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kindest； best of friends。 My heart will burst； I cannot bear all this。”
“You have borne more； and have been through all； the best and
gentlest creature that ever shed happiness on every one she
knew；” said Mrs。 Maylie； embracing her tenderly。 “Come； come；
my love； remember who this is who waits to clasp you in his arms；
poor child！ See here—look； look； my dear！”
“Not aunt；” cried Oliver； throwing his arms about her neck； “I’ll
never call her aunt—sister； my own dear sister； that something
taught my heart to love so dearly from the first！ Rose； dear； darling
Rose！”
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Let the tears which fell； and the broken words which were
exchanged in the long； close embrace between the orphans； be
sacred。 A father； sister； and mother； were gained； and lost； in that
one moment。 Joy and grief were mingled in the cup； but there
were no bitter tears； for even grief itself arose so softened； and
clothed in such sweet and tender recollections； that it became a
solemn pleasure； and lost all character of pain。
They were a long； long time alone。 A soft tap at the door； at
length announced that some one was without。 Oliver opened it；
glided away； and gave place to Harry Maylie。
“I know it all；” he said； taking a seat beside the lovely girl。
“Dear Rose； I know it all。”
“I am not here by accident；” he added； after a lengthened
silence； “nor have I heard all this tonight； but I knew it
yesterday—only yesterday。 Do you guess that I have come to
remind you of a promise？”
“Stay；” said Rose。 “You do know all。”
“All。 You gave me leave； at any time within a year； to renew the
subject of our last discourse。”
“I did。”
“Not to press you to alter your determination；” pursued the
young man； “but to hear you repeat it； if you would。 I was to lay
whatever of station or fortune I might possess at your feet； and if
you still adhered to your former determination； I pledged myself；
by no word or act； to seek to change it。”
“The same reasons which influenced me then； will influence me
now；” said Rose firmly。 “If I ever owed a strict and rigid duty to
her； whose goodness saved me from a life of indigence and
suffering； when should I ever feel it； as I should tonight？ It is a
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struggle；” said Rose； “but one I am proud to make； it is a pang； but
one my heart shall bear。”
“The disclosure of tonight—” Harry began。
“The disclosure of tonight；” replied Rose softly； “leaves me in
the same position； with reference to you； as that in which I stood
before。”
“You harden your heart against me； Rose；” urged her lover。
“Oh； Harry； Harry；” said the young lady； bursting into tears； “I
wish I could； and spare myself this pain。”
“Then why inflict it on yourself？” said Harry； taking her hand。
“Think； dear Rose； think what you have heard tonight。”
“And what have I heard？ What have I heard？” cried Rose。
“That a sense of his deep disgrace so worked upon my own father
that he shunned all There； we have said enough； Harry； we have
said enough。”
“Not yet； not yet；” said the young man； detaining her as she
rose。 “My hopes； my wishes； prospects； feeling—every thought in
life except my love for you—have undergone a change。 I offer you；
now； no distinction among a bustling crowd； no mingling with a
world of malice and detraction where the blood is called into
honest cheeks by aught but real disgrace and shame； but a home—
a heart and home—yes； dearest Rose； and those； and those alone；
are all I have to offer。”
“What do you mean？” she faltered。
“I mean but this—that when I left you last； I left you； with a
firm determination to level all fancied barriers between yourself
and me； resolved that if my world could not be yours； I would
make yours mine； that no pride of birth should curl the lip at you；
for I would turn from it。 This I have done。 Those who have shrunk
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from me because of this； have shrunk from you； and proved you so
far right。 Such power and patronage； such relatives of influence
and rank； as smiled upon me then； look coldly now； but there are
smiling fields and waving trees in England’s richest county； and by
one village church—mine； Rose； my own！—there stands a rustic
dwelling which you can make me prouder of； than all the hopes I
have renounced； measured a thousandfold。 This is my rank and
station now； and here I lay it down！”
*****
“It’s a trying time waiting supper for lovers；” said Mr。 Grimwig；
waking up； and pulling his pocket…handkerchief from over his
head。
Truth to tell； the supper had been waiting a most unreasonable
time。 Neither Mrs。 Maylie； nor Harry； nor Rose （who all came in
together）； could offer a word in extenuation。
“I had serious thoughts of eating my head tonight；” said Mr。
Grimwig； “for I began to think I should get nothing else。 I’ll take
the liberty； if you’ll allow me； of saluting the bride that is to be。”
Mr。 Grimwig lost no time in carrying this notice into effect upon
the blushing girl； and the example； being contagious； was followed
both by the doctor and Mr。 Brownlow。 Some people affirm that
Harry Maylie had been observed to set it； originally； in a dark
room adjoining； but the best authorities consider this downright
scandal； he being young and a clergyman。
“Oliver； my child；” said Mrs。 Maylie； “where have you been； and
why do you look so sad？ There are tears stealing down your face at
this moment。 What is the matter？”
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It is a world of disappointment—often to the hopes we most
cherish； and hopes that do our nature the greatest honour。
Poor Dick was dead！
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Chapter 52
Fagin’s Last Night Alive
The court was paved； from floor to roof； with human faces。
Inquisitive and eager eyes peered from every inch of
space。 From the rail before the dock； away into the
sharpest angle of the smallest corner in the galleries； all looks
were fixed upon one man—Fagin。 Before him and behind—above；
below； on the right and on the left—he seemed to stand
surrounded by a firmament； all bright with gleaming eyes。
He stood there； in all this glare of living light； with one hand
resting on the wooden slab before him； the other held to his ear；
and his head thrust forward to enable him to catch with greater
distinctness every word that fell from the presiding judge； who
was delivering his charge to the jury。 At times； he turned his eyes
sharply upon them to observe the effect of the slightest
featherweight in his favour； and when the points against him were
stated with terrible distinctness； looked towards his counsel； in
mute appeal that he would； even then； urge something in his
behalf。 Beyond these manifestations of anxiety； he stirred not
hand or foot。 He had scarcely moved since the trial began； and