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Mr。 What…d’ye…call…him’s grounds； at the back here； comes to the
house for assistance this morning； and is immediately laid hold of
and maltreated； by that ingenious gentleman with the candle in
his hand； who had placed his life in considerable danger； as I can
professionally certify。”
Messrs。 Blathers and Duff looked at Mr。 Giles； as he was thus
recommended to their notice。 The bewildered butler gazed from
them towards Oliver； and from Oliver towards Mr。 Losberne； with
a most ludicrous mixture of fear and perplexity。
“You don’t mean to deny that； I suppose？” said the doctor；
laying Oliver gently down again。
“I was all done for the—for the best； sir；” answered Giles。 “I am
sure I thought it was the boy； or I wouldn’t have meddled with
him。 I am not of an inhuman disposition； sir。”
“Thought it was what boy？” inquired the senior officer。
“The housebreaker’s boy； sir！” replied Giles。 “They—they
certainly had a boy。”
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“Well？ Do you think so now？” inquired Blathers。
“Think what now？” replied Giles； looking vacantly at his
questioner。
“Think it’s the same boy； stupid…head？” rejoined Blathers
impatiently。
“I don’t know； I really don’t know；” said Giles； with a rueful
countenance。 “I couldn’t swear to him。”
“What do you think？” asked Mr。 Blathers。
“I don’t know what to think；” replied poor Giles。 “I don’t think
it is the boy； indeed； I’m almost certain that it isn’t。 You know it
can’t be。”
“Has this man been a…drinking； sir？” inquired Blathers； turning
to the doctor。
“What a precious muddle…headed chap you are！” said Duff；
addressing Mr。 Giles； with supreme contempt。
Mr。 Losberne had been feeling the patient’s pulse during this
short dialogue； but he now rose from the chair by the bedside； and
remarked； that if the officers had any doubts upon the subject；
they would perhaps like to step into the next room； and have
Brittles before them。
Acting upon this suggestion； they adjourned to a neighbouring
apartment； where Mr。 Brittles； being called in； involved himself
and his respected superior in such a wonderful maze of fresh
contradictions and impossibilities； as tended to throw no
particular light on anything； but the fact of his own strong
mystification； except； indeed； his declarations that he shouldn’t
know the real boy； if he were put before him that instant； that he
had only taken Oliver to be he； because Mr。 Giles had said he was；
and that Mr。 Giles had； five minutes previously； admitted in the
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kitchen； that he began to be very much afraid he had been a little
too hasty。
Among other ingenious surmises； the question was then raised；
whether Mr。 Giles had really hit anybody； and upon examination
of the fellow…pistol to that which he had fired； it turned out to have
no more destructive loading than gunpowder and brown paper—a
discovery which made a considerable impression on everybody
but the doctor； who had drawn the ball about ten minutes before。
Upon no one； however； did it make a greater impression than on
Mr。 Giles himself； who； after labouring； for some hours； under the
fear of having mortally wounded a fellow…creature； eagerly caught
at this new idea； and favoured it to the utmost。 Finally； the
officers； without troubling themselves very much about Oliver； left
the Chertsey constable in the house； and took up their rest for that
night in the town； promising to return next morning。
With the next morning there came a rumour； that two men and
a boy were in the cage at Kingston； who had been apprehended
overnight under suspicious circumstances； and to Kingston
Messrs。 Blathers and Duff journeyed accordingly。 The suspicious
circumstances； however； resolving themselves； on investigation；
into the one fact； that they had been discovered sleeping under a
haystack； which； although a great crime； is only punishable by
imprisonment； and is； in the merciful eye of the English law； and
its comprehensive love of all the king’s subjects； held to be no
satisfactory proof； in the absence of all other evidence； that the
sleeper； or sleepers； have committed burglary accompanied with
violence； and have therefore rendered themselves liable to the
punishment of death； Messrs。 Blathers and Duff came back again；
as wise as they went。
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In short； after some more examination； and a great deal more
conversation； a neighbouring magistrate was readily induced to
take the joint bail of Mrs。 Maylie and Mr。 Losberne for Oliver’s
appearance if he should ever be called upon； and Blathers and
Duff； being rewarded with a couple of guineas； returned to town
with divided opinions on the subject of their expedition； the latter
gentleman on a mature consideration of all the circumstances；
inclining to the belief that the burglarious attempt had originated
with the Family Pet； and the former being equally disposed to
concede the full merit of it to the great Mr。 Conkey Chickweed。
Meanwhile； Oliver gradually throve and prospered under the
united care of Mrs。 Maylie； Rose； and the kind…hearted Mr。
Losberne。 If fervent prayers； gushing from hearts overcharged
with gratitude； be heard in Heaven—and if they be not； what
prayers are？—the blessings which the orphan child called down
upon them； sank into their souls； diffusing peace and happiness
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Chapter 32
Of The Happy Life Oliver Began To Lead With His
Kind Friends。
O liver’s ailings were neither slight nor few。 In addition to
the pain and delay attendant on a broken limb； his
exposure to the wet and cold had brought on fever and
ague； which hung about him for many weeks； and reduced him
sadly。 But； at length； he began； by slow degrees； to get better； and
to be able to say sometimes； in a few tearful words； how deeply he
felt the goodness of the two sweet ladies； and how ardently he
hoped that when he grew strong and well again； he could do
something to show his gratitude； only something which would let
them see the love and duty with which his breast was full；
something； however slight； which would prove to them that their
gentle kindness had not been cast away； but that the poor boy
whom their charity had rescued from misery； or death； was eager
to serve them with his whole heart and soul。
“Poor fellow！” said Rose； when Oliver had been one day feebly
endeavouring to utter the words of thankfulness that rose to his
pale lips； “you shall have many opportunities of serving us； if you
will。 We are going into the country； and my aunt intends that you
shall accompany us。 The quiet place； the pure air； and all the
pleasures and beauties of spring； will restore you in a few days。 We
will employ you in a hundred ways； when you can bear the
trouble。”
“The trouble！” cried Oliver。 “Oh！ dear lady； if I could but work
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for you； if I could only give you pleasure by watering your flowers；
or watching your birds； or running up and down the whole day
long； to make you happy； what would I give to do it！”
“You shall give nothing at all；” said Miss Maylie； smiling； “for；
as I told you before； we shall employ you in a hundred ways； and if
you only take half the trouble to please us； that you promise now；
you will make me very happy indeed。”
“Happy； ma’am！” cried Oliver； “how kind of you to say so！”
“You will make me happier than I can tell you；” replied the
young lady。 “To think that my dear good aunt should have been
the means of rescuing any one from such sad misery as you have
described to us； would be an unspeakable pleasure to me； but to
know that the object of her goodness and compassion was
sincerely grateful and attached； in consequence； would delight me
more than you can well imagine。 Do you understand me？” she
inquired； watching Oliver’s thoughtful face。
“Oh； yes； ma’am； yes！” replied Oliver eagerly； “but I was
thinking that I am ungrateful now。”
“To whom？” inquired the young lady。
“To the kind gentleman； and the dear old nurse； who took so
much care of me before；” rejoined Oliver。 “If they knew how
happy I am； they would be pleased； I am sure。”
“I am sure they would；” rejoined Oliver’s benefactress； “and
Mr。 Losberne has already been kind enough to promise that when
you are well enough to bear the journey； he will carry you to see
them。”
“Has he； ma’am？” cried Oliver； his face brightening with
pleasure。 “I don’t know what I shall do for joy when I see their
kind faces once again！”
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In a short time Oliver was sufficiently recovered to undergo the
fatigue of this expedition。 One morning he and Mr。 Losberne set
out； accordingly； in a little carriage which belonged to Mrs。 Maylie。
When they came to Chertsey Bridge； Oliver turne