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“What am I to do？” said Rose。 “I should not let； you depart from
me thus。”
“You should； lady； and I know you will；” rejoined the girl；
rising。 “You will not stop my going because I have trusted in your
goodness； and forced no promise from you； as I might have done。”
“Of what use； then； is the communication you have made？” said
Rose。 “This mystery must be investigated； or how will its
disclosure to me benefit Oliver； whom you are anxious to serve？”
“You must have some kind of gentleman about you that will
hear it as a secret； and advise you what to do；” rejoined the girl。
“But where can I find you again when it is necessary？” asked
Rose。 “I do not seek to know where these dreadful people live； but
where will you be walking or passing at any settled period from
thus time？”
“Will you promise me that you will have my secret strictly kept；
and come alone； or with the only other person that knows it； and
that I shall not be watched or followed？” asked the girl。
“I promise you solemnly；” answered Rose。
“Every Sunday night； from eleven until the clock strikes
twelve；” said the girl without hesitation； “I will walk on London
Bridge； if I am alive。”
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“Stay another moment；” interposed Rose； as the girl moved
hurriedly towards the door。 “Think once again on your own
condition； and the opportunity you have of escaping from it。 You
have a claim on me； not only as the voluntary bearer of this
intelligence； but as a woman lost almost beyond redemption。 Will
you return to this gang of robbers； and to this man； when a word
can save you？ What fascination is it that can take you back； and
make you cling to wickedness and misery？ Oh！ is there no chord
in your heart that I can touch！ Is there nothing left； to which I can
appeal against this terrible infatuation！
“When ladies as young； and good； and beautiful as you are；”
replied the girl steadily； “give away your hearts； love will carry you
all lengths—even such as you； who have a home； friends； other
admirers； everything； to fill them。 When such as I； who have no
certain roof but the coffin…lid； and no friend in sickness or death
but the hospital nurse； set our rotten hearts on any man； and let
him fill the place that has been a blank through all our wretched
lives； who can hope to cure us？ Pity us； lady—pity us for having
only one feeling of the woman left； and for having that turned； by a
heavy judgement； from a comfort and a pride； into a new means of
violence and suffering。”
“You will；” said Rose； after a pause； “take some money from
me； which may enable you to live without dishonesty—at all
events until we meet again。”
“Not a penny；” replied the girl； waving her hand。
“Do not close your heart against all my efforts to help you；” said
Rose； stepping gently forward。 “I wish to serve you indeed。”
“You would serve me best； lady；” replied the girl； wringing her
hands； “if you could take my life at once； for I have felt more grief
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to think of what I am； tonight； than I ever did before； and it would
be something not to die in the hell in which I have lived。 God bless
you； sweet lady； and send as much happiness on your head as I
have brought shame on mine！”
Thus speaking； and sobbing aloud； the unhappy creature
turned away； while Rose Maylie； overpowered by this
extraordinary interview； which had more the semblance of a rapid
dream than an actual occurrence； sank into a chair and
endeavoured to collect her wandering
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Chapter 41
Containing Fresh Discoveries； And Showing That
Surprises； Like Misfortunes； Seldom Come Alone。
Her situation was； indeed； one of no common trial and
difficulty。 While she felt the most eager and burning
desire to penetrate the mystery in which Oliver’s history
was enveloped； she could not but hold sacred the confidence
which the miserable woman with whom she had just conversed；
had reposed in her； as a young and guileless girl。 Her words and
manner had touched Rose Maylie’s heart； and； mingled with her
love for her young charge； and scarcely less intense in its truth
and fervour； was her fond wish to win the outcast back to
repentance and hope。
They purposed remaining in London only three days； prior to
departing for some weeks to a distant part of the coast。 It was now
midnight of the first day。 What course of action could she
determine upon； which could be adopted in eight…and…forty hours？
Or how could she postpone the journey without exciting
suspicion？
Mr。 Losberne was with them； and would be for the next two
days； but Rose was too well acquainted with the excellent
gentleman’s impetuosity； and foresaw too clearly the wrath with
which； in the first explosion of his indignation； he would regard
the instrument of Oliver’s recapture； to trust him with the secret；
when her representations in the girl’s behalf could be seconded by
no experienced person。 These were all reasons for the greatest
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caution and most circumspect behaviour in communicating it to
Mrs。 Maylie； whose first impulse would infallibly be to hold a
conference with the worthy doctor on the subject。 As to resorting
to any legal adviser； even if she had known how to do so； it was
scarcely to be thought of； for the same reasons。 Once the thought
occurred to her of seeking assistance from Harry； but this
awakened the recollection of their last parting； and it seemed
unworthy of her to call him back； when—the tears rose to her eyes
as she pursued this train of reflection—he might have by this time
learned to forget her； and to be happier away。
Disturbed by these different reflections； inclining now to one
course and then to another； and again recoiling from all； as each
successive consideration presented itself to her mind； Rose passed
a sleepless and anxious night。 After more communing with herself
next day； she arrived at the desperate conclusion of consulting
Harry。
“If it be painful to him；” she thought； “to come back here； how
painful it will be to me！ But perhaps he will not come； he may
write； or he may come himself； and studiously abstain from
meeting me—he did when he went away。 I hardly thought he
would； but it was better for us both。” And here Rose dropped the
pen； and turned away； as though the very paper which was to be
her messenger should not see her weep。
She had taken up the same pen； and laid it down again fifty
times； and had considered and reconsidered the first line of her
letter without writing the first word； when Oliver； who had been
walking in the streets； with Mr。 Giles for a bodyguard； entered the
room in such breathless haste and violent agitation； as seemed to
betoken some new cause of alarm。
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“What makes you look so hurried？” asked Rose； advancing to