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“I will not；” rejoined Mrs。 Maylie； “but I would have you
consider—”
“I have considered！” was the impatient reply； “mother； I have
considered； years and years。 I have considered； ever since I have
been capable of serious reflection。 My feelings remain unchanged；
as they ever will； and why should I suffer the pain of a delay in
giving them vent； which can be productive of no earthly good？ No！
Before I leave this place； Rose shall hear me。”
“She shall；” said Mrs。 Maylie。
“There is something in your manner； which would almost imply
that she will hear me coldly； mother；” said the young man。
“Not coldly；” rejoined the old lady； “far from it。”
“How then？” urged the young man。 “She has formed no other
attachment？”
“No； indeed；” replied his mother； “you have； or I mistake； too
strong a hold on her affections already。 What I would say；”
resumed the old lady； stopping her son as he was about to speak；
“is this。 Before you stake your all on this chance； before you suffer
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yourself to be carried to the highest point of hope； reflect for a few
moments； my dear child； on Rose’s history； and consider what
effect the knowledge of her doubtful birth may have on her
decision—devoted as she is to us； with all the intensity of her noble
mind； and with that perfect sacrifice of self which； in all matters；
great or trifling； has always been her characteristic。”
“What do you mean？”
“That I leave you to discover；” replied Mrs。 Maylie。 “I must go
back to her。 God bless you！”
“I shall see you again tonight？” said the young ma eagerly。
“By and by；” replied the lady； “when I leave Rose。”
“You will tell her I am here？” said Harry。
“Of course；” replied Mrs。 Maylie。
“And say how anxious I have been； and how much I have
suffered； and how I long to see her。 You will not refuse to do this；
mother？”
“No；” said the old lady； “I will tell her all。” And pressing her
son’s hand affectionately； she hastened from the room。
Mr。 Losberne and Oliver had remained at another end of the
apartment while this hurried conversation was proceeding。 The
former now held out his hand to Harry Maylie； and hearty
salutations were exchanged between them。 The doctor then
communicated； in reply to multifarious questions from his young
friend； a precise account of his patient’s situation； which was quite
as consolatory and full of promise； as Oliver’s statement had
encouraged him to hope； and to the whole of which； Mr。 Giles； who
affected to be busy about the luggage； listened with greedy ears。
“Have you shot anything particular； lately； Giles？” inquired the
doctor； when he had concluded。
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“Nothing particular； sir；” replied Mr。 Giles； colouring up to the
eyes。
“Nor catching any thieves； nor identifying any housebreakers？”
said the doctor。
“None at all； sir；” replied Mr。 Giles； with much gravity。
“Well；” said the doctor； “I am sorry to hear it； because you do
that sort of thing admirably。 Pray； how is Brittles？”
“The boy is very well； sir；” said Mr。 Giles； recovering his usual
tone of patronage； “and sends his respectful duty； sir。”
“That’s well；” said the doctor。 “Seeing you here； reminds me；
Mr。 Giles； that on the day before that on which I was called away
so hurriedly； I executed； at the request of your good mistress； a
small commission in your favour。 Just step into this corner a
moment； will you？”
Mr。 Giles walked into the corner with much importance； and
some wonder； and was honoured with a short whispering
conference with the doctor； on the termination of which； he made
a great many bows； and retired with steps of unusual stateliness。
The subject matter of this conference was not disclosed in the
parlour； but the kitchen was speedily enlightened concerning it；
for Mr。 Giles walked straight thither； and having called for a mug
of ale； announced； with an air of majesty； which was highly
effective； that it had pleased his mistress； in consideration of his
gallant behaviour on the occasion of the attempted robbery to
deposit； in the local savings…bank； the sum of five…and…twenty
pounds； for his sole use and benefit。 At this； the two women…
servants lifted up their hands and eyes； and supposed that Mr。
Giles would begin to be quite proud now； whereunto Mr。 Giles；
pulling out his shirt frill； replied； “No； no”； and that if they
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observed that he was at all haughty to his inferiors； he would
thank them to tell him so。 And then he made a great many other
remarks； no less illustrative of his humility； which were received
with equal favour and applause； and were； withal； as original and
as much to the purpose； as the remarks of great men commonly
are。
Above stairs； the remainder of the evening passed cheerfully
away； for the doctor was in high spirits； and however fatigued or
thoughtful Harry Maylie might have been at first； he was not proof
against the worthy gentleman’s good…humour； which displayed
itself in a great variety of sallies and professional recollections； and
an abundance of small jokes； which struck Oliver as being the
drollest things he had ever heard； and caused him to laugh
proportionately； to the evident satisfaction of the doctor； who
laughed immoderately at himself； and made Harry laugh almost as
heartily； by the very force of sympathy。 So； they were as pleasant a
party as； under the circumstances； they could well have been； and
it was late before they retired； with light and thankful hearts； to
take that rest of which； after the doubt and suspense they had
recently undergone； they stood much in need。
Oliver rose next morning； in better heart； and went about his
usual early occupations； with more hope and pleasure than he had
known for many days。 The birds were once more hung out； to sing；
in their old places； and the sweetest wild flowers that could be
found； were once more gathered to gladden Rose with their
beauty。 The melancholy which had seemed to the sad eyes of the
anxious boy to hang； for days past； over every object； beautiful as
all were； was dispelled by magic。 The dew seemed to sparkle more
brightly on the green leaves； the air to rustle among them with a
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sweeter music； and the sky itself to look more blue and bright。
Such is the influence which the condition of our own thoughts
exercises； even over the appearance of external objects。 Men who
look on nature； and their fellow…men； and cry that all is dark and
gloomy； are in the right； but the sombre colours are reflections
from their own jaundiced eyes and hearts。 The real hues are
delicate； and need a clearer vision。
It is worthy of remark； and Oliver did not fail to note it at the
time； that his morning expeditions were no longer made alone。
Harry Maylie； after the very first morning when he met Oliver
coming laden home； was seized with such a passion for flowers；
and displayed such a taste in their arrangement； as left his young
companion far behind。 If Oliver were behindhand in these
respects； however； he knew where the best were to be found； and
morning after morning they scoured the country together； and
brought home the fairest that blossomed。 The window of the
young lady’s chamber was opened now； for she loved to feel the
rich summer air stream in； and revive her with its freshness； but
there always stood in water； just inside the lattice； one particular
little bunch； which was made up with great care； every morning。
Oliver could not help noticing that the withered flowers were
never thrown away； although the little vase was regularly
replenished； nor； could he help observing； that whenever the
doctor came into the garden； he invariably cast his eyes up to that
particular corner； and nodded his head most expressively； as he
set forth on his morning’s walk。 Pending these observations； the
days were flying by； and Rose was rapidly recovering。
Nor did Oliver’s time hang heavy on his hands； although the
young lady had not yet left her chamber； and there were no
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evening walks； save now and then； for a short distance； with Mrs。
Maylie。 He applied himself； with redoubled assiduity； to the
instructions of the white…headed old gentleman； and laboured so
hard that his quick progress surprised even himself。 It was while
he was engaged in this pursuit； that he was greatly startled and
distressed by a most unexpected occurrence。
The little room in which he was accustomed to sit； when busy at
his books； was on the ground…floor； at the back of the house。 It was
quite a cottage…room； with a lattice window； around which were
clusters of jessamine and honeysuckle that crept over the
casement； and filled the place with their delicious perfume。 It
looked into a garden； whence a wicket gate opened into a s