06-02-雾都孤儿 [43]
着奥利弗离开了切特赛的这幢房子，搬到了乡下一所安静的茅舍。春天来了，这里空气新鲜，远离闹市，远离烟雾和纷扰，奥利弗开始了一种新生活。他常常与罗斯和梅利夫人外出散步，有时罗斯读书给他听，他也努力地学习功课。他觉得自己好像永远把罪恶、艰辛和贫困的世界抛在背后了。
■ 10 Life in the country
The weeks slipped contentedly past, and spring turned into summer. O liver was now a strong and healthy boy, and very fond of Rose and Mrs May lie as They were of him.
One hot summer evening, after a walk in the country, Rose became very weak and pale, and confessed she felt ill. By the next morning she was in a dangerous fever, and Mrs May lie and O liver were afraid she might die. Mrs May lie sent O liver to the nearest town, four miles away, to post two express letters. One was to Dr Losberne in Chertsey, the other to
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
■ 10 Life in the country
The weeks slipped contentedly past, and spring turned into summer. O liver was now a strong and healthy boy, and very fond of Rose and Mrs May lie as They were of him.
One hot summer evening, after a walk in the country, Rose became very weak and pale, and confessed she felt ill. By the next morning she was in a dangerous fever, and Mrs May lie and O liver were afraid she might die. Mrs May lie sent O liver to the nearest town, four miles away, to post two express letters. One was to Dr Losberne in Chertsey, the other to
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