CHAPTER LIII. AND LAST

Thefortunesofthosewhohavefiguredinthistalearenearlyclosed.Thelittlethatremainstotheirhistoriantorelate,istoldinfewandsimplewords. Beforethreemonthshadpassed,RoseFlemingandHarryMaylieweremarriedinthevillagechurchwhichwashenceforthtobethesceneoftheyoungclergyman’slaboursonthesamedaytheyenteredintopossessionoftheirnewandhappyhome. Mrs.Maylietookupherabodewithhersonanddaughter-in-law,toenjoy,duringthetranquilremainderofherdays,thegreatestfelicitythatageandworthcanknow—thecontemplationofthehappinessofthoseonwhomthewarmestaffectionsandtenderestcaresofawell-spentlife,havebeenunceasinglybestowed. Itappeared,onfullandcarefulinvestigation,thatifthewreckofpropertyremaininginthecustodyofMonks(whichhadneverprosperedeitherinhishandsorinthoseofhismother)wereequallydividedbetweenhimselfandOliver,itwouldyield,toeach,littlemorethanthreethousandpounds.Bytheprovisionsofhisfather’swill,OliverwouldhavebeenentitledtothewholebutMr.Brownlow,unwillingtodeprivetheeldersonoftheopportunityofretrievinghisformervicesandpursuinganhonestcareer,proposedthismodeofdistribution,towhichhisyoungchargejoyfullyacceded. Monks,stillbearingthatassumedname,retiredwithhisportiontoadistantpartoftheNewWorldwhere,havingquicklysquanderedit,heoncemorefellintohisoldcourses,and,afterundergoingalongconfinementforsomefreshactoffraudandknavery,atlengthsunkunderanattackofhisolddisorder,anddiedinprison.Asfarfromhome,diedthechiefremainingmembersofhisfriendFagin’sgang. Mr.BrownlowadoptedOliverashisson.Removingwithhimandtheoldhousekeepertowithinamileoftheparsonage-house,wherehisdearfriendsresided,hegratifiedtheonlyremainingwishofOliver’swarmandearnestheart,andthuslinkedtogetheralittlesociety,whoseconditionapproachedasnearlytooneofperfecthappinessascaneverbeknowninthischangingworld. Soonafterthemarriageoftheyoungpeople,theworthydoctorreturnedtoChertsey,where,b