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Oliver Twist 342
was unusually refreshing。 Rose had been in high spirits； too； and
they had walked on； in merry conversation； until they had far
exceeded their ordinary bounds。 Mrs。 Maylie being fatigued； they
returned more slowly home。 The young lady merely throwing off
her simple bonnet； sat down to the piano as usual。 After running
abstractedly over the keys for a few minutes； she fell into a low
and very solemn air； and； as she played it； they heard a sound as if
she were weeping。
“Rose； my dear！” said the elder lady。
Rose made no reply； but played a little quicker； as though the
words had roused her from some painful thoughts。
“Rose； my love！” cried Mrs。 Maylie； rising hastily； and bending
over her。 “What is this？ In tears！ My dear child； what distresses
you？”
“Nothing； aunt； nothing；” replied the young lady。 “I don’t know
what it is； I can’t describe it； but I feel—”
“Not ill； my love？” interposed Mrs。 Maylie。
“No； no！ Oh； not ill！” replied Rose； shuddering as though some
deadly chillness were passing over her； while she spoke； “I shall be
better presently。 Close the window； pray！”
Oliver hastened to comply with her request。 The young lady；
making an effort to recover her cheerfulness； strove to play some
livelier tune； but her fingers dropped powerless on the keys。
Covering her face with her hands； she sank upon a sofa； and gave
vent to the tears which she was now unable to repress。
“My child！” said the elderly lady； folding her arms about her。 “I
never saw you so before。”
“I would not alarm you if I could avoid it；” rejoined Rose； “but
indeed I have tried very hard； and cannot help this。 I fear I am ill；
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aunt。”
She was； indeed； for； when candles were brought； they saw that
in the very short time which had elapsed since their return home；
the hue of her countenance had changed to a marble whiteness。
Its expression had lost nothing of its beauty； but it was changed；
and there was an anxious； haggard look about the gentle face；
which it had never worn before。 Another minute； and it was
suffused with a crimson flush； and a heavy wildness came over the
soft blue eye。 Again this disappeared； like the shadow thrown by a
passing cloud； and she was once more deadly pale。
Oliver； who watched the old lady anxiously； observed that she
was alarmed by these appearances； and so in truth； was he； but；
seeing that she affected to make light of them； he endeavoured to
do the same； and they so far succeeded； that when Rose was
persuaded by her aunt to retire for the night； she was in better
spirits； and appeared even in better health； assuring them that she
felt certain she should rise in the morning； quite well。 “I hope；”
said Oliver； when Mrs。 Maylie returned； “that nothing is the
matter？ She don’t look well tonight； but—” The old lady motioned
to him not to speak； and； sitting herself down in a dark corner of
the room； remained silent for some time。 At length； she said； in a
trembling voice：
“I hope not； Oliver。 I have been very happy with her for some
years—too happy； perhaps。 It may be time that I should meet with
some misfortune； but I hope it is not this。”
“What？” inquired Oliver。
“The heavy blow；” said the old lady； “of losing the dear girl who
has so long been my comfort and happiness。”
“Oh！ God forbid！” exclaimed Oliver hastily。
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“Amen to that； my child！” said the old lady； wringing her hands。
“Surely there is no danger of anything so dreadful？” said
Oliver。 “Two hours ago； she was quite well。”
“She is very ill now；” rejoined Mrs。 Maylie； “and will be worse； I
am sure。 My dear； dear Rose！ Oh； what should I do without her！”
She gave way to such great grief； that Oliver； suppressing his
own emotion； ventured to remonstrate with her； and to beg；
earnestly； that； for the sake of the dear young lady herself； she
would be more calm。
“And consider； ma’am；” said Oliver； as the tears forced
themselves into his eyes； despite of his efforts to the contrary。 “Oh！
consider how young and good she is； and what pleasure and
comfort she gives to all about her。 I am sure—certain—quite
certain—that； for your sake； who are so good yourself； and for her
own； and for the sake of all she makes so happy； she will not die。
Heaven will never let her die so young。”
“Hush！” said Mrs。 Maylie； laying her hand on Oliver’s head。
“You think like a child； poor boy。 But you teach me my duty；
notwithstanding。 I had forgotten it for a moment； Oliver； but I
hope I may be pardoned； for I am old； and have seen enough of
illness and death to know the agony of separation from the objects
of our love。 I have seen enough； too； to know that it is not always
the youngest and best who are spared to those that love them； but
this should give us comfort in our sorrow； for Heaven is just； and
such things teach us； impressively； that there is a brighter world
than this； and that the passage to it is speedy。 God’s will be done！ I
love her； and He knows how well！”
Oliver was surprised to see that as Mrs。 Maylie said these
words； she checked her lamentations as though by one effort； and
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drawing herself up as she spoke； became composed and firm。 He
was still more astonished to find that this firmness lasted； and
that； under all the care and watching which ensued； Mrs。 Maylie
was ever ready and collected； performing all the duties which
devolved upon her； steadily； and； to all external appearance； even
cheerfully。 But he was young； and did not know what strong
minds are capable of； under trying circumstances。 How should he；
when their possessors so seldom know themselves？
An anxious night ensued。 When morning came； Mrs。 Maylie’s
predictions were but too well verified。 Rose was in the first stage
of a high and dangerous fever。
“We must be active； Oliver； and not give way to useless grief；”
said Mrs。 Maylie； laying her finger on her lip； as she looked
steadily into his face； “this letter must be sent； with all possible
expedition； to Mr。 Losberne。 It must be carried to the market…
town； which is not more than four miles off； by the footpath across
the fields； and thence despatched； by an express on horseback；
straight to Chertsey。 The people at the inn will undertake to do
this； and I can trust to you to see it done； I know。”
Oliver could make no reply； but looked with anxiety to be gone
at once。
“Here is another letter；” said Mrs。 Maylie； pausing to reflect；
“but whether to send it now； or wait until I see how Rose goes on； I
scarcely know。 I would not forward it； unless I feared the worst。”
“Is it for Chertsey； too； ma’am？” inquired Oliver； impatient to
execute his commission； and holding out his trembling hand for
the letter。
“No；” replied the old lady； giving it to him mechanically。 Oliver
glanced at it； and saw that it was directed to Harry Maylie；
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Esquire； at some great lord’s house in the country； where； he could
not make out。
“Shall it go； ma’am？” asked Oliver； looking up impatiently。
“I think not；” replied Mrs。 Maylie； taking it back。 “I will wait
until tomorrow。”
With these words； she gave Oliver her purse； and he started off；
without more delay； at the greatest speed he could muster。
Swiftly he ran across the fields； and down the little lanes which
sometimes divided them； now almost hidden by the high corn on
either side； and now emerging on an open field； where the mowers
and hay…makers were busy at their work； nor did he stop once；
save now and then； for a few seconds； to recover breath； until he
came； in a great heat； and covered with dust； on the little marketplace of the market…town。
Here he paused； and looked about for the inn。 There were a
white bank； and a red brewery； and a yellow town…hall； and in one
corner there was a large house； with all the wood about it painted
green； before which was the sign of “The George”。 To this he
hastened； as soon as it caught his eye。
He spoke to a postboy； who was dozing under the gateway；
and—who； after hearing what he wanted； referred him to the
hostler； who； after hearing all he had to say again； referred him to
the landlord； who was a tall gentleman in a blue neckcloth； a white
hat； drab breeches； and boots with tops to match； leaning against a
pump by the stable door； picking his teeth with a silver toothpick。
This gentleman walked with much deliberation into the bar to
make out the bill； which took a long time making out； and after it
was ready； and paid； a horse had to be saddled； and a man to be
dressed； which took up ten good minutes more。 Meanwhile Oliver
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was in such a desperate state of impatience and anxiety； that he
felt as if he could have jumped upon the horse him