Page 218 [218]
162
falling back in his chair, discharged from
his features every expression but one of
the most unmitigated wonder, and indul¬
ged in a prolonged and vacant stare ; then,
as if ashamed of having betrayed so much
emotion, he jerked himself, as it were by
a convulsion, into his former attitude, and
looking out straight before him emitted a
long deep whistle, which seemed at last
not to be discharged on empty air, but to
die away in the inmost recesses of his
stomach.
Mr. Brownlow was no less surprised,
although his astonishment was not ex¬
pressed in the same eccentric manner.
He drew his chair nearer to Miss Maylie’s,
and said,
. s Do me the favour, my dear young
lady, to leave entirely out of the question
that goodness and benevolence of which
rou speak, and of which nobody else
nows anything, and if you have it in
your power to produce any evidence
which will alter the unfavourable opinion
I was once induced to entertain of that
poor child, in Heaven’s name put me in
ossession of it.”
6 A bad one—I’ll eat my head if he is
not a bad one,” growled Mr. Grimwig,
speaking by some ventriloquial power,
without moving a muscle of his face.
. 4 He is a child of a noble nature and a
warm heart,” said Rose, colouring; “ and
that Power which has thought fit to try
him beyond his years has planted in his
breast affections and feelings which would
do honour to many who have numbered
his days six times over,"
, 6. m only sixty-one,’ said Mr. Grim¬
wig with the same rigid face, " and, as
the devil’s in it if this Oliver is not
twelve at least, I don’t see the application
of that remark.”
*“ Do not heed my friend, Miss Maylie,"
said Mr. Brownlow ; "he does not mean
what he says."
“Yes, he does,” growled Mr. Grim¬
wig.
ri No, he does not," exclaimed Mr.
Brownlow, obviously rising in wrath as
he spoke.
growled Mr. Grimwig.
‘¢ He would deserve to have it knocked
vit, if he does," said Mr. Brownlow,
s And he’d uncommonly like to see
any man offer to do it," responded Mr.
sell knocking his stick upon the
oor.
tlemen severally took snuff, and after¬
wards shook hands, according to their in¬
variable custom.
** Now, Miss Maylie," said Mr. Brown¬
low, "to return to the subject in which
your humanity is so much interested.
Will you let me know what intelligence
you have of this poor child: allowing me
to premise that I had exhausted every
means in my power of discovering him,
and that since I have been absent from
this country, my first impression that he
had imposed upon me, and been persuaded
by his former associates to rob me, has
been considerably shaken.”
Rose, who had had time to collect her
thoughts, at once related in a few natural
words all that had befallen Oliver since
he left Mr. Brownlow’s house, reserving
Nancy’s information for that gentleman’s
private ear, and concluding with the assu¬
rance that his only sorrow for some months
past had been, that he had not been able
to meet with his former benefactor and
friend.
“Thank God!” said the old gentleman ;
“this is great happiness to me, great hap¬
piness. But you have not told me where
he isnow, Miss Maylie. You must pardon
my finding fault with you,—but why not
have brought him?”
‘‘ He is waiting in a coach at the door,”
replied Rose.
“ At this door!” cried the old gentle¬
man. With which he hurried out of the
room, down the stairs, up the coach-steps,
and into the coach without uttering an¬
other word.
When the room-door closed behind him,
Mr. Grimwig lifted up his head, and con¬
verting one of the hind legs of his chair
into a pivot described three distinct circles
with the assistance of his stick and the
table; sitting in it all the time. After
performing this evolution, he rose and
limped as fast as he could up and down
the room at least a dozen times, and then
stopping suddenly before Rose, kissed her
without the slightest. preface.
“Hush!” he said, as the young lady
rose in some alarm at this unusual
proceeding, “don’t be afraid; I’m old
enough to be your grandfather. You’re
a sweet girl, and I like you. Here they
are."
In fact, as he threw himself at one
dexterous dive into his former seat, Mr.
Brownlow returned accompanied by
Oliver, whom Mr. Grimwig received very