CHAPTER XL. A STRANGE INTERVIEW, WHICH IS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST CHAMBER

Thegirl’slifehadbeensquanderedinthestreets,andamongthemostnoisomeofthestewsanddensofLondon,buttherewassomethingofthewoman’soriginalnatureleftinherstillandwhensheheardalightstepapproachingthedooroppositetothatbywhichshehadentered,andthoughtofthewidecontrastwhichthesmallroomwouldinanothermomentcontain,shefeltburdenedwiththesenseofherowndeepshame,andshrunkasthoughshecouldscarcelybearthepresenceofherwithwhomshehadsoughtthisinterview. Butstrugglingwiththesebetterfeelingswaspride,—theviceofthelowestandmostdebasedcreaturesnolessthanofthehighandself-assured.Themiserablecompanionofthievesandruffians,thefallenoutcastoflowhaunts,theassociateofthescouringsofthejailsandhulks,livingwithintheshadowofthegallowsitself,—eventhisdegradedbeingfelttooproudtobetrayafeeblegleamofthewomanlyfeelingwhichshethoughtaweakness,butwhichaloneconnectedherwiththathumanity,ofwhichherwastinglifehadobliteratedsomany,manytraceswhenaverychild. Sheraisedhereyessufficientlytoobservethatthefigurewhichpresenteditselfwasthatofaslightandbeautifulgirlthen,bendingthemontheground,shetossedherheadwithaffectedcarelessnessasshesaid: “It’sahardmattertogettoseeyou,lady.IfIhadtakenoffence,andgoneaway,asmanywouldhavedone,you’dhavebeensorryforitoneday,andnotwithoutreasoneither.” “Iamverysorryifanyonehasbehavedharshlytoyou,”repliedRose.“Donotthinkofthat.Tellmewhyyouwishedtoseeme.Iamthepersonyouinquiredfor.” Thekindtoneofthisanswer,thesweetvoice,thegentlemanner,theabsenceofanyaccentofhaughtinessordispleasure,tookthegirlcompletelybysurprise,andsheburstintotears. “Oh,lady,lady!”shesaid,claspingherhandspassionatelybeforeherface,“iftherewasmorelikeyou,therewouldbefewerlikeme,—therewould—therewould!” “Sitdown,”saidRose,earnestly.“IfyouareinpovertyorafflictionIshallbetrulygladtorelieveyouifIcan,—Ishallindeed.Sitdown.” “Letmestand,lady,”saidthegirl,stillweeping,“anddonotspeaktomesokindlytillyouknowmebetter.Itisgrowinglate.Is—is—thatdoorshut?” “Yes,”saidRose,recoilingafewsteps,asiftobenearerassistanceincasesheshouldrequireit.“Why?” “Because,”saidthegirl,“Iamabouttoputmylifeandthelivesofothersinyourhands.IamthegirlthatdraggedlittleOliverbacktooldFagin’sonthenighthewentoutfromthehouseinPentonville.” “You!”saidRoseMaylie. “I,lady!”