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could make nothing of it。”
Notwithstanding the evidently useless nature of their search；
they did not desist until the coming on of night rendered its
further prosecution hopeless； and even then； they gave it up with
reluctance。 Giles was despatched to the different ale…houses in the
village； furnished with the best description Oliver could give of the
appearance and dress of the strangers。 Of these； the Jew was； at all
events； sufficiently remarkable to be remembered； supposing he
had been seen drinking； or loitering about； but Giles returned
without any intelligence； calculated to dispel or lessen the
mystery。
On the next day； fresh search was made； and the inquiries
renewed； but with no better success。 On the day following； Oliver
and Mr。 Maylie repaired to the market…town； in the hope of seeing
or hearing something of the men there； but this effort was equally
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fruitless。 After a few days； the affair began to be forgotten； as most
affairs are； when wonder； having no fresh food to support it； dies
away of itself。
Meanwhile； Rose was rapidly recovering。 She had left her
room； was able to go out； and mixing once more with the family；
carried joy into the hearts of all。
But； although this happy change had a visible effect on the little
circle； and although cheerful voices and merry laughter were once
more heard in the cottage； there was at times； an unwonted
restraint upon some there； even upon Rose herself； which Oliver
could not fail to remark。 Mr。 Maylie and her son were often
closeted together for a long time； and more than once Rose
appeared with traces of tears upon her face。 After Mr。 Losberne
had fixed a day for his departure to Chertsey； these symptoms
increased； and it became evident that something was in progress
which affected the peace of the young lady； and of somebody else
besides。
At length； one morning； when Rose was alone in the breakfast…
parlour； Harry Maylie entered； and； with some hesitation； begged
permission to speak with her for a few moments。
“A few—a very few—will suffice； Rose；” said the young man；
drawing his chair towards her。 “What I shall have to say； has
already presented itself to your mind； the most cherished hopes of
my heart are not unknown to you； though from my lips you have
not yet heard them stated。”
Rose had been very pale from the moment of his entrance； but
that might have been the effect of her recent illness。 She merely
bowed； and bending over some plants that stood near； waited in
silence for him to proceed。 ought to have left here； before；” said
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Harry。
“You should； indeed；” replied Rose。 “Forgive me for saying so；
but I wish you had。”
“I was brought here； by the most dreadful and agonising of all
apprehensions；” said the young man： “the fear of losing the one
dear being on whom my every wish and hope are fixed。 You had
been dying； trembling between earth and heaven。 We know that
when the young； the beautiful； and good； are visited with sickness；
their pure spirits insensibly turn towards their bright home of
lasting rest； we know； Heaven help us； that the best and fairest of
our kind； too often fade in blooming。”
There were tears in the eyes of the gentle girl； as these words
were spoken； and when one fell upon the flower over which she
bent； and glistened brightly in its cup； making it more beautiful； it
seemed as though the out…pouring of her fresh young heart；
claimed kindred naturally； with the loveliest things in nature。
“A creature；” continued the young man passionately； “a
creature as fair and innocent of guile as one of God’s own angels；
fluttered between life and death。 Oh； who could hope； when the
distant world to which she was akin； half…opened to her view； that
she would return to the sorrow and calamity of this； Rose； Rose； to
know that you were passing away like some soft shadow； which a
light from above casts upon the earth； to have no hope that you
would be spared to those who linger here； hardly to know a reason
why you should be； to feel that you belonged to that bright sphere
whither so many of the fairest and the best have winged their early
flight； and yet to pray； amid all these consolations； that you might
be restored to those who loved you—these were distractions
almost too great to bear。 They were mine； by day and night； and
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with them； came such a rushing torrent of fears； and
apprehensions； and selfish regrets； lest you should die； and never
know how devotedly I loved you； as almost bore down sense and
reason in its course。 You recovered。 Day by day； and almost hour
by hour； some drop of health came back； and mingling with the
spent and feeble stream of life which circulated languidly within
you； swelled it again to a high and rushing tide。 I have watched
you change almost from death to life； with eyes that turned blind
with their eagerness and deep affection。 Do not tell me that you
wish I had lost this； for it has softened my heart to all mankind。”
“I did not mean that；” said Rose； weeping； “I only wish you had
left here； that you might have turned to high and noble pursuits
again； to pursuits well worthy of you。”
“There is no pursuit more worthy of me； more worthy of the
highest nature that exists； than the struggle to win such a heart as
yours；” said the young man； taking her hand。 “Rose； my own dear
Rose！ For years—for years—I have loved you； hoping to win my
way to fame； and then come proudly home and tell you it had been
pursued only for you to share； thinking； in my day…dreams； how I
would remind you； in that happy moment； of the many silent
tokens I had given of a boy’s attachment； and claim your hand； as
in redemption of some old； mute contract that had been sealed
between us！ That time has not arrived； but here； with no fame
won； and no young vision realised； I offer you the heart so long
your own； and stake my all upon the words with which you greet
the offer。”
“Your behaviour has ever been kind and noble；” said Rose；
mastering the emotions by which she was agitated。 “As you
believe that I am not insensible or ungrateful； so hear my answer。”
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“It is； that I may endeavour to deserve you； is it； dear Rose？”
“It is；” replied Rose； “that you must endeavour to forget me； not
as your old and dearly…attached companion； for that would wound
me deeply； but； as the object of your love。 Look into the world；
think how many hearts you would be proud to gain are there。
Confide some other passion to me； if you will； I will be the truest；
warmest； and most faithful friend you have。”
There was a pause； during which； Rose； who had covered her
face with one hand； gave free vent to her tears。 Harry still retained
the other。
“And your reasons； Rose；” he said； at length； in a low voice；
“your reasons for this decision？�