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

esokindly,andtooksuchpains,thatOlivercouldnevertryenoughtopleasehim.Then,hewouldwalkwithMrs.MaylieandRose,andhearthemtalkofbooksorperhapssitnearthem,insomeshadyplace,andlistenwhilsttheyoungladyread:whichhecouldhavedone,untilitgrewtoodarktoseetheletters.Then,hehadhisownlessonforthenextdaytoprepareandatthis,hewouldworkhard,inalittleroomwhichlookedintothegarden,tilleveningcameslowlyon,whentheladieswouldwalkoutagain,andhewiththem:listeningwithsuchpleasuretoalltheysaid:andsohappyiftheywantedaflowerthathecouldclimbtoreach,orhadforgottenanythinghecouldruntofetch:thathecouldneverbequickenoughaboutit.Whenitbecamequitedark,andtheyreturnedhome,theyoungladywouldsitdowntothepiano,andplaysomepleasantair,orsing,inalowandgentlevoice,someoldsongwhichitpleasedheraunttohear.TherewouldbenocandleslightedatsuchtimesastheseandOliverwouldsitbyoneofthewindows,listeningtothesweetmusic,inaperfectrapture. AndwhenSundaycame,howdifferentlythedaywasspent,fromanywayinwhichhehadeverspentityet!andhowhappilytoolikealltheotherdaysinthatmosthappytime!Therewasthelittlechurch,inthemorning,withthegreenleavesflutteringatthewindows:thebirdssingingwithout:andthesweet-smellingairstealinginatthelowporch,andfillingthehomelybuildingwithitsfragrance.Thepoorpeopleweresoneatandclean,andkneltsoreverentlyinprayer,thatitseemedapleasure,notatediousduty,theirassemblingtheretogetherandthoughthesingingmightberude,itwasreal,andsoundedmoremusical(toOliver’searsatleast)thananyhehadeverheardinchurchbefore.Then,therewerethewalksasusual,andmanycallsatthecleanhousesofthelabouringmenandatnight,OliverreadachapterortwofromtheBible,whichhehadbeenstudyingalltheweek,andintheperformanceofwhichdutyhefeltmoreproudandpleased,thanifhehadbeentheclergymanhimself. Inthemorning,Oliverwouldbea-footbysixo’clock,roamingthefields,andplunderingthehedges,farandwide,fornosegaysofwildflowers,withwhichhewouldreturnladen,homeandwhichittookgreatcareandconsiderationtoarrange,tothebestadvantage,fortheembellishmentofthebreakfast-table.Therewasfreshgroundsel,too,forMissMaylie’sbirds,withwhichOliver,whohadbeenstudyingthesubjectundertheabletuitionofthevillageclerk,woulddecoratethecages,inthemostapprovedtaste.Whenthebirdsweremadeallspruceandsmartfortheday,therewasusuallysomelittlecommissionofcharitytoexecuteinthevillageor,failingthat,therewasrarecricket-playing,sometimes,onthegreenor,failingthat,therewasalwayssomethingtodointhegarden,orabouttheplants,towhichOliver(whohadstudiedthissciencealso,underthesamemaster,whowasagardenerbytrade,)appliedhimselfwithheartygood-will,untilMissRosemadeherappearance:whentherewereathousandcommendationstobebestowedonallhehaddone. Sothreemonthsglidedawaythreemonthswhich,inthelifeofthemostblessedandfavouredofmortals,mighthavebeenunmingledhappiness,andwhich,inOliver’sweretruefelicity.Withthepurestandmostamiablegenerosityononesideandthetruest,warmest,soul-feltgratitudeontheotheritisnowonderthat,bytheendofthatshorttime,OliverTwisthadbecomecompletelydomesticatedwiththeoldladyandherniece,andthattheferventattachmentofhisyoungandsensitiveheart,wasrepaidbytheirpridein,andattachmentto,himself.