Stranica 219 [219]
OCR
163 moment had been the only reward for all her anxiety and care in Oliver’s behalf, Rose Maylie would have been well repaid for her exertions. . “There is somebody else who should not be forgotten, by the bye,” said Mr. Brownlow, ringing the bell. “Send Mrs. Bedwin here, if you please.” The old housekeeper answered the summons with all possible despatch, and dropping a curtsy at the door, waited for orders. “Why, you get blinder every day, Bedwin,” said Mr. Brownlow, rather testily. sc Well, that I do, sir," replied the old lady. ‘People’s eyes, at my time of life, don’t improve with age, sir." ‘IT could have told you that,” rejoined Mr. Brownlow ; “ but puton your glasses, and see if you can’t find out what you were wanted for, will you?" The old lady began to rummage in her pocket for her spectacles; but Oliver’s patience was. not proof against this new trial, and yielding to his first. impulse, he sprang into her arms. ve be good; to me!" cried the old lady, embracing him; “ it is my innocent boy 1? “ My dear old nurse!” cried Oliver, affectionately. “He would come back—I knew he would,” said the old lady, holding him in her arms. " How well he looks, and how like a gentleman’s son he is dressed again. Where have you been this long, long while? Ah! the same sweet face, but not so pe ; the same soft eye, but not so sad. Ihave never forgotten them or his quiet smile, but seen them every day side by side with those of my own dear children, dead and gone since I wasa young and lightsome creature.” Running on thus, and now holding Oliver from her to mark how he had grown, now clasping him to her and passing her fingers fondly through his hair, laughed and wept upon his neck by turns. Leaving her and Oliver to compare notes at leisure, Mr. Brownlow led the way into another room, and there heard from Rose a full narration of her interview with Nancy, which occasioned him no little surprise and perplexity. Rose also explained her reasons for not. making a confidant of her friend Mr. Losberne in the first instance; the old gentleman and readily undertook to hold solemn conference with the worthy doctor himself. ‘To afford him an early opportunity for the execution of this design, it was arranged that he should call at the hotel at eight o’clock that evening, and that in the mean time Mrs. Maylie should be informed of all that had occurred. ‘These preliminaries adjusted, Rose and Oliver returned home. Rose had by no means overrated the measure of the good doctor’s wrath, for Nancy’s history was no sooner unfolded, than he poured forth a shower of mingled threats and execrations; threatened to make her the first victim of the combined ingenuity of Messrs. Blathers and Duff, and actually put on his hat preparatory to sallying forth immediately to obtain the assistance of those worthies. And doubtless he would, in this outbreak, have carried the intention into effect without a moment’s consideration of the consequences, if he had not been restrained, in part, by corresponding violence on the side of Mr. Brownlow, who was himself of an irascible temperament, and partly by such arguments and representations as seemed best calculated to dissuade him from his hotbrained purpose. “Then what the devil is to be done?" said the impetuous doctor, when they had rejoined the two ladies. “ Are we to passa vote of thanks to all these vagabonds, male and female, and beg them to accept a hundred pounds or so apiece as a trifling mark of our esteem, and some slight acknowledgment. of their kindness to Oliver ?”’ “Not exactly that,” rejoined Mr. Brownlow laughing, “but we must proceed gently and with great care.” “Gentleness and care!” exclaimed the doctor. “I'd send them, one and all to 99 “ Never. mind where,” inte Mr. Brownlow. "But reflect whether sending them anywhere is likely to attain the object we have in view.” s What objeet "" asked the doctor. “Simply the discovery of Oliver’s parentage, and regaining for him his inheritance, of which, if this story be true, he him* Ah!" said Mr. Losberne, Seem 66 | self with his pocket-handkerchief; “You see," pursued Mr. Brownlow, “ placing this poor girl entirely out of the
