Stranica 180 [180]
OCR
132 Ks to fold her hands together ; but the ener which had supported her so long fled to she sunk back into the friendly arms which were extended to receive her. CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH, Yontains some introductory particulars relative to a young gentleman who now arrives upon the scene, and a new adventure which happened to Oliver. Ir was almost too much happiness to bear. Oliver felt stunned and stupified by the unexpected intelligence; he could not weep, or speak, or rest. He had scarcely the power of understanding anything that had passed, until after a long ramble in the quiet evening air a burst of tears came to his relief, and he seemed to awaken all at once to a full sense of the joyful change that had occurred, and the almost insupportable load of anguish which had been taken from his breast. The night was fast closing in when he which he had culled with peculiar care for the adornment of the sick chamber. As he walked briskly along the road, he heard behind him the noise of some vehicle approaching at a furious pace. Looking round, he saw that it was a postchaise driven at great speed; and as the horses were galloping, and the road was narrow, he stood leaning against a gate until it should have passed him by. As it dashed on, Oliver caught a glimpse of a man in a white night-cap, though his view was so brief that he could not identify the person. In another second or two the nightcap was thrust out of the chaise window, and a stentorian voice bellowed to the driver to stop, which he did as soon as he could pull up his horses, when the nightcap once again appeared, and the same voice called Oliver by his name. “Here!” cried the voice. Master Oliver, what’s the news? Miss Rose— Master O-li-ver.” “Ts it you, Giles?” cried Oliver, run"ang up to the chaise door. Giles popped out his nightcap again, preparatory to making some reply, when he was suddenly pulled back by a young gentleman who occupied the other corner of the chaise, and who eagerly demanded what was the news. | ‘ 4 c Better—much better,” repued Oliver hastily. “Thank Heaven!” exclaimed the gon tleman. " You are sure?” “Quite, sir,” replied Oliver; "tha and Mr. Losberne says that all danger # at an end.” The gentleman said not another word, but opening the chaise-door leaped out, and, taking Oliver hurriedly by the arm, led him aside. c This is quite certaint’—there is no possibility of any mistake on your part, my boy, is there?” demanded the gentleman in a tremulous voice. " Pray do not deceive me by awakening any hopes that are not to be fulfilled.” “TI would not for the world, sir,” replied Oliver. “Indeed you may believe me. Mr. Losberne’s words were, that she would live to bless us all for many years to come. I heard him say so.” The tears stood in Oliver’s eyes as he recalled the scene which was the beginning of so much happiness, and the gen tleman turned his face away, and remained silent for some minutes. Oliver gh he heard him sob more than once, but he feared to anterrupt him by any farther remark,—for he could well guess what his feelings were,—and so stood apart, feigning to be occupied with his nosegay. All this time Mr. Giles, with the white night-cap on, had been sitting upon the steps of the chaise, supporting an elbow on each knee, and wiping his eyes with a blue cotton pocket-handkerchief dotted with white spots. That the honest fellow had not been feigning emotion was abundantly demonstrated by the very red eyes with which he regarded the young gentleman, when he Turned round and addressed him. ré “1 think you had better go on to my mother’s in the chaise, Giles,” said he. “T would rather walk slowly on, so as to gain a little time before I see her. You can say I am coming.” “I beg your pardon, Mr. Harry,” said Giles, giving a final polish to his ruffled . countenance with the handkerchief, " but I should be very much obliged to you. It wouldn’t be proper for the maids to see me in this state, sir; I should never have any more authority with them if they did.” “Well,” rejoined Harry Maylie, smiling, “you can do as you like. Let him “ better or worse 7” it, and.do you follow with us. Only firs‘
