按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Harry May lie； Mrs May lie's son。
O liver； filled with anxiety； ran as fast as he could along the country roads and across the fields until； hot and exhausted； he reached the town。 He posted the letters and turned to hurry home again。 As he was running past a pub in the main street； he accidentally bumped into a tall man in black coming out。 The man stared at O liver。 'What the devil's this？ ' he said； stepping back。
'I'm sorry； sir。 I was in a hurry； and didn' t see you。 '
The man murmured angrily to himself； 'Who would have thought it？ Curse him！ I can't get away from him！ '
'I'm sorry； sir； repeated O liver； frightened by the man' s wild； staring eyes。
'The devil break your bones！ 'the man said through his teeth。 'What are you doing here？ He raised his hand and started towards O liver with a mad look in his eyes； but fell violently to the ground； shaking and gasping； in a fit。 People hurried up and helped the man into the pub while O liver； thinking that the man was mad； ran quickly home/
Mrs May lie and O liver passed a sleepless night； and Rose grew steadily worse as the fever burned in her．O liver said every prayer he had ever learnt ten times over。
Late the next day Dr Losberne and Harry May lie arrived； and the house was full of worried faces and anxious whispers。 But the danger passed； and by the next night Dr Losberne was able to announce that； though seriously ill； Rose would not die。 O liver cried for joy。
A day or two later； Mrs May lie talked privately to her son。 Harry was a hand some young man of about twenty…five； with a cheerful； honest face and friendly manners He was clearly very fond of Rose。
'I know that you want to marry Rose， Mrs May lie told her son； 'and she is the nicest person I know But I want you to remember one thing－her birth。 '
'Mother； that means nothing to me； 'said The young man。 'I love her。 '
'I know you do； Harry； but she herself is well aware of her doubtful birth； and this might affect her answer if you ask her to marry you． I know you have ambitions to enter politics。 If you marry a woman with a stain on her name； even though it's not her fault； it might spoil your chances of success in life。 Society is cruel； Harry。 People might use the knowledge of your wife's doubtful birth against you， and against your children； too。 And one day； you might begin to regret your marriage。 '
'Only a selfish man would do that； Mother！ 'Harry answered impatiently。 'No； I am quite determined。 I have loved Rose for a long time； and nothing will ever change that。 '
Mrs May lie sighed。 'And she； I know； is very fond of you。 But she herself may try to protect you； and refuse an offer of marriage frpm you； for your sake。 Remember that； Harry。 But now； I must go back and sit with her。 '
'Will you tell her how much I've worried about her？ ' asked Harry。 'And how anxious I am to see her again？
'Of course I will； 'replied Mrs May lie。
Some days after this conversation； O liver was sitting in the room where he studied in the evenings。 It was a warm night； and he had been studying hard for some hours。 He fell asleep at his desk and started dreaming。 He dreamt that he was in Fagin's house again； and could see the old man sitting in his corner； whispering to another man。 Yes； my dear； he heard Fagin say； 'you're right。 That's him。 '
In O liver's dream the other man answered。 'Of course it is！ I told you I'd seen him。 I'd recognize him anywhere。 If I walked across his unmarked grave； I'd know it was him buried under the ground。 '
He said this with such hatred that O liver woke up from fear。 In front of him； at the open window； so near he could almost touch the m； were Fagin and the strange； wild man he had bumped into outside the pub in the town。 In a flash； They were gone。 O liver sat still； white with terror； for a second； the n shouted loudly for help。
Harry and Dr Losberne came running； and hearing what had happened； They rushed outside into the night and searched the garden and the fields around。 The re was no sign of anybody。
'It must have been a bad dream； O liver； ' said Harry； breathless after running through the fields。 He had heard all about O liver's past from his mother。
'No； 'replied O liver； still frightened。 'I saw the m both as plainly as I see you now。 '
Nothing more was seen or heard of the two men； and after a few days； the event was forgotten。 Rose recovered rapidly and was soon able to go outside again。 Harry May lie waited a few days； the n； as his mother had expected； he asked Rose to marry him。 And as his mother had warned him； Rose refused。
'Don't you love me？ ' he asked her； holding her hand 。
'I do； 'she whispered； ' but please try to forget me。 It would ruin your future as a politician if anybody found out about my birth。 I could never； never forgive myself。 '
Harry paused for a few minutes。 'Tell me one thing； dear Rose。 Could you have accepted if your past had been different？ Or if I had been poor and friendless； with no hope of riches or success？ '
'I could； 'answered Rose； covering her face to hide her tears。 'But as you are； I can never be more than a friend to you。
'I shall ask you once more； said Harry softly。 'In a year's time or less； I shall ask you to change your mind。 '
The girl shook her head and smiled sadly。 'No； it will be useless。 '
Harry left the next day； having asked O liver to write to him secretly with news of his mother and Rose。 From an upstairs window； Rose watched him leave with tears in her eyes。
Mr Bumble was now a married man； and not a happy one。 He was no longer a beadle but the manager of the workhouse； and his wife； formerly Mrs Corney； scolded and argued with him day and night。 One evening； after a particularly violent fight； when she threw things at him and chased him out of the house； he went for a walk alone through the town。 He felt very sorry for himself； and finally went into a pub to find comfort in gin－and－water。 A tall dark man； sitting in the corner； watched Mr Bumble while he drank。 The stranger's clothe s were dusty and muddy； as if he had travelled a long way。 Mr Bumble began to feel uncomfortable at the man's hard stare； and tried to avoid meeting his eyes。
'I've seen you before； 'the stranger said； eventually。 'you were the beadle here。 '
'I was。 But I don't recognize you。 '
'It doesn't matter。 I came here to look for you； and I'm lucky to have found you。 I'd like some information。 ' He pushed a couple of coins across the table。
'What information？ ' asked Mr Bumble suspiciously； slipping the coins into his pocket。
'About a workhouse birth。 A boy called O liver Twist。 '
'Young Twist！ I remember him！ He was a dreadful—'
'It's not him I want to talk about； interrupted the stranger。 'I've heard enough of him。 It's the old woman who was the nurse for his mother。 Where is she？ '
'Oh… she died last winter； 'said Mr Bumble。 The n he remembered that his wife had been the re when old Sally had died； and he realized that this information might be worth something。 He told the man that one woman had been with the nurse when she died； and had heard some secret f