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preparations for quitting the house at Chertsey； for some months。
Sending the plate； which had so excited Fagin’s cupidity； to the
banker’s； and leaving Giles and another servant in care of the
house； they departed to a cottage at some distance in the country；
and took Oliver with them。
Who can describe the pleasure and delight； the peace of mind
and soft tranquillity； the sickly boy felt in the balmy air； and
among the green hills and rich woods； of an inland village！ Who
can tell how scenes of peace and quietude sink into the minds of
pain…worn dwellers in close and noisy places； and carry their own
freshness deep into their jaded hearts！ Men who have lived in
crowded； pent…up streets； through lives of toil； and who had never
wished for change； men； to whom custom has indeed been second
nature； and who have come almost to love each brick and stone
that formed the narrow boundaries of their daily walks； even they；
with the hand of death upon them； have been known to yearn at
last for one short glimpse of Nature’s face； and； carried far from
the scenes of their old pains and pleasures； have seemed to pass at
once into a new state of being。 Crawling forth； from day to day； to
some green sunny spot； they have had such memories wakened up
within them by the sight of sky； and hill； and plain； and glistening
water； that a foretaste of Heaven itself has soothed their quick
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decline； and they have sunk into their tombs； as peacefully as the
sun whose setting they watched from their lonely chamber
window but a few hours before； faded from their dim and feeble
light！ The memories which peaceful country scenes call up； are
not of this world； nor of its thoughts and hopes。 Their gentle
influence may teach us how to weave fresh garlands for the graves
of those we loved； may purify our thoughts； and bear down before
it old enmity and hatred； but beneath all this； there lingers； in the
least reflective mind； a vague and half…formed consciousness of
having held such feelings long before； in some remote and distant
time； which calls up solemn thoughts of distant times to come； and
bends down pride and worldliness beneath it。
It was a lovely spot to which they repaired。 Oliver； whose days
had been spent among squalid crowds； and in the midst of noise
and brawling； seemed to enter on a new existence there。 The rose
and honeysuckle clung to the cottage walls； the ivy crept round the
trunks of the trees； and the garden flowers perfumed the air with
delicious odours。 Hard by； was a little churchyard； not crowded
with tall； unsightly gravestones； but full of humble mounds；
covered with fresh turf and moss； beneath which； the old people of
the village lay at rest。 Oliver often wandered here； and； thinking of
the wretched grave in which his mother lay； would sometimes sit
hum down and sob unseen； but； when he raised his eyes to the
deep sky overhead； he would cease to think of her as lying in the
ground； and would weep for her； sadly； but without pain。
It was a happy time。 The days were peaceful and serene； the
nights brought with them neither fear nor care； no languishing in
a wretched prison； or associating with wretched men； nothing but
pleasant and happy thoughts。 Every morning he went to a white…
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headed old gentleman； who lived near the little church； who
taught him to read better； and to write； and who spoke so kindly；
and took such pains； that Oliver could never try enough to please
him。 Then； he would walk with Mrs。 Maylie and Rose； and hear
them talk of books； or perhaps sit near them； in some shady place；
and listen whilst the young lady read； which he could have done；
until it grew too dark to see the letters。 He had his own lesson for
the next day to prepare； and at this； he would work hard； in a little
room which looked into the garden； till evening came slowly on；
when the ladies would walk out again； and he with them； listening
with such pleasure to all they said； and so happy if they wanted a
flower that he could climb to reach； or had forgotten anything he
could run to fetch； that he could never be quick enough about it。
When it became quite dark； and they returned home； the young
lady would sit down to a piano； and play some pleasant air； or sing；
in a low and gentle voice； some old song which it pleased her aunt
to hear。 There would be no candles lighted at such times as these；
and Oliver would sit by one of the windows； listening to the sweet
music； in a perfect rapture。
And when Sunday came； how differently the day was spent；
from any way in which he had ever spent it yet！ and how happily
too； like all the other days in that most happy time！ There was the
little church； in the morning； with the green leaves fluttering at
the windows； the birds singing without； and the sweet…smelling air
stealing in at the low porch； and filling the homely building with
its fragrance。 The poor people were so neat and clean and knelt so
reverently in prayer； that it seemed a pleasure； not a tedious duty；
their assembling there together； and though the singing might be
rude； it was real； and sounded more musical （to Oliver’s ears at
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least） than any he had ever heard in church before。 Then； there
were the walks as usual； and many calls at the clean houses of the
labouring men； and at night； Oliver read a chapter or two from the
Bible； which he had been studying all the week； and in the
performance of which duty he felt more proud and pleased； than if
he had been the clergyman himself。
In the morning； Oliver would be afoot by six o’clock； roaming
the fields； and plundering the hedges； far and wide； for nosegays
of wild flowers； with which he would return laden； home； and
which it took great care and consideration to arrange； to the best
advantage； for the embellishment of the breakfast…table。 There
was fresh groundsel； too； for Miss Maylie’s birds； with which
Oliver； who had been studying the subject under the able tuition
of the village clerk； would decorate the cages； in the most
approved taste。 When the birds were made all spruce and smart
for the day； there was usually some little commission of charity to
execute in the village； or； failing that； there was rare cricket…
playing； sometimes； on the green； or； failing that； there was always
something to do in the garden； or about the plants； to which Oliver
（who had studied this science also； under the same master； who
was a gardener by trade） applied himself with hearty goodwill；
until Miss Rose made her appearance； when there were a
thousand commendations to be bestowed on all he had done。
So three months glided away； three months which； in the life of
the most blessed and favoured of mortals； might have been
unmingled happiness； and which； in Oliver’s； were true felicity。
With the purest and most amiable generosity on one side； and the
truest； warmest； soul…felt gratitude on the other； it is no wonder
that； by the end of that short time； Oliver Twist had become
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completely domesticated with the old lady and her niece； and that
the fervent attachment of his young and sensitive heart； was
repaid by their pride in； and attachment to； himself。
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Chapter 33
Wherein The Happiness Of Oliver And His Friends；
Experiences A Sudden Check。
S pring flew swiftly by； and summer came。 If the village had
been beautiful at first it was now in the full glow and
luxuriance of its richness。 The great trees； which had
looked shrunken and bare in the earlier months； had now burst
into strong life and health； and stretching forth their green arms
over the thirsty ground； converted open and naked spots into
choice nooks； where was a deep and pleasant shade from which to
look upon the wide prospect； steeped in sunshine； which lay
stretched beyond。 The earth had donned her mantle of brightest
green； and shed her richest perfumes abroad。 It was the prime and
vigour of the year； all things were glad and flourishing。
Still； the same quiet life went on at the little cottage； and the
same cheerful serenity prevailed among its inmates。 Oliver had
long since grown stout and healthy； but health or sickness made
no difference in his warm feelings to those about him； though they
do in the feelings of a great many people。 He was still the same
gentle； attached； affectionate creature that he had been when pain
and suffering had wasted his strength； and when he was
dependent for every slight attention and comfort on those who
tended him。
One beautiful night； they had taken a longer walk than was
customary with them； for the day had been unusually warm； and
there was a brilliant moon； and a light wind had sprung up； which
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was unusually refreshing。 Rose had been in high spirits； too