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At the very instant when he brought the loop over his head
previous to slipping it beneath his arm…pits； and when the old
gentleman before mentioned （who had clung so tight to the railing
of the bridge as to resist the force of the crowd； and retain his
position） earnestly warned those about him that the man was
about to lower himself down—at that very instant the murderer；
looking behind him on the roof； threw his arms above his head；
and uttered a yell of terror。
“The eyes again！” he cried； in an unearthly screech。
Staggering as if struck by lightning； he lost his balance and
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tumbled over the parapet。 The noose was on his neck。 It ran up
with his weight； tight as a bowstring； and swift as the arrow it
speeds。 He fell for five…and…thirty feet。 There was a sudden jerk； a
terrific convulsion of the limbs； and there he hung； with the open
knife clenched in his stiffening hand。
The old chimney quivered with the shock； but stood it bravely。
The murderer swung lifeless against the wall； and the boy；
thrusting aside the dangling body which obscured his view； called
to the people to come and take him out； for God’s sake。
A dog； which had lain concealed till now； ran backwards and
forwards on the parapet； with a dismal howl； and； collecting
himself for a spring； jumped for the dead man’s shoulders。 Missing
his aim； he fell into the ditch； turning completely over as he went；
and striking his head against a stone； dashed out his brains。
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Chapter 51
Affording an explanation of more mysteries than
one； and comprehending a proposal of marriage
with no word of settlement or pin…money。
The events narrated in the last chapter were yet but two
days old； when Oliver found himself； at three o’clock in the
afternoon； in a travelling carriage rolling fast towards his
native town。 Mrs。 Maylie； and Rose； and Mrs。 Bedwin； and the
good doctor； were with him； and Mr。 Brownlow followed in a post…
chaise； accompanied by one other person whose name had not
been mentioned。
They had not talked much upon the way； for Oliver was in a
flutter of agitation and uncertainty which deprived him of the
power of collecting his thoughts； and almost of speech； and
appeared to have scarcely less effect on his companions； who
shared it； in at least an equal degree。 He and the two ladies had
been very carefully made acquainted by Mr。 Brownlow with the
nature of the admissions which had been forced from Monks； and
although they knew that the object of their present journey was to
complete the work which had been so well begun； still the whole
matter was enveloped in enough of doubt and mystery to leave
them in endurance of the most intense suspense。
The same kind friend had； with Mr。 Losberne’s assistance；
cautiously stopped all channels of communication through which
they could receive intelligence of the dreadful occurrences that
had so recently taken place。 “It was quite true；” he said； “that they
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must know them before long； but it might be at a better time than
the present； and it could not be at a worse。” So they travelled on in
silence； each busied with reflections on the object which had
brought them together； and no one disposed to give utterance to
the thoughts which crowded upon all。
But if Oliver； under these influences； had remained silent while
they journeyed towards his birth…place by a road he had never
seen； how the whole current of his recollections ran back to old
times； and what a crowd of emotions were awakened up in his
breast； when they turned into that which he had traversed on foot；
a poor； houseless； wandering boy； without a friend to help him； or
a roof to shelter his head。
“See there； there！” cried Oliver； eagerly clasping the hand of
Rose； and pointing out of the carriage window； “that’s the stile I
came over； there are the hedges I crept behind for fear any one
should overtake me and force me back！ Yonder is the path across
the fields； leading to the old house where I was a little child！ Oh；
Dick； Dick； my dear old friend； if I could only see you now！”
“You will see him soon；” replied Rose； gently taking his folded
hands between her own。 “You shall tell him how happy you are；
and how rich you have grown； and that in all your happiness you
have none so great as the coming back to make him happy too。”
“Yes； yes；” said Oliver； “and we’ll—we’ll take him away from
here； and have him clothed and taught； and send him to some
quiet country place where he may grow strong and well—shall
we？”
Rose nodded yes； for the boy was smiling through such happy
tears that she could not speak。
“You will be kind and good to him； for you are to every one；”
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said Oliver。 “It will make you cry； I know； to hear what he can tell；
but never mind； never mind； it will be all over； and you will smile
again—I know that too—to think how changed he is； you did the
same with me。 He said ‘God bless you’ to me when I ran away；”
cried the boy； with a burst of affectionate emotion； “and I will say
‘God bless you’ now； and show him how I love him for it！”
As they approached the town； and at length drove through its
narrow streets； it became matter of no small difficulty to restrain
the boy within reasonable bounds。 There was Sowerberry’s the
undertaker’s just as it used to be； only smaller and less imposing
in appearance than he remembered it—there were all the well…
known shops and houses； with almost every one of which he had
some slight incident connected—there was Gamfield’s cart； the
very cart he used to have； standing at the old public…house door—
there was the workhouse； the dreary prison of his youthful days；
with its dismal windows frowning on the street—there was the
same lean porter standing at the gate； at sight of whom Oliver
involuntarily shrank back； and then laughed at himself for being
so foolish； then cried； then laughed again—there were scores of
faces at the doors and windows that he knew quite well—there
was nearly everything as if he had left it but yesterday； and all his
recent life had been a happy dream。
But it was pure； earnest joyful reality。 They drove straight to
the door of the chief hotel （which Oliver used to stare up at； with
awe； and think a mighty palace； but which had somehow fallen off
in grandeur and size）； and here was Mr。 Grimwig all ready to
receive them； kissing the young lady； and the old one too； when
they got out of the coach； as if he were the grandfather of the
whole party； all smiles and kindness； and not offering to eat his
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head—no； not once； not even when he contradicted a very old
postboy about the nearest road to London； and maintained he
knew it best； though he had only come that way once； and that
time fast asleep。 There was dinner prepared； and there were
bedrooms ready； and everything was arranged as if by magic。
Notwithstanding all this； when the hurry of the first half…hour
was over； the same silence and constraint prevailed that had
marred their journey down。 Mr。 Brownlow did not join them at
dinner； but remained in a separate room。 The two other
gentlemen hurried in and out with anxious faces； and； during the
short intervals when they were present； conversed apart。 Once；
Mrs。 Maylie was called away； and after being absent for nearly an
hour； returned with eyes swollen with weeping。 All these things
made Rose and Oliver； who were not in any new secrets； nervous
and uncomfortable。 They sat wondering； in silence； or； if they
exchanged a few words； spoke in whispers； as if they were afraid
to hear the sound of their own voices。
At length when nine o’clock had come； and they began to think
they were to hear no more that night； Mr。 Losberne and Mr。
Grimwig entered the room； followed by Mr。 Brownlow and a man
whom Oliver almost shrieked with surprise to see； for they told
him it was his brother； and it was the same man he had met at the
market…town； and seen looking in with Fagin at the window of his
little room。 Monks cast a look of hate； which； even then； he could
not dissemble； at the astonished boy； and sat down near the door。
Mr。 Brownlow； who had papers in his hand； walked to a table near
which Rose and Oliver were seated。
“This is a painful task；” said he； “but these declarations； which
have been signed in London before many gentlemen； must be in
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substance repeated here。 I would have spared you the
degradation； but we must hear them from your own lips before we
part； and you know why。”
“Go on；” said the person addressed； turning away his face。
“Quick。 I have almost done enough； I think。 Don’t keep me here。”
“This child；” said Mr。 Brownlow； drawing Oliver to him； and
laying his han