‘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 to
think of what I am, to-night, 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
thoughts.
CONTAINING FRESH DISCOVERIES, AND SHOWING THAT SUPRISES,
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 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 reason. 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 learnt to forget her, and
to be happier away.
