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handiwork； Giles； I understand。”
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Mr。 Giles； who had been feverishly putting the tea…cups to
rights； blushed very red； and said that he had had that honour。
“Honour； eh？” said the doctor； “well； I don’t know； perhaps it’s
as honourable to hit a thief in a back kitchen； as to hit your man at
twelve paces。 Fancy that he fired in the air； and you’ve fought a
duel； Giles。”
Mr。 Giles； who thought this light treatment of the matter an
unjust attempt at diminishing his glory； answered respectfully that
it was not for the like of him to judge about that； but he rather
thought it was no joke to the opposite party。
“Gad； that’s true！” said the doctor。 “Where is he？ Show me the
way。 I’ll look in again； as I come down； Mrs。 Maylie。 That’s the
little window that he got in at； eh？ Well； I couldn’t have believed
it！”
Talking all the way； he followed Mr。 Giles upstairs； and while he
is going upstairs； the reader may be informed； that Mr。 Losberne；
a surgeon in the neighbourhood； known through a circuit of ten
miles round as “the doctor；” had grown fat； more from good…
humour than from good living； and was as kind and hearty； and
withal as eccentric an old bachelor； as will be found in five times
that space； by any explorer alive。
The doctor was absent much longer than either he or the ladies
had anticipated。 A large flat box was fetched out of the gig； and a
bedroom bell was rung very often； and the servants ran up and
downstairs perpetually； from which tokens it was justly concluded
that something important was going on above。 At length he
returned； and in reply to an anxious inquiry after his patient；
looked very mysterious； and closed the door carefully。
“This is a very extraordinary thing； Mrs。 Maylie；” said the
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doctor； standing with his back to the door； as if to keep it shut。
“He is not in danger； I hope？” said the old lady。
“Why； that would not be an extraordinary thing； under the
circumstances；” replied the doctor； “though I don’t think he is。
Have you seen this thief？”
“No；” rejoined the old lady。
“Nor heard anything about him？”
“No。”
“I beg your pardon； ma’am；” interposed Mr。 Giles； “but I was
going to tell you about him when Doctor Losberne came in。
The fact was； that Mr。 Giles had not； at first； been able to bring
his mind to the avowal； that he had only shot a boy。 Such
commendations had been bestowed upon his bravery； that he
could not； for the life of him； help postponing the explanation for a
few delicious minutes； during which he had flourished； in the very
zenith of a brief reputation for undaunted courage。
“Rose wished to see the man；” said Mrs。 Maylie； “but I wouldn’t
hear of it。”
“Humph！” rejoined the doctor。 “There is nothing very alarming
in his appearance。 Have you any objection to see him in my
presence？”
“If it be necessary；” replied the old lady； “certainly not。”
“Then I think it is necessary；” said the doctor； “at all events； I
am quite sure that you would deeply regret not having done so； if
you postponed it。 He is perfectly quiet and comfortable now。 Allow
me—Miss Rose； will you permit me？ Not the slightest fear； I
pledge you my honour！”
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Chapter 30
Relates What Oliver’s New Visitors Thought Of
Him。
With many loquacious assurances that they would be
agreeably surprised in the aspect of the criminal； the
doctor drew the young lady’s arm through one of his；
and offering his disengaged hand to Mrs。 Maylie； led them； with
much ceremony and stateliness； upstairs。
“Now；” said the doctor； in a whisper； as he softly turned the
handle of a bedroom door； “let us hear what you think of him。 He
has not been shaved very recently； but he don’t look at all
ferocious notwithstanding。 Stop； though！ Let me first see that he is
in visiting order。”
Stepping before them； he looked into the room。 Motioning them
to advance； he closed the door when they had entered； and gently
drew back the curtains of the bed。 Upon it； in lieu of the dogged；
black…visaged ruffian they had expected to behold； there lay a
mere child； worn with pain and exhaustion and sunk into a deep
sleep。 His wounded arm； bound and splintered up； was crossed
upon his breast； his head reclined upon the other arm； which was
half…hidden by his long hair； as it streamed over the pillow。
The honest gentleman held the curtain in his hand； and looked
on for a minute or so； in silence。 Whilst he was watching the
patient thus； the younger lady glided softly past； and seating
herself in a chair by the bedside； gathered Oliver’s hair from his
face。 As she stooped over him； her tears fell upon his forehead。
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The boy stirred； and smiled in his sleep； as though these marks
of pity and compassion had awakened some pleasant dream of a
love and affection he had never known。 Thus； a strain of gentle
music； or the rippling of water in a silent place； or the odour of a
flower； or the mention of a familiar word； will sometimes call up
sudden dim remembrances of scenes that never were； in this life；
which vanish like a breath； which some brief memory of a happier
existence； long gone by； would seem to have awakened； which no
voluntary exertion of the mind can ever recall。
“What can this mean？” exclaimed the elder lady。 “This poor
child can never have been the pupil of robbers！”
“Vice；” sighed the surgeon； replacing the curtain； “takes up her
abode in many temples； and who can say that a fair outside shall
not enshrine her？”
“But at so early an age！” urged Rose。
“My dear young lady；” rejoined the surgeon； mournfully
shaking his head； “crime； like death； is not confined to the old and
withered alone。 The youngest and fairest are too often its chosen
victims。”
“But； can you—oh！ can you really believe that this delicate boy
has been the voluntary associate of the worst outcasts of society？”
said Rose。
The surgeon shook his head； in a manner which intimated that
he feared it was very possible； and observing that they might
disturb the patient； led the way into an adjoining apartment。
“But even if he has been wicked；” pursued Rose； “think how
young he is； think that he may never have known a mother’s love；
or the comfort of a home； that ill…usage and blows； or the want of
bread； may have driven him to herd with men who have forced
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him to guilt。 Aunt； dear aunt； for mercy’s sake； think of this； before
you let them drag this sick child to a prison； which in any case
must be the grave of all his chances of amendment。 Oh！ as you
love me； and know that I have never felt the want of parents in
your goodness and affection； but that I might have done so； and
might have been equally helpless and unprotected with this poor
child； have pity upon him before it is too late！
“My dear love；” said the elder lady； as she folded the weeping
girl to her bosom； “do you think I would harm a hair of his head？”
“Oh； no！” replied Rose eagerly。
“No； surely；” said the old lady； “my days are drawing to their
close； and may mercy be shown to me as I show it to others！ What
can I do to save him； sir？”
“Let me think； ma’am；” said the doctor； “let me think。”
Mr。 Losberne thrust his hands into his pockets； and took
several turns up and down the room； often stopping； and
balancing himself on his toes； and frowning frightfully。 After
various exclamations of “I’ve got it now；” and “no； I haven’t；” and
as many renewals of the walking and frowning； he at length made
a dead halt； and spoke as follows：
“I think if you give me a full and unlimited commission to bully
Giles； and that little boy； Brittles； I can manage it。 Giles is a
faithful fellow and an old servant； I know； but you can make it up
to him in a thousand ways； and reward him for being such a good
shot besides。 You don’t object to that？”
“Unless there is some other way of preserving the child；”
replied Mrs。 Maylie。
“There is no other；” said the doctor。 “No other； take my word
for it。”
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“Then my aunt invests you with full power；” said Rose； smiling
through her tears； “but pray don’t be harder upon the poor fellows
than is indispensably necessary。”
“You seem to think；” retorted the doctor； “that everybody is
disposed to be hard…hearted today； except yourself； Miss Rose。 I
only hope； for the sake of the rising male sex generally； that you
may be found in as vulnerable and soft…hearted a mood by the first
eligible young fellow who appeals to your compassion； and I wish I
were a young fellow； that I might avail myself； on the spot； of such
a favourable opportunity for doing so； as the present。”
“You are as great a boy as p