... us, we may be long and happily
entwined; and may every blessing that the prayers of a true and earnest heart
can call down from the source of all truth and sincerity, cheer and prosper
you!’ ... far, above me; if I could have been a help and
comfort to you in any humble scene of peace and retirement, and not a blot
and drawback in ambitious and distinguished crowds; I...
... find one heart
and home to shelter and compassionate her. The family had left that part a
week before; they had called in such trifling debts as were outstanding,
discharged them, and left the ... by night and day, but until two hours ago, all
my efforts were fruitless, and I never saw you for an instant.’
And now you do see me,’ said Monks, rising boldly, ‘what then? Fraud a...
... jewels and money;
gambled, squandered, forged, and fled to London: where for two years he
had associated with the lowest outcasts. She was sinking under a painful and
incurable disease, and wished ... world of malice and detraction, where the blood
is called into honest cheeks by aught but real disgrace and shame; but a
home—a heart and home—yes, dearest Rose, and those,...
... the
former is bald, and the last-named boy quite grey. They sleep at the
parsonage, but divide their attentions so equally among its inmates, and
Oliver and Mr. Brownlow, and Mr. Losberne, that ... knee, and listen to their merry prattle; I
would recall the tones of that clear laugh, and conjure up the sympathising
tear that glistened in the soft blue eye. These, and a thou...
... gazed wildly
round; shuddered; fell back and died. They chafed her breast, hands, and
temples; but the blood had stopped forever. They talked of hope and
comfort. They had been strangers too ... badged and ticketed, and fell into
his place at once—a parish child—the orphan of a workhouse—the humble,
half-starved drudge—to be cuffed and buffeted through the world—despised
by a...
... his little hands before his eyes to shut out the
darkness, and crouching in the corner, tried to sleep: ever and anon waking
with a start and tremble, and drawing himself closer and closer to ... assembled: solemnly given and pronounced
under their hands and seals. There was a still greater obstacle in Oliver’s
youth and childishness. He only cried bitterly all day; and,...
... lagged; and then the Juvenile Delinquent
Society comes, and takes the boy away from a trade where he was arning
money, teaches him to read and write, and in time makes a ‘prentice of him.
And ... don’t,’ sneered Mr. Sikes. ‘Or he won’t, and that’s the same thing.
Speak out, and call things by their right names; don’t sit there, winking and
blinking, and talking to me in...
... to and fro; caught her throat; and, uttering a gurgling
sound, gasped for breath.
’Nancy!’ cried Oliver, ‘What is it?’
The girl beat her hands upon her knees, and her feet upon the ground; and, ... Jew, pointing to the candle, motioned him to light it.
He did so; and, as he placed the candlestick upon the table, saw that the Jew
was gazing fixedly at him, with lowering and contr...
... objects which had looked dim and terrible in the darkness,
grew more and more defined, and gradually resolved into their familiar
shapes. The rain came down, thick and fast, and pattered noisily among ... helpless and unconscious, on his bed of clay.
At length, a low cry of pain broke the stillness that prevailed; and uttering it,
the boy awoke. His left arm, rudely bandaged...
... side-board and the breakfast-table; and, with his body drawn up
to its full height, his head thrown back, and inclined the merest trifle on one
side, his left leg advanced, and his right hand thrust ... her
deep blue eye, and was stamped upon her noble head, seemed scarcely of her
age, or of the world; and yet the changing expression of sweetness and good
humour, the thousan...