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been my destiny—if I had been poor； sick； helpless—would you
have turned from me then？ Or has my probable advancement to
riches and honour； given this scruple birth？”
“Do you press me to reply；” answered Rose。 “The question does
not arise； and never will。 It is unfair； almost unkind； to urge it。”
“If your answer be what I almost dare to hope it is；” retorted
Harry； “it will shed a gleam of happiness upon my lonely way； and
light the path before me。 It is not an idle thing to do so much； by
the utterance of a few brief words； for one who loves you beyond
all else。 Oh； Rose！ in the name of my ardent and enduring
attachment； in the name of all I have suffered for you； and all you
doom me to undergo； answer me this one question！”
“Then； if your lot had been differently cast；” rejoined Rose； “if
you had been even a little； but not so far； above me； if I could have
been a help and comfort to you in any humble scene of peace and
retirement； and not a blot and drawback in ambitious and
distinguished crowds； I should have been spared this trial。 I have
every reason to be happy； very happy； now； but then； Harry； I own
I should have been happier。”
Busy recollections of old hopes； cherished as a girl； long ago；
crowded into the mind of Rose； while making this avowal； but they
brought tears with them； as old hopes will when they come back
withered； and they relieved her。
“I cannot help this weakness； and it makes my purpose
stronger；” said Rose； extending her hand。 “I must leave you now；
indeed。”
“I ask one promise；” said Harry。 “Once； and only once…more—
say within a year； but it may be much sooner—I may speak to you
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again on this subject； for the last time？”
“Not to press me to alter my right determination；” replied Rose；
with a melancholy smile； “it will be useless。”
“No；” said Harry； “to hear you repeat it； if you will—finally
repeat it！ I will lay at your feet； whatever of station or fortune I
may possess； and if you still adhere to your present resolution； will
not seek； by word or act； to change it。”
“Then let it be so；” rejoined Rose； “it is but one pang the more；
and by that time I may be enabled to bear it better。”
She extended her hand again。 But the young man caught her to
his bosom； and； imprinting one kiss on her beautiful forehead；
hurried from the room。
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Chapter 36
Is a very short one； and may appear of no great
importance in its place； but it should be read
notwithstanding； as a sequel to the last； and a key to
one that will follow when its time arrives。
“A nd so you are resolved to be my travelling
companion this morning； eh？” said the doctor； as
Harry Maylie joined him and Oliver at the breakfast…
table。 “Why； you are not in the same mind or intention two half…
hours together！”
“You will tell me a different tale one of these days；” said Harry；
colouring without any perceptible reason。
“I hope I may have good cause to do so；” replied Mr。 Losberne；
“though I confess I don’t think I shall。 But yesterday morning you
have made up your mind； in a great hurry； to stay here； and to
accompany your mother； like a dutiful son； to the seaside。 Before
noon； you announce that you are going to do me the honour of
accompanying me as far as I go； on your road to London。 And at
night； you urge me； with great mystery； to start before the ladies
are stirring； the consequence of which is； that young Oliver here is
pinned down to his breakfast when he ought to be ranging the
meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds。 Too bad； isn’t it；
Oliver！”
“I should have been very sorry not to have been at home when
you and Mr。 Maylie went away； sir；” rejoined Oliver。
“That’s a fine fellow；” said the doctor； “you shall come and see
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me when you return。 But； to speak seriously； Harry； has any
communication from the great nobs produced this sudden anxiety
on your part to be gone？”
“The great nobs；” replied Harry； “under which designation I
presume； you include my most stately uncle； have not
communicated with me at all； since I have been here； nor； at this
time of the year； is it likely that anything would occur to render
necessary my immediate attendance among them。”
“Well；” said the doctor； “you are a queer fellow。 But of course
they will get you into Parliament at the election before Christmas；
and these sudden shiftings and changes are no bad preparation for
political life。 There’s something in that。 Good training is always
desirable； whether the race be for place； cup； or sweepstakes。”
Harry Maylie looked as if he could have followed up this short
dialogue by one or two remarks that would have staggered the
doctor not a little； but he contented himself with saying； “We shall
see；” and pursued the subject no further。 The post…chaise drove up
to the door shortly afterwards； and Giles coming in for the
baggage； the good doctor bustled out； to see it packed。
“Oliver；” said Harry Maylie； in a low voice； “let me speak a
word with you。”
Oliver walked into the window…recess to which Mr。 Maylie
beckoned him； much surprised at the mixture of sadness and
boisterous spirits； which his whole behaviour displayed。
“You can write now？” said Harry； laying his hand upon his
arm。
“I hope so； sir；” replied Oliver。
“I shall not be at home again； perhaps for some time； I wish you
would write to me—say once a fortnight； every alternate
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Monday—to the General Post Office in London。 Will you？”
“Oh！ certainly； sir； I shall be proud to do it；” exclaimed Oliver；
greatly delighted with the commission。
“I should like to know—how my mother and Miss Maylie are；”
said the young man； “and you can fill up a sheet by telling me
what walks you take； and what you talk about； and whether she—
they； I mean—seem happy and quite well。 You understand me？”
“Oh！ quite； sir； quite；” replied Oliver。
“I would rather you did not mention it to them；” said Harry；
hurrying over his words； “because it might make my mother
anxious to write to me oftener； and it is a trouble and worry to her。
Let it be a secret between you and me； and mind you tell me
everything！ I depend upon you。”
Oliver； quite elated and honoured by a sense of his importance；
faithfully promised to be secret and explicit in his
communications。 Mr。 Maylie took leave of him； with many
assurances of his regard and protection。
The doctor was in the chaise； Giles （who； it had been arranged；
should be left behind） held the door open in his hand； and the
women…servants were in the garden； looking on。 Harry cast one
slight glance at the latticed window； and jumped into the carriage。
“Drive on！” he cried； “hard； fast； full gallop！ Nothing short of
flying will keep pace with me； today。”
“Hallo！” cried the doctor； letting down the front glass in a great
hurry； and shouting to the postillion； “something very short of
flying will keep pace with me。 Do you hear？”
Jingling and clattering； till distance rendered its noise
inaudible； and its progress only perceptible to the eye； the vehicle
wound its way along the road； almost hidden in a cloud of dust；
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now wholly disappearing； and now becoming visible again； as
intervening objects； or the intricacies of the way； permitted。 It was
not until even the dusty cloud was no longer to be seen； that the
gazers dispersed。
And there was one looker…on； who remained with eyes fixed
upon the spot where the carriage had disappeared； long after it
was many miles away； for； behind the white curtain which had
shrouded her from view when Harry raised his eyes towards the
window； sat Rose herself。
“He seems in high spirits and happy；” she said； at length。 “I
feared for a time he might be otherwise。 I was mistaken。 I am very；
very glad。”
Tears are signs of gladness as well as grief； but those which
coursed down Rose’s face； as she sat pensively at the window； still
gazing in the same direction； seemed to tell more of sorrow than of
joy。
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Chapter 37
In Which The Reader May Perceive A Contrast； Not
Uncommon In Matrimonial Cases。
Mr。 Bumble sat in the workhouse parlour； with his eyes
moodily fixed on the cheerless grate； whence； as it was
summer time； no brighter gleam proceeded； than the
reflection of certain sickly rays of the sun； which were sent back
from its cold and shining surface。 A paper fly…cage dangled from
the ceiling； to which he occasionally raised his eyes in gloomy
thought； and； as the heedless insects hovered round the gaudy
network； Mr。 Bumble would heave a deep sigh； while a more
gloomy shadow overspread his countenance。 Mr。 Bumble was
meditating； it might be that