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and stupefied by the unexpected intelligence； he could not
weep； or speak； or rest。 He had scarcely the power of
understanding anything that had passed； until； after a long ramble
in the quiet evening air； a burst of tears came to his relief； and he
seemed to awaken all at once； to a full sense of the joyful change
that had occurred； and the almost insupportable load of anguish
which had been taken from his breast。
The night was fast closing in； when he returned homeward；
laden with flowers which he had culled； with peculiar care； for the
adornment of the sick chamber。 As he walked briskly along the
road he heard behind him； the noise of some vehicle； approaching
at a furious pace。 Looking round； he saw that it was a post…chaise；
driven at great speed； and as the horses were galloping； and the
road was narrow； he stood leaning against a gate until it should
have passed him。
As it dashed on； Oliver caught a glimpse of a man； in a white
night…cap； whose face seemed familiar to him； although his view
was so brief that he could not identify the person。 In another
second or two； the night…cap was thrust out of the chaise window；
and a stentorian voice bellowed to the driver to stop； which he did；
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as soon as he could pull up his horses。 Then； the night…cap once
again appeared； and the same voice called Oliver by his name。
“Here！” cried the voice。 “Oliver； what’s the news？ Miss Rose！
Master O…li…ver！”
“Is it you； Giles？” cried Oliver； running up to the chaise door。
Giles popped out his night…cap again； preparatory to making
some reply； when he was suddenly pulled back by a young
gentleman who occupied the other corner of the chaise； and who
eagerly demanded what was the news。 “In a word！” cried the
gentleman； “better or worse？”
“Better—much better！” replied Oliver hastily。
“Thank Heaven！” exclaimed the gentleman。 “You are sure？”
“Quite； sir；” replied Oliver。 “The change took place—only a few
hours ago； and Mr。 Losberne says that all danger is at an end。”
The gentleman did not say another word； but； opening the
chaise door； leaped out； and taking Oliver hurriedly by the arm；
led him aside。
“You are quite certain？ There is no possibility of any mistake
on your part； my boy； is there？” demanded the gentleman in a
tremulous voice。 “Do not deceive me； by awakening hopes that are
not to be fulfilled。”
“I would not for the world； sir；” replied Oliver。 “Indeed you may
believe me。 Mr。 Losberne’s words were； that she would live to
bless us all for many years to come。 I heard him say so。”
The tears stood in Oliver’s eyes as he recalled the scene which
was the beginning of so much happiness； and the gentleman
turned his face away； and remained silent； for some minutes。
Oliver thought he heard him sob； more than once； but he feared to
interrupt him by any fresh remark—for he could well guess what
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his feelings were—and so stood apart； feigning to be occupied with
his nosegay。
All this time； Mr。 Giles； with the white night…cap on； had been
sitting on the steps of the chaise； supporting an elbow on each
knee； and wiping his eyes with a blue cotton pocket…handkerchief
dotted with white spots。 That the honest fellow had not been
feigning emotion； was abundantly demonstrated by the very red
eyes with which he regarded the young gentleman； when he
turned round and addressed him。
“I think you had better go on to my mother’s in the chaise；
Giles；” said he。 “I would rather walk slowly on； so as to gain a little
time before I see her。 You can say I am coming。”
“I beg your pardon； Mr。 Harry；” said Giles； giving a final polish
to his ruffled countenance with the handkerchief； “but if you
would leave the postboy to say that； I should be very much obliged
to you。 It wouldn’t be proper for the maids to see me in this state；
sir； I should never have any more authority with them if they did。”
“Well；” rejoined Harry Maylie； smiling； “you can do as you like。
Let him go on with the luggage； if you wish it； and do you follow
with us。 Only first exchange that night…cap for some more
appropriate covering； or we shall be taken for madmen。”
Mr。 Giles； reminded of his unbecoming costume； snatched off
and pocketed his night…cap； and substituted a hat； of grave and
sober shape； which he took out of the chaise。 This done； the
postboy drove off； Giles； Mr。 Maylie； and Oliver； followed at their
leisure。
As they walked along； Oliver glanced from time to time with
much interest and curiosity at the newcomer。 He seemed about
five…and…twenty years of age； and was of the middle height； his
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countenance was frank and handsome； and his demeanour easy
and prepossessing。 Notwithstanding the difference between youth
and age； he bore so strong a likeness to the old lady； that Oliver
would have had no great difficulty in imagining their relationship；
if he had not already spoken of her as his mother。
Mrs。 Maylie was anxiously waiting to receive her son when he
reached the cottage。 The meeting did not take place without great
emotion on both sides。
“Mother！” whispered the young man； “why did you not write
before？”
“I did；” replied Mrs。 Maylie； “but； on reflection； I determined to
keep back the letter until I had heard Mr。 Losberne’s opinion。”
“But why；” said the young man—“why run the chance of that
occurring which so nearly happened？ If Rose had—I cannot utter
that word now—if this illness had terminated differently； how
could you ever have forgiven yourself！ How could I ever have
known happiness again！”
“If that had been the case； Harry；” said Mrs。 Maylie； “I fear your
happiness would have been effectually blighted； and that your
arrival here； a day sooner； or a day later； would have been of very；
very little import。”
“And who can wonder if it be so； mother？” rejoined the young
man； “or why should I say； if？—It is—it is—You know it； mother—
you must know it！”
“I know that she deserves the best and purest love the heart of
man can offer；” said Mrs。 Maylie； “I know that the devotion and
affection of her nature require no ordinary return； but one that
shall be deep and lasting。 If I did not feel this； and know； besides；
that a changed behaviour in one she loved would break her heart；
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I should not feel my task so difficult of performance； or have to
encounter so many struggles in my own bosom； when I take what
seems to me to be the strict line of duty。”
“This is unkind； mother；” said Harry。 “Do you still suppose that
I am a boy ignorant of my own mind； and mistaking the impulses
of my own soul？”
“I think； my dear son；” returned Mrs。 Maylie； laying her hand
upon his shoulder； “that youth has many generous impulses which
do not last； and that among them are some； which； being gratified；
become only the more fleeting。 Above all； I think；” said the lady；
fixing her eyes on her son’s face； “that if an enthusiastic； ardent；
and ambitious man marry a wife on whose name there is a stain；
which； though it originate in no fault of hers； may be visited by
cold and sordid people upon her； and upon his children also； and；
in exact proportion to his success in the world； be cast in his teeth；
and made the subject of sneers against him； he may； no matter
how generous and good his nature； one day repent of the
connection he formed in early life。 And she may have the pain of
knowing that he does so。”
“Mother；” said the young man impatiently；” he would be a
selfish brute； unworthy alike of the name of man and of the
woman you describe； who acted thus。”
“You think so now； Harry；” replied his mother。
“And ever will！” said the young man。 “The mental agony I have
suffered； during the last two days； wrings from me the avowal to
you of a passion which； as you well know； is not one of yesterday；
nor one I have lightly formed。 On Rose； sweet； gentle girl！ my
heart is set； as firmly as ever heart of man was set on woman。 I
have no thought； no view； no hope in life； beyond her； and if you
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oppose me in this great stake； you take my peace and happiness in
your hands； and cast them to the wind。 Mother； think better of
this； and of me； and do not disregard the happiness of which you
seem to think so little。”
“Harry；” said Mrs。 Maylie； “it is because I think so much of
warm and sensitive hearts； that I would spare them from being
wounded。 But we have said enough； and more than enough； on
this matter； just now。”
“Let it rest with Rose； then；” interposed Harry。 “You will not
press these overstrained opinions of yours； so far； as to throw any
obstacle in my way？”
“I will not；” rejoined Mrs。 Maylie； “but I would have you
consider—”
“I have considered！” w