Oliver Twist

Chapter 34

CONTAINS SOME INTRODUCTORY PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO A YOUNG

GENTLEMAN WHO NOW ARRIVES UPON THE SCENE; AND A NEW ADVENTURE

WHICH HAPPENED TO OLIVER

It was almost too much happiness to bear. Oliver felt stunned

and stupefied by the unexpected intelligence; he could not weep,

or speak, or rest. He had scarcely the power of understanding

anything that had passed, until, after a long ramble in the quiet 

evening air, a burst of tears came to his relief, and he seemed

to awaken, all at once, to a full sense of the joyful change that

had occurred, and the almost insupportable load of anguish which

had been taken from his breast.

The night was fast closing in, when he returned homeward: laden

with flowers which he had culled, with peculiar care, for the

adornment of the sick chamber. As he walked briskly along the

road, he heard behind him, the noise of some vehicle, approaching

at a furious pace. Looking round, he saw that it was a

post-chaise, driven at great speed; and as the horses were

galloping, and the road was narrow, he stood leaning against a

gate until it should have passed him.

As it dashed on, Oliver caught a glimpse of a man in a white

nightcap, whose face seemed familiar to him, although his view was

so brief that he could not identify the person. In another

second or two, the nightcap was thrust out of the chaise-window,

and a stentorian voice bellowed to the driver to stop: which he

did, as soon as he could pull up his horses. Then, the nightcap

once again appeared: and the same voice called Oliver by his

name.

'Here!' cried the voice. 'Oliver, what's the news? Miss Rose!

Master O-li-ver!'

'Is is you, Giles?' cried Oliver, running up to the chaise-door.

Giles popped out his nightcap again, preparatory to making some

reply, when he was suddenly pulled back by a young gentleman who

occupied the other corner of the chaise, and who eagerly demanded

what was the news.

'In a word!' cried the gentleman, 'Better or worse?'

'Better--much better!' replied Oliver, hastily.

'Thank Heaven!' exclaimed the gentleman. 'You are sure?'

'Quite, sir,' replied Oliver. 'The change took place only a few

hours ago; and Mr. Losberne says, that all danger is at an end.'

The gentleman said not another word, but, opening the

chaise-door, leaped out, and taking Oliver hurriedly by the arm,

led him aside.

'You are quite certain? There is no possibility of any mistake