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

elfinsomescrapeorother,byactingonimpulse.Itmighthavedonemegood.” Now,thefactwasthattheexcellentdoctorhadneveracteduponanythingbutimpulseallthroughhislife,anditwasnobadcomplimenttothenatureoftheimpulseswhichgovernedhim,thatsofarfrombeinginvolvedinanypeculiartroublesormisfortunes,hehadthewarmestrespectandesteemofallwhoknewhim.Ifthetruthmustbetold,hewasalittleoutoftemper,foraminuteortwo,atbeingdisappointedinprocuringcorroborativeevidenceofOliver’sstoryontheveryfirstoccasiononwhichhehadachanceofobtainingany.Hesooncameroundagain,howeverandfindingthatOliver’srepliestohisquestions,werestillasstraightforwardandconsistent,andstilldeliveredwithasmuchapparentsincerityandtruth,astheyhadeverbeen,hemadeuphismindtoattachfullcredencetothem,fromthattimeforth. AsOliverknewthenameofthestreetinwhichMr.Brownlowresided,theywereenabledtodrivestraightthither.Whenthecoachturnedintoit,hisheartbeatsoviolently,thathecouldscarcelydrawhisbreath. “Now,myboy,whichhouseisit?”inquiredMr.Losberne. “That!That!”repliedOliver,pointingeagerlyoutofthewindow.“Thewhitehouse.Oh!makehaste!Praymakehaste!IfeelasifIshoulddie:itmakesmetrembleso.” “Come,come!”saidthegooddoctor,pattinghimontheshoulder.“Youwillseethemdirectly,andtheywillbeoverjoyedtofindyousafeandwell.” “Oh!Ihopeso!”criedOliver.“Theyweresogoodtomesovery,verygoodtome.” Thecoachrolledon.Itstopped.Nothatwasthewronghousethenextdoor.Itwentonafewpaces,andstoppedagain.Oliverlookedupatthewindows,withtearsofhappyexpectationcoursingdownhisface. Alas!thewhitehousewasempty,andtherewasabillinthewindow.“ToLet.” “Knockatthenextdoor,”criedMr.Losberne,takingOliver’sarminhis.“WhathasbecomeofMr.Brownlow,whousedtoliveintheadjoininghouse,doyouknow?” Theservantdidnotknowbutwouldgoandinquire.Shepresentlyreturned,andsaid,thatMr.Brownlowhadsoldoffhisgoods,andgonetotheWestIndies,sixweeksbefore.Oliverclaspedhishands,andsankfeeblybackward. “Hashishousekeepergonetoo?”inquiredMr.Losberne,afteramoment’spause. “Yes,sir”repliedtheservant.“Theoldgentleman,thehousekeeper,andagentlemanwhowasafriendofMr.Brownlow’s,allwenttogether.” “Thenturntowardshomeagain,”saidMr.Losbernetothedriver“anddon’tstoptobaitthehorses,tillyougetoutofthisconfoundedLondon!” “Thebook-stallkeeper,sir?”saidOliver.“Iknowthewaythere.Seehim,pray,sir!Doseehim!” “Mypoorboy,thisisdisappointmentenoughforoneday,”saidthedoctor.“Quiteenoughforbothofus.Ifwegotothebook-stallkeeper’s,weshallcertainlyfindthatheisdead,orhassethishouseonfire,orrunaway.Nohomeagainstraight!”Andinobediencetothedoctor’simpulse,hometheywent. ThisbitterdisappointmentcausedOlivermuchsorrowandgrief,eveninthemidstofhishappinessforhehadpleasedhimself,manytimesduringhisillness,withthinkingofallthatMr.BrownlowandMrs.Bedwinwouldsaytohim:andwhatdelightitwouldbetotellthemhowmanylongdaysandnightshehadpassedinreflectingonwhattheyhaddoneforhim,andinbewailinghiscruelseparationfromthem.Thehopeofeventuallyclearinghimselfwiththem,too,andexplaininghowhehadbeenforcedaway,hadbuoyedhimup,andsustainedhim,undermanyofhisrecenttrialsandnow,theideathattheyshouldhavegonesofar,andcarriedwiththemthe