On learning that a wounded thief was lying in the house, the voice directed that he be instantly carried up-stairs to the room of Mr. Giles, and a doctor be summoned; and so for the second time in his short, tragic existence, Oliver fell into kind hands at a moment when all hope had left his breast.  He was now in the home of Mrs. Maylie, a finely preserved, bright-eyed, elderly lady, and her fair young adopted niece, Rose.

The attempted burglary had greatly shocked them both, and the fact that one of the robbers was in the house added to their nervousness.  So when Dr. Losberne came, and begged them to accompany him to the patient’s room, they dreaded to comply with the request, but finally yielded to his demand.  What was their astonishment when the bed-curtains were drawn aside, instead of a black-visaged ruffian, to see a mere child, worn with pain, and sunk into a deep sleep.  His wounded arm bound and splintered up, was crossed upon his breast.  His head reclined upon the other arm, which was half hidden by his long hair, as it streamed over the pillow.  The boy smiled in his sleep as at a pleasant dream, when Rose bent tenderly over him, while the older lady and the Doctor discussed the probability of the child’s having been the tool of robbers.  Fearing that the doctor might influence her aunt to send the boy away, Rose pleaded that he be kept and cared for; it was finally decided that when Oliver awoke he should be examined as to his past life, and if the result seemed satisfactory, he should remain.  But not until evening was he able to be questioned.  He then told them all his simple history.  It was a solemn thing to hear the feeble voice of the sick child recounting a weary catalogue of evils and calamities which hard men had brought upon him, and his hearers were profoundly moved by the recital.  His pillow was smoothed by gentle hands that night and he slept as sleep the calm and happy.

On the following day, officers who had heard of the burglary, and that a thief was prisoner in the Maylie house, came from London to arrest him, but Dr. Losberne and Mrs. Maylie shielded him, and their joint bail was accepted for the boy’s appearance in court if it should ever be required.

With the Maylies Oliver remained, and thanks to their tender care, gradually throve and prospered, although it was long weeks before he was quite himself again.  Many times he spoke to the two sweet ladies of his gratitude to them, saying that he only desired to serve them always.  To this they responded that he should go with them to the country, and there could serve them in a hundred ways.

Only one cloud was on Oliver’s sky.  He longed to go to Mr. Brownlow and tell him the true story of his seeming ingratitude.  So as soon as he was sufficiently recovered, Dr. Losberne drove him out to the place where he said Mr. Brownlow resided.  They hastened to the house, but alas! it was empty.  There was a bill in the window, “To Let” and upon inquiring, they found that Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Grimwig, and Mrs. Bedwin had gone to the West Indies.