CHAPTER XXXII. OF THE HAPPY LIFE OLIVER BEGAN TO LEAD WITH HIS KIND FRIENDS

Oliver’sailingswereneitherslightnorfew.Inadditiontothepainanddelayattendantonabrokenlimb,hisexposuretothewetandcoldhadbroughtonfeverandague:whichhungabouthimformanyweeks,andreducedhimsadly.But,atlength,hebegan,byslowdegrees,togetbetter,andtobeabletosaysometimes,inafewtearfulwords,howdeeplyhefeltthegoodnessofthetwosweetladies,andhowardentlyhehopedthatwhenhegrewstrongandwellagain,hecoulddosomethingtoshowhisgratitudeonlysomething,whichwouldletthemseetheloveanddutywithwhichhisbreastwasfullsomething,howeverslight,whichwouldprovetothemthattheirgentlekindnesshadnotbeencastawaybutthatthepoorboywhomtheircharityhadrescuedfrommisery,ordeath,waseagertoservethemwithhiswholeheartandsoul. “Poorfellow!”saidRose,whenOliverhadbeenonedayfeeblyendeavouringtoutterthewordsofthankfulnessthatrosetohispalelips“youshallhavemanyopportunitiesofservingus,ifyouwill.Wearegoingintothecountry,andmyauntintendsthatyoushallaccompanyus.Thequietplace,thepureair,andallthepleasureandbeautiesofspring,willrestoreyouinafewdays.Wewillemployyouinahundredways,whenyoucanbearthetrouble.” “Thetrouble!”criedOliver.“Oh!dearlady,ifIcouldbutworkforyouifIcouldonlygiveyoupleasurebywateringyourflowers,orwatchingyourbirds,orrunningupanddownthewholedaylong,tomakeyouhappywhatwouldIgivetodoit!” “Youshallgivenothingatall,”saidMissMaylie,smiling“for,asItoldyoubefore,weshallemployyouinahundredwaysandifyouonlytakehalfthetroubletopleaseus,thatyoupromisenow,youwillmakemeveryhappyindeed.” “Happy,ma’am!”criedOliver“howkindofyoutosayso!” “YouwillmakemehappierthanIcantellyou,”repliedtheyounglady.“Tothinkthatmydeargoodauntshouldhavebeenthemeansofrescuinganyonefromsuchsadmiseryasyouhavedescribedtous,wouldbeanunspeakablepleasuretomebuttoknowthattheobjectofhergoodnessandcompassionwassincerelygratefulandattached,inconsequence,woulddelightme,morethanyoucanwellimagine.Doyouunderstandme?”sheinquired,watchingOliver’sthoughtfulface. “Ohyes,ma’am,yes!”repliedOlivereagerly“butIwasthinkingthatIamungratefulnow.” “Towhom?”inquiredtheyounglady. “Tothekindgentleman,andthedearoldnurse,whotooksomuchcareofmebefore,”rejoinedOliver.“IftheyknewhowhappyIam,theywouldbepleased,Iamsure.” “Iamsuretheywould,”rejoinedOliver’sbenefactress“andMr.Losbernehasalreadybeenkindenoughtopromisethatwhenyouarewellenoughtobearthejourney,hewillcarryyoutoseethem.” “Hashe,ma’am?”criedOliver,hisfacebrighteningwithpleasure.“Idon’tknowwhatIshalldoforjoywhenIseetheirkindfacesonceagain!” InashorttimeOliverwassufficientlyrecoveredtoundergothefatigueofthisexpedition.OnemorningheandMr.Losbernesetout,accordingly,inalittlecarriagewhichbelongedtoMrs.Maylie.WhentheycametoChertseyBridge,Oliverturnedverypale,andutteredaloudexclamation. “What’sthematterwiththeboy?”criedthedoctor,asusual,allinabustle.“Doyouseeanything—hearanything—feelanything—eh?” “That,sir,”criedOliver,pointingoutofthecarriagewindow.“Thathouse!” “Yeswell,whatofit?Stopcoachman.Pulluphere,”criedthedoctor.“Whatofthehouse,mymaneh?” “Thethieves—thehousetheytookmeto!”whisperedOliver. “Thedevilitis!”criedthedoctor.“Hallo,there!letmeout!” But,beforethe