Chapter XXXVI

by Charles Dickens

　　Is a Very Short One, and May Appear of No Great Importance in its Place, But ItShould Be Read Notwithstanding, as a Sequel to the Last, and a Key to One That Will FollowWhen its Time Arrives'And so you are resolved to be my travelling companion thismorning; eh?' said the doctor, as Harry Maylie joined him andOliver at the breakfast-table. 'Why, you are not in the samemind or intention two half-hours together!''You will tell me a different tale one of these days,' saidHarry, colouring without any perceptible reason.'I hope I may have good cause to do so,' replied Mr. Losberne;'though I confess I don't think I shall. But yesterday morningyou had made up your mind, in a great hurry, to stay here, and toaccompany your mother, like a dutiful son, to the sea-side.Before noon, you announce that you are going to do me the honourof accompanying me as far as I go, on your road to London. Andat night, you urge me, with great mystery, to start before theladies are stirring; the consequence of which is, that youngOliver here is pinned down to his breakfast when he ought to beranging the meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds. Toobad, isn't it, Oliver?''I should have been very sorry not to have been at home when youand Mr. Maylie went away, sir,' rejoined Oliver.'That's a fine fellow,' said the doctor; 'you shall come and seeme when you return. But, to speak seriously, Harry; has anycommunication from the great nobs produced this sudden anxiety onyour part to be gone?''The great nobs,' replied Harry, 'under which designation, Ipresume, you include my most stately uncle, have not communicatedwith me at all, since I have been here; nor, at this time of theyear, is it likely that anything would occur to render necessarymy immediate attendance among them.''Well,' said the doctor, 'you are a queer fellow. But of coursethey will get you into parliament at the election beforeChristmas, and these sudden shiftings and changes are no badpreparation for political life. There's something in that. Goodtraining is always desirable, whether the race be for place, cup,or sweepstakes.'Harry Maylie looked as if he could have followed up this shortdialogue by one or two remarks that would have staggered thedoctor not a little; but he contented himself with saying, 'Weshall see,' and pursued the subject no farther. The post-chaisedrove up to the door shortly afterwards; and Giles coming in forthe luggage, the good doctor bustled out, to see it packed.'Oliver,' said Harry Maylie, in a low voice, 'let me speak a wordwith you.'Oliver walked into the window-recess to which Mr. Maylie beckonedhim; much surprised at the mixture of sadness and boisterousspirits, which his whole behaviour displayed.'You can write well now?' said Harry, laying his hand upon hisarm.'I hope so, sir,' replied Oliver.'I shall not be at home again, perhaps for some time; I wish youwould write to me--say once a fort-night: every alternateMonday: to the General Post Office in London. Will you?''Oh! certainly, sir; I shall be proud to do it,' exclaimedOliver, greatly delighted with the commission.'I should like to know how--how my mother and Miss Maylie are,'said the young man; 'and you can fill up a sheet by telling mewhat walks you take, and what you talk about, and whethershe--they, I mean--seem happy and quite well. You understand me?''Oh! quite, sir, quite,' replied Oliver.'I would rather you did not mention it to them,' said Harry,hurrying over his words; 'because it might make my mother anxiousto write to me oftener, and it is a trouble and worry to her.Let is be a secret between you and me; and mind you tell meeverything! I depend upon you.'Oliver, quite elated and honoured by a sense of his importance,faithfully promised to be secret and explicit in hiscommunications. Mr. Maylie took leave of him, with manyassurances of his regard and protection.The doctor was in the chaise; Giles (who, it had been arranged,should be left behind) held the door open in his hand; and thewomen-servants were in the garden, looking on. Harry cast oneslight glance at the latticed window, and jumped into thecarriage.'Drive on!' he cried, 'hard, fast, full gallop! Nothing short offlying will keep pace with me, to-day.''Halloa!' cried the doctor, letting down the front glass in agreat hurry, and shouting to the postillion; 'something veryshort of flyng will keep pace with me. Do you hear?'Jingling and clattering, till distance rendered its noiseinaudible, and its rapid progress only perceptible to the eye,the vehicle wound its way along the road, almost hidden in acloud of dust: now wholly disappearing, and now becoming visibleagain, as intervening objects, or the intricacies of the way,permitted. It was not until even the dusty cloud was no longerto be seen, that the gazers dispersed.And there was one looker-on, who remained with eyes fixed uponthe spot where the carriage had disappeared, long after it wasmany miles away; for, behind the white curtain which had shroudedher from view when Harry raised his eyes towards the window, satRose herself.'He seems in high spirits and happy,' she said, at length. 'Ifeared for a time he might be otherwise. I was mistaken. I amvery, very glad.'Tears are signs of gladness as well as grief; but those whichcoursed down Rose's face, as she sat pensively at the window,still gazing in the same direction, seemed to tell more of sorrowthan of joy.