Stranica 162 [162]
OCR
116 daunted courage. cc Rose wished to see the man,” said Mrs. Maylie, “but I wouldn’t hear of a 6 Humph !” rejoined the doctor. — “There "s nothing very alarming in his appearance. Have you any objection to see him in my presence!" “If it be necessary,” replied the old lady, “certainly not.” “Then I think it is necessary,” said the doctor; “at all events I am quite sure that you would deeply regret not having done so, if you postponed it. He is perfectly quiet and comfortable now. Allow me— Miss Rose, will you permit me? not the slightest fear, I pledge you my honour.” With many more loquacious assurances that they would be agreeably surprised in the aspect of the criminal, the doctor drew the young lady’s arm through one of his, and offering his disengaged hand to Mrs. Maylie, led them with much eeremony and stateliness up stairs. s Now,” said the doctor in a whisper as he softly turned the handle of a bedroom door, “let us hear what you think of him. He has not been shaved very recently, but he doesn’t look at all ferocious notwithstanding. Stop, though: let me see that he is in visiting order first.” Stepping before them, he looked into the room, and motioning them to advance, closed the door when they had entered, and gently drew back the curtains of the bed. Upon it, in heu of the dogged, black-visaged ruffian they had expected to behold, there lay a mere child, worn with pain and exhaustion and sunk into a deep sleep. His wounded arm, bound and splintered up, was crossed upon his breast, and his head reclined upon the ether, which was half hidden by his long hair as it streamed over the pillow. The honest gentleman held the curtain in his hand, and looked on for a minute or so, in silence. Whilst he was watching the patient thus, the younger lady glided softly past, and seating herself in a chair by the bedside gathered Oliver’s hair from his face, an over him, her tears fell upon his forehead. The boy stirrea and smiled in his sleep, as though tnese marks of pity and compassion had awakened some pleasant dream of a love and affection he had never known; as a strain of gentle music, or the rippling of water ina silent place, or the odour of a flower, or even the mention of a familiar word, will sometimes call up sudden dim remembrances of scenes that never were, in this life, which vanish like a breath, and which some brief memory of a happier existence long gone by, would seem to have awakened, for no power of the human mind can ever recal them. “What can this mean!” exclaimed the elder lady. “This poor child can never have been the pupil of robbers.” “Vice,” sighed the surgeon, replacing the curtain, “takes up her abode in many temples, and who can say that a fair outside shall not enshrine her?" “ But at so early an age,” urged Rose. “My dear — lady,” rejoined the surgeon, mournfully shaking his head, ‘crime, like death, is not confined to the old and withered alone. The youngest and fairest are too often its chosen victims.” “ But, can you—oh, sir! can you, realthe voluntary associate of the worst outcasts of society?” said Rose anxiously. The surgeon shook his head in a manner which intimated that he feared it was that they might disturb the patient, led the way “But even if he has been wicked,” pursued Rose, “think how young he is; think that he may never have known a mother’s love, or even the comfort of a home, and that l-usage and blows, or the want of bread, may have driven him to herd with the men who have forced him to guilt. Aunt, dear aunt, for mercy’s sake think of this before you let them drag this sick child to a prison, which in any case must be the grave of all his chances of amendment. Oh! as you love me, and know that I have never felt the want of parents in your goodness and affection, but that I might have done so, and unprotected with this poor child, have pity upon him before it is too late.” “My dear love!” said the elder lady, as she folded the weeping girl to her bosom; “do you think I would harm a hair of his head?" “Oh, no!” replied Rose, eagerly, "not you, aunt, not you!” s No;" said the old lady with a trembling lip, “my days are drawing to their close, and may mercy be shown to me as I show it to others. What can I do to save him, sir ?”
