Chapter 36 Chapter Thirty-Five

(Oliver's adventure is over. There is a rather important conversation between Harry Maylie and Ruth.) When the people in the villa heard the shout, they rushed to the place where Oliver called for help, and found him pale and excited, pointing in the direction of the grass behind the villa, without even the words "Old Jew! Old Jew!" It's almost impossible to tell. Mr. Giles could not make out the meaning of the cry, but it was Harry Maylie's quick mind, and he had heard Oliver's experience from his mother, and he understood it at once. "Which way are they going?" he asked, grabbing a heavy stick that stood in a corner.

"In that direction," replied Oliver, pointing in the direction from which the two men fled, "they will be out of sight in the blink of an eye." "They must be hiding in the ditch," said Harry. "Come with me. Get as close as possible." With that, he leaped over the fence and shot out, making it difficult for the others to follow. Giles followed as hard as he could, and Oliver followed, at the same moment Mr. Rosbery, who had been out for a walk, returned, and followed them, stumbling over the fence, and with exceeding agility. As far as people could imagine, he got up with a grunt, and hurriedly joined the pursuit. No one dared to despise the speed. At the same time, he kept shouting at the top of his voice, trying to figure out what was going on.

They galloped all the way, without stopping once to catch their breath, and the one who ran first rushed into the corner of the field which Oliver had pointed out, and began to search carefully the ditch and the nearby hedges, while the others had no time to catch up. Come here, and Oliver has just had an opportunity to tell Mr. Rothbury what has led to this all-out pursuit. Searches turned up nothing, not even recent footprints.They were now standing on the top of a hill overlooking open country for three or four miles in radius.There was a village in the hollow to the left, but after running the road Oliver pointed out, they had to go round in the open to reach it, which they could not have done in such a short time. Can do it.In the other direction, the edge of the pasture joined a dense forest, but for the same reason they could not reach the hiding place.

"It must be a dream, Oliver," said Harry Maylie. "Oh, no, really, sir," said Oliver, with a shudder as he recalled the old fellow's face. "I can see him clearly. I can see them both as clearly as I can see you now." "Who's the other one?" Harry and Mr. Rosbery said in unison. "It's the man I told you about, the one who bumped into me in the inn," said Oliver. "We all looked at each other with wide eyes. I could have sworn it was him." "That's the way they're going?" Harry demanded. "You're not mistaken, are you?"

"No mistake, those two were at the window," said Oliver, pointing to the hedge which separated the garden of the house from the pasture. "That's where the tall man jumped. The old Jew ran a few steps to the right and climbed out of the gap." While Oliver spoke, the two gentlemen kept looking at his earnest face, and then at each other, as if convinced that he had a good point.However, no matter which direction, there is no trace of someone fleeing in a hurry.The grass was deep, but untrodden except where their own feet had trodden, and there was some wet earth on the sides and edges of the ditch, but there were no traces of anyone's shoes to be recognized anywhere, nor the slightest trace. There are signs that feet have been on the ground in the past few hours.

"That's weird," said Harry. "Strange?" replied the doctor, "Blasthers and Dafoe can't do anything in person." Though the search was evidently futile, they did not stop until nightfall, when there was no hope of further search, did so, but reluctantly.Kelsey was ordered to hasten to some of the village breweries, to visit two strangers who, according to the best description Oliver could give, looked and dressed to match.Of the two, the old Jew was by no means difficult to recall if anyone saw him drinking or strolling about.Even so, Kyles did not return with any news sufficient to unravel the mystery or somewhat clear up the doubts.

The next day, a new search was carried out, and the inquiries were repeated, but the results were not much better.On the third day, Oliver and Mr. Rosbery went up to the town, in the hope of seeing or hearing something of the party there, but their efforts were likewise in vain.After a few days, this incident was gradually forgotten. Like most things, strange things tend to fend for themselves if they don't get new nourishment. Meanwhile, Ruth was getting better, she was out of the ward, she was able to go out for a while, and she was with the family again, bringing joy to everyone's hearts.

However, despite the obvious impact of this gratifying change on this small world, despite the laughter and laughter in the villa, some people, even Ruth herself, showed an unusual restraint from time to time. It was impossible for Liver to be unaware of this.Mrs. Maylie and her son often had long conversations behind closed doors.Ruth appeared more than once with tears on her face.These signs intensified after Mr. Rosbery fixed a date for going to Jets.Obviously something was going on, which broke the inner peace of the girl and several other people. Finally, one morning, when Ruth was alone in the breakfast room, Harry Maylie walked in.With some hesitation, he begged permission to talk to her for a moment.

"A few minutes--just a few minutes--will be enough, Ruth," said the young man, drawing the chair in front of her, "and I have to say it, you already know the words themselves, and the deepest part of my heart You are not ignorant of the cherished hope, though you have not heard the words come out of my mouth." Ruth had gone pale when he came in, but that might have been a reflection of her recent illness.She just nodded, then leaned over to the potted flowers next to her, silently waiting for him to continue. "I - I - should have gotten out of here long ago," said Harry.

"You should, really," Ruth replied, "forgive me for saying this, but I want you to go." "I have been brought here by the most dreadful and troubling apprehension," said the young man, "of losing the only one I love, on whom I rest my every wish and every expectation. You almost A little bit of death has been oscillating between earth and heaven. We all know that whenever good, kind young people are troubled by disease, pure souls turn to their bright, eternal destination without knowing it. We know -- God bless -- the kindest and loveliest of our kind often die young."

When these words were poured out, the demure girl had tears in her eyes, and a teardrop fell on the flower she was facing with her head bowed, and a crystal brilliance shone in the corolla, making the flower more charming and moving, as if The tears welling up from her beautiful, young heart seemed to be compared with the most delicate flowers in the world. "A person," said the lad impulsively, "a girl as beautiful and innocent as the angels around God, torn between life and death. Oh! the distant world to which she was so near was opened before her eyes Halfway, who could have expected her to return to the woe and wretchedness of this world! Ruth, Ruth, know that you are passing away like a soft shadow cast upon the few by the light of the High, and there is no hope of praying God left you for those who linger here, and don't know why you should stay, feel that you already belong to that bright paradise, many of the most beautiful and kind people Flying there a long time ago, though there are many ways to talk about comfort, but still begging to give you back to those who love you-these upside-down thoughts are simply unbearable. I am in this day and night My heart is filled with fear, anxiety, and selfish remorse, which poured over me like a torrent, lest you, if you were dead, never know how faithful I was to you Sanity washes away together. You recover, day by day, almost hour by hour, health dripping into the slow stream of life that runs through you, drained and lost. Vitality, now once again the torrential tide, which I watched with eyes nearly blind with longing and affection, you escaped. Will you tell me that you wish me to leave this affection? You know, it was this affection that softened my heart and changed my attitude toward all mankind." "I don't mean that," said Ruth through tears. "I just want you to get out of here so you can turn back to something worthy of you." "Nothing, not even the noblest pursuit, can beat winning a heart like yours," said the young man, taking her hand. "Ruth, my dear Ruth. How many years— —For so many years—I have always loved you, yearning to return to my hometown after being successful and famous, and tell you that everything is only pursued for sharing with you—I have daydreamed one after another, dreaming about being in that Joyful moment, how can I remind you that I used so many dumb symbols to express the attachment of a child, I propose to you to replace the tacit understanding between us. That moment has not yet Come, but now, the fame has not yet been achieved, and the fantasy of youth has not yet been realized, I still want to present to you this heart that has long belonged to you, and put everything in me on the words you used to answer my request superior." "Your conduct has been good and noble," said Ruth, trying to control her agitated emotion, "and since you believe me to be neither insensitive nor ungrateful, listen to my answer." "You answer that I can try to be worthy of you, don't you, dear Ruth?" "My answer," replied Ruth, "is that you must try to forget me, not that I am your former companion, for that would hurt me deeply, but that I am The person you fell in love with. Take a good look at the world and think how many hearts there are out there, you'd be proud to have earned one of those hearts. When you have another love, if you will, You can confide a thing or two to me, and I will be your most sincere, warmest, and most loyal friend." Ruth paused at this point, covering her face with one hand, letting the tears well into her eyes, Harry still holding her other hand. "What's your reason, Ruth," he whispered with difficulty, "what's your reason for making this decision?" "You have a right to know why," replied Ruth. "You can't change my resolution. It's a duty I have to perform. I have to do it for myself and for others." "For yourself?" "Yes, Harry. That's all I can do. I, a helpless and dowry girl with a dubious reputation, should not give your friends reason to suspect me of base motives." , to accept your first love, to turn myself into a burden, to impose on all your hopes and plans. For you, for your loved ones, I am obliged to prevent you from doing things with the enthusiasm of your generous nature, Putting such a huge obstacle in your way." "If your heart and your sense of duty are consistent—" Harry began again. "Not consistent." Ruth's face flushed. "And you love me, too?" Harry said. "I just want you to say that, dear Ruth, and if you say that, it will take away the bitter fruit of this disappointment." "If I could do it without hurting my loved ones," replied Ruth, "I would have—" "Would take my heart quite differently?" said Harry. "At least, Ruth, don't hide that from me." "I will," Ruth said. "Wait." She pulled the hand away. "Why are we going to let this painful conversation go on? It's painful for me, but it's also Will produce eternal happiness. Knowing that I once occupied the exalted place in your heart that I am now, and that every victory you achieve in life will give me new perseverance and make me more determined, this is happiness Goodbye, Harry. We will never meet again like today. But we can have another relationship, not the one that today's conversation will lead us to, and we will be very happy with each other. There is a sincere and earnest heart praying for you, and may every blessing come down from the source of all sincerity and sincerity, bringing you joy and success.” "Let me say one more thing, Ruth," said Harry, "give the reason in your own words, and let me hear the reason from you." "Your future is very bright," replied Ruth firmly. "All the honors, all the glory and wealth that you can achieve in society by superior talents and powerful relatives are waiting for you. But those relatives are very proud." I don't want to deal with someone who may look down on my biological mother, nor do I want to bring humiliation or setbacks to the son of the person who takes my mother's place, in a word," the girl said, turning her face away, she momentarily His firmness has begun to waver, "There is a stain on my name, but the world will use it to bring harm to the innocent. I will never let others bear it for me, and I will bear all the blame." "One more word, Ruth, dear Ruth! One more word!" cried Harry, rushing up to her, "if I'm not so--unlucky, that's what the world says Yes—if I were destined to live a life of indifference and tranquility—if I were poor, sick, and helpless—would you also reject me? If you are rich, you will definitely care about birth?" "Don't make me answer," Ruth replied. "The question doesn't exist now and never will. It's not fair to push people hard, let alone goodwill." "If your answer matches the one I almost dared to expect," retorted Harry, "it will cast a happy gleam on my solitary journey, and light the way before me. Simply say In other words, it is essential to a man who loves you more than anything else, and it is not a matter of dispensation. Oh, Ruth! For the sake of my burning and abiding admiration, for the sake of my already For all that you have suffered and all that you must have made me suffer, answer me this one question!" "Well, if your fortunes dictate otherwise," replied Ruth, "if you were only a little above me rather than very much above me—if in any life of idleness and lowliness I could To help you, to comfort you, and not to be a blemish, a stumbling block in the midst of a company of ambitious men and women--I don't have to go through that. I have every reason to be happy now, very happy. But otherwise On the one hand, Harry, I admit, I should have had greater happiness." Ruth poured out her heart, long ago, when she was a little girl, she cherished some old wishes in her heart, and now, these long-cherished wishes are rushing to her heart with memories, like revisiting withered wishes. Tears brought her relief as much as they elicited tears. "I can't help that weakness, but it always makes my heart stronger," said Ruth, holding out her hand. "Now I must leave you, really." "I beg you to promise one thing," said Harry, "one more time, just one more time - not more than a year, but it could be much earlier - allow me to speak to you one last time on this subject .” "Don't force me to change my right decision," Ruth replied with a tinge of melancholy smile, "it won't do any good." "No," said Harry, "I'll hear you say it again, if you will--for the last time. Whatever position or fortune I shall acquire hereafter, I will lay it all at your feet. If you still Stand by your decision now and I will not try to change it with words or actions." "That's it," Ruth replied. "That's just one more pain, and by that time, I might be able to bear it better." She stretched out her hand again, but the young man put her in his arms, kissed her delicate forehead, and hurried out of the room.