Stranica 187 [187]
OCR
OLIVER TWIST. 137 open fields in every direction for three or four miles. "There was the village in the hollow on the left; but, in order to gain that, after pursuing the track Oliver had pointed out, the men must have made a circuit of open ground which it was impossible they could have accomplished in so short a time. A thick wood skirted the meadowland in another direction ; but they could not have gained that covert for the same reason. “Tt must have been a dream, Oliver?" said Harry Maylie, taking him aside. “Oh no, indeed, sir,” em Oliver, shuddering at the very recollection of the old wretch’s countenance; “{ saw him too plainly for that. I saw them both as plainly as Í see you now.” s Who was the other?” inquired Harry and Mr. Losberne together. “The very same man that I told you of, that came upon me so suddenly at the inn,” said Oliver. “We had our eyes fixed full upon each other, and [ could swear to him.” c They took this way?’ demanded Harry; “are you certain of that?" “As I am that the men were at the window,” replied Oliver, pointing down as he spoke to the hedge which divided the cottage-garden from the meadow. “The tall man leaped over just there; and the Jew, running a few paces to the right, crept through that gap.” The two gentlemen watched Oliver’s earnest face as he spoke, and looking from him to each other, seemed to feel satisfied of the accuracy of what he said. Still, in no direction were there any appearances of the trampling of men in hurried flight. The grass was long, but it was trodden down nowhere save where their own feet had crushed it. ‘The sides and brinks of the ditches were of damp clay, but in no one place could they discern the prints of men’s shoes, or the slightest mark which would indicate that any feet had pressed the ground for hours before. S “'This is strange!" said Harry. c Strange ?” echoed the doctor. “ Blathers and Duff themselves could make nothing of it.” Notwithstanding the evidently inefficacious nature of their search, however, they did not desist until the coming on of night rendered its further prosecution hopeless, and even then they gave it up with reluctance. Giles was despatched to the different alehouses in the village, furnished with the best description Oliver could give of the appearance and dress of the strangers; of whom the Jew was at 12* S all events sufficiently remarkable to be remembered, supposing he had been seen drinking, or loitering about; but he returned without any intelligence calculated to dispel or lessen the mystery. On the next day further search was made, and the inquiries renewed, but with no better success. On the day following, Oliver and Mr. Maylie repaired to the market-town, in the hope of seeing or hearing something of the men there; but equally fruitless; and, after a few days, the affair began to be forgotten, as most 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 and, mixing once more with the ily, 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. Mrs. 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 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, although 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. 6 1—TI—ought to have left here before,” said Harry. “You should indeed,” replied Rose, “Forgive me for saying so, but I wish “] was brought here by the most dread
