19 Inside the Cottage

CHAPTER 19 Inside the Cottage Bill Sikes! Oliver sat up quickly. Where was Bill Sikes? It was then that Oliver realized he was in yet another room. The wallpaper was decorated with tiny red roses. The windows were covered by white lace curtains. The boy's heart was pounding. Oliver realized that this place was safe. It had the same quiet calm of Mr. Brownlow's home. Oliver walked to the window and lifted one of the lace curtains. He looked out into a beautiful garden. The yard was filled with

lovely green trees and flowers in full bloom. He recognized the gate that Bill Sikes had lifted him over. The place looked so different in sunlight. It was not scary or dangerous at all. A young woman was walking through the garden. She was picking flowers and placing them in a basket. She looked up and saw Oliver at the window. He was embarrassed about being discovered. She seemed quite happy to see him, though. She waved, then ran toward the house. She opened the bedroom door a minute or two later. "Good morning," she said cheerfully. "I'm glad to see you're all right." Oliver was surprised by her kindness. Did she not realize he had broken into her home last night? "The doctor has already come and gone," she said. "He said the bump on your head

wasn't serious. He thought you might be in a state of shock." She put her hand on his forehead to check for fever. Oliver stared at the young woman. She had a soft delicate face and light blond hair. She looked familiar to him, although he was certain they had never met before. "Why don't you get dressed," she said. "You can come downstairs for some food." She pointed to a chair in the corner. "I left you some of Harry's old clothes. I'm afraid your pants were quite ripped up." Oliver dressed slowly after she left. This was yet another strange turn in our young hero's life. He was once again saved from the hands of Fagin and Bill Sikes. He had once again woken up in a warm and comfortable bed. Oliver was quite sure that there was no way to know what the future might hold. He left the bedroom and, following the sound of soft voices, he made his way downstairs.

In the front room he found three people. Mrs. Maylie, the elderly owner of the house, sat by the fire knitting. Her son Harry, a young man about twenty-two years old, sat across from her. Rose, the young woman from the garden, stood by the window. She called Mrs. Maylie her aunt, but the two women were not related. Rose had lived with Mrs. Maylie since she was a very young girl. She was an orphan, just like Oliver. They stopped talking as Oliver walked in. Harry stood up. "Please have a seat," he said to Oliver. He pointed to a chair near the fire. "We have a lot to discuss." Oliver did as the young man asked. "We should tell you right away that we've already spoken with the police," Harry said. Oliver looked to the floor. He felt very ashamed. "We gave a description of the man with you," Harry continued. "Our gardener saw him running away. The police, however,

didn't recognize the description. We hope that you can provide more information." Oliver nodded. "I will tell you all I know," he said. "I want nothing to do with them. I'm frightened that they will try to kidnap me again." "Then you were with him under threat?" Rose asked. She turned to Mrs. Maylie and Harry. "I told you the boy was innocent!" Harry smiled at Rose. "I should never have doubted your opinion," he said. Oliver quickly understood that Harry and Rose were in love. "First of all, child," Mrs. Maylie said. "What is your name?" Mrs. Maylie had a kind and gentle voice. She had been a widow for many years. She was not a wealthy woman, but her family lived comfortably. "Oliver Twist," he said. "Now, Oliver Twist," Mrs. Maylie said as

she put down her knitting, "please tell us how you came to be in our house in the dead of night." So Oliver told them his whole history. He described his mother's untimely death, the workhouse, the undertaker's, his walk to London, and meeting Dodger, Fagin, Nancy, and Bill. He also told them about the strange man named Monks. It was a hard story to tell but Oliver spared no detail. He had lived among thieves and pickpockets and wanted no more of it. Oliver became quite upset when he described Mr. Brownlow. "He was very kind to me," the boy cried. "He must think that I've run off." "Oh, you poor boy," Mrs. Maylie said. She was almost in tears. Harry put a hand on his mother's arm to comfort her. Rose was very upset. As she spoke, her voice cracked. "And to think," she spoke