　sorrow　and　calamity　of　this；　Rose；　Rose；　to　
know　that　you　were　passing　away　like　some　soft　shadow；　which　a　
light　from　above　casts　upon　the　earth；　to　have　no　hope　that　you　
would　be　spared　to　those　who　linger　here；　hardly　to　know　a　reason　
why　you　should　be；　to　feel　that　you　belonged　to　that　bright　sphere　
whither　so　many　of　the　fairest　and　the　best　have　winged　their　early　
flight；　and　yet　to　pray；　amid　all　these　consolations；　that　you　might　
be　restored　to　those　who　loved　you—these　were　distractions　
almost　too　great　to　bear。　They　were　mine；　by　day　and　night；　and　

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with　them；　came　such　a　rushing　torrent　of　fears；　and　
apprehensions；　and　selfish　regrets；　lest　you　should　die；　and　never　
know　how　devotedly　I　loved　you；　as　almost　bore　down　sense　and　
reason　in　its　course。　You　recovered。　Day　by　day；　and　almost　hour　
by　hour；　some　drop　of　health　came　back；　and　mingling　with　the　
spent　and　feeble　stream　of　life　which　circulated　languidly　within　
you；　swelled　it　again　to　a　high　and　rushing　tide。　I　have　watched　
you　change　almost　from　death　to　life；　with　eyes　that　turned　blind　
with　their　eagerness　and　deep　affection。　Do　not　tell　me　that　you　
wish　I　had　lost　this；　for　it　has　softened　my　heart　to　all　mankind。”　

“I　did　not　mean　that；”　said　Rose；　weeping；　“I　only　wish　you　had　
left　here；　that　you　might　have　turned　to　high　and　noble　pursuits　
again；　to　pursuits　well　worthy　of　you。”　

“There　is　no　pursuit　more　worthy　of　me；　more　worthy　of　the　
highest　nature　that　exists；　than　the　struggle　to　win　such　a　heart　as　
yours；”　said　the　young　man；　taking　her　hand。　“Rose；　my　own　dear　
Rose！　For　years—for　years—I　have　loved　you；　hoping　to　win　my　
way　to　fame；　and　then　come　proudly　home　and　tell　you　it　had　been　
pursued　only　for　you　to　share；　thinking；　in　my　day…dreams；　how　I　
would　remind　you；　in　that　happy　moment；　of　the　many　silent　
tokens　I　had　given　of　a　boy’s　attachment；　and　claim　your　hand；　as　
in　redemption　of　some　old；　mute　contract　that　had　been　sealed　
between　us！　That　time　has　not　arrived；　but　here；　with　no　fame　
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。”　

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“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！”　

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“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；　

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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　an