Chapter 33 (第1/2页)
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WHEREINTHEHAPPINESSOFOLIVERANDHISFRIENDS，EXPERIENCESASUDDENCHECK
Springflewswiftlyby，andsummercame。Ifthevillagehadbeenbeautifulatfirstitwasnowinthefullglowandluxurianceofitsrichness。Thegreattrees，whichhadlookedshrunkenandbareintheearliermonths，hadnowburstintostronglifeandhealth；andstretchingforththeirgreenarmsoverthethirstyground，convertedopenandnakedspotsintochoicenooks，wherewasadeepandpleasantshadefromwhichtolookuponthewideprospect，steepedinsunshine，whichlaystretchedbeyond。Theearthhaddonnedhermantleofbrightestgreen；andshedherrichestperfumesabroad。Itwastheprimeandvigouroftheyear；allthingsweregladandflourishing。
Still，thesamequietlifewentonatthelittlecottage，andthesamecheerfulserenityprevailedamongitsinmates。Oliverhadlongsincegrownstoutandhealthy；buthealthorsicknessmadenodifferenceinhiswarmfeelingsofagreatmanypeople。Hewasstillthesamegentle，attached，affectionatecreaturethathehadbeenwhenpainandsufferinghadwastedhisstrength，andwhenhewasdependentforeveryslightattention，andcomfortonthosewhotendedhim。
Onebeautifulnight，whentheyhadtakenalongerwalkthanwascustomarywiththem：forthedayhadbeenunusuallywarm，andtherewasabrilliantmoon，andalightwindhadsprungup，whichwasunusuallyrefreshing。Rosehadbeeninhighspirits，too，andtheyhadwalkedon，inmerryconversation，untiltheyhadfarexceededtheirordinarybounds。Mrs。Mayliebeingfatigued，theyreturnedmoreslowlyhome。Theyoungladymerelythrowingoffhersimplebonnet，satdowntothepianoasusual。Afterrunningabstractedlyoverthekeysforafewminutes，shefellintoalowandverysolemnair；andassheplayedit，theyheardasoundasifshewereweeping。
‘Rose，mydear！’saidtheelderlady。
Rosemadenoreply，butplayedalittlequicker，asthoughthewordshadrousedherfromsomepainfulthoughts。
‘Rose，mylove！’criedMrs。Maylie，risinghastily，andbendingoverher。‘Whatisthis？Intears！Mydearchild，whatdistressesyou？’
‘Nothing，aunt；nothing，’repliedtheyounglady。‘Idon'tknowwhatitis；Ican'tdescribeit；butIfeel--’
‘Notill，mylove？’interposedMrs。Maylie。
‘No，no！Oh，notill！’repliedRose：shudderingasthoughsomedeadlychillnesswerepassingoverher，whileshespoke；‘Ishallbebetterpresently。Closethewindow，pray！’
Oliverhastenedtocomplywithherrequest。Theyounglady，makinganefforttorecoverhercheerfulness，strovetoplaysomeliveliertune；butherfingersdroppedpowerlessoverthekeys。Coveringherfacewithherhands，shesankuponasofa，andgaveventtothetearswhichshewasnowunabletorepress。
‘Mychild！’saidtheelderlylady，foldingherarmsabouther，‘Ineversawyousobefore。’
‘IwouldnotalarmyouifIcouldavoidit，’rejoinedRose；‘butindeedIhavetriedveryhard，andcannothelpthis。IfearI_am_ill，aunt。’
Shewas，indeed；for，whencandleswerebrought，theysawthatintheveryshorttimewhichhadelapsedsincetheirreturnhome，thehueofhercountenancehadchangedtoamarblewhiteness。Itsexpressionhadlostnothingofitsbeauty；butitwaschanged；andtherewasananxioushaggardlookaboutthegentleface，whichithadneverwornbefore。Anotherminute，anditwassuffusedwithacrimsonflush：andaheavywildnesscameoverthesoftblueeye。Againthisdisappeared，liketheshadowthrownbyapassingcloud；andshewasoncemoredeadlypale。
Oliver，whowatchedtheoldladyanxiously，observedthatshewasalarmedbytheseappearances；andsointruth，washe；butseeingthatsheaffectedtomakelightofthem，heendeavouredtodothesame，andtheysofarsucceeded，thatwhenRosewaspersuadedbyheraunttoretireforthenight，shewasinbetterspirits；andappearedeveninbetterhealth：assuringthemthatshefeltcertainsheshouldriseinthemorning，quitewell。
‘Ihope，’saidOliver，whenMrs。Mayliereturned，‘thatnothingisthematter？Shedon'tlookwellto-night，but--’
Theoldladymotionedtohimnottospeak；andsittingherselfdowninadarkcorneroftheroom，remainedsilentforsometime。Atlength，shesaid，inatremblingvoice：
‘Ihopenot，Oliver。Ihavebeenveryhappywithherforsomeyears：toohappy，perhaps。ItmaybetimethatIshouldmeetwithsomemisfortune；butIhopeitisnotthis。’
‘What？’inquiredOliver。
‘Theheavyblow，’saidtheoldlady，‘oflosingthedeargirlwhohassolongbeenmycomfortandhappiness。’
‘Oh！Godforbid！’exclaimedOliver，hastily。
‘Amentothat，mychild！’saidtheoldlady，wringingherhands。
‘Surelythereisnodangerofanythingsodreadful？’saidOliver。‘Twohoursago，shewasquitewell。’
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