Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist
or
The Parish Boys Progress
Preface
Once upon a time it was held to be a coarse and shocking circumstance that some
of the characters in these pages are chosen from the most criminal and degraded
of Londons population
As I saw no reason when I wrote this book why the dregs of life so long
as their speech did not offend the ear should not serve the purpose of a moral
as well as its froth and cream I made bold to believe that this same Once upon
a time would not prove to be Alltime or even a long time I saw many strong
reasons for pursuing my course I had read of thieves by scores seductive
fellows amiable for the most part faultless in dress plump in pocket choice
in horseflesh bold in bearing fortunate in gallantry great at a song a
bottle pack of cards or dicebox and fit companions for the bravest But I had
never met except in HOGARTH with the miserable reality It appeared to me that
to draw a knot of such associates in crime as really did exist to paint them in
all their deformity in all their wretchedness in all the squalid misery of
their lives to show them as they really were for ever skulking uneasily
through the dirtiest paths of life with the great black ghastly gallows closing
up their prospect turn them where they might it appeared to me that to do
this would be to attempt a something which was needed and which would be a
service to society And I did it as I best could
In every book I know where such characters are treated of allurements and
fascinations are thrown around them Even in the Beggars Opera the thieves are
represented as leading a life which is rather to be envied than otherwise while
MACHEATH with all the captivations of command and the devotion of the most
beautiful girl and only pure character in the piece is as much to be admired
and emulated by weak beholders as any fine gentleman in a red coat who has
purchased as VOLTAIRE says the right to command a couple of thousand men or
so and to affront death at their head Johnsons question whether any man will
turn thief because Macheath is reprieved seems to me beside the matter I ask
myself whether any man will be deterred from turning thief because of
Macheaths being sentenced to death and because of the existence of Peachum and
Lockit and remembering the captains roaring life great appearance vast
success and strong advantages I feel assured that nobody having a bent that
way will take any warning from him or will see anything in the play but a
flowery and pleasant road conducting an honourable ambition in course of time
to Tyburn Tree
In fact Gays witty satire on society had a general object which made him
quite regardless of example in this respect and gave him other and wider aims
The same may be said of Sir Edward Bulwers admirable and powerful novel of Paul
Clifford which cannot be fairly considered as having or as being intended to
have any bearing on this part of the subject one way or other
What manner of life is that which is described in these pages as the
everyday existence of a Thief What charms has it for the young and
illdisposed what allurements for the most jolterheaded of juveniles Here are
no canterings on moonlit heaths no merrymakings in the snuggest of all
possible caverns none of the attractions of dress no embroidery no lace no
jackboots no crimson coats and ruffles none of the dash and freedom with
which the road has been time out of mind invested The cold wet shelterless
midnight streets of London the foul and frowsy dens where vice is closely
packed and lacks the room to turn the haunts of hunger and disease the shabby
rags that scarcely hold together where are the attractions of these things
There are people however of so refined and delicate a nature that they
cannot bear the contemplation of such horrors Not that they turn instinctively
from crime but that criminal characters to suit them must be like their
meat in delicate disguise A Massaroni in green velvet is an enchanting
creature but a Sikes in fustian is insupportable A Mrs Massaroni being a
lady in short petticoats and a fancy dress is a thing to imitate in tableaux
and have in lithograph on pretty songs but a Nancy being a creature in a
cotton gown and cheap shawl is not to be thought of It is wonderful how Virtue
turns from dirty stockings and how Vice married to ribbons and a little gay
attire changes her name as wedded ladies do and becomes Romance
But as the stern truth even in the dress of this in novels much exalted
race was a part of the purpose of this book I did not for these readers
abate one hole in the Dodgers coat or one scrap of curlpaper in Nancys
dishevelled hair I had no faith in the delicacy which could not bear to look
upon them I had no desire to make proselytes among such people I had no
respect for their opinion good or bad did not covet their approval and did
not write for their amusement
It has been observed of Nancy that her devotion to the brutal housebreaker
does not seem natural And it has been objected to Sikes in the same breath
with some inconsistency as I venture to think that he is surely overdrawn
because in him there would appear to be none of those redeeming traits which are
objected to as unnatural in his mistress Of the latter objection I will merely
remark that I fear there are in the world some insensible and callous natures
that do become utterly and incurably bad Whether this be so or not of one
thing I am certain that there are such men as Sikes who being closely
followed through the same space of time and through the same current of
circumstances would not give by the action of a moment the faintest
indication of a better nature Whether every gentler human feeling is dead
within such bosoms or the proper chord to strike has rusted and is hard to
find I do not pretend to know but that the fact is as I state it I am sure
It is useless to discuss whether the conduct and character of the girl seems
natural or unnatural probable or improbable right or wrong IT IS TRUE Every
man who has watched these melancholy shades of life must know it to be so From
the first introduction of that poor wretch to her laying her bloodstained head
upon the robbers breast there is not a word exaggerated or overwrought It is
emphatically Gods truth for it is the truth He leaves in such depraved and
miserable breasts the hope yet lingering there the last fair drop of water at
the bottom of the weedchoked well It involves the best and worst shades of our
nature much of its ugliest hues and something of its most beautiful it is a
contradiction an anomaly an apparent impossibility but it is a truth I am
glad to have had it doubted for in that circumstance I should find a sufficient
assurance if I wanted any that it needed to be told
In the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty it was publicly declared
in London by an amazing Alderman that Jacobs Island did not exist and never
had existed Jacobs Island continues to exist like an illbred place as it is
in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixtyseven though improved and much
changed
Chapter I
Treats of the Place Where Oliver Twist Was Born and of the Circumstances
Attending His Birth
Among other public buildings in a certain town which for many reasons it will
be prudent to refrain from mentioning and to which I will assign no fictitious
name there is one anciently common to most towns great or small to wit a
workhouse and in this workhouse was born on a day and date which I need not
trouble myself to repeat inasmuch as it can be of no possible consequence to
the reader in this stage of the business at all events the item of mortality
whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter
For a long time after it was ushered into this world of sorrow and trouble
by the parish surgeon it remained a matter of considerable doubt whether the
child would survive to bear any name at all in which case it is somewhat more
than probable that these memoirs would never have appeared or if they had
that being comprised within a couple of pages they would have possessed the
inestimable merit of being the most concise and faithful specimen of biography
extant in the literature of any age or country
Although I am not disposed to maintain that the being born in a workhouse
is in itself the most fortunate and enviable circumstance that can possibly
befall a human being I do mean to say that in this particular instance it was
the best thing for Oliver Twist that could by possibility have occurred The
fact is that there was considerable difficulty in inducing Oliver to take upon
himself the office of respiration a troublesome practice but one which
custom has rendered necessary to our easy existence and for some time he lay
gasping on a little flock mattress rather unequally poised between this world
and the next the balance being decidedly in favour of the latter Now if
during this brief period Oliver had been surrounded by careful grandmothers
anxious aunts experienced nurses and doctors of profound wisdom he would most
inevitably and indubitably have been killed in no time There being nobody by
however but a pauper old woman who was rendered rather misty by an unwonted
allowance of beer and a parish surgeon who did such matters by contract Oliver
and Nature fought out the point between them The result was that after a few
struggles Oliver breathed sneezed and proceeded to advertise to the inmates
of the workhouse the fact of a new burden having been imposed upon the parish
by setting up as loud a cry as could reasonably have been expected from a male
infant who had not been possessed of that very useful appendage a voice for a
much longer space of time than three minutes and a quarter
As Oliver gave this first proof of the free and proper action of his lungs
the patchwork coverlet which was carelessly flung over the iron bedstead
rustled the pale face of a young woman was raised feebly from the pillow and a
faint voice imperfectly articulated the words »Let me see the child and die«
The surgeon had been sitting with his face turned towards the fire giving
the palms of his hands a warm and a rub alternately As the young woman spoke
he rose and advancing to the beds head said with more kindness than might
have been expected of him
»Oh you must not talk about dying yet«
»Lor bless her dear heart no« interposed the nurse hastily depositing in
her pocket a green glass bottle the contents of which she had been tasting in a
corner with evident satisfaction »Lor bless her dear heart when she has lived
as long as I have sir and had thirteen children of her own and all on em
dead except two and them in the wurkus with me shell know better than to take
on in that way bless her dear heart Think what it is to be a mother theres a
dear young lamb do«
Apparently this consolatory perspective of a mothers prospects failed in
producing its due effect The patient shook her head and stretched out her hand
towards the child
The surgeon deposited it in her arms She imprinted her cold white lips
passionately on its forehead passed her hands over her face gazed wildly
round shuddered fell back and died They chafed her breast hands and
temples but the blood had stopped for ever They talked of hope and comfort
They had been strangers too long
»Its all over Mrs Thingummy« said the surgeon at last
»Ah poor dear so it is« said the nurse picking up the cork of the green
bottle which had fallen out on the pillow as she stooped to take up the child
»Poor dear«
»You neednt mind sending up to me if the child cries nurse« said the
surgeon putting on his gloves with great deliberation »Its very likely it
will be troublesome Give it a little gruel if it is« He put on his hat and
pausing by the bedside on his way to the door added »She was a goodlooking
girl too where did she come from«
»She was brought here last night« replied the old woman »by the overseers
order She was found lying in the street She had walked some distance for her
shoes were worn to pieces but where she came from or where she was going to
nobody knows«
The surgeon leaned over the body and raised the left hand »The old story«
he said shaking his head »no weddingring I see Ah Good night«
The medical gentleman walked away to dinner and the nurse having once more
applied herself to the green bottle sat down on a low chair before the fire
and proceeded to dress the infant
What an excellent example of the power of dress young Oliver Twist was
Wrapped in the blanket which had hitherto formed his only covering he might
have been the child of a nobleman or a beggar it would have been hard for the
haughtiest stranger to have assigned him his proper station in society But now
that he was enveloped in the old calico robes which had grown yellow in the same
service he was badged and ticketed and fell into his place at once a parish
child the orphan of a workhouse the humble halfstarved drudge to be
cuffed and buffeted through the world despised by all and pitied by none
Oliver cried lustily If he could have known that he was an orphan left to
the tender mercies of churchwardens and overseers perhaps he would have cried
the louder
Chapter II
Treats of Oliver Twists Growth Education and Board
For the next eight or ten months Oliver was the victim of a systematic course
of treachery and deception He was brought up by hand The hungry and destitute
situation of the infant orphan was duly reported by the workhouse authorities to
the parish authorities The parish authorities inquired with dignity of the
workhouse authorities whether there was no female then domiciled in the house
who was in a situation to impart to Oliver Twist the consolation and
nourishment of which he stood in need The workhouse authorities replied with
humility that there was not Upon this the parish authorities magnanimously
and humanely resolved that Oliver should be farmed or, in other words, that he
should be despatched to a branchworkhouse some three miles off where twenty or
thirty other juvenile offenders against the poorlaws rolled about the floor
all day without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing under
the parental superintendence of an elderly female who received the culprits at
and for the consideration of sevenpence per small head per week
Sevenpencehalfpennys worth per week is a good round diet for a child a great
deal may be got for sevenpencehalfpenny quite enough to overload its stomach
and make it uncomfortable The elderly female was a woman of wisdom and
experience she knew what was good for children and she had a very accurate
perception of what was good for herself So she appropriated the greater part
of the weekly stipend to her own use and consigned the rising parochial
generation to even a shorter allowance than was originally provided for them
Thereby finding in the lowest depth a deeper still and proving herself a very
great experimental philosopher
Everybody knows the story of another experimental philosopher who had a
great theory about a horse being able to live without eating and who
demonstrated it so well that he got his own horse down to a straw a day and
would unquestionably have rendered him a very spirited and rampacious animal on
nothing at all if he had not died fourandtwenty hours before he was to have
had his first comfortable bait of air Unfortunately for the experimental
philosophy of the female to whose protecting care Oliver Twist was delivered
over a similar result usually attended the operation of her system for at the
very moment when a child had contrived to exist upon the smallest possible
portion of the weakest possible food it did perversely happen in eight and a
half cases out of ten either that it sickened from want and cold or fell into
the fire from neglect or got halfsmothered by accident in any one of which
cases the miserable little being was usually summoned into another world and
there gathered to the fathers it had never known in this
Occasionally when there was some more than usually interesting inquest upon
a parish child who had been overlooked in turning up a bedstead or
inadvertently scalded to death when there happened to be a washing though the
latter accident was very scarce anything approaching to a washing being of rare
occurrence in the farm the jury would take it into their heads to ask
troublesome questions or the parishioners would rebelliously affix their
signatures to a remonstrance But these impertinences were speedily checked by
the evidence of the surgeon and the testimony of the beadle the former of whom
had always opened the body and found nothing inside which was very probable
indeed and the latter of whom invariably swore whatever the parish wanted
which was very selfdevotional Besides the board made periodical pilgrimages
to the farm and always sent the beadle the day before to say they were going
The children were neat and clean to behold when they went and what more would
the people have
It cannot be expected that this system of farming would produce any very
extraordinary or luxuriant crop Oliver Twists ninth birthday found him a pale
thin child somewhat diminutive in stature and decidedly small in
circumference But nature or inheritance had implanted a good sturdy spirit in
Olivers breast It had had plenty of room to expand thanks to the spare diet
of the establishment and perhaps to this circumstance may be attributed his
having any ninth birthday at all Be this as it may however it was his ninth
birthday and he was keeping it in the coalcellar with a select party of two
other young gentlemen who after participating with him in a sound thrashing
had been locked up for atrociously presuming to be hungry when Mrs Mann the
good lady of the house was unexpectedly startled by the apparition of Mr
Bumble the beadle striving to undo the wicket of the gardengate
»Goodness gracious Is that you Mr Bumble sir« said Mrs Mann thrusting
her head out of the window in wellaffected ecstasies of joy »Susan take
Oliver and them two brats up stairs and wash em directly My heart alive Mr
Bumble how glad I am to see you surely«
Now Mr Bumble was a fat man and a choleric so instead of responding to
this openhearted salutation in a kindred spirit he gave the little wicket a
tremendous shake and then bestowed upon it a kick which could have emanated
from no leg but a beadles
»Lor only think« said Mrs Mann running out for the three boys had
been removed by this time »only think of that That I should have forgotten
that the gate was bolted on the inside on account of them dear children Walk
in sir walk in pray Mr Bumble do sir«
Although this invitation was accompanied with a curtsey that might have
softened the heart of a churchwarden it by no means mollified the beadle
»Do you think this respectful or proper conduct Mrs Mann« inquired Mr
Bumble grasping his cane »to keep the parish officers a waiting at your
gardengate when they come here upon porochial business connected with the
porochial orphans Are you aweer Mrs Mann that you are as I may say a
porochial delegate and a stipendiary«
»Im sure Mr Bumble that I was only a telling one or two of the dear
children as is so fond of you that it was you a coming« replied Mrs Mann with
great humility
Mr Bumble had a great idea of his oratorical powers and his importance He
had displayed the one and vindicated the other He relaxed
»Well well Mrs Mann« he replied in a calmer tone »it may be as you say
it may be Lead the way in Mrs Mann for I come on business and have
something to say«
Mrs Mann ushered the beadle into a small parlour with a brick floor placed
a seat for him and officiously deposited his cocked hat and cane on the table
before him Mr Bumble wiped from his forehead the perspiration which his walk
had engendered glanced complacently at the cocked hat and smiled Yes he
smiled Beadles are but men and Mr Bumble smiled
»Now dont you be offended at what Im a going to say« observed Mrs Mann
with captivating sweetness »Youve had a long walk you know or I wouldnt
mention it Now will you take a little drop of somethink Mr Bumble«
»Not a drop Not a drop« said Mr Bumble waving his right hand in a
dignified but placid manner
»I think you will« said Mrs Mann who had noticed the tone of the refusal
and the gesture that had accompanied it »Just a leetle drop with a little cold
water and a lump of sugar«
Mr Bumble coughed
»Now just a leetle drop« said Mrs Mann persuasively
»What is it« inquired the beadle
»Why its what Im obliged to keep a little of in the house to put into the
blessed infants Daffy when they aint well Mr Bumble« replied Mrs Mann as
she opened a corner cupboard and took down a bottle and glass »Its gin Ill
not deceive you Mr B Its gin«
»Do you give the children Daffy Mrs Mann« inquired Bumble following with
his eyes the interesting process of mixing
»Ah bless em that I do dear as it is« replied the nurse »I couldnt
see em suffer before my very eyes you know sir«
»No« said Mr Bumble approvingly »no you could not You are a humane
woman Mrs Mann« Here she set down the glass »I shall take a early
opportunity of mentioning it to the board Mrs Mann« He drew it towards him
»You feel as a mother Mrs Mann« He stirred the ginandwater »I I drink
your health with cheerfulness Mrs Mann« and he swallowed half of it
»And now about business« said the beadle taking out a leathern
pocketbook »The child that was halfbaptized Oliver Twist is nine year old
today«
»Bless him« interposed Mrs Mann inflaming her left eye with the corner of
her apron
»And notwithstanding a offered reward of ten pound which was afterwards
increased to twenty pound Notwithstanding the most superlative and I may say
supernatral exertions on the part of this parish« said Bumble »we have never
been able to discover who is his father or what was his mothers settlement
name or condition«
Mrs Mann raised her hands in astonishment but added after a moments
reflection »How comes he to have any name at all then«
The beadle drew himself up with great pride and said »I inwented it«
»You Mr Bumble«
»I Mrs Mann We name our fondlings in alphabetical order The last was a
S Swubble I named him This was a T Twist I named him The next one as
comes will be Unwin and the next Vilkins I have got names ready made to the
end of the alphabet and all the way through it again when we come to Z«
»Why youre quite a literary character sir« said Mrs Mann
»Well well« said the beadle evidently gratified with the compliment
»perhaps I may be Perhaps I may be Mrs Mann« He finished the ginandwater
and added »Oliver being now too old to remain here the board have determined
to have him back into the house I have come out myself to take him there So
let me see him at once«
»Ill fetch him directly« said Mrs Mann leaving the room for that
purpose Oliver having had by this time as much of the outer coat of dirt which
encrusted his face and hands removed as could be scrubbed off in one washing
was led into the room by his benevolent protectress
»Make a bow to the gentleman Oliver« said Mrs Mann
Oliver made a bow which was divided between the beadle on the chair and
the cockedhat on the table
»Will you go along with me Oliver« said Mr Bumble in a majestic voice
Oliver was about to say that he would go along with anybody with great
readiness when glancing upward he caught sight of Mrs Mann who had got
behind the beadles chair and was shaking her fist at him with a furious
countenance He took the hint at once for the fist had been too often impressed
upon his body not to be deeply impressed upon his recollection
»Will she go with me« inquired poor Oliver
»No she cant« replied Mr Bumble »But shell come and see you
sometimes«
This was no very great consolation to the child Young as he was however
he had sense enough to make a feint of feeling great regret at going away It
was no very difficult matter for the boy to call tears into his eyes Hunger and
recent illusage are great assistants if you want to cry and Oliver cried very
naturally indeed Mrs Mann gave him a thousand embraces and what Oliver
wanted a great deal more a piece of bread and butter lest he should seem too
hungry when he got to the workhouse With the slice of bread in his hand and
the little browncloth parish cap on his head Oliver was then led away by Mr
Bumble from the wretched home where one kind word or look had never lighted the
gloom of his infant years And yet he burst into an agony of childish grief as
the cottagegate closed after him Wretched as were the little companions in
misery he was leaving behind they were the only friends he had ever known and
a sense of his loneliness in the great wide world sank into the childs heart
for the first time
Mr Bumble walked on with long strides little Oliver firmly grasping his
goldlaced cuff trotted beside him inquiring at the end of every quarter of a
mile whether they were nearly there To these interrogations Mr Bumble returned
very brief and snappish replies for the temporary blandness which ginandwater
awakens in some bosoms had by this time evaporated and he was once again a
beadle
Oliver had not been within the walls of the workhouse a quarter of an hour
and had scarcely completed the demolition of a second slice of bread when Mr
Bumble who had handed him over to the care of an old woman returned and
telling him it was a board night informed him that the board had said he was to
appear before it forthwith
Not having a very clearly defined notion of what a live board was Oliver
was rather astounded by this intelligence and was not quite certain whether he
ought to laugh or cry He had no time to think about the matter however for
Mr Bumble gave him a tap on the head with his cane to wake him up and
another on the back to make him lively and bidding him follow conducted him
into a large whitewashed room where eight or ten fat gentlemen were sitting
round a table At the top of the table seated in an armchair rather higher than
the rest was a particularly fat gentleman with a very round red face
»Bow to the board« said Bumble Oliver brushed away two or three tears that
were lingering in his eyes and seeing no board but the table fortunately bowed
to that
»Whats your name boy« said the gentleman in the high chair
Oliver was frightened at the sight of so many gentlemen which made him
tremble and the beadle gave him another tap behind which made him cry These
two causes made him answer in a very low and hesitating voice whereupon a
gentleman in a white waistcoat said he was a fool Which was a capital way of
raising his spirits and putting him quite at his ease
»Boy« said the gentleman in the high chair »listen to me You know youre
an orphan I suppose«
»Whats that sir« inquired poor Oliver
»The boy is a fool I thought he was« said the gentleman in the white
waistcoat
»Hush« said the gentleman who had spoken first »You know youve got no
father or mother and that you were brought up by the parish dont you«
»Yes sir« replied Oliver weeping bitterly
»What are you crying for« inquired the gentleman in the white waistcoat
And to be sure it was very extraordinary What could the boy be crying for
»I hope you say your prayers every night« said another gentleman in a gruff
voice »and pray for the people who feed you and take care of you like a
Christian«
»Yes sir« stammered the boy The gentleman who spoke last was
unconsciously right It would have been very like a Christian and a
marvellously good Christian too if Oliver had prayed for the people who fed
and took care of him But he hadnt because nobody had taught him
»Well You have come here to be educated and taught a useful trade« said
the redfaced gentleman in the high chair
»So youll begin to pick oakum tomorrow morning at six oclock« added the
surly one in the white waistcoat
For the combination of both these blessings in the one simple process of
picking oakum Oliver bowed low by the direction of the beadle and was then
hurried away to a large ward where on a rough hard bed he sobbed himself to
sleep What a noble illustration of the tender laws of England They let the
paupers go to sleep
Poor Oliver He little thought as he lay sleeping in happy unconsciousness
of all around him that the board had that very day arrived at a decision which
would exercise the most material influence over all his future fortunes But
they had And this was it
The members of this board were very sage deep philosophical men and when
they came to turn their attention to the workhouse they found out at once what
ordinary folks would never have discovered the poor people liked it It was a
regular place of public entertainment for the poorer classes a tavern where
there was nothing to pay a public breakfast dinner tea and supper all the
year round a brick and mortar elysium where it was all play and no work
»Oho« said the board looking very knowing »we are the fellows to set this to
rights well stop it all in no time« So they established the rule that all
poor people should have the alternative for they would compel nobody not
they of being starved by a gradual process in the house or by a quick one out
of it With this view they contracted with the waterworks to lay on an
unlimited supply of water and with a cornfactor to supply periodically small
quantities of oatmeal and issued three meals of thin gruel a day with an onion
twice a week and half a roll on Sundays They made a great many other wise and
humane regulations having reference to the ladies which it is not necessary to
repeat kindly undertook to divorce poor married people in consequence of the
great expense of a suit in Doctors Commons and instead of compelling a man to
support his family as they had theretofore done took his family away from him
and made him a bachelor There is no saying how many applicants for relief
under these last two heads might have started up in all classes of society if
it had not been coupled with the workhouse but the board were longheaded men
and had provided for this difficulty The relief was inseparable from the
workhouse and the gruel and that frightened people
For the first six months after Oliver Twist was removed the system was in
full operation It was rather expensive at first in consequence of the increase
in the undertakers bill and the necessity of taking in the clothes of all the
paupers which fluttered loosely on their wasted shrunken forms after a week
or twos gruel But the number of workhouse inmates got thin as well as the
paupers and the board were in ecstasies
The room in which the boys were fed was a large stone hall with a copper
at one end out of which the master dressed in an apron for the purpose and
assisted by one or two women ladled the gruel at mealtimes Of this festive
composition each boy had one porringer and no more except on occasions of
great public rejoicing when he had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides
The bowls never wanted washing The boys polished them with their spoons till
they shone again and when they had performed this operation which never took
very long the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls they would sit
staring at the copper with such eager eyes as if they could have devoured the
very bricks of which it was composed employing themselves meanwhile in
sucking their fingers most assiduously with the view of catching up any stray
splashes of gruel that might have been cast thereon Boys have generally
excellent appetites Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of
slow starvation for three months at last they got so voracious and wild with
hunger that one boy who was tall for his age and hadnt been used to that
sort of thing for his father had kept a small cookshop hinted darkly to his
companions that unless he had another basin of gruel per diem he was afraid he
might some night happen to eat the boy who slept next him who happened to be a
weakly youth of tender age He had a wild hungry eye and they implicitly
believed him A council was held lots were cast who should walk up to the
master after supper that evening and ask for more and it fell to Oliver Twist
The evening arrived the boys took their places The master in his cooks
uniform stationed himself at the copper his pauper assistants ranged
themselves behind him the gruel was served out and a long grace was said over
the short commons The gruel disappeared the boys whispered each other and
winked at Oliver while his next neighbours nudged him Child as he was he was
desperate with hunger and reckless with misery He rose from the table and
advancing to the master basin and spoon in hand said somewhat alarmed at his
own temerity
»Please sir I want some more«
The master was a fat healthy man but he turned very pale He gazed in
stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds and then clung for
support to the copper The assistants were paralysed with wonder the boys with
fear
»What« said the master at length in a faint voice
»Please sir« replied Oliver »I want some more«
The master aimed a blow at Olivers head with the ladle pinioned him in his
arms and shrieked aloud for the beadle
The board were sitting in solemn conclave when Mr Bumble rushed into the
room in great excitement and addressing the gentleman in the high chair said
»Mr Limbkins I beg your pardon sir Oliver Twist has asked for more«
There was a general start Horror was depicted on every countenance
»For more« said Mr Limbkins »Compose yourself Bumble and answer me
distinctly Do I understand that he asked for more after he had eaten the
supper allotted by the dietary«
»He did sir« replied Bumble
»That boy will be hung« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat »I know
that boy will be hung«
Nobody controverted the prophetic gentlemans opinion An animated
discussion took place Oliver was ordered into instant confinement and a bill
was next morning pasted on the outside of the gate offering a reward of five
pounds to anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish In
other words five pounds and Oliver Twist were offered to any man or woman who
wanted an apprentice to any trade business or calling
»I never was more convinced of anything in my life« said the gentleman in
the white waistcoat as he knocked at the gate and read the bill next morning
»I never was more convinced of anything in my life than I am that that boy will
come to be hung«
As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the whitewaistcoated gentleman
was right or not I should perhaps mar the interest of this narrative supposing
it to possess any at all if I ventured to hint just yet whether the life of
Oliver Twist had this violent termination or no
Chapter III
Relates How Oliver Twist Was Very Near Getting a Place Which Would Not Have
Been a Sinecure
For a week after the commission of the impious and profane offence of asking for
more Oliver remained a close prisoner in the dark and solitary room to which he
had been consigned by the wisdom and mercy of the board It appears at first
sight not unreasonable to suppose that if he had entertained a becoming
feeling of respect for the prediction of the gentleman in the white waistcoat
he would have established that sage individuals prophetic character once and
for ever by tying one end of his pockethandkerchief to a hook in the wall and
attaching himself to the other To the performance of this feat however there
was one obstacle namely that pockethandkerchiefs being decided articles of
luxury had been for all future times and ages removed from the noses of
paupers by the express order of the board in council assembled solemnly given
and pronounced under their hands and seals There was a still greater obstacle
in Olivers youth and childishness He only cried bitterly all day and when
the long dismal night came on spread 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 the
wall as if to feel even its cold hard surface were a protection in the gloom
and loneliness which surrounded him
Let it not be supposed by the enemies of the system that during the period
of his solitary incarceration Oliver was denied the benefit of exercise the
pleasure of society or the advantages of religious consolation As for
exercise it was nice cold weather and he was allowed to perform his ablutions
every morning under the pump in a stone yard in the presence of Mr Bumble
who prevented his catching cold and caused a tingling sensation to pervade his
frame by repeated applications of the cane As for society he was carried
every other day into the hall where the boys dined and there sociably flogged
as a public warning and example And so far from being denied the advantages of
religious consolation he was kicked into the same apartment every evening at
prayertime and there permitted to listen to and console his mind with a
general supplication of the boys containing a special clause therein inserted
by authority of the board in which they entreated to be made good virtuous
contented and obedient and to be guarded from the sins and vices of Oliver
Twist whom the supplication distinctly set forth to be under the exclusive
patronage and protection of the powers of wickedness and an article direct from
the manufactory of the very Devil himself
It chanced one morning while Olivers affairs were in this auspicious and
comfortable state that Mr Gamfield chimneysweep went his way down the High
Street deeply cogitating in his mind his ways and means of paying certain
arrears of rent for which his landlord had become rather pressing Mr
Gamfields most sanguine estimate of his finances could not raise them within
full five pounds of the desired amount and in a species of arithmetical
desperation he was alternately cudgelling his brains and his donkey when
passing the workhouse his eyes encountered the bill on the gate
»Woo« said Mr Gamfield to the donkey
The donkey was in a state of profound abstraction wondering probably
whether he was destined to be regaled with a cabbagestalk or two when he had
disposed of the two sacks of soot with which the little cart was laden so
without noticing the word of command he jogged onward
Mr Gamfield growled a fierce imprecation on the donkey generally but more
particularly on his eyes and running after him bestowed a blow on his head
which would inevitably have beaten in any skull but a donkeys Then catching
hold of the bridle he gave his jaw a sharp wrench by way of gentle reminder
that he was not his own master and by these means turned him round He then
gave him another blow on the head just to stun him till he came back again
Having completed these arrangements he walked up to the gate to read the bill
The gentleman with the white waistcoat was standing at the gate with his
hands behind him after having delivered himself of some profound sentiments in
the boardroom Having witnessed the little dispute between Mr Gamfield and the
donkey he smiled joyously when that person came up to read the bill for he saw
at once that Mr Gamfield was exactly the sort of master Oliver Twist wanted
Mr Gamfield smiled too as he perused the document for five pounds was just
the sum he had been wishing for and as to the boy with which it was
encumbered Mr Gamfield knowing what the dietary of the workhouse was well
knew he would be a nice small pattern just the very thing for register stoves
So he spelt the bill through again from beginning to end and then touching
his fur cap in token of humility accosted the gentleman in the white waistcoat
»This here boy sir wot the parish wants to prentis« said Mr Gamfield
»Ay my man« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat with a
condescending smile »What of him«
»If the parish vould like him to learn a right pleasant trade in a good
spectable chimbleysweepin bisness« said Mr Gamfield »I wants a prentis
and I am ready to take him«
»Walk in« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat Mr Gamfield having
lingered behind to give the donkey another blow on the head and another wrench
of the jaw as a caution not to run away in his absence followed the gentleman
with the white waistcoat into the room where Oliver had first seen him
»Its a nasty trade« said Mr Limbkins when Gamfield had again stated his
wish
»Young boys have been smothered in chimneys before now« said another
gentleman
»Thats acause they damped the straw afore they lit it in the chimbley to
make em come down agin« said Gamfield »thats all smoke and no blaze vereas
smoke aint o no use at all in making a boy come down for it only sinds him to
sleep and thats wot he likes Boys is wery obstinit and wery lazy genlmen
and theres nothink like a good hot blaze to make em come down vith a run Its
humane too genlmen acause even if theyve stuck in the chimbley roasting
their feet makes em struggle to hextricate theirselves«
The gentleman in the white waistcoat appeared very much amused by this
explanation but his mirth was speedily checked by a look from Mr Limbkins The
board then proceeded to converse among themselves for a few minutes but in so
low a tone that the words saving of expenditure looked well in the accounts
have a printed report published were alone audible These only chanced to be
heard indeed on account of their being very frequently repeated with great
emphasis
At length the whispering ceased and the members of the board having
resumed their seats and their solemnity Mr Limbkins said
»We have considered your proposition and we dont approve of it«
»Not at all« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat
»Decidedly not« added the other members
As Mr Gamfield did happen to labour under the slight imputation of having
bruised three or four boys to death already it occurred to him that the board
had perhaps in some unaccountable freak taken it into their heads that this
extraneous circumstance ought to influence their proceedings It was very unlike
their general mode of doing business if they had but still as he had no
particular wish to revive the rumour he twisted his cap in his hands and
walked slowly from the table
»So you wont let me have him genlmen« said Mr Gamfield pausing near
the door
»No« replied Mr Limbkins »at least as its a nasty business we think
you ought to take something less than the premium we offered«
Mr Gamfields countenance brightened as with a quick step he returned to
the table and said
»Whatll you give genlmen Come Dont be too hard on a poor man Whatll
you give«
»I should say three pound ten was plenty« said Mr Limbkins
»Ten shillings too much« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat
»Come« said Gamfield »say four pound genlmen Say four pound and youve
got rid on him for good and all There«
»Three pound ten« repeated Mr Limbkins firmly
»Come Ill split the difference genlmen« urged Gamfield »Three pound
fifteen«
»Not a farthing more« was the firm reply of Mr Limbkins
»Youre desperate hard upon me genlmen« said Gamfield wavering
»Pooh pooh nonsense« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat »Hed be
cheap with nothing at all as a premium Take him you silly fellow Hes just
the boy for you He wants the stick now and then itll do him good and his
board neednt come very expensive for he hasnt been overfed since he was
born Ha ha ha«
Mr Gamfield gave an arch look at the faces round the table and observing
a smile on all of them gradually broke into a smile himself The bargain was
made Mr Bumble was at once instructed that Oliver Twist and his indentures
were to be conveyed before the magistrate for signature and approval that very
afternoon
In pursuance of this determination little Oliver to his excessive
astonishment was released from bondage and ordered to put himself into a clean
shirt He had hardly achieved this very unusual gymnastic performance when Mr
Bumble brought him with his own hands a basin of gruel and the holiday
allowance of two ounces and a quarter of bread At this tremendous sight Oliver
began to cry very piteously thinking not unnaturally that the board must have
determined to kill him for some useful purpose or they never would have begun
to fatten him up in that way
»Dont make your eyes red Oliver but eat your food and be thankful« said
Mr Bumble in a tone of impressive pomposity »Youre a going to be made a
prentice of Oliver«
»A prentice sir« said the child trembling
»Yes Oliver« said Mr Bumble »The kind and blessed gentlemen which is so
many parents to you Oliver when you have none of your own are a going to
prentice you and to set you up in life and make a man of you although the
expense to the parish is three pound ten three pound ten Oliver seventy
shillins one hundred and forty sixpences and all for a naughty orphan which
nobody cant love«
As Mr Bumble paused to take breath after delivering this address in an
awful voice the tears rolled down the poor childs face and he sobbed
bitterly
»Come« said Mr Bumble somewhat less pompously for it was gratifying to
his feelings to observe the effect his eloquence had produced »Come Oliver
Wipe your eyes with the cuffs of your jacket and dont cry into your gruel
thats a very foolish action Oliver« It certainly was for there was quite
enough water in it already
On their way to the magistrate Mr Bumble instructed Oliver that all he
would have to do would be to look very happy and say when the gentleman asked
him if he wanted to be apprenticed that he should like it very much indeed
both of which injunctions Oliver promised to obey the rather as Mr Bumble
threw in a gentle hint that if he failed in either particular there was no
telling what would be done to him When they arrived at the office he was shut
up in a little room by himself and admonished by Mr Bumble to stay there
until he came back to fetch him
There the boy remained with a palpitating heart for half an hour At the
expiration of which time Mr Bumble thrust in his head unadorned with the
cocked hat and said aloud
»Now Oliver my dear come to the gentleman« As Mr Bumble said this he
put on a grim and threatening look and added in a low voice »Mind what I told
you you young rascal«
Oliver stared innocently in Mr Bumbles face at this somewhat contradictory
style of address but that gentleman prevented his offering any remark
thereupon by leading him at once into an adjoining room the door of which was
open It was a large room with a great window Behind a desk sat two old
gentlemen with powdered heads one of whom was reading the newspaper while the
other was perusing with the aid of a pair of tortoiseshell spectacles a small
piece of parchment which lay before him Mr Limbkins was standing in front of
the desk on one side and Mr Gamfield with a partially washed face on the
other while two or three blufflooking men in topboots were lounging about
The old gentleman with the spectacles gradually dozed off over the little
bit of parchment and there was a short pause after Oliver had been stationed
by Mr Bumble in front of the desk
»This is the boy your worship« said Mr Bumble
The old gentleman who was reading the newspaper raised his head for a
moment and pulled the other old gentleman by the sleeve whereupon the
lastmentioned old gentleman woke up
»Oh is this the boy« said the old gentleman
»This is him sir« replied Mr Bumble »Bow to the magistrate my dear«
Oliver roused himself and made his best obeisance He had been wondering
with his eyes fixed on the magistrates powder whether all boards were born
with that white stuff on their heads and were boards from thenceforth on that
account
»Well« said the old gentleman »I suppose hes fond of chimneysweeping«
»He doats on it your worship« replied Bumble giving Oliver a sly pinch
to intimate that he had better not say he didnt
»And he will be a sweep will he« inquired the old gentleman
»If we was to bind him to any other trade tomorrow hed run away
simultaneous your worship« replied Bumble
»And this man thats to be his master you sir youll treat him well
and feed him and do all that sort of thing will you« said the old gentleman
»When I says I will I means I will« replied Mr Gamfield doggedly
»Youre a rough speaker my friend but you look an honest openhearted
man« said the old gentleman turning his spectacles in the direction of the
candidate for Olivers premium whose villanous countenance was a regular
stamped receipt for cruelty But the magistrate was half blind and half
childish so he couldnt reasonably be expected to discern what other people
did
»I hope I am sir« said Mr Gamfield with an ugly leer
»I have no doubt you are my friend« replied the old gentleman fixing his
spectacles more firmly on his nose and looking about him for the inkstand
It was the critical moment of Olivers fate If the inkstand had been where
the old gentleman thought it was he would have dipped his pen into it and
signed the indentures and Oliver would have been straightway hurried off But
as it chanced to be immediately under his nose it followed as a matter of
course that he looked all over his desk for it without finding it and
happening in the course of his search to look straight before him his gaze
encountered the pale and terrified face of Oliver Twist who despite all the
admonitory looks and pinches of Bumble was regarding the repulsive countenance
of his future master with a mingled expression of horror and fear too palpable
to be mistaken even by a halfblind magistrate
The old gentleman stopped laid down his pen and looked from Oliver to Mr
Limbkins who attempted to take snuff with a cheerful and unconcerned aspect
»My boy« said the old gentleman leaning over the desk Oliver started at
the sound He might be excused for doing so for the words were kindly said and
strange sounds frighten one He trembled violently and burst into tears
»My boy« said the old gentleman »you look pale and alarmed What is the
matter«
»Stand a little away from him Beadle« said the other magistrate laying
aside the paper and leaning forward with an expression of interest »Now boy
tell us whats the matter dont be afraid«
Oliver fell on his knees and clasping his hands together prayed that they
would order him back to the dark room that they would starve him beat him
kill him if they pleased rather than send him away with that dreadful man
»Well« said Mr Bumble raising his hands and eyes with most impressive
solemnity »Well of all the artful and designing orphans that ever I see
Oliver you are one of the most barefacedest«
»Hold your tongue Beadle« said the second old gentleman when Mr Bumble
had given vent to this compound adjective
»I beg your worships pardon« said Mr Bumble incredulous of his having
heard aright »Did your worship speak to me«
»Yes Hold your tongue«
Mr Bumble was stupefied with astonishment A beadle ordered to hold his
tongue A moral revolution
The old gentleman in the tortoiseshell spectacles looked at his companion
he nodded significantly
»We refuse to sanction these indentures« said the old gentleman tossing
aside the piece of parchment as he spoke
»I hope« stammered Mr Limbkins »I hope the magistrates will not form the
opinion that the authorities have been guilty of any improper conduct on the
unsupported testimony of a mere child«
»The magistrates are not called upon to pronounce any opinion on the
matter« said the second old gentleman sharply »Take the boy back to the
workhouse and treat him kindly He seems to want it«
That same evening the gentleman in the white waistcoat most positively and
decidedly affirmed not only that Oliver would be hung but that he would be
drawn and quartered into the bargain Mr Bumble shook his head with gloomy
mystery and said he wished he might come to good whereunto Mr Gamfield
replied that he wished he might come to him which although he agreed with the
beadle in most matters would seem to be a wish of a totally opposite
description
The next morning the public were once more informed that Oliver Twist was
again To Let and that five pounds would be paid to anybody who would take
possession of him
Chapter IV
Oliver Being Offered Another Place Makes His First Entry into Public Life
In great families when an advantageous place cannot be obtained either in
possession reversion remainder or expectancy for the young man who is
growing up it is a very general custom to send him to sea The board in
imitation of so wise and salutary an example took counsel together on the
expediency of shipping off Oliver Twist in some small trading vessel bound to a
good unhealthy port This suggested itself as the very best thing that could
possibly be done with him the probability being that the skipper would flog
him to death in a playful mood some day after dinner or would knock his
brains out with an iron bar both pastimes being as is pretty generally known
very favourite and common recreations among gentlemen of that class The more
the case presented itself to the board in this point of view the more manifold
the advantages of the step appeared so they came to the conclusion that the
only way of providing for Oliver effectually was to send him to sea without
delay
Mr Bumble had been despatched to make various preliminary inquiries with
the view of finding out some captain or other who wanted a cabinboy without any
friends and was returning to the workhouse to communicate the result of his
mission when he encountered at the gate no less a person than Mr Sowerberry
the parochial undertaker
Mr Sowerberry was a tall gaunt largejointed man attired in a suit of
threadbare black with darned cotton stockings of the same colour and shoes to
answer His features were not naturally intended to wear a smiling aspect but
he was in general rather given to professional jocosity His step was elastic
and his face betokened inward pleasantry as he advanced to Mr Bumble and
shook him cordially by the hand
»I have taken the measure of the two women that died last night Mr
Bumble« said the undertaker
»Youll make your fortune Mr Sowerberry« said the beadle as he thrust
his thumb and forefinger into the proffered snuffbox of the undertaker which
was an ingenious little model of a patent coffin »I say youll make your
fortune Mr Sowerberry« repeated Mr Bumble tapping the undertaker on the
shoulder in a friendly manner with his cane
»Think so« said the undertaker in a tone which half admitted and half
disputed the probability of the event »The prices allowed by the board are very
small Mr Bumble«
»So are the coffins« replied the beadle with precisely as near an approach
to a laugh as a great official ought to indulge in
Mr Sowerberry was much tickled at this as of course he ought to be and
laughed a long time without cessation »Well well Mr Bumble« he said at
length »theres no denying that since the new system of feeding has come in
the coffins are something narrower and more shallow than they used to be but we
must have some profit Mr Bumble Wellseasoned timber is an expensive article
sir and all the iron handles come by canal from Birmingham«
»Well well« said Mr Bumble »every trade has its drawbacks A fair profit
is of course allowable«
»Of course of course« replied the undertaker »and if I dont get a profit
upon this or that particular article why I make it up in the longrun you see
he he he«
»Just so« said Mr Bumble
»Though I must say« continued the undertaker resuming the current of
observations which the beadle had interrupted »though I must say Mr Bumble
that I have to contend against one very great disadvantage which is that all
the stout people go off the quickest The people who have been better off and
have paid rates for many years are the first to sink when they come into the
house and let me tell you Mr Bumble that three or four inches over ones
calculation makes a great hole in ones profits especially when one has a
family to provide for sir«
As Mr Sowerberry said this with the becoming indignation of an illused
man and as Mr Bumble felt that it rather tended to convey a reflection on the
honour of the parish the latter gentleman thought it advisable to change the
subject Oliver Twist being uppermost in his mind he made him his theme
»By the bye« said Mr Bumble »you dont know anybody who wants a boy do
you A porochial prentis who is at present a deadweight a millstone as I may
say round the porochial throat Liberal terms Mr Sowerberry liberal terms«
As Mr Bumble spoke he raised his cane to the bill above him and gave three
distinct raps upon the words five pounds which were printed thereon in Roman
capitals of gigantic size
»Gadso« said the undertaker taking Mr Bumble by the giltedged lappel of
his official coat »thats just the very thing I wanted to speak to you about
You know dear me what a very elegant button this is Mr Bumble I never
noticed it before«
»Yes I think it is rather pretty« said the beadle glancing proudly
downwards at the large brass buttons which embellished his coat »The die is the
same as the porochial seal the Good Samaritan healing the sick and bruised
man The board presented it to me on Newyears morning Mr Sowerberry I put
it on I remember for the first time to attend the inquest on that reduced
tradesman who died in a doorway at midnight«
»I recollect« said the undertaker »The jury brought it in Died from
exposure to the cold and want of the common necessaries of life didnt they«
Mr Bumble nodded
»And they made it a special verdict I think« said the undertaker »by
adding some words to the effect that if the relieving officer had «
»Tush Foolery« interposed the beadle »If the board attended to all the
nonsense that ignorant jurymen talk theyd have enough to do«
»Very true« said the undertaker »they would indeed«
»Juries« said Mr Bumble grasping his cane tightly as was his wont when
working into a passion »juries is ineddicated vulgar grovelling wretches«
»So they are« said the undertaker
»They havent no more philosophy nor political economy about em than that«
said the beadle snapping his fingers contemptuously
»No more they have« acquiesced the undertaker
»I despise em« said the beadle growing very red in the face
»So do I« rejoined the undertaker
»And I only wish wed a jury of the independent sort in the house for a
week or two« said the beadle »the rules and regulations of the board would
soon bring their spirit down for em«
»Let em alone for that« replied the undertaker So saying he smiled
approvingly to calm the rising wrath of the indignant parish officer
Mr Bumble lifted off his cocked hat took a handkerchief from the inside of
the crown wiped from his forehead the perspiration which his rage had
engendered fixed the cocked hat on again and turning to the undertaker said
in a calmer voice
»Well what about the boy«
»Oh« replied the undertaker »why you know Mr Bumble I pay a good deal
towards the poors rates«
»Hem« said Mr Bumble »Well«
»Well« replied the undertaker »I was thinking that if I pay so much
towards em Ive a right to get as much out of em as I can Mr Bumble and so
and so I think Ill take the boy myself«
Mr Bumble grasped the undertaker by the arm and led him into the building
Mr Sowerberry was closeted with the board for five minutes and it was arranged
that Oliver should go to him that evening upon liking a phrase which means in
the case of a parish apprentice that if the master find upon a short trial
that he can get enough work out of a boy without putting too much food into him
he shall have him for a term of years to do what he likes with
When little Oliver was taken before the gentlemen that evening and informed
that he was to go that night as general houselad to a coffinmakers and
that if he complained of his situation or ever came back to the parish again
he would be sent to sea there to be drowned or knocked on the head as the
case might be he evinced so little emotion that they by common consent
pronounced him a hardened young rascal and ordered Mr Bumble to remove him
forthwith
Now although it was very natural that the board of all people in the
world should feel in a great state of virtuous astonishment and horror at the
smallest tokens of want of feeling on the part of anybody they were rather out
in this particular instance The simple fact was that Oliver instead of
possessing too little feeling possessed rather too much and was in a fair way
of being reduced for life to a state of brutal stupidity and sullenness by the
ill usage he had received He heard the news of his destination in perfect
silence and having had his luggage put into his hand which was not very
difficult to carry inasmuch as it was all comprised within the limits of a
brown paper parcel about half a foot square by three inches deep he pulled
his cap over his eyes and once more attaching himself to Mr Bumbles coat
cuff was led away by that dignitary to a new scene of suffering
For some time Mr Bumble drew Oliver along without notice or remark for
the beadle carried his head very erect as a beadle always should and it being
a windy day little Oliver was completely enshrouded by the skirts of Mr
Bumbles coat as they blew open and disclosed to great advantage his flapped
waistcoat and drab plush kneebreeches As they drew near to their destination
however Mr Bumble thought it expedient to look down and see that the boy was
in good order for inspection by his new master which he accordingly did with a
fit and becoming air of gracious patronage
»Oliver« said Mr Bumble
»Yes sir« replied Oliver in a low tremulous voice
»Pull that cap off your eyes and hold up your head sir«
Although Oliver did as he was desired at once and passed the back of his
unoccupied hand briskly across his eyes he left a tear in them when he looked
up at his conductor As Mr Bumble gazed sternly upon him it rolled down his
cheek It was followed by another and another The child made a strong effort
but it was an unsuccessful one Withdrawing his other hand from Mr Bumbles he
covered his face with both and wept until the tears sprung out from between his
chin and bony fingers
»Well« exclaimed Mr Bumble stopping short and darting at his little
charge a look of intense malignity »Well Of all the ungratefullest and
worstdisposed boys as ever I see Oliver you are the «
»No no sir« sobbed Oliver clinging to the hand which held the wellknown
cane »no no sir I will be good indeed indeed indeed I will sir I am a
very little boy sir and it is so so «
»So what« inquired Mr Bumble in amazement
»So lonely sir So very lonely« cried the child »Everybody hates me Oh
sir dont dont pray be cross to me« The child beat his hand upon his heart
and looked in his companions face with tears of real agony
Mr Bumble regarded Olivers piteous and helpless look with some
astonishment for a few seconds hemmed three or four times in a husky manner
and after muttering something about »that troublesome cough« bade Oliver dry
his eyes and be a good boy Then once more taking his hand he walked on with
him in silence
The undertaker who had just put up the shutters of his shop was making
some entries in his daybook by the light of a most appropriate dismal candle
when Mr Bumble entered
»Aha« said the undertaker looking up from the book and pausing in the
middle of a word »is that you Bumble«
»No one else Mr Sowerberry« replied the beadle »Here Ive brought the
boy« Oliver made a bow
»Oh thats the boy is it« said the undertaker raising the candle above
his head to get a better view of Oliver »Mrs Sowerberry will you have the
goodness to come here a moment my dear«
Mrs Sowerberry emerged from a little room behind the shop and presented
the form of a short thin squeezedup woman with a vixenish countenance
»My dear« said Mr Sowerberry deferentially »this is the boy from the
workhouse that I told you of« Oliver bowed again
»Dear me« said the undertakers wife »hes very small«
»Why he is rather small« replied Mr Bumble looking at Oliver as if it
were his fault that he was no bigger »he is small Theres no denying it But
hell grow Mrs Sowerberry hell grow«
»Ah I dare say he will« replied the lady pettishly »on our victuals and
our drink I see no saving in parish children not I for they always cost more
to keep than theyre worth However men always think they know best There
Get down stairs little bag o bones« With this the undertakers wife opened a
side door and pushed Oliver down a steep flight of stairs into a stone cell
damp and dark forming the anteroom to the coalcellar and denominated
kitchen wherein sat a slatternly girl in shoes down at heel and blue worsted
stockings very much out of repair
»Here Charlotte« said Mrs Sowerberry who had followed Oliver down »give
this boy some of the cold bits that were put by for Trip He hasnt come home
since the morning so he may go without em I dare say the boy isnt too dainty
to eat em are you boy«
Oliver whose eyes had glistened at the mention of meat and who was
trembling with eagerness to devour it replied in the negative and a plateful
of coarse broken victuals was set before him
I wish some wellfed philosopher whose meat and drink turn to gall within
him whose blood is ice whose heart is iron could have seen Oliver Twist
clutching at the dainty viands that the dog had neglected I wish he could have
witnessed the horrible avidity with which Oliver tore the bits asunder with all
the ferocity of famine There is only one thing I should like better and that
would be to see the Philosopher making the same sort of meal himself with the
same relish
»Well« said the undertakers wife when Oliver had finished his supper
which she had regarded in silent horror and with fearful auguries of his future
appetite »have you done«
There being nothing eatable within his reach Oliver replied in the
affirmative
»Then come with me« said Mrs Sowerberry taking up a dim and dirty lamp
and leading the way up stairs »your beds under the counter You dont mind
sleeping among the coffins I suppose But it doesnt much matter whether you do
or dont for you cant sleep anywhere else Come dont keep me here all
night«
Oliver lingered no longer but meekly followed his new mistress
Chapter V
Oliver Mingles with New Associates Going to a Funeral for the First Time He
Forms an Unfavourable Notion of His Masters Business
Oliver being left to himself in the undertakers shop set the lamp down on a
workmans bench and gazed timidly about him with a feeling of awe and dread
which many people a good deal older than he will be at no loss to understand
An unfinished coffin on black tressels which stood in the middle of the shop
looked so gloomy and deathlike that a cold tremble came over him every time
his eyes wandered in the direction of the dismal object from which he almost
expected to see some frightful form slowly rear its head to drive him mad with
terror Against the wall were ranged in regular array a long row of elm boards
cut into the same shape looking in the dim light like highshouldered ghosts
with their hands in their breechespockets Coffinplates elmchips
brightheaded nails and shreds of black cloth lay scattered on the floor and
the wall behind the counter was ornamented with a lively representation of two
mutes in very stiff neckcloths on duty at a large private door with a hearse
drawn by four black steeds approaching in the distance The shop was close and
hot The atmosphere seemed tainted with the smell of coffins The recess beneath
the counter in which his flock mattress was thrust looked like a grave
Nor were these the only dismal feelings which depressed Oliver He was alone
in a strange place and we all know how chilled and desolate the best of us will
sometimes feel in such a situation The boy had no friends to care for or to
care for him The regret of no recent separation was fresh in his mind the
absence of no loved and wellremembered face sank heavily into his heart But
his heart was heavy notwithstanding and he wished as he crept into his narrow
bed that that were his coffin and that he could be lain in a calm and lasting
sleep in the churchyard ground with the tall grass waving gently above his
head and the sound of the old deep bell to soothe him in his sleep
Oliver was awakened in the morning by a loud kicking at the outside of the
shopdoor which before he could huddle on his clothes was repeated in an
angry and impetuous manner about twentyfive times When he began to undo the
chain the legs desisted and a voice began
»Open the door will yer« cried the voice which belonged to the legs which
had kicked at the door
»I will directly sir« replied Oliver undoing the chain and turning the
key
»I suppose yer the new boy aint yer« said the voice through the keyhole
»Yes sir« replied Oliver
»How old are yer« inquired the voice
»Ten sir« replied Oliver
»Then Ill whop yer when I get in« said the voice »you just see if I
dont thats all my workus brat« and having made this obliging promise the
voice began to whistle
Oliver had been too often subjected to the process to which the very
expressive monosyllable just recorded bears reference to entertain the smallest
doubt that the owner of the voice whoever he might be would redeem his pledge
most honourably He drew back the bolts with a trembling hand and opened the
door
For a second or two Oliver glanced up the street and down the street and
over the way impressed with the belief that the unknown who had addressed him
through the keyhole had walked a few paces off to warm himself for nobody
did he see but a big charityboy sitting on a post in front of the house
eating a slice of bread and butter which he cut into wedges the size of his
mouth with a clasp knife and then consumed with great dexterity
»I beg your pardon sir« said Oliver at length seeing that no other
visitor made his appearance »did you knock«
»I kicked« replied the charityboy
»Did you want a coffin sir« inquired Oliver innocently
At this the charityboy looked monstrous fierce and said that Oliver would
want one before long if he cut jokes with his superiors in that way
»Yer dont know who I am I suppose Workus« said the charityboy in
continuation descending from the top of the post meanwhile with edifying
gravity
»No sir« rejoined Oliver
»Im Mister Noah Claypole« said the charityboy »and youre under me Take
down the shutters yer idle young ruffian« With this Mr Claypole administered
a kick to Oliver and entered the shop with a dignified air which did him great
credit It is difficult for a largeheaded smalleyed youth of lumbering make
and heavy countenance to look dignified under any circumstances but it is more
especially so when superadded to these personal attractions are a red nose and
yellow smalls
Oliver having taken down the shutters and broken a pane of glass in his
efforts to stagger away beneath the weight of the first one to a small court at
the side of the house in which they were kept during the day was graciously
assisted by Noah who having consoled him with the assurance that hed catch it
condescended to help him Mr Sowerberry came down soon after Shortly
afterwards Mrs Sowerberry appeared Oliver having caught it in fulfilment of
Noahs prediction followed that young gentleman down the stairs to breakfast
»Come near the fire Noah« said Charlotte »I saved a nice little bit of
bacon for you from masters breakfast Oliver shut that door at Mister Noahs
back and take them bits that Ive put out on the cover of the breadpan
Theres your tea take it away to that box and drink it there and make haste
for theyll want you to mind the shop Dye hear«
»Dye hear Workus« said Noah Claypole
»Lor Noah« said Charlotte »what a rum creature you are Why dont you let
the boy alone«
»Let him alone« said Noah »Why everybody lets him alone enough for the
matter of that Neither his father nor his mother will ever interfere with him
All his relations let him have his own way pretty well Eh Charlotte He he
he«
»Oh you queer soul« said Charlotte bursting into a hearty laugh in which
she was joined by Noah after which they both looked scornfully at poor Oliver
Twist as he sat shivering on the box in the coldest corner of the room and ate
the stale pieces which had been specially reserved for him
Noah was a charityboy but not a workhouse orphan No chancechild was he
for he could trace his genealogy all the way back to his parents who lived hard
by his mother being a washerwoman and his father a drunken soldier discharged
with a wooden leg and a diurnal pension of twopencehalfpenny and an
unstateable fraction The shopboys in the neighbourhood had long been in the
habit of branding Noah in the public streets with the ignominious epithets of
leathers charity and the like and Noah had borne them without reply But now
that fortune had cast in his way a nameless orphan at whom even the meanest
could point the finger of scorn he retorted on him with interest This affords
charming food for contemplation It shows us what a beautiful thing human nature
may be made to be and how impartially the same amiable qualities are developed
in the finest lord and the dirtiest charityboy
Oliver had been sojourning at the undertakers some three weeks or a month
Mr and Mrs Sowerberry the shop being shut up were taking their supper in
the little backparlour when Mr Sowerberry after several deferential glances
at his wife said
»My dear « He was going to say more but Mrs Sowerberry looking up with
a peculiarly unpropitious aspect he stopped short
»Well« said Mrs Sowerberry sharply
»Nothing my dear nothing« said Mr Sowerberry
»Ugh you brute« said Mrs Sowerberry
»Not at all my dear« said Mr Sowerberry humbly »I thought you didnt
want to hear my dear I was only going to say «
»Oh dont tell me what you were going to say« interposed Mrs Sowerberry
»I am nobody dont consult me pray I dont want to intrude upon your
secrets« As Mrs Sowerberry said this she gave an hysterical laugh which
threatened violent consequences
»But my dear« said Sowerberry »I want to ask your advice«
»No no dont ask mine« replied Mrs Sowerberry in an affecting manner
»ask somebody elses« Here there was another hysterical laugh which
frightened Mr Sowerberry very much This is a very common and muchapproved
matrimonial course of treatment which is often very effective It at once
reduced Mr Sowerberry to begging as a special favour to be allowed to say
what Mrs Sowerberry was most curious to hear After a short altercation of less
than three quarters of an hours duration the permission was most graciously
conceded
»Its only about young Twist my dear« said Mr Sowerberry »A
verygoodlooking boy that my dear«
»He need be for he eats enough« observed the lady
»Theres an expression of melancholy in his face my dear« resumed Mr
Sowerberry »which is very interesting He would make a delightful mute my
love«
Mrs Sowerberry looked up with an expression of considerable wonderment Mr
Sowerberry remarked it and without allowing time for any observation on the
good ladys part proceeded
»I dont mean a regular mute to attend grownup people my dear but only
for childrens practice It would be very new to have a mute in proportion my
dear You may depend upon it it would have a superb effect«
Mrs Sowerberry who had a good deal of taste in the undertaking way was
much struck by the novelty of this idea but as it would have been compromising
her dignity to have said so under existing circumstances she merely inquired
with much sharpness why such an obvious suggestion had not presented itself to
her husbands mind before Mr Sowerberry rightly construed this as an
acquiescence in his proposition it was speedily determined therefore that
Oliver should be at once initiated into the mysteries of the trade and with
this view that he should accompany his master on the very next occasion of his
services being required
The occasion was not long in coming Half an hour after breakfast next
morning Mr Bumble entered the shop and supporting his cane against the
counter drew forth his large leathern pocketbook from which he selected a
small scrap of paper which he handed over to Sowerberry
»Aha« said the undertaker glancing over it with a lively countenance »an
order for a coffin eh«
»For a coffin first and a porochial funeral afterwards« replied Mr
Bumble fastening the strap of the leathern pocketbook which like himself
was very corpulent
»Bayton« said the undertaker looking from the scrap of paper to Mr
Bumble »I never heard the name before«
Bumble shook his head as he replied »Obstinate people Mr Sowerberry
very obstinate Proud too Im afraid sir«
»Proud eh« exclaimed Mr Sowerberry with a sneer »Come thats too much«
»Oh its sickening« replied the beadle »Antimonial Mr Sowerberry«
»So it is« acquiesced the undertaker
»We only heard of the family the night before last« said the beadle »and
we shouldnt have known anything about them then only a woman who lodges in
the same house made an application to the porochial committee for them to send
the porochial surgeon to see a woman as was very bad He had gone out to dinner
but his prentice which is a very clever lad sent em some medicine in a
blackingbottle offhand«
»Ah theres promptness« said the undertaker
»Promptness indeed« replied the beadle »But whats the consequence
whats the ungrateful behaviour of these rebels sir Why the husband sends
back word that the medicine wont suit his wifes complaint and so she shant
take it says she shant take it sir Good strong wholesome medicine as was
given with great success to two Irish labourers and a coalheaver only a week
before sent em for nothing with a blackinbottle in and he sends back
word that she shant take it sir«
As the atrocity presented itself to Mr Bumbles mind in full force he
struck the counter sharply with his cane and became flushed with indignation
»Well« said the undertaker »I never did «
»Never did sir« ejaculated the beadle »No nor nobody never did but now
shes dead weve got to bury her and thats the direction and the sooner its
done the better«
Thus saying Mr Bumble put on his cocked hat wrong side first in a fever
of parochial excitement and flounced out of the shop
»Why he was so angry Oliver that he forgot even to ask after you« said
Mr Sowerberry looking after the beadle as he strode down the street
»Yes sir« replied Oliver who had carefully kept himself out of sight
during the interview and who was shaking from head to foot at the mere
recollection of the sound of Mr Bumbles voice He neednt have taken the
trouble to shrink from Mr Bumbles glance however for that functionary on
whom the prediction of the gentleman in the white waistcoat had made a very
strong impression thought that now the undertaker had got Oliver upon trial the
subject was better avoided until such time as he should be firmly bound for
seven years and all danger of his being returned upon the hands of the parish
should be thus effectually and legally overcome
»Well« said Mr Sowerberry taking up his hat »the sooner this job is
done the better Noah look after the shop Oliver put on your cap and come
with me« Oliver obeyed and followed his master on his professional mission
They walked on for some time through the most crowded and densely
inhabited part of the town and then striking down a narrow street more dirty
and miserable than any they had yet passed through paused to look for the house
which was the object of their search The houses on either side were high and
large but very old and tenanted by people of the poorest class as their
neglected appearance would have sufficiently denoted without the concurrent
testimony afforded by the squalid looks of the few men and women who with
folded arms and bodies half doubled occasionally skulked along A great many of
the tenements had shopfronts but these were fast closed and mouldering away
only the upper rooms being inhabited Some houses which had become insecure from
age and decay were prevented from falling into the street by huge beams of
wood reared against the walls and firmly planted in the road but even these
crazy dens seemed to have been selected as the nightly haunts of some houseless
wretches for many of the rough boards which supplied the place of door and
window were wrenched from their positions to afford an aperture wide enough
for the passage of a human body The kennel was stagnant and filthy The very
rats which here and there lay putrefying in its rottenness were hideous with
famine
There was neither knocker nor bellhandle at the open door where Oliver and
his master stopped so groping his way cautiously through the dark passage and
bidding Oliver keep close to him and not be afraid the undertaker mounted to
the top of the first flight of stairs Stumbling against a door on the landing
he rapped at it with his knuckles
It was opened by a young girl of thirteen or fourteen The undertaker at
once saw enough of what the room contained to know it was the apartment to
which he had been directed He stepped in Oliver followed him
There was no fire in the room but a man was crouching mechanically over
the empty stove An old woman too had drawn a low stool to the cold hearth
and was sitting beside him There were some ragged children in another corner
and in a small recess opposite the door there lay upon the ground something
covered with an old blanket Oliver shuddered as he cast his eyes towards the
place and crept involuntarily closer to his master for though it was covered
up the boy felt that it was a corpse
The mans face was thin and very pale his hair and beard were grizzly his
eyes were bloodshot The old womans face was wrinkled her two remaining teeth
protruded over her under lip and her eyes were bright and piercing Oliver was
afraid to look at either her or the man They seemed so like the rats he had
seen outside
»Nobody shall go near her« said the man starting fiercely up as the
undertaker approached the recess »Keep back Damn you keep back if youve a
life to lose«
»Nonsense my good man« said the undertaker who was pretty well used to
misery in all its shapes »Nonsense«
»I tell you« said the man clenching his hands and stamping furiously on
the floor »I tell you I wont have her put into the ground She couldnt rest
there The worms would worry her not eat her she is so worn away«
The undertaker offered no reply to this raving but producing a tape from
his pocket knelt down for a moment by the side of the body
»Ah« said the man bursting into tears and sinking on his knees at the
feet of the dead woman »kneel down kneel down kneel round her every one of
you and mark my words I say she was starved to death I never knew how bad she
was till the fever came upon her and then her bones were starting through the
skin There was neither fire nor candle she died in the dark in the dark She
couldnt even see her childrens faces though we heard her gasping out their
names I begged for her in the streets and they sent me to prison When I came
back she was dying and all the blood in my heart has dried up for they
starved her to death I swear it before the God that saw it They starved her«
He twined his hands in his hair and with a loud scream rolled grovelling upon
the floor his eyes fixed and the foam covering his lips
The terrified children cried bitterly but the old woman who had hitherto
remained as quiet as if she had been wholly deaf to all that passed menaced
them into silence Having unloosed the cravat of the man who still remained
extended on the ground she tottered towards the undertaker
»She was my daughter« said the old woman nodding her head in the direction
of the corpse and speaking with an idiotic leer more ghastly than even the
presence of death in such a place »Lord Lord Well it is strange that I who
gave birth to her and was a woman then should be alive and merry now and she
lying there so cold and stiff Lord Lord to think of it its as good as a
play as good as a play«
As the wretched creature mumbled and chuckled in her hideous merriment the
undertaker turned to go away
»Stop stop« said the old woman in a loud whisper »Will she be buried
tomorrow or next day or tonight I laid her out and I must walk you know
Send me a large cloak a good warm one for it is bitter cold We should have
cake and wine too before we go Never mind send some bread only a loaf of
bread and a cup of water Shall we have some bread dear« she said eagerly
catching at the undertakers coat as he once more moved towards the door
»Yes yes« said the undertaker »of course Anything you like« He
disengaged himself from the old womans grasp and drawing Oliver after him
hurried away
The next day the family having been meanwhile relieved with a
halfquartern loaf and a piece of cheese left with them by Mr Bumble himself
Oliver and his master returned to the miserable abode where Mr Bumble had
already arrived accompanied by four men from the workhouse who were to act as
bearers An old black cloak had been thrown over the rags of the old woman and
the man and the bare coffin having been screwed down was hoisted on the
shoulders of the bearers and carried into the street
»Now you must put your best leg foremost old lady« whispered Sowerberry
in the old womans ear »we are rather late and it wont do to keep the
clergyman waiting Move on my men as quick as you like«
Thus directed the bearers trotted on under their light burden and the two
mourners kept as near them as they could Mr Bumble and Sowerberry walked at a
good smart pace in front and Oliver whose legs were not so long as his
masters ran by the side
There was not so great a necessity for hurrying as Mr Sowerberry had
anticipated however for when they reached the obscure corner of the churchyard
in which the nettles grew and where the parish graves were made the clergyman
had not arrived and the clerk who was sitting by the vestryroom fire seemed
to think it by no means improbable that it might be an hour or so before he
came So they put the bier on the brink of the grave and the two mourners
waited patiently in the damp clay with a cold rain drizzling down while the
ragged boys whom the spectacle had attracted into the churchyard played a noisy
game at hideandseek among the tombstones or varied their amusements by
jumping backwards and forwards over the coffin Mr Sowerberry and Bumble being
personal friends of the clerk sat by the fire with him and read the paper
At length after a lapse of something more than an hour Mr Bumble and
Sowerberry and the clerk were seen running towards the grave Immediately
afterwards the clergyman appeared putting on his surplice as he came along
Mr Bumble then thrashed a boy or two to keep up appearances and the reverend
gentleman having read as much of the burial service as could be compressed into
four minutes gave his surplice to the clerk and walked away again
»Now Bill« said Sowerberry to the gravedigger »Fill up«
It was no very difficult task for the grave was so full that the uppermost
coffin was within a few feet of the surface The gravedigger shovelled in the
earth stamped it loosely down with his feet shouldered his spade and walked
off followed by the boys who murmured very loud complaints at the fun being
over so soon
»Come my good fellow« said Bumble tapping the man on the back »They want
to shut up the yard«
The man who had never once moved since he had taken his station by the
grave side started raised his head stared at the person who had addressed
him walked forward for a few paces and fell down in a swoon The crazy old
woman was too much occupied in bewailing the loss of her cloak which the
undertaker had taken off to pay him any attention so they threw a can of cold
water over him and when he came to saw him safely out of the churchyard
locked the gate and departed on their different ways
»Well Oliver« said Sowerberry as they walked home »how do you like it«
»Pretty well thank you sir« replied Oliver with considerable hesitation
»Not very much sir«
»Ah youll get used to it in time Oliver« said Sowerberry »Nothing when
you are used to it my boy«
Oliver wondered in his own mind whether it had taken a very long time to
get Mr Sowerberry used to it But he thought it better not to ask the question
and walked back to the shop thinking over all he had seen and heard
Chapter VI
Oliver Being Goaded by the Taunts of Noah Rouses into Action and Rather
Astonishes Him
The months trial over Oliver was formally apprenticed It was a nice sickly
season just at this time In commercial phrase coffins were looking up and in
the course of a few weeks Oliver acquired a great deal of experience The
success of Mr Sowerberrys ingenious speculation exceeded even his most
sanguine hopes The oldest inhabitants recollected no period at which measles
had been so prevalent or so fatal to infant existence and many were the
mournful processions which little Oliver headed in a hatband reaching down to
his knees to the indescribable admiration and emotion of all the mothers in the
town As Oliver accompanied his master in most of his adult expeditions too in
order that he might acquire that equanimity of demeanour and full command of
nerve which are essential to a finished undertaker he had many opportunities of
observing the beautiful resignation and fortitude with which some strongminded
people bear their trials and losses
For instance when Sowerberry had an order for the burial of some rich old
lady or gentleman who was surrounded by a great number of nephews and nieces
who had been perfectly inconsolable during the previous illness and whose grief
had been wholly irrepressible even on the most public occasions they would be
as happy among themselves as need be quite cheerful and contented conversing
together with as much freedom and gaiety as if nothing whatever had happened to
disturb them Husbands too bore the loss of their wives with the most heroic
calmness Wives again put on weeds for their husbands as if so far from
grieving in the garb of sorrow they had made up their minds to render it as
becoming and attractive as possible It was observable too that ladies and
gentlemen who were in passions of anguish during the ceremony of interment
recovered almost as soon as they reached home and became quite composed before
the teadrinking was over All this was very pleasant and improving to see and
Oliver beheld it with great admiration
That Oliver Twist was moved to resignation by the example of these good
people I cannot although I am his biographer undertake to affirm with any
degree of confidence but I can most distinctly say that for many months he
continued meekly to submit to the domination and illtreatment of Noah Claypole
who used him far worse than before now that his jealousy was roused by seeing
the new boy promoted to the black stick and hatband while he the old one
remained stationary in the muffincap and leathers Charlotte treated him ill
because Noah did and Mrs Sowerberry was his decided enemy because Mr
Sowerberry was disposed to be his friend so between these three on one side
and a glut of funerals on the other Oliver was not altogether as comfortable as
the hungry pig was when he was shut up by mistake in the grain department of
a brewery
And now I come to a very important passage in Olivers history for I have
to record an act slight and unimportant perhaps in appearance but which
indirectly produced a material change in all his future prospects and
proceedings
One day Oliver and Noah had descended into the kitchen at the usual
dinnerhour to banquet upon a small joint of mutton a pound and a half of the
worst end of the neck when Charlotte being called out of the way there ensued
a brief interval of time which Noah Claypole being hungry and vicious
considered he could not possibly devote to a worthier purpose than aggravating
and tantalising young Oliver Twist
Intent upon this innocent amusement Noah put his feet on the tablecloth
and pulled Olivers hair and twitched his ears and expressed his opinion that
he was a sneak and furthermore announced his intention of coming to see him
hanged whenever that desirable event should take place and entered upon
various other topics of petty annoyance like a malicious and illconditioned
charityboy as he was But none of these taunts producing the desired effect of
making Oliver cry Noah attempted to be more facetious still and in this
attempt did what many small wits with far greater reputations than Noah
sometimes do to this day when they want to be funny He got rather personal
»Workus« said Noah »hows your mother«
»Shes dead« replied Oliver »dont you say anything about her to me«
Olivers colour rose as he said this he breathed quickly and there was a
curious working of the mouth and nostrils which Mr Claypole thought must be
the immediate precursor of a violent fit of crying Under this impression he
returned to the charge
»What did she die of Workus« said Noah
»Of a broken heart some of our old nurses told me« replied Oliver more as
if he were talking to himself than answering Noah »I think I know what it must
be to die of that«
»Tol de rol lol lol right fol lairy Workus« said Noah as a tear rolled
down Olivers cheek »Whats set you a snivelling now«
»Not you« replied Oliver hastily brushing the tear away »Dont think it«
»Oh not me eh« sneered Noah
»No not you« replied Oliver sharply »There thats enough Dont say
anything more to me about her youd better not«
»Better not« exclaimed Noah »Well Better not Workus dont be impudent
Your mother too She was a nice un she was Oh Lor« And here Noah nodded
his head expressively and curled up as much of his small red nose as muscular
action could collect together for the occasion
»Yer know Workus« continued Noah emboldened by Olivers silence and
speaking in a jeering tone of affected pity of all tones the most annoying
»Yer know Workus it cant be helped now and of course yer couldnt help it
then and Im very sorry for it and Im sure we all are and pity yer very
much But yer must know Workus yer mother was a regular rightdown bad un«
»What did you say« inquired Oliver looking up very quickly
»A regular rightdown bad un Workus« replied Noah coolly »And its a
great deal better Workus that she died when she did or else shed have been
hard labouring in Bridewell or transported or hung which is more likely than
either isnt it«
Crimson with fury Oliver started up overthrew the chair and table seized
Noah by the throat shook him in the violence of his rage till his teeth
chattered in his head and collecting his whole force into one heavy blow
felled him to the ground
A minute ago the boy had looked the quiet mild dejected creature that
harsh treatment had made him But his spirit was roused at last the cruel
insult to his dead mother had set his blood on fire His breast heaved his
attitude was erect his eye bright and vivid his whole person changed as he
stood glaring over the cowardly tormentor who now lay crouching at his feet and
defied him with an energy he had never known before
»Hell murder me« blubbered Noah »Charlotte missis Heres the new boy a
murdering of me Help help Olivers gone mad Charlotte«
Noahs shouts were responded to by a loud scream from Charlotte and a
louder from Mrs Sowerberry the former of whom rushed into the kitchen by a
sidedoor while the latter paused on the staircase till she was quite certain
that it was consistent with the preservation of human life to come further
down
»Oh you little wretch« screamed Charlotte seizing Oliver with her utmost
force which was about equal to that of a moderately strong man in particularly
good training »Oh you little ungrateful murderous horrid villain« And
between every syllable Charlotte gave Oliver a blow with all her might
accompanying it with a scream for the benefit of society
Charlottes fist was by no means a light one but lest it should not be
effectual in calming Olivers wrath Mrs Sowerberry plunged into the kitchen
and assisted to hold him with one hand while she scratched his face with the
other In this favourable position of affairs Noah rose from the ground and
pommelled him behind
This was rather too violent exercise to last long When they were all
wearied out and could tear and beat no longer they dragged Oliver struggling
and shouting but nothing daunted into the dustcellar and there locked him
up This being done Mrs Sowerberry sunk into a chair and burst into tears
»Bless her shes going off« said Charlotte »A glass of water Noah dear
Make haste«
»Oh Charlotte« said Mrs Sowerberry speaking as well as she could
through a deficiency of breath and a sufficiency of cold water which Noah had
poured over her head and shoulders »Oh Charlotte what a mercy we have not all
been murdered in our beds«
»Ah mercy indeed maam« was the reply »I only hope this ll teach master
not to have any more of these dreadful creaturs that are born to be murderers
and robbers from their very cradle Poor Noah He was all but killed maam
when I come in«
»Poor fellow« said Mrs Sowerberry looking piteously on the charityboy
Noah whose top waistcoatbutton might have been somewhere on a level with
the crown of Olivers head rubbed his eyes with the inside of his wrists while
this commiseration was bestowed upon him and performed some affecting tears and
sniffs
»Whats to be done« exclaimed Mrs Sowerberry »Your masters not at home
theres not a man in the house and hell kick that door down in ten minutes«
Olivers vigorous plunges against the bit of timber in question rendered this
occurrence highly probable
»Dear dear I dont know maam« said Charlotte »unless we send for the
policeofficers«
»Or the millingtary« suggested Mr Claypole
»No no« said Mrs Sowerberry bethinking herself of Olivers old friend
»Run to Mr Bumble Noah and tell him to come here directly and not to lose a
minute never mind your cap Make haste You can hold a knife to that black eye
as you run along Itll keep the swelling down«
Noah stopped to make no reply but started off at his fullest speed and
very much it astonished the people who were out walking to see a charityboy
tearing through the streets pellmell with no cap on his head and a
claspknife at his eye
Chapter VII
Oliver Continues Refractory
Noah Claypole ran along the streets at his swiftest pace and paused not once
for breath until he reached the workhousegate Having rested here for a
minute or so to collect a good burst of sobs and an imposing show of tears and
terror he knocked loudly at the wicket and presented such a rueful face to the
aged pauper who opened it that even he who saw nothing but rueful faces about
him at the best of times started back in astonishment
»Why whats the matter with the boy« said the old pauper
»Mr Bumble Mr Bumble« cried Noah with well affected dismay and in
tones so loud and agitated that they not only caught the ear of Mr Bumble
himself who happened to be hard by but alarmed him so much that he rushed into
the yard without his cocked hat which is a very curious and remarkable
circumstance as showing that even a beadle acted upon by a sudden and powerful
impulse may be afflicted with a momentary visitation of loss of
selfpossession and forgetfulness of personal dignity
»Oh Mr Bumble sir« said Noah »Oliver sir Oliver has «
»What What« interposed Mr Bumble with a gleam of pleasure in his
metallic eyes »Not run away he hasnt run away has he Noah«
»No sir no Not run away sir but hes turned wicious« replied Noah »He
tried to murder me sir and then he tried to murder Charlotte and then missis
Oh what dreadful pain it is Such agony please sir« And here Noah writhed
and twisted his body into an extensive variety of eellike positions thereby
giving Mr Bumble to understand that from the violent and sanguinary onset of
Oliver Twist he had sustained severe internal injury and damage from which he
was at that moment suffering the acutest torture
When Noah saw that the intelligence he communicated perfectly paralysed Mr
Bumble he imparted additional effect thereunto by bewailing his dreadful
wounds ten times louder than before and when he observed a gentleman in a white
waistcoat crossing the yard he was more tragic in his lamentations than ever
rightly conceiving it highly expedient to attract the notice and rouse the
indignation of the gentleman aforesaid
The gentlemans notice was very soon attracted for he had not walked three
paces when he turned angrily round and inquired what that young cur was
howling for and why Mr Bumble did not favour him with something which would
render the series of vocular exclamations so designated an involuntary process
»Its a poor boy from the freeschool sir« replied Mr Bumble »who has
been nearly murdered all but murdered sir by young Twist«
»By Jove« exclaimed the gentleman in the white waistcoat stopping short
»I knew it I felt a strange presentiment from the very first that that
audacious young savage would come to be hung«
»He has likewise attempted sir to murder the female servant« said Mr
Bumble with a face of ashy paleness
»And his missis« interposed Mr Claypole
»And his master too I think you said Noah« added Mr Bumble
»No hes out or he would have murdered him« replied Noah »He said he
wanted to«
»Ah Said he wanted to did he my boy« inquired the gentleman in the white
waistcoat
»Yes sir« replied Noah »And please sir missis wants to know whether Mr
Bumble can spare time to step up there directly and flog him cause masters
out«
»Certainly my boy certainly« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat
smiling benignly and patting Noahs head which was about three inches higher
than his own »Youre a good boy a very good boy Heres a penny for you
Bumble just step up to Sowerberrys with your cane and see whats best to be
done Dont spare him Bumble«
»No I will not sir« replied the beadle adjusting the waxend which was
twisted round the bottom of his cane for purposes of parochial flagellation
»Tell Sowerberry not to spare him either Theyll never do anything with
him without stripes and bruises« said the gentleman in the white waistcoat
»Ill take care sir« replied the beadle And the cocked hat and cane
having been by this time adjusted to their owners satisfaction Mr Bumble
and Noah Claypole betook themselves with all speed to the undertakers shop
Here the position of affairs had not at all improved Sowerberry had not yet
returned and Oliver continued to kick with undiminished vigour at the
cellardoor The accounts of his ferocity as related by Mrs Sowerberry and
Charlotte were of so startling a nature that Mr Bumble judged it prudent to
parley before opening the door With this view he gave a kick at the outside
by way of prelude and then applying his mouth to the keyhole said in a deep
and impressive tone
»Oliver«
»Come you let me out« replied Oliver from the inside
»Do you know this here voice Oliver« said Mr Bumble
»Yes« replied Oliver
»Aint you afraid of it sir Aint you atrembling while I speak sir«
said Mr Bumble
»No« replied Oliver boldly
An answer so different from the one he had expected to elicit and was in
the habit of receiving staggered Mr Bumble not a little He stepped back from
the keyhole drew himself up to his full height and looked from one to another
of the three bystanders in mute astonishment
»Oh you know Mr Bumble he must be mad« said Mrs Sowerberry »No boy in
half his senses could venture to speak so to you«
»Its not Madness maam« replied Mr Bumble after a few moments of deep
meditation »Its Meat«
»What« exclaimed Mrs Sowerberry
»Meat maam meat« replied Bumble with stern emphasis »Youve overfed
him maam Youve raised a artificial soul and spirit in him maam unbecoming
a person of his condition as the board Mrs Sowerberry who are practical
philosophers will tell you What have paupers to do with soul or spirit Its
quite enough that we let em have live bodies If you had kept the boy on gruel
maam this would never have happened«
»Dear dear« ejaculated Mrs Sowerberry piously raising her eyes to the
kitchen ceiling »this comes of being liberal«
The liberality of Mrs Sowerberry to Oliver had consisted in a profuse
bestowal upon him of all the dirty odds and ends which nobody else would eat so
there was a great deal of meekness and selfdevotion in her voluntarily
remaining under Mr Bumbles heavy accusation Of which to do her justice she
was wholly innocent in thought word or deed
»Ah« said Mr Bumble when the lady brought her eyes down to earth again
»the only thing that can be done now that I know of is to leave him in the
cellar for a day or so till hes a little starved down and then to take him
out and keep him on gruel all through his apprenticeship He comes of a bad
family Excitable natures Mrs Sowerberry Both the nurse and doctor said that
that mother of his made her way here against difficulties and pain that would
have killed any welldisposed woman weeks before«
At this point of Mr Bumbles discourse Oliver just hearing enough to know
that some new allusion was being made to his mother recommenced kicking with a
violence that rendered every other sound inaudible Sowerberry returned at this
juncture Olivers offence having been explained to him with such exaggerations
as the ladies thought best calculated to rouse his ire he unlocked the
cellardoor in a twinkling and dragged his rebellious apprentice out by the
collar
Olivers clothes had been torn in the beating he had received his face was
bruised and scratched and his hair scattered over his forehead The angry flush
had not disappeared however and when he was pulled out of his prison he
scowled boldly on Noah and looked quite undismayed
»Now you are a nice young fellow aint you« said Sowerberry giving
Oliver a shake and a box on the ear
»He called my mother names« replied Oliver
»Well and what if he did you little ungrateful wretch« said Mrs
Sowerberry »She deserved what he said and worse«
»She didnt« said Oliver
»She did« said Mrs Sowerberry
»Its a lie« said Oliver
Mrs Sowerberry burst into a flood of tears
This flood of tears left Mr Sowerberry no alternative If he had hesitated
for one instant to punish Oliver most severely it must be quite clear to every
experienced reader that he would have been according to all precedents in
disputes of matrimony established a brute an unnatural husband an insulting
creature a base imitation of a man and various other agreeable characters too
numerous for recital within the limits of this chapter To do him justice he
was as far as his power went it was not very extensive kindly disposed
towards the boy perhaps because it was his interest to be so perhaps because
his wife disliked him The flood of tears however left him no resource so he
at once gave him a drubbing which satisfied even Mrs Sowerberry herself and
rendered Mr Bumbles subsequent application of the parochial cane rather
unnecessary For the rest of the day he was shut up in the back kitchen in
company with a pump and a slice of bread and at night Mrs Sowerberry after
making various remarks outside the door by no means complimentary to the memory
of his mother looked into the room and amidst the jeers and pointings of Noah
and Charlotte ordered him up stairs to his dismal bed
It was not until he was left alone in the silence and stillness of the
gloomy workshop of the undertaker that Oliver gave way to the feelings which
the days treatment may be supposed likely to have awakened in a mere child He
had listened to their taunts with a look of contempt he had borne the lash
without a cry for he felt that pride swelling in his heart which would have
kept down a shriek to the last though they had roasted him alive But now when
there were none to see or hear him he fell upon his knees on the floor and
hiding his face in his hands wept such tears as God send for the credit of our
nature few so young may ever have cause to pour out before him
For a long time Oliver remained motionless in this attitude The candle was
burning low in the socket when he rose to his feet Having gazed cautiously
round him and listened intently he gently undid the fastenings of the door
and looked abroad
It was a cold dark night The stars seemed to the boys eyes farther from
the earth than he had ever seen them before there was no wind and the sombre
shadows thrown by the trees upon the ground looked sepulchral and deathlike
from being so still He softly reclosed the door Having availed himself of the
expiring light of the candle to tie up in a handkerchief the few articles of
wearing apparel he had sat himself down upon a bench to wait for morning
With the first ray of light that struggled through the crevices in the
shutters Oliver arose and again unbarred the door One timid look around one
moments pause of hesitation he had closed it behind him and was in the open
street
He looked to the right and to the left uncertain whither to fly He
remembered to have seen the waggons as they went out toiling up the hill He
took the same route and arriving at a footpath across the fields which he
knew after some distance led out again into the road struck into it and
walked quickly on
Along this same footpath Oliver well remembered he had trotted beside Mr
Bumble when he first carried him to the workhouse from the farm His way lay
directly in front of the cottage His heart beat quickly when he bethought
himself of this and he half resolved to turn back He had come a long way
though and should lose a great deal of time by doing so Besides it was so
early that there was very little fear of his being seen so he walked on
He reached the house There was no appearance of its inmates stirring at
that early hour Oliver stopped and peeped into the garden A child was weeding
one of the little beds as he stopped he raised his pale face and disclosed the
features of one of his former companions Oliver felt glad to see him before he
went for though younger than himself he had been his little friend and
playmate They had been beaten and starved and shut up together many and many
a time
»Hush Dick« said Oliver as the boy ran to the gate and thrust his thin
arm between the rails to greet him »Is any one up«
»Nobody but me« replied the child
»You mustnt say you saw me Dick« said Oliver »I am running away They
beat and illuse me Dick and I am going to seek my fortune some long way off
I dont know where How pale you are«
»I heard the doctor tell them I was dying« replied the child with a faint
smile »I am very glad to see you dear but dont stop dont stop«
»Yes yes I will to say goodbye to you« replied Oliver »I shall see
you again Dick I know I shall You will be well and happy«
»I hope so« replied the child »After I am dead but not before I know the
doctor must be right Oliver because I dream so much of Heaven and Angels and
kind faces that I never see when I am awake Kiss me« said the child climbing
up the low gate and flinging his little arms round Olivers neck »Goodbye
dear God bless you«
The blessing was from a young childs lips but it was the first that Oliver
had ever heard invoked upon his head and through the struggles and sufferings
and troubles and changes of his after life he never once forgot it
Chapter VIII
Oliver Walks to London He Encounters on the Road a Strange Sort of Young
Gentleman
Oliver reached the stile at which the bypath terminated and once more gained
the highroad It was eight oclock now Though he was nearly five miles away
from the town he ran and hid behind the hedges by turns till noon fearing
that he might be pursued and overtaken Then he sat down to rest by the side of
the milestone and began to think for the first time where he had better go
and try to live
The stone by which he was seated bore in large characters an intimation
that it was just seventy miles from that spot to London The name awakened a new
train of ideas in the boys mind London that great large place nobody
not even Mr Bumble could ever find him there He had often heard the old men
in the workhouse too say that no lad of spirit need want in London and that
there were ways of living in that vast city which those who had been bred up in
country parts had no idea of It was the very place for a homeless boy who must
die in the streets unless some one helped him As these things passed through
his thoughts he jumped upon his feet and again walked forward
He had diminished the distance between himself and London by full four miles
more before he recollected how much he must undergo ere he could hope to reach
his place of destination As this consideration forced itself upon him he
slackened his pace a little and meditated upon his means of getting there He
had a crust of bread a coarse shirt and two pairs of stockings in his bundle
He had a penny too a gift of Sowerberrys after some funeral in which he had
acquitted himself more than ordinarily well in his pocket »A clean shirt«
thought Oliver »is a very comfortable thing and so are two pairs of darned
stockings and so is a penny but they are small helps to a sixtyfive miles
walk in winter time« But Olivers thoughts like those of most other people
although they were extremely ready and active to point out his difficulties
were wholly at a loss to suggest any feasible mode of surmounting them so
after a good deal of thinking to no particular purpose he changed his little
bundle over to the other shoulder and trudged on
Oliver walked twenty miles that day and all that time tasted nothing but
the crust of dry bread and a few draughts of water which he begged at the
cottagedoors by the roadside When the night came he turned into a meadow
and creeping close under a hayrick determined to lie there till morning He
felt frightened at first for the wind moaned dismally over the empty fields
and he was cold and hungry and more alone than he had ever felt before Being
very tired with his walk however he soon fell asleep and forgot his troubles
He felt cold and stiff when he got up next morning and so hungry that he
was obliged to exchange the penny for a small loaf in the very first village
through which he passed He had walked no more than twelve miles when night
closed in again His feet were sore and his legs so weak that they trembled
beneath him Another night passed in the bleak damp air made him worse when he
set forward on his journey next morning he could hardly crawl along
He waited at the bottom of a steep hill till a stagecoach came up and then
begged of the outside passengers but there were very few who took any notice of
him and even those told him to wait till they got to the top of the hill and
then let them see how far he could run for a halfpenny Poor Oliver tried to
keep up with the coach a little way but was unable to do it by reason of his
fatigue and sore feet When the outsides saw this they put their halfpence back
into their pockets again declaring that he was an idle young dog and didnt
deserve anything and the coach rattled away and left only a cloud of dust
behind
In some villages large painted boards were fixed up warning all persons
who begged within the district that they would be sent to jail This frightened
Oliver very much and made him glad to get out of those villages with all
possible expedition In others he would stand about the innyards and look
mournfully at every one who passed a proceeding which generally terminated in
the landladys ordering one of the postboys who were lounging about to drive
that strange boy out of the place for she was sure he had come to steal
something If he begged at a farmers house ten to one but they threatened to
set the dog on him and when he showed his nose in a shop they talked about the
beadle which brought Olivers heart into his mouth very often the only
thing he had there for many hours together
In fact if it had not been for a goodhearted turnpikeman and a
benevolent old lady Olivers troubles would have been shortened by the very
same process which had put an end to his mothers in other words he would most
assuredly have fallen dead upon the kings highway But the turnpikeman gave
him a meal of bread and cheese and the old lady who had a shipwrecked grandson
wandering barefoot in some distant part of the earth took pity upon the poor
orphan and gave him what little she could afford and more with such kind
and gentle words and such tears of sympathy and compassion that they sank
deeper into Olivers soul than all the sufferings he had ever undergone
Early on the seventh morning after he had left his native place Oliver
limped slowly into the little town of Barnet The windowshutters were closed
the street was empty not a soul had awakened to the business of the day The
sun was rising in all its splendid beauty but the light only served to show the
boy his own lonesomeness and desolation as he sat with bleeding feet and
covered with dust upon a doorstep
By degrees the shutters were opened the windowblinds were drawn up and
people began passing to and fro Some few stopped to gaze at Oliver for a moment
or two or turned round to stare at him as they hurried by but none relieved
him or troubled themselves to inquire how he came there He had no heart to
beg And there he sat
He had been crouching on the step for some time wondering at the great
number of publichouses every other house in Barnet was a tavern large or
small gazing listlessly at the coaches as they passed through and thinking
how strange it seemed that they could do with ease in a few hours what it had
taken him a whole week of courage and determination beyond his years to
accomplish when he was roused by observing that a boy who had passed him
carelessly some minutes before had returned and was now surveying him most
earnestly from the opposite side of the way He took little heed of this at
first but the boy remained in the same attitude of close observation so long
that Oliver raised his head and returned his steady look Upon this the boy
crossed over and walking close up to Oliver said
»Hullo my covey Whats the row«
The boy who addressed this inquiry to the young wayfarer was about his own
age but one of the queerest looking boys that Oliver had ever seen He was a
snubnosed flatbrowed commonfaced boy enough and as dirty a juvenile as one
would wish to see but he had about him all the airs and manners of a man He
was short of his age with rather bowlegs and little sharp ugly eyes His
hat was stuck on the top of his head so lightly that it threatened to fall off
every moment and would have done so very often if the wearer had not had a
knack of every now and then giving his head a sudden twitch which brought it
back to its old place again He wore a mans coat which reached nearly to his
heels He had turned the cuffs back halfway up his arm to get his hands out
of the sleeves apparently with the ultimate view of thrusting them into the
pockets of his corduroy trousers for there he kept them He was altogether as
roystering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever stood four feet six or
something less in his bluchers
»Hullo my covey Whats the row« said this strange young gentleman to
Oliver
»I am very hungry and tired« replied Oliver the tears standing in his eyes
as he spoke »I have walked a long way I have been walking these seven days«
»Walking for sivin days« said the young gentleman »Oh I see Beaks
order eh But« he added noticing Olivers look of surprise »I suppose you
dont know what a beak is my flash companion«
Oliver mildly replied that he had always heard a birds mouth described by
the term in question
»My eyes how green« exclaimed the young gentleman »Why a beaks a
madgstrate and when you walk by a beaks order its not straight forerd but
always a going up and nivir a coming down agin Was you never on the mill«
»What mill« inquired Oliver
»What mill Why the mill the mill as takes up so little room that itll
work inside a Stone Jug and always goes better when the winds low with people
than when its high acos then they cant get workmen But come« said the young
gentleman »you want grub and you shall have it Im at lowwatermark myself
only one bob and a magpie but as far as it goes Ill fork out and stump Up
with you on your pins There Now then Morrice«
Assisting Oliver to rise the young gentleman took him to an adjacent
chandlers shop where he purchased a sufficiency of readydressed ham and a
halfquartern loaf or as he himself expressed it »a fourpenny bran« the ham
being kept clean and preserved from dust by the ingenious expedient of making a
hole in the loaf by pulling out a portion of the crumb and stuffing it therein
Taking the bread under his arm the young gentleman turned into a small
publichouse and led the way to a taproom in the rear of the premises Here a
pot of beer was brought in by direction of the mysterious youth and Oliver
falling to at his new friends bidding made a long and hearty meal during the
progress of which the strange boy eyed him from time to time with great
attention
»Going to London« said the strange boy when Oliver had at length
concluded
»Yes«
»Got any lodgings«
»No«
»Money«
»No«
The strange boy whistled and put his arms into his pockets as far as the
big coat sleeves would let them go
»Do you live in London« inquired Oliver
»Yes I do when Im at home« replied the boy »I suppose you want some
place to sleep in tonight dont you«
»I do indeed« answered Oliver »I have not slept under a roof since I left
the country«
»Dont fret your eyelids on that score« said the young gentleman »Ive got
to be in London tonight and I know a spectable old genelman as lives there
wotll give you lodgings for nothink and never ask for the change that is if
any genelman he knows interduces you And dont he know me Oh no Not in the
least By no means Certainly not«
The young gentleman smiled as if to intimate that the latter fragments of
discourse were playfully ironical and finished the beer as he did so
This unexpected offer of shelter was too tempting to be resisted especially
as it was immediately followed up by the assurance that the old gentleman
referred to would doubtless provide Oliver with a comfortable place without
loss of time This led to a more friendly and confidential dialogue from which
Oliver discovered that his friends name was Jack Dawkins and that he was a
peculiar pet and protégé of the elderly gentleman before mentioned
Mr Dawkinss appearance did not say a vast deal in favour of the comforts
which his patrons interest obtained for those whom he took under his
protection but as he had a rather flighty and dissolute mode of conversing
and furthermore avowed that among his intimate friends he was better known by
the sobriquet of The artful Dodger Oliver concluded that being of a dissipated
and careless turn the moral precepts of his benefactor had hitherto been thrown
away upon him Under this impression he secretly resolved to cultivate the good
opinion of the old gentleman as quickly as possible and if he found the Dodger
incorrigible as he more than half suspected he should to decline the honour of
his farther acquaintance
As John Dawkins objected to their entering London before nightfall it was
nearly eleven oclock when they reached the turnpike at Islington They crossed
from the Angel into St Johns Road struck down the small street which
terminates at Sadlers Wells Theatre through Exmouth Street and Coppice Row
down the little court by the side of the workhouse across the classic ground
which once bore the name of HockleyintheHole thence into Little Saffron
Hill and so into Saffron Hill the Great along which the Dodger scudded at a
rapid pace directing Oliver to follow close at his heels
Although Oliver had enough to occupy his attention in keeping sight of his
leader he could not help bestowing a few hasty glances on either side of the
way as he passed along A dirtier or more wretched place he had never seen The
street was very narrow and muddy and the air was impregnated with filthy
odours There were a good many small shops but the only stock in trade appeared
to be heaps of children who even at that time of night were crawling in and
out at the doors or screaming from the inside The sole places that seemed to
prosper amid the general blight of the place were the publichouses and in
them the lowest orders of Irish were wrangling with might and main Covered
ways and yards which here and there diverged from the main street disclosed
little knots of houses where drunken men and women were positively wallowing in
filth and from several of the doorways great illlooking fellows were
cautiously emerging bound to all appearance on no very welldisposed or
harmless errands
Oliver was just considering whether he hadnt better run away when they
reached the bottom of the hill His conductor catching him by the arm pushed
open the door of a house near Field Lane and drawing him into the passage
closed it behind them
»Now then« cried a voice from below in reply to a whistle from the
Dodger
»Plummy and slam« was the reply
This seemed to be some watchword or signal that all was right for the light
of a feeble candle gleamed on the wall at the remote end of the passage and a
mans face peeped out from where a balustrade of the old kitchen staircase had
been broken away
»Theres two on you« said the man thrusting the candle farther out and
shading his eyes with his hand »Whos the tother one«
»A new pal« replied Jack Dawkins pulling Oliver forward
»Where did he come from«
»Greenland Is Fagin up stairs«
»Yes hes a sortin the wipes Up with you« The candle was drawn back and
the face disappeared
Oliver groping his way with one hand and having the other firmly grasped
by his companion ascended with much difficulty the dark and broken stairs
which his conductor mounted with an ease and expedition that showed he was well
acquainted with them He threw open the door of a backroom and drew Oliver in
after him
The walls and ceiling of the room were perfectly black with age and dirt
There was a deal table before the fire upon which were a candle stuck in a
ginger bottle two or three pewter pots a loaf and butter and a plate In a
fryingpan which was on the fire and which was secured to the mantelshelf by a
string some sausages were cooking and standing over them with a toastingfork
in his hand was a very old shrivelled Jew whose villanouslooking and
repulsive face was obscured by a quantity of matted red hair He was dressed in
a greasy flannel gown with his throat bare and seemed to be dividing his
attention between the fryingpan and a clotheshorse over which a great number
of silk handkerchiefs were hanging Several rough beds made of old sacks were
huddled side by side on the floor Seated round the table were four or five
boys none older than the Dodger smoking long clay pipes and drinking spirits
with the air of middleaged men These all crowded about their associate as he
whispered a few words to the Jew and then turned round and grinned at Oliver
So did the Jew himself toastingfork in hand
»This is him Fagin« said Jack Dawkins »my friend Oliver Twist«
The Jew grinned and making a low obeisance to Oliver took him by the
hand and hoped he should have the honour of his intimate acquaintance Upon
this the young gentlemen with the pipes came round him and shook both his
hands very hard especially the one in which he held his little bundle One
young gentleman was very anxious to hang up his cap for him and another was so
obliging as to put his hands in his pockets in order that as he was very
tired he might not have the trouble of emptying them himself when he went to
bed These civilities would probably have been extended much farther but for a
liberal exercise of the Jews toastingfork on the heads and shoulders of the
affectionate youths who offered them
»We are very glad to see you Oliver very« said the Jew »Dodger take off
the sausages and draw a tub near the fire for Oliver Ah youre astaring at
the pockethandkerchiefs eh my dear There are a good many of em aint
there Weve just looked em out ready for the wash thats all Oliver thats
all Ha ha ha«
The latter part of this speech was hailed by a boisterous shout from all
the hopeful pupils of the merry old gentleman In the midst of which they went
to supper
Oliver ate his share and the Jew then mixed him a glass of hot gin and
water telling him he must drink it off directly because another gentleman
wanted the tumbler Oliver did as he was desired Immediately afterwards he felt
himself gently lifted on to one of the sacks and then he sunk into a deep
sleep
Chapter IX
Containing Further Particulars Concerning the Pleasant Old Gentleman and His
Hopeful Pupils
It was late next morning when Oliver awoke from a sound long sleep There was
no other person in the room but the old Jew who was boiling some coffee in a
saucepan for breakfast and whistling softly to himself as he stirred it round
and round with an iron spoon He would stop every now and then to listen when
there was the least noise below and when he had satisfied himself he would go
on whistling and stirring again as before
Although Oliver had roused himself from sleep he was not thoroughly awake
There is a drowsy state between sleeping and waking when you dream more in
five minutes with your eyes half open and yourself half conscious of everything
that is passing around you than you would in five nights with your eyes fast
closed and your senses wrapt in perfect unconsciousness At such times a
mortal knows just enough of what his mind is doing to form some glimmering
conception of its mighty powers its bounding from earth and spurning time and
space when freed from the restraint of its corporeal associate
Oliver was precisely in this condition He saw the Jew with his halfclosed
eyes heard his low whistling and recognised the sound of the spoon grating
against the saucepans sides and yet the selfsame senses were mentally
engaged at the same time in busy action with almost everybody he had ever
known
When the coffee was done the Jew drew the saucepan to the hob Standing
then in an irresolute attitude for a few minutes as if he did not well know
how to employ himself he turned round and looked at Oliver and called him by
his name He did not answer and was to all appearance asleep
After satisfying himself upon this head the Jew stepped gently to the door
which he fastened He then drew forth as it seemed to Oliver from some trap in
the floor a small box which he placed carefully on the table His eyes
glistened as he raised the lid and looked in Dragging an old chair to the
table he sat down and took from it a magnificent gold watch sparkling with
jewels
»Aha« said the Jew shrugging up his shoulders and distorting every
feature with a hideous grin »Clever dogs Clever dogs Staunch to the last
Never told the old parson where they were Never peached upon old Fagin And why
should they It wouldnt have loosened the knot or kept the drop up a minute
longer No no no Fine fellows Fine fellows«
With these and other muttered reflections of the like nature the Jew once
more deposited the watch in its place of safety At least half a dozen more were
severally drawn forth from the same box and surveyed with equal pleasure
besides rings brooches bracelets and other articles of jewellery of such
magnificent materials and costly workmanship that Oliver had no idea even of
their names
Having replaced these trinkets the Jew took out another so small that it
lay in the palm of his hand There seemed to be some very minute inscription on
it for the Jew laid it flat upon the table and shading it with his hand
pored over it long and earnestly At length he put it down as if despairing of
success and leaning back in his chair muttered
»What a fine thing capital punishment is Dead men never repent dead men
never bring awkward stories to light Ah its a fine thing for the trade Five
of em strung up in a row and none left to play booty or turn whitelivered«
As the Jew uttered these words his bright dark eyes which had been staring
vacantly before him fell on Olivers face the boys eyes were fixed on his in
mute curiosity and although the recognition was only for an instant for the
briefest space of time that can possibly be conceived it was enough to show
the old man that he had been observed He closed the lid of the box with a loud
crash and laying his hand on a bread knife which was on the table started
furiously up He trembled very much though for even in his terror Oliver
could see that the knife quivered in the air
»Whats that« said the Jew »What do you watch me for Why are you awake
What have you seen Speak out boy Quick quick for your life«
»I wasnt able to sleep any longer sir« replied Oliver meekly »I am very
sorry if I have disturbed you sir«
»You were not awake an hour ago« said the Jew scowling fiercely on the
boy
»No No indeed« replied Oliver
»Are you sure« cried the Jew with a still fiercer look than before and a
threatening attitude
»Upon my word I was not sir« replied Oliver earnestly »I was not
indeed sir«
»Tush tush my dear« said the Jew abruptly resuming his old manner and
playing with the knife a little before he laid it down as if to induce the
belief that he had caught it up in mere sport »Of course I know that my dear
I only tried to frighten you Youre a brave boy Ha ha youre a brave boy
Oliver« The Jew rubbed his hands with a chuckle but glanced uneasily at the
box notwithstanding
»Did you see any of these pretty things my dear« said the Jew laying his
hand upon it after a short pause
»Yes sir« replied Oliver
»Ah« said the Jew turning rather pale »They theyre mine Oliver my
little property All I have to live upon in my old age The folks call me a
miser my dear Only a miser thats all«
Oliver thought the old gentleman must be a decided miser to live in such a
dirty place with so many watches but thinking that perhaps his fondness for
the Dodger and the other boys cost him a good deal of money he only cast a
deferential look at the Jew and asked if he might get up
»Certainly my dear certainly« replied the old gentleman »Stay Theres a
pitcher of water in the corner by the door Bring it here and Ill give you a
basin to wash in my dear«
Oliver got up walked across the room and stooped for an instant to raise
the pitcher When he turned his head the box was gone
He had scarcely washed himself and made everything tidy by emptying the
basin out of the window agreeably to the Jews directions when the Dodger
returned accompanied by a very sprightly young friend whom Oliver had seen
smoking on the previous night and who was now formally introduced to him as
Charley Bates The four sat down to breakfast on the coffee and some hot
rolls and ham which the Dodger had brought home in the crown of his hat
»Well« said the Jew glancing slyly at Oliver and addressing himself to
the Dodger »I hope youve been at work this morning my dears«
»Hard« replied the Dodger
»As Nails« added Charley Bates
»Good boys good boys« said the Jew »What have you got Dodger«
»A couple of pocketbooks« replied that young gentleman
»Lined« inquired the Jew with eagerness
»Pretty well« replied the Dodger producing two pocketbooks one green
and the other red
»Not so heavy as they might be« said the Jew after looking at the insides
carefully »but very neat and nicely made Ingenious workman aint he Oliver«
»Very indeed sir« said Oliver At which Mr Charles Bates laughed
uproariously very much to the amazement of Oliver who saw nothing to laugh at
in anything that had passed
»And what have you got my dear« said Fagin to Charley Bates
»Wipes« replied Master Bates at the same time producing four
pockethandkerchiefs
»Well« said the Jew inspecting them closely »theyre very good ones
very You havent marked them well though Charley so the marks shall be
picked out with a needle and well teach Oliver how to do it Shall us Oliver
eh Ha ha ha«
»If you please sir« said Oliver
»Youd like to be able to make pockethandkerchiefs as easy as Charley
Bates wouldnt you my dear« said the Jew
»Very much indeed if youll teach me sir« replied Oliver
Master Bates saw something so exquisitely ludicrous in this reply that he
burst into another laugh which laugh meeting the coffee he was drinking and
carrying it down some wrong channel very nearly terminated in his premature
suffocation
»He is so jolly green« said Charley when he recovered as an apology to the
company for his unpolite behaviour
The Dodger said nothing but he smoothed Olivers hair over his eyes and
said hed know better byandbye upon which the old gentleman observing
Olivers colour mounting changed the subject by asking whether there had been
much of a crowd at the execution that morning This made him wonder more and
more for it was plain from the replies of the two boys that they had both been
there and Oliver naturally wondered how they could possibly have found time to
be so very industrious
When the breakfast was cleared away the merry old gentleman and the two
boys played at a very curious and uncommon game which was performed in this
way The merry old gentleman placing a snuffbox in one pocket of his trousers
a notecase in the other and a watch in his waistcoat pocket with a
guardchain round his neck and sticking a mock diamond pin in his shirt
buttoned his coat tight round him and putting his spectaclecase and
handkerchief in his pockets trotted up and down the room with a stick in
imitation of the manner in which old gentlemen walk about the streets any hour
in the day Sometimes he stopped at the fireplace and sometimes at the door
making believe that he was staring with all his might into shopwindows At such
times he would look constantly round him for fear of thieves and would keep
slapping all his pockets in turn to see that he hadnt lost anything in such a
very funny and natural manner that Oliver laughed till the tears ran down his
face All this time the two boys followed him closely about getting out of his
sight so nimbly every time he turned round that it was impossible to follow
their motions At last the Dodger trod upon his toes or ran upon his boot
accidentally while Charley Bates stumbled up against him behind and in that
one moment they took from him with the most extraordinary rapidity snuffbox
notecase watchguard chain shirtpin pockethandkerchief even the
spectaclecase If the old gentleman felt a hand in any one of his pockets he
cried out where it was and then the game began all over again
When this game had been played a great many times a couple of young ladies
called to see the young gentlemen one of whom was named Bet and the other
Nancy They wore a good deal of hair not very neatly turned up behind and were
rather untidy about the shoes and stockings They were not exactly pretty
perhaps but they had a great deal of colour in their faces and looked quite
stout and hearty Being remarkably free and agreeable in their manners Oliver
thought them very nice girls indeed As there is no doubt they were
These visitors stopped a long time Spirits were produced in consequence of
one of the young ladies complaining of a coldness in her inside and the
conversation took a very convivial and improving turn At length Charley Bates
expressed his opinion that it was time to pad the hoof This it occurred to
Oliver must be French for going out for directly afterwards the Dodger and
Charley and the two young ladies went away together having been kindly
furnished by the amiable old Jew with money to spend
»There my dear« said Fagin »Thats a pleasant life isnt it They have
gone out for the day«
»Have they done work sir« inquired Oliver
»Yes« said the Jew »that is unless they should unexpectedly come across
any when they are out and they wont neglect it if they do my dear depend
upon it Make em your models my dear Make em your models« tapping the
fireshovel on the hearth to add force to his words »do everything they bid
you and take their advice in all matters especially the Dodgers my dear
Hell be a great man himself and will make you one too if you take pattern by
him Is my handkerchief hanging out of my pocket my dear« said the Jew
stopping short
»Yes sir« said Oliver
»See if you can take it out without my feeling it as you saw them do when
we were at play this morning«
Oliver held up the bottom of the pocket with one hand as he had seen the
Dodger hold it and drew the handkerchief lightly out of it with the other
»Is it gone« cried the Jew
»Here it is sir« said Oliver showing it in his hand
»Youre a clever boy my dear« said the playful old gentleman patting
Oliver on the head approvingly »I never saw a sharper lad Heres a shilling
for you If you go on in this way youll be the greatest man of the time And
now come here and Ill show you how to take the marks out of the
handkerchiefs«
Oliver wondered what picking the old gentlemans pocket in play had to do
with his chances of being a great man But thinking that the Jew being so much
his senior must know best he followed him quietly to the table and was soon
deeply involved in his new study
Chapter X
Oliver Becomes Better Acquainted with the Characters of His New Associates and
Purchases Experience at a High Price Being a Short but Very Important Chapter
in This History
For many days Oliver remained in the Jews room picking the marks out of the
pockethandkerchiefs of which a great number were brought home and sometimes
taking part in the game already described which the two boys and the Jew
played regularly every morning At length he began to languish for fresh air
and took many occasions of earnestly entreating the old gentleman to allow him
to go out to work with his two companions
Oliver was rendered the more anxious to be actively employed by what he had
seen of the stern morality of the old gentlemans character Whenever the Dodger
or Charley Bates came home at night emptyhanded he would expatiate with great
vehemence on the misery of idle and lazy habits and would enforce upon them the
necessity of an active life by sending them supperless to bed On one occasion
indeed he even went so far as to knock them both down a flight of stairs but
this was carrying out his virtuous precepts to an unusual extent
At length one morning Oliver obtained the permission he had so eagerly
sought There had been no handkerchiefs to work upon for two or three days and
the dinners had been rather meagre Perhaps these were reasons for the old
gentlemans giving his assent but whether they were or no he told Oliver he
might go and placed him under the joint guardianship of Charley Bates and his
friend the Dodger
The three boys sallied out the Dodger with his coatsleeves tucked up and
his hat cocked as usual Master Bates sauntering along with his hands in his
pockets and Oliver between them wondering where they were going and what
branch of manufacture he would be instructed in first
The pace at which they went was such a very lazy illlooking saunter that
Oliver soon began to think his companions were going to deceive the old
gentleman by not going to work at all The Dodger had a vicious propensity
too of pulling the caps from the heads of small boys and tossing them down
areas while Charley Bates exhibited some very loose notions concerning the
rights of property by pilfering divers apples and onions from the stalls at the
kennel sides and thrusting them into pockets which were so surprisingly
capacious that they seemed to undermine his whole suit of clothes in every
direction These things looked so bad that Oliver was on the point of declaring
his intention of seeking his way back in the best way he could when his
thoughts were suddenly directed into another channel by a very mysterious
change of behaviour on the part of the Dodger
They were just emerging from a narrow court not far from the open square in
Clerkenwell which is yet called by some strange perversion of terms The
Green when the Dodger made a sudden stop and laying his finger on his lip
drew his companions back again with the greatest caution and circumspection
»Whats the matter« demanded Oliver
»Hush« replied the Dodger »Do you see that old cove at the bookstall«
»The old gentleman over the way« said Oliver »Yes I see him«
»Hell do« said the Dodger
»A prime plant« observed Master Charley Bates
Oliver looked from one to the other with the greatest surprise but he was
not permitted to make any inquiries for the two boys walked stealthily across
the road and slunk close behind the old gentleman towards whom his attention
had been directed Oliver walked a few paces after them and not knowing
whether to advance or retire stood looking on in silent amazement
The old gentleman was a very respectablelooking personage with a powdered
head and gold spectacles He was dressed in a bottlegreen coat with a black
velvet collar wore white trousers and carried a smart bamboo cane under his
arm He had taken up a book from the stall and there he stood reading away as
hard as if he were in his elbowchair in his own study It is very possible
that he fancied himself there indeed for it was plain from his abstraction
that he saw not the bookstall nor the street nor the boys nor in short
anything but the book itself which he was reading straight through turning
over the leaf when he got to the bottom of a page beginning at the top line of
the next one and going regularly on with the greatest interest and eagerness
What was Olivers horror and alarm as he stood a few paces off looking on
with his eyelids as wide open as they would possibly go to see the Dodger
plunge his hand into the old gentlemans pocket and draw from thence a
handkerchief To see him hand the same to Charley Bates and finally to behold
them both running away round the corner at full speed
In an instant the whole mystery of the handkerchiefs and the watches and
the jewels and the Jew rushed upon the boys mind He stood for a moment
with the blood so tingling through all his veins from terror that he felt as if
he were in a burning fire then confused and frightened he took to his heels
and not knowing what he did made off as fast as he could lay his feet to the
ground
This was all done in a minutes space In the very instant when Oliver began
to run the old gentleman putting his hand to his pocket and missing his
handkerchief turned sharp round Seeing the boy scudding away at such a rapid
pace he very naturally concluded him to be the depredator and shouting »Stop
thief« with all his might made off after him book in hand
But the old gentleman was not the only person who raised the hueandcry
The Dodger and Master Bates unwilling to attract public attention by running
down the open street had merely retired into the very first doorway round the
corner They no sooner heard the cry and saw Oliver running than guessing
exactly how the matter stood they issued forth with great promptitude and
shouting »Stop thief« too joined in the pursuit like good citizens
Although Oliver had been brought up by philosophers he was not
theoretically acquainted with the beautiful axiom that selfpreservation is the
first law of nature If he had been perhaps he would have been prepared for
this Not being prepared however it alarmed him the more so away he went like
the wind with the old gentleman and the two boys roaring and shouting behind
him
»Stop thief Stop thief« There is a magic in the sound The tradesman
leaves his counter and the carman his waggon the butcher throws down his tray
the baker his basket the milkman his pail the errandboy his parcels the
schoolboy his marbles the paviour his pickaxe the child his battledore Away
they run pellmell helterskelter slapdash tearing yelling screaming
knocking down the passengers as they turn the corners rousing up the dogs and
astonishing the fowls and streets squares and courts reecho with the sound
»Stop thief Stop thief« The cry is taken up by a hundred voices and the
crowd accumulate at every turning Away they fly splashing through the mud and
rattling along the pavements up go the windows out run the people onward bear
the mob a whole audience desert Punch in the very thickest of the plot and
joining the rushing throng swell the shout and lend fresh vigour to the cry
»Stop thief Stop thief«
»Stop thief Stop thief« There is a passion for hunting something deeply
implanted in the human breast One wretched breathless child panting with
exhaustion terror in his looks agony in his eyes large drops of perspiration
streaming down his face strains every nerve to make head upon his pursuers and
as they follow on his track and gain upon him every instant they hail his
decreasing strength with still louder shouts and whoop and scream with joy
»Stop thief« Ay stop him for Gods sake were it only in mercy
Stopped at last A clever blow He is down upon the pavement and the crowd
eagerly gather round him each new comer jostling and struggling with the
others to catch a glimpse »Stand aside« »Give him a little air« »Nonsense he
dont deserve it« »Wheres the gentleman« »Here he is coming down the street«
»Make room there for the gentleman« »Is this the boy sir« »Yes«
Oliver lay covered with mud and dust and bleeding from the mouth looking
wildly round upon the heap of faces that surrounded him when the old gentleman
was officiously dragged and pushed into the circle by the foremost of the
pursuers
»Yes« said the gentleman »I am afraid it is the boy«
»Afraid« murmured the crowd »Thats a good un«
»Poor fellow« said the gentleman »he has hurt himself«
»I did that sir« said a great lubberly fellow stepping forward »and
preciously I cut my knuckle agin his mouth I stopped him sir«
The fellow touched his hat with a grin expecting something for his pains
but the old gentleman eyeing him with an expression of dislike looked
anxiously round as if he contemplated running away himself which it is very
possible he might have attempted to do and thus have afforded another chase
had not a police officer who is generally the last person to arrive in such
cases at that moment made his way through the crowd and seized Oliver by the
collar
»Come get up« said the man roughly
»It wasnt me indeed sir Indeed indeed it was two other boys« said
Oliver clasping his hands passionately and looking round »They are here
somewhere«
»Oh no they aint« said the officer He meant this to be ironical but it
was true besides for the Dodger and Charley Bates had filed off down the first
convenient court they came to »Come get up«
»Dont hurt him« said the old gentleman compassionately
»Oh no I wont hurt him« replied the officer tearing his jacket half off
his back in proof thereof »Come I know you it wont do Will you stand upon
your legs you young devil«
Oliver who could hardly stand made a shift to raise himself on his feet
and was at once lugged along the streets by the jacketcollar at a rapid pace
The gentleman walked on with them by the officers side and as many of the
crowd as could achieve the feat got a little ahead and stared back at Oliver
from time to time The boys shouted in triumph and on they went
Chapter XI
Treats of Mr Fang the Police Magistrate and Furnishes a Slight Specimen of His
Mode of Administering Justice
The offence had been committed within the district and indeed in the immediate
neighbourhood of a very notorious metropolitan police office The crowd had
only the satisfaction of accompanying Oliver through two or three streets and
down a place called Mutton Hill when he was led beneath a low archway and up a
dirty court into this dispensary of summary justice by the backway It was a
small paved yard into which they turned and here they encountered a stout man
with a bunch of whiskers on his face and a bunch of keys in his hand
»Whats the matter now« said the man carelessly
»A young foglehunter« replied the man who had Oliver in charge
»Are you the party thats been robbed sir« inquired the man with the keys
»Yes I am« replied the old gentleman »but I am not sure that this boy
actually took the handkerchief I I would rather not press the case«
»Must go before the magistrate now sir« replied the man »His worship will
be disengaged in half a minute Now young gallows«
This was an invitation for Oliver to enter through a door which he unlocked
as he spoke and which led into a stonecell Here he was searched and nothing
being found upon him locked up
This cell was in shape and size something like an area cellar only not so
light It was most intolerably dirty for it was Monday morning and it had been
tenanted by six drunken people who had been locked up elsewhere since
Saturday night But this is little In our stationhouses men and women are
every night confined on the most trivial charges the word is worth noting in
dungeons compared with which those in Newgate occupied by the most atrocious
felons tried found guilty and under sentence of death are palaces Let any
one who doubts this compare the two
The old gentleman looked almost as rueful as Oliver when the key grated in
the lock He turned with a sigh to the book which had been the innocent cause
of all this disturbance
»There is something in that boys face« said the old gentleman to himself
as he walked slowly away tapping his chin with the cover of the book in a
thoughtful manner »something that touches and interests me Can he be innocent
He looked like By the bye« exclaimed the old gentleman halting very
abruptly and staring up into the sky »Bless my soul Where have I seen
something like that look before«
After musing for some minutes the old gentleman walked with the same
meditative face into a back anteroom opening from the yard and there
retiring into a corner called up before his minds eye a vast amphitheatre of
faces over which a dusky curtain had hung for many years »No« said the old
gentleman shaking his head »it must be imagination« He wandered over them
again He had called them into view and it was not easy to replace the shroud
that had so long concealed them There were the faces of friends and foes and
of many that had been almost strangers peering intrusively from the crowd there
were the faces of young and blooming girls that were now old women there were
faces that the grave had changed and closed upon but which the mind superior
to its power still dressed in their old freshness and beauty calling back the
lustre of the eyes the brightness of the smile the beaming of the soul through
its mask of clay and whispering of beauty beyond the tomb changed but to be
heightened and taken from earth only to be set up as a light to shed a soft
and gentle glow upon the path to Heaven
But the old gentleman could recall no one countenance of which Olivers
features bore a trace So he heaved a sigh over the recollections he had
awakened and being happily for himself an absent old gentleman buried them
again in the pages of the musty book
He was roused by a touch on the shoulder and a request from the man with
the keys to follow him into the office He closed his book hastily and was at
once ushered into the imposing presence of the renowned Mr Fang
The office was a front parlour with a panelled wall Mr Fang sat behind a
bar at the upper end and on one side the door was a sort of wooden pen in
which poor little Oliver was already deposited trembling very much at the
awfulness of the scene
Mr Fang was a lean longbacked stiffnecked middlesized man with no
great quantity of hair and what he had growing on the back and sides of his
head His face was stern and much flushed If he were really not in the habit
of drinking rather more than was exactly good for him he might have brought an
action against his countenance for libel and have recovered heavy damages
The old gentleman bowed respectfully and advancing to the magistrates
desk said suiting the action to the word »That is my name and address sir«
He then withdrew a pace or two and with another polite and gentlemanly
inclination of the head waited to be questioned
Now it so happened that Mr Fang was at that moment perusing a leading
article in a newspaper of the morning adverting to some recent decision of his
and commending him for the three hundred and fiftieth time to the special and
particular notice of the Secretary of State for the Home Department He was out
of temper and he looked up with an angry scowl
»Who are you« said Mr Fang
The old gentleman pointed with some surprise to his card
»Officer« said Mr Fang tossing the card contemptuously away with the
newspaper »Who is this fellow«
»My name sir« said the old gentleman speaking like a gentleman »my name
sir is Brownlow Permit me to inquire the name of the magistrate who offers a
gratuitous and unprovoked insult to a respectable person under the protection
of the bench« Saying this Mr Brownlow looked round the office as if in search
of some person who would afford him the required information
»Officer« said Mr Fang throwing the paper on one side »whats this
fellow charged with«
»Hes not charged at all your worship« replied the officer »He appears
against the boy your worship«
His worship knew this perfectly well but it was a good annoyance and a
safe one
»Appears against the boy does he« said Fang surveying Mr Brownlow
contemptuously from head to foot »Swear him«
»Before I am sworn I must beg to say one word« said Mr Brownlow »and
that is that I really never without actual experience could have believed «
»Hold your tongue sir« said Mr Fang peremptorily
»I will not sir« replied the old gentleman
»Hold your tongue this instant or Ill have you turned out of the office«
said Mr Fang »Youre an insolent impertinent fellow How dare you bully a
magistrate«
»What« exclaimed the old gentleman reddening
»Swear this person« said Fang to the clerk »Ill not hear another word
Swear him«
Mr Brownlows indignation was greatly roused but reflecting perhaps that
he might only injure the boy by giving vent to it he suppressed his feelings
and submitted to be sworn at once
»Now« said Fang »Whats the charge against this boy What have you got to
say sir«
»I was standing at a bookstall « Mr Brownlow began
»Hold your tongue sir« said Mr Fang »Policeman Wheres the policeman
Here swear this policeman Now policeman what is this«
The policeman with becoming humility related how he had taken the charge
how he had searched Oliver and found nothing on his person and how that was
all he knew about it
»Are there any witnesses« inquired Mr Fang
»None your worship« replied the policeman
Mr Fang sat silent for some minutes and then turning round to the
prosecutor said in a towering passion
»Do you mean to state what your complaint against this boy is man or do
you not You have been sworn Now if you stand there refusing to give
evidence Ill punish you for disrespect to the bench I will by «
By what or by whom nobody knows for the clerk and jailor coughed very
loud just at the right moment and the former dropped a heavy book upon the
floor thus preventing the word from being heard accidentally of course
With many interruptions and repeated insults Mr Brownlow contrived to
state his case observing that in the surprise of the moment he had run after
the boy because he saw him running away and expressing his hope that if the
magistrate should believe him although not actually the thief to be connected
with thieves he would deal as leniently with him as justice would allow
»He has been hurt already« said the old gentleman in conclusion »And I
fear« he added with great energy looking towards the bar »I really fear that
he is ill«
»Oh yes I dare say« said Mr Fang with a sneer »Come none of your
tricks here you young vagabond they wont do Whats your name«
Oliver tried to reply but his tongue failed him He was deadly pale and
the whole place seemed turning round and round
»Whats your name you hardened scoundrel« demanded Mr Fang »Officer
whats his name«
This was addressed to a bluff old fellow in a striped waistcoat who was
standing by the bar He bent over Oliver and repeated the inquiry but finding
him really incapable of understanding the question and knowing that his not
replying would only infuriate the magistrate the more and add to the severity
of his sentence he hazarded a guess
»He says his names Tom White your worship« said this kindhearted
thieftaker
»Oh he wont speak out wont he« said Fang »Very well very well Where
does he live«
»Where he can your worship« replied the officer again pretending to
receive Olivers answer
»Has he any parents« inquired Mr Fang
»He says they died in his infancy your worship« replied the officer
hazarding the usual reply
At this point of the inquiry Oliver raised his head and looking round
with imploring eyes murmured a feeble prayer for a draught of water
»Stuff and nonsense« said Mr Fang »dont try to make a fool of me«
»I think he really is ill your worship« remonstrated the officer
»I know better« said Mr Fang
»Take care of him officer« said the old gentleman raising his hands
instinctively »hell fall down«
»Stand away officer« cried Fang »let him if he likes«
Oliver availed himself of the kind permission and fell to the floor in a
fainting fit The men in the office looked at each other but no one dared to
stir
»I knew he was shamming« said Fang as if this were incontestable proof of
the fact »Let him lie there hell soon be tired of that«
»How do you propose to deal with the case sir« inquired the clerk in a low
voice
»Summarily« replied Mr Fang »He stands committed for three months hard
labour of course Clear the office«
The door was opened for this purpose and a couple of men were preparing to
carry the insensible boy to his cell when an elderly man of decent but poor
appearance clad in an old suit of black rushed hastily into the office and
advanced towards the bench
»Stop stop Dont take him away For Heavens sake stop a moment« cried
the newcomer breathless with haste
Although the presiding Genii in such an office as this exercise a summary
and arbitrary power over the liberties the good name the character almost the
lives of Her Majestys subjects especially of the poorer class and although
within such walls enough fantastic tricks are daily played to make the angels
blind with weeping they are closed to the public save through the medium of
the daily press1 Mr Fang was consequently not a little indignant to see an
unbidden guest enter in such irreverent disorder
»What is this Who is this Turn this man out Clear the office« cried Mr
Fang
»I will speak« cried the man »I will not be turned out I saw it all I
keep the bookstall I demand to be sworn I will not be put down Mr Fang you
must hear me You must not refuse sir«
The man was right His manner was determined and the matter was growing
rather too serious to be hushed up
»Swear the man« growled Mr Fang with a very ill grace »Now man what
have you got to say«
»This« said the man »I saw three boys two others and the prisoner here
loitering on the opposite side of the way when this gentleman was reading The
robbery was committed by another boy I saw it done and I saw that this boy was
perfectly amazed and stupefied by it« Having by this time recovered a little
breath the worthy bookstall keeper proceeded to relate in a more coherent
manner the exact circumstances of the robbery
»Why didnt you come here before« said Fang after a pause
»I hadnt a soul to mind the shop« replied the man »Everybody who could
have helped me had joined in the pursuit I could get nobody till five minutes
ago and Ive run here all the way«
»The prosecutor was reading was he« inquired Fang after another pause
»Yes« replied the man »The very book he has in his hand«
»Oh that book eh« said Fang »Is it paid for«
»No it is not« replied the man with a smile
»Dear me I forgot all about it« exclaimed the absent old gentleman
innocently
»A nice person to prefer a charge against a poor boy« said Fang with a
comical effort to look humane »I consider sir that you have obtained
possession of that book under very suspicious and disreputable circumstances
and you may think yourself very fortunate that the owner of the property
declines to prosecute Let this be a lesson to you my man or the law will
overtake you yet The boy is discharged Clear the office«
»Dn me« cried the old gentleman bursting out with the rage he had kept
down so long »dn me Ill «
»Clear the office« said the magistrate »Officers do you hear Clear the
office«
The mandate was obeyed and the indignant Mr Brownlow was conveyed out
with the book in one hand and the bamboo cane in the other in a perfect
phrenzy of rage and defiance He reached the yard and his passion vanished in a
moment Little Oliver Twist lay on his back on the pavement with his shirt
unbuttoned and his temples bathed with water his face a deadly white and a
cold tremble convulsing his whole frame
»Poor boy poor boy« said Mr Brownlow bending over him »Call a coach
somebody pray Directly«
A coach was obtained and Oliver having been carefully laid on one seat
the old gentleman got in and sat himself on the other
»May I accompany you« said the bookstall keeper looking in
»Bless me yes my dear sir« said Mr Brownlow quickly »I forgot you
Dear dear I have this unhappy book still Jump in Poor fellow Theres no
time to lose«
The bookstall keeper got into the coach and away they drove
Chapter XII
In Which Oliver Is Taken Better Care Of Than He Ever Was Before And in Which
the Narrative Reverts to the Merry Old Gentleman and His Youthful Friends
The coach rattled away over nearly the same ground as that which Oliver had
traversed when he first entered London in company with the Dodger and turning
a different way when it reached the Angel at Islington stopped at length before
a neat house in a quiet shady street near Pentonville Here a bed was
prepared without loss of time in which Mr Brownlow saw his young charge
carefully and comfortably deposited and here he was tended with a kindness and
solicitude that knew no bounds
But for many days Oliver remained insensible to all the goodness of his
new friends The sun rose and sank and rose and sank again and many times
after that and still the boy lay stretched on his uneasy bed dwindling away
beneath the dry and wasting heat of fever The worm does not his work more
surely on the dead body than does this slow creeping fire upon the living
frame
Weak and thin and pallid he awoke at last from what seemed to have been a
long and troubled dream Feebly raising himself in the bed with his head
resting on his trembling arm he looked anxiously around
»What room is this Where have I been brought to« said Oliver »This is not
the place I went to sleep in«
He uttered these words in a feeble voice being very faint and weak but
they were overheard at once The curtain at the beds head was hastily drawn
back and a motherly old lady very neatly and precisely dressed rose as she
undrew it from an armchair close by in which she had been sitting at
needlework
»Hush my dear« said the old lady softly »You must be very quiet or you
will be ill again and you have been very bad as bad as bad could be pretty
nigh Lie down again theres a dear« With those words the old lady very
gently placed Olivers head upon the pillow and smoothing back his hair from
his forehead looked so kindly and lovingly in his face that he could not help
placing his little withered hand in hers and drawing it round his neck
»Save us« said the old lady with tears in her eyes »What a grateful
little dear it is Pretty creetur What would his mother feel if she had sat by
him as I have and could see him now«
»Perhaps she does see me« whispered Oliver folding his hands together
»perhaps she has sat by me I almost feel as if she had«
»That was the fever my dear« said the old lady mildly
»I suppose it was« replied Oliver »because heaven is a long way off and
they are too happy there to come down to the bedside of a poor boy But if she
knew I was ill she must have pitied me even there for she was very ill
herself before she died She cant know anything about me though« added Oliver
after a moments silence »If she had seen me hurt it would have made her
sorrowful and her face has always looked sweet and happy when I have dreamed
of her«
The old lady made no reply to this but wiping her eyes first and her
spectacles which lay on the counterpane afterwards as if they were part and
parcel of those features brought some cool stuff for Oliver to drink and then
patting him on the cheek told him he must lie very quiet or he would be ill
again
So Oliver kept very still partly because he was anxious to obey the kind
old lady in all things and partly to tell the truth because he was completely
exhausted with what he had already said He soon fell into a gentle dose from
which he was awakened by the light of a candle which being brought near the
bed showed him a gentleman with a very large and loudticking gold watch in his
hand who felt his pulse and said he was a great deal better
»You are a great deal better are you not my dear« said the gentleman
»Yes thank you sir« replied Oliver
»Yes I know you are« said the gentleman »Youre hungry too ant you«
»No sir« answered Oliver
»Hem« said the gentleman »No I know youre not He is not hungry Mrs
Bedwin« said the gentleman looking very wise
The old lady made a respectful inclination of the head which seemed to say
that she thought the doctor was a very clever man The doctor appeared much of
the same opinion himself
»You feel sleepy dont you my dear« said the doctor
»No sir« replied Oliver
»No« said the doctor with a very shrewd and satisfied look »Youre not
sleepy Nor thirsty Are you«
»Yes sir rather thirsty« answered Oliver
»Just as I expected Mrs Bedwin« said the doctor »Its very natural that
he should be thirsty You may give him a little tea maam and some dry toast
without any butter Dont keep him too warm maam but be careful that you
dont let him be too cold will you have the goodness«
The old lady dropped a curtsey The doctor after tasting the cool stuff
and expressing a qualified approval of it hurried away his boots creaking in a
very important and healthy manner as he went down stairs
Oliver dosed off again soon after this when he awoke it was nearly twelve
oclock The old lady tenderly bade him goodnight shortly afterwards and left
him in charge of a fat old woman who had just come bringing with her in a
little bundle a small Prayer Book and a large nightcap Putting the latter on
her head and the former on the table the old woman after telling Oliver that
she had come to sit up with him drew her chair close to the fire and went off
into a series of short naps chequered at frequent intervals with sundry
tumblings forward and divers moans and chokings These however had no worse
effect than causing her to rub her nose very hard and then fall asleep again
And thus the night crept slowly on Oliver lay awake for some time counting
the little circles of light which the reflection of the rushlightshade threw
upon the ceiling or tracing with his languid eyes the intricate pattern of the
paper on the wall The darkness and the deep stillness of the room were very
solemn as they brought into the boys mind the thought that death had been
hovering there for many days and nights and might yet fill it with the gloom
and dread of his awful presence he turned his face upon the pillow and
fervently prayed to Heaven
Gradually he fell into that deep tranquil sleep which ease from recent
suffering alone imparts that calm and peaceful rest which it is pain to wake
from Who if this were death would be roused again to all the struggles and
turmoils of life to all its cares for the present its anxieties for the
future more than all its weary recollections of the past
It had been bright day for hours when Oliver opened his eyes he felt
cheerful and happy The crisis of the disease was safely past He belonged to
the world again
In three days time he was able to sit in an easychair well propped up
with pillows and as he was still too weak to walk Mrs Bedwin had him carried
down stairs into the little housekeepers room which belonged to her Having
him set here by the fireside the good old lady sat herself down too and
being in a state of considerable delight at seeing him so much better forthwith
began to cry most violently
»Never mind me my dear« said the old lady »Im only having a regular good
cry There its all over now and Im quite comfortable«
»Youre very very kind to me maam« said Oliver
»Well never you mind that my dear« said the old lady »thats got nothing
to do with your broth and its full time you had it for the doctor says Mr
Brownlow may come in to see you this morning and we must get up our best looks
because the better we look the more hell be pleased« And with this the old
lady applied herself to warming up in a little saucepan a basin full of broth
strong enough Oliver thought to furnish an ample dinner when reduced to the
regulation strength for three hundred and fifty paupers at the lowest
computation
»Are you fond of pictures dear« inquired the old lady seeing that Oliver
had fixed his eyes most intently on a portrait which hung against the wall
just opposite his chair
»I dont quite know maam« said Oliver without taking his eyes from the
canvas »I have seen so few that I hardly know What a beautiful mild face
that ladys is«
»Ah« said the old lady »painters always make ladies out prettier than they
are or they wouldnt get any custom child The man that invented the machine
for taking likenesses might have known that would never succeed its a deal too
honest A deal« said the old lady laughing very heartily at her own acuteness
»Is is that a likeness maam« said Oliver
»Yes« said the old lady looking up for a moment from the broth »thats a
portrait«
»Whose maam« asked Oliver
»Why really my dear I dont know« answered the old lady in a
goodhumoured manner »Its not a likeness of anybody that you or I know I
expect It seems to strike your fancy dear«
»It is so very pretty« replied Oliver
»Why sure youre not afraid of it« said the old lady observing in great
surprise the look of awe with which the child regarded the painting
»Oh no no« returned Oliver quickly »but the eyes look so sorrowful and
where I sit they seem fixed upon me It makes my heart beat« added Oliver in a
low voice »as if it was alive and wanted to speak to me but couldnt«
»Lord save us« exclaimed the old lady starting »dont talk in that way
child Youre weak and nervous after your illness Let me wheel your chair round
to the other side and then you wont see it There« said the old lady suiting
the action to the word »you dont see it now at all events«
Oliver did see it in his minds eye as distinctly as if he had not altered
his position but he thought it better not to worry the kind old lady so he
smiled gently when she looked at him and Mrs Bedwin satisfied that he felt
more comfortable salted and broke bits of toasted bread into the broth with
all the bustle befitting so solemn a preparation Oliver got through it with
extraordinary expedition He had scarcely swallowed the last spoonful when
there came a soft rap at the door »Come in« said the old lady and in walked
Mr Brownlow
Now the old gentleman came in as brisk as need be but he had no sooner
raised his spectacles on his forehead and thrust his hands behind the skirts of
his dressinggown to take a good long look at Oliver than his countenance
underwent a very great variety of odd contortions Oliver looked very worn and
shadowy from sickness and made an ineffectual attempt to stand up out of
respect to his benefactor which terminated in his sinking back into the chair
again and the fact is if the truth must be told that Mr Brownlows heart
being large enough for any six ordinary old gentlemen of humane disposition
forced a supply of tears into his eyes by some hydraulic process which we are
not sufficiently philosophical to be in a condition to explain
»Poor boy poor boy« said Mr Brownlow clearing his throat »Im rather
hoarse this morning Mrs Bedwin Im afraid I have caught cold«
»I hope not sir« said Mrs Bedwin »Everything you have had has been well
aired sir«
»I dont know Bedwin I dont know« said Mr Brownlow »I rather think I
had a damp napkin at dinnertime yesterday but never mind that How do you
feel my dear«
»Very happy sir« replied Oliver »And very grateful indeed sir for your
goodness to me«
»Good boy« said Mr Brownlow stoutly »Have you given him any nourishment
Bedwin Any slops eh«
»He has just had a basin of beautiful strong broth sir« replied Mrs
Bedwin drawing herself up slightly and laying a strong emphasis on the last
word to intimate that between slops and broth well compounded there existed
no affinity or connexion whatsoever
»Ugh« said Mr Brownlow with a slight shudder »a couple of glasses of
port wine would have done him a great deal more good Wouldnt they Tom White
eh«
»My name is Oliver sir« replied the little invalid with a look of great
astonishment
»Oliver« said Mr Brownlow »Oliver what Oliver White eh«
»No sir Twist Oliver Twist«
»Queer name« said the old gentleman »What made you tell the magistrate
your name was White«
»I never told him so sir« returned Oliver in amazement
This sounded so like a falsehood that the old gentleman looked somewhat
sternly in Olivers face It was impossible to doubt him there was truth in
every one of its thin and sharpened lineaments
»Some mistake« said Mr Brownlow But although his motive for looking
steadily at Oliver no longer existed the old idea of the resemblance between
his features and some familiar face came upon him so strongly that he could not
withdraw his gaze
»I hope you are not angry with me sir« said Oliver raising his eyes
beseechingly
»No no« replied the old gentleman »Why whats this Bedwin look there«
As he spoke he pointed hastily to the picture above Olivers head and then
to the boys face There was its living copy The eyes the head the mouth
every feature was the same The expression was for the instant so precisely
alike that the minutest line seemed copied with startling accuracy
Oliver knew not the cause of this sudden exclamation for not being strong
enough to bear the start it gave him he fainted away A weakness on his part
which affords the narrative an opportunity of relieving the reader from
suspense in behalf of the two young pupils of the Merry Old Gentleman and of
recording
That when the Dodger and his accomplished friend Master Bates joined in
the hueandcry which was raised at Olivers heels in consequence of their
executing an illegal conveyance of Mr Brownlows personal property as has been
already described they were actuated by a very laudable and becoming regard for
themselves and forasmuch as the freedom of the subject and the liberty of the
individual are among the first and proudest boasts of a truehearted Englishman
so I need hardly beg the reader to observe that this action should tend to
exalt them in the opinion of all public and patriotic men in almost as great a
degree as this strong proof of their anxiety for their own preservation and
safety goes to corroborate and confirm the little code of laws which certain
profound and soundjudging philosophers have laid down as the mainsprings of all
Natures deeds and actions the said philosophers very wisely reducing the good
ladys proceedings to matter of maxim and theory and by a very neat and pretty
compliment to her exalted wisdom and understanding putting entirely out of
sight any considerations of heart or generous impulse and feeling For these
are matters totally beneath a female who is acknowledged by universal admission
to be far above the numerous little foibles and weaknesses of her sex
If I wanted any further proof of the strictly philosophical nature of the
conduct of these young gentlemen in their very delicate predicament I should at
once find it in the fact also recorded in a foregoing part of this narrative
of their quitting the pursuit when the general attention was fixed upon Oliver
and making immediately for their home by the shortest possible cut Although I
do not mean to assert that it is usually the practice of renowned and learned
sages to shorten the road to any great conclusion their course indeed being
rather to lengthen the distance by various circumlocutions and discursive
staggerings like unto those in which drunken men under the pressure of a too
mighty flow of ideas are prone to indulge still I do mean to say and do say
distinctly that it is the invariable practice of many mighty philosophers in
carrying out their theories to evince great wisdom and foresight in providing
against every possible contingency which can be supposed at all likely to affect
themselves Thus to do a great right you may do a little wrong and you may
take any means which the end to be attained will justify the amount of the
right or the amount of the wrong or indeed the distinction between the two
being left entirely to the philosopher concerned to be settled and determined
by his clear comprehensive and impartial view of his own particular case
It was not until the two boys had scoured with great rapidity through a
most intricate maze of narrow streets and courts that they ventured to halt
beneath a low and dark archway Having remained silent here just long enough to
recover breath to speak Master Bates uttered an exclamation of amusement and
delight and bursting into an uncontrollable fit of laughter flung himself
upon a doorstep and rolled thereon in a transport of mirth
»Whats the matter« inquired the Dodger
»Ha ha ha« roared Charley Bates
»Hold your noise« remonstrated the Dodger looking cautiously round »Do
you want to be grabbed stupid«
»I cant help it« said Charley »I cant help it To see him splitting away
at that pace and cutting round the corners and knocking up again the posts
and starting on again as if he was made of iron as well as them and me with the
wipe in my pocket singing out arter him oh my eye« The vivid imagination of
Master Bates presented the scene before him in too strong colours As he
arrived at this apostrophe he again rolled upon the doorstep and laughed
louder than before
»Whatll Fagin say« inquired the Dodger taking advantage of the next
interval of breathlessness on the part of his friend to propound the question
»What« repeated Charley Bates
»Ah what« said the Dodger
»Why what should he say« inquired Charley stopping rather suddenly in his
merriment for the Dodgers manner was impressive »What should he say«
Mr Dawkins whistled for a couple of minutes then taking off his hat
scratched his head and nodded thrice
»What do you mean« said Charley
»Toor rul lol loo gammon and spinnage the frog he wouldnt and high
cockolorum« said the Dodger with a slight sneer on his intellectual
countenance
This was explanatory but not satisfactory Master Bates felt it so and
again said »What do you mean«
The Dodger made no reply but putting his hat on again and gathering the
skirts of his longtailed coat under his arm thrust his tongue into his cheek
slapped the bridge of his nose some halfdozen times in a familiar but
expressive manner and turning on his heel slunk down the court Master Bates
followed with a thoughtful countenance
The noise of footsteps on the creaking stairs a few minutes after the
occurrence of this conversation roused the merry old gentleman as he sat over
the fire with a saveloy and a small loaf in his left hand a pocketknife in his
right and a pewter pot on the trivet There was a rascally smile on his white
face as he turned round and looking sharply out from under his thick red
eyebrows bent his ear towards the door and listened
»Why hows this« muttered the Jew changing countenance »only two of em
Wheres the third They cant have got into trouble Hark«
The footsteps approached nearer they reached the landing The door was
slowly opened and the Dodger and Charley Bates entered closing it behind them
Chapter XIII
Some New Acquaintances Are Introduced to the Intelligent Reader Connected with
Whom Various Pleasant Matters Are Related Appertaining to This History
»Wheres Oliver« said the Jew rising with a menacing look »Wheres the boy«
The young thieves eyed their preceptor as if they were alarmed at his
violence and looked uneasily at each other But they made no reply
»Whats become of the boy« said the Jew seizing the Dodger tightly by the
collar and threatening him with horrid imprecations »Speak out or Ill
throttle you«
Mr Fagin looked so very much in earnest that Charley Bates who deemed it
prudent in all cases to be on the safe side and who conceived it by no means
improbable that it might be his turn to be throttled second dropped upon his
knees and raised a loud wellsustained and continuous roar something
between a mad bull and a speaking trumpet
»Will you speak« thundered the Jew shaking the Dodger so much that his
keeping in the big coat at all seemed perfectly miraculous
»Why the traps have got him and thats all about it« said the Dodger
sullenly »Come let go o me will you« And swinging himself at one jerk
clean out of the big coat which he left in the Jews hands the Dodger snatched
up the toasting fork and made a pass at the merry old gentlemans waistcoat
which if it had taken effect would have let a little more merriment out than
could have been easily replaced
The Jew stepped back in this emergency with more agility than could have
been anticipated in a man of his apparent decrepitude and seizing up the pot
prepared to hurl it at his assailants head But Charley Bates at this moment
calling his attention by a perfectly terrific howl he suddenly altered its
destination and flung it full at that young gentleman
»Why what the blazes is in the wind now« growled a deep voice »Who
pitched that ere at me Its well its the beer and not the pot as hit me or
Id have settled somebody I might have knowd as nobody but an infernal rich
plundering thundering old Jew could afford to throw away any drink but water
and not that unless he done the River Company every quarter Wots it all
about Fagin Dme if my neckhandkercher ant lined with beer Come in you
sneaking warmint wot are you stopping outside for as if you was ashamed of
your master Come in«
The man who growled out these words was a stoutlybuilt fellow of about
fiveandthirty in a black velveteen coat very soiled drab breeches laceup
half boots and grey cotton stockings which inclosed a bulky pair of legs with
large swelling calves the kind of legs which in such costume always look in
an unfinished and incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them He
had a brown hat on his head and a dirty belcher handkerchief round his neck
with the long frayed ends of which he smeared the beer from his face as he
spoke He disclosed when he had done so a broad heavy countenance with a beard
of three days growth and two scowling eyes one of which displayed various
particoloured symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow
»Come in dye hear« growled this engaging ruffian
A white shaggy dog with his face scratched and torn in twenty different
places skulked into the room
»Why didnt you come in afore« said the man »Youre getting too proud to
own me afore company are you Lie down«
This command was accompanied with a kick which sent the animal to the other
end of the room He appeared well used to it however for he coiled himself up
in a corner very quietly without uttering a sound and winking his very
illlooking eyes twenty times in a minute appeared to occupy himself in taking
a survey of the apartment
»What are you up to Illtreating the boys you covetous avaricious
insatiable old fence« said the man seating himself deliberately »I wonder
they dont murder you I would if I was them If Id been your prentice Id
have done it long ago and no I couldnt have sold you afterwards for youre
fit for nothing but keeping as a curiosity of ugliness in a glass bottle and I
suppose they dont blow glass bottles large enough«
»Hush hush Mr Sikes« said the Jew trembling »dont speak so loud«
»None of your mistering« replied the ruffian »you always mean mischief
when you come that You know my name out with it I shant disgrace it when the
time comes«
»Well well then Bill Sikes« said the Jew with abject humility »You
seem out of humour Bill«
»Perhaps I am« replied Sikes »I should think you was rather out of sorts
too unless you mean as little harm when you throw pewter pots about as you do
when you blab and «
»Are you mad« said the Jew catching the man by the sleeve and pointing
towards the boys
Mr Sikes contented himself with tying an imaginary knot under his left ear
and jerking his head over on the right shoulder a piece of dumb show which the
Jew appeared to understand perfectly He then in cant terms with which his
whole conversation was plentifully besprinkled but which would be quite
unintelligible if they were recorded here demanded a glass of liquor
»And mind you dont poison it« said Mr Sikes laying his hat upon the
table
This was said in jest but if the speaker could have seen the evil leer with
which the Jew bit his pale lip as he turned round to the cupboard he might have
thought the caution not wholly unnecessary or the wish at all events to
improve upon the distillers ingenuity not very far from the old gentlemans
merry heart
After swallowing two or three glasses of spirits Mr Sikes condescended to
take some notice of the young gentlemen which gracious act led to a
conversation in which the cause and manner of Olivers capture were
circumstantially detailed with such alterations and improvements on the truth
as to the Dodger appeared most advisable under the circumstances
»Im afraid« said the Jew »that he may say something which will get us
into trouble«
»Thats very likely« returned Sikes with a malicious grin »Youre blowed
upon Fagin«
»And Im afraid you see« added the Jew speaking as if he had not noticed
the interruption and regarding the other closely as he did so »Im afraid
that if the game was up with us it might be up with a good many more and that
it would come out rather worse for you than it would for me my dear«
The man started and turned round upon the Jew But the old gentlemans
shoulders were shrugged up to his ears and his eyes were vacantly staring on
the opposite wall
There was a long pause Every member of the respectable coterie appeared
plunged in his own reflections not excepting the dog who by a certain
malicious licking of his lips seemed to be meditating an attack upon the legs of
the first gentleman or lady he might encounter in the streets when he went out
»Somebody must find out wots been done at the office« said Mr Sikes in a
much lower tone than he had taken since he came in
The Jew nodded assent
»If he hasnt peached and is committed theres no fear till he comes out
again« said Mr Sikes »and then he must be taken care on You must get hold of
him somehow«
Again the Jew nodded
The prudence of this line of action indeed was obvious but
unfortunately there was one very strong objection to its being adopted This
was that the Dodger and Charley Bates and Fagin and Mr William Sikes
happened one and all to entertain a violent and deeplyrooted antipathy to
going near a policeoffice on any ground or pretext whatever
How long they might have sat and looked at each other in a state of
uncertainty not the most pleasant of its kind it is difficult to guess It is
not necessary to make any guesses on the subject however for the sudden
entrance of the two young ladies whom Oliver had seen on a former occasion
caused the conversation to flow afresh
»The very thing« said the Jew »Bet will go wont you my dear«
»Wheres« inquired the young lady
»Only just up to the office my dear« said the Jew coaxingly
It is due to the young lady to say that she did not positively affirm that
she would not but that she merely expressed an emphatic and earnest desire to
be blessed if she would a polite and delicate evasion of the request which
shows the young lady to have been possessed of that natural good breeding which
cannot bear to inflict upon a fellowcreature the pain of a direct and pointed
refusal
The Jews countenance fell He turned from this young lady who was gaily
not to say gorgeously attired in a red gown green boots and yellow
curlpapers to the other female
»Nancy my dear« said the Jew in a soothing manner »what do you say«
»That it wont do so its no use atrying it on Fagin« replied Nancy
»What do you mean by that« said Mr Sikes looking up in a surly manner
»What I say Bill« replied the lady collectedly
»Why youre just the very person for it« reasoned Mr Sikes »nobody about
here knows anything of you«
»And as I dont want em to neither« replied Nancy in the same composed
manner »its rather more no than yes with me Bill«
»Shell go Fagin« said Sikes
»No she wont Fagin« said Nancy
»Yes she will Fagin« said Sikes
And Mr Sikes was right By dint of alternate threats promises and bribes
the lady in question was ultimately prevailed upon to undertake the commission
She was not indeed withheld by the same considerations as her agreeable
friend for having recently removed into the neighbourhood of Field Lane from
the remote but genteel suburb of Ratcliffe she was not under the same
apprehension of being recognised by any of her numerous acquaintance
Accordingly with a clean white apron tied over her gown and her
curlpapers tucked up under a straw bonnet both articles of dress being
provided from the Jews inexhaustible stock Miss Nancy prepared to issue
forth on her errand
»Stop a minute my dear« said the Jew producing a little covered basket
»Carry that in one hand It looks more respectable my dear«
»Give her a doorkey to carry in her tother one Fagin« said Sikes »it
looks real and genivine like«
»Yes yes my dear so it does« said the Jew hanging a large streetdoor
key on the forefinger of the young ladys right hand »There very good Very
good indeed my dear« said the Jew rubbing his hands
»Oh my brother My poor dear sweet innocent little brother« exclaimed
Nancy bursting into tears and wringing the little basket and the streetdoor
key in an agony of distress »What has become of him Where have they taken him
to Oh do have pity and tell me whats been done with the dear boy gentlemen
do gentlemen if you please gentlemen«
Having uttered these words in a most lamentable and heartbroken tone to the
immeasurable delight of her hearers Miss Nancy paused winked to the company
nodded smilingly round and disappeared
»Ah shes a clever girl my dears« said the Jew turning round to his
young friends and shaking his head gravely as if in mute admonition to them to
follow the bright example they had just beheld
»Shes a honour to her sex« said Mr Sikes filling his glass and smiting
the table with his enormous fist »Heres her health and wishing they was all
like her«
While these and many other encomiums were being passed on the accomplished
Nancy that young lady made the best of her way to the policeoffice whither
notwithstanding a little natural timidity consequent upon walking through the
streets alone and unprotected she arrived in perfect safety shortly afterwards
Entering by the back way she tapped softly with the key at one of the
celldoors and listened There was no sound within so she coughed and listened
again Still there was no reply so she spoke
»Nolly dear« murmured Nancy in a gentle voice »Nolly«
There was nobody inside but a miserable shoeless criminal who had been
taken up for playing the flute and who the offence against society having been
clearly proved had been very properly committed by Mr Fang to the House of
Correction for one month with the appropriate and amusing remark that since he
had so much breath to spare it would be more wholesomely expended on the
treadmill than in a musical instrument He made no answer being occupied in
mentally bewailing the loss of the flute which had been confiscated for the use
of the county so Nancy passed on to the next cell and knocked there
»Well« cried a faint and feeble voice
»Is there a little boy here« inquired Nancy with a preliminary sob
»No« replied the voice »God forbid«
This was a vagrant of sixtyfive who was going to prison for not playing
the flute or, in other words, for begging in the streets and doing nothing for
his livelihood In the next cell was another man who was going to the same
prison for hawking tin saucepans without a license thereby doing something for
his living in defiance of the Stampoffice
But as neither of these criminals answered to the name of Oliver or knew
anything about him Nancy made straight up to the bluff officer in the striped
waistcoat and with the most piteous wailings and lamentations rendered more
piteous by a prompt and efficient use of the streetdoor key and the little
basket demanded her own dear brother
»I havent got him my dear« said the old man
»Where is he« screamed Nancy in a distracted manner
»Why the gentlemans got him« replied the officer
»What gentleman Oh gracious heavens What gentleman« exclaimed Nancy
In reply to this incoherent question the old man informed the deeply
affected sister that Oliver had been taken ill in the office and discharged in
consequence of a witness having proved the robbery to have been committed by
another boy not in custody and that the prosecutor had carried him away in an
insensible condition to his own residence of and concerning which all the
informant knew was that it was somewhere at Pentonville he having heard that
word mentioned in the directions to the coachman
In a dreadful state of doubt and uncertainty the agonised young woman
staggered to the gate and then exchanging her faltering walk for a swift run
returned by the most devious and complicated route she could think of to the
domicile of the Jew
Mr Bill Sikes no sooner heard the account of the expedition delivered than
he very hastily called up the white dog and putting on his hat expeditiously
departed without devoting any time to the formality of wishing the company
goodmorning
»We must know where he is my dears he must be found« said the Jew greatly
excited »Charley do nothing but skulk about till you bring home some news of
him Nancy my dear I must have him found I trust to you my dear to you
and the Artful for everything Stay stay« added the Jew unlocking a drawer
with a shaking hand »theres money my dears I shall shut up this shop
tonight Youll know where to find me Dont stop here a minute Not an
instant my dears«
With these words he pushed them from the room and carefully doublelocking
and barring the door behind them drew from its place of concealment the box
which he had unintentionally disclosed to Oliver Then he hastily proceeded to
dispose the watches and jewellery beneath his clothing
A rap at the door startled him in this occupation »Whos there« he cried
in a shrill tone
»Me« replied the voice of the Dodger through the keyhole
»What now« cried the Jew impatiently
»Is he to be kidnapped to the other ken Nancy says« inquired the Dodger
»Yes« replied the Jew »wherever she lays hands on him Find him find him
out thats all I shall know what to do next never fear«
The boy murmured a reply of intelligence and hurried down stairs after his
companions
»He has not peached so far« said the Jew as he pursued his occupation »If
he means to blab us among his new friends we may stop his mouth yet«
Chapter XIV
Comprising Further Particulars of Olivers Stay at Mr Brownlows with the
Remarkable Prediction Which One Mr Grimwig Uttered Concerning Him When He Went
Out on an Errand
Oliver soon recovering from the faintingfit into which Mr Brownlows abrupt
exclamation had thrown him the subject of the picture was carefully avoided
both by the old gentleman and Mrs Bedwin in the conversation that ensued
which indeed bore no reference to Olivers history or prospects but was
confined to such topics as might amuse without exciting him He was still too
weak to get up to breakfast but when he came down into the housekeepers room
next day his first act was to cast an eager glance at the wall in the hope of
again looking on the face of the beautiful lady His expectations were
disappointed however for the picture had been removed
»Ah« said the housekeeper watching the direction of Olivers eyes »It is
gone you see«
»I see it is maam« replied Oliver »Why have they taken it away«
»It has been taken down child because Mr Brownlow said that as it seemed
to worry you perhaps it might prevent your getting well you know« rejoined
the old lady
»Oh no indeed It didnt worry me maam« said Oliver »I liked to see
it I quite loved it«
»Well well« said the old lady goodhumouredly »you get well as fast as
ever you can dear and it shall be hung up again There I promise you that
Now let us talk about something else«
This was all the information Oliver would obtain about the picture at that
time As the old lady had been so kind to him in his illness he endeavoured to
think no more of the subject just then so he listened attentively to a great
many stories she told him about an amiable and handsome daughter of hers who
was married to an amiable and handsome man and lived in the country and about
a son who was clerk to a merchant in the West Indies and who was also such a
good young man and wrote such dutiful letters home four times ayear that it
brought the tears into her eyes to talk about them When the old lady had
expatiated a long time on the excellences of her children and the merits of
her kind good husband besides who had been dead and gone poor dear soul just
sixandtwenty years it was time to have tea After tea she began to teach
Oliver cribbage which he learnt as quickly as she could teach and at which
game they played with great interest and gravity until it was time for the
invalid to have some warm wine and water with a slice of dry toast and then to
go cosily to bed
They were happy days those of Olivers recovery Everything was so quiet
and neat and orderly everybody was kind and gentle that after the noise and
turbulence in the midst of which he had always lived it seemed like Heaven
itself He was no sooner strong enough to put his clothes on properly than Mr
Brownlow caused a complete new suit and a new cap and a new pair of shoes to
be provided for him As Oliver was told that he might do what he liked with the
old clothes he gave them to a servant who had been very kind to him and asked
her to sell them to a Jew and keep the money for herself This she very readily
did and as Oliver looked out of the parlour window and saw the Jew roll them
up in his bag and walk away he felt quite delighted to think that they were
safely gone and that there was now no possible danger of his ever being able to
wear them again They were sad rags to tell the truth and Oliver had never had
a new suit before
One evening about a week after the affair of the picture as he was sitting
talking to Mrs Bedwin there came a message down from Mr Brownlow that if
Oliver Twist felt pretty well he should like to see him in his study and talk
to him a little while
»Bless us and save us Wash your hands and let me part your hair nicely
for you child« said Mrs Bedwin »Dear heart alive If we had known he would
have asked for you we would have put you a clean collar on and made you as
smart as sixpence«
Oliver did as the old lady bade him and although she lamented grievously
meanwhile that there was not even time to crimp the little frill that bordered
his shirtcollar he looked so delicate and handsome despite that important
personal advantage that she went so far as to say looking at him with great
complacency from head to foot that she really didnt think it would have been
possible on the longest notice to have made much difference in him for the
better
Thus encouraged Oliver tapped at the study door On Mr Brownlow calling to
him to come in he found himself in a little back room quite full of books
with a window looking into some pleasant little gardens There was a table
drawn up before the window at which Mr Brownlow was seated reading When he
saw Oliver he pushed the book away from him and told him to come near the
table and sit down Oliver complied marvelling where the people could be found
to read such a great number of books as seemed to be written to make the world
wiser Which is still a marvel to more experienced people than Oliver Twist
every day of their lives
»There are a good many books are there not my boy« said Mr Brownlow
observing the curiosity with which Oliver surveyed the shelves that reached from
the floor to the ceiling
»A great number sir« replied Oliver »I never saw so many«
»You shall read them if you behave well« said the old gentleman kindly
»and you will like that better than looking at the outsides that is in some
cases because there are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best
parts«
»I suppose they are those heavy ones sir« said Oliver pointing to some
large quartos with a good deal of gilding about the binding
»Not always those« said the old gentleman patting Oliver on the head and
smiling as he did so »there are other equally heavy ones though of a much
smaller size How should you like to grow up a clever man and write books eh«
»I think I would rather read them sir« replied Oliver
»What wouldnt you like to be a bookwriter« said the old gentleman
Oliver considered a little while and at last said he should think it would
be a much better thing to be a bookseller upon which the old gentleman laughed
heartily and declared he had said a very good thing Which Oliver felt glad to
have done though he by no means knew what it was
»Well well« said the old gentleman composing his features »Dont be
afraid We wont make an author of you while theres an honest trade to be
learnt or brickmaking to turn to«
»Thank you sir« said Oliver At the earnest manner of his reply the old
gentleman laughed again and said something about a curious instinct which
Oliver not understanding paid no very great attention to
»Now« said Mr Brownlow speaking if possible in a kinder but at the same
time in a much more serious manner than Oliver had ever known him assume yet
»I want you to pay great attention my boy to what I am going to say I shall
talk to you without any reserve because I am sure you are as well able to
understand me as many older persons would be«
»Oh dont tell me you are going to send me away sir pray« exclaimed
Oliver alarmed at the serious tone of the old gentlemans commencement »Dont
turn me out of doors to wander in the streets again Let me stay here and be a
servant Dont send me back to the wretched place I came from Have mercy upon a
poor boy sir«
»My dear child« said the old gentleman moved by the warmth of Olivers
sudden appeal »you need not be afraid of my deserting you unless you give me
cause«
»I never never will sir« interposed Oliver
»I hope not« rejoined the old gentleman »I do not think you ever will I
have been deceived before in the objects whom I have endeavoured to benefit
but I feel strongly disposed to trust you nevertheless and I am more
interested in your behalf than I can well account for even to myself The
persons on whom I have bestowed my dearest love lie deep in their graves but
although the happiness and delight of my life lie buried there too I have not
made a coffin of my heart and sealed it up for ever on my best affections
Deep affliction has but strengthened and refined them«
As the old gentleman said this in a low voice more to himself than to his
companion and as he remained silent for a short time afterwards Oliver sat
quite still
»Well well« said the old gentleman at length in a more cheerful tone »I
only say this because you have a young heart and knowing that I have suffered
great pain and sorrow you will be more careful perhaps not to wound me again
You say you are an orphan without a friend in the world all the inquiries I
have been able to make confirm the statement Let me hear your story where you
come from who brought you up and how you got into the company in which I found
you Speak the truth and you shall not be friendless while I live«
Olivers sobs checked his utterance for some minutes when he was on the
point of beginning to relate how he had been brought up at the farm and carried
to the workhouse by Mr Bumble a peculiarly impatient little doubleknock was
heard at the streetdoor and the servant running up stairs announced Mr
Grimwig
»Is he coming up« inquired Mr Brownlow
»Yes sir« replied the servant »He asked if there were any muffins in the
house and when I told him yes he said he had come to tea«
Mr Brownlow smiled and turning to Oliver said that Mr Grimwig was an
old friend of his and he must not mind his being a little rough in his manners
for he was a worthy creature at bottom as he had reason to know
»Shall I go down stairs sir« inquired Oliver
»No« replied Mr Brownlow »I would rather you remained here«
At this moment there walked into the room supporting himself by a thick
stick a stout old gentleman rather lame in one leg who was dressed in a blue
coat striped waistcoat nankeen breeches and gaiters and a broadbrimmed white
hat with the sides turned up with green A very smallplaited shirt frill stuck
out from his waistcoat and a very long steel watchchain with nothing but a
key at the end dangled loosely below it The ends of his white neckerchief were
twisted into a ball about the size of an orange the variety of shapes into
which his countenance was twisted defy description He had a manner of screwing
his head on one side when he spoke and of looking out of the corners of his
eyes at the same time which irresistibly reminded the beholder of a parrot In
this attitude he fixed himself the moment he made his appearance and holding
out a small piece of orangepeel at arms length exclaimed in a growling
discontented voice
»Look here do you see this Isnt it a most wonderful and extraordinary
thing that I cant call at a mans house but I find a piece of this poor
surgeonsfriend on the staircase Ive been lamed with orangepeel once and I
know orangepeel will be my death at last It will sir orangepeel will be my
death or Ill be content to eat my own head sir«
This was the handsome offer with which Mr Grimwig backed and confirmed
nearly every assertion he made and it was the more singular in his case
because even admitting for the sake of argument the possibility of scientific
improvements being ever brought to that pass which will enable a gentleman to
eat his own head in the event of his being so disposed Mr Grimwigs head was
such a particularly large one that the most sanguine man alive could hardly
entertain a hope of being able to get through it at a sitting to put entirely
out of the question a very thick coating of powder
»Ill eat my head sir« repeated Mr Grimwig striking his stick upon the
ground »Hallo whats that« looking at Oliver and retreating a pace or two
»This is young Oliver Twist whom we were speaking about« said Mr
Brownlow
Oliver bowed
»You dont mean to say thats the boy who had the fever I hope« said Mr
Grimwig recoiling a little more »Wait a minute Dont speak Stop «
continued Mr Grimwig abruptly losing all dread of the fever in his triumph at
the discovery »thats the boy who had the orange If thats not the boy sir
who had the orange and threw this bit of peel upon the staircase Ill eat my
head and his too«
»No no he has not had one« said Mr Brownlow laughing »Come Put down
your hat and speak to my young friend«
»I feel strongly on this subject sir« said the irritable old gentleman
drawing off his gloves »Theres always more or less orangepeel on the pavement
in our street and I know its put there by the surgeons boy at the corner A
young woman stumbled over a bit last night and fell against my gardenrailings
directly she got up I saw her look towards his infernal red lamp with the
pantomimelight Dont go to him I called out of the window hes an assassin
A mantrap So he is If he is not « Here the irascible old gentleman gave a
great knock on the ground with his stick which was always understood by his
friends to imply the customary offer whenever it was not expressed in words
Then still keeping his stick in his hand he sat down and opening a double
eyeglass which he wore attached to a broad black riband took a view of
Oliver who seeing that he was the object of inspection coloured and bowed
again
»Thats the boy is it« said Mr Grimwig at length
»That is the boy« replied Mr Brownlow
»How are you boy« said Mr Grimwig
»A great deal better thank you sir« replied Oliver
Mr Brownlow seeming to apprehend that his singular friend was about to say
something disagreeable asked Oliver to step down stairs and tell Mrs Bedwin
they were ready for tea which as he did not half like the visitors manner he
was very happy to do
»He is a nicelooking boy is he not« inquired Mr Brownlow
»I dont know« replied Mr Grimwig pettishly
»Dont know«
»No I dont know I never see any difference in boys I only know two sorts
of boys Mealy boys and beeffaced boys«
»And which is Oliver«
»Mealy I know a friend who has a beeffaced boy a fine boy they call him
with a round head and red cheeks and glaring eyes a horrid boy with a body
and limbs that appear to be swelling out of the seams of his blue clothes with
the voice of a pilot and the appetite of a wolf I know him The wretch«
»Come« said Mr Brownlow »these are not the characteristics of young
Oliver Twist so he neednt excite your wrath«
»They are not« replied Mr Grimwig »He may have worse«
Here Mr Brownlow coughed impatiently which appeared to afford Mr Grimwig
the most exquisite delight
»He may have worse I say« repeated Mr Grimwig »Where does he come from
Who is he What is he He has had a fever What of that Fevers are not peculiar
to good people are they Bad people have fevers sometimes havent they eh I
knew a man who was hung in Jamaica for murdering his master He had had a fever
six times he wasnt recommended to mercy on that account Pooh nonsense«
Now the fact was that in the inmost recesses of his own heart Mr Grimwig
was strongly disposed to admit that Olivers appearance and manner were
unusually prepossessing but he had a strong appetite for contradiction
sharpened on this occasion by the finding of the orangepeel and inwardly
determining that no man should dictate to him whether a boy was welllooking or
not he had resolved from the first to oppose his friend When Mr Brownlow
admitted that on no one point of inquiry could he yet return a satisfactory
answer and that he had postponed any investigation into Olivers previous
history until he thought the boy was strong enough to bear it Mr Grimwig
chuckled maliciously And he demanded with a sneer whether the housekeeper was
in the habit of counting the plate at night because if she didnt find a
tablespoon or two missing some sunshiny morning why he would be content to
and so forth
All this Mr Brownlow although himself somewhat of an impetuous gentleman
knowing his friends peculiarities bore with great good humour as Mr Grimwig
at tea was graciously pleased to express his entire approval of the muffins
matters went on very smoothly and Oliver who made one of the party began to
feel more at his ease than he had yet done in the fierce old gentlemans
presence
»And when are you going to hear a full true and particular account of the
life and adventures of Oliver Twist« asked Grimwig of Mr Brownlow at the
conclusion of the meal looking sideways at Oliver as he resumed the subject
»Tomorrow morning« replied Mr Brownlow »I would rather he was alone with
me at the time Come up to me tomorrow morning at ten oclock my dear«
»Yes sir« replied Oliver He answered with some hesitation because he was
confused by Mr Grimwigs looking so hard at him
»Ill tell you what« whispered that gentleman to Mr Brownlow »he wont
come up to you tomorrow morning I saw him hesitate He is deceiving you my
good friend«
»Ill swear he is not« replied Mr Brownlow warmly
»If he is not« said Mr Grimwig »Ill « and down went the stick
»Ill answer for that boys truth with my life« said Mr Brownlow knocking
the table
»And I for his falsehood with my head« rejoined Mr Grimwig knocking the
table also
»We shall see« said Mr Brownlow checking his rising anger
»We will« replied Mr Grimwig with a provoking smile »we will«
As fate would have it Mrs Bedwin chanced to bring in at this moment a
small parcel of books which Mr Brownlow had that morning purchased of the
identical bookstallkeeper who has already figured in this history having laid
them on the table she prepared to leave the room
»Stop the boy Mrs Bedwin« said Mr Brownlow »there is something to go
back«
»He has gone sir« replied Mrs Bedwin
»Call after him« said Mr Brownlow »its particular He is a poor man and
they are not paid for There are some books to be taken back too«
The street door was opened Oliver ran one way and the girl ran another
and Mrs Bedwin stood on the step and screamed for the boy but there was no boy
in sight Oliver and the girl returned in a breathless state to report that
there were no tidings of him
»Dear me I am very sorry for that« exclaimed Mr Brownlow »I particularly
wished those books to be returned tonight«
»Send Oliver with them« said Mr Grimwig with an ironical smile »he will
be sure to deliver them safely you know«
»Yes do let me take them if you please sir« said Oliver »Ill run all
the way sir«
The old gentleman was just going to say that Oliver should not go out on any
account when a most malicious cough from Mr Grimwig determined him that he
should and that by his prompt discharge of the commission he should prove to
him the injustice of his suspicions on this head at least at once
»You shall go my dear« said the old gentleman »The books are on a chair
by my table Fetch them down«
Oliver delighted to be of use brought down the books under his arm in a
great bustle and waited cap in hand to hear what message he was to take
»You are to say« said Mr Brownlow glancing steadily at Grimwig »you are
to say that you have brought those books back and that you have come to pay the
four pound ten I owe him This is a fivepound note so you will have to bring
me back ten shillings change«
»I wont be ten minutes sir« replied Oliver eagerly Having buttoned up
the banknote in his jacket pocket and placed the books carefully under his
arm he made a respectful bow and left the room Mrs Bedwin followed him to
the streetdoor giving him many directions about the nearest way and the name
of the bookseller and the name of the street all of which Oliver said he
clearly understood Having superadded many injunctions to be sure and not take
cold the old lady at length permitted him to depart
»Bless his sweet face« said the old lady looking after him »I cant bear
somehow to let him go out of my sight«
At this moment Oliver looked gaily round and nodded before he turned the
corner The old lady smilingly returned his salutation and closing the door
went back to her own room
»Let me see hell be back in twenty minutes at the longest« said Mr
Brownlow pulling out his watch and placing it on the table »It will be dark
by that time«
»Oh you really expect him to come back do you« inquired Mr Grimwig
»Dont you« asked Mr Brownlow smiling
The spirit of contradiction was strong in Mr Grimwigs breast at the
moment and it was rendered stronger by his friends confident smile
»No« he said smiting the table with his fist »I do not The boy has a new
suit of clothes on his back a set of valuable books under his arm and a
fivepound note in his pocket Hell join his old friends the thieves and laugh
at you If ever that boy returns to this house sir Ill eat my head«
With these words he drew his chair closer to the table and there the two
friends sat in silent expectation with the watch between them
It is worthy of remark as illustrating the importance we attach to our own
judgments and the pride with which we put forth our most rash and hasty
conclusions that although Mr Grimwig was not by any means a badhearted man
and though he would have been unfeignedly sorry to see his respected friend
duped and deceived he really did most earnestly and strongly hope at that
moment that Oliver Twist might not come back
It grew so dark that the figures on the dialplate were scarcely
discernible but there the two old gentlemen continued to sit in silence with
the watch between them
Chapter XV
Showing How Very Fond of Oliver Twist the Merry Old Jew and Miss Nancy Were
In the obscure parlour of a low publichouse in the filthiest part of Little
Saffron Hill a dark and gloomy den where a flaring gaslight burnt all day in
the wintertime and where no ray of sun ever shone in the summer there sat
brooding over a little pewter measure and a small glass strongly impregnated
with the smell of liquor a man in a velveteen coat drab shorts half boots and
stockings whom even by that dim light no experienced agent of police would have
hesitated to recognise as Mr William Sikes At his feet sat a whitecoated
redeyed dog who occupied himself alternately in winking at his master with
both eyes at the same time and in licking a large fresh cut on one side of his
mouth which appeared to be the result of some recent conflict
»Keep quiet you warmint Keep quiet« said Mr Sikes suddenly breaking
silence Whether his meditations were so intense as to be disturbed by the dogs
winking or whether his feelings were so wrought upon by his reflections that
they required all the relief derivable from kicking an unoffending animal to
allay them is matter for argument and consideration Whatever was the cause
the effect was a kick and a curse bestowed upon the dog simultaneously
Dogs are not generally apt to revenge injuries inflicted upon them by their
masters but Mr Sikess dog having faults of temper in common with his owner
and labouring perhaps at this moment under a powerful sense of injury made
no more ado but at once fixed his teeth in one of the halfboots Having given
it a hearty shake he retired growling under a form just escaping the pewter
measure which Mr Sikes levelled at his head
»You would would you« said Sikes seizing the poker in one hand and
deliberately opening with the other a large clasp knife which he drew from his
pocket »Come here you born devil Come here Dye hear«
The dog no doubt heard because Mr Sikes spoke in the very harshest key of
a very harsh voice but appearing to entertain some unaccountable objection to
having his throat cut he remained where he was and growled more fiercely than
before at the same time grasping the end of the poker between his teeth and
biting at it like a wild beast
This resistance only infuriated Mr Sikes the more who dropping on his
knees began to assail the animal most furiously The dog jumped from right to
left and from left to right snapping growling and barking the man thrust
and swore and struck and blasphemed and the struggle was reaching a most
critical point for one or other when the door suddenly opening the dog darted
out leaving Bill Sikes with the poker and the claspknife in his hands
There must always be two parties to a quarrel says the old adage Mr
Sikes being disappointed of the dogs participation at once transferred his
share in the quarrel to the newcomer
»What the devil do you come in between me and my dog for« said Sikes with
a fierce gesture
»I didnt know my dear I didnt know« replied Fagin humbly for the Jew
was the newcomer
»Didnt know you whitelivered thief« growled Sikes »Couldnt you hear
the noise«
»Not a sound of it as Im a living man Bill« replied the Jew
»Oh no You hear nothing you dont« retorted Sikes with a fierce sneer
»Sneaking in and out so as nobody hears how you come or go I wish you had been
the dog Fagin half a minute ago«
»Why« inquired the Jew with a forced smile
»Cause the government as cares for the lives of such men as you as
havent half the pluck of curs lets a man kill a dog how he likes« replied
Sikes shutting up the knife with a very expressive look »thats why«
The Jew rubbed his hands and sitting down at the table affected to laugh
at the pleasantry of his friend He was obviously very ill at ease however
»Grin away« said Sikes replacing the poker and surveying him with savage
contempt »grin away Youll never have the laugh at me though unless its
behind a nightcap Ive got the upper hand over you Fagin and dme Ill
keep it There If I go you go so take care of me«
»Well well my dear« said the Jew »I know all that we we have a
mutual interest Bill a mutual interest«
»Humph« said Sikes as if he thought the interest lay rather more on the
Jews side than on his »Well what have you got to say to me«
»Its all passed safe through the meltingpot« replied Fagin »and this is
your share Its rather more than it ought to be my dear but as I know youll
do me a good turn another time and «
»Stow that gammon« interposed the robber impatiently »Where is it Hand
over«
»Yes yes Bill give me time give me time« replied the Jew soothingly
»Here it is All safe« As he spoke he drew forth an old cotton handkerchief
from his breast and untying a large knot in one corner produced a small
brownpaper packet Sikes snatching it from him hastily opened it and
proceeded to count the sovereigns it contained
»This is all is it« inquired Sikes
»All« replied the Jew
»You havent opened the parcel and swallowed one or two as you come along
have you« inquired Sikes suspiciously »Dont put on an injured look at the
question youve done it many a time Jerk the tinkler«
These words in plain English conveyed an injunction to ring the bell It
was answered by another Jew younger than Fagin but nearly as vile and
repulsive in appearance
Bill Sikes merely pointed to the empty measure The Jew perfectly
understanding the hint retired to fill it previously exchanging a remarkable
look with Fagin who raised his eyes for an instant as if in expectation of it
and shook his head in reply so slightly that the action would have been almost
imperceptible to an observant third person It was lost upon Sikes who was
stooping at the moment to tie the bootlace which the dog had torn Possibly if
he had observed the brief interchange of signals he might have thought that it
boded no good to him
»Is anybody here Barney« inquired Fagin speaking now that Sikes was
looking on without raising his eyes from the ground
»Dot a shoul« replied Barney whose words whether they came from the heart
or not made their way through the nose
»Nobody« inquired Fagin in a tone of surprise which perhaps might mean
that Barney was at liberty to tell the truth
»Dobody but Biss Dadsy« replied Barney
»Nancy« exclaimed Sikes »Where Strike me blind if I dont honour that
ere girl for her native talents«
»Shes bid havid a plate of boiled beef id the bar« replied Barney
»Send her here« said Sikes pouring out a glass of liquor »Send her here«
Barney looked timidly at Fagin as if for permission the Jew remaining
silent and not lifting his eyes from the ground he retired and presently
returned ushering in Nancy who was decorated with the bonnet apron basket
and streetdoor key complete
»You are on the scent are you Nancy« inquired Sikes proffering the
glass
»Yes I am Bill« replied the young lady disposing of its contents »and
tired enough of it I am too The young brats been ill and confined to the
crib and «
»Ah Nancy dear« said Fagin looking up
Now whether a peculiar contraction of the Jews red eyebrows and a
halfclosing of his deeplyset eyes warned Miss Nancy that she was disposed to
be too communicative is not a matter of much importance The fact is all we
need care for here and the fact is that she suddenly checked herself and with
several gracious smiles upon Mr Sikes turned the conversation to other
matters In about ten minutes time Mr Fagin was seized with a fit of
coughing upon which Nancy pulled her shawl over her shoulders and declared it
was time to go Mr Sikes finding that he was walking a short part of her way
himself expressed his intention of accompanying her they went away together
followed at a little distance by the dog who slunk out of a backyard as soon
as his master was out of sight
The Jew thrust his head out of the room door when Sikes had left it looked
after him as he walked up the dark passage shook his clenched fist muttered a
deep curse and then with a horrible grin reseated himself at the table
where he was soon deeply absorbed in the interesting pages of the HueandCry
Meanwhile Oliver Twist little dreaming that he was within so very short a
distance of the merry old gentleman was on his way to the bookstall When he
got into Clerkenwell he accidentally turned down a byestreet which was not
exactly in his way but not discovering his mistake until he had got halfway
down it and knowing it must lead in the right direction he did not think it
worth while to turn back and so marched on as quickly as he could with the
books under his arm
He was walking along thinking how happy and contented he ought to feel and
how much he would give for only one look at poor little Dick who starved and
beaten might be weeping bitterly at that very moment when he was startled by a
young woman screaming out very loud »Oh my dear brother« And he had hardly
looked up to see what the matter was when he was stopped by having a pair of
arms thrown tight round his neck
»Dont« cried Oliver struggling »Let go of me Who is it What are you
stopping me for«
The only reply to this was a great number of loud lamentations from the
young woman who had embraced him and who had a little basket and a streetdoor
key in her hand
»Oh my gracious« said the young woman »Ive found him Oh Oliver Oliver
Oh you naughty boy to make me suffer sich distress on your account Come home
dear come Oh Ive found him Thank gracious goodness heavins Ive found
him« With these incoherent exclamations the young woman burst into another fit
of crying and got so dreadfully hysterical that a couple of women who came up
at the moment asked a butchers boy with a shiny head of hair anointed with
suet who was also looking on whether he didnt think he had better run for the
doctor To which the butchers boy who appeared of a lounging not to say
indolent disposition replied that he thought not
»Oh no no never mind« said the young woman grasping Olivers hand »Im
better now Come home directly you cruel boy Come«
»Whats the matter maam« inquired one of the women
»Oh maam« replied the young woman »he ran away near a month ago from
his parents who are hardworking and respectable people and went and joined a
set of thieves and bad characters and almost broke his mothers heart«
»Young wretch« said one woman
»Go home do you little brute« said the other
»I am not« replied Oliver greatly alarmed »I dont know her I havent
any sister or father and mother either Im an orphan I live at Pentonville«
»Only hear him how he braves it out« cried the young woman
»Why its Nancy« exclaimed Oliver who now saw her face for the first
time and started back in irrepressible astonishment
»Yon see he knows me« cried Nancy appealing to the bystanders »He cant
help himself Make him come home theres good people or hell kill his dear
mother and father and break my heart«
»What the devils this« said a man bursting out of a beershop with a
white dog at his heels »young Oliver Come home to your poor mother you young
dog Come home directly«
»I dont belong to them I dont know them Help help« cried Oliver
struggling in the mans powerful grasp
»Help« repeated the man »Yes Ill help you you young rascal What books
are these Youve been a stealing em have you Give em here« With these
words the man tore the volumes from his grasp and struck him on the head
»Thats right« cried a lookeron from a garretwindow »Thats the only
way of bringing him to his senses«
»To be sure« cried a sleepyfaced carpenter casting an approving look at
the garretwindow
»Itll do him good« said the two women
»And he shall have it too« rejoined the man administering another blow
and seizing Oliver by the collar »Come on you young villain Here Bullseye
mind him boy Mind him«
Weak with recent illness stupefied by the blows and the suddenness of the
attack terrified by the fierce growling of the dog and the brutality of the
man overpowered by the conviction of the bystanders that he really was the
hardened little wretch he was described to be what could one poor child do
Darkness had set in it was a low neighbourhood no help was near resistance
was useless In another moment he was dragged into a labyrinth of dark narrow
courts and was forced along them at a pace which rendered the few cries he
dared to give utterance to unintelligible It was of little moment indeed
whether they were intelligible or no for there was nobody to care for them had
they been ever so plain
The gaslamps were lighted Mrs Bedwin was waiting anxiously at the open door
the servant had run up the street twenty times to see if there were any traces
of Oliver and still the two old gentlemen sat perseveringly in the dark
parlour with the watch between them
Chapter XVI
Relates What Became of Oliver Twist After He Had Been Claimed by Nancy
The narrow streets and courts at length terminated in a large open space
scattered about which were pens for beasts and other indications of a
cattlemarket Sikes slackened his pace when they reached this spot the girl
being quite unable to support any longer the rapid rate at which they had
hitherto walked Turning to Oliver he roughly commanded him to take hold of
Nancys hand
»Do you hear« growled Sikes as Oliver hesitated and looked round
They were in a dark corner quite out of the track of passengers Oliver
saw but too plainly that resistance would be of no avail He held out his
hand which Nancy clasped tight in hers
»Give me the other« said Sikes seizing Olivers unoccupied hand »Here
Bullseye«
The dog looked up and growled
»See here boy« said Sikes putting his other hand to Olivers throat »if
he speaks ever so soft a word hold him Dye mind«
The dog growled again and licking his lips eyed Oliver as if he were
anxious to attach himself to his windpipe without delay
»Hes as willing as a Christian strike me blind if he isnt« said Sikes
regarding the animal with a kind of grim and ferocious approval »Now you know
what youve got to expect master so call away as quick as you like the dog
will soon stop that game Get on young un«
Bullseye wagged his tail in acknowledgment of this unusually endearing
form of speech and giving vent to another admonitory growl for the benefit of
Oliver led the way onward
It was Smithfield that they were crossing although it might have been
Grosvenor Square for anything Oliver knew to the contrary The night was dark
and foggy The lights in the shops could scarcely struggle through the heavy
mist which thickened every moment and shrouded the streets and houses in gloom
rendering the strange place still stranger in Olivers eyes and making his
uncertainty the more dismal and depressing
They had hurried on a few paces when a deep churchbell struck the hour
With its first stroke his two conductors stopped and turned their heads in the
direction whence the sound proceeded
»Eight oclock Bill« said Nancy when the bell ceased
»Whats the good of telling me that I can hear it cant I« replied Sikes
»I wonder whether they can hear it« said Nancy
»Of course they can« replied Sikes »It was Bartlemy time when I was
shopped and there warnt a penny trumpet in the fair as I couldnt hear the
squeaking on Arter I was locked up for the night the row and din outside made
the thundering old jail so silent that I could almost have beat my brains out
against the iron plates of the door«
»Poor fellows« said Nancy who still had her face turned towards the
quarter in which the bell had sounded »Oh Bill such fine young chaps as
them«
»Yes thats all you women think of« answered Sikes »Fine young chaps
Well theyre as good as dead so it dont much matter«
With this consolation Mr Sikes appeared to repress a rising tendency to
jealousy and clasping Olivers wrist more firmly told him to step out again
»Wait a minute« said the girl »I wouldnt hurry by if it was you that was
coming out to be hung the next time eight oclock struck Bill Id walk round
and round the place till I dropped if the snow was on the ground and I hadnt
a shawl to cover me«
»And what good would that do« inquired the unsentimental Mr Sikes »Unless
you could pitch over a file and twenty yards of good stout rope you might as
well be walking fifty mile off or not walking at all for all the good it would
do me Come on and dont stand preaching there«
The girl burst into a laugh drew her shawl more closely round her and they
walked away But Oliver felt her hand tremble and looking up in her face as
they passed a gaslamp saw that it had turned a deadly white
They walked on by littlefrequented and dirty ways for a full halfhour
meeting very few people and those appearing from their looks to hold much the
same position in society as Mr Sikes himself At length they turned into a very
filthy narrow street nearly full of oldclothes shops the dog running forward
as if conscious that there was no further occasion for his keeping on guard
stopped before the door of a shop that was closed and apparently untenanted the
house was in a ruinous condition and on the door was nailed a board intimating
that it was to let which looked as if it had hung there for many years
»All right« cried Sikes glancing cautiously about
Nancy stooped below the shutters and Oliver heard the sound of a bell They
crossed to the opposite side of the street and stood for a few moments under a
lamp A noise as if a sash window were gently raised was heard and soon
afterwards the door softly opened Mr Sikes then seized the terrified boy by
the collar with very little ceremony and all three were quickly inside the
house
The passage was perfectly dark They waited while the person who had let
them in chained and barred the door
»Anybody here« inquired Sikes
»No« replied a voice which Oliver thought he had heard before
»Is the old un here« asked the robber
»Yes« replied the voice »and precious down in the mouth he has been Wont
he be glad to see you Oh no«
The style of this reply as well as the voice which delivered it seemed
familiar to Olivers ears but it was impossible to distinguish even the form of
the speaker in the darkness
»Lets have a glim« said Sikes »or we shall go breaking our necks or
treading on the dog Look after your legs if you do«
»Stand still a moment and Ill get you one« replied the voice The
receding footsteps of the speaker were heard and in another minute the form
of Mr John Dawkins otherwise the artful Dodger appeared He bore in his right
hand a tallow candle stuck in the end of a cleft stick
The young gentleman did not stop to bestow any other mark of recognition
upon Oliver than a humorous grin but turning away beckoned the visitors to
follow him down a flight of stairs They crossed an empty kitchen and opening
the door of a low earthysmelling room which seemed to have been built in a
small backyard were received with a shout of laughter
»Oh my wig my wig« cried Master Charles Bates from whose lungs the
laughter had proceeded »here he is oh cry here he is Oh Fagin look at
him Fagin do look at him I cant bear it it is such a jolly game I cant
bear it Hold me somebody while I laugh it out«
With this irrepressible ebullition of mirth Master Bates laid himself flat
on the floor and kicked convulsively for five minutes in an ecstasy of
facetious joy Then jumping to his feet he snatched the cleft stick from the
Dodger and advancing to Oliver viewed him round and round while the Jew
taking off his nightcap made a great number of low bows to the bewildered boy
The Artful meantime who was of a rather saturnine disposition and seldom gave
way to merriment when it interfered with business rifled Olivers pockets with
steady assiduity
»Look at his togs Fagin« said Charley putting the light so close to his
new jacket as nearly to set him on fire »Look at his togs Superfine cloth and
the heavy swell cut Oh my eye what a game And his books too Nothing but a
gentleman Fagin«
»Delighted to see you looking so well my dear« said the Jew bowing with
mock humility »The Artful shall give you another suit my dear for fear you
should spoil that Sunday one Why didnt you write my dear and say you were
coming Wed have got something warm for supper«
At this Master Bates roared again so loud that Fagin himself relaxed and
even the Dodger smiled but as the Artful drew forth the fivepound note at that
instant it is doubtful whether the sally or the discovery awakened his
merriment
»Hallo whats that« inquired Sikes stepping forward as the Jew seized the
note »Thats mine Fagin«
»No no my dear« said the Jew »Mine Bill mine You shall have the
books«
»If that aint mine« said Bill Sikes putting on his hat with a determined
air »mine and Nancys that is Ill take the boy back again«
The Jew started Oliver started too though from a very different cause for
he hoped that the dispute might really end in his being taken back
»Come Hand over will you« said Sikes
»This is hardly fair Bill hardly fair is it Nancy« inquired the Jew
»Fair or not fair« retorted Sikes »hand over I tell you Do you think
Nancy and me has got nothing else to do with our precious time but to spend it
in scouting arter and kidnapping every young boy as gets grabbed through you
Give it here you avaricious old skeleton give it here«
With this gentle remonstrance Mr Sikes plucked the note from between the
Jews finger and thumb and looking the old man coolly in the face folded it up
small and tied it in his neckerchief
»Thats for our share of the trouble« said Sikes »and not half enough
neither You may keep the books if youre fond of reading If you ant sell
em«
»Theyre very pretty« said Charley Bates who with sundry grimaces had
been affecting to read one of the volumes in question »beautiful writing isnt
it Oliver« At sight of the dismayed look with which Oliver regarded his
tormentors Master Bates who was blessed with a lively sense of the ludicrous
fell into another ecstasy more boisterous than the first
»They belong to the old gentleman« said Oliver wringing his hands »to the
good kind old gentleman who took me into his house and had me nursed when I
was near dying of the fever Oh pray send them back send him back the books
and money Keep me here all my life long but pray pray send them back Hell
think I stole them the old lady all of them who were so kind to me will think
I stole them Oh do have mercy upon me and send them back«
With those words which were uttered with all the energy of passionate
grief Oliver fell upon his knees at the Jews feet and beat his hands
together in perfect desperation
»The boys right« remarked Fagin looking covertly round and knitting his
shaggy eyebrows into a hard knot »Youre right Oliver youre right they will
think you have stolen em Ha ha« chuckled the Jew rubbing his hands »it
couldnt have happened better if we had chosen our time«
»Of course it couldnt« replied Sikes »I knowd that directly I see him
coming through Clerkenwell with the books under his arm Its all right enough
Theyre softhearted psalmsingers or they wouldnt have taken him in at all
and theyll ask no questions after him fear they should be obliged to
prosecute and so get him lagged Hes safe enough«
Oliver had looked from one to the other while these words were being
spoken as if he were bewildered and could scarcely understand what passed but
when Bill Sikes concluded he jumped suddenly to his feet and tore wildly from
the room uttering shrieks for help which made the bare old house echo to the
roof
»Keep back the dog Bill« cried Nancy springing before the door and
closing it as the Jew and his two pupils darted out in pursuit »Keep back the
dog hell tear the boy to pieces«
»Serve him right« cried Sikes struggling to disengage himself from the
girls grasp »Stand off from me or Ill split your head against the wall«
»I dont care for that Bill I dont care for that« screamed the girl
struggling violently with the man »the child shant be torn down by the dog
unless you kill me first«
»Shant he« said Sikes setting his teeth »Ill soon do that if you dont
keep off«
The housebreaker flung the girl from him to the further end of the room
just as the Jew and the two boys returned dragging Oliver among them
»Whats the matter here« said Fagin looking round
»The girls gone mad I think« replied Sikes savagely
»No she hasnt« said Nancy pale and breathless from the scuffle »no she
hasnt Fagin dont think it«
»Then keep quiet will you« said the Jew with a threatening look
»No I wont do that neither« replied Nancy speaking very loud »Come
What do you think of that«
Mr Fagin was sufficiently well acquainted with the manners and customs of
that particular species of humanity to which Nancy belonged to feel tolerably
certain that it would be rather unsafe to prolong any conversation with her at
present With the view of diverting the attention of the company he turned to
Oliver
»So you wanted to get away my dear did you« said the Jew taking up a
jagged and knotted club which lay in a corner of the fireplace »eh«
Oliver made no reply But he watched the Jews motions and breathed
quickly
»Wanted to get assistance called for the police did you« sneered the Jew
catching the boy by the arm »Well cure you of that my young master«
The Jew inflicted a smart blow on Olivers shoulders with the club and was
raising it for a second when the girl rushing forward wrested it from his
hand She flung it into the fire with a force that brought some of the glowing
coals whirling out into the room
»I wont stand by and see it done Fagin« cried the girl »Youve got the
boy and what more would you have Let him be let him be or I shall put
that mark on some of you that will bring me to the gallows before my time«
The girl stamped her foot violently on the floor as she vented this threat
and with her lips compressed and her hands clenched looked alternately at the
Jew and the other robber her face quite colourless from the passion of rage
into which she had gradually worked herself
»Why Nancy« said the Jew in a soothing tone after a pause during which
he and Mr Sikes had stared at one another in a disconcerted manner »you
youre more clever than ever tonight Ha ha my dear you are acting
beautifully«
»Am I« said the girl »Take care I dont overdo it You will be the worse
for it Fagin if I do and so I tell you in good time to keep clear of me«
There is something about a roused woman especially if she add to all her
other strong passions the fierce impulses of recklessness and despair which
few men like to provoke The Jew saw that it would be hopeless to affect any
further mistake regarding the reality of Miss Nancys rage and shrinking
involuntarily back a few paces cast a glance half imploring and half cowardly
at Sikes as if to hint that he was the fittest person to pursue the dialogue
Mr Sikes thus mutely appealed to and possibly feeling his personal pride
and influence interested in the immediate reduction of Miss Nancy to reason
gave utterance to about a couple of score of curses and threats the rapid
production of which reflected great credit on the fertility of his invention As
they produced no visible effect on the object against whom they were discharged
however he resorted to more tangible arguments
»What do you mean by this« said Sikes backing the inquiry with a very
common imprecation concerning the most beautiful of human features which if it
were heard above only once out of every fifty thousand times that it is uttered
below would render blindness as common a disorder as measles »what do you mean
by it Burn my body Do you know who you are and what you are«
»Oh yes I know all about it« replied the girl laughing hysterically and
shaking her head from side to side with a poor assumption of indifference
»Well then keep quiet« rejoined Sikes with a growl like that he was
accustomed to use when addressing his dog »or Ill quiet you for a good long
time to come«
The girl laughed again even less composedly than before and darting a
hasty look at Sikes turned her face aside and bit her lip till the blood came
»Youre a nice one« added Sikes as he surveyed her with a contemptuous
air »to take up the humane and genteel side A pretty subject for the child
as you call him to make a friend of«
»God Almighty help me I am« cried the girl passionately »and I wish I had
been struck dead in the street or had changed places with them we passed so
near tonight before I had lent a hand in bringing him here Hes a thief a
liar a devil all thats bad from this night forth Isnt that enough for the
old wretch without blows«
»Come come Sikes« said the Jew appealing to him in a remonstratory tone
and motioning towards the boys who were eagerly attentive to all that passed
»we must have civil words civil words Bill«
»Civil words« cried the girl whose passion was frightful to see »Civil
words you villain Yes you deserve em from me I thieved for you when I was a
child not half as old as this« pointing to Oliver »I have been in the same
trade and in the same service for twelve years since Dont you know it Speak
out Dont you know it«
»Well well« replied the Jew with an attempt at pacification »and if you
have its your living«
»Aye it is« returned the girl not speaking but pouring out the words in
one continuous and vehement scream »It is my living and the cold wet dirty
streets are my home and youre the wretch that drove me to them long ago and
thatll keep me there day and night day and night till I die«
»I shall do you a mischief« interposed the Jew goaded by these reproaches
»a mischief worse than that if you say much more«
The girl said nothing more but tearing her hair and dress in a transport
of passion made such a rush at the Jew as would probably have left signal marks
of her revenge upon him had not her wrists been seized by Sikes at the right
moment upon which she made a few ineffectual struggles and fainted
»Shes all right now« said Sikes laying her down in a corner »Shes
uncommon strong in the arms when shes up in this way«
The Jew wiped his forehead and smiled as if it were a relief to have the
disturbance over but neither he nor Sikes nor the dog nor the boys seemed
to consider it in any other light than a common occurrence incidental to
business
»Its the worst of having to do with women« said the Jew replacing his
club »but theyre clever and we cant get on in our line without em
Charley show Oliver to bed«
»I suppose hed better not wear his best clothes tomorrow Fagin had he«
inquired Charley Bates
»Certainly not« replied the Jew reciprocating the grin with which Charley
put the question
Master Bates apparently much delighted with his commission took the cleft
stick and led Oliver into an adjacent kitchen where there were two or three of
the beds on which he had slept before and here with many uncontrollable bursts
of laughter he produced the identical old suit of clothes which Oliver had so
much congratulated himself upon leaving off at Mr Brownlows and the
accidental display of which to Fagin by the Jew who purchased them had been
the very first clue received of his whereabout
»Pull off the smart ones« said Charley »and Ill give em to Fagin to take
care of What fun it is«
Poor Oliver unwillingly complied Master Bates rolling up the new clothes
under his arm departed from the room leaving Oliver in the dark and locking
the door behind him
The noise of Charleys laughter and the voice of Miss Betsy who
opportunely arrived to throw water over her friend and perform other feminine
offices for the promotion of her recovery might have kept many people awake
under more happy circumstances than those in which Oliver was placed But he was
sick and weary and he soon fell sound asleep
Chapter XVII
Olivers Destiny Continuing Unpropitious Brings a Great Man to London to Injure
His Reputation
It is the custom on the stage in all good murderous melodramas to present the
tragic and the comic scenes in as regular alternation as the layers of red and
white in a side of streaky bacon The hero sinks upon his straw bed weighed
down by fetters and misfortunes in the next scene his faithful but unconscious
squire regales the audience with a comic song We behold with throbbing bosoms
the heroine in the grasp of a proud and ruthless baron her virtue and her life
alike in danger drawing forth her dagger to preserve the one at the cost of the
other and just as our expectations are wrought up to the highest pitch a
whistle is heard and we are straightway transported to the great hall of the
castle where a greyheaded seneschal sings a funny chorus with a funnier body
of vassals who are free of all sorts of places from church vaults to palaces
and roam about in company carolling perpetually
Such changes appear absurd but they are not so unnatural as they would seem
at first sight The transitions in real life from wellspread boards to death
and from mourningweeds to holiday garments are not a whit less startling
only there we are busy actors instead of passive lookerson which makes a
vast difference The actors in the mimic life of the theatre are blind to
violent transitions and abrupt impulses of passion or feeling which presented
before the eyes of mere spectators are at once condemned as outrageous and
preposterous
As sudden shiftings of the scene and rapid changes of time and place are
not only sanctioned in books by long usage but are by many considered as the
great art of authorship an authors skill in his craft being by such critics
chiefly estimated with relation to the dilemmas in which he leaves his
characters at the end of every chapter this brief introduction to the present
one may perhaps be deemed unnecessary If so let it be considered a delicate
intimation on the part of the historian that he is going back to the town in
which Oliver Twist was born the reader taking it for granted that there are
good and substantial reasons for making the journey or he would not be invited
to proceed upon such an expedition
Mr Bumble emerged at early morning from the workhousegate and walked with
portly carriage and commanding steps up the High Street He was in the full
bloom and pride of beadlehood his cocked hat and coat were dazzling in the
morning sun he clutched his cane with the vigorous tenacity of health and
power Mr Bumble always carried his head high but this morning it was higher
than usual There was an abstraction in his eye an elevation in his air which
might have warned an observant stranger that thoughts were passing in the
beadles mind too great for utterance
Mr Bumble stopped not to converse with the small shopkeepers and others who
spoke to him deferentially as he passed along He merely returned their
salutations with a wave of his hand and relaxed not in his dignified pace
until he reached the farm where Mrs Mann tended the infant paupers with
parochial care
»Drat that beadle« said Mrs Mann hearing the wellknown shaking at the
gardengate »If it isnt him at this time in the morning Lauk Mr Bumble
only think of its being you Well dear me it is a pleasure this is Come into
the parlour sir please«
The first sentence was addressed to Susan and the exclamations of delight
were uttered to Mr Bumble as the good lady unlocked the gardengate and
showed him with great attention and respect into the house
»Mrs Mann« said Mr Bumble not sitting upon or dropping himself into a
seat as any common jackanapes would but letting himself gradually and slowly
down into a chair »Mrs Mann maam good morning«
»Well and good morning to you sir« replied Mrs Mann with many smiles
»and hoping you find yourself well sir«
»Soso Mrs Mann« replied the beadle »A porochial life is not a bed of
roses Mrs Mann«
»Ah that it isnt indeed Mr Bumble« rejoined the lady And all the
infant paupers might have chorused the rejoinder with great propriety if they
had heard it
»A porochial life maam« continued Mr Bumble striking the table with his
cane »is a life of worrit and vexation and hardihood but all public
characters as I may say must suffer prosecution«
Mrs Mann not very well knowing what the beadle meant raised her hands
with a look of sympathy and sighed
»Ah You may well sigh Mrs Mann« said the beadle
Finding she had done right Mrs Mann sighed again evidently to the
satisfaction of the public character who repressing a complacent smile by
looking sternly at his cocked hat said
»Mrs Mann I am a going to London«
»Lauk Mr Bumble« cried Mrs Mann starting back
»To London maam« resumed the inflexible beadle »by coach I and two
paupers Mrs Mann A legal action is a coming on about a settlement and the
board has appointed me me Mrs Mann to depose to the matter before the
quartersessions at Clerkinwell And I very much question« added Mr Bumble
drawing himself up »whether the Clerkinwell Sessions will not find themselves
in the wrong box before they have done with me«
»Oh you mustnt be too hard upon them sir« said Mrs Mann coaxingly
»The Clerkinwell Sessions have brought it upon themselves maam« replied
Mr Bumble »and if the Clerkinwell Sessions find that they come off rather
worse than they expected the Clerkinwell Sessions have only themselves to
thank«
There was so much determination and depth of purpose about the menacing
manner in which Mr Bumble delivered himself of these words that Mrs Mann
appeared quite awed by them At length she said
»Youre going by coach sir I thought it was always usual to send them
paupers in carts«
»Thats when theyre ill Mrs Mann« said the beadle »We put the sick
paupers into open carts in the rainy weather to prevent their taking cold«
»Oh« said Mrs Mann
»The opposition coach contracts for these two and takes them cheap« said
Mr Bumble »They are both in a very low state and we find it would come two
pound cheaper to move em than to bury em that is if we can throw em upon
another parish which I think we shall be able to do if they dont die upon the
road to spite us Ha ha ha«
When Mr Bumble had laughed a little while his eyes again encountered the
cocked hat and he became grave
»We are forgetting business maam« said the beadle »here is your
porochial stipend for the month«
Mr Bumble produced some silver money rolled up in paper from his
pocketbook and requested a receipt which Mrs Mann wrote
»Its very much blotted sir« said the farmer of infants »but its formal
enough I dare say Thank you Mr Bumble sir I am very much obliged to you
Im sure«
Mr Bumble nodded blandly in acknowledgment of Mrs Manns curtsey and
inquired how the children were
»Bless their dear little hearts« said Mrs Mann with emotion »theyre as
well as can be the dears Of course except the two that died last week And
little Dick«
»Isnt that boy no better« inquired Mr Bumble
Mrs Mann shook her head
»Hes a illconditioned wicious baddisposed porochial child that« said
Mr Bumble angrily »Where is he«
»Ill bring him to you in one minute sir« replied Mrs Mann »Here you
Dick«
After some calling Dick was discovered Having had his face put under the
pump and dried upon Mrs Manns gown he was led into the awful presence of Mr
Bumble the beadle
The child was pale and thin his cheeks were sunken and his eyes large and
bright The scanty parish dress the livery of his misery hung loosely on his
feeble body and his young limbs had wasted away like those of an old man
Such was the little being who stood trembling beneath Mr Bumbles glance
not daring to lift his eyes from the floor and dreading even to hear the
beadles voice
»Cant you look at the gentleman you obstinate boy« said Mrs Mann
The child meekly raised his eyes and encountered those of Mr Bumble
»Whats the matter with you porochial Dick« inquired Mr Bumble with
welltimed jocularity
»Nothing sir« replied the child faintly
»I should think not« said Mrs Mann who had of course laughed very much at
Mr Bumbles humour »You want for nothing Im sure«
»I should like « faltered the child
»Heyday« interposed Mrs Mann »I suppose youre going to say that you do
want for something now Why you little wretch «
»Stop Mrs Mann stop« said the beadle raising his hand with a show of
authority »Like what sir eh«
»I should like« faltered the child »if somebody that can write would put
a few words down for me on a piece of paper and fold it up and seal it and
keep it for me after I am laid in the ground«
»Why what does the boy mean« exclaimed Mr Bumble on whom the earnest
manner and wan aspect of the child had made some impression accustomed as he
was to such things »What do you mean sir«
»I should like« said the child »to leave my dear love to poor Oliver
Twist and to let him know how often I have sat by myself and cried to think of
his wandering about in the dark nights with nobody to help him And I should
like to tell him« said the child pressing his small hands together and
speaking with great fervour »that I was glad to die when I was very young for
perhaps if I had lived to be a man and had grown old my little sister who is
in Heaven might forget me or be unlike me and it would be so much happier if
we were both children there together«
Mr Bumble surveyed the little speaker from head to foot with
indescribable astonishment and turning to his companion said »Theyre all in
one story Mrs Mann That outdacious Oliver has demogalized them all«
»I couldnt have believed it sir« said Mrs Mann holding up her hands
and looking malignantly at Dick »I never see such a hardened little wretch«
»Take him away maam« said Mr Bumble imperiously »This must be stated to
the board Mrs Mann«
»I hope the gentlemen will understand that it isnt my fault sir« said
Mrs Mann whimpering pathetically
»They shall understand that maam they shall be acquainted with the true
state of the case« said Mr Bumble »There take him away I cant bear the
sight on him«
Dick was immediately taken away and locked up in the coalcellar Mr
Bumble shortly afterwards took himself off to prepare for his journey
At six oclock next morning Mr Bumble having exchanged his cocked hat for
a round one and encased his person in a blue greatcoat with a cape to it took
his place on the outside of the coach accompanied by the criminals whose
settlement was disputed with whom in due course of time he arrived in London
He experienced no other crosses on the way than those which originated in the
perverse behaviour of the two paupers who persisted in shivering and
complaining of the cold in a manner which Mr Bumble declared caused his
teeth to chatter in his head and made him feel quite uncomfortable although he
had a greatcoat on
Having disposed of these evilminded persons for the night Mr Bumble sat
himself down in the house at which the coach stopped and took a temperate
dinner of steaks oyster sauce and porter Putting a glass of hot ginandwater
on the chimneypiece he drew his chair to the fire and with sundry moral
reflections on the tooprevalent sin of discontent and complaining composed
himself to read the paper
The very first paragraph upon which Mr Bumbles eye rested was the
following advertisement
»Five Guineas Reward
Whereas a young boy named Oliver Twist absconded or was enticed on Thursday
evening last from his home at Pentonville and has not since been heard of
The above reward will be paid to any person who will give such information as
will lead to the discovery of the said Oliver Twist or tend to throw any light
upon his previous history in which the advertiser is for many reasons warmly
interested«
And then followed a full description of Olivers dress person appearance and
disappearance with the name and address of Mr Brownlow at full length
Mr Bumble opened his eyes read the advertisement slowly and carefully
three several times and in something more than five minutes was on his way to
Pentonville having actually in his excitement left the glass of hot
ginandwater untasted
»Is Mr Brownlow at home« inquired Mr Bumble of the girl who opened the
door
To this inquiry the girl returned the not uncommon but rather evasive reply
of »I dont know where do you come from«
Mr Bumble no sooner uttered Olivers name in explanation of his errand
than Mrs Bedwin who had been listening at the parlour door hastened into the
passage in a breathless state
»Come in come in« said the old lady »I knew we should hear of him Poor
dear I knew we should I was certain of it Bless his heart I said so all
along«
Having said this the worthy old lady hurried back into the parlour again
and seating herself on a sofa burst into tears The girl who was not quite so
susceptible had run up stairs meanwhile and now returned with a request that
Mr Bumble would follow her immediately which he did
He was shown into the little back study where sat Mr Brownlow and his
friend Mr Grimwig with decanters and glasses before them The latter gentleman
at once burst into the exclamation
»A beadle A parish beadle or Ill eat my head«
»Pray dont interrupt just now« said Mr Brownlow »Take a seat will you«
Mr Bumble sat himself down quite confounded by the oddity of Mr Grimwigs
manner Mr Brownlow moved the lamp so as to obtain an uninterrupted view of
the Beadles countenance and said with a little impatience
»Now sir yon come in consequence of having seen the advertisement«
»Yes sir« said Mr Bumble
»And you are a beadle are you not« inquired Mr Grimwig
»I am a porochial beadle gentlemen« rejoined Mr Bumble proudly
»Of course« observed Mr Grimwig aside to his friend »I knew he was A
beadle all over«
Mr Brownlow gently shook his head to impose silence on his friend and
resumed
»Do you know where this poor boy is now«
»No more than nobody« replied Mr Bumble
»Well what do you know of him« inquired the old gentleman »Speak out my
friend if you have anything to say What do you know of him«
»You dont happen to know any good of him do you« said Mr Grimwig
caustically after an attentive perusal of Mr Bumbles features
Mr Bumble catching at the inquiry very quickly shook his head with
portentous solemnity
»You see« said Mr Grimwig looking triumphantly at Mr Brownlow
Mr Brownlow looked apprehensively at Mr Bumbles pursedup countenance
and requested him to communicate what he knew regarding Oliver in as few words
as possible
Mr Bumble put down his hat unbuttoned his coat folded his arms inclined
his head in a retrospective manner and after a few moments reflection
commenced his story
It would be tedious if given in the beadles words occupying as it did
some twenty minutes in the telling but the sum and substance of it was That
Oliver was a foundling born of low and vicious parents That he had from his
birth displayed no better qualities than treachery ingratitude and malice
That he had terminated his brief career in the place of his birth by making a
sanguinary and cowardly attack on an unoffending lad and running away in the
nighttime from his masters house In proof of his really being the person he
represented himself Mr Bumble laid upon the table the papers he had brought to
town Folding his arms again he then awaited Mr Brownlows observations
»I fear it is all too true« said the old gentleman sorrowfully after
looking over the papers »This is not much for your intelligence but I would
gladly have given you treble the money if it had been favourable to the boy«
It is not improbable that if Mr Bumble had been possessed of this
information at an earlier period of the interview he might have imparted a very
different colouring to his little history It was too late to do it now
however so he shook his head gravely and pocketing the five guineas
withdrew
Mr Brownlow paced the room to and fro for some minutes evidently so much
disturbed by the beadles tale that even Mr Grimwig forbore to vex him
further
At length he stopped and rang the bell violently
»Mrs Bedwin« said Mr Brownlow when the housekeeper appeared »that boy
Oliver is an impostor«
»It cant be sir It cannot be« said the old lady energetically
»I tell you he is« retorted the old gentleman »What do you mean by cant
be We have just heard a full account of him from his birth and he has been a
thoroughpaced little villain all his life«
»I never will believe it sir« replied the old lady firmly »Never«
»You old women never believe anything but quackdoctors and lying
storybooks« growled Mr Grimwig »I knew it all along Why didnt you take my
advice in the beginning you would if he hadnt had a fever I suppose eh He
was interesting wasnt he Interesting Bah« And Mr Grimwig poked the fire
with a flourish
»He was a dear grateful gentle child sir« retorted Mrs Bedwin
indignantly »I know what children are sir and have done these forty years
and people who cant say the same shouldnt say anything about them Thats my
opinion«
This was a hard hit at Mr Grimwig who was a bachelor As it extorted
nothing from that gentleman but a smile the old lady tossed her head and
smoothed down her apron preparatory to another speech when she was stopped by
Mr Brownlow
»Silence« said the old gentleman feigning an anger he was far from
feeling »Never let me hear the boys name again I rang to tell you that
Never Never on any pretence mind You may leave the room Mrs Bedwin
Remember I am in earnest«
There were sad hearts at Mr Brownlows that night
Olivers heart sank within him when he thought of his good kind friends it
was well for him that he could not know what they had heard or it might have
broken outright
Chapter XVIII
How Oliver Passed His Time in the Improving Society of His Reputable Friends
About noon next day when the Dodger and Master Bates had gone out to pursue
their customary avocations Mr Fagin took the opportunity of reading Oliver a
long lecture on the crying sin of ingratitude of which he clearly demonstrated
he had been guilty to no ordinary extent in wilfully absenting himself from
the society of his anxious friends and still more in endeavouring to escape
from them after so much trouble and expense had been incurred in his recovery
Mr Fagin laid great stress on the fact of his having taken Oliver in and
cherished him when without his timely aid he might have perished with hunger
and he related the dismal and affecting history of a young lad whom in his
philanthropy he had succoured under parallel circumstances but who proving
unworthy of his confidence and evincing a desire to communicate with the police
had unfortunately come to be hanged at the Old Bailey one morning Mr Fagin did
not seek to conceal his share in the catastrophe but lamented with tears in his
eyes that the wrongheaded and treacherous behaviour of the young person in
question had rendered it necessary that he should become the victim of certain
evidence for the crown which if it were not precisely true was indispensably
necessary for the safety of him Mr Fagin and a few select friends Mr Fagin
concluded by drawing a rather disagreeable picture of the discomforts of
hanging and with great friendliness and politeness of manner expressed his
anxious hopes that he might never be obliged to submit Oliver Twist to that
unpleasant operation
Little Olivers blood ran cold as he listened to the Jews words and
imperfectly comprehended the dark threats conveyed in them That it was possible
even for justice itself to confound the innocent with the guilty when they were
in accidental companionship he knew already and that deeplylaid plans for the
destruction of inconveniently knowing or overcommunicative persons had been
really devised and carried out by the old Jew on more occasions than one he
thought by no means unlikely when he recollected the general nature of the
altercations between that gentleman and Mr Sikes which seemed to bear
reference to some foregone conspiracy of the kind As he glanced timidly up and
met the Jews searching look he felt that his pale face and trembling limbs
were neither unnoticed nor unrelished by that wary old gentleman
The Jew smiling hideously patted Oliver on the head and said that if he
kept himself quiet and applied himself to business he saw they would be very
good friends yet Then taking his hat and covering himself with an old patched
greatcoat he went out and locked the roomdoor behind him
And so Oliver remained all that day and for the greater part of many
subsequent days seeing nobody between early morning and midnight and left
during the long hours to commune with his own thoughts Which never failing to
revert to his kind friends and the opinion they must long ago have formed of
him were sad indeed
After the lapse of a week or so the Jew left the roomdoor unlocked and he
was at liberty to wander about the house
It was a very dirty place The rooms up stairs had great high wooden
chimneypieces and large doors with panelled walls and cornices to the
ceilings which although they were black with neglect and dust were ornamented
in various ways
From all of these tokens Oliver concluded that a long time ago before the
old Jew was born it had belonged to better people and had perhaps been quite
gay and handsome dismal and dreary as it looked now
Spiders had built their webs in the angles of the walls and ceilings and
sometimes when Oliver walked softly into a room the mice would scamper across
the floor and run back terrified to their holes With these exceptions there
was neither sight nor sound of any living thing and often when it grew dark
and he was tired of wandering from room to room he would crouch in the corner
of the passage by the streetdoor to be as near living people as he could and
would remain there listening and counting the hours until the Jew or the boys
returned
In all the rooms the mouldering shutters were fast closed the bars which
held them were screwed tight into the wood the only light which was admitted
stealing its way through round holes at the top which made the rooms more
gloomy and filled them with strange shadows There was a backgarret window
with rusty bars outside which had no shutter and out of this Oliver often
gazed with a melancholy face for hours together but nothing was to be descried
from it but a confused and crowded mass of housetops blackened chimneys and
gableends Sometimes indeed a grizzly head might be seen peering over the
parapetwall of a distant house but it was quickly withdrawn again and as the
window of Olivers observatory was nailed down and dimmed with the rain and
smoke of years it was as much as he could do to make out the forms of the
different objects beyond without making any attempt to be seen or heard
which he had as much chance of being as if he had lived inside the ball of St
Pauls Cathedral
One afternoon the Dodger and Master Bates being engaged out that evening
the firstnamed young gentleman took it into his head to evince some anxiety
regarding the decoration of his person to do him justice this was by no means
an habitual weakness with him and with this end and aim he condescendingly
commanded Oliver to assist him in his toilet straightway
Oliver was but too glad to make himself useful too happy to have some
faces however bad to look upon too desirous to conciliate those about him
when he could honestly do so to throw any objection in the way of this
proposal So he at once expressed his readiness and kneeling on the floor
while the Dodger sat upon the table so that he could take his foot in his lap
he applied himself to a process which Mr Dawkins designated as japanning his
trottercases The phrase rendered into plain English signifieth cleaning his
boots
Whether it was the sense of freedom and independence which a rational animal
may be supposed to feel when he sits on a table in an easy attitude smoking a
pipe swinging one leg carelessly to and fro and having his boots cleaned all
the time without even the past trouble of having taken them off or the
prospective misery of putting them on to disturb his reflections or whether it
was the goodness of the tobacco that soothed the feelings of the Dodger or the
mildness of the beer that mollified his thoughts he was evidently tinctured
for the nonce with a spice of romance and enthusiasm foreign to his general
nature He looked down on Oliver with a thoughtful countenance for a brief
space and then raising his head and heaving a gentle sigh said half in
abstraction and half to Master Bates
»What a pity it is he isnt a prig«
»Ah« said Master Charles Bates »he dont know whats good for him«
The Dodger sighed again and resumed his pipe as did Charley Bates They
both smoked for some seconds in silence
»I suppose you dont even know what a prig is« said the Dodger mournfully
»I think I know that« replied Oliver looking up »Its a th youre one
are you not« inquired Oliver checking himself
»I am« replied the Dodger »Id scorn to be anything else« Mr Dawkins
gave his hat a ferocious cock after delivering this sentiment and looked at
Master Bates as if to denote that he would feel obliged by his saying anything
to the contrary
»I am« repeated the Dodger »Sos Charley Sos Fagin Sos Sikes Sos
Nancy Sos Bet So we all are down to the dog And hes the downiest one of
the lot«
»And the least given to peaching« added Charley Bates
»He wouldnt so much as bark in a witnessbox for fear of committing
himself no not if you tied him up in one and left him there without wittles
for a fortnight« said the Dodger
»Not a bit of it« observed Charley
»Hes a rum dog Dont he look fierce at any strange cove that laughs or
sings when hes in company« pursued the Dodger »Wont he growl at all when he
hears a fiddle playing And dont he hate other dogs as aint of his breed Oh
no«
»Hes an outandout Christian« said Charley
This was merely intended as a tribute to the animals abilities but it was
an appropriate remark in another sense if Master Bates had only known it for
there are a good many ladies and gentlemen claiming to be outandout
Christians between whom and Mr Sikes dog there exist strong and singular
points of resemblance
»Well well« said the Dodger recurring to the point from which they had
strayed with that mindfulness of his profession which influenced all his
proceedings »This hasnt got anything to do with young Green here«
»No more it has« said Charley »Why dont you put yourself under Fagin
Oliver«
»And make your fortun out of hand« added the Dodger with a grin
»And so be able to retire on your property and do the genteel as I mean
to in the very next leapyear but four that ever comes and the fortysecond
Tuesday in Trinityweek« said Charley Bates
»I dont like it« rejoined Oliver timidly »I wish they would let me go I
I would rather go«
»And Fagin would rather not« rejoined Charley
Oliver knew this too well but thinking it might be dangerous to express his
feelings more openly he only sighed and went on with his bootcleaning
»Go« exclaimed the Dodger »Why wheres your spirit Dont you take any
pride out of yourself Would you go and be dependent on your friends«
»Oh blow that« said Master Bates drawing two or three silk handkerchiefs
from his pocket and tossing them into a cupboard »thats too mean that is«
»I couldnt do it« said the Dodger with an air of haughty disgust
»You can leave your friends though« said Oliver with a half smile »and
let them be punished for what you did«
»That« rejoined the Dodger with a wave of his pipe »That was all out of
consideration for Fagin cause the traps know that we work together and he
might have got into trouble if we hadnt made our lucky that was the move
wasnt it Charley«
Master Bates nodded assent and would have spoken but the recollection of
Olivers flight came so suddenly upon him that the smoke he was inhaling got
entangled with a laugh and went up into his head and down into his throat and
brought on a fit of coughing and stamping about five minutes long
»Look here« said the Dodger drawing forth a handful of shillings and
halfpence »Heres a jolly life Whats the odds where it comes from Here
catch hold theres plenty more where they were took from You wont wont you
Oh you precious flat«
»Its naughty aint it Oliver« inquired Charley Bates »Hell come to be
scragged wont he«
»I dont know what that means« replied Oliver
»Something in this way old feller« said Charley As he said it Master
Bates caught up an end of his neckerchief and holding it erect in the air
dropped his head on his shoulder and jerked a curious sound through his teeth
thereby indicating by a lively pantomimic representation that scragging and
hanging were one and the same thing
»Thats what it means« said Charley »Look how he stares Jack I never did
see such prime company as that ere boy hell be the death of me I know he
will« Master Charles Bates having laughed heartily again resumed his pipe
with tears in his eyes
»Youve been brought up bad« said the Dodger surveying his boots with much
satisfaction when Oliver had polished them »Fagin will make something of you
though or youll be the first he ever had that turned out unprofitable Youd
better begin at once for youll come to the trade long before you think of it
and youre only losing time Oliver«
Master Bates backed this advice with sundry moral admonitions of his own
which being exhausted he and his friend Mr Dawkins launched into a glowing
description of the numerous pleasures incidental to the life they led
interspersed with a variety of hints to Oliver that the best thing he could do
would be to secure Fagins favour without more delay by the means which they
themselves had employed to gain it
»And always put this in your pipe Nolly« said the Dodger as the Jew was
heard unlocking the door above »if you dont take fogles and tickers «
»Whats the good of talking in that way« interposed Master Bates »he dont
know what you mean«
»If you dont take pockethandkechers and watches« said the Dodger
reducing his conversation to the level of Olivers capacity »some other cove
will so that the coves that lose em will be all the worse and youll be all
the worse too and nobody half a haporth the better except the chaps wot gets
them and youve just as good a right to them as they have«
»To be sure to be sure« said the Jew who had entered unseen by Oliver
»It all lies in a nutshell my dear in a nutshell take the Dodgers word for
it Ha ha ha He understands the catechism of his trade«
The old man rubbed his hands gleefully together as he corroborated the
Dodgers reasoning in these terms and chuckled with delight at his pupils
proficiency
The conversation proceeded no farther at this time for the Jew had returned
home accompanied by Miss Betsy and a gentleman whom Oliver had never seen
before but who was accosted by the Dodger as Tom Chitling and who having
lingered on the stairs to exchange a few gallantries with the lady now made his
appearance
Mr Chitling was older in years than the Dodger having perhaps numbered
eighteen winters but there was a degree of deference in his deportment towards
that young gentleman which seemed to indicate that he felt himself conscious of
a slight inferiority in point of genius and professional acquirements He had
small twinkling eyes and a pockmarked face wore a fur cap a dark corduroy
jacket greasy fustian trousers and an apron His wardrobe was in truth
rather out of repair but he excused himself to the company by stating that his
time was only out an hour before and that in consequence of having worn the
regimentals for six weeks past he had not been able to bestow any attention on
his private clothes Mr Chitling added with strong marks of irritation that
the new way of fumigating clothes up yonder was infernal unconstitutional for
it burnt holes in them and there was no remedy against the County The same
remark he considered to apply to the regulation mode of cutting the hair which
he held to be decidedly unlawful Mr Chitling wound up his observations by
stating that he had not touched a drop of anything for fortytwo mortal long
hardworking days and that he »wished he might be busted if he warnt as dry as
a limebasket«
»Where do you think the gentleman has come from Oliver« inquired the Jew
with a grin as the other boys put a bottle of spirits on the table
»I I dont know sir« replied Oliver
»Whos that« inquired Tom Chitling casting a contemptuous look at Oliver
»A young friend of mine my dear« replied the Jew
»Hes in luck then« said the young man with a meaning look at Fagin
»Never mind where I came from young un youll find your way there soon
enough Ill bet a crown«
At this sally the boys laughed After some more jokes on the same subject
they exchanged a few short whispers with Fagin and withdrew
After some words apart between the last comer and Fagin they drew their
chairs towards the fire and the Jew telling Oliver to come and sit by him led
the conversation to the topics most calculated to interest his hearers These
were the great advantages of the trade the proficiency of the Dodger the
amiability of Charley Bates and the liberality of the Jew himself At length
these subjects displayed signs of being thoroughly exhausted and Mr Chitling
did the same for the house of correction becomes fatiguing after a week or two
Miss Betsy accordingly withdrew and left the party to their repose
From this day Oliver was seldom left alone but was placed in almost
constant communication with the two boys who played the old game with the Jew
every day whether for their own improvement or Olivers Mr Fagin best knew
At other times the old man would tell them stories of robberies he had committed
in his younger days mixed up with so much that was droll and curious that
Oliver could not help laughing heartily and showing that he was amused in spite
of all his better feelings
In short the wily old Jew had the boy in his toils Having prepared his
mind by solitude and gloom to prefer any society to the companionship of his
own sad thoughts in such a dreary place he was now slowly instilling into his
soul the poison which he hoped would blacken it and change its hue for ever
Chapter XIX
In Which a Notable Plan Is Discussed and Determined On
It was a chill damp windy night when the Jew buttoning his greatcoat tight
round his shrivelled body and pulling the collar up over his ears so as
completely to obscure the lower part of his face emerged from his den He
paused on the step as the door was locked and chained behind him and having
listened while the boys made all secure and until their retreating footsteps
were no longer audible slunk down the street as quickly as he could
The house to which Oliver had been conveyed was in the neighbourhood of
Whitechapel The Jew stopped for an instant at the corner of the street and
glancing suspiciously round crossed the road and struck off in the direction
of Spitalfields
The mud lay thick upon the stones and a black mist hung over the streets
the rain fell sluggishly down and everything felt cold and clammy to the touch
It seemed just the night when it befitted such a being as the Jew to be abroad
As he glided stealthily along creeping beneath the shelter of the walls and
doorways the hideous old man seemed like some loathsome reptile engendered in
the slime and darkness through which he moved crawling forth by night in
search of some rich offal for a meal
He kept on his course through many winding and narrow ways until he
reached Bethnal Green then turning suddenly off to the left he soon became
involved in a maze of the mean and dirty streets which abound in that close and
denselypopulated quarter
The Jew was evidently too familiar with the ground he traversed to be at all
bewildered either by the darkness of the night or the intricacies of the way
He hurried through several alleys and streets and at length turned into one
lighted only by a single lamp at the farther end At the door of a house in this
street he knocked having exchanged a few muttered words with the person who
opened it he walked up stairs
A dog growled as he touched the handle of a roomdoor and a mans voice
demanded who was there
»Only me Bill only me my dear« said the Jew looking in
»Bring in your body then« said Sikes »Lie down you stupid brute Dont
you know the devil when hes got a greatcoat on«
Apparently the dog had been somewhat deceived by Mr Fagins outer garment
for as the Jew unbuttoned it and threw it over the back of a chair he retired
to the corner from which he had risen wagging his tail as he went to show that
he was as well satisfied as it was in his nature to be
»Well« said Sikes
»Well my dear« replied the Jew »Ah Nancy«
The latter recognition was uttered with just enough of embarrassment to
imply a doubt of its reception for Mr Fagin and his young friend had not met
since she had interfered in behalf of Oliver All doubts upon the subject if he
had any were speedily removed by the young ladys behaviour She took her feet
off the fender pushed back her chair and bade Fagin draw up his without
saying more about it for it was a cold night and no mistake
»It is cold Nancy dear« said the Jew as he warmed his skinny hands over
the fire »It seems to go right through one« added the old man touching his
side
»It must be a piercer if it finds its way through your heart« said Mr
Sikes »Give him something to drink Nancy Burn my body make haste Its
enough to turn a man ill to see his lean old carcase shivering in that way
like a ugly ghost just rose from the grave«
Nancy quickly brought a bottle from a cupboard in which there were many
which to judge from the diversity of their appearance were filled with several
kinds of liquids Sikes pouring out a glass of brandy bade the Jew drink it
off
»Quite enough quite thankye Bill« replied the Jew putting down the
glass after just setting his lips to it
»What Youre afraid of our getting the better of you are you« inquired
Sikes fixing his eyes on the Jew »Ugh«
With a hoarse grunt of contempt Mr Sikes seized the glass and threw the
remainder of its contents into the ashes as a preparatory ceremony to filling
it again for himself which he did at once
The Jew glanced round the room as his companion tossed down the second
glassful not in curiosity for he had seen it often before but in a restless
and suspicious manner habitual to him It was a meanly furnished apartment with
nothing but the contents of the closet to induce the belief that its occupier
was anything but a working man and with no more suspicious articles displayed
to view than two or three heavy bludgeons which stood in a corner and a
lifepreserver that hung over the chimneypiece
»There« said Sikes smacking his lips »Now Im ready«
»For business« inquired the Jew
»For business« replied Sikes »so say what youve got to say«
»About the crib at Chertsey Bill« said the Jew drawing his chair forward
and speaking in a very low voice
»Yes Wot about it« inquired Sikes
»Ah you know what I mean my dear« said the Jew »He knows what I mean
Nancy dont he«
»No he dont« sneered Mr Sikes »Or he wont and thats the same thing
Speak out and call things by their right names dont sit there winking and
blinking and talking to me in hints as if you warnt the very first that
thought about the robbery Wot dye mean«
»Hush Bill hush« said the Jew who had in vain attempted to stop this
burst of indignation »somebody will hear us my dear Somebody will hear us«
»Let em hear« said Sikes »I dont care« But as Mr Sikes did care on
reflection he dropped his voice as he said the words and grew calmer
»There there« said the Jew coaxingly »It was only my caution nothing
more Now my dear about that crib at Chertsey when is it to be done Bill
eh When is it to be done Such plate my dear such plate« said the Jew
rubbing his hands and elevating his eyebrows in a rapture of anticipation
»Not at all« replied Sikes coldly
»Not to be done at all« echoed the Jew leaning back in his chair
»No not at all« rejoined Sikes »At least it cant be a putup job as we
expected«
»Then it hasnt been properly gone about« said the Jew turning pale with
anger »Dont tell me«
»But I will tell you« retorted Sikes »Who are you thats not to be told I
tell you that Toby Crackit has been hanging about the place for a fortnight and
he cant get one of the servants into a line«
»Do you mean to tell me Bill« said the Jew softening as the other grew
heated »that neither of the two men in the house can be got over«
»Yes I do mean to tell you so« replied Sikes »The old lady has had em
these twenty year and if you were to give em five hundred pound they wouldnt
be in it«
»But do you mean to say my dear« remonstrated the Jew »that the women
cant be got over«
»Not a bit of it« replied Sikes
»Not by flash Toby Crackit« said the Jew incredulously »Think what women
are Bill«
»No not even by flash Toby Crackit« replied Sikes »He says hes worn sham
whiskers and a canary waistcoat the whole blessed time hes been loitering
down there and its all of no use«
»He should have tried mustachios and a pair of military trousers my dear«
said the Jew
»So he did« rejoined Sikes »and they warnt of no more use than the other
plant«
The Jew looked blank at this information After ruminating for some minutes
with his chin sunk on his breast he raised his head and said with a deep sigh
that if flash Toby Crackit reported aright he feared the game was up
»And yet« said the old man dropping his hands on his knees »its a sad
thing my dear to lose so much when we had set our hearts upon it«
»So it is« said Mr Sikes »Worse luck«
A long silence ensued during which the Jew was plunged in deep thought
with his face wrinkled into an expression of villany perfectly demoniacal Sikes
eyed him furtively from time to time Nancy apparently fearful of irritating
the housebreaker sat with her eyes fixed upon the fire as if she had been deaf
to all that passed
»Fagin« said Sikes abruptly breaking the stillness that prevailed »is it
worth fifty shiners extra if its safely done from the outside«
»Yes« said the Jew as suddenly rousing himself
»Is it a bargain« inquired Sikes
»Yes my dear yes« rejoined the Jew his eyes glistening and every muscle
in his face working with the excitement that the inquiry had awakened
»Then« said Sikes thrusting aside the Jews hand with some disdain »let
it come off as soon as you like Toby and me were over the gardenwall the night
afore last sounding the panels of the door and shutters The cribs barred up
at night like a jail but theres one part we can crack safe and softly«
»Which is that Bill« asked the Jew eagerly
»Why« whispered Sikes »as you cross the lawn «
»Yes« said the Jew bending his head forward with his eyes almost starting
out of it
»Umph« cried Sikes stopping short as the girl scarcely moving her head
looked suddenly round and pointed for an instant to the Jews face »Never mind
which part it is You cant do it without me I know but its best to be on the
safe side when one deals with you«
»As you like my dear as you like« replied the Jew »Is there no help
wanted but yours and Tobys«
»None« said Sikes »Cept a centrebit and a boy The first weve both got
the second you must find us«
»A boy« exclaimed the Jew »Oh then its a panel eh«
»Never mind wot it is« replied Sikes »I want a boy and he mustnt be a
big un Lord« said Mr Sikes reflectively »if Id only got that young boy of
Ned the chimbleysweepers He kept him small on purpose and let him out by
the job But the father gets 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 so they go on«
said Mr Sikes his wrath rising with the recollection of his wrongs »so they
go on and if theyd got money enough which its a Providence they havent
we shouldnt have halfadozen boys left in the whole trade in a year or two«
»No more we should« acquiesced the Jew who had been considering during
this speech and had only caught the last sentence »Bill«
»What now« inquired Sikes
The Jew nodded his head towards Nancy who was still gazing at the fire and
intimated by a sign that he would have her told to leave the room Sikes
shrugged his shoulders impatiently as if he thought the precaution unnecessary
but complied nevertheless by requesting Miss Nancy to fetch him a jug of beer
»You dont want any beer« said Nancy folding her arms and retaining her
seat very composedly
»I tell you I do« replied Sikes
»Nonsense« rejoined the girl coolly »Go on Fagin I know what hes going
to say Bill he neednt mind me«
The Jew still hesitated Sikes looked from one to the other in some
surprise
»Why you dont mind the old girl do you Fagin« he asked at length
»Youve known her long enough to trust her or the Devils in it She aint one
to blab Are you Nancy«
»I should think not« replied the young lady drawing her chair up to the
table and putting her elbows upon it
»No no my dear I know youre not« said the Jew »but « and again the
old man paused
»But wot« inquired Sikes
»I didnt know whether she mightnt praps be out of sorts you know my
dear as she was the other night« replied the Jew
At this confession Miss Nancy burst into a loud laugh and swallowing a
glass of brandy shook her head with an air of defiance and burst into sundry
exclamations of »Keep the game agoing« »Never say die« and the like These
seemed to have the effect of reassuring both gentlemen for the Jew nodded his
head with a satisfied air and resumed his seat as did Mr Sikes likewise
»Now Fagin« said Nancy with a laugh »Tell Bill at once about Oliver«
»Ha youre a clever one my dear the sharpest girl I ever saw« said the
Jew patting her on the neck »It was about Oliver I was going to speak sure
enough Ha ha ha«
»What about him« demanded Sikes
»Hes the boy for you my dear« replied the Jew in a hoarse whisper laying
his finger on the side of his nose and grinning frightfully
»He« exclaimed Sikes
»Have him Bill« said Nancy »I would if I was in your place He maynt be
so much up as any of the others but thats not what you want if hes only to
open a door for you Depend upon it hes a safe one Bill«
»I know he is« rejoined Fagin »Hes been in good training these last few
weeks and its time he began to work for his bread Besides the others are all
too big«
»Well he is just the size I want« said Mr Sikes ruminating
»And will do everything you want Bill my dear« interposed the Jew »he
cant help himself That is if you frighten him enough«
»Frighten him« echoed Sikes »Itll be no sham frightening mind you If
theres anything queer about him when we once get into the work in for a penny
in for a pound You wont see him alive again Fagin Think of that before you
send him Mark my words« said the robber poising a crowbar which he had drawn
from under the bedstead
»Ive thought of it all« said the Jew with energy »Ive Ive had my eye
upon him my dears close close Once let him feel that he is one of us once
fill his mind with the idea that he has been a thief and hes ours Ours for
his life Oho It couldnt have come about better« The old man crossed his arms
upon his breast and drawing his head and shoulders into a heap literally
hugged himself for joy
»Ours« said Sikes »Yours you mean«
»Perhaps I do my dear« said the Jew with a shrill chuckle »Mine if you
like Bill«
»And wot« said Sikes scowling fiercely on his agreeable friend »wot makes
you take so much pains about one chalkfaced kid when you know there are fifty
boys snoozing about Common Garden every night as you might pick and choose
from«
»Because theyre of no use to me my dear« replied the Jew with some
confusion »not worth the taking Their looks convict em when they get into
trouble and I lose em all With this boy properly managed my dears I could
do what I couldnt with twenty of them Besides« said the Jew recovering his
selfpossession »he has us now if he could only give us legbail again and he
must be in the same boat with us Never mind how he came there its quite
enough for my power over him that he was in a robbery thats all I want Now
how much better this is than being obliged to put the poor leetle boy out of
the way which would be dangerous and we should lose by it besides«
»When is it to be done« asked Nancy stopping some turbulent exclamation on
the part of Mr Sikes expressive of the disgust with which he received Fagins
affectation of humanity
»Ah to be sure« said the Jew »when is it to be done Bill«
»I planned with Toby the night arter tomorrow« rejoined Sikes in a surly
voice »if he heerd nothing from me to the contrairy«
»Good« said the Jew »theres no moon«
»No« rejoined Sikes
»Its all arranged about bringing off the swag is it« asked the Jew
Sikes nodded
»And about «
»Oh ah its all planned« rejoined Sikes interrupting him »Never mind
particulars Youd better bring the boy here tomorrow night I shall get off
the stones an hour arter daybreak Then you hold your tongue and keep the
meltingpot ready and thats all youll have to do«
After some discussion in which all three took an active part it was
decided that Nancy should repair to the Jews next evening when the night had
set in and bring Oliver away with her Fagin craftily observing that if he
evinced any disinclination to the task he would be more willing to accompany
the girl who had so recently interfered in his behalf than anybody else It was
also solemnly arranged that poor Oliver should for the purposes of the
contemplated expedition be unreservedly consigned to the care and custody of
Mr William Sikes and further that the said Sikes should deal with him as he
thought fit and should not be held responsible by the Jew for any mischance or
evil that might befall him or any punishment with which it might be necessary
to visit him it being understood that to render the compact in this respect
binding any representations made by Mr Sikes on his return should be required
to be confirmed and corroborated in all important particulars by the testimony
of flash Toby Crackit
These preliminaries adjusted Mr Sikes proceeded to drink brandy at a
furious rate and to flourish the crowbar in an alarming manner yelling forth
at the same time most unmusical snatches of song mingled with wild
execrations At length in a fit of professional enthusiasm he insisted upon
producing his box of housebreaking tools which he had no sooner stumbled in
with and opened for the purpose of explaining the nature and properties of the
various implements it contained and the peculiar beauties of their
construction than he fell over the box upon the floor and went to sleep where
he fell
»Good night Nancy« said the Jew muffling himself up as before
»Good night«
Their eyes met and the Jew scrutinised her narrowly There was no
flinching about the girl She was as true and earnest in the matter as Toby
Crackit himself could be
The Jew again bade her good night and bestowing a sly kick upon the
prostrate form of Mr Sikes while her back was turned groped down stairs
»Always the way« muttered the Jew to himself as he turned homeward »The
worst of these women is that a very little thing serves to call up some
longforgotten feeling and the best of them is that it never lasts Ha ha
The man against the child for a bag of gold«
Beguiling the time with these pleasant reflections Mr Fagin wended his
way through mud and mire to his gloomy abode where the Dodger was sitting up
impatiently awaiting his return
»Is Oliver abed I want to speak to him« was his first remark as they
descended the stairs
»Hours ago« replied the Dodger throwing open a door »Here he is«
The boy was lying fast asleep on a rude bed upon the floor so pale with
anxiety and sadness and the closeness of his prison that he looked like
death not death as it shows in shroud and coffin but in the guise it wears
when life has just departed when a young and gentle spirit has but an instant
fled to Heaven and the gross air of the world has not had time to breathe upon
the changing dust it hallowed
»Not now« said the Jew turning softly away »Tomorrow Tomorrow«
Chapter XX
Wherein Oliver Is Delivered Over to Mr William Sikes
When Oliver awoke in the morning he was a good deal surprised to find that a
new pair of shoes with strong thick soles had been placed at his bedside and
that his old shoes had been removed At first he was pleased with the
discovery hoping that it might be the forerunner of his release but such
thoughts were quickly dispelled on his sitting down to breakfast along with the
Jew who told him in a tone and manner which increased his alarm that he was
to be taken to the residence of Bill Sikes that night
»To to stop there sir« asked Oliver anxiously
»No no my dear Not to stop there« replied the Jew »We shouldnt like to
lose you Dont be afraid Oliver you shall come back to us again Ha ha ha
We wont be so cruel as to send you away my dear Oh no no«
The old man who was stooping over the fire toasting a piece of bread
looked round as he bantered Oliver thus and chuckled as if to show that he knew
he would still be very glad to get away if he could
»I suppose« said the Jew fixing his eyes on Oliver »you want to know what
youre going to Bills for eh my dear«
Oliver coloured involuntarily to find that the old thief had been reading
his thoughts but boldly said Yes he did want to know
»Why do you think« inquired Fagin parrying the question
»Indeed I dont know sir« replied Oliver
»Bah« said the Jew turning away with a disappointed countenance from a
close perusal of the boys face »Wait till Bill tells you then«
The Jew seemed much vexed by Olivers not expressing any greater curiosity
on the subject but the truth is that although Oliver felt very anxious he
was too much confused by the earnest cunning of Fagins looks and his own
speculations to make any further inquiries just then He had no other
opportunity for the Jew remained very surly and silent till night when he
prepared to go abroad
»You may burn a candle« said the Jew putting one upon the table »And
heres a book for you to read till they come to fetch you Good night«
»Good night« replied Oliver softly
The Jew walked to the door looking over his shoulder at the boy as he went
Suddenly stopping he called him by his name
Oliver looked up the 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 contracted brows from the dark end
of the room
»Take heed Oliver take heed« said the old man shaking his right hand
before him in a warning manner »Hes a rough man and thinks nothing of blood
when his own is up Whatever falls out say nothing and do what he bids you
Mind« Placing a strong emphasis on the last word he suffered his features
gradually to resolve themselves into a ghastly grin and nodding his head left
the room
Oliver leaned his head upon his hand when the old man disappeared and
pondered with a trembling heart on the words he had just heard The more he
thought of the Jews admonition the more he was at a loss to divine its real
purpose and meaning He could think of no bad object to be attained by sending
him to Sikes which would not be equally well answered by his remaining with
Fagin and after meditating for a long time concluded that he had been selected
to perform some ordinary menial offices for the housebreaker until another boy
better suited for his purpose could be engaged He was too well accustomed to
suffering and had suffered too much where he was to bewail the prospect of
change very severely He remained lost in thought for some minutes and then
with a heavy sigh snuffed the candle and taking up the book which the Jew had
left with him began to read
He turned over the leaves Carelessly at first but lighting on a passage
which attracted his attention he soon became intent upon the volume It was a
history of the lives and trials of great criminals and the pages were soiled
and thumbed with use Here he read of dreadful crimes that made the blood run
cold of secret murders that had been committed by the lonely wayside of bodies
hidden from the eye of man in deep pits and wells which would not keep them
down deep as they were but had yielded them up at last after many years and
so maddened the murderers with the sight that in their horror they had
confessed their guilt and yelled for the gibbet to end their agony Here too
he read of men who lying in their beds at dead of night had been tempted so
they said and led on by their own bad thoughts to such dreadful bloodshed as
it made the flesh creep and the limbs quail to think of The terrible
descriptions were so real and vivid that the sallow pages seemed to turn red
with gore and the words upon them to be sounded in his ears as if they were
whispered in hollow murmurs by the spirits of the dead
In a paroxysm of fear the boy closed the book and thrust it from him
Then falling upon his knees he prayed Heaven to spare him from such deeds and
rather to will that he should die at once than be reserved for crimes so
fearful and appalling By degrees he grew more calm and besought in a low and
broken voice that he might be rescued from his present dangers and that if any
aid were to be raised up for a poor outcast boy who had never known the love of
friends or kindred it might come to him now when desolate and deserted he
stood alone in the midst of wickedness and guilt
He had concluded his prayer but still remained with his head buried in his
hands when a rustling noise aroused him
»Whats that« he cried starting up and catching sight of a figure
standing by the door »Whos there«
»Me Only me« replied a tremulous voice
Oliver raised the candle above his head and looked towards the door It was
Nancy
»Put down the light« said the girl turning away her head »It hurts my
eyes«
Oliver saw that she was very pale and gently inquired if she were ill The
girl threw herself into a chair with her back towards him and wrung her hands
but made no reply
»God forgive me« she cried after a while »I never thought of this«
»Has anything happened« asked Oliver »Can I help you I will if I can I
will indeed«
She rocked herself 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
suddenly stopping drew her shawl close round her and shivered with cold
Oliver stirred the fire Drawing her chair close to it she sat there for a
little time without speaking but at length she raised her head and looked
round
»I dont know what comes over me sometimes« said she affecting to busy
herself in arranging her dress »its this damp dirty room I think Now Nolly
dear are you ready«
»Am I to go with you« asked Oliver
»Yes I have come from Bill« replied the girl »You are to go with me«
»What for« asked Oliver recoiling
»What for« echoed the girl raising her eyes and averting them again the
moment they encountered the boys face »Oh For no harm«
»I dont believe it« said Oliver who had watched her closely
»Have it your own way« rejoined the girl affecting to laugh »For no good
then«
Oliver could see that he had some power over the girls better feelings
and for an instant thought of appealing to her compassion for his helpless
state But then the thought darted across his mind that it was barely eleven
oclock and that many people were still in the streets of whom surely some
might be found to give credence to his tale As the reflection occurred to him
he stepped forward and said somewhat hastily that he was ready
Neither his brief consideration nor its purport was lost on his companion
She eyed him narrowly while he spoke and cast upon him a look of intelligence
which sufficiently showed that she guessed what had been passing in his
thoughts
»Hush« said the girl stooping over him and pointing to the door as she
looked cautiously round »You cant help yourself I have tried hard for you
but all to no purpose You are hedged round and round If ever you are to get
loose from here this is not the time«
Struck by the energy of her manner Oliver looked up in her face with great
surprise She seemed to speak the truth her countenance was white and agitated
and she trembled with very earnestness
»I have saved you from being illused once and I will again and I do now«
continued the girl aloud »for those who would have fetched you if I had not
would have been far more rough than me I have promised for your being quiet and
silent if you are not you will only do harm to yourself and me too and
perhaps be my death See here I have borne all this for you already as true as
God sees me show it«
She pointed hastily to some livid bruises on her neck and arms and
continued with great rapidity
»Remember this And dont let me suffer more for you just now If I could
help you I would but I have not the power They dont mean to harm you
whatever they make you do is no fault of yours Hush Every word from you is a
blow for me Give me your hand Make haste Your hand«
She caught the hand which Oliver instinctively placed in hers and blowing
out the light drew him after her up the stairs The door was opened quickly
by some one shrouded in the darkness and was as quickly closed when they had
passed out A hackneycabriolet was in waiting with the same vehemence which
she had exhibited in addressing Oliver the girl pulled him in with her and
drew the curtains close The driver wanted no directions but lashed his horse
into full speed without the delay of an instant
The girl still held Oliver fast by the hand and continued to pour into his
ear the warnings and assurances she had already imparted All was so quick and
hurried that he had scarcely time to recollect where he was or how he came
there when the carriage stopped at the house to which the Jews steps had been
directed on the previous evening
For one brief moment Oliver cast a hurried glance along the empty street
and a cry for help hung upon his lips But the girls voice was in his ear
beseeching him in such tones of agony to remember her that he had not the heart
to utter it While he hesitated the opportunity was gone he was already in the
house and the door was shut
»This way« said the girl releasing her hold for the first time »Bill«
»Hallo« replied Sikes appearing at the head of the stairs with a candle
»Oh Thats the time of day Come on«
This was a very strong expression of approbation an uncommonly hearty
welcome from a person of Mr Sikess temperament Nancy appearing much
gratified thereby saluted him cordially
»Bullseyes gone home with Tom« observed Sikes as he lighted them up
»Hed have been in the way«
»Thats right« rejoined Nancy
»So youve got the kid« said Sikes when they had all reached the room
closing the door as he spoke
»Yes here he is« replied Nancy
»Did he come quiet« inquired Sikes
»Like a lamb« rejoined Nancy
»Im glad to hear it« said Sikes looking grimly at Oliver »for the sake
of his young carcase as would otherways have suffered for it Come here young
un and let me read you a lectur which is as well got over at once«
Thus addressing his new pupil Mr Sikes pulled off Olivers cap and threw
it into a corner and then taking him by the shoulder sat himself down by the
table and stood the boy in front of him
»Now first do you know wot this is« inquired Sikes taking up a
pocketpistol which lay on the table
Oliver replied in the affirmative
»Well then look here« continued Sikes »This is powder that eres a
bullet and this is a little bit of a old hat for waddin«
Oliver murmured his comprehension of the different bodies referred to and
Mr Sikes proceeded to load the pistol with great nicety and deliberation
»Now its loaded« said Mr Sikes when he had finished
»Yes I see it is sir« replied Oliver
»Well« said the robber grasping Olivers wrist and putting the barrel so
close to his temple that they touched at which moment the boy could not repress
a start »if you speak a word when youre out o doors with me except when I
speak to you that loading will be in your head without notice So if you do
make up your mind to speak without leave say your prayers first«
Having bestowed a scowl upon the object of this warning to increase its
effect Mr Sikes continued
»As near as I know there isnt anybody as would be asking very partickler
arter you if you was disposed of so I neednt take this devilandall of
trouble to explain matters to you if it warnt for your own good Dye hear
me«
»The short and the long of what you mean« said Nancy speaking very
emphatically and slightly frowning at Oliver as if to bespeak his serious
attention to her words »is that if youre crossed by him in this job you have
on hand youll prevent his ever telling tales afterwards by shooting him
through the head and will take your chance of swinging for it as you do for a
great many other things in the way of business every month of your life«
»Thats it« observed Mr Sikes approvingly »women can always put things
in fewest words Except when its blowing up and then they lengthens it out
And now that hes thoroughly up to it lets have some supper and get a snooze
before starting«
In pursuance of this request Nancy quickly laid the cloth disappearing for
a few minutes she presently returned with a pot of porter and a dish of sheeps
heads which gave occasion to several pleasant witticisms on the part of Mr
Sikes founded upon the singular coincidence of jemmies being a cant name
common to them and also to an ingenious implement much used in his profession
Indeed the worthy gentleman stimulated perhaps by the immediate prospect of
being on active service was in great spirits and good humour in proof whereof
it may be here remarked that he humorously drank all the beer at a draught and
did not utter on a rough calculation more than fourscore oaths during the
whole progress of the meal
Supper being ended it may be easily conceived that Oliver had no great
appetite for it Mr Sikes disposed of a couple of glasses of spirits and
water and threw himself on the bed ordering Nancy with many imprecations in
case of failure to call him at five precisely Oliver stretched himself in his
clothes by command of the same authority on a mattress upon the floor and the
girl mending the fire sat before it in readiness to rouse them at the
appointed time
For a long time Oliver lay awake thinking it not impossible that Nancy
might seek that opportunity of whispering some further advice but the girl sat
brooding over the fire without moving save now and then to trim the light
Weary with watching and anxiety he at length fell asleep
When he awoke the table was covered with teathings and Sikes was
thrusting various articles into the pockets of his greatcoat which hung over
the back of a chair Nancy was busily engaged in preparing breakfast It was not
yet daylight for the candle was still burning and it was quite dark outside A
sharp rain too was beating against the windowpanes and the sky looked black
and cloudy
»Now then« growled Sikes as Oliver started up »halfpast five Look
sharp or youll get no breakfast for its late as it is«
Oliver was not long in making his toilet having taken some breakfast he
replied to a surly inquiry from Sikes by saying that he was quite ready
Nancy scarcely looking at the boy threw him a handkerchief to tie round
his throat Sikes gave him a large rough cape to button over his shoulders Thus
attired he gave his hand to the robber who merely pausing to show him with a
menacing gesture that he had that same pistol in a sidepocket of his
greatcoat clasped it firmly in his and exchanging a farewell with Nancy led
him away
Oliver turned for an instant when they reached the door in the hope of
meeting a look from the girl But she had resumed her old seat in front of the
fire and sat perfectly motionless before it
Chapter XXI
The Expedition
It was a cheerless morning when they got into the street blowing and raining
hard and the clouds looking dull and stormy The night had been very wet large
pools of water had collected in the road and the kennels were overflowing
There was a faint glimmering of the coming day in the sky but it rather
aggravated than relieved the gloom of the scene the sombre light only serving
to pale that which the street lamps afforded without shedding any warmer or
brighter tints upon the wet housetops and dreary streets There appeared to be
nobody stirring in that quarter of the town the windows of the houses were all
closely shut and the streets through which they passed were noiseless and
empty
By the time they had turned into the Bethnal Green Road the day had fairly
begun to break Many of the lamps were already extinguished a few country
waggons were slowly toiling on towards London now and then a stagecoach
covered with mud rattled briskly by the driver bestowing as he passed an
admonitory lash upon the heavy waggoner who by keeping on the wrong side of the
road had endangered his arriving at the office a quarter of a minute after his
time The publichouses with gaslights burning inside were already open By
degrees other shops began to be unclosed and a few scattered people were met
with Then came straggling groups of labourers going to their work then men
and women with fishbaskets on their heads donkeycarts laden with vegetables
chaisecarts filled with livestock or whole carcasses of meat milkwomen with
pails an unbroken concourse of people trudging out with various supplies to
the eastern suburbs of the town As they approached the City the noise and
traffic gradually increased when they threaded the streets between Shoreditch
and Smithfield it had swelled into a roar of sound and bustle It was as light
as it was likely to be till night came on again and the busy morning of half
the London population had begun
Turning down Sun Street and Crown Street and crossing Finsbury Square Mr
Sikes struck by way of Chiswell Street into Barbican thence into Long Lane
and so into Smithfield from which latter place arose a tumult of discordant
sounds that filled Oliver Twist with amazement
It was marketmorning The ground was covered nearly ankledeep with filth
and mire a thick steam perpetually rising from the reeking bodies of the
cattle and mingling with the fog which seemed to rest upon the chimneytops
hung heavily above All the pens in the centre of the large area and as many
temporary pens as could be crowded into the vacant space were filled with
sheep tied up to posts by the gutter side were long lines of beasts and oxen
three or four deep Countrymen butchers drovers hawkers boys thieves
idlers and vagabonds of every low grade were mingled together in a mass the
whistling of drovers the barking of dogs the bellowing and plunging of oxen
the bleating of sheep the grunting and squeaking of pigs the cries of hawkers
the shouts oaths and quarrelling on all sides the ringing of bells and roar
of voices that issued from every publichouse the crowding pushing driving
beating whooping and yelling the hideous and discordant din that resounded
from every corner of the market and the unwashed unshaven squalid and dirty
figures constantly running to and fro and bursting in and out of the throng
rendered it a stunning and bewildering scene which quite confounded the senses
Mr Sikes dragging Oliver after him elbowed his way through the thickest
of the crowd and bestowed very little attention on the numerous sights and
sounds which so astonished the boy He nodded twice or thrice to a passing
friend and resisting as many invitations to take a morning dram pressed
steadily onward until they were clear of the turmoil and had made their way
through Hosier Lane into Holborn
»Now young un« said Sikes looking up at the clock of St Andrews Church
»hard upon seven you must step out Come dont lag behind already Lazylegs«
Mr Sikes accompanied this speech with a jerk at his little companions
wrist Oliver quickening his pace into a kind of trot between a fast walk and
a run kept up with the rapid strides of the housebreaker as well as he could
They held their course at this rate until they had passed Hyde Park corner
and were on their way to Kensington when Sikes relaxed his pace until an empty
cart which was at some little distance behind came up Seeing Hounslow written
on it he asked the driver with as much civility as he could assume if he would
give them a lift as far as Isleworth
»Jump up« said the man »Is that your boy«
»Yes hes my boy« replied Sikes looking hard at Oliver and putting his
hand abstractedly into the pocket where the pistol was
»Your father walks rather too quick for you dont he my man« inquired the
driver seeing that Oliver was out of breath
»Not a bit of it« replied Sikes interposing »Hes used to it Here take
hold of my hand Ned In with you«
Thus addressing Oliver he helped him into the cart and the driver
pointing to a heap of sacks told him to lie down there and rest himself
As they passed the different milestones Oliver wondered more and more
where his companion meant to take him Kensington Hammersmith Chiswick Kew
Bridge Brentford were all passed and yet they went on as steadily as if they
had only just begun their journey At length they came to a publichouse called
the Coach and Horses a little way beyond which another road appeared to turn
off And here the cart stopped
Sikes dismounted with great precipitation holding Oliver by the hand all
the while and lifting him down directly bestowed a furious look upon him and
rapped the sidepocket with his fist in a significant manner
»Goodbye boy« said the man
»Hes sulky« replied Sikes giving him a shake »hes sulky A young dog
Dont mind him«
»Not I« rejoined the other getting into his cart »Its a fine day after
all« And he drove away
Sikes waited until he had fairly gone and then telling Oliver he might
look about him if he wanted once again led him onward on his journey
They turned round to the left a short way past the publichouse and then
taking a righthand road walked on for a long time passing many large gardens
and gentlemens houses on both sides of the way and stopping for nothing but a
little beer until they reached a town Here against the wall of a house Oliver
saw written up in pretty large letters Hampton They lingered about in the
fields for some hours At length they came back into the town and turning
into an old publichouse with a defaced signboard ordered some dinner by the
kitchen fire
The kitchen was an old lowroofed room with a great beam across the middle
of the ceiling and benches with high backs to them by the fire on which were
seated several rough men in smockfrocks drinking and smoking They took no
notice of Oliver and very little of Sikes and as Sikes took very little
notice of them he and his young comrade sat in a corner by themselves without
being much troubled by their company
They had some cold meat for dinner and sat so long after it while Mr
Sikes indulged himself with three or four pipes that Oliver began to feel quite
certain they were not going any further Being much tired with the walk and
getting up so early he dosed a little at first then quite overpowered by
fatigue and the fumes of the tobacco fell asleep
It was quite dark when he was awakened by a push from Sikes Rousing himself
sufficiently to sit up and look about him he found that worthy in close
fellowship and communication with a labouring man over a pint of ale
»So youre going on to Lower Halliford are you« inquired Sikes
»Yes I am« replied the man who seemed a little the worse or better as
the case might be for drinking »and not slow about it neither My horse
hasnt got a load behind him going back as he had coming up in the mornin and
he wont be long adoing of it Heres luck to him Ecod hes a good un«
»Could you give my boy and me a lift as far as there« demanded Sikes
pushing the ale towards his new friend
»If youre going directly I can« replied the man looking out of the pot
»Are you going to Halliford«
»Going on to Shepperton« replied Sikes
»Im your man as far as I go« replied the other »Is all paid Becky«
»Yes the other gentlemans paid« replied the girl
»I say« said the man with tipsy gravity »that wont do you know«
»Why not« rejoined Sikes »Youre agoing to accommodate us and wots to
prevent my standing treat for a pint or so in return«
The stranger reflected upon this argument with a very profound face having
done so he seized Sikes by the hand and declared he was a real good fellow To
which Mr Sikes replied he was joking as if he had been sober there would
lave been strong reason to suppose he was
After the exchange of a few more compliments they bade the company good
night and went out the girl gathering up the pots and glasses as they did so
and lounging out to the door with her hands full to see the party start
The horse whose health had been drunk in his absence was standing outside
ready harnessed to the cart Oliver and Sikes got in without any further
ceremony and the man to whom he belonged having lingered for a minute or two
to bear him up and to defy the hostler and the world to produce his equal
mounted also Then the hostler was told to give the horse his head and his
head being given him he made a very unpleasant use of it tossing it into the
air with great disdain and running into the parlour windows over the way after
performing those feats and supporting himself for a short time on his
hindlegs he started off at great speed and rattled out of the town right
gallantly
The night was very dark A damp mist rose from the river and the marshy
ground about and spread itself over the dreary fields It was piercing cold
too all was gloomy and black Not a word was spoken for the driver had grown
sleepy and Sikes was in no mood to lead him into conversation Oliver sat
huddled together in a corner of the cart bewildered with alarm and
apprehension and figuring strange objects in the gaunt trees whose branches
waved grimly to and fro as if in some fantastic joy at the desolation of the
scene
As they passed Sunbury Church the clock struck seven There was a light in
the ferryhouse window opposite which streamed across the road and threw into
more sombre shadow a dark yewtree with graves beneath it There was a dull
sound of falling water not far off and the leaves of the old tree stirred
gently in the night wind It seemed like quiet music for the repose of the dead
Sunbury was passed through and they came again into the lonely road Two or
three miles more and the cart stopped Sikes alighted took Oliver by the hand
and they once again walked on
They turned into no house at Shepperton as the weary boy had expected but
still kept walking on in mud and darkness through gloomy lanes and over cold
open wastes until they came within sight of the lights of a town at no great
distance On looking intently forward Oliver saw that the water was just below
them and that they were coming to the foot of a bridge
Sikes kept straight on until they were close upon the bridge then turned
suddenly down a bank upon the left
»The water« thought Oliver turning sick with fear »He has brought me to
this lonely place to murder me«
He was about to throw himself on the ground and make one struggle for his
young life when he saw that they stood before a solitary house all ruinous and
decayed There was a window on each side of the dilapidated entrance and one
story above but no light was visible The house was dark dismantled and to
all appearance uninhabited
Sikes with Olivers hand still in his softly approached the low porch and
raised the latch The door yielded to the pressure and they passed in together
Chapter XXII
The Burglary
»Hallo« cried a loud hoarse voice as soon as they set foot in the passage
»Dont make such a row« said Sykes bolting the door »Show a glim Toby«
»Aha my pal« cried the same voice »A glim Barney a glim Show the
gentleman in Barney wake up first if convenient«
The speaker appeared to throw a bootjack or some such article at the
person he addressed to rouse him from his slumbers for the noise of a wooden
body falling violently was heard and then an indistinct muttering as of a
man between asleep and awake
»Do you hear« cried the same voice »Theres Bill Sikes in the passage with
nobody to do the civil to him and you sleeping there as if you took laudanum
with your meals and nothing stronger Are you any fresher now or do you want
the iron candlestick to wake you thoroughly«
A pair of slipshod feet shuffled hastily across the bare floor of the
room as this interrogatory was put and there issued from a door on the right
hand first a feeble candle and next the form of the same individual who has
been heretofore described as labouring under the infirmity of speaking through
his nose and officiating as waiter at the publichouse on Saffron Hill
»Bister Sikes« exclaimed Barney with real or counterfeit joy »cub id
sir cub id«
»Here you get on first« said Sikes putting Oliver in front of him
»Quicker or I shall tread upon your heels«
Muttering a curse upon his tardiness Sikes pushed Oliver before him and
they entered a low dark room with a smoky fire two or three broken chairs a
table and a very old couch on which with his legs much higher than his head
a man was reposing at full length smoking a long clay pipe He was dressed in a
smartlycut snuffcoloured coat with large brass buttons an orange
neckerchief a coarse staring shawlpattern waistcoat and drab breeches Mr
Crackit for he it was had no very great quantity of hair either upon his head
or face but what he had was of a reddish dye and tortured into long corkscrew
curls through which he occasionally thrust some very dirty fingers ornamented
with large common rings He was a trifle above the middle size and apparently
rather weak in the legs but this circumstance by no means detracted from his
own admiration of his topboots which he contemplated in their elevated
situation with lively satisfaction
»Bill my boy« said this figure turning his head towards the door »Im
glad to see you I was almost afraid youd given it up in which case I should
have made a personal wentur Hallo«
Uttering this exclamation in a tone of great surprise as his eye rested on
Oliver Mr Toby Crackit brought himself into a sitting posture and demanded
who that was
»The boy Only the boy« replied Sikes drawing a chair towards the fire
»Wud of Bister Fagins lads« exclaimed Barney with a grin
»Fagins eh« exclaimed Toby looking at Oliver »Wot an inwalable boy
thatll make for the old ladies pockets in chapels His mug is a fortun to
him«
»There theres enough of that« interposed Sikes impatiently and
stooping over his recumbent friend he whispered a few words in his ear at
which Mr Crackit laughed immensely and honoured Oliver with a long stare of
astonishment
»Now« said Sikes as he resumed his seat »if youll give us something to
eat and drink while were waiting youll put some heart in us or in me at all
events Sit down by the fire younker and rest yourself for youll have to go
out with us again to though not very far off«
Oliver looked at Sikes in mute and timid wonder and drawing a stool to the
fire sat with his aching head upon his hands scarcely knowing where he was or
what was passing around him
»Here« said Toby as the young Jew placed some fragments of food and a
bottle upon the table »Success to the crack« He rose to honour the toast and
carefully depositing his empty pipe in a corner advanced to the table filled a
glass with spirits and drank off its contents Mr Sikes did the same
»A drain for the boy« said Toby halffilling a wine glass »Down with it
innocence«
»Indeed« said Oliver looking piteously up into the mans face »indeed I
«
»Down with it« echoed Toby »Do you think I dont know whats good for you
Tell him to drink it Bill«
»He had better« said Sikes clapping his hand upon his pocket »Burn my
body if he isnt more trouble than a whole family of Dodgers Drink it you
perwerse imp drink it«
Frightened by the menacing gestures of the two men Oliver hastily swallowed
the contents of the glass and immediately fell into a violent fit of coughing
which delighted Toby Crackit and Barney and even drew a smile from the surly
Mr Sikes
This done and Sikes having satisfied his appetite Oliver could eat nothing
but a small crust of bread which they made him swallow the two men laid
themselves down on chairs for a short nap Oliver retained his stool by the
fire Barney wrapped in a blanket stretched himself on the floor close
outside the fender
They slept or appeared to sleep for some time nobody stirring but Barney
who rose once or twice to throw coals upon the fire Oliver fell into a heavy
doze imagining himself straying along the gloomy lanes or wandering about the
dark churchyard or retracing some one or other of the scenes of the past day
when he was roused by Toby Crackit jumping up and declaring it was halfpast
one
In an instant the other two were on their legs and all were actively
engaged in busy preparation Sikes and his companion enveloped their necks and
chins in large dark shawls and drew on their greatcoats Barney opening a
cupboard brought forth several articles which he hastily crammed into the
pockets
»Barkers for me Barney« said Toby Crackit
»Here they are« replied Barney producing a pair of pistols »You loaded
them yourself«
»All right« replied Toby stowing them away »The persuaders«
»Ive got em« replied Sikes
»Crape keys centrebits darkies nothing forgotten« inquired Toby
fastening a small crowbar to a loop inside the skirt of his coat
»All right« rejoined his companion »Bring them bits of timber Barney
Thats the time of day«
With these words he took a thick stick from Barneys hands who having
delivered another to Toby busied himself in fastening on Olivers cape
»Now then« said Sikes holding out his hand
Oliver who was completely stupefied by the unwonted exercise and the air
and the drink which had been forced upon him put his hand mechanically into
that which Sikes extended for the purpose
»Take his other hand Toby« said Sikes »Look out Barney«
The man went to the door and returned to announce that all was quiet The
two robbers issued forth with Oliver between them Barney having made all fast
rolled himself up as before and was soon asleep again
It was now intensely dark The fog was much heavier than it had been in the
early part of the night and the atmosphere was so damp that although no rain
fell Olivers hair and eyebrows within a few minutes after leaving the house
had become stiff with the halffrozen moisture that was floating about They
crossed the bridge and kept on towards the lights which he had seen before
They were at no great distance off and as they walked pretty briskly they
soon arrived at Chertsey
»Slap through the town« whispered Sikes »therell be nobody in the way
tonight to see us«
Toby acquiesced and they hurried through the main street of the little
town which at that late hour was wholly deserted A dim light shone at
intervals from some bedroom window and the hoarse barking of dogs occasionally
broke the silence of the night But there was nobody abroad They had cleared
the town as the churchbell struck two
Quickening their pace they turned up a road upon the left hand After
walking about a quarter of a mile they stopped before a detached house
surrounded by a wall to the top of which Toby Crackit scarcely pausing to
take breath climbed in a twinkling
»The boy next« said Toby »Hoist him up Ill catch hold of him«
Before Oliver had time to look round Sikes had caught him under the arms
and in three or four seconds he and Toby were lying on the grass on the other
side Sikes followed directly And they stole cautiously towards the house
And now for the first time Oliver wellnigh mad with grief and terror
saw that housebreaking and robbery if not murder were the objects of the
expedition He clasped his hands together and involuntarily uttered a subdued
exclamation of horror A mist came before his eyes the cold sweat stood upon
his ashy face his limbs failed him and he sank upon his knees
»Get up« murmured Sikes trembling with rage and drawing the pistol from
his pocket »Get up or Ill strew your brains upon the grass«
»Oh for Gods sake let me go« cried Oliver »let me run away and die in
the fields I will never come near London never never Oh pray have mercy on
me and do not make me steal For the love of all the bright Angels that rest in
Heaven have mercy upon me«
The man to whom this appeal was made swore a dreadful oath and had cocked
the pistol when Toby striking it from his grasp placed his hand upon the
boys mouth and dragged him to the house
»Hush« cried the man »it wont answer here Say another word and Ill do
your business myself with a crack on the head That makes no noise and is quite
as certain and more genteel Here Bill wrench the shutter open Hes game
enough now Ill engage Ive seen older hands of his age took the same way for
a minute or two on a cold night«
Sikes invoking terrific imprecations upon Fagins head for sending Oliver
on such an errand plied the crowbar vigorously but with little noise After
some delay and some assistance from Toby the shutter to which he had referred
swung open on its hinges
It was a little lattice window about five feet and a half above the ground
at the back of the house which belonged to a scullery or small brewingplace
at the end of the passage The aperture was so small that the inmates had
probably not thought it worth while to defend it more securely but it was large
enough to admit a boy of Olivers size nevertheless A very brief exercise of
Mr Sikess art sufficed to overcome the fastening of the lattice and it soon
stood wide open also
»Now listen you young limb« whispered Sikes drawing a dark lantern from
his pocket and throwing the glare full on Olivers face »Im a going to put
you through there Take this light go softly up the steps straight afore you
and along the little hall to the street door unfasten it and let us in«
»Theres a bolt at the top you wont be able to reach« interposed Toby
»Stand upon one of the hall chairs There are three there Bill with a jolly
large blue unicorn and gold pitchfork on em which is the old ladys arms«
»Keep quiet cant you« replied Sikes with a threatening look »The
roomdoor is open is it«
»Wide« replied Toby after peeping in to satisfy himself »The game of that
is that they always leave it open with a catch so that the dog whos got a
bed in here may walk up and down the passage when he feels wakeful Ha ha
Barney ticed him away tonight So neat«
Although Mr Crackit spoke in a scarcely audible whisper and laughed
without noise Sikes imperiously commanded him to be silent and to get to work
Toby complied by first producing his lantern and placing it on the ground
then by planting himself firmly with his head against the wall beneath the
window and his hands upon his knees so as to make a step of his back This was
no sooner done than Sikes mounting upon him put Oliver gently through the
window with his feet first and without leaving hold of his collar planted him
safely on the floor inside
»Take this lantern« said Sikes looking into the room »You see the stairs
afore you«
Oliver more dead than alive gasped out Yes Sikes pointing to the
streetdoor with the pistolbarrel briefly advised him to take notice that he
was within shot all the way and that if he faltered he would fall dead that
instant
»Its done in a minute« said Sikes in the same low whisper »Directly I
leave go of you do your work Hark«
»Whats that« whispered the other man
They listened intently
»Nothing« said Sikes releasing his hold of Oliver »Now«
In the short time he had had to collect his senses the boy had firmly
resolved that whether he died in the attempt or not he would make one effort
to dart up stairs from the hall and alarm the family Filled with this idea he
advanced at once but stealthily
»Come back« suddenly cried Sikes aloud »Back back«
Scared by the sudden breaking of the dead stillness of the place and by a
loud cry which followed it Oliver let his lantern fall and knew not whether to
advance or fly
The cry was repeated a light appeared a vision of two terrified
halfdressed men at the top of the stairs swam before his eyes a flash a
loud noise a smoke a crash somewhere but where he knew not and he
staggered back
Sikes had disappeared for an instant but he was up again and had him by
the collar before the smoke had cleared away He fired his own pistol after the
men who were already retreating and dragged the boy up
»Clasp your arm tighter« said Sikes as he drew him through the window
»Give me a shawl here Theyve hit him Quick How the boy bleeds«
Then came the loud ringing of a bell mingled with the noise of firearms
and the shouts of men and the sensation of being carried over uneven ground at
a rapid pace And then the noises grew confused in the distance and a cold
deadly feeling crept over the boys heart and he saw or heard no more
Chapter XXIII
Which Contains the Substance of a Pleasant Conversation Between Mr Bumble and a
Lady and Shows that Even a Beadle May Be Susceptible on Some Points
The night was bitter cold The snow lay on the ground frozen into a hard thick
crust so that only the heaps that had drifted into byways and corners were
affected by the sharp wind that howled abroad which as if expending increased
fury on such prey as it found caught it savagely up in clouds and whirling it
into a thousand misty eddies scattered it in air Bleak dark and piercing
cold it was a night for the wellhoused and fed to draw round the bright fire
and thank God they were at home and for the homeless starving wretch to lay
him down and die Many hungerworn outcasts close their eyes in our bare
streets at such times who let their crimes have been what they may can
hardly open them in a more bitter world
Such was the aspect of outofdoors affairs when Mrs Corney the matron of
the workhouse to which our readers have been already introduced as the
birthplace of Oliver Twist sat herself down before a cheerful fire in her own
little room and glanced with no small degree of complacency at a small round
table on which stood a tray of corresponding size furnished with all necessary
materials for the most grateful meal that matrons enjoy In fact Mrs Corney
was about to solace herself with a cup of tea As she glanced from the table to
the fireplace where the smallest of all possible kettles was singing a small
song in a small voice her inward satisfaction evidently increased so much
so indeed that Mrs Corney smiled
»Well« said the matron leaning her elbow on the table and looking
reflectively at the fire »Im sure we have all on us a great deal to be
grateful for A great deal if we did but know it Ah«
Mrs Corney shook her head mournfully as if deploring the mental blindness
of those paupers who did not know it and thrusting a silver spoon private
property into the inmost recesses of a twoounce tin teacaddy proceeded to
make the tea
How slight a thing will disturb the equanimity of our frail minds The black
teapot being very small and easily filled ran over while Mrs Corney was
moralising and the water slightly scalded Mrs Corneys hand
»Drat the pot« said the worthy matron setting it down very hastily on the
hob »a little stupid thing that only holds a couple of cups What use is it
of to anybody Except« said Mrs Corney pausing »except to a poor desolate
creature like me Oh dear«
With these words the matron dropped into her chair and once more resting
her elbow on the table thought of her solitary fate The small teapot and the
single cup had awakened in her mind sad recollections of Mr Corney who had
not been dead more than fiveandtwenty years and she was overpowered
»I shall never get another« said Mrs Corney pettishly »I shall never get
another like him«
Whether this remark bore reference to the husband or the teapot is
uncertain It might have been the latter for Mrs Corney looked at it as she
spoke and took it up afterwards She had just tasted her first cup when she
was disturbed by a soft tap at the roomdoor
»Oh come in with you« said Mrs Corney sharply »Some of the old women
dying I suppose They always die when Im at meals Dont stand there letting
the cold air in dont Whats amiss now eh«
»Nothing maam nothing« replied a mans voice
»Dear me« exclaimed the matron in a much sweeter tone »is that Mr
Bumble«
»At your service maam« said Mr Bumble who had been stopping outside to
rub his shoes clean and to shake the snow off his coat and who now made his
appearance bearing the cocked hat in one hand and a bundle in the other »Shall
I shut the door maam«
The lady modestly hesitated to reply lest there should be any impropriety
in holding an interview with Mr Bumble with closed doors Mr Bumble taking
advantage of the hesitation and being very cold himself shut it without
permission
»Hard weather Mr Bumble« said the matron
»Hard indeed maam« replied the beadle »Antiporochial weather this
maam We have given away Mrs Corney we have given away a matter of twenty
quartern loaves and a cheese and a half this very blessed afternoon and yet
them paupers are not contented«
»Of course not When would they be Mr Bumble« said the matron sipping
her tea
»When indeed maam« rejoined Mr Bumble »Why heres one man that in
consideration of his wife and large family has a quartern loaf and a good pound
of cheese full weight Is he grateful maam Is he grateful Not a copper
farthings worth of it What does he do maam but ask for a few coals if its
only a pocket handkerchief full he says Coals What would he do with coals
Toast his cheese with em and then come back for more Thats the way with
these people maam give em a apron full of coals to and theyll come back
for another the day after tomorrow as brazen as alabaster«
The matron expressed her entire concurrence in this intelligible simile and
the beadle went on
»I never« said Mr Bumble »see anything like the pitch its got to The
day afore yesterday a man you have been a married woman maam and I may
mention it to you a man with hardly a rag upon his back here Mrs Corney
looked at the floor goes to our overseers door when he has got company coming
to dinner and says he must be relieved Mrs Corney As he wouldnt go away
and shocked the company very much our overseer sent him out a pound of potatoes
and half a pint of oatmeal My heart says the ungrateful villain whats the
use of this to me You might as well give me a pair of iron spectacles Very
good says our overseer taking em away again you wont get anything else
here Then Ill die in the streets says the vagrant Oh no you wont says our
overseer«
»Ha ha That was very good So like Mr Grannett wasnt it« interposed
the matron »Well Mr Bumble«
»Well maam« rejoined the beadle »he went away and he did die in the
streets Theres a obstinate pauper for you«
»It beats anything I could have believed« observed the matron emphatically
»But dont you think outofdoor relief a very bad thing any way Mr Bumble
Youre a gentleman of experience and ought to know Come«
»Mrs Corney« said the beadle smiling as men smile who are conscious of
superior information »outofdoor relief properly managed properly managed
maam is the porochial safeguard The great principle of outofdoor relief is
to give the paupers exactly what they dont want and then they get tired of
coming«
»Dear me« exclaimed Mrs Corney »Well that is a good one too«
»Yes Betwixt you and me maam« returned Mr Bumble »thats the great
principle and thats the reason why if you look at any cases that get into
them owdacious newspapers youll always observe that sick families have been
relieved with slices of cheese Thats the rule now Mrs Corney all over the
country But however« said the beadle stopping to unpack his bundle »these
are official secrets maam not to be spoken of except as I may say among
the porochial officers such as ourselves This is the port wine maam that
the board ordered for the infirmary real fresh genuine port wine only out of
the cask this forenoon clear as a bell and no sediment«
Having held the first bottle up to the light and shaken it well to test its
excellence Mr Bumble placed them both on the top of a chest of drawers folded
the handkerchief in which they had been wrapped put it carefully in his pocket
and took up his hat as if to go
»Youll have a very cold walk Mr Bumble« said the matron
»It blows maam« replied Mr Bumble turning up his coatcollar »enough
to cut ones ears off«
The matron looked from the little kettle to the beadle who was moving
towards the door and as the beadle coughed preparatory to bidding her good
night bashfully inquired whether whether he wouldnt take a cup of tea
Mr Bumble instantaneously turned back his collar again laid his hat and
stick upon a chair and drew another chair up to the table As he slowly seated
himself he looked at the lady She fixed her eyes upon the little teapot Mr
Bumble coughed again and slightly smiled
Mrs Corney rose to get another cup and saucer from the closet As she sat
down her eyes once again encountered those of the gallant beadle she coloured
and applied herself to the task of making his tea Again Mr Bumble coughed
louder this time than he had coughed yet
»Sweet Mr Bumble« inquired the matron taking up the sugarbasin
»Very sweet indeed maam« replied Mr Bumble He fixed his eyes on Mrs
Corney as he said this and if ever a beadle looked tender Mr Bumble was that
beadle at that moment
The tea was made and handed in silence Mr Bumble having spread a
handkerchief over his knees to prevent the crumbs from sullying the splendour of
his shorts began to eat and drink varying these amusements occasionally by
fetching a deep sigh which however had no injurious effect upon his appetite
but on the contrary rather seemed to facilitate his operations in the tea and
toast department
»You have a cat maam I see« said Mr Bumble glancing at one who in the
centre of her family was basking before the fire »and kittens too I declare«
»I am so fond of them Mr Bumble you cant think« replied the matron
»Theyre so happy so frolicsome and so cheerful that they are quite
companions for me«
»Very nice animals maam« replied Mr Bumble approvingly »so very
domestic«
»Oh yes« rejoined the matron with enthusiasm »so fond of their home too
that its quite a pleasure Im sure«
»Mrs Corney maam« said Mr Bumble slowly and marking the time with his
teaspoon »I mean to say this maam that any cat or kitten that could live
with you maam and not be fond of its home must be a ass maam«
»Oh Mr Bumble« remonstrated Mrs Corney
»Its of no use disguising facts maam« said Mr Bumble slowly
flourishing the teaspoon with a kind of amorous dignity which made him doubly
impressive »I would drown it myself with pleasure«
»Then youre a cruel man« said the matron vivaciously as she held out her
hand for the beadles cup »and a very hardhearted man besides«
»Hardhearted maam« said Mr Bumble »Hard« Mr Bumble resigned his cup
without another word squeezed Mrs Corneys little finger as she took it and
inflicting two open handed slaps upon his laced waistcoat gave a mighty sigh
and hitched his chair a very little morsel farther from the fire
It was a round table and as Mrs Corney and Mr Bumble had been sitting
opposite each other with no great space between them and fronting the fire it
will be seen that Mr Bumble in receding from the fire and still keeping at
the table increased the distance between himself and Mrs Corney which
proceeding some prudent readers will doubtless be disposed to admire and to
consider an act of great heroism on Mr Bumbles part he being in some sort
tempted by time place and opportunity to give utterance to certain soft
nothings which however well they may become the lips of the light and
thoughtless do seem immeasurably beneath the dignity of judges of the land
members of parliament ministers of state lord mayors and other great public
functionaries but more particularly beneath the stateliness and gravity of a
beadle who as is well known should be the sternest and most inflexible among
them all
Whatever were Mr Bumbles intentions however and no doubt they were of
the best it unfortunately happened as has been twice before remarked that
the table was a round one consequently Mr Bumble moving his chair by little
and little soon began to diminish the distance between himself and the matron
and continuing to travel round the outer edge of the circle brought his chair
in time close to that in which the matron was seated Indeed the two chairs
touched and when they did so Mr Bumble stopped
Now if the matron had moved her chair to the right she would have been
scorched by the fire and if to the left she must have fallen into Mr Bumbles
arms so being a discreet matron and no doubt foreseeing these consequences at
a glance she remained where she was and handed Mr Bumble another cup of tea
»Hardhearted Mrs Corney« said Mr Bumble stirring his tea and looking
up into the matrons face »are you hardhearted Mrs Corney«
»Dear me« exclaimed the matron »what a very curious question from a single
man What can you want to know for Mr Bumble«
The beadle drank his tea to the last drop finished a piece of toast
whisked the crumbs off his knees wiped his lips and deliberately kissed the
matron
»Mr Bumble« cried that discreet lady in a whisper for the fright was so
great that she had quite lost her voice »Mr Bumble I shall scream« Mr
Bumble made no reply but in a slow and dignified manner put his arm round the
matrons waist
As the lady had stated her intention of screaming of course she would have
screamed at this additional boldness but that the exertion was rendered
unnecessary by a hasty knocking at the door which was no sooner heard than Mr
Bumble darted with much agility to the wine bottles and began dusting them
with great violence while the matron sharply demanded who was there It is
worthy of remark as a curious physical instance of the efficacy of a sudden
surprise in counteracting the effects of extreme fear that her voice had quite
recovered all its official asperity
»If you please mistress« said a withered old female pauper hideously
ugly putting her head in at the door »Old Sally is agoing fast«
»Well whats that to me« angrily demanded the matron »I cant keep her
alive can I«
»No no mistress« replied the old woman »nobody can shes far beyond the
reach of help Ive seen a many people die little babes and great strong men
and I know when deaths acoming well enough But shes troubled in her mind
and when the fits are not on her and thats not often for she is dying very
hard she says she has got something to tell which you must hear Shell
never die quiet till you come mistress«
At this intelligence the worthy Mrs Corney muttered a variety of
invectives against old women who couldnt even die without purposely annoying
their betters and muffling herself in a thick shawl which she hastily caught
up briefly requested Mr Bumble to stay till she came back lest anything
particular should occur Bidding the messenger walk fast and not be all night
hobbling up the stairs she followed her from the room with a very ill grace
scolding all the way
Mr Bumbles conduct on being left to himself was rather inexplicable He
opened the closet counted the teaspoons weighed the sugartongs closely
inspected a silver milkpot to ascertain that it was of the genuine metal and
having satisfied his curiosity on these points put on his cockedhat
cornerwise and danced with much gravity four distinct times round the table
Having gone through this very extraordinary performance he took off the
cockedhat again and spreading himself before the fire with his back towards
it seemed to be mentally engaged in taking an exact inventory of the furniture
Chapter XXIV
Treats of a Very Poor Subject But Is a Short One and May Be Found of
Importance in This History
It was no unfit messenger of death who had disturbed the quiet of the matrons
room Her body was bent by age her limbs trembled with palsy her face
distorted into a mumbling leer resembled more the grotesque shaping of some
wild pencil than the work of Natures hand
Alas How few of Natures faces are left alone to gladden us with their
beauty The cares and sorrows and hungerings of the world change them as they
change hearts and it is only when those passions sleep and have lost their
hold for ever that the troubled clouds pass off and leave Heavens surface
clear It is a common thing for the countenances of the dead even in that fixed
and rigid state to subside into the longforgotten expression of sleeping
infancy and settle into the very look of early life so calm so peaceful do
they grow again that those who knew them in their happy childhood kneel by the
coffins side in awe and see the Angel even upon earth
The old crone tottered along the passages and up the stairs muttering some
indistinct answers to the chidings of her companion being at length compelled
to pause for breath she gave the light into her hand and remained behind to
follow as she might while the more nimble superior made her way to the room
where the sick woman lay
It was a bare garretroom with a dim light burning at the farther end
There was another old woman watching by the bed the parish apothecarys
apprentice was standing by the fire making a toothpick out of a quill
»Cold night Mrs Corney« said this young gentleman as the matron entered
»Very cold indeed sir« replied the mistress in her most civil tones and
dropping a curtsey as she spoke
»You should get better coals out of your contractors« said the apothecarys
deputy breaking a lump on the top of the fire with the rusty poker »these are
not at all the sort of thing for a cold night«
»Theyre the boards choosing sir« returned the matron »The least they
could do would be to keep us pretty warm for our places are hard enough«
The conversation was here interrupted by a moan from the sick woman
»Oh« said the young man turning his face towards the bed as if he had
previously quite forgotten the patient »its all UP there Mrs Corney«
»It is is it sir« asked the matron
»If she lasts a couple of hours I shall be surprised« said the
apothecarys apprentice intent upon the toothpicks point »Its a breakup of
the system altogether Is she dozing old lady«
The attendant stooped over the bed to ascertain and nodded in the
affirmative
»Then perhaps shell go off in that way if you dont make a row« said the
young man »Put the light on the floor She wont see it there«
The attendant did as she was told shaking her head meanwhile to intimate
that the woman would not die so easily having done so she resumed her seat by
the side of the other nurse who had by this time returned The mistress with
an expression of impatience wrapped herself in her shawl and sat at the foot
of the bed
The apothecarys apprentice having completed the manufacture of the
toothpick planted himself in front of the fire and made good use of it for ten
minutes or so when apparently growing rather dull he wished Mrs Corney joy of
her job and took himself off on tiptoe
When they had sat in silence for some time the two old women rose from the
bed and crouching over the fire held out their withered hands to catch the
heat The flame threw a ghastly light on their shrivelled faces and made their
ugliness appear terrible as in this position they began to converse in a low
voice
»Did she say any more Anny dear while I was gone« inquired the messenger
»Not a word« replied the other »She plucked and tore at her arms for a
little time but I held her hands and she soon dropped off She hasnt much
strength in her so I easily kept her quiet I aint so weak for an old woman
although I am on parish allowance no no«
»Did she drink the hot wine the doctor said she was to have« demanded the
first
»I tried to get it down« rejoined the other »But her teeth were tight set
and she clenched the mug so hard that it was as much as I could do to get it
back again So I drank it and it did me good«
Looking cautiously round to ascertain that they were not overheard the two
hags cowered nearer to the fire and chuckled heartily
»I mind the time« said the first speaker »when she would have done the
same and made rare fun of it afterwards«
»Ay that she would« rejoined the other »she had a merry heart A many
many beautiful corpses she laid out as nice and neat as waxwork My old eyes
have seen them ay and those old hands touched them too for I have helped
her scores of times«
Stretching forth her trembling fingers as she spoke the old creature shook
them exultingly before her face and fumbling in her pocket brought out an old
timediscoloured tin snuffbox from which she shook a few grains into the
outstretched palm of her companion and a few more into her own While they were
thus employed the matron who had been impatiently watching until the dying
woman should awaken from her stupor joined them by the fire and sharply asked
how long she was to wait
»Not long mistress« replied the second woman looking up into her face
»We have none of us long to wait for Death Patience patience Hell be here
soon enough for us all«
»Hold your tongue you doting idiot« said the matron sternly »You
Martha tell me has she been in this way before«
»Often« answered the first woman
»But will never be again« added the second one »that is shell never wake
again but once and mind mistress that wont be for long«
»Long or short« said the matron snappishly »she wont find me here when
she does wake take care both of you how you worry me again for nothing Its
no part of my duty to see all the old women in the house die and I wont
thats more Mind that you impudent old harridans If you make a fool of me
again Ill soon cure you I warrant you«
She was bouncing away when a cry from the two women who had turned towards
the bed caused her to look round The patient had raised herself upright and
was stretching her arms towards them
»Whos that« she cried in a hollow voice
»Hush hush« said one of the women stooping over her »Lie down lie
down«
»Ill never lie down again alive« said the woman struggling »I will tell
her Come here Nearer Let me whisper in your ear«
She clutched the matron by the arm and forcing her into a chair by the
bedside was about to speak when looking round she caught sight of the two old
women bending forward in the attitude of eager listeners
»Turn them away« said the old woman drowsily »make haste make haste«
The two old crones chiming in together began pouring out many piteous
lamentations that the poor dear was too far gone to know her best friends and
were uttering sundry protestations that they would never leave her when the
superior pushed them from the room closed the door and returned to the
bedside On being excluded the old ladies changed their tone and cried through
the keyhole that old Sally was drunk which indeed was not unlikely since in
addition to a moderate dose of opium prescribed by the apothecary she was
labouring under the effects of a final taste of ginandwater which had been
privily administered in the openness of their hearts by the worthy old ladies
themselves
»Now listen to me« said the dying woman aloud as if making a great effort
to revive one latent spark of energy »In this very room in this very bed I
once nursed a pretty young creetur that was brought into the house with her
feet cut and bruised with walking and all soiled with dust and blood She gave
birth to a boy and died Let me think what was the year again«
»Never mind the year« said the impatient auditor »what about her«
»Ay« murmured the sick woman relapsing into her former drowsy state »what
about her what about I know« she cried jumping fiercely up her face
flushed and her eyes starting from her head »I robbed her so I did She
wasnt cold I tell you she wasnt cold when I stole it«
»Stole what for Gods sake« cried the matron with a gesture as if she
would call for help
»It« replied the woman laying her hand over the others mouth »The only
thing she had She wanted clothes to keep her warm and food to eat but she had
kept it safe and had it in her bosom It was gold I tell you Rich gold that
might have saved her life«
»Gold« echoed the matron bending eagerly over the woman as she fell back
»Go on go on yes what of it Who was the mother When was it«
»She charged me to keep it safe« replied the woman with a groan »and
trusted me as the only woman about her I stole it in my heart when she first
showed it me hanging round her neck and the childs death perhaps is on me
besides They would have treated him better if they had known it all«
»Known what« asked the other »Speak«
»The boy grew so like his mother« said the woman rambling on and not
heeding the question »that I could never forget it when I saw his face Poor
girl poor girl She was so young too Such a gentle lamb Wait theres more
to tell I have not told you all have I«
»No no« replied the matron inclining her head to catch the words as
they came more faintly from the dying woman »Be quick or it may be too late«
»The mother« said the woman making a more violent effort than before »the
mother when the pains of death first came upon her whispered in my ear that if
her baby was born alive and thrived the day might come when it would not feel
so much disgraced to hear its poor young mother named And oh kind Heaven she
said folding her thin hands together whether it be boy or girl raise up some
friends for it in this troubled world and take pity upon a lonely desolate
child abandoned to its mercy«
»The boys name« demanded the matron
»They called him Oliver« replied the woman feebly »The gold I stole was
«
»Yes yes what« cried the other
She was bending eagerly over the woman to hear her reply but drew back
instinctively as she once again rose slowly and stiffly into a sitting
posture then clutching the coverlid with both hands muttered some indistinct
sounds in her throat and fell lifeless on the bed
»Stone dead« said one of the old women hurrying in as soon as the door was
opened
»And nothing to tell after all« rejoined the matron walking carelessly
away
The two crones to all appearance too busily occupied in the preparations
for their dreadful duties to make any reply were left alone hovering about the
body
Chapter XXV
Wherein This History Reverts to Mr Fagin and Company
While these things were passing in the country workhouse Mr Fagin sat in the
old den the same from which Oliver had been removed by the girl brooding
over a dull smoky fire He held a pair of bellows upon his knee with which he
had apparently been endeavouring to rouse it into more cheerful action but he
had fallen into deep thought and with his arms folded on them and his chin
resting on his thumbs fixed his eyes abstractedly on the rusty bars
At a table behind him sat the Artful Dodger Master Charles Bates and Mr
Chitling all intent upon a game of whist the Artful taking dummy against
Master Bates and Mr Chitling The countenance of the firstnamed gentleman
peculiarly intelligent at all times acquired great additional interest from his
close observance of the game and his attentive perusal of Mr Chitlings hand
upon which from time to time as occasion served he bestowed a variety of
earnest glances wisely regulating his own play by the result of his
observations upon his neighbours cards It being a cold night the Dodger wore
his hat as indeed was often his custom within doors He also sustained a clay
pipe between his teeth which he only removed for a brief space when he deemed
it necessary to apply for refreshment to a quart pot upon the table which stood
ready filled with ginandwater for the accommodation of the company
Master Bates was also attentive to the play but being of a more excitable
nature than his accomplished friend it was observable that he more frequently
applied himself to the ginandwater and moreover indulged in many jests and
irrelevant remarks all highly unbecoming a scientific rubber Indeed the
Artful presuming upon their close attachment more than once took occasion to
reason gravely with his companion upon these improprieties all of which
remonstrances Master Bates received in extremely good part merely requesting
his friend to be blowed or to insert his head in a sack or replying with some
other neatlyturned witticism of a similar kind the happy application of which
excited considerable admiration in the mind of Mr Chitling It was remarkable
that the latter gentleman and his partner invariably lost and that the
circumstance so far from angering Master Bates appeared to afford him the
highest amusement inasmuch as he laughed most uproariously at the end of every
deal and protested that he had never seen such a jolly game in all his born
days
»Thats two doubles and the rub« said Mr Chitling with a very long face
as he drew halfacrown from his waistcoatpocket »I never see such a feller as
you Jack you win everything Even when weve good cards Charley and I cant
make nothing of em«
Either the matter or the manner of this remark which was made very
ruefully delighted Charley Bates so much that his consequent shout of laughter
roused the Jew from his reverie and induced him to inquire what was the matter
»Matter Fagin« cried Charley »I wish you had watched the play Tommy
Chitling hasnt won a point and I went partners with him against the Artful and
dum«
»Ay ay« said the Jew with a grin which sufficiently demonstrated that he
was at no loss to understand the reason »Try em again Tom try em again«
»No more of it for me thankee Fagin« replied Mr Chitling »Ive had
enough That ere Dodger has such a run of luck that theres no standing again
him«
»Ha ha my dear« replied the Jew »you must get up very early in the
morning to win against the Dodger«
»Morning« said Charley Bates »you must put your boots on overnight and
have a telescope at each eye and a operaglass between your shoulders if you
want to come over him«
Mr Dawkins received these handsome compliments with much philosophy and
offered to cut any gentleman in company for the first picturecard at a
shilling a time Nobody accepting the challenge and his pipe being by this time
smoked out he proceeded to amuse himself by sketching a groundplan of Newgate
on the table with the piece of chalk which had served him in lieu of counters
whistling meantime with peculiar shrillness
»How precious dull you are Tommy« said the Dodger stopping short when
there had been a long silence and addressing Mr Chitling »What do you think
hes thinking of Fagin«
»How should I know my dear« replied the Jew looking round as he plied the
bellows »About his losses maybe or the little retirement in the country that
hes just left eh Ha ha Is that it my dear«
»Not a bit of it« replied the Dodger stopping the subject of discourse as
Mr Chitling was about to reply »What do you say Charley«
»I should say« replied Master Bates with a grin »that he was uncommon
sweet upon Betsy See how hes ablushing Oh my eye heres a
merrygorounder Tommy Chitlings in love Oh Fagin Fagin what a spree«
Thoroughly overpowered with the notion of Mr Chitling being the victim of
the tender passion Master Bates threw himself back in his chair with such
violence that he lost his balance and pitched over upon the floor where the
accident abating nothing of his merriment he lay at full length until his laugh
was over when he resumed his former position and began another laugh
»Never mind him my dear« said the Jew winking at Mr Dawkins and giving
Master Bates a reproving tap with the nozzle of the bellows »Betsys a fine
girl Stick up to her Tom Stick up to her«
»What I mean to say Fagin« replied Mr Chitling very red in the face
»is that that isnt anything to anybody here«
»No more it is« replied the Jew »Charley will talk Dont mind him my
dear dont mind him Betsys a fine girl Do as she bids you Tom and you will
make your fortune«
»So I do do as she bids me« replied Mr Chitling »I shouldnt have been
milled if it hadnt been for her advice But it turned out a good job for you
didnt it Fagin And whats six weeks of it It must come some time or
another and why not in the winter time when you dont want to go out awalking
so much eh Fagin«
»Ah to be sure my dear« replied the Jew
»You wouldnt mind it again Tom would you« asked the Dodger winking upon
Charley and the Jew »if Bet was all right«
»I mean to say that I shouldnt« replied Tom angrily »There now Ah
Wholl say as much as that I should like to know eh Fagin«
»Nobody my dear« replied the Jew »not a soul Tom I dont know one of
em that would do it besides you not one of em my dear«
»I might have got clear off if Id split upon her mightnt I Fagin«
angrily pursued the poor halfwitted dupe »A word from me would have done it
wouldnt it Fagin«
»To be sure it would my dear« replied the Jew
»But I didnt blab it did I Fagin« demanded Tom pouring question upon
question with great volubility
»No no to be sure« replied the Jew »you were too stouthearted for that
A deal too stout my dear«
»Perhaps I was« rejoined Tom looking round »and if I was whats to laugh
at in that eh Fagin«
The Jew perceiving that Mr Chitling was considerably roused hastened to
assure him that nobody was laughing and to prove the gravity of the company
appealed to Master Bates the principal offender But unfortunately Charley
in opening his mouth to reply that he was never more serious in his life was
unable to prevent the escape of such a violent roar that the abused Mr
Chitling without any preliminary ceremonies rushed across the room and aimed a
blow at the offender who being skilful in evading pursuit ducked to avoid it
and chose his time so well that it lighted on the chest of the merry old
gentleman and caused him to stagger to the wall where he stood panting for
breath while Mr Chitling looked on in intense dismay
»Hark« cried the Dodger at this moment »I heard the tinkler« Catching up
the light he crept softly up stairs
The bell was rung again with some impatience while the party were in
darkness After a short pause the Dodger reappeared and whispered Fagin
mysteriously
»What« cried the Jew »alone«
The Dodger nodded in the affirmative and shading the flame of the candle
with his hand gave Charley Bates a private intimation in dumb show that he
had better not be funny just then Having performed this friendly office he
fixed his eyes on the Jews face and awaited his directions
The old man bit his yellow fingers and meditated for some seconds his face
working with agitation the while as if he dreaded something and feared to know
the worst At length he raised his head
»Where is he« he asked
The Dodger pointed to the floor above and made a gesture as if to leave
the room
»Yes« said the Jew answering the mute inquiry »bring him down Hush
Quiet Charley Gently Tom Scarce scarce«
This brief direction to Charley Bates and his recent antagonist was softly
and immediately obeyed There was no sound of their whereabout when the Dodger
descended the stairs bearing the light in his hand and followed by a man in a
coarse smockfrock who after casting a hurried glance round the room pulled
off a large wrapper which had concealed the lower portion of his face and
disclosed all haggard unwashed and unshorn the features of flash Toby
Crackit
»How are you Faguey« said this worthy nodding to the Jew »Pop that shawl
away in my castor Dodger so that I may know where to find it when I cut
thats the time of day Youll be a fine young cracksman afore the old file
now«
With these words he pulled up the smockfrock and winding it round his
middle drew a chair to the fire and placed his feet upon the hob
»See there Faguey« he said pointing disconsolately to his topboots »not
a drop of Day and Martin since you know when not a bubble of blacking by Jove
But dont look at me in that way man All in good time I cant talk about
business till Ive eat and drank so produce the sustainance and lets have a
quiet fillout for the first time these three days«
The Jew motioned to the Dodger to place what eatables there were upon the
table and seating himself opposite the housebreaker waited his leisure
To judge from appearances Toby was by no means in a hurry to open the
conversation At first the Jew contented himself with patiently watching his
countenance as if to gain from its expression some clue to the intelligence he
brought but in vain He looked tired and worn but there was the same
complacent repose upon his features that they always wore and through dirt and
beard and whisker there still shone unimpaired the selfsatisfied smirk of
flash Toby Crackit Then the Jew in an agony of impatience watched every
morsel he put into his mouth pacing up and down the room meanwhile in
irrepressible excitement It was all of no use Toby continued to eat with the
utmost outward indifference until he could eat no more then ordering the
Dodger out he closed the door mixed a glass of spirits and water and composed
himself for talking
»First and foremost Faguey« said Toby
»Yes yes« interposed the Jew drawing up his chair
Mr Crackit stopped to take a draught of spirits and water and to declare
that the gin was excellent then placing his feet against the low mantelpiece
so as to bring his boots to about the level of his eye he quietly resumed
»First and foremost Faguey« said the housebreaker »hows Bill«
»What« screamed the Jew starting from his seat
»Why you dont mean to say « began Toby turning pale
»Mean« cried the Jew stamping furiously on the ground »Where are they
Sikes and the boy Where are they Where have they been Where are they hiding
Why have they not been here«
»The crack failed« said Toby faintly
»I know it« replied the Jew tearing a newspaper from his pocket and
pointing to it »What more«
»They fired and hit the boy We cut over the fields at the back with him
between us straight as the crow flies through hedge and ditch They gave
chase Damme the whole country was awake and the dogs upon us«
»The boy«
»Bill had him on his back and scudded like the wind We stopped to take him
between us his head hung down and he was cold They were close upon our heels
every man for himself and each from the gallows We parted company and left
the youngster lying in a ditch Alive or dead thats all I know about him«
The Jew stopped to hear no more but uttering a loud yell and twining his
hands in his hair rushed from the room and from the house
Chapter XXVI
In Which a Mysterious Character Appears upon the Scene and Many Things
Inseparable from This History Are Done and Performed
The old man had gained the street corner before he began to recover the effect
of Toby Crackits intelligence He had relaxed nothing of his unusual speed but
was still pressing onward in the same wild and disordered manner when the
sudden dashing past of a carriage and a boisterous cry from the foot
passengers who saw his danger drove him back upon the pavement Avoiding as
much as possible all the main streets and skulking only through the byways and
alleys he at length emerged on Snow Hill Here he walked even faster than
before nor did he linger until he had again turned into a court when as if
conscious that he was now in his proper element he fell into his usual
shuffling pace and seemed to breathe more freely
Near to the spot on which Snow Hill and Holborn Hill meet there opens upon
the right hand as you come out of the City a narrow and dismal alley leading to
Saffron Hill In its filthy shops are exposed for sale huge bunches of
secondhand silk handkerchiefs of all sizes and patterns for here reside the
traders who purchase them from pickpockets Hundreds of these handkerchiefs hang
dangling from pegs outside the windows or flaunting from the doorposts and the
shelves within are piled with them Confined as the limits of Field Lane are
it has its barber its coffeeshop its beershop and its friedfish warehouse
It is a commercial colony of itself the emporium of petty larceny visited at
early morning and settingin of dusk by silent merchants who traffic in dark
backparlours and who go as strangely as they come Here the clothesman the
shoevamper and the ragmerchant display their goods as signboards to the
petty thief here stores of old iron and bones and heaps of mildewy fragments
of woollenstuff and linen rust and rot in the grimy cellars
It was into this place that the Jew turned He was well known to the sallow
denizens of the lane for such of them as were on the lookout to buy or sell
nodded familiarly as he passed along He replied to their salutations in the
same way but bestowed no closer recognition until he reached the further end of
the alley when he stopped to address a salesman of small stature who had
squeezed as much of his person into a childs chair as the chair would hold and
was smoking a pipe at his warehouse door
»Why the sight of you Mr Fagin would cure the hoptalmy« said this
respectable trader in acknowledgment of the Jews inquiry after his health
»The neighbourhood was a little too hot Lively« said Fagin elevating his
eyebrows and crossing his hands upon his shoulders
»Well Ive heerd that complaint of it once or twice before« replied the
trader »but it soon cools down again dont you find it so«
Fagin nodded in the affirmative Pointing in the direction of Saffron Hill
he inquired whether any one was up yonder tonight
»At the Cripples« inquired the man
The Jew nodded
»Let me see« pursued the merchant reflecting »Yes theres some
halfdozen of em gone in that I knows I dont think your friends there«
»Sikes is not I suppose« inquired the Jew with a disappointed
countenance
»Non istwentus as the lawyers say« replied the little man shaking his
head and looking amazingly sly »Have you got anything in my line tonight«
»Nothing tonight« said the Jew turning away
»Are you going up to the Cripples Fagin« cried the little man calling
after him »Stop I dont mind if I have a drop there with you«
But as the Jew looking back waved his hand to intimate that he preferred
being alone and moreover as the little man could not very easily disengage
himself from the chair the sign of the Cripples was for a time bereft of the
advantage of Mr Livelys presence By the time he had got upon his legs the
Jew had disappeared so Mr Lively after ineffectually standing on tiptoe in
the hope of catching sight of him again forced himself into the little chair
and exchanging a shake of the head with a lady in the opposite shop in which
doubt and mistrust were plainly mingled resumed his pipe with a grave
demeanour
The Three Cripples or rather the Cripples which was the sign by which the
establishment was familiarly known to its patrons was the publichouse in which
Mr Sikes and his dog have already figured Merely making a sign to a man at the
bar Fagin walked straight up stairs and opening the door of a room and softly
insinuating himself into the chamber looked anxiously about shading his eyes
with his hand as if in search of some particular person
The room was illuminated by two gaslights the glare of which was prevented
by the barred shutters and closelydrawn curtains of faded red from being
visible outside The ceiling was blackened to prevent its colour from being
injured by the flaring of the lamps and the place was so full of dense tobacco
smoke that at first it was scarcely possible to discern anything more By
degrees however as some of it cleared away through the open door an
assemblage of heads as confused as the noises that greeted the ear might be
made out and as the eye grew more accustomed to the scene the spectator
gradually became aware of the presence of a numerous company male and female
crowded round a long table at the upper end of which sat a chairman with a
hammer of office in his hand while a professional gentleman with a bluish
nose and his face tied up for the benefit of a toothache presided at a
jingling piano in a remote corner
As Fagin stepped softly in the professional gentleman running over the
keys by way of prelude occasioned a general cry of order for a song which
having subsided a young lady proceeded to entertain the company with a ballad
in four verses between each of which the accompanyist played the melody all
through as loud as he could When this was over the chairman gave a sentiment
after which the professional gentlemen on the chairmans right and left
volunteered a duet and sang it with great applause
It was curious to observe some faces which stood out prominently from among
the group There was the chairman himself the landlord of the house a
coarse rough heavy built fellow who while the songs were proceeding rolled
his eyes hither and thither and seeming to give himself up to joviality had
an eye for everything that was done and an ear for everything that was said
and sharp ones too Near him were the singers receiving with professional
indifference the compliments of the company and applying themselves in turn
to a dozen proffered glasses of spirits and water tendered by their more
boisterous admirers whose countenances expressive of almost every vice in
almost every grade irresistibly attracted the attention by their very
repulsiveness Cunning ferocity and drunkenness in all its stages were there
in their strongest aspects and women some with the last lingering tinge of
their early freshness almost fading as you looked others with every mark and
stamp of their sex utterly beaten out and presenting but one loathsome blank of
profligacy and crime some mere girls others but young women and none past the
prime of life formed the darkest and saddest portion of this dreary picture
Fagin troubled by no grave emotions looked eagerly from face to face while
these proceedings were in progress but apparently without meeting that of which
he was in search Succeeding at length in catching the eye of the man who
occupied the chair he beckoned to him slightly and left the room as quietly
as he had entered it
»What can I do for you Mr Fagin« inquired the man as he followed him out
to the landing »Wont you join us Theyll be delighted every one of em«
The Jew shook his head impatiently and said in a whisper »Is he here«
»No« replied the man
»And no news of Barney« inquired Fagin
»None« replied the landlord of the Cripples for it was he »He wont stir
till its all safe Depend on it theyre on the scent down there and that if
he moved hed blow upon the thing at once Hes all right enough Barney is
else I should have heard of him Ill pound it that Barneys managing properly
Let him alone for that«
»Will he be here tonight« asked the Jew laying the same emphasis on the
pronoun as before
»Monks do you mean« inquired the landlord hesitating
»Hush« said the Jew »Yes«
»Certain« replied the man drawing a gold watch from his fob »I expected
him here before now If youll wait ten minutes hell be «
»No no« said the Jew hastily as though however desirous he might be to
see the person in question he was nevertheless relieved by his absence »Tell
him I came here to see him and that he must come to me tonight No say
tomorrow As he is not here tomorrow will be time enough«
»Good« said the man »Nothing more«
»Not a word now« said the Jew descending the stairs
»I say« said the other looking over the rails and speaking in a hoarse
whisper »what a time this would be for a sell Ive got Phil Barker here so
drunk that a boy might take him«
»Aha But its not Phil Barkers time« said the Jew looking up »Phil has
something more to do before we can afford to part with him so go back to the
company my dear and tell them to lead merry lives while they last Ha ha
ha«
The landlord reciprocated the old mans laugh and returned to his guests
The Jew was no sooner alone than his countenance resumed its former expression
of anxiety and thought After a brief reflection he called a hack cabriolet
and bade the man drive towards Bethnal Green He dismissed him within some
quarter of a mile of Mr Sikess residence and performed the short remainder of
the distance on foot
»Now« muttered the Jew as he knocked at the door »if there is any deep
play here I shall have it out of you my girl cunning as you are«
She was in her room the woman said Fagin crept softly up stairs and
entered it without any previous ceremony The girl was alone lying with her
head upon the table and her hair straggling over it
»She has been drinking« thought the Jew coolly »or perhaps she is only
miserable«
The old man turned to close the door as he made this reflection the noise
thus occasioned roused the girl She eyed his crafty face narrowly as she
inquired whether there was any news and as she listened to his recital of Toby
Crackits story When it was concluded she sank into her former attitude but
spoke not a word She pushed the candle impatiently away and once or twice as
she feverishly changed her position shuffled her feet upon the ground but this
was all
During the silence the Jew looked restlessly about the room as if to
assure himself that there were no appearances of Sikes having covertly returned
Apparently satisfied with his inspection he coughed twice or thrice and made
as many efforts to open a conversation but the girl heeded him no more than if
he had been made of stone At length he made another attempt and rubbing his
hands together said in his most conciliatory tone
»And where should you think Bill was now my dear«
The girl moaned out some half intelligible reply that she could not tell
and seemed from the smothered noise that escaped her to be crying
»And the boy too« said the Jew straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of
her face »Poor leetle child Left in a ditch Nance only think«
»The child« said the girl suddenly looking up »is better where he is
than among us and if no harm comes to Bill from it I hope he lies dead in the
ditch and that his young bones may rot there«
»What« cried the Jew in amazement
»Ay I do« returned the girl meeting his gaze »I shall be glad to have
him away from my eyes and to know that the worst is over I cant bear to have
him about me The sight of him turns me against myself and all of you«
»Pooh« said the Jew scornfully »Youre drunk«
»Am I« cried the girl bitterly »Its no fault of yours if I am not
Youd never have me anything else if you had your will except now the
humour doesnt suit you doesnt it«
»No« rejoined the Jew furiously »It does not«
»Change it then« responded the girl with a laugh
»Change it« exclaimed the Jew exasperated beyond all bounds by his
companions unexpected obstinacy and the vexation of the night »I WILL change
it Listen to me you drab Listen to me who with six words can strangle Sikes
as surely as if I had his bulls throat between my fingers now If he comes
back and leaves the boy behind him if he gets off free and dead or alive
fails to restore him to me murder him yourself if you would have him escape
Jack Ketch And do it the moment he sets foot in this room or mind me it will
be too late«
»What is all this« cried the girl involuntarily
»What is it« pursued Fagin mad with rage »When the boys worth hundreds
of pounds to me am I to lose what chance threw me in the way of getting safely
through the whims of a drunken gang that I could whistle away the lives of And
me bound too to a born devil that only wants the will and has the power to
to «
Panting for breath the old man stammered for a word and in that instant
checked the torrent of his wrath and changed his whole demeanour A moment
before his clenched hands had grasped the air his eyes had dilated and his
face grown livid with passion but now he shrunk into a chair and cowering
together trembled with the apprehension of having himself disclosed some hidden
villany After a short silence he ventured to look round at his companion He
appeared somewhat reassured on beholding her in the same listless attitude from
which he had first roused her
»Nancy dear« croaked the Jew in his usual voice »Did you mind me dear«
»Dont worry me now Fagin« replied the girl raising her head languidly
»If Bill has not done it this time he will another He has done many a good job
for you and will do many more when he can and when he cant he wont so no
more about that«
»Regarding this boy my dear« said the Jew rubbing the palms of his hands
nervously together
»The boy must take his chance with the rest« interrupted Nancy hastily
»and I say again I hope he is dead and out of harms way and out of yours
that is if Bill comes to no harm And if Toby got clear off Bills pretty sure
to be safe for Bills worth two of Toby any time«
»And about what I was saying my dear« observed the Jew keeping his
glistening eye steadily upon her
»You must say it all over again if its anything you want me to do«
rejoined Nancy »and if it is you had better wait till tomorrow You put me up
for a minute but now Im stupid again«
Fagin put several other questions all with the same drift of ascertaining
whether the girl had profited by his unguarded hints but she answered them so
readily and was withal so utterly unmoved by his searching looks that his
original impression of her being more than a trifle in liquor was confirmed
Nancy indeed was not exempt from a failing which was very common among the
Jews female pupils and in which in their tenderer years they were rather
encouraged than checked Her disordered appearance and a wholesale perfume of
Geneva which pervaded the apartment afforded strong confirmatory evidence of
the justice of the Jews supposition and when after indulging in the temporary
display of violence above described she subsided first into dulness and
afterwards into a compound of feelings under the influence of which she shed
tears one minute and in the next gave utterance to various exclamations of
»Never say die« and divers calculations as to what might be the amount of the
odds so long as a lady or gentleman was happy Mr Fagin who had had
considerable experience of such matters in his time saw with great
satisfaction that she was very far gone indeed
Having eased his mind by this discovery and having accomplished his twofold
object of imparting to the girl what he had that night heard and of
ascertaining with his own eyes that Sikes had not returned Mr Fagin again
turned his face homeward leaving his young friend asleep with her head upon
the table
It was within an hour of midnight The weather being dark and piercing
cold he had no great temptation to loiter The sharp wind that scoured the
streets seemed to have cleared them of passengers as of dust and mud for few
people were abroad and they were to all appearance hastening fast home It blew
from the right quarter for the Jew however and straight before it he went
trembling and shivering as every fresh gust drove him rudely on his way
He had reached the corner of his own street and was already fumbling in his
pocket for the doorkey when a dark figure emerged from a projecting entrance
which lay in deep shadow and crossing the road glided up to him unperceived
»Fagin« whispered a voice close to his ear
»Ah« said the Jew turning quickly round »is that «
»Yes« interrupted the stranger »I have been lingering here these two
hours Where the devil have you been«
»On your business my dear« replied the Jew glancing uneasily at his
companion and slackening his pace as he spoke »On your business all night«
»Oh of course« said the stranger with a sneer »Well and whats come of
it«
»Nothing good« said the Jew
»Nothing bad I hope« said the stranger stopping short and turning a
startled look on his companion
The Jew shook his head and was about to reply when the stranger
interrupting him motioned to the house before which they had by this time
arrived remarking that he had better say what he had got to say under cover
for his blood was chilled with standing about so long and the wind blew through
him
Fagin looked as if he could have willingly excused himself from taking home
a visitor at that unseasonable hour and indeed muttered something about
having no fire but his companion repeating his request in a peremptory manner
he unlocked the door and requested him to close it softly while he got a
light
»Its as dark as the grave« said the man groping forward a few steps
»Make haste«
»Shut the door« whispered Fagin from the end of the passage As he spoke
it closed with a loud noise
»That wasnt my doing« said the other man feeling his way »The wind blew
it to or it shut of its own accord one or the other Look sharp with the
light or I shall knock my brains out against something in this confounded
hole«
Fagin stealthily descended the kitchen stairs After a short absence he
returned with a lighted candle and the intelligence that Toby Crackit was
asleep in the back room below and that the boys were in the front one
Beckoning the man to follow him he led the way up stairs
»We can say the few words weve got to say in here my dear« said the Jew
throwing open a door on the first floor »and as there are holes in the
shutters and we never show lights to our neighbours well set the candle on
the stairs There«
With those words the Jew stooping down placed the candle on an upper
flight of stairs exactly opposite to the room door This done he led the way
into the apartment which was destitute of all moveables save a broken armchair
and an old couch or sofa without covering which stood behind the door Upon
this piece of furniture the stranger sat himself with the air of a weary man
and the Jew drawing up the armchair opposite they sat face to face It was
not quite dark the door was partially open and the candle outside threw a
feeble reflection on the opposite wall
They conversed for some time in whispers Though nothing of the conversation
was distinguishable beyond a few disjointed words here and there a listener
might easily have perceived that Fagin appeared to be defending himself against
some remarks of the stranger and that the latter was in a state of considerable
irritation They might have been talking thus for a quarter of an hour or
more when Monks by which name the Jew had designated the strange man several
times in the course of their colloquy said raising his voice a little
»I tell you again it was badly planned Why not have kept him here among
the rest and made a sneaking snivelling pickpocket of him at once«
»Only hear him« exclaimed the Jew shrugging his shoulders
»Why do you mean to say you couldnt have done it if you had chosen«
demanded Monks sternly »Havent you done it with other boys scores of times
If you had had patience for a twelvemonth at most couldnt you have got him
convicted and sent safely out of the kingdom perhaps for life«
»Whose turn would that have served my dear« inquired the Jew humbly
»Mine« replied Monks
»But not mine« said the Jew submissively »He might have become of use to
me When there are two parties to a bargain it is only reasonable that the
interests of both should be consulted is it my good friend«
»What then« demanded Monks
»I saw it was not easy to train him to the business« replied the Jew »he
was not like other boys in the same circumstances«
»Curse him no« muttered the man »or he would have been a thief long
ago«
»I had no hold upon him to make him worse« pursued the Jew anxiously
watching the countenance of his companion »His hand was not in I had nothing
to frighten him with which we always must have in the beginning or we labour
in vain What could I do Send him out with the Dodger and Charley We had
enough of that at first my dear I trembled for us all«
»That was not my doing« observed Monks
»No no my dear« renewed the Jew »And I dont quarrel with it now
because if it had never happened you might never have clapped eyes upon the
boy to notice him and so led to the discovery that it was him you were looking
for Well I got him back for you by means of the girl and then she begins to
favour him«
»Throttle the girl« said Monks impatiently
»Why we cant afford to do that just now my dear« replied the Jew
smiling »and besides that sort of thing is not in our way or one of these
days I might be glad to have it done I know what these girls are Monks well
As soon as the boy begins to harden shell care no more for him than for a
block of wood You want him made a thief If he is alive I can make him one
from this time and if if « said the Jew drawing nearer to the other
»its not likely mind but if the worst comes to the worst and he is dead «
»Its no fault of mine if he is« interposed the other man with a look of
terror and clasping the Jews arm with trembling hands »Mind that Fagin I
had no hand in it Anything but his death I told you from the first I wont
shed blood its always found out and haunts a man besides If they shot him
dead I was not the cause do you hear me Fire this infernal den Whats that«
»What« cried the Jew grasping the coward round the body with both arms
as he sprung to his feet »Where«
»Yonder« replied the man glaring at the opposite wall »The shadow I saw
the shadow of a woman in a cloak and bonnet pass along the wainscot like a
breath«
The Jew released his hold and they rushed tumultuously from the room The
candle wasted by the draught was standing where it had been placed It showed
them only the empty staircase and their own white faces They listened
intently a profound silence reigned throughout the house
»Its your fancy« said the Jew taking up the light and turning to his
companion
»Ill swear I saw it« replied Monks trembling »It was bending forward
when I saw it first and when I spoke it darted away«
The Jew glanced contemptuously at the pale face of his associate and
telling him he could follow if he pleased ascended the stairs They looked
into all the rooms they were cold bare and empty They descended into the
passage and thence into the cellars below The green damp hung upon the low
walls the tracks of the snail and slug glistened in the light of the candle
but all was still as death
»What do you think now« said the Jew when they had regained the passage
»Besides ourselves theres not a creature in the house except Toby and the
boys and theyre safe enough See here«
As a proof of the fact the Jew drew forth two keys from his pocket and
explained that when he first went down stairs he had locked them in to
prevent any intrusion on the conference
This accumulated testimony effectually staggered Mr Monks His
protestations had gradually become less and less vehement as they proceeded in
their search without making any discovery and now he gave vent to several
very grim laughs and confessed it could only have been his excited imagination
He declined any renewal of the conversation however for that night suddenly
remembering that it was past one oclock And so the amiable couple parted
Chapter XXVII
Atones for the Unpoliteness of a Former Chapter Which Deserted a Lady Most
Unceremoniously
As it would be by no means seemly in a humble author to keep so mighty a
personage as a beadle waiting with his back to the fire and the skirts of his
coat gathered up under his arms until such time as it might suit his pleasure
to relieve him and as it would still less become his station or his gallantry
to involve in the same neglect a lady on whom that beadle had looked with an eye
of tenderness and affection and in whose ear he had whispered sweet words
which coming from such a quarter might well thrill the bosom of maid or matron
of whatsoever degree the historian whose pen traces these words trusting that
he knows his place and that he entertains a becoming reverence for those upon
earth to whom high and important authority is delegated hastens to pay them
that respect which their position demands and to treat them with all that
duteous ceremony which their exalted rank and by consequence great virtues
imperatively claim at his hands Towards this end indeed he had purposed to
introduce in this place a dissertation touching the divine right of beadles
and elucidative of the position that a beadle can do no wrong which could not
fail to have been both pleasurable and profitable to the rightminded reader
but which he is unfortunately compelled by want of time and space to postpone
to some more convenient and fitting opportunity on the arrival of which he
will be prepared to show that a beadle properly constituted that is to say a
parochial beadle attached to a parochial workhouse and attending in his
official capacity the parochial church is in right and virtue of his office
possessed of all the excellences and best qualities of humanity and that to
none of those excellences can mere companies beadles or courtoflaw beadles
or even chapelofease beadles save the last and they in a very lowly and
inferior degree lay the remotest sustainable claim
Mr Bumble had recounted the teaspoons reweighed the sugartongs made a
closer inspection of the milkpot and ascertained to a nicety the exact
condition of the furniture down to the very horsehair seats of the chairs and
had repeated each process full halfadozen times before he began to think that
it was time for Mrs Corney to return Thinking begets thinking as there were
no sounds of Mrs Corneys approach it occurred to Mr Bumble that it would be
an innocent and virtuous way of spending the time if he were further to allay
his curiosity by a cursory glance at the interior of Mrs Corneys chest of
drawers
Having listened at the keyhole to assure himself that nobody was
approaching the chamber Mr Bumble beginning at the bottom proceeded to make
himself acquainted with the contents of the three long drawers which being
filled with various garments of good fashion and texture carefully preserved
between two layers of old newspapers speckled with dried lavender seemed to
yield him exceeding satisfaction Arriving in course of time at the righthand
corner drawer in which was the key and beholding therein a small padlocked
box which being shaken gave forth a pleasant sound as of the chinking of
coin Mr Bumble returned with a stately walk to the fireplace and resuming
his old attitude said with a grave and determined air »Ill do it« He
followed up this remarkable declaration by shaking his head in a waggish manner
for ten minutes as though he were remonstrating with himself for being such a
pleasant dog and then he took a view of his legs in profile with much seeming
pleasure and interest
He was still placidly engaged in this latter survey when Mrs Corney
hurrying into the room threw herself in a breathless state on a chair by the
fireside and covering her eyes with one hand placed the other over her heart
and gasped for breath
»Mrs Corney« said Mr Bumble stooping over the matron »what is this
maam Has anything happened maam Pray answer me Im on on « Mr Bumble
in his alarm could not immediately think of the word tenterhooks so he said
broken bottles
»Oh Mr Bumble« cried the lady »I have been so dreadfully put out«
»Put out maam« exclaimed Mr Bumble »who has dared to I know« said
Mr Bumble checking himself with native majesty »this is them wicious
paupers«
»Its dreadful to think of« said the lady shuddering
»Then dont think of it maam« rejoined Mr Bumble
»I cant help it« whimpered the lady
»Then take something maam« said Mr Bumble soothingly »A little of the
wine«
»Not for the world« replied Mrs Corney »I couldnt oh The top shelf
in the righthand corner oh« Uttering these words the good lady pointed
distractedly to the cupboard and underwent a convulsion from internal spasms
Mr Bumble rushed to the closet and snatching a pint greenglass bottle from
the shelf thus incoherently indicated filled a teacup with its contents and
held it to the ladys lips
»Im better now« said Mrs Corney falling back after drinking half of it
Mr Bumble raised his eyes piously to the ceiling in thankfulness and
bringing them down again to the brim of the cup lifted it to his nose
»Peppermint« exclaimed Mrs Corney in a faint voice smiling gently on the
beadle as she spoke »Try it Theres a little a little something else in it«
Mr Bumble tasted the medicine with a doubtful look smacked his lips took
another taste and put the cup down empty
»Its very comforting« said Mrs Corney
»Very much so indeed maam« said the beadle As he spoke he drew a chair
beside the matron and tenderly inquired what had happened to distress her
»Nothing« replied Mrs Corney »I am a foolish excitable weak creetur«
»Not weak maam« retorted Mr Bumble drawing his chair a little closer
»Are you a weak creetur Mrs Corney«
»We are all weak creeturs« said Mrs Corney laying down a general
principle
»So we are« said the beadle
Nothing was said on either side for a minute or two afterwards By the
expiration of that time Mr Bumble had illustrated the position by removing his
left arm from the back of Mrs Corneys chair where it had previously rested
to Mrs Corneys apronstring round which it gradually became entwined
»We are all weak creeturs« said Mr Bumble
Mrs Corney sighed
»Dont sigh Mrs Corney« said Mr Bumble
»I cant help it« said Mrs Corney And she sighed again
»This is a very comfortable room maam« said Mr Bumble looking round
»Another room and this maam would be a complete thing«
»It would be too much for one« murmured the lady
»But not for two maam« rejoined Mr Bumble in soft accents »Eh Mrs
Corney«
Mrs Corney drooped her head when the beadle said this the beadle drooped
his to get a view of Mrs Corneys face Mrs Corney with great propriety
turned her head away and released her hand to get at her pockethandkerchief
but insensibly replaced it in that of Mr Bumble
»The board allow you coals dont they Mrs Corney« inquired the beadle
affectionately pressing her hand
»And candles« replied Mrs Corney slightly returning the pressure
»Coals candles and houserent free« said Mr Bumble »Oh Mrs Corney
what a Angel you are«
The lady was not proof against this burst of feeling She sank into Mr
Bumbles arms and that gentleman in his agitation imprinted a passionate kiss
upon her chaste nose
»Such porochial perfection« exclaimed Mr Bumble rapturously »You know
that Mr Slout is worse tonight my fascinator«
»Yes« replied Mrs Corney bashfully
»He cant live a week the doctor says« pursued Mr Bumble »He is the
master of this establishment his death will cause a wacancy that wacancy must
be filled up Oh Mrs Corney what a prospect this opens What a opportunity
for a jining of hearts and housekeepings«
Mrs Corney sobbed
»The little word« said Mr Bumble bending over the bashful beauty »The
one little little little word my blessed Corney«
»Ye ye yes« sighed out the matron
»One more« pursued the beadle »compose your darling feelings for only one
more When is it to come off«
Mrs Corney twice essayed to speak and twice failed At length summoning up
courage she threw her arms round Mr Bumbles neck and said it might be as
soon as ever he pleased and that he was a irresistible duck
Matters being thus amicably and satisfactorily arranged the contract was
solemnly ratified in another teacupful of the peppermint mixture which was
rendered the more necessary by the flutter and agitation of the ladys spirits
While it was being disposed of she acquainted Mr Bumble with the old womans
decease
»Very good« said that gentleman sipping his peppermint »Ill call at
Sowerberrys as I go home and tell him to send tomorrow morning Was it that
as frightened you love«
»It wasnt anything particular dear« said the lady evasively
»It must have been something love« urged Mr Bumble »Wont you tell your
own B«
»Not now« rejoined the lady »one of these days After were married
dear«
»After were married« exclaimed Mr Bumble »It wasnt any impudence from
any of them male paupers as «
»No no love« interposed the lady hastily
»If I thought it was« continued Mr Bumble »if I thought as any one of em
had dared to lift his wulgar eyes to that lovely countenance «
»They wouldnt have dared to do it love« responded the lady
»They had better not« said Mr Bumble clenching his fist »Let me see any
man porochial or extraporochial as would presume to do it and I can tell him
that he wouldnt do it a second time«
Unembellished by any violence of gesticulation this might have seemed no
very high compliment to the ladys charms but as Mr Bumble accompanied the
threat with many warlike gestures she was much touched with this proof of his
devotion and protested with great admiration that he was indeed a dove
The dove then turned up his coatcollar and put on his cockedhat and
having exchanged a long and affectionate embrace with his future partner once
again braved the cold wind of the night merely pausing for a few minutes in
the male paupers ward to abuse them a little with the view of satisfying
himself that he could fill the office of workhousemaster with needful acerbity
Assured of his qualifications Mr Bumble left the building with a light heart
and bright visions of his future promotion which served to occupy his mind
until he reached the shop of the undertaker
Now Mr and Mrs Sowerberry having gone out to tea and supper and Noah
Claypole not being at any time disposed to take upon himself a greater amount of
physical exertion than is necessary to a convenient performance of the two
functions of eating and drinking the shop was not closed although it was past
the usual hour of shuttingup Mr Bumble tapped with his cane on the counter
several times but attracting no attention and beholding a light shining
through the glasswindow of the little parlour at the back of the shop he made
bold to peep in and see what was going forward and when he saw what was going
forward he was not a little surprised
The cloth was laid for supper the table was covered with bread and butter
plates and glasses a porterpot and a winebottle At the upper end of the
table Mr Noah Claypole lolled negligently in an easychair with his legs
thrown over one of the arms an open claspknife in one hand and a mass of
buttered bread in the other Close beside him stood Charlotte opening oysters
from a barrel which Mr Claypole condescended to swallow with remarkable
avidity A more than ordinary redness in the region of the young gentlemans
nose and a kind of fixed wink in his right eye denoted that he was in a slight
degree intoxicated these symptoms were confirmed by the intense relish with
which he took his oysters for which nothing but a strong appreciation of their
cooling properties in cases of internal fever could have sufficiently
accounted
»Heres a delicious fat one Noah dear« said Charlotte »try him do only
this one«
»What a delicious thing is a oyster« remarked Mr Claypole after he had
swallowed it »What a pity it is a number of em should ever make you feel
uncomfortable isnt it Charlotte«
»Its quite a cruelty« said Charlotte
»So it is« acquiesced Mr Claypole »Ant yer fond of oysters«
»Not overmuch« replied Charlotte »I like to see you eat em Noah dear
better than eating em myself«
»Lor« said Noah reflectively »how queer«
»Have another« said Charlotte »Heres one with such a beautiful delicate
beard«
»I cant manage any more« said Noah »Im very sorry Come here Charlotte
and Ill kiss yer«
»What« said Mr Bumble bursting into the room »Say that again sir«
Charlotte uttered a scream and hid her face in her apron Mr Claypole
without making any further change in his position than suffering his legs to
reach the ground gazed at the beadle in drunken terror
»Say it again you wile owdacious fellow« said Mr Bumble »How dare you
mention such a thing sir And how dare you encourage him you insolent minx
Kiss her« exclaimed Mr Bumble in strong indignation »Faugh«
»I didnt mean to do it« said Noah blubbering »Shes always akissing of
me whether I like it or not«
»Oh Noah« cried Charlotte reproachfully
»Yer are yer know yer are« retorted Noah »Shes always adoin of it Mr
Bumble sir she chucks me under the chin please sir and makes all manner of
love«
»Silence« cried Mr Bumble sternly »Take yourself down stairs maam
Noah you shut up the shop say another word till your master comes home at
your peril and when he does come home tell him that Mr Bumble said he was to
send a old womans shell after breakfast tomorrow morning Do you hear sir
Kissing« cried Mr Bumble holding up his hands »The sin and wickedness of the
lower orders in this porochial district is frightful If parliament dont take
their abominable courses under consideration this countrys ruined and the
character of the peasantry gone for ever« With these words the beadle strode
with a lofty and gloomy air from the undertakers premises
And now that we have accompanied him so far on his road home and have made
all necessary preparations for the old womans funeral let us set on foot a few
inquiries after young Oliver Twist and ascertain whether he be still lying in
the ditch where Toby Crackit left him
Chapter XXVIII
Looks After Oliver and Proceeds with His Adventures
»Wolves tear your throats« muttered Sikes grinding his teeth »I wish I was
among some of you youd howl the hoarser for it«
As Sikes growled forth this imprecation with the most desperate ferocity
that his desperate nature was capable of he rested the body of the wounded boy
across his bended knee and turned his head for an instant to look back at his
pursuers
There was little to be made out in the mist and darkness but the loud
shouting of men vibrated through the air and the barking of the neighbouring
dogs roused by the sound of the alarm bell resounded in every direction
»Stop you whitelivered hound« cried the robber shouting after Toby
Crackit who making the best use of his long legs was already ahead »Stop«
The repetition of the word brought Toby to a dead standstill For he was
not quite satisfied that he was beyond the range of pistolshot and Sikes was
in no mood to be played with
»Bear a hand with the boy« cried Sikes beckoning furiously to his
confederate »Come back«
Toby made a show of returning but ventured in a low voice broken for want
of breath to intimate considerable reluctance as he came slowly along
»Quicker« cried Sikes laying the boy in a dry ditch at his feet and
drawing a pistol from his pocket »Dont play booty with me«
At this moment the noise grew louder Sikes again looking round could
discern that the men who had given chase were already climbing the gate of the
field in which he stood and that a couple of dogs were some paces in advance of
them
»Its all up Bill« cried Toby »drop the kid and show em your heels«
With this parting advice Mr Crackit preferring the chance of being shot by
his friend to the certainty of being taken by his enemies fairly turned tail
and darted off at full speed Sikes clenched his teeth took one look around
threw over the prostrate form of Oliver the cape in which he had been hurriedly
muffled ran along the front of the hedge as if to distract the attention of
those behind from the spot where the boy lay paused for a second before
another hedge which met it at right angles and whirling his pistol high into
the air cleared it at a bound and was gone
»Ho ho there« cried a tremulous voice in the rear »Pincher Neptune Come
here come here«
The dogs who in common with their masters seemed to have no particular
relish for the sport in which they were engaged readily answered to the
command Three men who had by this time advanced some distance into the field
stopped to take counsel together
»My advice or leastways I should say my orders is« said the fattest
man of the party »that we mediately go home again«
»I am agreeable to anything which is agreeable to Mr Giles« said a shorter
man who was by no means of a slim figure and who was very pale in the face
and very polite as frightened men frequently are
»I shouldnt wish to appear illmannered gentlemen« said the third who
had called the dogs back »Mr Giles ought to know«
»Certainly« replied the shorter man »and whatever Mr Giles says it isnt
our place to contradict him No no I know my sitiwation Thank my stars I
know my sitiwation« To tell the truth the little man did seem to know his
situation and to know perfectly well that it was by no means a desirable one
for his teeth chattered in his head as he spoke
»You are afraid Brittles« said Mr Giles
»I ant« said Brittles
»You are« said Giles
»Youre a falsehood Mr Giles« said Brittles
»Youre a lie Brittles« said Mr Giles
Now these four retorts arose from Mr Giless taunt and Mr Giless taunt
had arisen from his indignation at having the responsibility of going home
again imposed upon himself under cover of a compliment The third man brought
the dispute to a close most philosophically
»Ill tell you what it is gentlemen« said he »were all afraid«
»Speak for yourself sir« said Mr Giles who was the palest of the party
»So I do« replied the man »Its natural and proper to be afraid under
such circumstances I am«
»So am I« said Brittles »only theres no call to tell a man he is so
bounceably«
These frank admissions softened Mr Giles who at once owned that he was
afraid upon which they all three faced about and ran back again with the
completest unanimity until Mr Giles who had the shortest wind of the party
and was encumbered with a pitchfork most handsomely insisted on stopping to
make an apology for his hastiness of speech
»But its wonderful« said Mr Giles when he had explained »what a man
will do when his blood is up I should have committed murder I know I should
if wed caught one of them rascals«
As the other two were impressed with a similar presentiment and as their
blood like his had all gone down again some speculation ensued upon the cause
of this sudden change in their temperament
»I know what it was« said Mr Giles »it was the gate«
»I shouldnt wonder if it was« exclaimed Brittles catching at the idea
»You may depend upon it« said Giles »that that gate stopped the flow of
the excitement I felt all mine suddenly going away as I was climbing over it«
By a remarkable coincidence the other two had been visited with the same
unpleasant sensation at that precise moment It was quite obvious therefore
that it was the gate especially as there was no doubt regarding the time at
which the change had taken place because all three remembered that they had
come in sight of the robbers at the instant of its occurrence
This dialogue was held between the two men who had surprised the burglars
and a travelling tinker who had been sleeping in an outhouse and who had been
roused together with his two mongrel curs to join in the pursuit Mr Giles
acted in the double capacity of butler and steward to the old lady of the
mansion Brittles was a lad of allwork who having entered her service a mere
child was treated as a promising young boy still though he was something past
thirty
Encouraging each other with such converse as this but keeping very close
together notwithstanding and looking apprehensively round whenever a fresh
gust rattled through the boughs the three men hurried back to a tree behind
which they had left their lantern lest its light should inform the thieves in
what direction to fire Catching up the light they made the best of their way
home at a good round trot and long after their dusky forms had ceased to be
discernible the light might have been seen twinkling and dancing in the
distance like some exhalation of the damp and gloomy atmosphere through which
it was swiftly borne
The air grew colder as day came slowly on and the mist rolled along the
ground like a dense cloud of smoke The grass was wet the pathways and low
places were all mire and water the damp breath of an unwholesome wind went
languidly by with a hollow moaning Still Oliver lay motionless and insensible
on the spot where Sikes had left him
Morning drew on apace The air became more sharp and piercing as its first
dull hue the death of night rather than the birth of day glimmered faintly
in the sky The 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 the leafless bushes
But Oliver felt it not as it beat against him for he still lay stretched
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 in a shawl hung heavy
and useless at his side the bandage was saturated with blood He was so weak
that he could scarcely raise himself into a sitting posture when he had done
so he looked feebly round for help and groaned with pain Trembling in every
joint from cold and exhaustion he made an effort to stand upright but
shuddering from head to foot fell prostrate on the ground
After a short return of the stupor in which he had been so long plunged
Oliver urged by a creeping sickness at his heart which seemed to warn him that
if he lay there he must surely die got upon his feet and essayed to walk His
head was dizzy and he staggered to and fro like a drunken man But he kept up
nevertheless and with his head drooping languidly on his breast went
stumbling onward he knew not whither
And now hosts of bewildering and confused ideas came crowding on his mind
He seemed to be still walking between Sikes and Crackit who were angrily
disputing for the very words they said sounded in his ears and when he
caught his own attention as it were by making some violent effort to save
himself from falling he found that he was talking to them Then he was alone
with Sikes plodding on as on the previous day and as shadowy people passed
them he felt the robbers grasp upon his wrist Suddenly he started back at
the report of firearms there rose into the air loud cries and shouts lights
gleamed before his eyes all was noise and tumult as some unseen hand bore him
hurriedly away Through all these rapid visions there ran an undefined uneasy
consciousness of pain which wearied and tormented him incessantly
Thus he staggered on creeping almost mechanically between the bars of
gates or through hedgegaps as they came in his way until he reached a road
Here the rain began to fall so heavily that it roused him
He looked about and saw that at no great distance there was a house which
perhaps he could reach Pitying his condition they might have compassion on
him and if they did not it would be better he thought to die near human
beings than in the lonely open fields He summoned up all his strength for one
last trial and bent his faltering steps towards it
As he drew nearer to this house a feeling came over him that he had seen it
before He remembered nothing of its details but the shape and aspect of the
building seemed familiar to him
That garden wall On the grass inside he had fallen on his knees last
night and prayed the two mens mercy It was the very house they had attempted
to rob
Oliver felt such fear come over him when he recognised the place that for
the instant he forgot the agony of his wound and thought only of flight
Flight He could scarcely stand and if he were in full possession of all the
best powers of his slight and youthful frame whither could he fly He pushed
against the gardengate it was unlocked and swung open on its hinges He
tottered across the lawn climbed the steps knocked faintly at the door and
his whole strength failing him sunk down against one of the pillars of the
little portico
It happened that about this time Mr Giles Brittles and the tinker were
recruiting themselves after the fatigues and terrors of the night with tea and
sundries in the kitchen Not that it was Mr Giless habit to admit to too
great familiarity the humbler servants towards whom it was rather his wont to
deport himself with a lofty affability which while it gratified could not
fail to remind them of his superior position in society But death fires and
burglary make all men equals so Mr Giles sat with his legs stretched out
before the kitchen fender leaning his left arm on the table while with his
right he illustrated a circumstantial and minute account of the robbery to
which his hearers but especially the cook and housemaid who were of the party
listened with breathless interest
»It was about halfpast two« said Mr Giles »or I wouldnt swear that it
mightnt have been a little nearer three when I woke up and turning round in
my bed as it might be so here Mr Giles turned round in his chair and pulled
the corner of the tablecloth over him to imitate bedclothes I fancied I heerd
a noise«
At this point of the narrative the cook turned pale and asked the housemaid
to shut the door who asked Brittles who asked the tinker who pretended not to
hear
» Heerd a noise« continued Mr Giles »I says at first This is illusion
and was composing myself off to sleep when I heerd the noise again distinct«
»What sort of a noise« asked the cook
»A kind of a busting noise« replied Mr Giles looking round him
»More like the noise of powdering a iron bar on a nutmeggrater« suggested
Brittles
»It was when you heerd it sir« rejoined Mr Giles »but at this time it
had a busting sound I turned down the clothes« continued Giles rolling back
the tablecloth »sat up in bed and listened«
The cook and housemaid simultaneously ejaculated »Lor« and drew their
chairs closer together
»I heerd it now quite apparent« resumed Mr Giles »Somebody I says is
forcing of a door or window whats to be done Ill call up that poor lad
Brittles and save him from being murdered in his bed or his throat I says
may be cut from his right ear to his left without his ever knowing it«
Here all eyes were turned upon Brittles who fixed his upon the speaker
and stared at him with his mouth wide open and his face expressive of the most
unmitigated horror
»I tossed off the clothes« said Giles throwing away the tablecloth and
looking very hard at the cook and housemaid »got softly out of bed drew on a
pair of «
»Ladies present Mr Giles« murmured the tinker
» Of shoes sir« said Giles turning upon him and laying great emphasis
on the word »seized the loaded pistol that always goes up stairs with the
platebasket and walked on tiptoes to his room Brittles I says when I had
woke him dont be frightened«
»So you did« observed Brittles in a low voice
»Were dead men I think Brittles I says« continued Giles »but dont be
frightened«
»Was he frightened« asked the cook
»Not a bit of it« replied Mr Giles »He was as firm ah pretty near as
firm as I was«
»I should have died at once Im sure if it had been me« observed the
housemaid
»Youre a woman« retorted Brittles plucking up a little
»Brittles is right« said Mr Giles nodding his head approvingly »from a
woman nothing else was to be expected We being men took a dark lantern that
was standing on Brittless hob and groped our way down stairs in the pitch
dark as it might be so«
Mr Giles had risen from his seat and taken two steps with his eyes shut
to accompany his description with appropriate action when he started violently
in common with the rest of the company and hurried back to his chair The cook
and housemaid screamed
»It was a knock« said Mr Giles assuming perfect serenity »Open the door
somebody«
Nobody moved
»It seems a strange sort of a thing a knock coming at such a time in the
morning« said Mr Giles surveying the pale faces which surrounded him and
looking very blank himself »but the door must be opened Do you hear
somebody«
Mr Giles as he spoke looked at Brittles but that young man being
naturally modest probably considered himself nobody and so held that the
inquiry could not have any application to him at all events he tendered no
reply Mr Giles directed an appealing glance at the tinker but he had suddenly
fallen asleep The women were out of the question
»If Brittles would rather open the door in the presence of witnesses« said
Mr Giles after a short silence »I am ready to make one«
»So am I« said the tinker waking up as suddenly as he had fallen asleep
Brittles capitulated on these terms and the party being somewhat reassured
by the discovery made on throwing open the shutters that it was now broad day
took their way up stairs with the dogs in front The two women who were afraid
to stay below brought up the rear By the advice of Mr Giles they all talked
very loud to warn any evildisposed person outside that they were strong in
numbers and by a masterstroke of policy originating in the brain of the same
ingenious gentleman the dogs tails were well pinched in the hall to make
them bark savagely
These precautions having been taken Mr Giles held on fast by the tinkers
arm to prevent his running away as he pleasantly said and gave the word of
command to open the door Brittles obeyed the group peeping timorously over
each others shoulders beheld no more formidable object than poor little Oliver
Twist speechless and exhausted who raised his heavy eyes and mutely solicited
their compassion
»A boy« exclaimed Mr Giles valiantly pushing the tinker into the
background »Whats the matter with the eh Why Brittles look here
dont you know«
Brittles who had got behind the door to open it no sooner saw Oliver than
he uttered a loud cry Mr Giles seizing the boy by one leg and one arm
fortunately not the broken limb lugged him straight into the hall and
deposited him at full length on the floor thereof
»Here he is« bawled Giles calling in a state of great excitement up the
staircase »heres one of the thieves maam Heres a thief miss Wounded
miss I shot him miss and Brittles held the light«
» In a lantern miss« cried Brittles applying one hand to the side of his
mouth so that his voice might travel the better
The two womenservants ran up stairs to carry the intelligence that Mr
Giles had captured a robber and the tinker busied himself in endeavouring to
restore Oliver lest he should die before he could be hanged In the midst of
all this noise and commotion there was heard a sweet female voice which
quelled it in an instant
»Giles« whispered the voice from the stairhead
»Im here miss« replied Mr Giles »Dont be frightened miss I aint
much injured He didnt make a very desperate resistance miss I was soon too
many for him«
»Hush« replied the young lady »you frighten my aunt as much as the thieves
did Is the poor creature much hurt«
»Wounded desperate miss« replied Giles with indescribable complacency
»He looks as if he was agoing miss« bawled Brittles in the same manner
as before »Wouldnt you like to come and look at him miss in case he should«
»Hush pray theres a good man« rejoined the lady »Wait quietly only one
instant while I speak to aunt«
With a footstep as soft and gentle as the voice the speaker tripped away
She soon returned with the direction that the wounded person was to be carried
carefully up stairs to Mr Giless room and that Brittles was to saddle the
pony and betake himself instantly to Chertsey from which place he was to
despatch with all speed a constable and doctor
»But wont you take one look at him first miss« asked Mr Giles with as
much pride as if Oliver were some bird of rare plumage that he had skilfully
brought down »Not one little peep miss«
»Not now for the world« replied the young lady »Poor fellow Oh treat
him kindly Giles for my sake«
The old servant looked up at the speaker as she turned away with a glance
as proud and admiring as if she had been his own child Then bending over
Oliver he helped to carry him up stairs with the care and solicitude of a
woman
Chapter XXIX
Has an Introductory Account of the Inmates of the House to Which Oliver
Resorted
In a handsome room though its furniture had rather the air of oldfashioned
comfort than of modern elegance there sat two ladies at a wellspread
breakfasttable Mr Giles dressed with scrupulous care in a full suit of
black was in attendance upon them He had taken his station some halfway
between the sideboard and the breakfasttable 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 into his waistcoat while
his left hung down by his side grasping a waiter looked like one who laboured
under a very agreeable sense of his own merits and importance
Of the two ladies one was well advanced in years but the highbacked oaken
chair in which she sat was not more upright than she Dressed with the utmost
nicety and precision in a quaint mixture of bygone costume with some slight
concessions to the prevailing taste which rather served to point the old style
pleasantly than to impair its effect she sat in a stately manner with her
hands folded on the table before her Her eyes and age had dimmed but little of
their brightness were attentively fixed upon her young companion
The younger lady was in the lovely bloom and springtime of womanhood at
that age when if ever angels be for Gods good purposes enthroned in mortal
forms they may be without impiety supposed to abide in such as hers
She was not past seventeen Cast in so slight and exquisite a mould so mild
and gentle so pure and beautiful that earth seemed not her element nor its
rough creatures her fit companions The very intelligence that shone in 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
thousand lights that played about the face and left no shadow there above all
the smile the cheerful happy smile were made for Home and fireside peace and
happiness
She was busily engaged in the little offices of the table Chancing to raise
her eyes as the elder lady was regarding her she playfully put back her hair
which was simply braided on her forehead and threw into her beaming look such
an expression of affection and artless loveliness that blessed spirits might
have smiled to look upon her
»And Brittles has been gone upwards of an hour has he« asked the old lady
after a pause
»An hour and twelve minutes maam« replied Mr Giles referring to a
silver watch which he drew forth by a black ribbon
»He is always slow« remarked the old lady
»Brittles always was a slow boy maam« replied the attendant And seeing
bytheby that Brittles had been a slow boy for upwards of thirty years there
appeared no great probability of his ever being a fast one
»He gets worse instead of better I think« said the elder lady
»It is very inexcusable in him if he stops to play with any other boys«
said the young lady smiling
Mr Giles was apparently considering the propriety of indulging in a
respectful smile himself when a gig drove up to the garden gate out of which
there jumped a fat gentleman who ran straight up to the door and who getting
quickly into the house by some mysterious process burst into the room and
nearly overturned Mr Giles and the breakfasttable together
»I never heard of such a thing« exclaimed the fat gentleman »My dear Mrs
Maylie bless my soul in the silence of night too I never heard of such a
thing«
With these expressions of condolence the fat gentleman shook hands with
both ladies and drawing up a chair inquired how they found themselves
»You ought to be dead positively dead with the fright« said the fat
gentleman »Why didnt you send Bless me my man should have come in a minute
and so would I and my assistant would have been delighted or anybody Im
sure under such circumstances Dear dear So unexpected In the silence of
night too«
The doctor seemed especially troubled by the fact of the robbery having been
unexpected and attempted in the nighttime as if it were the established
custom of gentlemen in the housebreaking way to transact business at noon and
to make an appointment by post a day or two previous
»And you Miss Rose« said the doctor turning to the young lady »I «
»Oh very much so indeed« said Rose interrupting him »but there is a
poor creature up stairs whom aunt wishes you to see«
»Ah to be sure« replied the doctor »so there is That was your handiwork
Giles I understand«
Mr Giles who had been feverishly putting the teacups to rights blushed
very red and said that he had had that honour
»Honour eh« said the doctor »well I dont know perhaps its as
honourable to hit a thief in a back kitchen as to hit your man at twelve paces
Fancy that he fired in the air and youve fought a duel Giles«
Mr Giles who thought this light treatment of the matter an unjust attempt
at diminishing his glory answered respectfully that it was not for the like of
him to judge about that but he rather thought it was no joke to the opposite
party
»Gad thats true« said the doctor »Where is he Show me the way Ill look
in again as I come down Mrs Maylie Thats the little window that he got in
at eh Well I couldnt have believed it«
Talking all the way he followed Mr Giles up stairs and while he is going
up stairs the reader may be informed that Mr Losberne a surgeon in the
neighbourhood known through a circuit of ten miles round as the doctor had
grown fat more from goodhumour than from good living and was as kind and
hearty and withal as eccentric an old bachelor as will be found in five times
that space by any explorer alive
The doctor was absent much longer than either he or the ladies had
anticipated A large flat box was fetched out of the gig and a bedroom bell
was rung very often and the servants ran up and down stairs perpetually from
which tokens it was justly concluded that something important was going on
above At length he returned and in reply to an anxious inquiry after his
patient looked very mysterious and closed the door carefully
»This is a very extraordinary thing Mrs Maylie« said the doctor standing
with his back to the door as if to keep it shut
»He is not in danger I hope« said the old lady
»Why that would not be an extraordinary thing under the circumstances«
replied the doctor »though I dont think he is Have you seen this thief«
»No« rejoined the old lady
»Nor heard anything about him«
»No«
»I beg your pardon maam« interposed Mr Giles »but I was going to tell
you about him when Doctor Losberne came in«
The fact was that Mr Giles had not at first been able to bring his mind
to the avowal that he had only shot a boy Such commendations had been bestowed
upon his bravery that he could not for the life of him help postponing the
explanation for a few delicious minutes during which he had flourished in the
very zenith of a brief reputation for undaunted courage
»Rose wished to see the man« said Mrs Maylie »but I wouldnt hear of it«
»Humph« rejoined the doctor »There is nothing very alarming in his
appearance Have you any objection to see him in my presence«
»If it be necessary« replied the old lady »certainly not«
»Then I think it is necessary« said the doctor »at all events I am quite
sure that you would deeply regret not having done so if you postponed it He is
perfectly quiet and comfortable now Allow me Miss Rose will you permit me
Not the slightest fear I pledge you my honour«
Chapter XXX
Relates What Olivers New Visitors Thought of Him
With many loquacious assurances that they would be agreeably surprised in the
aspect of the criminal the doctor drew the young ladys arm through one of his
and offering his disengaged hand to Mrs Maylie led them with much ceremony
and stateliness up stairs
»Now« said the doctor in a whisper as he softly turned the handle of a
bedroomdoor »let us hear what you think of him He has not been shaved very
recently but he dont look at all ferocious notwithstanding Stop though Let
me first see that he is in visiting order«
Stepping before them he looked into the room Motioning them to advance he
closed the door when they had entered and gently drew back the curtains of the
bed Upon it in lieu of the dogged blackvisaged ruffian they had expected to
behold there lay a mere child worn with pain and exhaustion 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 honest gentleman held the curtain in his hand and looked on for a
minute or so in silence Whilst he was watching the patient thus the younger
lady glided softly past and seating herself in a chair by the bedside gathered
Olivers hair from his face As she stooped over him her tears fell upon his
forehead
The boy stirred and smiled in his sleep as though these marks of pity and
compassion had awakened some pleasant dream of a love and affection he had never
known Thus a strain of gentle music or the rippling of water in a silent
place or the odour of a flower or the mention of a familiar word will
sometimes call up sudden dim remembrances of scenes that never were in this
life which vanish like a breath which some brief memory of a happier
existence long gone by would seem to have awakened which no voluntary
exertion of the mind can ever recall
»What can this mean« exclaimed the elder lady »This poor child can never
have been the pupil of robbers«
»Vice« sighed the surgeon replacing the curtain »takes up her abode in
many temples and who can say that a fair outside shall not enshrine her«
»But at so early an age« urged Rose
»My dear young lady« rejoined the surgeon mournfully shaking his head
»crime like death is not confined to the old and withered alone The youngest
and fairest are too often its chosen victims«
»But can you oh can you really believe that this delicate boy has been
the voluntary associate of the worst outcasts of society« said Rose
The surgeon shook his head in a manner which intimated that he feared it
was very possible and observing that they might disturb the patient led the
way into an adjoining apartment
»But even if he has been wicked« pursued Rose »think how young he is
think that he may never have known a mothers love or the comfort of a home
that illusage and blows or the want of bread may have driven him to herd with
men who have forced him to guilt Aunt dear aunt for mercys sake think of
this before you let them drag this sick child to a prison which in any case
must be the grave of all his chances of amendment Oh as you love me and know
that I have never felt the want of parents in your goodness and affection but
that I might have done so and might have been equally helpless and unprotected
with this poor child have pity upon him before it is too late«
»My dear love« said the elder lady as she folded the weeping girl to her
bosom »do you think I would harm a hair of his head«
»Oh no« replied Rose eagerly
»No surely« said the old lady »my days are drawing to their close and
may mercy be shown to me as I show it to others What can I do to save him
sir«
»Let me think maam« said the doctor »let me think«
Mr Losberne thrust his hands into his pockets and took several turns up
and down the room often stopping and balancing himself on his toes and
frowning frightfully After various exclamations of »Ive got it now« and »no I
havent« and as many renewals of the walking and frowning he at length made a
dead halt and spoke as follows
»I think if you give me a full and unlimited commission to bully Giles and
that little boy Brittles I can manage it Giles is a faithful fellow and an
old servant I know but you can make it up to him in a thousand ways and
reward him for being such a good shot besides You dont object to that«
»Unless there is some other way of preserving the child« replied Mrs
Maylie
»There is no other« said the doctor »No other take my word for it«
»Then my aunt invests you with full power« said Rose smiling through her
tears »but pray dont be harder upon the poor fellows than is indispensably
necessary«
»You seem to think« retorted the doctor »that everybody is disposed to be
hardhearted today except yourself Miss Rose I only hope for the sake of
the rising male sex generally that you may be found in as vulnerable and
softhearted a mood by the first eligible young fellow who appeals to your
compassion and I wish I were a young fellow that I might avail myself on the
spot of such a favourable opportunity for doing so as the present«
»You are as great a boy as poor Brittles himself« returned Rose blushing
»Well« said the doctor laughing heartily »that is no very difficult
matter But to return to this boy The great point of our agreement is yet to
come He will wake in an hour or so I dare say and although I have told that
thickheaded constablefellow down stairs that he mustnt be moved or spoken to
on peril of his life I think we may converse with him without danger Now I
make this stipulation that I shall examine him in your presence and that if
from what he says we judge and I can show to the satisfaction of your cool
reason that he is a real and thorough bad one which is more than possible he
shall be left to his fate without any farther interference on my part at all
events«
»Oh no aunt« entreated Rose
»Oh yes aunt« said the doctor »Is it a bargain«
»He cannot be hardened in vice« said Rose »It is impossible«
»Very good« retorted the doctor »then so much the more reason for acceding
to my proposition«
Finally the treaty was entered into and the parties thereunto sat down to
wait with some impatience until Oliver should awake
The patience of the two ladies was destined to undergo a longer trial than
Mr Losberne had led them to expect for hour after hour passed on and still
Oliver slumbered heavily It was evening indeed before the kindhearted doctor
brought them the intelligence that he was at length sufficiently restored to be
spoken to The boy was very ill he said and weak from the loss of blood but
his mind was so troubled with anxiety to disclose something that he deemed it
better to give him the opportunity than to insist upon his remaining quiet
until next morning which he should otherwise have done
The conference was a long one Oliver told them all his simple history and
was often compelled to stop by pain and want of strength It was a solemn
thing to hear in the darkened room the feeble voice of the sick child
recounting a weary catalogue of evils and calamities which hard men had brought
upon him Oh if when we oppress and grind our fellowcreatures we bestowed but
one thought on the dark evidences of human error which like dense and heavy
clouds are rising slowly it is true but not less surely to Heaven to pour
their aftervengeance on our heads if we heard but one instant in imagination
the deep testimony of dead mens voices which no power can stifle and no pride
shut out where would be the injury and injustice the suffering misery
cruelty and wrong that each days life brings with it
Olivers pillow was smoothed by gentle hands that night and loveliness and
virtue watched him as he slept He felt calm and happy and could have died
without a murmur
The momentous interview was no sooner concluded and Oliver composed to rest
again than the doctor after wiping his eyes and condemning them for being
weak all at once betook himself down stairs to open upon Mr Giles And finding
nobody about the parlours it occurred to him that he could perhaps originate
the proceedings with better effect in the kitchen so into the kitchen he went
There were assembled in that lower house of the domestic parliament the
womenservants Mr Brittles Mr Giles the tinker who had received a special
invitation to regale himself for the remainder of the day in consideration of
his services and the constable The latter gentleman had a large staff a
large head large features and large halfboots and he looked as if he had
been taking a proportionate allowance of ale as indeed he had
The adventures of the previous night were still under discussion for Mr
Giles was expatiating upon his presence of mind when the doctor entered Mr
Brittles with a mug of ale in his hand was corroborating everything before
his superior said it
»Sit still« said the doctor waving his hand
»Thank you sir« said Mr Giles »Misses wished some ale to be given out
sir and as I felt no ways inclined for my own little room sir and was
disposed for company I am taking mine among em here«
Brittles headed a low murmur by which the ladies and gentlemen generally
were understood to express the gratification they derived from Mr Giless
condescension Mr Giles looked round with a patronising air as much as to say
that so long as they behaved properly he would never desert them
»How is the patient tonight sir« asked Giles
»Soso« returned the doctor »I am afraid you have got yourself into a
scrape there Mr Giles«
»I hope you dont mean to say sir« said Mr Giles trembling »that hes
going to die If I thought it I should never be happy again I wouldnt cut a
boy off no not even Brittles here not for all the plate in the county sir«
»Thats not the point« said the doctor mysteriously »Mr Giles are you a
Protestant«
»Yes sir I hope so« faltered Mr Giles who had turned very pale
»And what are you boy« said the doctor turning sharply upon Brittles
»Lord bless me sir« replied Brittles starting violently »Im the same
as Mr Giles sir«
»Then tell me this« said the doctor »both of you both of you Are you
going to take upon yourselves to swear that that boy up stairs is the boy that
was put through the little window last night Out with it Come We are prepared
for you«
The doctor who was universally considered one of the besttempered
creatures on earth made this demand in such a dreadful tone of anger that
Giles and Brittles who were considerably muddled by ale and excitement stared
at each other in a state of stupefaction
»Pay attention to the reply constable will you« said the doctor shaking
his forefinger with great solemnity of manner and tapping the bridge of his
nose with it to bespeak the exercise of that worthys utmost acuteness
»Something may come of this before long«
The constable looked as wise as he could and took up his staff of office
which had been reclining indolently in the chimneycorner
»Its a simple question of identity you will observe« said the doctor
»Thats what it is sir« replied the constable coughing with great
violence for he had finished his ale in a hurry and some of it had gone the
wrong way
»Heres a house broken into« said the doctor »and a couple of men catch
one moments glimpse of a boy in the midst of gunpowdersmoke and in all the
distraction of alarm and darkness Heres a boy comes to that very same house
next morning and because he happens to have his arm tied up these men lay
violent hands upon him by doing which they place his life in great danger
and swear he is the thief Now the question is whether these men are justified
by the fact if not in what situation do they place themselves«
The constable nodded profoundly He said if that wasnt law he would be
glad to know what was
»I ask you again« thundered the doctor »are you on your solemn oaths
able to identify that boy«
Brittles looked doubtfully at Mr Giles Mr Giles looked doubtfully at
Brittles the constable put his hand behind his ear to catch the reply the two
women and the tinker leaned forward to listen the doctor glanced keenly round
when a ring was heard at the gate and at the same moment the sound of wheels
»Its the runners« cried Brittles to all appearance much relieved
»The what« exclaimed the doctor aghast in his turn
»The Bow Street officers sir« replied Brittles taking up a candle »me
and Mr Giles sent for em this morning«
»What« cried the doctor
»Yes« replied Brittles »I sent a message up by the coachman and I only
wonder they werent here before sir«
»You did did you Then confound your slow coaches down here thats all«
said the doctor walking away
Chapter XXXI
Involves a Critical Position
»Whos that« inquired Brittles opening the door a little way with the chain
up and peeping out shading the candle with his hand
»Open the door« replied a man outside »its the officers from Bow Street
as was sent to today«
Much comforted by this assurance Brittles opened the door to its full
width and confronted a portly man in a greatcoat who walked in without
saying anything more and wiped his shoes on the mat as coolly as if he lived
there
»Just send somebody out to relieve my mate will you young man« said the
officer »hes in the gig aminding the prad Have you got a coach us here
that you could put it up in for five or ten minutes«
Brittles replying in the affirmative and pointing out the building the
portly man stepped back to the gardengate and helped his companion to put up
the gig while Brittles lighted them in a state of great admiration This done
they returned to the house and being shown into a parlour took off their
greatcoats and hats and showed like what they were
The man who had knocked at the door was a stout personage of middle height
aged about fifty with shiny black hair cropped pretty close halfwhiskers a
round face and sharp eyes The other was a redheaded bony man in topboots
with a rather illfavoured countenance and a turnedup sinisterlooking nose
»Tell your governor that Blathers and Duff is here will you« said the
stouter man smoothing down his hair and laying a pair of handcuffs on the
table »Oh Good evening master Can I have a word or two with you in private
if you please«
This was addressed to Mr Losberne who now made his appearance that
gentleman motioning Brittles to retire brought in the two ladies and shut the
door
»This is the lady of the house« said Mr Losberne motioning towards Mrs
Maylie
Mr Blathers made a bow Being desired to sit down he put his hat on the
floor and taking a chair motioned Duff to do the same The latter gentleman
who did not appear quite so much accustomed to good society or quite so much at
his ease in it one of the two seated himself after undergoing several
muscular affections of the limbs and forced the head of his stick into his
mouth with some embarrassment
»Now with regard to this here robbery master« said Blathers »What are
the circumstances«
Mr Losberne who appeared desirous of gaining time recounted them at great
length and with much circumlocution Messrs Blathers and Duff looked very
knowing meanwhile and occasionally exchanged a nod
»I cant say for certain till I see the work of course« said Blathers
»but my opinion at once is I dont mind committing myself to that extent
that this wasnt done by a yokel eh Duff«
»Certainly not« replied Duff
»And translating the word yokel for the benefit of the ladies I apprehend
your meaning to be that this attempt was not made by a countryman« said Mr
Losberne with a smile
»Thats it master« replied Blathers »This is all about the robbery is
it«
»All« replied the doctor
»Now what is this about this here boy that the servants are atalking on«
said Blathers
»Nothing at all« replied the doctor »One of the frightened servants chose
to take it into his head that he had something to do with this attempt to break
into the house but its nonsense sheer absurdity«
»Wery easy disposed of if it is« remarked Duff
»What he says is quite correct« observed Blathers nodding his head in a
confirmatory way and playing carelessly with the handcuffs as if they were a
pair of castanets »Who is the boy What account does he give of himself Where
did he come from He didnt drop out of the clouds did he master«
»Of course not« replied the doctor with a nervous glance at the two
ladies »I know his whole history but we can talk about that presently You
would like first to see the place where the thieves made their attempt I
suppose«
»Certainly« rejoined Mr Blathers »We had better inspect the premises
first and examine the servants arterwards Thats the usual way of doing
business«
Lights were then procured and Messrs Blathers and Duff attended by the
native constable Brittles Giles and everybody else in short went into the
little room at the end of the passage and looked out at the window and
afterwards went round by way of the lawn and looked in at the window and after
that had a candle handed out to inspect the shutter with and after that a
lantern to trace the footsteps with and after that a pitchfork to poke the
bushes with This done amidst the breathless interest of all beholders they
came in again and Mr Giles and Brittles were put through a melodramatic
representation of their share in the previous nights adventures which they
performed some six times over contradicting each other in not more than one
important respect the first time and in not more than a dozen the last This
consummation being arrived at Blathers and Duff cleared the room and held a
long council together compared with which for secrecy and solemnity a
consultation of great doctors on the knottiest point in medicine would be mere
childs play
Meanwhile the doctor walked up and down the next room in a very uneasy
state and Mrs Maylie and Rose looked on with anxious faces
»Upon my word« he said making a halt after a great number of very rapid
turns »I hardly know what to do«
»Surely« said Rose »the poor childs story faithfully repeated to these
men will be sufficient to exonerate him«
»I doubt it my dear young lady« said the doctor shaking his head »I
dont think it would exonerate him either with them or with legal
functionaries of a higher grade What is he after all they would say A
runaway Judged by mere worldly considerations and probabilities his story is
a very doubtful one«
»You believe it surely« interrupted Rose
»I believe it strange as it is and perhaps I may be an old fool for doing
so« rejoined the doctor »but I dont think it is exactly the tale for a
practised policeofficer nevertheless«
»Why not« demanded Rose
»Because my pretty crossexaminer« replied the doctor »because viewed
with their eyes there are many ugly points about it he can only prove the
parts that look ill and none of those that look well Confound the fellows
they will have the why and the wherefore and will take nothing for granted On
his own showing you see he has been the companion of thieves for some time
past he has been carried to a policeoffice on a charge of picking a
gentlemans pocket he has been taken away forcibly from that gentlemans
house to a place which he cannot describe or point out and of the situation of
which he has not the remotest idea He is brought down to Chertsey by men who
seem to have taken a violent fancy to him whether he will or no and is put
through a window to rob a house and then just at the very moment when he is
going to alarm the inmates and so do the very thing that would set him all to
rights there rushes into the way a blundering dog of a halfbred butler and
shoots him As if on purpose to prevent his doing any good for himself Dont
you see all this«
»I see it of course« replied Rose smiling at the doctors impetuosity
»but still I do not see anything in it to criminate the poor child«
»No« replied the doctor »of course not Bless the bright eyes of your sex
They never see whether for good or bad more than one side of any question and
that is always the one which first presents itself to them«
Having given vent to this result of experience the doctor put his hands
into his pockets and walked up and down the room with even greater rapidity
than before
»The more I think of it« said the doctor »the more I see that it will
occasion endless trouble and difficulty if we put these men in possession of the
boys real story I am certain it will not be believed and even if they can do
nothing to him in the end still the dragging it forward and giving publicity
to all the doubts that will be cast upon it must interfere materially with
your benevolent plan of rescuing him from misery«
»Oh what is to be done« cried Rose »Dear dear why did they send for
these people«
»Why indeed« exclaimed Mrs Maylie »I would not have had them here for
the world«
»All I know is« said Mr Losberne at last sitting down with a kind of
desperate calmness »that we must try and carry it off with a bold face The
object is a good one and that must be our excuse The boy has strong symptoms
of fever upon him and is in no condition to be talked to any more thats one
comfort We must make the best of it and if bad be the best it is no fault of
ours Come in«
»Well master« said Blathers entering the room followed by his colleague
and making the door fast before he said any more »This warnt a putup thing«
»And what the devils a putup thing« demanded the doctor impatiently
»We call it a putup robbery ladies« said Blathers turning to them as if
he pitied their ignorance but had a contempt for the doctors »when the
servants is in it«
»Nobody suspected them in this case« said Mrs Maylie
»Wery likely not maam« replied Blathers »but they might have been in it
for all that«
»More likely on that wery account« said Duff
»We find it was a town hand« said Blathers continuing his report »for the
style of work is firstrate«
»Wery pretty indeed it is« remarked Duff in an under tone
»There was two of em in it« continued Blathers »and they had a boy with
em thats plain from the size of the window Thats all to be said at present
Well see this lad that youve got up stairs at once if you please«
»Perhaps they will take something to drink first Mrs Maylie« said the
doctor his face brightening as if some new thought had occurred to him
»Oh to be sure« exclaimed Rose eagerly »You shall have it immediately
if you will«
»Why thank you miss« said Blathers drawing his coatsleeve across his
mouth »its dry work this sort of duty Anythink thats handy miss dont put
yourself out of the way on our accounts«
»What shall it be« asked the doctor following the young lady to the
sideboard
»A little drop of spirits master if its all the same« replied Blathers
»Its a cold ride from London maam and I always find that spirits comes home
warmer to the feelings«
This interesting communication was addressed to Mrs Maylie who received it
very graciously While it was being conveyed to her the doctor slipped out of
the room
»Ah« said Mr Blathers not holding his wineglass by the stem but
grasping the bottom between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand and
placing it in front of his chest »I have seen a good many pieces of business
like this in my time ladies«
»That crack down in the back lane at Edmonton Blathers« said Mr Duff
assisting his colleagues memory
»That was something in this way warnt it« rejoined Mr Blathers »that
was done by Conkey Chickweed that was«
»You always gave that to him« replied Duff »It was the Family Pet I tell
you Conkey hadnt any more to do with it than I had«
»Get out« retorted Mr Blathers »I know better Do you mind that time when
Conkey was robbed of his money though What a start that was Better than any
novelbook I ever see«
»What was that« inquired Rose anxious to encourage any symptoms of
goodhumour in the unwelcome visitors
»It was a robbery miss that hardly anybody would have been down upon«
said Blathers »This here Conkey Chickweed «
»Conkey means Nosey maam« interposed Duff
»Of course the lady knows that dont she« demanded Mr Blathers »Always
interrupting you are partner This here Conkey Chickweed miss kept a
publichouse over Battlebridge way and he had a cellar where a good many young
lords went to see cockfighting and badgerdrawing and that and a wery
intellectual manner the sports was conducted in for Ive seen em offen He
warnt one of the family at that time and one night he was robbed of three
hundred and twentyseven guineas in a canvas bag that was stole out of his
bedroom in the dead of night by a tall man with a black patch over his eye who
had concealed himself under the bed and after committing the robbery jumped
slap out of the window which was only a story high He was wery quick about it
But Conkey was quick too for he was woke by the noise and darting out of bed
he fired a blunderbuss arter him and roused the neighbourhood They set up a
hueandcry directly and when they came to look about em found that Conkey
had hit the robber for there was traces of blood all the way to some palings a
good distance off and there they lost em However he had made off with the
blunt and consequently the name of Mr Chickweed licensed witler appeared
in the Gazette among the other bankrupts and all manner of benefits and
subscriptions and I dont know what all was got up for the poor man who was
in a wery low state of mind about his loss and went up and down the streets
for three or four days a pulling his hair off in such a desperate manner that
many people was afraid he might be going to make away with himself One day he
come up to the office all in a hurry and had a private interview with the
magistrate who after a deal of talk rings the bell and orders Jem Spyers in
Jem was a active officer and tells him to go and assist Mr Chickweed in
apprehending the man as robbed his house I see him Spyers said Chickweed
pass my house yesterday morning Why didnt you up and collar him says Spyers
I was so struck all of a heap that you might have fractured my skull with a
toothpick says the poor man but were sure to have him for between ten and
eleven oclock at night he passed again Spyers no sooner heard this than he
put some clean linen and a comb in his pocket in case he should have to stop a
day or two and away he goes and sets himself down at one of the publichouse
windows behind the little red curtain with his hat on all ready to bolt out
at a moments notice He was smoking his pipe here late at night when all of a
sudden Chickweed roars out Here he is Stop thief Murder Jem Spyers dashes
out and there he sees Chickweed atearing down the street full cry Away goes
Spyers on goes Chickweed round turns the people everybody roars out Thieves
and Chickweed himself keeps on shouting all the time like mad Spyers loses
sight of him a minute as he turns a corner shoots round sees a little crowd
dives in Which is the man Dme says Chickweed Ive lost him again It was a
remarkable occurrence but he warnt to be seen nowhere so they went back to
the publichouse Next morning Spyers took his old place and looked out from
behind the curtain for a tall man with a black patch over his eye till his own
two eyes ached again At last he couldnt help shutting em to ease em a
minute and the very moment he did so he hears Chickweed aroaring out Here he
is Off he starts once more with Chickweed halfway down the street ahead of
him and after twice as long a run as the yesterdays one the mans lost again
This was done once or twice more till onehalf the neighbours gave out that
Mr Chickweed had been robbed by the devil who was playing tricks with him
arterwards and the other half that poor Mr Chickweed had gone mad with
grief«
»What did Jem Spyers say« inquired the doctor who had returned to the room
shortly after the commencement of the story
»Jem Spyers« resumed the officer »for a long time said nothing at all and
listened to everything without seeming to which showed he understood his
business But one morning he walked into the bar and taking out his snuffbox
says Chickweed Ive found out who done this here robbery Have you said
Chickweed Oh my dear Spyers only let me have wengeance and I shall die
contented Oh my dear Spyers where is the villain Come said Spyers offering
him a pinch of snuff none of that gammon You did it yourself So he had and a
good bit of money he had made by it too and nobody would never have found it
out if he hadnt been so precious anxious to keep up appearances« said Mr
Blathers putting down his wineglass and clinking the handcuffs together
»Very curious indeed« observed the doctor »Now if you please you can
walk up stairs«
»If you please sir« returned Mr Blathers Closely following Mr Losberne
the two officers ascended to Olivers bedroom Mr Giles preceding the party
with a lighted candle
Oliver had been dozing but looked worse and was more feverish than he had
appeared yet Being assisted by the doctor he managed to sit up in bed for a
minute or so and looked at the strangers without at all understanding what was
going forward in fact without seeming to recollect where he was or what had
been passing
»This« said Mr Losberne speaking softly but with great vehemence
notwithstanding »this is the lad who being accidentally wounded by a
springgun in some boyish trespass on Mr Whatdyecallhims grounds at the
back here comes to the house for assistance this morning and is immediately
laid hold of and maltreated by that ingenious gentleman with the candle in his
hand who has placed his life in considerable danger as I can professionally
certify«
Messrs Blathers and Duff looked at Mr Giles as he was thus recommended to
their notice The bewildered butler gazed from them towards Oliver and from
Oliver towards Mr Losberne with a most ludicrous mixture of fear and
perplexity
»You dont mean to deny that I suppose« said the doctor laying Oliver
gently down again
»It was all done for the for the best sir« answered Giles »I am sure I
thought it was the boy or I wouldnt have meddled with him I am not of an
inhuman disposition sir«
»Thought it was what boy« inquired the senior officer
»The housebreakers boy sir« replied Giles »They they certainly had a
boy«
»Well Do you think so now« inquired Blathers
»Think what now« replied Giles looking vacantly at his questioner
»Think its the same boy Stupidhead« rejoined Blathers impatiently
»I dont know I really dont know« said Giles with a rueful countenance
»I couldnt swear to him«
»What do you think« asked Mr Blathers
»I dont know what to think« replied poor Giles »I dont think it is the
boy indeed Im almost certain that it isnt You know it cant be«
»Has this man been adrinking sir« inquired Blathers turning to the
doctor
»What a precious muddleheaded chap you are« said Duff addressing Mr
Giles with supreme contempt
Mr Losberne had been feeling the patients pulse during this short
dialogue but he now rose from the chair by the bedside and remarked that if
the officers had any doubts upon the subject they would perhaps like to step
into the next room and have Brittles before them
Acting upon this suggestion they adjourned to a neighbouring apartment
where Mr Brittles being called in involved himself and his respected superior
in such a wonderful maze of fresh contradictions and impossibilities as tended
to throw no particular light on anything but the fact of his own strong
mystification except indeed his declarations that he shouldnt know the real
boy if he were put before him that instant that he had only taken Oliver to be
he because Mr Giles had said he was and that Mr Giles had five minutes
previously admitted in the kitchen that he began to be very much afraid he had
been a little too hasty
Among other ingenious surmises the question was then raised whether Mr
Giles had really hit anybody and upon examination of the fellow pistol to that
which he had fired it turned out to have no more destructive loading than
gunpowder and brown paper a discovery which made a considerable impression on
everybody but the doctor who had drawn the ball about ten minutes before Upon
no one however did it make a greater impression than on Mr Giles himself
who after labouring for some hours under the fear of having mortally wounded
a fellowcreature eagerly caught at this new idea and favoured it to the
utmost Finally the officers without troubling themselves very much about
Oliver left the Chertsey constable in the house and took up their rest for
that night in the town promising to return next morning
With the next morning there came a rumour that two men and a boy were in
the cage at Kingston who had been apprehended over night under suspicious
circumstances and to Kingston Messrs Blathers and Duff journeyed accordingly
The suspicious circumstances however resolving themselves on investigation
into the one fact that they had been discovered sleeping under a haystack
which although a great crime is only punishable by imprisonment and is in
the merciful eye of the English law and its comprehensive love of all the
kings subjects held to be no satisfactory proof in the absence of all other
evidence that the sleeper or sleepers have committed burglary accompanied
with violence and have therefore rendered themselves liable to the punishment
of death Messrs Blathers and Duff came back again as wise as they went
In short after some more examination and a great deal more conversation a
neighbouring magistrate was readily induced to take the joint bail of Mrs
Maylie and Mr Losberne for Olivers appearance if he should ever be called
upon and Blathers and Duff being rewarded with a couple of guineas returned
to town with divided opinions on the subject of their expedition the latter
gentleman on a mature consideration of all the circumstances inclining to the
belief that the burglarious attempt had originated with the Family Pet and the
former being equally disposed to concede the full merit of it to the great Mr
Conkey Chickweed
Meanwhile Oliver gradually throve and prospered under the united care of
Mrs Maylie Rose and the kindhearted Mr Losberne If fervent prayers
gushing from hearts overcharged with gratitude be heard in heaven and if they
be not what prayers are the blessings which the orphan child called down
upon them sunk into their souls diffusing peace and happiness
Chapter XXXII
Of the Happy Life Oliver Began to Lead with His Kind Friends
Olivers ailings were neither slight nor few In addition to the pain and delay
attendant on a broken limb his exposure to the wet and cold had brought on
fever and ague which hung about him for many weeks and reduced him sadly But
at length he began by slow degrees to get better and to be able to say
sometimes in a few tearful words how deeply he felt the goodness of the two
sweet ladies and how ardently he hoped that when he grew strong and well again
he could do something to show his gratitude only something which would let them
see the love and duty with which his breast was full something however slight
which would prove to them that their gentle kindness had not been cast away but
that the poor boy whom their charity had rescued from misery or death was
eager to serve them with his whole heart and soul
»Poor fellow« said Rose when Oliver had been one day feebly endeavouring
to utter the words of thankfulness that rose to his pale lips »you shall have
many opportunities of serving us if you will We are going into the country
and my aunt intends that you shall accompany us The quiet place the pure air
and all the pleasures and beauties of spring will restore you in a few days We
will employ you in a hundred ways when you can bear the trouble«
»The trouble« cried Oliver »Oh dear lady if I could but work for you if
I could only give you pleasure by watering your flowers or watching your birds
or running up and down the whole day long to make you happy what would I give
to do it«
»You shall give nothing at all« said Miss Maylie smiling »for as I told
you before we shall employ you in a hundred ways and if you only take half the
trouble to please us that you promise now you will make me very happy indeed«
»Happy maam« cried Oliver »how kind of you to say so«
»You will make me happier than I can tell you« replied the young lady »To
think that my dear good aunt should have been the means of rescuing any one from
such sad misery as you have described to us would be an unspeakable pleasure to
me but to know that the object of her goodness and compassion was sincerely
grateful and attached in consequence would delight me more than you can well
imagine Do you understand me« she inquired watching Olivers thoughtful face
»Oh yes maam yes« replied Oliver eagerly »but I was thinking that I am
ungrateful now«
»To whom« inquired the young lady
»To the kind gentleman and the dear old nurse who took so much care of me
before« rejoined Oliver »If they knew how happy I am they would be pleased I
am sure«
»I am sure they would« rejoined Olivers benefactress »and Mr Losberne
has already been kind enough to promise that when you are well enough to bear
the journey he will carry you to see them«
»Has he maam« cried Oliver his face brightening with pleasure »I dont
know what I shall do for joy when I see their kind faces once again«
In a short time Oliver was sufficiently recovered to undergo the fatigue of
this expedition One morning he and Mr Losberne set out accordingly in a
little carriage which belonged to Mrs Maylie When they came to Chertsey
Bridge Oliver turned very pale and uttered a loud exclamation
»Whats the matter with the boy« cried the doctor as usual all in a
bustle »Do you see anything hear anything feel anything eh«
»That sir« cried Oliver pointing out of the carriage window »That
house«
»Yes well what of it Stop coachman Pull up here« cried the doctor
»What of the house my man eh«
»The thieves the house they took me to« whispered Oliver
»The devil it is« cried the doctor »Halloa there let me out«
But before the coachman could dismount from his box he had tumbled out of
the coach by some means or other and running down to the deserted tenement
began kicking at the door like a madman
»Halloa« said a little ugly humpbacked man opening the door so suddenly
that the doctor from the very impetus of his last kick nearly fell forward
into the passage »Whats the matter here«
»Matter« exclaimed the other collaring him without a moments reflection
»A good deal Robbery is the matter«
»Therell be Murder the matter too« replied the humpbacked man coolly
»if you dont take your hands off Do you hear me«
»I hear you« said the doctor giving his captive a hearty shake »Wheres
confound the fellow whats his rascally name Sikes thats it Wheres Sikes
you thief«
The humpbacked man stared as if in excess of amazement and indignation
then twisting himself dexterously from the doctors grasp growled forth a
volley of horrid oaths and retired into the house Before he could shut the
door however the doctor had passed into the parlour without a word of parley
He looked anxiously round not an article of furniture not a vestige of
anything animate or inanimate not even the position of the cupboards answered
Olivers description
»Now« said the humpbacked man who had watched him keenly »what do you
mean by coming into my house in this violent way Do you want to rob me or to
murder me Which is it«
»Did you ever know a man come out to do either in a chariot and pair you
ridiculous old vampire« said the irritable doctor
»What do you want then« demanded the hunchback »Will you take yourself
off before I do you a mischief Curse you«
»As soon as I think proper« said Mr Losberne looking into the other
parlour which like the first bore no resemblance whatever to Olivers account
of it »I shall find you out some day my friend«
»Will you« sneered the illfavoured cripple »If you ever want me Im
here I havent lived here mad and all alone for fiveandtwenty years to be
scared by you You shall pay for this you shall pay for this« And so saying
the misshapen little demon set up a yell and danced upon the ground as if wild
with rage
»Stupid enough this« muttered the doctor to himself »the boy must have
made a mistake Here Put that in your pocket and shut yourself up again« With
these words he flung the hunchback a piece of money and returned to the
carriage
The man followed to the chariot door uttering the wildest imprecations and
curses all the way but as Mr Losberne turned to speak to the driver he looked
into the carriage and eyed Oliver for an instant with a glance so sharp and
fierce and at the same time so furious and vindictive that waking or sleeping
he could not forget it for months afterwards He continued to utter the most
fearful imprecations until the driver had resumed his seat and when they were
once more on their way they could see him some distance behind beating his
feet upon the ground and tearing his hair in transports of real or pretended
rage
»I am an ass« said the doctor after a long silence »Did you know that
before Oliver«
»No sir«
»Then dont forget it another time«
»An ass« said the doctor again after a further silence of some minutes
»Even if it had been the right place and the right fellows had been there what
could I have done singlehanded And if I had had assistance I see no good
that I should have done except leading to my own exposure and an unavoidable
statement of the manner in which I have hushed up this business That would have
served me right though I am always involving myself in some scrape or other
by acting on impulse It might have done me good«
Now the fact was that the excellent doctor had never acted upon anything
but impulse all through his life and it was no bad compliment to the nature of
the impulses which governed him that so far from being involved in any peculiar
troubles or misfortunes he had the warmest respect and esteem of all who knew
him If the truth must be told he was a little out of temper for a minute or
two at being disappointed in procuring corroborative evidence of Olivers
story on the very first occasion on which he had a chance of obtaining any He
soon came round again however and finding that Olivers replies to his
questions were still as straightforward and consistent and still delivered
with as much apparent sincerity and truth as they had ever been he made up his
mind to attach full credence to them from that time forth
As Oliver knew the name of the street in which Mr Brownlow resided they
were enabled to drive straight thither When the coach turned into it his heart
beat so violently that he could scarcely draw his breath
»Now my boy which house is it« inquired Mr Losberne
»That That« replied Oliver pointing eagerly out of the window »The white
house Oh make haste Pray make haste I feel as if I should die it makes me
tremble so«
»Come come« said the good doctor patting him on the shoulder »You will
see them directly and they will be overjoyed to find you safe and well«
»Oh I hope so« cried Oliver »They were so good to me so very very good
to me«
The coach rolled on It stopped No that was the wrong house the next
door It went on a few paces and stopped again Oliver looked up at the
windows with tears of happy expectation coursing down his face
Alas the white house was empty and there was a bill in the window To Let
»Knock at the next door« cried Mr Losberne taking Olivers arm in his
»What has become of Mr Brownlow who used to live in the adjoining house do
you know«
The servant did not know but would go and inquire She presently returned
and said that Mr Brownlow had sold off his goods and gone to the West Indies
six weeks before Oliver clasped his hands and sank feebly backward
»Has his housekeeper gone too« inquired Mr Losberne after a moments
pause
»Yes sir« replied the servant »The old gentleman the housekeeper and a
gentleman who was a friend of Mr Brownlows all went together«
»Then turn towards home again« said Mr Losberne to the driver »and dont
stop to bait the horses till you get out of this confounded London«
»The bookstall keeper sir« said Oliver »I know the way there See him
pray sir Do see him«
»My poor boy this is disappointment enough for one day« said the doctor
»Quite enough for both of us If we go to the bookstall keepers we shall
certainly find that he is dead or has set his house on fire or run away No
home again straight« And in obedience to the doctors impulse home they went
This bitter disappointment caused Oliver much sorrow and grief even in the
midst of his happiness for he had pleased himself many times during his
illness with thinking of all that Mr Brownlow and Mrs Bedwin would say to
him and what delight it would be to tell them how many long days and nights he
had passed in reflecting on what they had done for him and in bewailing his
cruel separation from them The hope of eventually clearing himself with them
too and explaining how he had been forced away had buoyed him up and
sustained him under many of his recent trials and now the idea that they
should have gone so far and carried with them the belief that he was an
impostor and a robber a belief which might remain uncontradicted to his dying
day was almost more than he could bear
The circumstance occasioned no alteration however in the behaviour of his
benefactors After another fortnight when the fine warm weather had fairly
begun and every tree and flower was putting forth its young leaves and rich
blossoms they made preparations for quitting the house at Chertsey for some
months Sending the plate which had so excited Fagins cupidity to the
bankers and leaving Giles and another servant in care of the house they
departed to a cottage at some distance in the country and took Oliver with
them
Who can describe the pleasure and delight the peace of mind and soft
tranquillity the sickly boy felt in the balmy air and among the green hills
and rich woods of an inland village Who can tell how scenes of peace and
quietude sink into the minds of painworn dwellers in close and noisy places
and carry their own freshness deep into their jaded hearts Men who have lived
in crowded pentup streets through lives of toil and who have never wished
for change men to whom custom has indeed been second nature and who have come
almost to love each brick and stone that formed the narrow boundaries of their
daily walks even they with the hand of death upon them have been known to
yearn at last for one short glimpse of Natures face and carried far from the
scenes of their old pains and pleasures have seemed to pass at once into a new
state of being Crawling forth from day to day to some green sunny spot they
have had such memories wakened up within them by the sight of sky and hill and
plain and glistening water that a foretaste of heaven itself has soothed their
quick decline and they have sunk into their tombs as peacefully as the sun
whose setting they watched from their lonely chamber window but a few hours
before faded from their dim and feeble sight The memories which peaceful
country scenes call up are not of this world nor of its thoughts and hopes
Their gentle influence may teach us how to weave fresh garlands for the graves
of those we loved may purify our thoughts and bear down before it old enmity
and hatred but beneath all this there lingers in the least reflective mind a
vague and halfformed consciousness of having held such feelings long before in
some remote and distant time which calls up solemn thoughts of distant times to
come and bends down pride and worldliness beneath it
It was a lovely spot to which they repaired Oliver whose days had been
spent among squalid crowds and in the midst of noise and brawling seemed to
enter on a new existence there The rose and honeysuckle clung to the cottage
walls the ivy crept round the trunks of the trees and the gardenflowers
perfumed the air with delicious odours Hard by vas a little churchyard not
crowded with tall unsightly gravestones but full of humble mounds covered with
fresh turf and moss beneath which the old people of the village lay at rest
Oliver often wandered here and thinking of the wretched grave in which his
mother lay would sometimes sit him down and sob unseen but when he raised his
eyes to the deep sky overhead he would cease to think of her as lying in the
ground and would weep for her sadly but without pain
It was a happy time The days were peaceful and serene the nights brought
with them neither fear nor care no languishing in a wretched prison or
associating with wretched men nothing but pleasant and happy thoughts Every
morning he went to a whiteheaded old gentleman who lived near the little
church who taught him to read better and to write and who spoke so kindly
and took such pains that Oliver could never try enough to please him Then he
would walk with Mrs Maylie and Rose and hear them talk of books or perhaps
sit near them in some shady place and listen whilst the young lady read which
he could have done until it grew too dark to see the letters Then he had his
own lesson for the next day to prepare and at this he would work hard in a
little room which looked into the garden till evening came slowly on when the
ladies would walk out again and he with them listening with such pleasure to
all they said and so happy if they wanted a flower that he could climb to
reach or had forgotten anything he could run to fetch that he could never be
quick enough about it When it became quite dark and they returned home the
young lady would sit down to the piano and play some pleasant air or sing in
a low and gentle voice some old song which it pleased her aunt to hear There
would be no candles lighted at such times as these and Oliver would sit by one
of the windows listening to the sweet music in a perfect rapture
And when Sunday came how differently the day was spent from any way in
which he had ever spent it yet and how happily too like all the other days in
that most happy time There was the little church in the morning with the
green leaves fluttering at the windows the birds singing without and the
sweetsmelling air stealing in at the low porch and filling the homely building
with its fragrance The poor people were so neat and clean and knelt so
reverently in prayer that it seemed a pleasure not a tedious duty their
assembling there together and though the singing might be rude it was real
and sounded more musical to Olivers ears at least than any he had ever heard
in church before Then there were the walks as usual and many calls at the
clean houses of the labouring men and at night Oliver read a chapter or two
from the Bible which he had been studying all the week and in the performance
of which duty he felt more proud and pleased than if he had been the clergyman
himself
In the morning Oliver would be afoot by six oclock roaming the fields
and plundering the hedges far and wide for nosegays of wild flowers with
which he would return laden home and which it took great care and
consideration to arrange to the best advantage for the embellishment of the
breakfaststable There was fresh groundsel too for Miss Maylies birds with
which Oliver who had been studying the subject under the able tuition of the
village clerk would decorate the cages in the most approved taste When the
birds were made all spruce and smart for the day there was usually some little
commission of charity to execute in the village or failing that there was
rare cricketplaying sometimes on the green or failing that there was
always something to do in the garden or about the plants to which Oliver who
had studied this science also under the same master who was a gardener by
trade applied himself with hearty goodwill until Miss Rose made her
appearance when there were a thousand commendations to be bestowed on all he
had done
So three months glided away three months which in the life of the most
blessed and favoured of mortals might have been unmingled happiness and which
in Olivers were true felicity With the purest and most amiable generosity on
one side and the truest warmest soulfelt gratitude on the other it is no
wonder that by the end of that short time Oliver Twist had become completely
domesticated with the old lady and her niece and that the fervent attachment of
his young and sensitive heart was repaid by their pride in and attachment to
himself
Chapter XXXIII
Wherein the Happiness of Oliver and His Friends Experiences a Sudden Check
Spring flew swiftly by and summer came If the village had been beautiful at
first it was now in the full glow and luxuriance of its richness The great
trees which had looked shrunken and bare in the earlier months had now burst
into strong life and health and stretching forth their green arms over the
thirsty ground converted open and naked spots into choice nooks where was a
deep and pleasant shade from which to look upon the wide prospect steeped in
sunshine which lay stretched beyond The earth had donned her mantle of
brightest green and shed her richest perfumes abroad It was the prime and
vigour of the year all things were glad and flourishing
Still the same quiet life went on at the little cottage and the same
cheerful serenity prevailed among its inmates Oliver had long since grown stout
and healthy but health or sickness made no difference in his warm feelings to
those about him though they do in the feelings of a great many people He was
still the same gentle attached affectionate creature that he had been when
pain and suffering had wasted his strength and when he was dependent for every
slight attention and comfort on those who tended him
One beautiful night they had taken a longer walk than was customary with
them for the day had been unusually warm and there was a brilliant moon and a
light wind had sprung up which was unusually refreshing Rose had been in high
spirits too and they had walked on in merry conversation until they had far
exceeded their ordinary bounds Mrs Maylie being fatigued they returned more
slowly home The young lady merely throwing off her simple bonnet sat down to
the piano as usual After running abstractedly over the keys for a few minutes
she fell into a low and very solemn air and as she played it they heard a
sound as if she were weeping
»Rose my dear« said the elder lady
Rose made no reply but played a little quicker as though the words had
roused her from some painful thoughts
»Rose my love« cried Mrs Maylie rising hastily and bending over her
»What is this In tears My dear child what distresses you«
»Nothing aunt nothing« replied the young lady »I dont know what it is
I cant describe it but I feel «
»Not ill my love« interposed Mrs Maylie
»No no Oh not ill« replied Rose shuddering as though some deadly
chillness were passing over her while she spoke »I shall be better presently
Close the window pray«
Oliver hastened to comply with her request The young lady making an effort
to recover her cheerfulness strove to play some livelier tune but her fingers
dropped powerless on the keys Covering her face with her hands she sank upon a
sofa and gave vent to the tears which she was now unable to repress
»My child« said the elderly lady folding her arms about her »I never saw
you so before«
»I would not alarm you if I could avoid it« rejoined Rose »but indeed I
have tried very hard and cannot help this I fear I am ill aunt«
She was indeed for when candles were brought they saw that in the very
short time which had elapsed since their return home the hue of her countenance
had changed to a marble whiteness Its expression had lost nothing of its
beauty but it was changed and there was an anxious haggard look about the
gentle face which it had never worn before Another minute and it was suffused
with a crimson flush and a heavy wildness came over the soft blue eye Again
this disappeared like the shadow thrown by a passing cloud and she was once
more deadly pale
Oliver who watched the old lady anxiously observed that she was alarmed by
these appearances and so in truth was he but seeing that she affected to make
light of them he endeavoured to do the same and they so far succeeded that
when Rose was persuaded by her aunt to retire for the night she was in better
spirits and appeared even in better health assuring them that she felt certain
she should rise in the morning quite well
»I hope« said Oliver when Mrs Maylie returned »that nothing is the
matter She dont look well tonight but «
The old lady motioned to him not to speak and sitting herself down in a
dark corner of the room remained silent for some time At length she said in
a trembling voice
»I hope not Oliver I have been very happy with her for some years too
happy perhaps It may be time that I should meet with some misfortune but I
hope it is not this«
»What« inquired Oliver
»The heavy blow« said the old lady »of losing the dear girl who has so
long been my comfort and happiness«
»Oh God forbid« exclaimed Oliver hastily
»Amen to that my child« said the old lady wringing her hands
»Surely there is no danger of anything so dreadful« said Oliver »Two hours
ago she was quite well«
»She is very ill now« rejoined Mrs Maylie »and will be worse I am sure
My dear dear Rose Oh what should I do without her«
She gave way to such great grief that Oliver suppressing his own emotion
ventured to remonstrate with her and to beg earnestly that for the sake of
the dear young lady herself she would be more calm
»And consider maam« said Oliver as the tears forced themselves into his
eyes despite of his efforts to the contrary »Oh consider how young and good
she is and what pleasure and comfort she gives to all about her I am sure
certain quite certain that for your sake who are good yourself and for
her own and for the sake of all she makes so happy she will not die Heaven
will never let her die so young«
»Hush« said Mrs Maylie laying her hand on Olivers head »You think like
a child poor boy But you teach me my duty notwithstanding I had forgotten it
for a moment Oliver but I hope I may be pardoned for I am old and have seen
enough of illness and death to know the agony of separation from the objects of
our love I have seen enough too to know that it is not always the youngest
and best who are spared to those that love them but this should give us comfort
in our sorrow for Heaven is just and such things teach us impressively that
there is a brighter world than this and that the passage to it is speedy Gods
will be done I love her and He knows how well«
Oliver was surprised to see that as Mrs Maylie said these words she
checked her lamentations as though by one effort and drawing herself up as she
spoke became composed and firm He was still more astonished to find that this
firmness lasted and that under all the care and watching which ensued Mrs
Maylie was ever ready and collected performing all the duties which devolved
upon her steadily and to all external appearance even cheerfully But he was
young and did not know what strong minds are capable of under trying
circumstances How should he when their possessors so seldom know themselves
An anxious night ensued When morning came Mrs Maylies predictions were
but too well verified Rose was in the first stage of a high and dangerous
fever
»We must be active Oliver and not give way to useless grief« said Mrs
Maylie laying her finger on her lip as she looked steadily into his face
»this letter must be sent with all possible expedition to Mr Losberne It
must be carried to the markettown which is not more than four miles off by
the footpath across the fields and thence dispatched by an express on
horseback straight to Chertsey The people at the inn will undertake to do
this and I can trust to you to see it done I know«
Oliver could make no reply but looked his anxiety to be gone at once
»Here is another letter« said Mrs Maylie pausing to reflect »but whether
to send it now or wait until I see how Rose goes on I scarcely know I would
not forward it unless I feared the worst«
»Is it for Chertsey too maam« inquired Oliver impatient to execute his
commission and holding out his trembling hand for the letter
»No« replied the old lady giving it to him mechanically Oliver glanced at
it and saw that it was directed to Harry Maylie Esquire at some great lords
house in the country where he could not make out
»Shall it go maam« asked Oliver looking up impatiently
»I think not« replied Mrs Maylie taking it back »I will wait until
tomorrow«
With these words she gave Oliver her purse and he started off without
more delay at the greatest speed he could muster
Swiftly he ran across the fields and down the little lanes which sometimes
divided them now almost hidden by the high corn on either side and now
emerging on an open field where the mowers and haymakers were busy at their
work nor did he stop once save now and then for a few seconds to recover
breath until he came in a great heat and covered with dust on the little
marketplace of the markettown
Here he paused and looked about for the inn There were a white bank and a
red brewery and a yellow townhall and in one corner there was a large house
with all the wood about it painted green before which was the sign of The
George To this he hastened as soon as it caught his eye
He spoke to a postboy who was dozing under the gateway and who after
hearing what he wanted referred him to the ostler who after hearing all he had
to say again referred him to the landlord who was a tall gentleman in a blue
neckcloth a white hat drab breeches and boots with tops to match leaning
against a pump by the stabledoor picking his teeth with a silver toothpick
This gentleman walked with much deliberation into the bar to make out the
bill which took a long time making out and after it was ready and paid a
horse had to be saddled and a man to be dressed which took up ten good minutes
more Meanwhile Oliver was in such a desperate state of impatience and anxiety
that he felt as if he could have jumped upon the horse himself and galloped
away full tear to the next stage At length all was ready and the little
parcel having been handed up with many injunctions and entreaties for its
speedy delivery the man set spurs to his horse and rattling over the uneven
paving of the marketplace was out of the town and galloping along the
turnpikeroad in a couple of minutes
As it was something to feel certain that assistance was sent for and that
no time had been lost Oliver hurried up the innyard with a somewhat lighter
heart He was turning out of the gateway when he accidentally stumbled against a
tall man wrapped in a cloak who was at that moment coming out of the inn door
»Hah« cried the man fixing his eyes on Oliver and suddenly recoiling
»What the devils this«
»I beg your pardon sir« said Oliver »I was in a great hurry to get home
and didnt see you were coming«
»Death« muttered the man to himself glaring at the boy with his large dark
eyes »Who would have thought it Grind him to ashes Hed start up from a stone
coffin to come in my way«
»I am sorry« stammered Oliver confused by the strange mans wild look »I
hope I have not hurt you«
»Rot you« murmured the man in a horrible passion between his clenched
teeth »if I had only had the courage to say the word I might have been free of
you in a night Curses on your head and black death on your heart you imp
What are you doing here«
The man shook his fist as he uttered these words incoherently He advanced
towards Oliver as if with the intention of aiming a blow at him but fell
violently on the ground writhing and foaming in a fit
Oliver gazed for a moment at the struggles of the madman for such he
supposed him to be and then darted into the house for help Having seen him
safely carried into the hotel he turned his face homewards running as fast as
he could to make up for lost time and recalling with a great deal of
astonishment and some fear the extraordinary behaviour of the person from whom
he had just parted
The circumstance did not dwell in his recollection long however for when
he reached the cottage there was enough to occupy his mind and to drive all
considerations of self completely from his memory
Rose Maylie had rapidly grown worse before midnight she was delirious A
medical practitioner who resided on the spot was in constant attendance upon
her and after first seeing the patient he had taken Mrs Maylie aside and
pronounced her disorder to be one of a most alarming nature »In fact« he said
»it would be little short of a miracle if she recovered«
How often did Oliver start from his bed that night and stealing out with
noiseless footstep to the staircase listen for the slightest sound from the
sick chamber How often did a tremble shake his frame and cold drops of terror
start upon his brow when a sudden trampling of feet caused him to fear that
something too dreadful to think of had even then occurred And what had been
the fervency of all the prayers he had ever uttered compared with those he
poured forth now in the agony and passion of his supplication for the life and
health of the gentle creature who was tottering on the deep graves verge
Oh the suspense the fearful acute suspense of standing idly by while the
life of one we dearly love is trembling in the balance Oh the racking
thoughts that crowd upon the mind and make the heart beat violently and the
breath come thick by the force of the images they conjure up before it the
desperate anxiety to be doing something to relieve the pain or lessen the
danger which we have no power to alleviate the sinking of soul and spirit
which the sad remembrance of our helplessness produces what tortures can equal
these what reflections or endeavours can in the full tide and fever of the
time allay them
Morning came and the little cottage was lonely and still People spoke in
whispers anxious faces appeared at the gate from time to time women and
children went away in tears All the livelong day and for hours after it had
grown dark Oliver paced softly up and down the garden raising his eyes every
instant to the sick chamber and shuddering to see the darkened window looking
as if death lay stretched inside Late at night Mr Losberne arrived »It is
hard« said the good doctor turning away as he spoke »so young so much
beloved but there is very little hope«
Another morning The sun shone brightly as brightly as if it looked upon no
misery or care and with every leaf and flower in full bloom about her with
life and health and sounds and sights of joy surrounding her on every side
the fair young creature lay wasting fast Oliver crept away to the old
churchyard and sitting down on one of the green mounds wept and prayed for
her in silence
There was such peace and beauty in the scene so much of brightness and
mirth in the sunny landscape such blithesome music in the songs of the summer
birds such freedom in the rapid flight of the rook careering overhead so much
of life and joyousness in all that when the boy raised his aching eyes and
looked about the thought instinctively occurred to him that this was not a
time for death that Rose could surely never die when humbler things were all so
glad and gay that graves were for cold and cheerless winter not for sunlight
and fragrance He almost thought that shrouds were for the old and shrunken and
that they never wrapped the young and graceful form in their ghastly folds
A knell from the church bell broke harshly on these youthful thoughts
Another Again It was tolling for the funeral service A group of humble
mourners entered the gate wearing white favours for the corpse was young They
stood uncovered by a grave and there was a mother a mother once among the
weeping train But the sun shone brightly and the birds sang on
Oliver turned homeward thinking on the many kindnesses he had received from
the young lady and wishing that the time could come over again that he might
never cease showing her how grateful and attached he was He had no cause for
selfreproach on the score of neglect or want of thought for he had been
devoted to her service and yet a hundred little occasions rose up before him
on which he fancied he might have been more zealous and more earnest and
wished he had been We need be careful how we deal with those about us when
every death carries to some small circle of survivors thoughts of so much
omitted and so little done of so many things forgotten and so many more
which might have been repaired There is no remorse so deep as that which is
unavailing if we would be spared its tortures let us remember this in time
When he reached home Mrs Maylie was sitting in the little parlour Olivers
heart sank at sight of her for she had never left the bedside of her niece and
he trembled to think what change could have driven her away He learnt that she
had fallen into a deep sleep from which she would waken either to recovery and
life or to bid them farewell and die
They sat listening and afraid to speak for hours The untasted meal was
removed with looks which showed that their thoughts were elsewhere they
watched the sun as he sank lower and lower and at length cast over sky and
earth those brilliant hues which herald his departure Their quick ears caught
the sound of an approaching footstep They both involuntarily darted to the
door as Mr Losberne entered
»What of Rose« cried the old lady »Tell me at once I can bear it
anything but suspense Oh tell me in the name of Heaven«
»You must compose yourself« said the doctor supporting her »Be calm my
dear maam pray«
»Let me go in Gods name My dear child She is dead She is dying«
»No« cried the doctor passionately »As He is good and merciful she will
live to bless us all for years to come«
The lady fell upon her knees and tried to fold her hands together but the
energy which had supported her so long fled up to Heaven with her first
thanksgiving and she sank into the friendly arms which were extended to receive
her
Chapter XXXIV
Contains Some Introductory Particulars Relative to a Young Gentleman Who Now
Arrives upon the Scene and a New Adventure Which Happened to Oliver
It was almost too much happiness to bear Oliver felt stunned and stupefied by
the unexpected intelligence he could not weep or speak or rest He had
scarcely the power of understanding anything that had passed until after a
long ramble in the quiet evening air a burst of tears came to his relief and
he seemed to awaken all at once to a full sense of the joyful change that had
occurred and the almost insupportable load of anguish which had been taken from
his breast
The night was fast closing in when he returned homeward laden with flowers
which he had culled with peculiar care for the adornment of the sick chamber
As he walked briskly along the road he heard behind him the noise of some
vehicle approaching at a furious pace Looking round he saw that it was a
postchaise driven at great speed and as the horses were galloping and the
road was narrow he stood leaning against a gate until it should have passed
him
As it dashed on Oliver caught a glimpse of a man in a white nightcap whose
face seemed familiar to him although his view was so brief that he could not
identify the person In another second or two the nightcap was thrust out of
the chaisewindow and a stentorian voice bellowed to the driver to stop which
he did as soon as he could pull up his horses Then the nightcap once again
appeared and the same voice called Oliver by his name
»Here« cried the voice »Oliver whats the news Miss Rose Master
Oliver«
»Is it you Giles« cried Oliver running up to the chaisedoor
Giles popped out his nightcap again preparatory to making some reply when
he was suddenly pulled back by a young gentleman who occupied the other corner
of the chaise and who eagerly demanded what was the news
»In a word« cried the gentleman »Better or worse«
»Better much better« replied Oliver hastily
»Thank Heaven« exclaimed the gentleman »You are sure«
»Quite sir« replied Oliver »The change took place only a few hours ago
and Mr Losberne says that all danger is at an end«
The gentleman said not another word but opening the chaisedoor leaped
out and taking Oliver hurriedly by the arm led him aside
»You are quite certain There is no possibility of any mistake on your part
my boy is there« demanded the gentleman in a tremulous voice »Do not deceive
me by awakening hopes that are not to be fulfilled«
»I would not for the world sir« replied Oliver »Indeed you may believe
me Mr Losbernes words were that she would live to bless us all for many
years to come I heard him say so«
The tears stood in Olivers eyes as he recalled the scene which was the
beginning of so much happiness and the gentleman turned his face away and
remained silent for some minutes Oliver thought he heard him sob more than
once but he feared to interrupt him by any fresh remark for he could well
guess what his feelings were and so stood apart feigning to be occupied with
his nosegay
All this time Mr Giles with the white nightcap on had been sitting on
the steps of the chaise supporting an elbow on each knee and wiping his eyes
with a blue cotton pockethandkerchief dotted with white spots That the honest
fellow had not been feigning emotion was abundantly demonstrated by the very
red eyes with which he regarded the young gentleman when he turned round and
addressed him
»I think you had better go on to my mothers in the chaise Giles« said he
»I would rather walk slowly on so as to gain a little time before I see her
You can say I am coming«
»I beg your pardon Mr Harry« said Giles giving a final polish to his
ruffled countenance with the handkerchief »but if you would leave the postboy
to say that I should be very much obliged to you It wouldnt be proper for the
maids to see me in this state sir I should never have any more authority with
them if they did«
»Well« rejoined Harry Maylie smiling »you can do as you like Let him go
on with the luggage if you wish it and do you follow with us Only first
exchange that nightcap for some more appropriate covering or we shall be taken
for madmen«
Mr Giles reminded of his unbecoming costume snatched off and pocketed his
nightcap and substituted a hat of grave and sober shape which he took out of
the chaise This done the postboy drove off Giles Mr Maylie and Oliver
followed at their leisure
As they walked along Oliver glanced from time to time with much interest
and curiosity at the newcomer He seemed about fiveandtwenty years of age
and was of the middle height his countenance was frank and handsome and his
demeanour easy and prepossessing Notwithstanding the difference between youth
and age he bore so strong a likeness to the old lady that Oliver would have
had no great difficulty in imagining their relationship if he had not already
spoken of her as his mother
Mrs Maylie was anxiously waiting to receive her son when he reached the
cottage The meeting did not take place without great emotion on both sides
»Mother« whispered the young man »why did you not write before«
»I did« replied Mrs Maylie »but on reflection I determined to keep back
the letter until I had heard Mr Losbernes opinion«
»But why« said the young man »why run the chance of that occurring which
so nearly happened If Rose had I cannot utter that word now if this illness
had terminated differently how could you ever have forgiven yourself How could
I ever have known happiness again«
»If that had been the case Harry« said Mrs Maylie »I fear your happiness
would have been effectually blighted and that your arrival here a day sooner
or a day later would have been of very very little import«
»And who can wonder if it be so mother« rejoined the young man »or why
should I say if It is it is you know it mother you must know it«
»I know that she deserves the best and purest love the heart of man can
offer« said Mrs Maylie »I know that the devotion and affection of her nature
require no ordinary return but one that shall be deep and lasting If I did not
feel this and know besides that a changed behaviour in one she loved would
break her heart I should not feel my task so difficult of performance or have
to encounter so many struggles in my own bosom when I take what seems to me to
be the strict line of duty«
»This is unkind mother« said Harry »Do you still suppose that I am a boy
ignorant of my own mind and mistaking the impulses of my own soul«
»I think my dear son« returned Mrs Maylie laying her hand upon his
shoulder »that youth has many generous impulses which do not last and that
among them are some which being gratified become only the more fleeting
Above all I think« said the lady fixing her eyes on her sons face »that if
an enthusiastic ardent and ambitious man marry a wife on whose name there is a
stain which though it originate in no fault of hers may be visited by cold
and sordid people upon her and upon his children also and in exact proportion
to his success in the world be cast in his teeth and made the subject of
sneers against him he may no matter how generous and good his nature one day
repent of the connexion he formed in early life And she may have the pain of
knowing that he does so«
»Mother« said the young man impatiently »he would be a selfish brute
unworthy alike of the name of man and of the woman you describe who acted
thus«
»You think so now Harry« replied his mother
»And ever will« said the young man »The mental agony I have suffered
during the last two days wrings from me the avowal to you of a passion which
as you well know is not one of yesterday nor one I have lightly formed On
Rose sweet gentle girl my heart is set as firmly as ever heart of man was
set on woman I have no thought no view no hope in life beyond her and if
you oppose me in this great stake you take my peace and happiness in your
hands and cast them to the wind Mother think better of this and of me and
do not disregard the happiness of which you seem to think so little«
»Harry« said Mrs Maylie »it is because I think so much of warm and
sensitive hearts that I would spare them from being wounded But we have said
enough and more than enough on this matter just now«
»Let it rest with Rose then« interposed Harry »You will not press these
overstrained opinions of yours so far as to throw any obstacle in my way«
»I will not« rejoined Mrs Maylie »but I would have you consider «
»I have considered« was the impatient reply »Mother I have considered
years and years I have considered ever since I have been capable of serious
reflection My feelings remain unchanged as they ever will and why should I
suffer the pain of a delay in giving them vent which can be productive of no
earthly good No Before I leave this place Rose shall hear me«
»She shall« said Mrs Maylie
»There is something in your manner which would almost imply that she will
hear me coldly mother« said the young man
»Not coldly« rejoined the old lady »far from it«
»How then« urged the young man »She has formed no other attachment«
»No indeed« replied his mother »you have or I mistake too strong a hold
on her affections already What I would say« resumed the old lady stopping her
son as he was about to speak »is this Before you stake your all on this
chance before you suffer yourself to be carried to the highest point of hope
reflect for a few moments my dear child on Roses history and consider what
effect the knowledge of her doubtful birth may have on her decision devoted as
she is to us with all the intensity of her noble mind and with that perfect
sacrifice of self which in all matters great or trifling has always been her
characteristic«
»What do you mean«
»That I leave you to discover« replied Mrs Maylie »I must go back to her
God bless you«
»I shall see you again tonight« said the young man eagerly
»By and by« replied the lady »when I leave Rose«
»You will tell her I am here« said Harry
»Of course« replied Mrs Maylie
»And say how anxious I have been and how much I have suffered and how I
long to see her You will not refuse to do this mother«
»No« said the old lady »I will tell her all« And pressing her sons hand
affectionately she hastened from the room
Mr Losberne and Oliver had remained at another end of the apartment while
this hurried conversation was proceeding The former now held out his hand to
Harry Maylie and hearty salutations were exchanged between them The doctor
then communicated in reply to multifarious questions from his young friend a
precise account of his patients situation which was quite as consolatory and
full of promise as Olivers statement had encouraged him to hope and to the
whole of which Mr Giles who affected to be busy about the luggage listened
with greedy ears
»Have you shot anything particular lately Giles« inquired the doctor
when he had concluded
»Nothing particular sir« replied Mr Giles colouring up to the eyes
»Nor catching any thieves nor identifying any housebreakers« said the
doctor
»None at all sir« replied Mr Giles with much gravity
»Well« said the doctor »I am sorry to hear it because you do that sort of
thing admirably Pray how is Brittles«
»The boy is very well sir« said Mr Giles recovering his usual tone of
patronage »and sends his respectful duty sir«
»Thats well« said the doctor »Seeing you here reminds me Mr Giles
that on the day before that on which I was called away so hurriedly I executed
at the request of your good mistress a small commission in your favour Just
step into this corner a moment will you«
Mr Giles walked into the corner with much importance and some wonder and
was honoured with a short whispering conference with the doctor on the
termination of which he made a great many bows and retired with steps of
unusual stateliness The subject matter of this conference was not disclosed in
the parlour but the kitchen was speedily enlightened concerning it for Mr
Giles walked straight thither and having called for a mug of ale announced
with an air of majesty which was highly effective that it had pleased his
mistress in consideration of his gallant behaviour on the occasion of that
attempted robbery to deposit in the local savingsbank the sum of five and
twenty pounds for his sole use and benefit At this the two womenservants
lifted up their hands and eyes and supposed that Mr Giles would begin to be
quite proud now whereunto Mr Giles pulling out his shirtfrill replied »No
no« and that if they observed that he was at all haughty to his inferiors he
would thank them to tell him so And then he made a great many other remarks no
less illustrative of his humility which were received with equal favour and
applause and were withal as original and as much to the purpose as the
remarks of great men commonly are
Above stairs the remainder of the evening passed cheerfully away for the
doctor was in high spirits and however fatigued or thoughtful Harry Maylie
might have been at first he was not proof against the worthy gentlemans good
humour which displayed itself in a great variety of sallies and professional
recollections and an abundance of small jokes which struck Oliver as being the
drollest things he had ever heard and caused him to laugh proportionately to
the evident satisfaction of the doctor who laughed immoderately at himself and
made Harry laugh almost as heartily by the very force of sympathy So they
were as pleasant a party as under the circumstances they could well have been
and it was late before they retired with light and thankful hearts to take
that rest of which after the doubt and suspense they had recently undergone
they stood much in need
Oliver rose next morning in better heart and went about his usual early
occupations with more hope and pleasure than he had known for many days The
birds were once more hung out to sing in their old places and the sweetest
wild flowers that could be found were once more gathered to gladden Rose with
their beauty The melancholy which had seemed to the sad eyes of the anxious boy
to hang for days past over every object beautiful as all were was dispelled
by magic The dew seemed to sparkle more brightly on the green leaves the air
to rustle among them with a sweeter music and the sky itself to look more blue
and bright Such is the influence which the condition of our own thoughts
exercises even over the appearance of external objects Men who look on nature
and their fellowmen and cry that all is dark and gloomy are in the right but
the sombre colours are reflections from their own jaundiced eyes and hearts The
real hues are delicate and need a clearer vision
It is worthy of remark and Oliver did not fail to note it at the time that
his morning expeditions were no longer made alone Harry Maylie after the very
first morning when he met Oliver coming laden home was seized with such a
passion for flowers and displayed such a taste in their arrangement as left
his young companion far behind If Oliver were behindhand in these respects
however he knew where the best were to be found and morning after morning they
scoured the country together and brought home the fairest that blossomed The
window of the young ladys chamber was opened now for she loved to feel the
rich summer air stream in and revive her with its freshness but there always
stood in water just inside the lattice one particular little bunch which was
made up with great care every morning Oliver could not help noticing that the
withered flowers were never thrown away although the little vase was regularly
replenished nor could he help observing that whenever the doctor came into
the garden he invariably cast his eyes up to that particular corner and nodded
his head most expressively as he set forth on his mornings walk Pending these
observations the days were flying by and Rose was rapidly recovering
Nor did Olivers time hang heavy on his hands although the young lady had
not yet left her chamber and there were no evening walks save now and then
for a short distance with Mrs Maylie He applied himself with redoubled
assiduity to the instructions of the whiteheaded old gentleman and laboured
so hard that his quick progress surprised even himself It was while he was
engaged in this pursuit that he was greatly startled and distressed by a most
unexpected occurrence
The little room in which he was accustomed to sit when busy at his books
was on the groundfloor at the back of the house It was quite a cottageroom
with a latticewindow around which were clusters of jessamine and honeysuckle
that crept over the casement and filled the place with their delicious perfume
It looked into a garden whence a wicketgate opened into a small paddock all
beyond was fine meadowland and wood There was no other dwelling near in that
direction and the prospect it commanded was very extensive
One beautiful evening when the first shades of twilight were beginning to
settle upon the earth Oliver sat at this window intent upon his books He had
been poring over them for some time and as the day had been uncommonly sultry
and he had exerted himself a great deal it is no disparagement to the authors
whoever they may have been to say that gradually and by slow degrees he fell
asleep
There is a kind of sleep that steals upon us sometimes which while it
holds the body prisoner does not free the mind from a sense of things about it
and enable it to ramble at its pleasure So far as an overpowering heaviness a
prostration of strength and an utter inability to control our thoughts or power
of motion can be called sleep this is it and yet we have a consciousness of
all that is going on about us and if we dream at such a time words which are
really spoken or sounds which really exist at the moment accommodate
themselves with surprising readiness to our visions until reality and
imagination become so strangely blended that it is afterwards almost matter of
impossibility to separate the two Nor is this the most striking phenomenon
incidental to such a state It is an undoubted fact that although our senses of
touch and sight be for the time dead yet our sleeping thoughts and the
visionary scenes that pass before us will be influenced and materially
influenced by the mere silent presence of some external object which may not
have been near us when we closed our eyes and of whose vicinity we have had no
waking consciousness
Oliver knew perfectly well that he was in his own little room that his
books were lying on the table before him that the sweet air was stirring among
the creeping plants outside And yet he was asleep Suddenly the scene changed
the air became close and confined and he thought with a glow of terror that
he was in the Jews house again There sat the hideous old man in his
accustomed corner pointing at him and whispering to another man with his face
averted who sat beside him
»Hush my dear« he thought he heard the Jew say »it is he sure enough
Come away«
»He« the other man seemed to answer »could I mistake him think you If a
crowd of ghosts were to put themselves into his exact shape and he stood
amongst them there is something that would tell me how to point him out If you
buried him fifty feet deep and took me across his grave I fancy I should know
if there wasnt a mark above it that he lay buried there«
The man seemed to say this with such dreadful hatred that Oliver awoke
with the fear and started up
Good Heaven what was that which sent the blood tingling to his heart and
deprived him of his voice and of power to move There there at the window
close before him so close that he could have almost touched him before he
started back with his eyes peering into the room and meeting his there stood
the Jew And beside him white with rage or fear or both were the scowling
features of the very man who had accosted him in the innyard
It was but an instant a glance a flash before his eyes and they were
gone But they had recognised him and he them and their look was as firmly
impressed upon his memory as if it had been deeply carved in stone and set
before him from his birth He stood transfixed for a moment then leaping from
the window into the garden called loudly for help
Chapter XXXV
Containing the Unsatisfactory Result of Olivers Adventure and a Conversation
of Some Importance Between Harry Maylie and Rose
When the inmates of the house attracted by Olivers cries hurried to the spot
from which they proceeded they found him pale and agitated pointing in the
direction of the meadows behind the house and scarcely able to articulate the
words »The Jew the Jew«
Mr Giles was at a loss to comprehend what this outcry meant but Harry
Maylie whose perceptions were something quicker and who had heard Olivers
history from his mother understood it at once
»What direction did he take« he asked catching up a heavy stick which was
standing in a corner
»That« replied Oliver pointing out the course the man had taken »I missed
them in an instant«
»Then they are in the ditch« said Harry »Follow And keep as near me as
you can« So saying he sprang over the hedge and darted off with a speed which
rendered it matter of exceeding difficulty for the others to keep neap him
Giles followed as well as he could and Oliver followed too and in the
course of a minute or two Mr Losberne who had been out walking and just then
returned tumbled over the hedge after them and picking himself up with more
agility than he could have been supposed to possess struck into the same course
at no contemptible speed shouting all the while most prodigiously to know
what was the matter
On they all went nor stopped they once to breathe until the leader
striking off into an angle of the field indicated by Oliver began to search
narrowly the ditch and hedge adjoining which afforded time for the remainder
of the party to come up and for Oliver to communicate to Mr Losberne the
circumstances that had led to so vigorous a pursuit
The search was all in vain There were not even the traces of recent
footsteps to be seen They stood now on the summit of a little hill
commanding the open fields in every direction for three or four miles There was
the village in the hollow on the left but in order to gain that after
pursuing the track Oliver had pointed out the men must have made a circuit of
open ground which it was impossible they could have accomplished in so short a
time A thick wood skirted the meadowland in another direction but they could
not have gained that covert for the same reason
»It must have been a dream Oliver« said Harry Maylie
»Oh no indeed sir« replied Oliver shuddering at the very recollection of
the old wretchs countenance »I saw him too plainly for that I saw them both
as plainly as I see you now«
»Who was the other« inquired Harry and Mr Losberne together
»The very same man I told you of who came so suddenly upon me at the inn«
said Oliver »We had our eyes fixed full upon each other and I could swear to
him«
»They took this way« demanded Harry »are you sure«
»As I am that the men were at the window« replied Oliver pointing down as
he spoke to the hedge which divided the cottagegarden from the meadow »The
tall man leaped over just there and the Jew running a few paces to the right
crept through that gap«
The two gentlemen watched Olivers earnest face as he spoke and looking
from him to each other seemed to feel satisfied of the accuracy of what he
said Still in no direction were there any appearances of the trampling of men
in hurried flight The grass was long but it was trodden down nowhere save
where their own feet had crushed it The sides and brinks of the ditches were of
damp clay but in no one place could they discern the print of mens shoes or
the slightest mark which would indicate that any feet had pressed the ground for
hours before
»This is strange« said Harry
»Strange« echoed the doctor »Blathers and Duff themselves could make
nothing of it«
Notwithstanding the evidently useless nature of their search they did not
desist until the coming on of night rendered its further prosecution hopeless
and even then they gave it up with reluctance Giles was despatched to the
different alehouses in the village furnished with the best description Oliver
could give of the appearance and dress of the strangers Of these the Jew was
at all events sufficiently remarkable to be remembered supposing he had been
seen drinking or loitering about but Giles returned without any intelligence
calculated to dispel or lessen the mystery
On the next day fresh search was made and the inquiries renewed but with
no better success On the day following Oliver and Mr Maylie repaired to the
markettown in the hope of seeing or hearing something of the men there but
this effort was equally fruitless After a few days the affair began to be
forgotten as most affairs are when wonder having no fresh food to support it
dies away of itself
Meanwhile Rose was rapidly recovering She had left her room was able to
go out and mixing once more with the family carried joy into the hearts of
all
But although this happy change had a visible effect on the little circle
and although cheerful voices and merry laughter were once more heard in the
cottage there was at times an unwonted restraint upon some there even upon
Rose herself which Oliver could not fail to remark Mrs Maylie and her son
were often closeted together for a long time and more than once Rose appeared
with traces of tears upon her face After Mr Losberne had fixed a day for his
departure to Chertsey these symptoms increased and it became evident that
something was in progress which affected the peace of the young lady and of
somebody else besides
At length one morning when Rose was alone in the breakfastparlour Harry
Maylie entered and with some hesitation begged permission to speak with her
for a few moments
»A few a very few will suffice Rose« said the young man drawing his
chair towards her »What I shall have to say has already presented itself to
your mind the most cherished hopes of my heart are not unknown to you though
from my lips you have not yet heard them stated«
Rose had been very pale from the moment of his entrance but that might have
been the effect of her recent illness She merely bowed and bending over some
plants that stood near waited in silence for him to proceed
»I I ought to have left here before« said Harry
»You should indeed« replied Rose »Forgive me for saying so but I wish
you had«
»I was brought here by the most dreadful and agonising of all
apprehensions« said the young man »the fear of losing the one dear being on
whom my every wish and hope are fixed You had been dying trembling between
earth and heaven We know that when the young the beautiful and good are
visited with sickness their pure spirits insensibly turn towards their bright
home of lasting rest we know Heaven help us that the best and fairest of our
kind too often fade in blooming«
There were tears in the eyes of the gentle girl as these words were spoken
and when one fell upon the flower over which she bent and glistened brightly in
its cup making it more beautiful it seemed as though the outpouring of her
fresh young heart claimed kindred naturally with the loveliest things in
nature
»A creature« continued the young man passionately »a creature as fair and
innocent of guile as one of Gods own angels fluttered between life and death
Oh who could hope when the distant world to which she was akin half opened to
her view that she would return to the sorrow and calamity of this Rose Rose
to know that you were passing away like some soft shadow which a light from
above casts upon the earth to have no hope that you would be spared to those
who linger here hardly to know a reason why you should be to feel that you
belonged to that bright sphere whither so many of the fairest and the best have
winged their early flight and yet to pray amid all these consolations that
you might be restored to those who loved you these were distractions almost
too great to bear They were mine by day and night and with them came such a
rushing torrent of fears and apprehensions and selfish regrets lest you
should die and never know how devotedly I loved you as almost bore down sense
and reason in its course You recovered Day by day and almost hour by hour
some drop of health came back and mingling with the spent and feeble stream of
life which circulated languidly within you swelled it again to a high and
rushing tide I have watched you change almost from death to life with eyes
that turned blind with their eagerness and deep affection Do not tell me that
you wish I had lost this for it has softened my heart to all mankind«
»I did not mean that« said Rose weeping »I only wish you had left here
that you might have turned to high and noble pursuits again to pursuits well
worthy of you«
»There is no pursuit more worthy of me more worthy of the highest nature
that exists than the struggle to win such a heart as yours« said the young
man taking her hand »Rose my own dear Rose For years for years I have
loved you hoping to win my way to fame and then come proudly home and tell you
it had been pursued only for you to share thinking in my daydreams how I
would remind you in that happy moment of the many silent tokens I had given of
a boys attachment and claim your hand as in redemption of some old mute
contract that had been sealed between us That time has not arrived but here
with no fame won and no young vision realised I offer you the heart so long
your own and stake my all upon the words with which you greet the offer«
»Your behaviour has ever been kind and noble« said Rose mastering the
emotions by which she was agitated »As you believe that I am not insensible or
ungrateful so hear my answer«
»It is that I may endeavour to deserve you it is dear Rose«
»It is« replied Rose »that you must endeavour to forget me not as your
old and dearlyattached companion for that would wound me deeply but as the
object of your love Look into the world think how many hearts you would be
proud to gain are there Confide some other passion to me if you will I will
be the truest warmest and most faithful friend you have«
There was a pause during which Rose who had covered her face with one
hand gave free vent to her tears Harry still retained the other
»And your reasons Rose« he said at length in a low voice »your reasons
for this decision«
»You have a right to know them« rejoined Rose »You can say nothing to
alter my resolution It is a duty that I must perform I owe it alike to
others and to myself«
»To yourself«
»Yes Harry I owe it to myself that I a friendless portionless girl
with a blight upon my name should not give your friends reason to suspect that
I had sordidly yielded to your first passion and fastened myself a clog on
all your hopes and projects I owe it to you and yours to prevent you from
opposing in the warmth of your generous nature this great obstacle to your
progress in the world«
»If your inclinations chime with your sense of duty « Harry began
»They do not« replied Rose colouring deeply
»Then you return my love« said Harry »Say but that dear Rose say but
that and soften the bitterness of this hard disappointment«
»If I could have done so without doing heavy wrong to him I loved«
rejoined Rose »I could have «
»Have received this declaration very differently« said Harry »Do not
conceal that from me at least Rose«
»I could« said Rose »Stay« she added disengaging her hand »why should
we prolong this painful interview Most painful to me and yet productive of
lasting happiness notwithstanding for it will be happiness to know that I once
held the high place in your regard which I now occupy and every triumph you
achieve in life will animate me with new fortitude and firmness Farewell
Harry As we have met today we meet no more but in other relations than those
in which this conversation would have placed 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«
»Another word Rose« said Harry »Your reason in your own words From your
own lips let me hear it«
»The prospect before you« answered Rose firmly »is a brilliant one All
the honours to which great talents and powerful connexions can help men in
public life are in store for you But those connexions are proud and I will
neither mingle with such as may hold in scorn the mother who gave me life nor
bring disgrace or failure on the son of her who has so well supplied that
mothers place In a word« said the young lady turning away as her temporary
firmness forsook her »there is a stain upon my name which the world visits on
innocent heads I will carry it into no blood but my own and the reproach shall
rest alone on me«
»One word more Rose Dearest Rose one more« cried Harry throwing himself
before her »If I had been less less fortunate the world would call it if
some obscure and peaceful life had been my destiny if I had been poor sick
helpless would you have turned from me then Or has my probable advancement to
riches and honour given this scruple birth«
»Do not press me to reply« answered Rose »The question does not arise and
never will It is unfair almost unkind to urge it«
»If your answer be what I almost dare to hope it is« retorted Harry »it
will shed a gleam of happiness upon my lonely way and light the path before me
It is not an idle thing to do so much by the utterance of a few brief words
for one who loves you beyond all else Oh Rose in the name of my ardent and
enduring attachment in the name of all I have suffered for you and all you
doom me to undergo answer me this one question«
»Then if your lot had been differently cast« rejoined Rose »if you had
been even a little but not so 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 should have been spared this
trial I have every reason to be happy very happy now but then Harry I own
I should have been happier«
Busy recollections of old hopes cherished as a girl long ago crowded into
the mind of Rose while making this avowal but they brought tears with them as
old hopes will when they come back withered and they relieved her
»I cannot help this weakness and it makes my purpose stronger« said Rose
extending her hand »I must leave you now indeed«
»I ask one promise« said Harry »Once and only once more say within a
year but it may be much sooner I may speak to you again on this subject for
the last time«
»Not to press me to alter my right determination« replied Rose with a
melancholy smile »it will be useless«
»No« said Harry »to hear you repeat it if you will finally repeat it I
will lay at your feet whatever of station or fortune I may possess and if you
still adhere to your present resolution will not seek by word or act to
change it«
»Then let it be so« rejoined Rose »it is but one pang the more and by
that time I may be enabled to bear it better«
She extended her hand again But the young man caught her to his bosom and
imprinting one kiss on her beautiful forehead hurried from the room
Chapter XXXVI
Is a Very Short One and May Appear of No Great Importance in Its Place but It
Should Be Read Notwithstanding as a Sequel to the Last and a Key to One That
Will Follow When Its Time Arrives
»And so you are resolved to be my travelling companion this morning eh« said
the doctor as Harry Maylie joined him and Oliver at the breakfasttable »Why
you are not in the same mind or intention two halfhours together«
»You will tell me a different tale one of these days« said Harry colouring
without any perceptible reason
»I hope I may have good cause to do so« replied Mr Losberne »though I
confess I dont think I shall But yesterday morning you had made up your mind
in a great hurry to stay here and to accompany your mother like a dutiful
son to the seaside Before noon you announce that you are going to do me the
honour of accompanying me as far as I go on your road to London And at night
you urge me with great mystery to start before the ladies are stirring the
consequence of which is that young Oliver here is pinned down to his breakfast
when he ought to be ranging the meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds
Too bad isnt it Oliver«
»I should have been very sorry not to have been at home when you and Mr
Maylie went away sir« rejoined Oliver
»Thats a fine fellow« said the doctor »you shall come and see me when you
return But to speak seriously Harry has any communication from the great
nobs produced this sudden anxiety on your part to be gone«
»The great nobs« replied Harry »under which designation I presume you
include my most stately uncle have not communicated with me at all since I
have been here nor at this time of the year is it likely that anything would
occur to render necessary my immediate attendance among them«
»Well« said the doctor »you are a queer fellow But of course they will
get you into parliament at the election before Christmas and these sudden
shiftings and changes are no bad preparation for political life Theres
something in that Good training is always desirable whether the race be for
place cup or sweepstakes«
Harry Maylie looked as if he could have followed up this short dialogue by
one or two remarks that would have staggered the doctor not a little but he
contented himself with saying »We shall see« and pursued the subject no
farther The postchaise drove up to the door shortly afterwards and Giles
coming in for the luggage the good doctor bustled out to see it packed
»Oliver« said Harry Maylie in a low voice »let me speak a word with you«
Oliver walked into the windowrecess to which Mr Maylie beckoned him much
surprised at the mixture of sadness and boisterous spirits which his whole
behaviour displayed
»You can write well now« said Harry laying his hand upon his arm
»I hope so sir« replied Oliver
»I shall not be at home again perhaps for some time I wish you would write
to me say once a fortnight every alternate Monday to the General Post Office
in London Will you«
»Oh certainly sir I shall be proud to do it« exclaimed Oliver greatly
delighted with the commission
»I should like to know how how my mother and Miss Maylie are« said the
young man »and you can fill up a sheet by telling me what walks you take and
what you talk about and whether she they I mean seem happy and quite well
You understand me«
»Oh quite sir quite« replied Oliver
»I would rather you did not mention it to them« said Harry hurrying over
his words »because it might make my mother anxious to write to me oftener and
it is a trouble and worry to her Let it be a secret between you and me and
mind you tell me everything I depend upon you«
Oliver quite elated and honoured by a sense of his importance faithfully
promised to be secret and explicit in his communications Mr Maylie took leave
of him with many assurances of his regard and protection
The doctor was in the chaise Giles who it had been arranged should be
left behind held the door open in his hand and the womenservants were in the
garden looking on Harry cast one slight glance at the latticed window and
jumped into the carriage
»Drive on« he cried »hard fast full gallop Nothing short of flying will
keep pace with me today«
»Holloa« cried the doctor letting down the front glass in a great hurry
and shouting to the postillion »something very short of flying will keep pace
with me Do you hear«
Jingling and clattering till distance rendered its noise inaudible and its
rapid progress only perceptible to the eye the vehicle wound its way along the
road almost hidden in a cloud of dust now wholly disappearing and now
becoming visible again as intervening objects or the intricacies of the way
permitted It was not until even the dusty cloud was no longer to be seen that
the gazers dispersed
And there was one lookeron who remained with eyes fixed upon the spot
where the carriage had disappeared long after it was many miles away for
behind the white curtain which had shrouded her from view when Harry raised his
eyes towards the window sat Rose herself
»He seems in high spirits and happy« she said at length »I feared for a
time he might be otherwise I was mistaken I am very very glad«
Tears are signs of gladness as well as grief but those which coursed down
Roses face as she sat pensively at the window still gazing in the same
direction seemed to tell more of sorrow than of joy
Chapter XXXVII
In Which the Reader May Perceive a Contrast Not Uncommon in Matrimonial Cases
Mr Bumble sat in the workhouse parlour with his eyes moodily fixed on the
cheerless grate whence as it was summer time no brighter gleam proceeded
than the reflection of certain sickly rays of the sun which were sent back from
its cold and shining surface A paper flycage dangled from the ceiling to
which he occasionally raised his eyes in gloomy thought and as the heedless
insects hovered round the gaudy network Mr Bumble would heave a deep sigh
while a more gloomy shadow overspread his countenance Mr Bumble was
meditating it might be that the insects brought to mind some painful passage
in his own past life
Nor was Mr Bumbles gloom the only thing calculated to awaken a pleasing
melancholy in the bosom of a spectator There were not wanting other
appearances and those closely connected with his own person which announced
that a great change had taken place in the position of his affairs The laced
coat and the cockedhat where were they He still wore kneebreeches and dark
cotton stockings on his nether limbs but they were not the breeches The coat
was wideskirted and in that respect like the coat but oh how different The
mighty cockedhat was replaced by a modest round one Mr Bumble was no longer a
beadle
There are some promotions in life which independent of the more
substantial rewards they offer acquire peculiar value and dignity from the
coats and waistcoats connected with them A fieldmarshal has his uniform a
bishop his silk apron a counsellor his silk gown a beadle his cockedhat
Strip the bishop of his apron or the beadle of his hat and lace what are they
Men Mere men Dignity and even holiness too sometimes are more questions of
coat and waistcoat than some people imagine
Mr Bumble had married Mrs Corney and was master of the workhouse Another
beadle had come into power On him the cockedhat goldlaced coat and staff
had all three descended
»And tomorrow two months it was done« said Mr Bumble with a sigh »It
seems a age«
Mr Bumble might have meant that he had concentrated a whole existence of
happiness into the short space of eight weeks but the sigh there was a vast
deal of meaning in the sigh
»I sold myself« said Mr Bumble pursuing the same train of reflection
»for six teaspoons a pair of sugartongs and a milkpot with a small quantity
of secondhand furniture and twenty pound in money I went very reasonable
Cheap dirt cheap«
»Cheap« cried a shrill voice in Mr Bumbles ear »you would have been dear
at any price and dear enough I paid for you Lord above knows that«
Mr Bumble turned and encountered the face of his interesting consort who
imperfectly comprehending the few words she had overheard of his complaint had
hazarded the foregoing remark at a venture
»Mrs Bumble maam« said Mr Bumble with sentimental sternness
»Well« cried the lady
»Have the goodness to look at me« said Mr Bumble fixing his eyes upon
her »If she stands such a eye as that« said Mr Bumble to himself »she can
stand anything It is a eye I never knew to fail with paupers If it fails with
her my power is gone«
Whether an exceedingly small expansion of eye be sufficient to quell
paupers who being lightly fed are in no very high condition or whether the
late Mrs Corney was particularly proof against eagle glances are matters of
opinion The matter of fact is that the matron was in no way overpowered by Mr
Bumbles scowl but on the contrary treated it with great disdain and even
raised a laugh thereat which sounded as though it were genuine
On hearing this most unexpected sound Mr Bumble looked first incredulous
and afterwards amazed He then relapsed into his former state nor did he rouse
himself until his attention was again awakened by the voice of his partner
»Are you going to sit snoring there all day« inquired Mrs Bumble
»I am going to sit here as long as I think proper maam« rejoined Mr
Bumble »and although I was not snoring I shall snore gape sneeze laugh or
cry as the humour strikes me such being my prerogative«
»Your prerogative« sneered Mrs Bumble with ineffable contempt
»I said the word maam« said Mr Bumble »The prerogative of a man is to
command«
»And whats the prerogative of a woman in the name of Goodness« cried the
relict of Mr Corney deceased
»To obey maam« thundered Mr Bumble »Your late unfortunate husband
should have taught it you and then perhaps he might have been alive now I
wish he was poor man«
Mrs Bumble seeing at a glance that the decisive moment had now arrived
and that a blow struck for the mastership on one side or other must necessarily
be final and conclusive no sooner heard this allusion to the dead and gone
than she dropped into a chair and with a loud scream that Mr Bumble was a
hardhearted brute fell into a paroxysm of tears
But tears were not the things to find their way to Mr Bumbles soul his
heart was waterproof Like washable beaver hats that improve with rain his
nerves were rendered stouter and more vigorous by showers of tears which
being tokens of weakness and so far tacit admissions of his own power pleased
and exalted him He eyed his good lady with looks of great satisfaction and
begged in an encouraging manner that she should cry her hardest the exercise
being looked upon by the faculty as strongly conducive to health
»It opens the lungs washes the countenance exercises the eyes and softens
down the temper« said Mr Bumble »So cry away«
As he discharged himself of this pleasantry Mr Bumble took his hat from a
peg and putting it on rather rakishly on one side as a man might who felt
he had asserted his superiority in a becoming manner thrust his hands into his
pockets and sauntered towards the door with much ease and waggishness depicted
in his whole appearance
Now Mrs Corney that was had tried the tears because they were less
troublesome than a manual assault but she was quite prepared to make trial of
the latter mode of proceeding as Mr Bumble was not long in discovering
The first proof he experienced of the fact was conveyed in a hollow sound
immediately succeeded by the sudden flying off of his hat to the opposite end of
the room This preliminary proceeding laying bare his head the expert lady
clasping him tightly round the throat with one hand inflicted a shower of blows
dealt with singular vigour and dexterity upon it with the other This done
she created a little variety by scratching his face and tearing his hair and
having by this time inflicted as much punishment as she deemed necessary for
the offence she pushed him over a chair which was luckily well situated for
the purpose and defied him to talk about his prerogative again if he dared
»Get up« said Mrs Bumble in a voice of command »And take yourself away
from here unless you want me to do something desperate«
Mr Bumble rose with a very rueful countenance wondering much what
something desperate might be Picking up his hat he looked towards the door
»Are you going« demanded Mrs Bumble
»Certainly my dear certainly« rejoined Mr Bumble making a quicker
motion towards the door »I didnt intend to Im going my dear You are so
very violent that really I «
At this instant Mrs Bumble stepped hastily forward to replace the carpet
which had been kicked up in the scuffle Mr Bumble immediately darted out of
the room without bestowing another thought on his unfinished sentence leaving
the late Mrs Corney in full possession of the field
Mr Bumble was fairly taken by surprise and fairly beaten He had a decided
propensity for bullying derived no inconsiderable pleasure from the exercise of
petty cruelty and consequently was it is needless to say a coward This is
by no means a disparagement to his character for many official personages who
are held in high respect and admiration are the victims of similar infirmities
The remark is made indeed rather in his favour than otherwise and with a view
of impressing the reader with a just sense of his qualifications for office
But the measure of his degradation was not yet full After making a tour of
the house and thinking for the first time that the poorlaws really were too
hard on people and that men who ran away from their wives leaving them
chargeable to the parish ought in justice to be visited with no punishment at
all but rather rewarded as meritorious individuals who had suffered much Mr
Bumble came to a room where some of the female paupers were usually employed in
washing the parish linen whence the sound of voices in conversation now
proceeded
»Hem« said Mr Bumble summoning up all his native dignity »These women at
least shall continue to respect the prerogative Hallo hallo there What do you
mean by this noise you hussies«
With these words Mr Bumble opened the door and walked in with a very
fierce and angry manner which was at once exchanged for a most humiliated and
cowering air as his eyes unexpectedly rested on the form of his lady wife
»My dear« said Mr Bumble »I didnt know you were here«
»Didnt know I was here« repeated Mrs Bumble »What do you do here«
»I thought they were talking rather too much to be doing their work
properly my dear« replied Mr Bumble glancing distractedly at a couple of old
women at the washtub who were comparing notes of admiration at the
workhousemasters humility
»You thought they were talking too much« said Mrs Bumble »What business
is it of yours«
»Why my dear « urged Mr Bumble submissively
»What business is it of yours« demanded Mrs Bumble again
»Its very true youre matron here my dear« submitted Mr Bumble »but I
thought you mightnt be in the way just then«
»Ill tell you what Mr Bumble« returned his lady »We dont want any of
your interference Youre a great deal too fond of poking your nose into things
that dont concern you making everybody in the house laugh the moment your
back is turned and making yourself look like a fool every hour in the day Be
off come«
Mr Bumble seeing with excruciating feelings the delight of the two old
paupers who were tittering together most rapturously hesitated for an instant
Mrs Bumble whose patience brooked no delay caught up a bowl of soapsuds and
motioning him towards the door ordered him instantly to depart on pain of
receiving the contents upon his portly person
What could Mr Bumble do He looked dejectedly round and slunk away and
as he reached the door the titterings of the paupers broke into a shrill
chuckle of irrepressible delight It wanted but this He was degraded in their
eyes he had lost caste and station before the very paupers he had fallen from
all the height and pomp of beadleship to the lowest depth of the most snubbed
henpeckery
»All in two months« said Mr Bumble filled with dismal thoughts »Two
months No more than two months ago I was not only my own master but everybody
elses so far as the porochial workhouse was concerned and now «
It was too much Mr Bumble boxed the ears of the boy who opened the gate
for him for he had reached the portal in his reverie and walked
distractedly into the street
He walked up one street and down another until exercise had abated the
first passion of his grief and then the revulsion of feeling made him thirsty
He passed a great many publichouses but at length paused before one in a
byway whose parlour as he gathered from a hasty peep over the blinds was
deserted save by one solitary customer It began to rain heavily at the
moment This determined him Mr Bumble stepped in and ordering something to
drink as he passed the bar entered the apartment into which he had looked from
the street
The man who was seated there was tall and dark and wore a large cloak He
had the air of a stranger and seemed by a certain haggardness in his look as
well as by the dusty soils on his dress to have travelled some distance He
eyed Bumble askance as he entered but scarcely deigned to nod his head in
acknowledgment of his salutation
Mr Bumble had quite dignity enough for two supposing even that the
stranger had been more familiar so he drank his ginandwater in silence and
read the paper with great show of pomp and circumstance
It so happened however as it will happen very often when men fall into
company under such circumstances that Mr Bumble felt every now and then a
powerful inducement which he could not resist to steal a look at the stranger
and that whenever he did so he withdrew his eyes in some confusion to find
that the stranger was at that moment stealing a look at him Mr Bumbles
awkwardness was enhanced by the very remarkable expression of the strangers
eye which was keen and bright but shadowed by a scowl of distrust and
suspicion unlike anything he had ever observed before and repulsive to behold
When they had encountered each others glance several times in this way the
stranger in a harsh deep voice broke silence
»Were you looking for me« he said »when you peered in at the window«
»Not that I am aware of unless youre Mr « Here Mr Bumble stopped
short for he was curious to know the strangers name and thought in his
impatience he might supply the blank
»I see you were not« said the stranger an expression of quiet sarcasm
playing about his mouth »or you would have known my name You dont know it I
would recommend you not to ask for it«
»I meant no harm young man« observed Mr Bumble majestically
»And have done none« said the stranger
Another silence succeeded this short dialogue which was again broken by the
stranger
»I have seen you before I think« said he »You were differently dressed at
that time and I only passed you in the street but I should know you again You
were beadle here once were you not«
»I was« said Mr Bumble in some surprise »porochial beadle«
»Just so« rejoined the other nodding his head »It was in that character I
saw you What are you now«
»Master of the workhouse« rejoined Mr Bumble slowly and impressively to
check any undue familiarity the stranger might otherwise assume »Master of the
workhouse young man«
»You have the same eye to your own interest that you always had I doubt
not« resumed the stranger looking keenly into Mr Bumbles eyes as he raised
them in astonishment at the question »Dont scruple to answer freely man I
know you pretty well you see«
»I suppose a married man« replied Mr Bumble shading his eyes with his
hand and surveying the stranger from head to foot in evident perplexity »is
not more averse to turning an honest penny when he can than a single one
Porochial officers are not so well paid that they can afford to refuse any
little extra fee when it comes to them in a civil and proper manner«
The stranger smiled and nodded his head again as much as to say he had
not mistaken his man then rang the bell
»Fill this glass again« he said handing Mr Bumbles empty tumbler to the
landlord »Let it be strong and hot You like it so I suppose«
»Not too strong« replied Mr Bumble with a delicate cough
»You understand what that means landlord« said the stranger drily
The host smiled disappeared and shortly afterwards returned with a
steaming jorum of which the first gulp brought the water into Mr Bumbles
eyes
»Now listen to me« said the stranger after closing the door and window »I
came down to this place today to find you out and by one of those chances
which the devil throws in the way of his friends sometimes you walked into the
very room I was sitting in while you were uppermost in my mind I want some
information from you I dont ask you to give it for nothing slight as it is
Put up that to begin with«
As he spoke he pushed a couple of sovereigns across the table to his
companion carefully as though unwilling that the chinking of money should be
heard without When Mr Bumble had scrupulously examined the coins to see that
they were genuine and had put them up with much satisfaction in his
waistcoatpocket he went on
»Carry your memory back let me see twelve years last winter«
»Its a long time« said Mr Bumble »Very good Ive done it«
»The scene the workhouse«
»Good«
»And the time night«
»Yes«
»And the place the crazy hole wherever it was in which miserable drabs
brought forth the life and health so often denied to themselves gave birth to
puling children for the parish to rear and hid their shame rot em in the
grave«
»The lyingin room I suppose« said Mr Bumble not quite following the
strangers excited description
»Yes« said the stranger »A boy was born there«
»A many boys« observed Mr Bumble shaking his head despondingly
»A murrain on the young devils« cried the stranger »I speak of one a
meeklooking palefaced boy who was apprenticed down here to a coffin I
wish he had made his coffin and screwed his body in it and who afterwards ran
away to London as it was supposed«
»Why you mean Oliver Young Twist« said Mr Bumble »I remember him of
course There wasnt a obstinater young rascal «
»Its not of him I want to hear Ive heard enough of him« said the
stranger stopping Mr Bumble in the outset of a tirade on the subject of poor
Olivers vices »Its of a woman the hag that nursed his mother Where is she«
»Where is she« said Mr Bumble whom the ginandwater had rendered
facetious »It would be hard to tell Theres no midwifery there whichever
place shes gone to so I suppose shes out of employment anyway«
»What do you mean« demanded the stranger sternly
»That she died last winter« rejoined Mr Bumble
The man looked fixedly at him when he had given this information and
although he did not withdraw his eyes for some time afterwards his gaze
gradually became vacant and abstracted and he seemed lost in thought For some
time he appeared doubtful whether he ought to be relieved or disappointed by
the intelligence but at length he breathed more freely and withdrawing his
eyes observed that it was no great matter With that he rose as if to depart
But Mr Bumble was cunning enough and he at once saw that an opportunity
was opened for the lucrative disposal of some secret in the possession of his
better half He well remembered the night of old Sallys death which the
occurrences of that day had given him good reason to recollect as the occasion
on which he had proposed to Mrs Corney and although that lady had never
confided to him the disclosure of which she had been the solitary witness he
had heard enough to know that it related to something that had occurred in the
old womans attendance as workhouse nurse upon the young mother of Oliver
Twist Hastily calling this circumstance to mind he informed the stranger with
an air of mystery that one woman had been closeted with the old harridan
shortly before she died and that she could as he had reason to believe throw
some light on the subject of his inquiry
»How can I find her« said the stranger thrown off his guard and plainly
showing that all his fears whatever they were were aroused afresh by the
intelligence
»Only through me« rejoined Mr Bumble
»When« cried the stranger hastily
»Tomorrow« rejoined Bumble
»At nine in the evening« said the stranger producing a scrap of paper and
writing down upon it an obscure address by the waterside in characters that
betrayed his agitation »at nine in the evening bring her to me there I
neednt tell you to be secret Its your interest«
With these words he led the way to the door after stopping to pay for the
liquor that had been drunk Shortly remarking that their roads were different
he departed without more ceremony than an emphatic repetition of the hour of
appointment for the following night
On glancing at the address the parochial functionary observed that it
contained no name The stranger had not gone far so he made after him to ask
it
»What do you want« cried the man turning quickly round as Bumble touched
him on the arm »Following me«
»Only to ask a question« said the other pointing to the scrap of paper
»What name am I to ask for«
»Monks« rejoined the man and strode hastily away
Chapter XXXVIII
Containing an Account of What Passed Between Mr and Mrs Bumble and Mr Monks
at Their Nocturnal Interview
It was a dull close overcast summer evening The clouds which had been
threatening all day spread out in a dense and sluggish mass of vapour already
yielded large drops of rain and seemed to presage a violent thunderstorm when
Mr and Mrs Bumble turning out of the main street of the town directed their
course towards a scattered little colony of ruinous houses distant from it some
mile and ahalf or thereabouts and erected on a low unwholesome swamp
bordering upon the river
They were both wrapped in old and shabby outer garments which might
perhaps serve the double purpose of protecting their persons from the rain and
sheltering them from observation The husband carried a lantern from which
however no light yet shone and trudged on a few paces in front as though
the way being dirty to give his wife the benefit of treading in his heavy
footprints They went on in profound silence every now and then Mr Bumble
relaxed his pace and turned his head as if to make sure that his helpmate was
following then discovering that she was close at his heels he mended his rate
of walking and proceeded at a considerable increase of speed towards their
place of destination
This was far from being a place of doubtful character for it had long been
known as the residence of none but low ruffians who under various pretences of
living by their labour subsisted chiefly on plunder and crime It was a
collection of mere hovels some hastily built with loose bricks others of old
wormeaten shiptimber jumbled together without any attempt at order or
arrangement and planted for the most part within a few feet of the rivers
bank A few leaky boats drawn up on the mud and made fast to the dwarf wall
which skirted it and here and there an oar or coil of rope appeared at first
to indicate that the inhabitants of these miserable cottages pursued some
avocation on the river but a glance at the shattered and useless condition of
the articles thus displayed would have led a passerby without much
difficulty to the conjecture that they were disposed there rather for the
preservation of appearances than with any view to their being actually
employed
In the heart of this cluster of huts and skirting the river which its
upper stories overhung stood a large building formerly used as a manufactory
of some kind It had in its day probably furnished employment to the
inhabitants of the surrounding tenements But it had long since gone to ruin
The rat the worm and the action of the damp had weakened and rotted the piles
on which it stood and a considerable portion of the building had already sunk
down into the water while the remainder tottering and bending over the dark
stream seemed to wait a favourable opportunity of following its old companion
and involving itself in the same fate
It was before this ruinous building that the worthy couple paused as the
first peal of distant thunder reverberated in the air and the rain commenced
pouring violently down
»The place should be somewhere here« said Bumble consulting a scrap of
paper he held in his hand
»Halloa there« cried a voice from above
Following the sound Mr Bumble raised his head and descried a man looking
out of a door breasthigh on the second story
»Stand still a minute« cried the voice »Ill be with you directly« With
which the head disappeared and the door closed
»Is that the man« asked Mr Bumbles good lady
Mr Bumble nodded in the affirmative
»Then mind what I told you« said the matron »and be careful to say as
little as you can or youll betray us at once«
Mr Bumble who had eyed the building with very rueful looks was apparently
about to express some doubts relative to the advisability of proceeding any
further with the enterprise just then when he was prevented by the appearance
of Monks who opened a small door near which they stood and beckoned them
inwards
»Come in« he cried impatiently stamping his foot upon the ground »Dont
keep me here«
The woman who had hesitated at first walked boldly in without any other
invitation Mr Bumble who was ashamed or afraid to lag behind followed
obviously very ill at ease and with scarcely any of that remarkable dignity
which was usually his chief characteristic
»What the devil made you stand lingering there in the wet« said Monks
turning round and addressing Bumble after he had bolted the door behind them
»We we were only cooling ourselves« stammered Bumble looking
apprehensively about him
»Cooling yourselves« retorted Monks »Not all the rain that ever fell or
ever will fall will put as much of hells fire out as a man can carry about
with him You wont cool yourselves so easily dont think it«
With this agreeable speech Monks turned short upon the matron and bent his
gaze upon her till even she who was not easily cowed was fain to withdraw her
eyes and turn them towards the ground
»This is the woman is it« demanded Monks
»Hem That is the woman« replied Mr Bumble mindful of his wifes caution
»You think women never can keep secrets I suppose« said the matron
interposing and returning as she spoke the searching look of Monks
»I know they will always keep one till its found out« said Monks
»And what may that be« asked the matron
»The loss of their own good name« replied Monks »So by the same rule if
a womans a party to a secret that might hang or transport her Im not afraid
of her telling it to anybody not I Do you understand mistress«
»No« rejoined the matron slightly colouring as she spoke
»Of course you dont« said Monks »How should you«
Bestowing something halfway between a smile and a frown upon his two
companions and again beckoning them to follow him the man hastened across the
apartment which was of considerable extent but low in the roof He was
preparing to ascend a steep staircase or rather ladder leading to another
floor of warehouses above when a bright flash of lightning streamed down the
aperture and a peal of thunder followed which shook the crazy building to its
centre
»Hear it« he cried shrinking back »Hear it Rolling and crashing on as if
it echoed through a thousand caverns where the devils were hiding from it I
hate the sound«
He remained silent for a few moments and then removing his hands suddenly
from his face showed to the unspeakable discomposure of Mr Bumble that it
was much distorted and discoloured
»These fits come over me now and then« said Monks observing his alarm
»and thunder sometimes brings them on Dont mind me now its all over for this
once«
Thus speaking he led the way up the ladder and hastily closing the
windowshutter of the room into which it led lowered a lantern which hung at
the end of a rope and pulley passed through one of the heavy beams in the
ceiling and which cast a dim light upon an old table and three chairs that were
placed beneath it
»Now« said Monks when they had all three seated themselves »the sooner we
come to our business the better for all The woman knows what it is does she«
The question was addressed to Bumble but his wife anticipated the reply by
intimating that she was perfectly acquainted with it
»He is right in saying that you were with this hag the night she died and
that she told you something «
»About the mother of the boy you named« replied the matron interrupting
him »Yes«
»The first question is of what nature was her communication« said Monks
»Thats the second« observed the woman with much deliberation »The first
is what may the communication be worth«
»Who the devil can tell that without knowing of what kind it is« asked
Monks
»Nobody better than you I am persuaded« answered Mrs Bumble who did not
want for spirit as her yokefellow could abundantly testify
»Humph« said Monks significantly and with a look of eager inquiry »there
may be moneys worth to get eh«
»Perhaps there may« was the composed reply
»Something that was taken from her« said Monks »Something that she wore
Something that «
»You had better bid« interrupted Mrs Bumble »I have heard enough
already to assure me that you are the man I ought to talk to«
Mr Bumble who had not yet been admitted by his better half into any
greater share of the secret than he had originally possessed listened to this
dialogue with outstretched neck and distended eyes which he directed towards
his wife and Monks by turns in undisguised astonishment increased if
possible when the latter sternly demanded what sum was required for the
disclosure
»Whats it worth to you« asked the woman as collectedly as before
»It may be nothing it may be twenty pounds« replied Monks »Speak out and
let me know which«
»Add five pounds to the sum you have named give me fiveandtwenty pounds
in gold« said the woman »and Ill tell you all I know Not before«
»Fiveandtwenty pounds« exclaimed Monks drawing back
»I spoke as plainly as I could« replied Mrs Bumble »Its not a large sum
either«
»Not a large sum for a paltry secret that may be nothing when its told«
cried Monks impatiently »and which has been lying dead for twelve years past or
more«
»Such matters keep well and like good wine often double their value in
course of time« answered the matron still preserving the resolute indifference
she had assumed »As to lying dead there are those who will lie dead for twelve
thousand years to come or twelve million for anything you or I know who will
tell strange tales at last«
»What if I pay it for nothing« asked Monks hesitating
»You can easily take it away again« replied the matron »I am but a woman
alone here and unprotected«
»Not alone my dear nor unprotected neither« submitted Mr Bumble in a
voice tremulous with fear »I am here my dear And besides« said Mr Bumble
his teeth chattering as he spoke »Mr Monks is too much of a gentleman to
attempt any violence on porochial persons Mr Monks is aware that I am not a
young man my dear and also that I am a little run to seed as I may say but
he has heerd I say I have no doubt Mr Monks has heerd my dear that I am a
very determined officer with very uncommon strength if Im once roused I only
want a little rousing thats all«
As Mr Bumble spoke he made a melancholy feint of grasping his lantern with
fierce determination and plainly showed by me alarmed expression of every
feature that he did want a little rousing and not a little prior to making
any very warlike demonstration unless indeed against paupers or other person
or persons trained down for the purpose
»You are a fool« said Mrs Bumble in reply »and had better hold your
tongue«
»He had better have cut it out before he came if he cant speak in a lower
tone« said Monks grimly »So Hes your husband eh«
»He my husband« tittered the matron parrying the question
»I thought as much when you came in« rejoined Monks marking the angry
glance which the lady darted at her spouse as she spoke »So much the better I
have less hesitation in dealing with two people when I find that theres only
one will between them Im in earnest See here«
He thrust his hand into a sidepocket and producing a canvas bag told out
twentyfive sovereigns on the table and pushed them over to the woman
»Now« he said »gather them up and when this cursed peal of thunder which
I feel is coming up to break over the housetop is gone lets hear your
story«
The thunder which seemed in fact much nearer and to shiver and break
almost over their heads having subsided Monks raising his face from the
table bent forward to listen to what the woman should say The faces of the
three nearly touched as the two men leant over the small table in their
eagerness to hear and the woman also leant forward to render her whisper
audible The sickly rays of the suspended lantern falling directly upon them
aggravated the paleness and anxiety of their countenances which encircled by
the deepest gloom and darkness looked ghastly in the extreme
»When this woman that we called old Sally died« the matron began »she
and I were alone«
»Was there no one by« asked Monks in the same hollow whisper »no sick
wretch or idiot in some other bed No one who could hear and might by
possibility understand«
»Not a soul« replied the woman »we were alone I stood alone beside the
body when death came over it«
»Good« said Monks regarding her attentively »Go on«
»She spoke of a young creature« resumed the matron »who had brought a
child into the world some years before not merely in the same room but in the
same bed in which she then lay dying«
»Ay« said Monks with quivering lip and glancing over his shoulder
»Blood How things come about«
»The child was the one you named to him last night« said the matron
nodding carelessly towards her husband »the mother this nurse had robbed«
»In life« asked Monks
»In death« replied the woman with something like a shudder »She stole
from the corpse when it had hardly turned to one that which the dead mother
had prayed her with her last breath to keep for the infants sake«
»She sold it« cried Monks with desperate eagerness »did she sell it
Where When To whom How long before«
»As she told me with great difficulty that she had done this« said the
matron »she fell back and died«
»Without saying more« cried Monks in a voice which from its very
suppression seemed only the more furious »Its a lie Ill not be played with
She said more Ill tear the life out of you both but Ill know what it was«
»She didnt utter another word« said the woman to all appearance unmoved
as Mr Bumble was very far from being by the strange mans violence »but she
clutched my gown violently with one hand which was partly closed and when I
saw that she was dead and so removed the hand by force I found it clasped a
scrap of dirty paper«
»Which contained « interposed Monks stretching forward
»Nothing« replied the woman »it was a pawnbrokers duplicate«
»For what« demanded Monks
»In good time Ill tell you« said the woman »I judge that she had kept the
trinket for some time in the hope of turning it to better account and then
had pawned it and had saved or scraped together money to pay the pawnbrokers
interest year by year and prevent its running out so that if anything came of
it it could still be redeemed Nothing had come of it and as I tell you she
died with the scrap of paper all worn and tattered in her hand The time was
out in two days I thought something might one day come of it too and so
redeemed the pledge«
»Where is it now« asked Monks quickly
»There« replied the woman And as if glad to be relieved of it she
hastily threw upon the table a small kid bag scarcely large enough for a French
watch which Monks pouncing upon tore open with trembling hands It contained a
little gold locket in which were two locks of hair and a plain gold
weddingring
»It has the word Agnes engraved on the inside« said the woman »There is a
blank left for the surname and then follows the date which is within a year
before the child was born I found out that«
»And this is all« said Monks after a close and eager scrutiny of the
contents of the little packet
»All« replied the woman
Mr Bumble drew a long breath as if he were glad to find that the story was
over and no mention made of taking the fiveandtwenty pounds back again and
now he took courage to wipe off the perspiration which had been trickling over
his nose unchecked during the whole of the previous dialogue
»I know nothing of the story beyond what I can guess at« said his wife
addressing Monks after a short silence »and I want to know nothing for its
safer not But I may ask you two questions may I«
»You may ask« said Monks with some show of surprise »but whether I answer
or not is another question«
» Which makes three« observed Mr Bumble essaying a stroke of
facetiousness
»Is that what you expected to get from me« demanded the matron
»It is« replied Monks »The other question«
»What you propose to do with it Can it be used against me«
»Never« rejoined Monks »nor against me either See here But dont move a
step forward or your life is not worth a bulrush«
With these words he suddenly wheeled the table aside and pulling an iron
ring in the boarding threw back a large trapdoor which opened close at Mr
Bumbles feet and caused that gentleman to retire several paces backward with
great precipitation
»Look down« said Monks lowering the lantern into the gulf »Dont fear me
I could have let you down quietly enough when you were seated over it if that
had been my game«
Thus encouraged the matron drew near to the brink and even Mr Bumble
himself impelled by curiosity ventured to do the same The turbid water
swollen by the heavy rain was rushing rapidly on below and all other sounds
were lost in the noise of its plashing and eddying against the green and slimy
piles There had once been a watermill beneath the tide foaming and chafing
round the few rotten stakes and fragments of machinery that yet remained
seemed to dart onward with a new impulse when freed from the obstacles which
had unavailingly attempted to stem its headlong course
»If you flung a mans body down there where would it be tomorrow morning«
said Monks swinging the lantern to and fro in the dark well
»Twelve miles down the river and cut to pieces besides« replied Bumble
recoiling at the thought
Monks drew the little packet from his breast where he had hurriedly thrust
it and tying it to a leaden weight which had formed a part of some pulley and
was lying on the floor dropped it into the stream It fell straight and true
as a die clove the water with a scarcely audible splash and was gone
The three looking into each others faces seemed to breathe more freely
»There« said Monks closing the trapdoor which fell heavily back into its
former position »If the sea ever gives up its dead as books say it will it
will keep its gold and silver to itself and that trash among it We have nothing
more to say and may break up our pleasant party«
»By all means« observed Mr Bumble with great alacrity
»Youll keep a quiet tongue in your head will you« said Monks with a
threatening look »I am not afraid of your wife«
»You may depend upon me young man« answered Mr Bumble bowing himself
gradually towards the ladder with excessive politeness »On everybodys
account young man on my own you know Mr Monks«
»I am glad for your sake to hear it« remarked Monks »Light your lantern
And get away from here as fast as you can«
It was fortunate that the conversation terminated at this point or Mr
Bumble who had bowed himself to within six inches of the ladder would
infallibly have pitched headlong into the room below He lighted his lantern
from that which Monks had detached from the rope and now carried in his hand
and making no effort to prolong the discourse descended in silence followed by
his wife Monks brought up the rear after pausing on the steps to satisfy
himself that there were no other sounds to be heard than the beating of the rain
without and the rushing of the water
They traversed the lower room slowly and with caution for Monks started
at every shadow and Mr Bumble holding his lantern a foot above the ground
walked not only with remarkable care but with a marvellously light step for a
gentleman of his figure looking nervously about him for hidden trapdoors The
gate at which they had entered was softly unfastened and opened by Monks
merely exchanging a nod with their mysterious acquaintance the married couple
emerged into the wet and darkness outside
They were no sooner gone than Monks who appeared to entertain an
invincible repugnance to being left alone called to a boy who had been hidden
somewhere below Bidding him go first and bear the light he returned to the
chamber he had just quitted
Chapter XXXIX
Introduces Some Respectable Characters with Whom the Reader Is Already
Acquainted and Shows How Monks and the Jew Laid Their Worthy Heads Together
On the evening following that upon which the three worthies mentioned in the
last chapter disposed of their little matter of business as therein narrated
Mr William Sikes awakening from a nap drowsily growled forth an inquiry what
time of night it was
The room in which Mr Sikes propounded this question was not one of those
he had tenanted previous to the Chertsey expedition although it was in the
same quarter of the town and was situated at no great distance from his former
lodgings It was not in appearance so desirable a habitation as his old
quarters being a mean and badlyfurnished apartment of very limited size
lighted only by one small window in the shelving roof and abutting on a close
and dirty lane Nor were there wanting other indications of the good gentlemans
having gone down in the world of late for a great scarcity of furniture and
total absence of comfort together with the disappearance of all such small
moveables as spare clothes and linen bespoke a state of extreme poverty while
the meagre and attenuated condition of Mr Sikes himself would have fully
confirmed these symptoms if they had stood in any need of corroboration
The housebreaker was lying on the bed wrapped in his white greatcoat by
way of dressinggown and displaying a set of features in no degree improved by
the cadaverous hue of illness and the addition of a soiled nightcap and a
stiff black beard of a weeks growth The dog sat at the bedside now eyeing
his master with a wistful look and now pricking his ears and uttering a low
growl as some noise in the street or in the lower part of the house attracted
his attention Seated by the window busily engaged in patching an old waistcoat
which formed a portion of the robbers ordinary dress was a female so pale and
reduced with watching and privation that there would have been considerable
difficulty in recognising her as the same Nancy who has already figured in this
tale but for the voice in which she replied to Mr Sikess question
»Not long gone seven« said the girl »How do you feel tonight Bill«
»As weak as water« replied Mr Sikes with an imprecation on his eyes and
limbs »Here lend us a hand and let me get off this thundering bed anyhow«
Illness had not improved Mr Sikess temper for as the girl raised him up
and led him to a chair he muttered various curses on her awkwardness and
struck her
»Whining are you« said Sikes »Come Dont stand snivelling there If you
cant do anything better than that cut off altogether Dye hear me«
»I hear you« replied the girl turning her face aside and forcing a laugh
»What fancy have you got in your head now«
»Oh youve thought better of it have you« growled Sikes marking the tear
which trembled in her eye »All the better for you you have«
»Why you dont mean to say youd be hard upon me tonight Bill« said the
girl laying her hand upon his shoulder
»No« cried Mr Sikes »Why not«
»Such a number of nights« said the girl with a touch of womans
tenderness which communicated something like sweetness of tone even to her
voice »such a number of nights as Ive been patient with you nursing and
caring for you as if you had been a child and this the first that Ive seen
you like yourself you wouldnt have served me as you did just now if youd
thought of that would you Come come say you wouldnt«
»Well then« rejoined Mr Sikes »I wouldnt Why damme now the girls
whining again«
»Its nothing« said the girl throwing herself into a chair »Dont you
seem to mind me Itll soon be over«
»Whatll be over« demanded Mr Sikes in a savage voice »What foolery are
you up to now again Get up and bustle about and dont come over me with your
womans nonsense«
At any other time this remonstrance and the tone in which it was
delivered would have had the desired effect but the girl being really weak and
exhausted dropped her head over the back of the chair and fainted before Mr
Sikes could get out a few of the appropriate oaths with which on similar
occasions he was accustomed to garnish his threats Not knowing very well
what to do in this uncommon emergency for Miss Nancys hysterics were usually
of that violent kind which the patient fights and struggles out of without much
assistance Mr Sikes tried a little blasphemy and finding that mode of
treatment wholly ineffectual called for assistance
»Whats the matter here my dear« said Fagin looking in
»Lend a hand to the girl cant you« replied Sikes impatiently »Dont
stand chattering and grinning at me«
With an exclamation of surprise Fagin hastened to the girls assistance
while Mr John Dawkins otherwise the Artful Dodger who had followed his
venerable friend into the room hastily deposited on the floor a bundle with
which he was laden and snatching a bottle from the grasp of Master Charles
Bates who came close at his heels uncorked it in a twinkling with his teeth
and poured a portion of its contents down the patients throat previously
taking a taste himself to prevent mistakes
»Give her a whiff of fresh air with the bellows Charley« said Mr Dawkins
»and you slap her hands Fagin while Bill undoes the petticuts«
These united restoratives administered with great energy especially that
department consigned to Master Bates who appeared to consider his share in the
proceedings a piece of unexampled pleasantry were not long in producing the
desired effect The girl gradually recovered her senses and staggering to a
chair by the bedside hid her face upon the pillow leaving Mr Sikes to
confront the newcomers in some astonishment at their unlookedfor appearance
»Why what evil wind has blowed you here« he asked Fagin
»No evil wind at all my dear for evil winds blow nobody any good and Ive
brought something good with me that youll be glad to see Dodger my dear
open the bundle and give Bill the little trifles that we spent all our money
on this morning«
In compliance with Mr Fagins request the Artful untied his bundle which
was of large size and formed of an old tablecloth and handed the articles it
contained one by one to Charley Bates who placed them on the table with
various encomiums on their rarity and excellence
»Sitch a rabbit pie Bill« exclaimed that young gentleman disclosing to
view a huge pasty »sitch delicate creeturs with sitch tender limbs Bill that
the wery bones melt in your mouth and theres no occasion to pick em half a
pound of seven and sixpenny green so precious strong that if you mix it with
biling water itll go nigh to blow the lid of the teapot off a pound and
ahalf of moist sugar that the niggers didnt work at all at afore they got it
up to sitch a pitch of goodness oh no Two halfquartern brans pound of best
fresh piece of double Gloster and to wind up all some of the richest sort
you ever lushed«
Uttering this last panegyric Master Bates produced from one of his
extensive pockets a fullsized winebottle carefully corked while Mr
Dawkins at the same instant poured out a wineglassful of raw spirits from the
bottle he carried which the invalid tossed down his throat without a moments
hesitation
»Ah« said Fagin rubbing his hands with great satisfaction »Youll do
Bill youll do now«
»Do« exclaimed Mr Sikes »I might have been done for twenty times over
afore youd have done anything to help me What do you mean by leaving a man in
this state three weeks and more you falsehearted wagabond«
»Only hear him boys« said Fagin shrugging his shoulders »And us come to
bring him all these beautiful things«
»The things is well enough in their way« observed Mr Sikes a little
soothed as he glanced over the table »but what have you got to say for
yourself why you should leave me here dawn in the mouth health blunt and
everything else and take no more notice of me all this mortal time than if I
was that ere dog Drive him down Charley«
»I never see such a jolly dog as that« cried Master Bates doing as he was
desired »Smelling the grub like a old lady a going to market Hed make his
fortun on the stage that dog would and rewive the drayma besides«
»Hold your din« cried Sikes as the dog retreated under the bed still
growling angrily »What have you got to say for yourself you withered old
fence eh«
»I was away from London a week and more my dear on a plant« replied the
Jew
»And what about the other fortnight« demanded Sikes »What about the other
fortnight that youve left me lying here like a sick rat in his hole«
»I couldnt help it Bill I cant go into a long explanation before
company but I couldnt help it upon my honour«
»Upon your what« growled Sikes with excessive disgust »Here Cut me off a
piece of that pie one of you boys to take the taste of that out of my mouth
or itll choke me dead«
»Dont be out of temper my dear« urged Fagin submissively »I have never
forgot you Bill never once«
»No Ill pound it that you hant« replied Sikes with a bitter grin
»Youve been scheming and plotting away every hour that I have laid shivering
and burning here and Bill was to do this and Bill was to do that and Bill was
to do it all dirt cheap as soon as he got well and was quite poor enough for
your work If it hadnt been for the girl I might have died«
»There now Bill« remonstrated Fagin eagerly catching at the word »If it
hadnt been for the girl Who but poor ould Fagin was the means of your having
such a handy girl about you«
»He says true enough there« said Nancy coming hastily forward »Let him
be let him be«
Nancys appearance gave a new turn to the conversation for the boys
receiving a sly wink from the wary old Jew began to ply her with liquor of
which however she took very sparingly while Fagin assuming an unusual flow
of spirits gradually brought Mr Sikes into a better temper by affecting to
regard his threats as a little pleasant banter and moreover by laughing very
heartily at one or two rough jokes which after repeated applications to the
spiritbottle he condescended to make
»Its all very well« said Mr Sikes »but I must have some blunt from you
tonight«
»I havent a piece of coin about me« replied the Jew
»Then youve got lots at home« retorted Sikes »and I must have some from
there«
»Lots« cried Fagin holding up his hands »I havent so much as would «
»I dont know how much youve got and I dare say you hardly know yourself
as it would take a pretty long time to count it« said Sikes »but I must have
some tonight and thats flat«
»Well well« said Fagin with a sigh »Ill send the Artful round
presently«
»You wont do nothing of the kind« rejoined Mr Sikes »The Artfuls a deal
too artful and would forget to come or lose his way or get dodged by traps
and so be perwented or anything for an excuse if you put him up to it Nancy
shall go to the ken and fetch it to make all sure and Ill lie down and have a
snooze while shes gone«
After a great deal of haggling and squabbling Fagin beat down the amount of
the required advance from five pounds to three pounds four and sixpence
protesting with many solemn asseverations that that would only leave him
eighteenpence to keep house with Mr Sikes sullenly remarking that if he
couldnt get any more he must be content with that Nancy prepared to accompany
him home while the Dodger and Master Bates put the eatables in the cupboard
The Jew then taking leave of his affectionate friend returned homeward
attended by Nancy and the boys Mr Sikes meanwhile flinging himself on the
bed and composing himself to sleep away the time until the young ladys return
In due course they arrived at Fagins abode where they found Toby Crackit
and Mr Chitling intent upon their fifteenth game at cribbage which it is
scarcely necessary to say the latter gentleman lost and with it his fifteenth
and last sixpence much to the amusement of his young friends Mr Crackit
apparently somewhat ashamed at being found relaxing himself with a gentleman so
much his inferior in station and mental endowments yawned and inquiring after
Sikes took up his hat to go
»Has nobody been Toby« asked Fagin
»Not a living leg« answered Mr Crackit pulling up his collar »its been
as dull as swipes You ought to stand something handsome Fagin to recompense
me for keeping house so long Damme Im as flat as a juryman and should have
gone to sleep as fast as Newgate if I hadnt had the good natur to amuse this
youngster Horrid dull Im blessed if I ant«
With these and other ejaculations of the same kind Mr Toby Crackit swept
up his winnings and crammed them into his waistcoat pocket with a haughty air
as though such small pieces of silver were wholly beneath the consideration of a
man of his figure this done he swaggered out of the room with so much
elegance and gentility that Mr Chitling bestowing numerous admiring glances
on his legs and boots till they were out of sight assured the company that he
considered his acquaintance cheap at fifteen sixpences an interview and that he
didnt value his losses the snap of his little finger
»Wot a rum chap you are Tom« said Master Bates highly amused by this
declaration
»Not a bit of it« replied Mr Chitling »Am I Fagin«
»A very clever fellow my dear« said Fagin patting him on the shoulder
and winking to his other pupils
»And Mr Crackit is a heavy swell ant he Fagin« asked Tom
»No doubt at all of that my dear«
»And it is a creditable thing to have his acquaintance ant it Fagin«
pursued Tom
»Very much so indeed my dear Theyre only jealous Tom because he wont
give it to them«
»Ah« cried Tom triumphantly »thats where it is He has cleaned me out
But I can go and earn some more when I like cant I Fagin«
»To be sure you can and the sooner you go the better Tom so make up your
loss at once and dont lose any more time Dodger Charley Its time you were
on the lay Come Its near ten and nothing done yet«
In obedience to this hint the boys nodding to Nancy took up their hats
and left the room the Dodger and his vivacious friend indulging as they went
in many witticisms at the expense of Mr Chitling in whose conduct it is but
justice to say there was nothing very conspicuous or peculiar inasmuch as there
are a great number of spirited young bloods upon town who pay a much higher
price than Mr Chitling for being seen in good society and a great number of
fine gentlemen composing the good society aforesaid who establish their
reputation upon very much the same footing as flash Toby Crackit
»Now« said Fagin when they had left the room »Ill go and get you that
cash Nancy This is only the key of a little cupboard where I keep a few odd
things the boys get my dear I never lock up my money for Ive got none to
lock up my dear ha ha ha none to lock up Its a poor trade Nancy and
no thanks but Im fond of seeing the young people about me and I bear it all
I bear it all Hush« he said hastily concealing the key in his breast »whos
that Listen«
The girl who was sitting at the table with her arms folded appeared in no
way interested in the arrival or to care whether the person whoever he was
came or went until the murmur of a mans voice reached her ears The instant
she caught the sound she tore off her bonnet and shawl with the rapidity of
lightning and thrust them under the table The Jew turning round immediately
afterwards she muttered a complaint of the heat in a tone of languor that
contrasted very remarkably with the extreme haste and violence of this action
which however had been unobserved by Fagin who had his back towards her at
the time
»Bah« he whispered as though nettled by the interruption »its the man I
expected before hes coming down stairs Not a word about the money while hes
here Nance He wont stop long Not ten minutes my dear«
Laying his skinny forefinger upon his lip the Jew carried a candle to the
door as a mans step was heard upon the stairs without He reached it at the
same moment as the visitor who coming hastily into the room was close upon
the girl before he observed her
It was Monks
»Only one of my young people« said Fagin observing that Monks drew back
on beholding a stranger »Dont move Nancy«
The girl drew closer to the table and glancing at Monks with an air of
careless levity withdrew her eyes but as he turned his towards Fagin she
stole another look so keen and searching and full of purpose that if there
had been any bystander to observe the change he could hardly have believed the
two looks to have proceeded from the same person
»Any news« inquired Fagin
»Great«
»And and good« asked Fagin hesitating as though he feared to vex the
other man by being too sanguine
»Not bad any way« replied Monks with a smile »I have been prompt enough
this time Let me have a word with you«
The girl drew closer to the table and made no offer to leave the room
although she could see that Monks was pointing to her The Jew perhaps fearing
she might say something aloud about the money if he endeavoured to get rid of
her pointed upward and took Monks out of the room
»Not that infernal hole we were in before« she could hear the man say as
they went up stairs Fagin laughed and making some reply which did not reach
her seemed by the creaking of the boards to lead his companion to the second
story
Before the sound of their footsteps had ceased to echo through the house
the girl had slipped off her shoes and drawing her gown loosely over her head
and muffling her arms in it stood at the door listening with breathless
interest The moment the noise ceased she glided from the room ascended the
stairs with incredible softness and silence and was lost in the gloom above
The room remained deserted for a quarter of an hour or more the girl glided
back with the same unearthly tread and immediately afterwards the two men
were heard descending Monks went at once into the street and the Jew crawled
up stairs again for the money When he returned the girl was adjusting her
shawl and bonnet as if preparing to be gone
»Why Nance« exclaimed the Jew starting back as he put down the candle
»how pale you are«
»Pale« echoed the girl shading her eyes with her hands as if to look
steadily at him
»Quite horrible What have you been doing to yourself«
»Nothing that I know of except sitting in this close place for I dont know
how long and all« replied the girl carelessly »Come Let me get back thats a
dear«
With a sigh for every piece of money Fagin told the amount into her hand
They parted without more conversation merely interchanging a good night
When the girl got into the open street she sat down upon a doorstep and
seemed for a few moments wholly bewildered and unable to pursue her way
Suddenly she arose and hurrying on in a direction quite opposite to that in
which Sikes was awaiting her return quickened her pace until it gradually
resolved into a violent run After completely exhausting herself she stopped to
take breath and as if suddenly recollecting herself and deploring her
inability to do something she was bent upon wrung her hands and burst into
tears
It might be that her tears relieved her or that she felt the full
hopelessness of her condition but she turned back and hurrying with nearly as
great rapidity in the contrary direction partly to recover lost time and
partly to keep pace with the violent current of her own thoughts soon reached
the dwelling where she had left the housebreaker
If she betrayed any agitation when she presented herself to Mr Sikes he
did not observe it for merely inquiring if she had brought the money and
receiving a reply in the affirmative he uttered a growl of satisfaction and
replacing his head upon the pillow resumed the slumbers which her arrival had
interrupted
It was fortunate for her that the possession of money occasioned him so much
employment next day in the way of eating and drinking and withal had so
beneficial an effect in smoothing down the asperities of his temper that he had
neither time nor inclination to be very critical upon her behaviour and
deportment That she had all the abstracted and nervous manner of one who is on
the eve of some bold and hazardous step which it has required no common
struggle to resolve upon would have been obvious to the lynxeyed Fagin who
would most probably have taken the alarm at once but Mr Sikes lacking the
niceties of discrimination and being troubled with no more subtle misgivings
than those which resolve themselves into a dogged roughness of behaviour towards
everybody and being furthermore in an unusually amiable condition as has
been already observed saw nothing unusual in her demeanour and indeed
troubled himself so little about her that had her agitation been far more
perceptible than it was it would have been very unlikely to have awakened his
suspicions
As that day closed in the girls excitement increased and when night came
on and she sat by watching until the housebreaker should drink himself
asleep there was an unusual paleness in her cheek and a fire in her eye that
even Sikes observed with astonishment
Mr Sikes being weak from the fever was lying in bed taking hot water with
his gin to render it less inflammatory and had pushed his glass towards Nancy
to be replenished for the third or fourth time when these symptoms first struck
him
»Why burn my body« said the man raising himself on his hands as he stared
the girl in the face »You look like a corpse come to life again Whats the
matter«
»Matter« replied the girl »Nothing What do you look at me so hard for«
»What follery is this« demanded Sikes grasping her by the arm and shaking
her roughly »What is it What do you mean What are you thinking of«
»Of many things Bill« replied the girl shivering and as she did so
pressing her hands upon her eyes »But Lord What odds in that«
The tone of forced gaiety in which the last words were spoken seemed to
produce a deeper impression on Sikes than the wild and rigid look which had
preceded them
»I tell you wot it is« said Sikes »if you havent caught the fever and
got it comin on now theres something more than usual in the wind and
something dangerous too Youre not agoing to No damme you wouldnt do
that«
»Do what« asked the girl
»There aint« said Sikes fixing his eyes upon her and muttering the words
to himself »there aint a stauncherhearted gal going or Id have cut her
throat three months ago Shes got the fever coming on thats it«
Fortifying himself with this assurance Sikes drained the glass to the
bottom and then with many grumbling oaths called for his physic The girl
jumped up with great alacrity poired it quickly out but with her back towards
him and held the vessel to his lips while he drank off the contents
»Now« said the robber »come and sit aside of me and put on your own face
or Ill alter it so that you wont know it again when you do want it«
The girl obeyed Sikes locking her hand in his fell back upon the pillow
turning his eyes upon her face They closed opened again closed once more
again opened He shifted his position restlessly and after dozing again and
again for two or three minutes and as often springing up with a look of
terror and gazing vacantly about him was suddenly stricken as it were while
in the very attitude of rising into a deep and heavy sleep The grasp of his
hand relaxed the upraised arm fell languidly by his side and he lay like one
in a profound trance
»The laudanum has taken effect at last« murmured the girl as she rose from
the bedside »I may be too late even now«
She hastily dressed herself in her bonnet and shawl looking fearfully round
from time to time as if despite the sleeping draught she expected every
moment to feel the pressure of Sikess heavy hand upon her shoulder then
stooping softly over the bed she kissed the robbers lips and then opening and
closing the roomdoor with noiseless touch hurried from the house
A watchman was crying halfpast nine down a dark passage through which she
had to pass in gaining the main thoroughfare
»Has it long gone the halfhour« asked the girl
»Itll strike the hour in another quarter« said the man raising his
lantern to her face
»And I cannot get there in less than an hour or more« muttered Nancy
brushing swiftly past him and gliding rapidly down the street
Many of the shops were already closing in the back lanes and avenues through
which she tracked her way in making from Spitalfields towards the WestEnd of
London The clock struck ten increasing her impatience She tore along the
narrow pavement elbowing the passengers from side to side and darting almost
under the horses heads crossed crowded streets where clusters of persons were
eagerly watching their opportunity to do the like
»The woman is mad« said the people turning to look after her as she rushed
away
When she reached the more wealthy quarter of the town the streets were
comparatively deserted and here her headlong progress excited a still greater
curiosity in the stragglers whom she hurried past Some quickened their pace
behind as though to see whither she was hastening at such an unusual rate and
a few made head upon her and looked back surprised at her undiminished speed
but they fell off one by one and when she neared her place of destination she
was alone
It was a family hotel in a quiet but handsome street near Hyde Park As the
brilliant light of the lamp which burnt before its door guided her to the spot
the clock struck eleven She had loitered for a few paces as though irresolute
and making up her mind to advance but the sound determined her and she stepped
into the hall The porters seat was vacant She looked round with an air of
incertitude and advanced towards the stairs
»Now young woman« said a smartlydressed female looking out from a door
behind her »who do you want here«
»A lady who is stopping in this house« answered the girl
»A lady« was the reply accompanied with a scornful look »What lady«
»Miss Maylie« said Nancy
The young woman who had by this time noted her appearance replied only by
a look of virtuous disdain and summoned a man to answer her To him Nancy
repeated her request
»What name am I to say« asked the waiter
»Its of no use saying any« replied Nancy
»Nor business« said the man
»No nor that neither« rejoined the girl »I must see the lady«
»Come« said the man pushing her towards the door »None of this Take
yourself off«
»I shall be carried out if I go« said the girl violently »and I can make
that a job that two of you wont like to do Isnt there anybody here« she
said looking round »that will see a simple message carried for a poor wretch
like me«
This appeal produced an effect on a good mancook who with some other of
the servants was looking on and who stepped forward to interfere
»Take it up for her Joe cant you« said this person
»Whats the good« replied the man »You dont suppose the young lady will
see such as her do you«
This allusion to Nancys doubtful character raised a vast quantity of
chaste wrath in the bosoms of four housemaids who remarked with great fervour
that the creature was a disgrace to her sex and strongly advocated her being
thrown ruthlessly into the kennel
»Do what you like with me« said the girl turning to the men again »but do
what I ask you first and I ask you to give this message for God Almightys
sake«
The softhearted cook added his intercession and the result was that the
man who had first appeared undertook its delivery
»Whats it to be« said the man with one foot on the stairs
»That a young woman earnestly asks to speak to Miss Maylie alone« said
Nancy »and that if the lady will only hear the first word she has to say she
will know whether to hear her business or to have her turned out of doors as an
impostor«
»I say« said the man »youre coming it strong«
»You give the message« said the girl firmly »and let me hear the answer«
The man ran up stairs Nancy remained pale and almost breathless listening
with quivering lip to the very audible expressions of scorn of which the chaste
housemaids were very prolific and of which they became still more so when the
man returned and said the young woman was to walk up stairs
»Its no good being proper in this world« said the first housemaid
»Brass can do better than the gold what has stood the fire« said the
second
The third contented herself with wondering what ladies was made of and the
fourth took the first in a quartette of »Shameful« with which the Dianas
concluded
Regardless of all this for she had weightier matters at heart Nancy
followed the man with trembling limbs to a small antechamber lighted by a
lamp from the ceiling Here he left her and retired
Chapter XL
A Strange Interview Which Is a Sequel to the Last Chapter
The girls life had been squandered in the streets and among the most noisome
of the stews and dens of London but there was something of the womans original
nature left in her still and when she heard a light step approaching the door
opposite to that by which she had entered and thought of the wide contrast
which the small room would in another moment contain she felt burdened with the
sense of her own deep shame and shrunk as though she could scarcely bear the
presence of her with whom she had sought this interview
But struggling with these better feelings was pride the vice of the
lowest and most debased creatures no less than of the high and selfassured The
miserable companion of thieves and ruffians the fallen outcast of low haunts
the associate of the scourings of the jails and hulks living within the shadow
of the gallows itself even this degraded being felt too proud to betray a
feeble gleam of the womanly feeling which she thought a weakness but which
alone connected her with that humanity of which her wasting life had
obliterated so many many traces when a very child
She raised her eyes sufficiently to observe that the figure which presented
itself was that of a slight and beautiful girl then bending them on the
ground she tossed her head with affected carelessness as she said
»Its a hard matter to get to see you lady If I had taken offence and
gone away as many would have done youd have been sorry for it one day and
not without reason either«
»I am very sorry if any one has behaved harshly to you« replied Rose »Do
not think of that Tell me why you wished to see me I am the person you
inquired for«
The kind tone of this answer the sweet voice the gentle manner the
absence of any accent of haughtiness or displeasure took the girl completely by
surprise and she burst into tears
»Oh lady lady« she said clasping her hands passionately before her face
»if there was more like you there would be fewer like me there would there
would«
»Sit down« said Rose earnestly »If you are in poverty or affliction I
shall be truly glad to relieve you if I can I shall indeed Sit down«
»Let me stand lady« said the girl still weeping »and do not speak to me
so kindly till you know me better It is growing late Is is that door
shut«
»Yes« said Rose recoiling a few steps as if to be nearer assistance in
case she should require it »Why«
»Because« said the girl »I am about to put my life and the lives of
others in your hands I am the girl that dragged little Oliver back to old
Fagins on the night he went out from the house in Pentonville«
»You« said Rose Maylie
»I lady« replied the girl »I am the infamous creature you have heard of
that lives among the thieves and that never from the first moment I can
recollect my eyes and senses opening on London streets have known any better
life or kinder words than they have given me so help me God Do not mind
shrinking openly from me lady I am younger than you would think to look at
me but I am well used to it The poorest women fall back as I make my way
along the crowded pavement«
»What dreadful things are these« said Rose involuntarily falling from her
strange companion
»Thank Heaven upon your knees dear lady« cried the girl »that you had
friends to care for and keep you in your childhood and that you were never in
the midst of cold and hunger and riot and drunkenness and and something
worse than all as I have been from my cradle I may use the word for the
alley and the gutter were mine as they will be my deathbed«
»I pity you« said Rose in a broken voice »It wrings my heart to hear
you«
»Heaven bless you for your goodness« rejoined the girl »If you knew what I
am sometimes you would pity me indeed But I have stolen away from those who
would surely murder me if they knew I had been here to tell you what I have
overheard Do you know a man named Monks«
»No« said Rose
»He knows you« replied the girl »and knew you were here for it was by
hearing him tell the place that I found you out«
»I never heard the name« said Rose
»Then he goes by some other amongst us« rejoined the girl »which I more
than thought before Some time ago and soon after Oliver was put into your
house on the night of the robbery I suspecting this man listened to a
conversation held between him and Fagin in the dark I found out from what I
heard that Monks the man I asked you about you know «
»Yes« said Rose »I understand«
» That Monks« pursued the girl »had seen him accidentally with two of our
boys on the day we first lost him and had known him directly to be the same
child that he was watching for though I couldnt make out why A bargain was
struck with Fagin that if Oliver was got back he should have a certain sum and
he was to have more for making him a thief which this Monks wanted for some
purpose of his own«
»For what purpose« asked Rose
»He caught sight of my shadow on the wall as I listened in the hope of
finding out« said the girl »and there are not many people besides me that
could have got out of their way in time to escape discovery But I did and I
saw him no more till last night«
»And what occurred then«
»Ill tell you lady Last night he came again Again they went up stairs
and I wrapping myself up so that my shadow should not betray me again listened
at the door The first words I heard Monks say were these So the only proofs of
the boys identity lie at the bottom of the river and the old hag that received
them from the mother is rotting in her coffin They laughed and talked of his
success in doing this and Monks talking on about the boy and getting very
wild said that though he had got the young devils money safely now hed
rather have had it the other way for what a game it would have been to have
brought down the boast of the fathers will by driving him through every jail in
town and then hauling him up for some capital felony which Fagin could easily
manage after having made a good profit of him besides«
»What is all this« said Rose
»The truth lady though it comes from my lips« replied the girl »Then he
said with oaths common enough in my ears but strange to yours that if he
could gratify his hatred by taking the boys life without bringing his own neck
in danger he would but as he couldnt hed be upon the watch to meet him at
every turn in life and if he took advantage of his birth and history he might
harm him yet In short Fagin he says Jew as you are you never laid such
snares as Ill contrive for my young brother Oliver«
»His brother« exclaimed Rose
»Those were his words« said Nancy glancing uneasily round as she had
scarcely ceased to do since she began to speak for a vision of Sikes haunted
her perpetually »And more When he spoke of you and the other lady and said it
seemed contrived by Heaven or the devil against him that Oliver should come
into your hands he laughed and said there was some comfort in that too for
how many thousands and hundreds of thousands of pounds would you not give if
you had them to know who your twolegged spaniel was«
»You do not mean« said Rose turning very pale »to tell me that this was
said in earnest«
»He spoke in hard and angry earnest if a man ever did« replied the girl
shaking her head »He is an earnest man when his hatred is up I know many who
do worse things but Id rather listen to them all a dozen times than to that
Monks once It is growing late and I have to reach home without suspicion of
having been on such an errand as this I must get back quickly«
»But what can I do« said Rose »To what use can I turn this communication
without you Back Why do you wish to return to companions you paint in such
terrible colours If you repeat this information to a gentleman whom I can
summon in an instant from the next room you can be consigned to some place of
safety without half an hours delay«
»I wish to go back« said the girl »I must go back because how can I
tell such things to an innocent lady like you because among the men I have
told you of there is one the most desperate among them all that I cant
leave no not even to be saved from the life I am leading now«
»Your having interfered in this dear boys behalf before« said Rose »your
coming here at so great a risk to tell me what you have heard your manner
which convinces me of the truth of what you say your evident contrition and
sense of shame all lead me to believe that you might be yet reclaimed Oh«
said the earnest girl folding her hands as the tears coursed down her face »do
not turn a deaf ear to the entreaties of one of your own sex the first the
first I do believe who ever appealed to you in the voice of pity and
compassion Do hear my words and let me save you yet for better things«
»Lady« cried the girl sinking on her knees »dear sweet angel lady you
are the first that ever blessed me with such words as these and if I had heard
them years ago they might have turned me from a life of sin and sorrow but it
is too late it is too late«
»It is never too late« said Rose »for penitence and atonement«
»It is« cried the girl writhing in the agony of her mind »I cannot leave
him now I could not be his death«
»Why should you be« asked Rose
»Nothing could save him« cried the girl »If I told others what I have told
you and led to their being taken he would be sure to die He is the boldest
and has been so cruel«
»Is it possible« cried Rose »that for such a man as this you can resign
every future hope and the certainty of immediate rescue It is madness«
»I dont know what it is« answered the girl »I only know that it is so
and not with me alone but with hundreds of others as bad and wretched as
myself I must go back Whether it is Gods wrath for the wrong I have done I
do not know but I am drawn back to him through every suffering and ill usage
and I should be I believe if I knew that I was to die by his hand at last«
»What am I to do« said Rose »I should not let you depart from me thus«
»You should lady and I know you will« rejoined the girl rising »You
will not stop my going because I have trusted in your goodness and forced no
promise from you as I might have done«
»Of what use then is the communication you have made« said Rose »This
mystery must be investigated or how will its disclosure to me benefit Oliver
whom you are anxious to serve«
»You must have some kind gentleman about you that will hear it as a secret
and advise you what to do« rejoined the girl
»But where can I find you again when it is necessary« asked Rose »I do not
seek to know where these dreadful people live but where will you be walking or
passing at any settled period from this time«
»Will you promise me that you will have my secret strictly kept and come
alone or with the only other person that knows it and that I shall not be
watched or followed« asked the girl
»I promise you solemnly« answered Rose
»Every Sunday night from eleven until the clock strikes twelve« said the
girl without hesitation »I will walk on London Bridge if I am alive«
»Stay another moment« interposed Rose as the girl moved hurriedly towards
the door »Think once again on your own condition and the opportunity you have
of escaping from it You have a claim on me not only as the voluntary bearer of
this intelligence but as a woman lost almost beyond redemption Will you return
to this gang of robbers and to this man when a word can save you What
fascination is it that can take you back and make you cling to wickedness and
misery Oh is there no chord in your heart that I can touch Is there nothing
left to which I can appeal against this terrible infatuation«
»When ladies as young and good and beautiful as you are« replied the girl
steadily »give away your hearts love will carry you all lengths even such as
you who have home friends other admirers everything to fill them When such
as I who have no certain roof but the coffinlid and no friend in sickness or
death but the hospital nurse set our rotten hearts on any man and let him fill
the place that has been a blank through all our wretched lives who can hope to
cure us Pity us lady pity us for having only one feeling of the woman left
and for having that turned by a heavy judgment from a comfort and a pride
into a new means of violence and suffering«
»You will« said Rose after a pause »take some money from me which may
enable you to live without dishonesty at all events until we meet again«
»Not a penny« replied the girl waving her hand
»Do not close your heart against all my efforts to help you« said Rose
stepping gently forward »I wish to serve you indeed«
»You would serve me best lady« replied the girl wringing her hands »if
you could take my life at once for I have felt more grief to think of what I
am tonight than I ever did before and it would be something not to die in
the hell in which I have lived God bless you sweet lady and send as much
happiness on your head as I have brought shame on mine«
Thus speaking and sobbing aloud the unhappy creature turned away while
Rose Maylie overpowered by this extraordinary interview which had more the
semblance of a rapid dream than an actual occurrence sank into a chair and
endeavoured to collect her wandering thoughts
Chapter XLI
Containing Fresh Discoveries and Showing That Surprises Like Misfortunes
Seldom Come Alone
Her situation was indeed one of no common trial and difficulty While she felt
the most eager and burning desire to penetrate the mystery in which Olivers
history was enveloped she could not but hold sacred the confidence which the
miserable woman with whom she had just conversed had reposed in her as a young
and guileless girl Her words and manner had touched Rose Maylies heart and
mingled with her love for her young charge and scarcely less intense in its
truth and fervour was her fond wish to win the outcast back to repentance and
hope
They purposed remaining in London only three days prior to departing for
some weeks to a distant part of the coast It was now midnight of the first day
What course of action could she determine upon which could be adopted in
eightandforty hours Or how could she postpone the journey without exciting
suspicion
Mr Losberne was with them and would be for the next two days but Rose was
too well acquainted with the excellent gentlemans impetuosity and foresaw too
clearly the wrath with which in the first explosion of his indignation he
would regard the instrument of Olivers recapture to trust him with the
secret when her representations in the girls behalf could be seconded by no
experienced person These were all reasons for the greatest caution and most
circumspect behaviour in communicating it to Mrs Maylie whose first impulse
would infallibly be to hold a conference with the worthy doctor on the subject
As to resorting to any legal adviser even if she had known how to do so it was
scarcely to be thought of for the same reasons Once the thought occurred to
her of seeking assistance from Harry but this awakened the recollection of
their last parting and it seemed unworthy of her to call him back when the
tears rose to her eyes as she pursued this train of reflection he might have
by this time learnt to forget her and to be happier away
Disturbed by these different reflections inclining now to one course and
then to another and again recoiling from all as each successive consideration
presented itself to her mind Rose passed a sleepless and anxious night After
more communing with herself next day she arrived at the desperate conclusion of
consulting Harry
»If it be painful to him« she thought »to come back here how painful it
will be to me But perhaps he will not come he may write or he may come
himself and studiously abstain from meeting me he did when he went away I
hardly thought he would but it was better for us both« And here Rose dropped
the pen and turned away as though the very paper which was to be her messenger
should not see her weep
She had taken up the same pen and laid it down again fifty times and had
considered and reconsidered the first line of her letter without writing the
first word when Oliver who had been walking in the streets with Mr Giles for
a bodyguard entered the room in such breathless haste and violent agitation
as seemed to betoken some new cause of alarm
»What makes you look so flurried« asked Rose advancing to meet him
»I hardly know how I feel as if I should be choked« replied the boy »Oh
dear To think that I should see him at last and you should be able to know
that I have told you all the truth«
»I never thought you had told us anything but the truth« said Rose
soothing him »But what is this of whom do you speak«
»I have seen the gentleman« replied Oliver scarcely able to articulate
»the gentleman who was so good to me Mr Brownlow that we have so often
talked about«
»Where« asked Rose
»Getting out of a coach« replied Oliver shedding tears of delight »and
going into a house I didnt speak to him I couldnt speak to him for he
didnt see me and I trembled so that I was not able to go up to him But Giles
asked for me whether he lived there and they said he did Look here« said
Oliver opening a scrap of paper »here it is heres where he lives Im going
there directly Oh dear me dear me What shall I do when I come to see him and
hear him speak again«
With her attention not a little distracted by these and a great many other
incoherent exclamations of joy Rose read the address which was Craven Street
in the Strand She very soon determined upon turning the discovery to account
»Quick« she said »Tell them to fetch a hackneycoach and be ready to go
with me I will take you there directly without a minutes loss of time I will
only tell my aunt that we are going out for an hour and be ready as soon as you
are«
Oliver needed no prompting to despatch and in little more than five minutes
they were on their way to Craven Street When they arrived there Rose left
Oliver in the coach under pretence of preparing the old gentleman to receive
him and sending up her card by the servant requested to see Mr Brownlow on
very pressing business The servant soon returned to beg that she would walk up
stairs and following him into an upper room Miss Maylie was presented to an
elderly gentleman of benevolent appearance in a bottlegreen coat At no great
distance from whom was seated another old gentleman in nankeen breeches and
gaiters who did not look particularly benevolent and who was sitting with his
hands clasped on the top of a thick stick and his chin propped thereupon
»Dear me« said the gentleman in the bottlegreen coat hastily rising with
great politeness »I beg your pardon young lady imagined it was some
importunate person who I beg you will excuse me Be seated pray«
»Mr Brownlow I believe sir« said Rose glancing from the other gentleman
to the one who had spoken
»That is my name« said the old gentleman »This is my friend Mr Grimwig
Grimwig will you leave us for a few minutes«
»I believe« interposed Miss Maylie »that at this period of our interview
I need not give that gentleman the trouble of going away If I am correctly
informed he is cognizant of the business on which I wish to speak to you«
Mr Brownlow inclined his head Mr Grimwig who had made one very stiff
bow and risen from his chair made another very stiff bow and dropped into it
again
»I shall surprise you very much I have no doubt« said Rose naturally
embarrassed »but you once showed great benevolence and goodness to a very dear
young friend of mine and I am sure you will take an interest in hearing of him
again«
»Indeed« said Mr Brownlow
»Oliver Twist you knew him as« replied Rose
The words no sooner escaped her lips than Mr Grimwig who had been
affecting to dip into a large book that lay on the table upset it with a great
crash and falling back in his chair discharged from his features every
expression but one of unmitigated wonder and indulged in a prolonged and vacant
stare then as if ashamed of having betrayed so much emotion he jerked
himself as it were by a convulsion into his former attitude and looking out
straight before him emitted a long deep whistle which seemed at last not to
be discharged on empty air but to die away in the innermost recesses of his
stomach
Mr Brownlow was no less surprised although his astonishment was not
expressed in the same eccentric manner He drew his chair nearer to Miss
Maylies and said
»Do me the favour my dear young lady to leave entirely out of the question
that goodness and benevolence of which you speak and of which nobody else knows
anything and if you have it in your power to produce any evidence which will
alter the unfavourable opinion I was once induced to entertain of that poor
child in Heavens name put me in possession of it«
»A bad one Ill eat my head if he is not a bad one« growled Mr Grimwig
speaking by some ventriloquial power without moving a muscle of his face
»He is a child of a noble nature and a warm heart« said Rose colouring
»and that Power which has thought fit to try him beyond his years has planted
in his breast affections and feelings which would do honour to many who have
numbered his days six times over«
»Im only sixtyone« said Mr Grimwig with the same rigid face »And as
the devils in it if this Oliver is not twelve years old at least I dont see
the application of that remark«
»Do not heed my friend Miss Maylie« said Mr Brownlow »he does not mean
what he says«
»Yes he does« growled Mr Grimwig
»No he does not« said Mr Brownlow obviously rising in wrath as he spoke
»Hell eat his head if he doesnt« growled Mr Grimwig
»He would deserve to have it knocked off if he does« said Mr Brownlow
»And hed uncommonly like to see any man offer to do it« responded Mr
Grimwig knocking his stick upon the floor
Having gone thus far the two old gentlemen severally took snuff and
afterwards shook hands according to their invariable custom
»Now Miss Maylie« said Mr Brownlow »to return to the subject in which
your humanity is so much interested Will you let me know what intelligence you
have of this poor child allowing me to premise that I exhausted every means in
my power of discovering him and that since I have been absent from this
country my first impression that he had imposed upon me and had been persuaded
by his former associates to rob me has been considerably shaken«
Rose who had had time to collect her thoughts at once related in a few
natural words all that had befallen Oliver since he left Mr Brownlows house
reserving Nancys information for that gentlemans private ear and concluding
with the assurance that his only sorrow for some months past had been the not
being able to meet with his former benefactor and friend
»Thank God« said the old gentleman »This is great happiness to me great
happiness But you have not told me where he is now Miss Maylie You must
pardon my finding fault with you but why not have brought him«
»He is waiting in a coach at the door« replied Rose
»At this door« cried the old gentleman With which he hurried but of the
room down the stairs up the coachsteps and into the coach without another
word
When the roomdoor closed behind him Mr Grimwig lifted up his head and
converting one of the hind legs of his chair into a pivot described three
distinct circles with the assistance of his stick and the table sitting in it
all the time After performing this evolution he rose and limped as fast as he
could up and down the room at least a dozen times and then stopping suddenly
before Rose kissed her without the slightest preface
»Hush« he said as the young lady rose in some alarm at this unusual
proceeding »Dont be afraid Im old enough to be your grandfather Youre a
sweet girl I like you Here they are«
In fact as he threw himself at one dexterous dive into his former seat Mr
Brownlow returned accompanied by Oliver whom Mr Grimwig received very
graciously and if the gratification of that moment had been the only reward for
all her anxiety and care in Olivers behalf Rose Maylie would have been well
repaid
»There is somebody else who should not be forgotten by the by« said Mr
Brownlow ringing the bell »Send Mrs Bedwin here if you please«
The old housekeeper answered the summons with all dispatch and dropping a
curtsey at the door waited for orders
»Why you get blinder every day Bedwin« said Mr Brownlow rather testily
»Well that I do sir« replied the old lady »Peoples eyes at my time of
life dont improve with age sir«
»I could have told you that« rejoined Mr Brownlow »but put on your
glasses and see if you cant find out what you were wanted for will you«
The old lady began to rummage in her pocket for her spectacles But Olivers
patience was not proof against this new trial and yielding to his first
impulse he sprang into her arms
»God be good to me« cried the old lady embracing him »it is my innocent
boy«
»My dear old nurse« cried Oliver
»He would come back I knew he would« said the old lady holding him in
her arms »How well he looks and how like a gentlemans son he is dressed
again Where have you been this long long while Ah the same sweet face but
not so pale the same soft eye but not so sad I have never forgotten them or
his quiet smile but have seen them every day side by side with those of my own
dear children dead and gone since I was a lightsome young creature« Running on
thus and now holding Oliver from her to mark how he had grown now clasping him
to her and passing her fingers fondly through his hair the good soul laughed
and wept upon his neck by turns
Leaving her and Oliver to compare notes at leisure Mr Brownlow led the way
into another room and there heard from Rose a full narration of her interview
with Nancy which occasioned him no little surprise and perplexity Rose also
explained her reasons for not confiding in her friend Mr Losberne in the first
instance. The old gentleman considered that she had acted prudently and readily
undertook to hold solemn conference with the worthy doctor himself To afford
him an early opportunity for the execution of this design it was arranged that
he should call at the hotel at eight oclock that evening and that in the
meantime Mrs Maylie should be cautiously informed of all that had occurred
These preliminaries adjusted Rose and Oliver returned home
Rose had by no means overrated the measure of the good doctors wrath
Nancys history was no sooner unfolded to him than he poured forth a shower of
mingled threats and execrations threatened to make her the first victim of the
combined ingenuity of Messrs Blathers and Duff and actually put on his hat
preparatory to sallying forth to obtain the assistance of those worthies And
doubtless he would in this first outbreak have carried the intention into
effect without a moments consideration of the consequences if he had not been
restrained in part by corresponding violence on the side of Mr Brownlow who
was himself of an irascible temperament and partly by such arguments and
representations as seemed best calculated to dissuade him from his hotbrained
purpose
»Then what the devil is to be done« said the impetuous doctor when they
had rejoined the two ladies »Are we to pass a vote of thanks to all these
vagabonds male and female and beg them to accept a hundred pounds or so
apiece as a trifling mark of our esteem and some slight acknowledgment of
their kindness to Oliver«
»Not exactly that« rejoined Mr Brownlow laughing »but we must proceed
gently and with great care«
»Gentleness and care« exclaimed the doctor »Id send them one and all to
«
»Never mind where« interposed Mr Brownlow »But reflect whether sending
them anywhere is likely to attain the object we have in view«
»What object« asked the doctor
»Simply the discovery of Olivers parentage and regaining for him the
inheritance of which if this story be true he has been fraudulently deprived«
»Ah« said Mr Losberne cooling himself with his pockethandkerchief »I
almost forgot that«
»You see« pursued Mr Brownlow »placing this poor girl entirely out of the
question and supposing it were possible to bring these scoundrels to justice
without compromising her safety what good should we bring about«
»Hanging a few of them at least in all probability« suggested the doctor
»and transporting the rest«
»Very good« replied Mr Brownlow smiling »but no doubt they will bring
that about for themselves in the fulness of time and if we step in to forestal
them it seems to me that we shall be performing a very Quixotic act in direct
opposition to our own interest or at least to Olivers which is the same
thing«
»How« inquired the doctor
»Thus It is quite clear that we shall have extreme difficulty in getting to
the bottom of this mystery unless we can bring this man Monks upon his knees
That can only be done by stratagem and by catching him when he is not
surrounded by these people For suppose he were apprehended we have no proof
against him He is not even so far as we know or as the facts appear to us
concerned with the gang in any of their robberies If he were not discharged it
is very unlikely that he could receive any further punishment than being
committed to prison as a rogue and vagabond and of course ever afterwards his
mouth would be so obstinately closed that he might as well for our purposes be
deaf dumb blind and an idiot«
»Then« said the doctor impetuously »I put it to you again whether you
think it reasonable that this promise to the girl should be considered binding
a promise made with the best and kindest intentions but really «
»Do not discuss the point my dear young lady pray« said Mr Brownlow
interrupting Rose as she was about to speak »The promise shall be kept I dont
think it will in the slightest degree interfere with our proceedings But
before we can resolve upon any precise course of action it will be necessary to
see the girl to ascertain from her whether she will point out this Monks on
the understanding that he is to be dealt with by us and not by the law or if
she will not or cannot do that to procure from her such an account of his
haunts and description of his person as will enable us to identify him She
cannot be seen until next Sunday night this is Tuesday I would suggest that in
the meantime we remain perfectly quiet and keep these matters secret even from
Oliver himself«
Although Mr Losberne received with many wry faces a proposal involving a
delay of five whole days he was fain to admit that no better course occurred to
him just then and as both Rose and Mrs Maylie sided very strongly with Mr
Brownlow that gentlemans proposition was carried unanimously
»I should like« he said »to call in the aid of my friend Grimwig He is a
strange creature but a shrewd one and might prove of material assistance to
us I should say that he was bred a lawyer and quitted the Bar in disgust
because he had only one brief and a motion of course in twenty years though
whether that is a recommendation or not you must determine for yourselves«
»I have no objection to your calling in your friend if I may call in mine«
said the doctor
»We must put it to the vote« replied Mr Brownlow »who may he be«
»That ladys son and this young ladys very old friend« said the doctor
motioning towards Mrs Maylie and concluding with an expressive glance at her
niece
Rose blushed deeply but she did not make any audible objection to this
motion possibly she felt in a hopeless minority and Harry Maylie and Mr
Grimwig were accordingly added to the committee
»We stay in town of course« said Mrs Maylie »while there remains the
slightest prospect of prosecuting this inquiry with a chance of success I will
spare neither trouble nor expense in behalf of the object in which we are all so
deeply interested and I am content to remain here if it be for twelve months
so long as you assure me that any hope remains«
»Good« rejoined Mr Brownlow »And as I see on the faces about me a
disposition to inquire how it happened that I was not in the way to corroborate
Olivers tale and had so suddenly left the kingdom let me stipulate that I
shall be asked no questions until such time as I may deem it expedient to
forestal them by telling my own story Believe me I make this request with good
reason for I might otherwise excite hopes destined never to be realised and
only increase difficulties and disappointments already quite numerous enough
Come Supper has been announced and young Oliver who is all alone in the next
room will have begun to think by this time that we have wearied of his
company and entered into some dark conspiracy to thrust him forth upon the
world«
With these words the old gentleman gave his hand to Mrs Maylie and
escorted her into the supperroom Mr Losberne followed leading Rose and the
council was for the present effectually broken up
Chapter XLII
An Old Acquaintance of Olivers Exhibiting Decided Marks of Genius Becomes a
Public Character in the Metropolis
Upon the night when Nancy having lulled Mr Sikes to sleep hurried on her
selfimposed mission to Rose Maylie there advanced towards London by the Great
North Road two persons upon whom it is expedient that this history should
bestow some attention
They were a man and woman or perhaps they would be better described as a
male and female for the former was one of those longlimbed knockkneed
shambling bony people to whom it is difficult to assign any precise age
looking as they do when they are yet boys like undergrown men and when they
are almost men like overgrown boys The woman was young but of a robust and
hardy make as she need have been to bear the weight of the heavy bundle which
was strapped to her back Her companion was not encumbered with much luggage as
there merely dangled from a stick which he carried over his shoulder a small
parcel wrapped in a common handkerchief and apparently light enough This
circumstance added to the length of his legs which were of unusual extent
enabled him with much ease to keep some halfdozen paces in advance of his
companion to whom he occasionally turned with an impatient jerk of the head as
if reproaching her tardiness and urging her to greater exertion
Thus they had toiled along the dusty road taking little heed of any object
within sight save when they stepped aside to allow a wider passage for the
mailcoaches which were whirling out of town until they passed through Highgate
archway when the foremost traveller stopped and called impatiently to his
companion
»Come on cant yer What a lazybones yer are Charlotte«
»Its a heavy load I can tell you« said the female coming up almost
breathless with fatigue
»Heavy What are yer talking about What are yer made for« rejoined the
male traveller changing his own little bundle as he spoke to the other
shoulder »Oh there yer are resting again Well if yer aint enough to tire
any bodys patience out I dont know what is«
»Is it much farther« asked the woman resting herself against a bank and
looking up with the perspiration streaming from her face
»Much farther Yer as good as there« said the longlegged tramper pointing
out before him »Look there Those are the lights of London«
»Theyre a good two mile off at least« said the woman despondingly
»Never mind whether theyre two mile off or twenty« said Noah Claypole
for he it was »but get up and come on or Ill kick yer and so I give yer
notice«
As Noahs red nose grew redder with anger and as he crossed the road while
speaking as if fully prepared to put his threat into execution the woman rose
without any further remark and trudged onward by his side
»Where do you mean to stop for the night Noah« she asked after they had
walked a few hundred yards
»How should I know« replied Noah whose temper had been considerably
impaired by walking
»Near I hope« said Charlotte
»No not near« replied Mr Claypole »There Not near so dont think it«
»Why not«
»When I tell yer that I dont mean to do a thing thats enough without any
why or because either« replied Mr Claypole with dignity
»Well you neednt be so cross« said his companion
»A pretty thing it would be wouldnt it to go and stop at the very first
publichouse outside the town so that Sowerberry if he come up after us might
poke in his old nose and have us taken back in a cart with handcuffs on« said
Mr Claypole in a jeering tone »No I shall go and lose myself among the
narrowest streets I can find and not stop till we come to the very
outofthewayest house I can set eyes on Cod yer may thank yer stars Ive
got a head for if we hadnt gone at first the wrong road a purpose and come
back across country yerd have been locked up hard and fast a week ago my
lady And serve yer right for being a fool«
»I know I aint as cunning as you are« replied Charlotte »but dont put
all the blame on me and say I should have been locked up You would have been
if I had been any way«
»Yer took the money from the till yer know yer did« said Mr Claypole
»I took it for you Noah dear« rejoined Charlotte
»Did I keep it« asked Mr Claypole
»No you trusted in me and let me carry it like a dear and so you are«
said the lady chucking him under the chin and drawing her arm through his
This was indeed the case but as it was not Mr Claypoles habit to repose a
blind and foolish confidence in anybody it should be observed in justice to
that gentleman that he had trusted Charlotte to this extent in order that if
they were pursued the money might be found on her which would leave him an
opportunity of asserting his innocence of any theft and would greatly
facilitate his chances of escape Of course he entered at this juncture into
no explanation of his motives and they walked on very lovingly together
In pursuance of this cautious plan Mr Claypole went on without halting
until he arrived at the Angel at Islington where he wisely judged from the
crowd of passengers and number of vehicles that London began in earnest Just
pausing to observe which appeared the most crowded streets and consequently the
most to be avoided he crossed into Saint Johns Road and was soon deep in the
obscurity of the intricate and dirty ways which lying between Grays Inn Lane
and Smithfield render that part of the town one of the lowest and worst that
improvement has left in the midst of London
Through these streets Noah Claypole walked dragging Charlotte after him
now stepping into the kennel to embrace at a glance the whole external character
of some small publichouse now jogging on again as some fancied appearance
induced him to believe it too public for his purpose At length he stopped in
front of one more humble in appearance and more dirty than any he had yet seen
and having crossed over and surveyed it from the opposite pavement graciously
announced his intention of putting up there for the night
»So give us the bundle« said Noah unstrapping it from the womans
shoulders and slinging it over his own »and dont yer speak except when yer
spoke to Whats the name of the house thr three what«
»Cripples« said Charlotte
»Three Cripples« repeated Noah »and a very good sign too Now then Keep
close at my heels and come along« With these injunctions he pushed the
rattling door with his shoulder and entered the house followed by his
companion
There was nobody in the bar but a young Jew who with his two elbows on the
counter was reading a dirty newspaper He stared very hard at Noah and Noah
stared very hard at him
If Noah had been attired in his charityboys dress there might have been
some reason for the Jew opening his eyes so wide but as he had discarded the
coat and badge and wore a short smockfrock over his leathers there seemed no
particular reason for his appearance exciting so much attention in a
publichouse
»Is this the Three Cripples« asked Noah
»That is the dabe of this ouse« replied the Jew
»A gentleman we met on the road coming up from the country recommended us
here« said Noah nudging Charlotte perhaps to call her attention to this most
ingenious device for attracting respect and perhaps to warn her to betray no
surprise »We want to sleep here tonight«
»Ib dot certaid you cad« said Barney who was the attendant sprite »but
Ill idquire«
»Show us the tap and give us a bit of cold meat and a drop of beer while
yer inquiring will yer« said Noah
Barney complied by ushering them into a small backroom and setting the
required viands before them having done which he informed the travellers that
they could be lodged that night and left the amiable couple to their
refreshment
Now this backroom was immediately behind the bar and some steps lower so
that any person connected with the house undrawing a small curtain which
concealed a single pane of glass fixed in the wall of the lastnamed apartment
about five feet from its flooring could not only look down upon any guests in
the backroom without any great hazard of being observed the glass being in a
dark angle of the wall between which and a large upright beam the observer had
to thrust himself but could by applying his ear to the partition ascertain
with tolerable distinctness their subject of conversation The landlord of the
house had not withdrawn his eye from this place of espial for five minutes and
Barney had only just returned from making the communication above related when
Fagin in the course of his evenings business came into the bar to inquire
after some of his young pupils
»Hush« said Barney »stradegers id the next roob«
»Strangers« repeated the old man in a whisper
»Ah Ad rub uds too« added Barney »Frob the cuttry but subthig in your
way or Ib bistaked«
Fagin appeared to receive this communication with great interest Mounting a
stool he cautiously applied his eye to the pane of glass from which secret
post he could see Mr Claypole taking cold beef from the dish and porter from
the pot and administering homoeopathic doses of both to Charlotte who sat
patiently by eating and drinking at his pleasure
»Aha« he whispered looking round to Barney »I like that fellows looks
Hed be of use to us he knows how to train the girl already Dont make as much
noise as a mouse my dear and let me hear em talk let me hear em«
He again applied his eye to the glass and turning his ear to the partition
listened attentively with a subtle and eager look upon his face that might
have appertained to some old goblin
»So I mean to be a gentleman« said Mr Claypole kicking out his legs and
continuing a conversation the commencement of which Fagin had arrived too late
to hear »No more jolly old coffins Charlotte but a gentlemans life for me
and if yer like yer shall be a lady«
»I should like that well enough dear« replied Charlotte »but tills aint
to be emptied every day and people to get clear off after it«
»Tills be blowed« said Mr Claypole »theres more things besides tills to
be emptied«
»What do you mean« asked his companion
»Pockets womens ridicules houses mailcoaches banks« said Mr
Claypole rising with the porter
»But you cant do all that dear« said Charlotte
»I shall look out to get into company with them as can« replied Noah
»Theyll be able to make us useful some way or another Why you yourself are
worth fifty women I never see such a precious sly and deceitful creetur as yer
can be when I let yer«
»Lor how nice it is to hear you say so« exclaimed Charlotte imprinting a
kiss upon his ugly face
»There thatll do dont yer be too affectionate in case Im cross with
yer« said Noah disengaging himself with great gravity »I should like to be
the captain of some band and have the whopping of em and follering em about
unbeknown to themselves That would suit me if there was good profit and if we
could only get in with some gentlemen of this sort I say it would be cheap at
that twentypound note youve got especially as we dont very well know how
to get rid of it ourselves«
After expressing this opinion Mr Claypole looked into the porterpot with
an aspect of deep wisdom and having well shaken its contents nodded
condescendingly to Charlotte and took a draught wherewith he appeared greatly
refreshed He was meditating another when the sudden opening of the door and
the appearance of a stranger interrupted him
The stranger was Mr Fagin And very amiable he looked and a very low bow
he made as he advanced and setting himself down at the nearest table ordered
something to drink of the grinning Barney
»A pleasant night sir but cool for the time of year« said Fagin rubbing
his hands »From the country I see sir«
»How do yer see that« asked Noah Claypole
»We have not so much dust as that in London« replied Fagin pointing from
Noahs shoes to those of his companion and from them to the two bundles
»Yer a sharp feller« said Noah »Ha ha only hear that Charlotte«
»Why one need be sharp in this town my dear« replied the Jew sinking his
voice to a confidential whisper »and thats the truth«
Fagin followed up this remark by striking the side of his nose with his
right forefinger a gesture which Noah attempted to imitate though not with
complete success in consequence of his own nose not being large enough for the
purpose However Mr Fagin seemed to interpret the endeavour as expressing a
perfect coincidence with his opinion and put about the liquor which Barney
reappeared with in a very friendly manner
»Good stuff that« observed Mr Claypole smacking his lips
»Dear« said Fagin »A man need be always emptying a till or a pocket or a
womans reticule or a house or a mailcoach or a bank if he drinks it
regularly«
Mr Claypole no sooner heard this extract from his own remarks than he fell
back in his chair and looked from the Jew to Charlotte with a countenance of
ashy paleness and excessive terror
»Dont mind me my dear« said Fagin drawing his chair closer »Ha ha it
was lucky it was only me that heard you by chance It was very lucky it was only
me«
»I didnt take it« stammered Noah no longer stretching out his legs like
an independent gentleman but coiling them up as well as he could under his
chair »it was all her doing yerve got it now Charlotte yer know yer have«
»No matter whos got it or who did it my dear« replied Fagin glancing
nevertheless with a hawks eye at the girl and the two bundles »Im in that
way myself and I like you for it«
»In what way« asked Mr Claypole a little recovering
»In that way of business« rejoined Fagin »and so are the people of the
house Youve hit the right nail upon the head and are as safe here as you
could be There is not a safer place in all this town than is the Cripples that
is when I like to make it so And I have taken a fancy to you and the young
woman so Ive said the word and you may make your minds easy«
Noah Claypoles mind might have been at ease after this assurance but his
body certainly was not for he shuffled and writhed about into various uncouth
positions eyeing his new friend meanwhile with mingled fear and suspicion
»Ill tell you more« said Fagin after he had reassured the girl by dint
of friendly nods and muttered encouragements »I have got a friend that I think
can gratify your darling wish and put you in the right way where you can take
whatever department of the business you think will suit you best at first and
be taught all the others«
»Yer speak as if yer were in earnest« replied Noah
»What advantage would it be to me to be anything else« inquired Fagin
shrugging his shoulders »Here Let me have a word with you outside«
»Theres no occasion to trouble ourselves to move« said Noah getting his
legs by gradual degrees abroad again »Shell take the luggage up stairs the
while Charlotte see to them bundles«
This mandate which had been delivered with great majesty was obeyed
without the slightest demur and Charlotte made the best of her way off with the
packages while Noah held the door open and watched her out
»Shes kept tolerably well under aint she« he asked as he resumed his
seat in the tone of a keeper who has tamed some wild animal
»Quite perfect« rejoined Fagin clapping him on the shoulder »Youre a
genius my dear«
»Why I suppose if I wasnt I shouldnt be here« replied Noah »But I
say shell be back if yer lose time«
»Now what do you think« said Fagin »If you was to like my friend could
you do better than join him«
»Is he in a good way of business thats where it is« responded I Noah
winking one of his little eyes
»The top of the tree employs a power of hands has the very best society in
the profession«
»Regular townmaders« asked Mr Claypole
»Not a countryman among em and I dont think hed take you even on my
recommendation if he didnt run rather short of assistants just now« replied
Fagin
»Should I have to hand over« said Noah slapping his breechespocket
»It couldnt possibly be done without« replied Fagin in a most decided
manner
»Twenty pound though its a lot of money«
»Not when its in a note you cant get rid of« retorted Fagin »Number and
date taken I suppose Payment stopped at the Bank Ah Its not worth much to
him Itll have to go abroad and he couldnt sell it for a great deal in the
market«
»When could I see him« asked Noah doubtfully
»Tomorrow morning«
»Where«
»Here«
»Um« said Noah »Whats the wages«
»Live like a gentleman board and lodging pipes and spirits free half of
all you earn and half of all the young woman earns« replied Mr Fagin
Whether Noah Claypole whose rapacity was none of the least comprehensive
would have acceded even to these glowing terms had he been a perfectly free
agent is very doubtful but as he recollected that in the event of his refusal
it was in the power of his new acquaintance to give him up to justice
immediately and more unlikely things had come to pass he gradually relented
and said he thought that would suit him
»But yer see« observed Noah »as she will be able to do a good deal I
should like to take something very light«
»A little fancy work« suggested Fagin
»Ah something of that sort« replied Noah »What do you think would suit me
now Something not too trying for the strength and not very dangerous you
know Thats the sort of thing«
»I heard you talk of something in the spy way upon the others my dear«
said Fagin »My friend wants somebody who would do that well very much«
»Why I did mention that and I shouldnt mind turning my hand to it
sometimes« rejoined Mr Claypole slowly »but it wouldnt pay by itself you
know«
»Thats true« observed the Jew ruminating or pretending to ruminate »No
it might not«
»What do you think then« asked Noah anxiously regarding him »Something
in the sneaking way where it was pretty sure work and not much more risk than
being at home«
»What do you think of the old ladies« asked Fagin »Theres a good deal of
money made in snatching their bags and parcels and running round the corner«
»Dont they holler out a good deal and scratch sometimes« asked Noah
shaking his head »I dont think that would answer my purpose Aint there any
other line open«
»Stop« said Fagin laying his hand on Noahs knee »The kinchin lay«
»Whats that« demanded Mr Claypole
»The kinchins my dear« said Fagin »is the young children thats sent on
errands by their mothers with sixpences and shillings and the lay is just to
take their money away theyve always got it ready in their hands then knock
em into the kennel and walk off very slow as if there were nothing else the
matter but a child fallen down and hurt itself Ha ha ha«
»Ha ha« roared Mr Claypole kicking up his legs in an ecstasy »Lord
thats the very thing«
»To be sure it is« replied Fagin »and you can have a few good beats
chalked out in Camden Town and Battle Bridge and neighbourhoods like that
where theyre always going errands and you can upset as many kinchins as you
want any hour in the day Ha ha ha«
With this Fagin poked Mr Claypole in the side and they joined in a burst
of laughter both long and loud
»Well thats all right« said Noah when he had recovered himself and
Charlotte had returned »What time tomorrow shall we say«
»Will ten do« asked Fagin adding as Mr Claypole nodded assent »What
name shall I tell my good friend«
»Mr Bolter« replied Noah who had prepared himself for such an emergency
»Mr Morris Bolter This is Mrs Bolter«
»Mrs Bolters humble servant« said Fagin bowing with grotesque
politeness »I hope I shall know her better very shortly«
»Do you hear the gentleman Charlotte« thundered Mr Claypole
»Yes Noah dear« replied Mrs Bolter extending her hand
»She calls me Noah as a sort of fond way of talking« said Mr Morris
Bolter late Claypole turning to Fagin »You understand«
»Oh yes I understand perfectly« replied Fagin telling the truth for
once »Good night Good night«
With many adieus and good wishes Mr Fagin went his way Noah Claypole
bespeaking his good ladys attention proceeded to enlighten her relative to the
arrangement he had made with all that haughtiness and air of superiority
becoming not only a member of the sterner sex but a gentleman who appreciated
the dignity of a special appointment on the kinchin lay in London and its
vicinity
Chapter XLIII
Wherein Is Shown How the Artful Dodger Got into Trouble
»And so it was you that was your own friend was it« asked Mr Claypole
otherwise Bolter when by virtue of the compact entered into between them he
had removed next day to Fagins house »Cod I thought as much last night«
»Every mans his own friend my dear« replied Fagin with his most
insinuating grin »He hasnt as good a one as himself anywhere«
»Except sometimes« replied Morris Bolter assuming the air of a man of the
world »Some people are nobodys enemies but their own yer know«
»Dont believe that« said Fagin »When a mans his own enemy its only
because hes too much his own friend not because hes careful for everybody but
himself Pooh pooh There aint such a thing in nature«
»There oughtnt to be if there is« replied Mr Bolter
»That stands to reason Some conjurers say that number three is the magic
number and some say number seven Its neither my friend neither Its number
one«
»Ha ha« cried Mr Bolter »Number one for ever«
»In a little community like ours my dear« said Fagin who felt it
necessary to qualify this position »we have a general number one that is you
cant consider yourself as number one without considering me too as the same
and all the other young people«
»Oh the devil« exclaimed Mr Bolter
»You see« pursued Fagin affecting to disregard this interruption »we are
so mixed up together and identified in our interests that it must be so For
instance its your object to take care of number one meaning yourself«
»Certainly« replied Mr Bolter »Yer about right there«
»Well You cant take care of yourself number one without taking care of
me number one«
»Number two you mean« said Mr Bolter who was largely endowed with the
quality of selfishness
»No I dont« retorted Fagin »Im of the same importance to you as you
are to yourself«
»I say« interrupted Mr Bolter »yer a very nice man and Im very fond of
yer but we aint quite so thick together as all that comes to«
»Only think« said Fagin shrugging his shoulders and stretching out his
hands »only consider Youve done whats a very pretty thing and what I love
you for doing but what at the same time would put the cravat round your throat
thats so very easily tied and so very difficult to unloose in plain English
the halter«
Mr Bolter put his hand to his neckerchief as if he felt it inconveniently
tight and murmured an assent qualified in tone but not in substance
»The gallows« continued Fagin »the gallows my dear is an ugly
fingerpost which points out a very short and sharp turning that has stopped
many a bold fellows career on the broad highway To keep in the easy road and
keep it at a distance is object number one with you«
»Of course it is« replied Mr Bolter »What do yer talk about such things
for«
»Only to show you my meaning clearly« said the Jew raising his eyebrows
»To be able to do that you depend upon me To keep my little business all snug
I depend upon you The first is your number one the second my number one The
more you value your number one the more careful you must be of mine so we come
at last to what I told you at first that a regard for number one holds us all
together and must do so unless we would all go to pieces in company«
»Thats true« rejoined Mr Bolter thoughtfully »Oh yer a cunning old
codger«
Mr Fagin saw with delight that this tribute to his powers was no mere
compliment but that he had really impressed his recruit with a sense of his
wily genius which it was most important that he should entertain in the outset
of their acquaintance To strengthen an impression so desirable and useful he
followed up the blow by acquainting him in some detail with the magnitude and
extent of his operations blending truth and fiction together as best served
his purpose and bringing both to bear with so much art that Mr Bolters
respect visibly increased and became tempered at the same time with a degree
of wholesome fear which it was highly desirable to awaken
»Its this mutual trust we have in each other that consoles me under heavy
losses« said Fagin »My best hand was taken from me yesterday morning«
»You dont mean to say he died« cried Mr Bolter
»No no« replied Fagin »not so bad as that Not quite so bad«
»What I suppose he was «
»Wanted« interposed Fagin »Yes he was wanted«
»Very particular« inquired Mr Bolter
»No« replied Fagin »not very He was charged with attempting to pick a
pocket and they found a silver snuffbox on him his own my dear his own
for he took snuff himself and was very fond of it They remanded him till
today for they thought they knew the owner Ah he was worth fifty boxes and
Id give the price of as many to have him back You should have known the
Dodger my dear you should have known the Dodger«
»Well but I shall know him I hope dont yer think so« said Mr Bolter
»Im doubtful about it« replied Fagin with a sigh »If they dont get any
fresh evidence itll only be a summary conviction and we shall have him back
again after six weeks or so but if they do its a case of lagging They know
what a clever lad he is hell be a lifer Theyll make the Artful nothing less
than a lifer«
»What do yer mean by lagging and a lifer« demanded Mr Bolter »Whats the
good of talking in that way to me why dont yer speak so as I can understand
yer«
Fagin was about to translate these mysterious expressions into the vulgar
tongue and being interpreted Mr Bolter would have been informed that they
represented that combination of words transportation for life when the
dialogue was cut short by the entry of Master Bates with his hands in his
breechespockets and his face twisted into a look of semicomical woe
»Its all up Fagin« said Charley when he and his new companion had been
made known to each other
»What do you mean«
»Theyve found the gentleman as owns the box two or three mores a coming
to dentify him and the Artfuls booked for a passage out« replied Master
Bates »I must have a full suit of mourning Fagin and a hatband to wisit him
in afore he sets out upon his travels To think of Jack Dawkins lummy Jack
the Dodger the Artful Dodger going abroad for a common twopennyhalfpenny
sneezebox I never thought hed a done it under a gold watch chain and seals
at the lowest Oh why didnt he rob some rich old gentleman of all his
walables and go out as a gentleman and not like a common prig without no
honour nor glory«
With this expression of feeling for his unfortunate friend Master Bates sat
himself on the nearest chair with an aspect of chagrin and despondency
»What do you talk about his having neither honour nor glory for« exclaimed
Fagin darting an angry look at his pupil »Wasnt he always topsawyer among
you all Is there one of you that could touch him or come near him on any scent
Eh«
»Not one« replied Master Bates in a voice rendered husky by regret »not
one«
»Then what do you talk of« replied Fagin angrily »what are you blubbering
for«
»Cause it isnt on the record is it« said Charley chafed into perfect
defiance of his venerable friend by the current of his regrets »cause it cant
come out in the dictment cause nobody will never know half of what he was
How will he stand in the Newgate Calendar Praps not be there at all Oh my
eye my eye wot a blow it is«
»Ha ha« cried Fagin extending his right hand and turning to Mr Bolter in
a fit of chuckling which shook him as though he had the palsy »see what a pride
they take in their profession my dear Aint it beautiful«
Mr Bolter nodded assent and Fagin after contemplating the grief of
Charley Bates for some seconds with evident satisfaction stepped up to that
young gentleman and patted him on the shoulder
»Never mind Charley« said Fagin soothingly »itll come out itll be sure
to come out Theyll all know what a clever fellow he was hell show it
himself and not disgrace his old pals and teachers Think how young he is too
What a distinction Charley to be lagged at his time of life«
»Well it is a honour that is« said Charley a little consoled
»He shall have all he wants« continued the Jew »He shall be kept in the
Stone Jug Charley like a gentleman Like a gentleman With his beer every day
and money in his pocket to pitch and toss with if he cant spend it«
»No shall he though« cried Charley Bates
»Ay that he shall« replied Fagin »and well have a bigwig Charley one
thats got the greatest gift of the gab to carry on his defence and he shall
make a speech for himself too if he likes and well read it all in the papers
Artful Dodger shrieks of laughter here the court was convulsed eh
Charley eh«
»Ha ha« laughed Master Bates »what a lark that would be wouldnt it
Fagin I say how the Artful would bother em wouldnt he«
»Would« cried Fagin »He shall he will«
»Ah to be sure so he will« repeated Charley rubbing his hands
»I think I see him now« cried the Jew bending his eyes upon his pupil
»So do I« cried Charley Bates »Ha ha ha so do I I see it all afore me
upon my soul I do Fagin What a game What a regular game All the bigwigs
trying to look solemn and Jack Dawkins addressing of em as intimate and
comfortable as if he was the judges own son making a speech arter dinner ha
ha ha«
In fact Mr Fagin had so well humoured his young friends eccentric
disposition that Master Bates who had at first been disposed to consider the
imprisoned Dodger rather in the light of a victim now looked upon him as the
chief actor in a scene of most uncommon and exquisite humour and felt quite
impatient for the arrival of the time when his old companion should have so
favourable an opportunity of displaying his abilities
»We must know how he gets on today by some handy means or other« said
Fagin »Let me think«
»Shall I go« asked Charley
»Not for the world« replied Fagin »Are you mad my dear stark mad that
youd walk into the very place where No Charley no One is enough to lose at
a time«
»You dont mean to go yourself I suppose« said Charley with a humorous
leer
»That wouldnt quite fit« replied Fagin shaking his head
»Then why dont you send this new cove« asked Master Bates laying his hand
on Noahs arm »Nobody knows him«
»Why if he didnt mind « observed Fagin
»Mind« interposed Charley »What should he have to mind«
»Really nothing my dear« said Fagin turning to Mr Bolter »really
nothing«
»Oh I dare say about that yer know« observed Noah backing towards the
door and shaking his head with a kind of sober alarm »No no none of that
Its not in my department that aint«
»Wot department has he got Fagin« inquired Master Bates surveying Noahs
lank form with much disgust »The cutting away when theres anything wrong and
the eating all the wittles when theres everything right is that his branch«
»Never mind« retorted Mr Bolter »and dont yer take liberties with yer
superiors little boy or yerll find yerself in the wrong shop«
Master Bates laughed so vehemently at this magnificent threat that it was
some time before Fagin could interpose end represent to Mr Bolter that he
incurred no possible danger in visiting the policeoffice that inasmuch as no
account of the little affair in which he had been engaged nor any description
of his person had yet been forwarded to the metropolis it was very probable
that he was not even suspected of having resorted to it for shelter and that
if he were properly disguised it would be as safe a spot for him to visit as
any in London inasmuch as it would be of all places the very last to which
he could be supposed likely to resort of his own free will
Persuaded in part by these representations but overborne in a much
greater degree by his fear of Fagin Mr Bolter at length consented with a very
bad grace to undertake the expedition By Fagins directions he immediately
substituted for his own attire a waggoners frock velveteen breeches and
leather leggings all of which articles the Jew had at hand He was likewise
furnished with a felt hat well garnished with turnpike tickets and a carters
whip Thus equipped he was to saunter into the office as some country fellow
from Covent Garden market might be supposed to do for the gratification of his
curiosity and as he was as awkward ungainly and rawboned a fellow as need
be Mr Fagin had no fear but that he would look the part to perfection
These arrangements completed he was informed of the necessary signs and
tokens by which to recognise the Artful Dodger and was conveyed by Master Bates
through dark and winding ways to within a very short distance of Bow Street
Having described the precise situation of the office and accompanied it with
copious directions how he was to walk straight up the passage and when he got
into the yard take the door up the steps on the righthand side and pull off
his hat as he went into the room Charley Bates bade him hurry on alone and
promised to bide his return on the spot of their parting
Noah Claypole or Morris Bolter as the reader pleases punctually followed
the directions he had received which Master Bates being pretty well
acquainted with the locality were so exact that he was enabled to gain the
magisterial presence without asking any question or meeting with any
interruption by the way He found himself jostled among a crowd of people
chiefly women who were huddled together in a dirty frowsy room at the upper
end of which was a raised platform railed off from the rest with a dock for the
prisoners on the left hand against the wall a box for the witnesses in the
middle and a desk for the magistrates on the right the awful locality last
named being screened off by a partition which concealed the bench from the
common gaze and left the vulgar to imagine if they could the full majesty of
justice
There were only a couple of women in the dock who were nodding to their
admiring friends while the clerk read some depositions to a couple of policemen
and a man in plain clothes who leant over the table A jailer stood reclining
against the dockrail tapping his nose listlessly with a large key except when
he repressed an undue tendency to conversation among the idlers by proclaiming
silence or looked sternly up to bid some woman Take that baby out when the
gravity of justice was disturbed by feeble cries halfsmothered in the mothers
shawl from some meagre infant The room smelt close and unwholesome the walls
were dirtdiscoloured and the ceiling blackened There was an old smoky bust I
over the mantelshelf and a dusty clock above the dock the only thing
present that seemed to go on as it ought for depravity or poverty or an
habitual acquaintance with both had left a taint on all the animate matter
hardly less unpleasant than the thick greasy scum on every inanimate object that
frowned upon it
Noah looked eagerly about him for the Dodger but although there were
several women who would have done very well for that distinguished characters
mother or sister and more than one man who might be supposed to bear a strong
resemblance to his father nobody at all answering the description given him of
Mr Dawkins was to be seen He waited in a state of much suspense and
uncertainty until the women being committed for trial went flaunting out and
then was quickly relieved by the appearance of another prisoner who he felt at
once could be no other than the object of his visit
It was indeed Mr Dawkins who shuffling into the office with the big coat
sleeves tucked up as usual his left hand in his pocket and his hat in his
right hand preceded the jailer with a rolling gait altogether indescribable
and taking his place in the dock requested in an audible voice to know what he
was placed in that ere disgraceful sitivation for
»Hold your tongue will you« said the jailer
»Im an Englishman aint I« rejoined the Dodger »Where are my
priwileges«
»Youll get your privileges soon enough« retorted the jailer »and pepper
with em«
»Well see wot the Secretary of State for the Home Affairs has got to say to
the beaks if I dont« replied Mr Dawkins »Now then Wot is this here
business I shall thank the madgstrates to dispose of this here little affair
and not to keep me while they read the paper for Ive got an appointment with a
genelman in the City and as Im a man of my word and wery punctual in business
matters hell go away if I aint there to my time and then praps there wont
be an action for damage against them as kep me away Oh no certainly not«
At this point the Dodger with a show of being very particular with a view
to proceedings to be had thereafter desired the jailer to communicate »the
names of them two files as was on the bench« Which so tickled the spectators
that they laughed almost as heartily as Master Bates could have done if he had
heard the request
»Silence there« cried the jailer
»What is this« inquired one of the magistrates
»A pickpocketing case your worship«
»Has the boy ever been here before«
»He ought to have been a many times« replied the jailer »He has been
pretty well everywhere else I know him well your worship«
»Oh you know me do you« cried the Artful making a note of the statement
»Wery good Thats a case of deformation of character any way«
Here there was another laugh and another cry of silence
»Now then where are the witnesses« said the clerk
»Ah thats right« added the Dodger »Where are they I should like to see
em«
This wish was immediately gratified for a policeman stepped forward who had
seen the prisoner attempt the pocket of an unknown gentleman in a crowd and
indeed take a handkerchief therefrom which being a very old one he
deliberately put back again after trying it on his own countenance For this
reason he took the Dodger into custody as soon as he could get near him and
the said Dodger being searched had upon his person a silver snuffbox with
the owners name engraved upon the lid This gentleman had been discovered on
reference to the Court Guide and being then and there present swore that the
snuffbox was his and that he had missed it on the previous day the moment he
had disengaged himself from the crowd before referred to He had also remarked a
young gentleman in the throng particularly active in making his way about and
that young gentleman was the prisoner before him
»Have you anything to ask this witness boy« said the magistrate
»I wouldnt b abase myself by descending to hold no conversation with him«
replied the Dodger
»Have you anything to say at all«
»Do you hear his worship ask if youve anything to say« inquired the
jailer nudging the silent Dodger with his elbow
»I beg your pardon« said the Dodger looking up with an air of abstraction
»Did you redress yourself to me my man«
»I never see such an outandout young wagabond your worship« observed the
officer with a grin »Do you mean to say anything you young shaver«
»No« replied the Dodger »not here for this aint the shop for justice
besides which my attorney is abreakfasting this morning with the Wice
President of the House of Commons but I shall have something to say elsewhere
and so will he and so will a wery numerous and spectable circle of
acquaintance asll make them beaks wish theyd never been born or that theyd
got their footmen to hang em up to their own hatpegs afore they let em come
out this morning to try it on upon me Ill «
»There Hes fully committed« interposed the clerk »Take him away«
»Come on« said the jailer
»Oh ah Ill come on« replied the Dodger brushing his hat with the palm of
his hand »Ah to the Bench its no use your looking frightened I wont show
you no mercy not a haporth of it Youll pay for this my fine fellers I
wouldnt be you for something I wouldnt go free now if you was to fall down
on your knees and ask me Here carry me off to prison Take me away«
With these last words the Dodger suffered himself to be led off by the
collar threatening till he got into the yard to make a parliamentary business
of it and then grinning in the officers face with great glee and
selfapproval
Having seen him locked up by himself in a little cell Noah made the best of
his way back to where he had left Master Bates After waiting here some time he
was joined by that young gentleman who had prudently abstained from showing
himself until he had looked carefully abroad from a snug retreat and
ascertained that his new friend had not been followed by any impertinent person
The two hastened back together to bear to Mr Fagin the animating news that
the Dodger was doing full justice to his bringingup and establishing for
himself a glorious reputation
Chapter XLIV
The Time Arrives for Nancy to Redeem Her Pledge to Rose Maylie She Fails
Adept as she was in all the arts of cunning and dissimulation the girl Nancy
could not wholly conceal the effect which the knowledge of the step she had
taken wrought upon her mind She remembered that both the crafty Jew and the
brutal Sikes had confided to her schemes which had been hidden from all others
in the full confidence that she was trustworthy and beyond the reach of their
suspicion Vile as those schemes were desperate as were their originators and
bitter as were her feelings towards Fagin who had led her step by step deeper
and deeper down into an abyss of crime and misery whence was no escape still
there were times when even towards him she felt some relenting lest her
disclosure should bring him within the iron grasp he had so long eluded and he
should fall at last richly as he merited such a fate by her hand
But these were the mere wanderings of a mind unable wholly to detach itself
from old companions and associations though enabled to fix itself steadily on
one object and resolved not to be turned aside by any consideration Her fears
for Sikes would have been more powerful inducements to recoil while there was
yet time but she had stipulated that her secret should be rigidly kept she had
dropped no clue which could lead to his discovery she had refused even for his
sake a refuge from all the guilt and wretchedness that encompassed her and
what more could she do She was resolved
Though all her mental struggles terminated in this conclusion they forced
themselves upon her again and again and left their traces too She grew pale
and thin even within a few days At times she took no heed of what was passing
before her or no part in conversations where once she would have been the
loudest At other times she laughed without merriment and was noisy without
cause or meaning At others often within a moment afterwards she sat silent
and dejected brooding with her head upon her hands while the very effort by
which she roused herself told more forcibly than even these indications that
she was ill at ease and that her thoughts were occupied with matters very
different and distant from those in course of discussion by her companions
It was Sunday night and the bell of the nearest church struck the hour
Sikes and the Jew were talking but they paused to listen The girl looked up
from the low seat on which she crouched and listened too Eleven
»An hour this side of midnight« said Sikes raising the blind to look out
and returning to his seat »Dark and heavy it is too A good night for business
this«
»Ah« replied Fagin »What a pity Bill my dear that theres none quite
ready to be done«
»Youre right for once« replied Sikes gruffly »It is a pity for Im in
the humour too«
Fagin sighed and shook his head despondingly
»We must make up for lost time when weve got things into a good train
Thats all I know« said Sikes
»Thats the way to talk my dear« replied Fagin venturing to pat him on
the shoulder »It does me good to hear you«
»Does you good does it« cried Sikes »Well so be it«
»Ha ha ha« laughed Fagin as if he were relieved by even this concession
»Youre like yourself tonight Bill Quite like yourself«
»I dont feel like myself when you lay that withered old claw on my
shoulder so take it away« said Sikes casting off the Jews hand
»It makes you nervous Bill reminds you of being nabbed does it« said
Fagin determined not to be offended
»Reminds me of being nabbed by the devil« returned Sikes »There never was
another man with such a face as yours unless it was your father and I suppose
he is singeing his grizzled red beard by this time unless you came straight
from the old un without any father at all betwixt you which I shouldnt wonder
at a bit«
Fagin offered no reply to this compliment but pulling Sikes by the sleeve
pointed his finger towards Nancy who had taken a advantage of the foregoing
conversation to put on her bonnet and was now leaving the room
»Hallo« cried Sikes »Nance Wheres the gal going to at this time of
night«
»Not far«
»What answers that« returned Sikes »Where are you going«
»I say not far«
»And I say where« retorted Sikes »Do you hear me«
»I dont know where« replied the girl
»Then I do« said Sikes more in the spirit of obstinacy than because he had
any real objection to the girl going where she listed »Nowhere Sit down«
»Im not well I told you that before« rejoined the girl »I want a breath
of air«
»Put your head out of the winder« replied Sikes
»Theres not enough there« said the girl »I want it in the street«
»Then you wont have it« replied Sikes With which assurance he rose
locked the door took the key out and pulling her bonnet from her head flung
it up to the top of an old press »There« said the robber »Now stop quietly
where you are will you«
»Its not such a matter as a bonnet would keep me« said the girl turning
very pale »What do you mean Bill Do you know what youre doing«
»Know what Im Oh« cried Sikes turning to Fagin »shes out of her
senses you know or she darent talk to me in that way«
»Youll drive me on to something desperate« muttered the girl placing both
hands upon her breast as though to keep down by force some violent outbreak
»Let me go will you this minute this instant«
»No« said Sikes
»Tell him to let me go Fagin He had better Itll be better for him Do
you hear me« cried Nancy stamping her foot upon the ground
»Hear you« repeated Sikes turning round in his chair to confront her »Aye
And if I hear you for half a minute longer the dog shall have such a grip on
your throat asll tear some of that screaming voice out Wot has come over you
you jade Wot is it«
»Let me go« said the girl with great earnestness then sitting herself down
on the floor before the door she said »Bill let me go you dont know what
you are doing You dont indeed For only one hour do do«
»Cut my limbs off one by one« cried Sikes seizing her roughly by the arm
»if I dont think the gals stark raving mad Get up«
»Not till you let me go not till you let me go Never never« screamed
the girl Sikes looked on for a minute watching his opportunity and suddenly
pinioning her hands dragged her struggling and wrestling with him by the way
into a small room adjoining where he sat himself on a bench and thrusting her
into a chair held her down by force She struggled and implored by turns until
twelve oclock had struck and then wearied and exhausted ceased to contest
the point any further With a caution backed by many oaths to make no more
efforts to go out that night Sikes left her to recover at leisure and rejoined
Fagin
»Whew« said the housebreaker wiping the perspiration from his face »Wot a
precious strange gal that is«
»You may say that Bill« replied Fagin thoughtfully »You may say that«
»Wot did she take it into her head to go out tonight for do you think«
asked Sikes »Come you should know her better than me Wot does it mean«
»Obstinacy womans obstinacy I suppose my dear«
»Well I suppose it is« growled Sikes »I thought I had tamed her but
shes as bad as ever«
»Worse« said Fagin thoughtfully »I never knew her like this for such a
little cause«
»Nor I« said Sikes »I think shes got a touch of that fever in her blood
yet and it wont come out eh«
»Like enough«
»Ill let her a little blood without troubling the doctor if shes took
that way again« said Sikes
Fagin nodded an expressive approval of this mode of treatment
»She was hanging about me all day and night too when I was stretched on my
back and you like a blackhearted wolf as you are kept yourself aloof« said
Sikes »We was very poor too all the time and I think one way or other its
worried and fretted her and that being shut up here so long has made her
restless eh«
»Thats it my dear« replied the Jew in a whisper »Hush«
As he uttered these words the girl herself appeared and resumed her former
seat Her eyes were swollen and red she rocked herself to and fro tossed her
head and after a little time burst out laughing
»Why now shes on the other tack« exclaimed Sikes turning a look of
excessive surprise on his companion
Fagin nodded to him to take no further notice just then and in a few
minutes the girl subsided into her accustomed demeanour Whispering Sikes that
there was no fear of her relapsing Fagin took up his hat and bade him
goodnight He paused when he reached the roomdoor and looking round asked if
somebody would light him down the dark stairs
»Light him down« said Sikes who was filling his pipe »Its a pity he
should break his neck himself and disappoint the sightseers Show him a
light«
Nancy followed the old man down stairs with a candle When they reached the
passage he laid his finger on his lip and drawing close to the girl said in
a whisper
»What is it Nancy dear«
»What do you mean« replied the girl in the same tone
»The reason of all this« replied Fagin »If he« he pointed with his
skinny forefinger up the stairs »is so hard with you hes a brute Nance a
brutebeast why dont you «
»Well« said the girl as Fagin paused with his mouth almost touching her
ear and his eyes looking into hers
»No matter just now Well talk of this again You have a friend in me
Nance a staunch friend I have the means at hand quiet and close If you want
revenge on those that treat you like a dog like a dog worse than his dog for
he humours him sometimes come to me I say come to me He is the mere hound
of a day but you know me of old Nance«
»I know you well« replied the girl without manifesting the least emotion
»Good night«
She shrank back as Fagin offered to lay his hand on hers but said good
night again in a steady voice and answering his parting look with a nod of
intelligence closed the door between them
Fagin walked towards his own home intent upon the thoughts that were
working within his brain He had conceived the idea not from what had just
passed though that had tended to confirm him but slowly and by degrees that
Nancy wearied of the housebreakers brutality had conceived an attachment for
some new friend Her altered manner her repeated absences from home alone her
comparative indifference to the interests of the gang for which she had once
been so zealous and added to these her desperate impatience to leave home
that night at a particular hour all favoured the supposition and rendered it
to him at least almost matter of certainty The object of this new liking was
not among his myrmidons He would be a valuable acquisition with such an
assistant as Nancy and must thus Fagin argued be secured without delay
There was another and a darker object to be gained Sikes knew too much
and his ruffian taunts had not galled Fagin the less because the wounds were
hidden The girl must know well that if she shook him off she could never be
safe from his fury and that it would be surely wreaked to the maiming of
limbs or perhaps the loss of life on the object of her more recent fancy
»With a little persuasion« thought Fagin »what more likely than that she would
consent to poison him Women have done such things and worse to secure the
same object before now There would be the dangerous villain the man I hate
gone another secured in his place and my influence over the girl with a
knowledge of this crime to back it unlimited«
These things passed through the mind of Fagin during the short time he sat
alone in the housebreakers room and with them uppermost in his thoughts he
had taken the opportunity afterwards afforded him of sounding the girl in the
broken hints he threw out at parting There was no expression of surprise no
assumption of an inability to understand his meaning The girl clearly
comprehended it Her glance at parting showed that
But perhaps she would recoil from a plot to take the life of Sikes and that
was one of the chief ends to be attained »How« thought Fagin as he crept
homeward »can I increase my influence with her what new power can I acquire«
Such brains are fertile in expedients If without extracting a confession
from herself he laid a watch discovered the object of her altered regard and
threatened to reveal the whole history to Sikes of whom she stood in no common
fear unless she entered into his designs could he not secure her compliance
»I can« said Fagin almost aloud »She durst not refuse me then Not for
her life not for her life I have it all The means are ready and shall be set
to work I shall have you yet«
He cast back a dark look and a threatening motion of the hand towards the
spot where he had left the bolder villain and went on his way busying his bony
hands in the folds of his tattered garment which he wrenched tightly in his
grasp as though there were a hated enemy crushed with every motion of his
fingers
Chapter XLV
Noah Claypole Is Employed by Fagin on a Secret Mission
The old man was up betimes next morning and waited impatiently for the
appearance of his new associate who after a delay that seemed interminable at
length presented himself and commenced a voracious assault on the breakfast
»Bolter« said Fagin drawing up a chair and seating himself opposite Morris
Bolter
»Well here I am« returned Noah »Whats the matter Dont yer ask me to do
anything till I have done eating Thats a great fault in this place Yer never
get time enough over yer meals«
»You can talk as you eat cant you« said Fagin cursing his dear young
friends greediness from the very bottom of his heart
»Oh yes I can talk I get on better when I talk« said Noah cutting a
monstrous slice of bread »Wheres Charlotte«
»Out« said Fagin »I sent her out this morning with the other young woman
because I wanted us to be alone«
»Oh« said Noah »I wish yerd ordered her to make some buttered toast
first Well Talk away Yer wont interrupt me«
There seemed indeed no great fear of anything interrupting him as he had
evidently sat down with a determination to do a great deal of business
»You did well yesterday my dear« said Fagin »Beautiful Six shillings and
ninepence halfpenny on the very first day The kinchin lay will be a fortune to
you«
»Dont you forget to add three pintpots and a milkcan« said Mr Bolter
»No no my dear The pintpots were great strokes of genius but the
milkcan was a perfect masterpiece«
»Pretty well I think for a beginner« remarked Mr Bolter complacently
»The pots I took off airy railings and the milkcan was standing by itself
outside a publichouse I thought it might get rusty with the rain or catch
cold yer know Eh Ha ha ha«
Fagin affected to laugh very heartily and Mr Bolter having had his laugh
out took a series of large bites which finished his first hunk of bread and
butter and assisted himself to a second
»I want you Bolter« said Fagin leaning over the table »to do a piece of
work for me my dear that needs great care and caution«
»I say« rejoined Bolter »dont yer go shoving me into danger or sending
me to any more o yer policeoffices That dont suit me that dont and so I
tell yer«
»Theres not the smallest danger in it not the very smallest« said the
Jew »its only to dodge a woman«
»An old woman« demanded Mr Bolter
»A young one« replied Fagin
»I can do that pretty well I know« said Bolter »I was a regular cunning
sneak when I was at school What am I to dodge her for Not to «
»Not to do anything but to tell me where she goes who she sees and if
possible what she says to remember the street if it is a street or the
house if it is a house and to bring me back all the information you can«
»Whatll yer give me« asked Noah setting down his cup and looking his
employer eagerly in the face
»If you do it well a pound my dear One pound« said Fagin wishing to
interest him in the scent as much as possible »And thats what I never gave
yet for any job of work where there wasnt valuable consideration to be
gained«
»Who is she« inquired Noah
»One of us«
»Oh Lor« cried Noah curling up his nose »Yer doubtful of her are yer«
»She has found out some new friends my dear and I must know who they are«
replied Fagin
»I see« said Noah »Just to have the pleasure of knowing them if theyre
respectable people eh Ha ha ha Im your man«
»I knew you would be« cried Fagin elated by the success of his proposal
»Of course of course« replied Noah »Where is she Where am I to wait for
her Where am I to go«
»All that my dear you shall hear from me Ill point her out at the proper
time« said Fagin »You keep ready and leave the rest to me«
That night and the next and the next again the spy sat booted and
equipped in his carters dress ready to turn out at a word from Fagin Six
nights passed six long weary nights and on each Fagin came home with a
disappointed face and briefly intimated that it was not yet time On the
seventh he returned earlier and with an exultation he could not conceal It
was Sunday
»She goes abroad tonight« said Fagin »and on the right errand Im sure
for she has been alone all day and the man she is afraid of will not be back
much before daybreak Come with me Quick«
Noah started up without saying a word for the Jew was in a state of such
intense excitement that it infected him They left the house stealthily and
hurrying through a labyrinth of streets arrived at length before a
publichouse which Noan recognised as the same in which he had slept on the
night of his arrival in London
It was past eleven oclock and the door was closed It opened softly on its
hinges as Fagin gave a low whistle They entered without noise and the door
was closed behind them
Scarcely venturing to whisper but substituting dumb show for words Fagin
and the young Jew who had admitted them pointed out the pane of glass to Noah
and signed to him to climb up and observe the person in the adjoining room
»Is that the woman« he asked scarcely above his breath Fagin nodded yes
»I cant see her face well« whispered Noah »She is looking down and the
candle is behind her«
»Stay there« whispered Fagin He signed to Barney who withdrew In an
instant the lad entered the room adjoining and under pretence of snuffing the
candle moved it in the required position and speaking to the girl caused her
to raise her face
»I see her now« cried the spy
»Plainly«
»I should know her among a thousand«
He hastily descended as the roomdoor opened and the girl came out Fagin
drew him behind a small partition which was curtained off and they held their
breaths as she passed within a few feet of their place of concealment and
emerged by the door at which they had entered
»Hist« cried the lad who held the door Dow
Noah exchanged a look with Fagin and darted out
»To the left« whispered the lad »take the left had and keep od the other
side«
He did so and by the light of the lamps saw the girls retreating figure
already at some distance before him He advanced as near as he considered
prudent and kept on the opposite side of the street the better to observe her
motions She looked nervously round twice or thrice and once stopped to let
two men who were following close behind her pass on She seemed to gather
courage as she advanced and to walk with a steadier and firmer step The spy
preserved the same relative distance between them and followed with his eye
upon her
Chapter XLVI
The Appointment Kept
The church clocks chimed three quarters past eleven as two figures emerged on
London Bridge One which advanced with a swift and rapid step was that of a
woman who looked eagerly about her as though in quest of some expected object
the other figure was that of a man who slunk along in the deepest shadow he
could find and at some distance accommodated his pace to hers stopping when
she stopped and as she moved again creeping stealthily on but never allowing
himself in the ardour of his pursuit to gain upon her footsteps Thus they
crossed the bridge from the Middlesex to the Surrey shore when the woman
apparently disappointed in her anxious scrutiny of the footpassengers turned
back The movement was sudden but he who watched her was not thrown off his
guard by it for shrinking into one of the recesses which surmount the piers of
the bridge and leaning over the parapet the better to conceal his figure he
suffered her to pass on the opposite pavement When she was about the same
distance in advance as she had been before he slipped quietly down and
followed her again At nearly the centre of the bridge she stopped The man
stopped too
It was a very dark night The day had been unfavourable and at that hour
and place there were few people stirring Such as there were hurried quickly
past very possibly without seeing but certainly without noticing either the
woman or the man who kept her in view Their appearance was not calculated to
attract the importunate regards of such of Londons destitute population as
chanced to take their way over the bridge that night in search of some cold arch
or doorless hovel wherein to lay their heads they stood there in silence
neither speaking nor spoken to by any one who passed
A mist hung over the river deepening the red glare of the fires that burnt
upon the small craft moored off the different wharfs and rendering darker and
more indistinct the mirky buildings on the banks The old smokestained
storehouses on either side rose heavy and dull from the dense mass of roofs and
gables and frowned sternly upon water too black to reflect even their lumbering
shapes The tower of old Saint Saviours Church and the spire of Saint Magnus
so long the giantwarders of the ancient bridge were visible in the gloom but
the forest of shipping below bridge and the thickly scattered spires of
churches above were nearly all hidden from the sight
The girl had taken a few restless turns to and fro closely watched
meanwhile by her hidden observer when the heavy bell of St Pauls tolled for
the death of another day Midnight had come upon the crowded city The palace
the nightcellar the jail the madhouse the chambers of birth and death of
health and sickness the rigid face of the corpse and the calm sleep of the
child midnight was upon them all
The hour had not struck two minutes when a young lady accompanied by a
greyhaired gentleman alighted from a hackneycarriage within a short distance
of the bridge and having dismissed the vehicle walked straight towards it
They had scarcely set foot upon its pavement when the girl started and
immediately made towards them
They walked onward looking about them with the air of persons who
entertained some very slight expectation which had little chance of being
realised when they were suddenly joined by this new associate They halted with
an exclamation of surprise but suppressed it immediately for a man in the
garments of a countryman came close up brushed against them indeed at that
precise moment
»Not here« said Nancy hurriedly »I am afraid to speak to you here Come
away out of the public road down the steps yonder«
As she uttered these words and indicated with her hand the direction in
which she wished them to proceed the countryman looked round and roughly
asking what they took up the whole pavement for passed on
The steps to which the girl had pointed were those which on the Surrey
bank and on the same side of the bridge as Saint Saviours Church form a
landingstairs from the river To this spot the man bearing the appearance of a
countryman hastened unobserved and after a moments survey of the place he
began to descend
These stairs are a part of the bridge they consist of three flights Just
below the end of the second going down the stone wall on the left terminates
in an ornamental pilaster facing towards the Thames At this point the lower
steps widen so that a person turning that angle of the wall is necessarily
unseen by any others on the stairs who chance to be above him if only a step
The countryman looked hastily round when he reached this point and as there
seemed no better place of concealment and the tide being out there was plenty
of room he slipped aside with his back to the pilaster and there waited
pretty certain that they would come no lower and that even if he could not hear
what was said he could follow them again with safety
So tardily stole the time in this lonely place and so eager was the spy to
penetrate the motives of an interview so different from what he had been led to
expect that he more than once gave the matter up for lost and persuaded
himself either that they had stopped far above or had resorted to some
entirely different spot to hold their mysterious conversation He was on the
point of emerging from his hidingplace and regaining the road above when he
heard the sound of footsteps and directly afterwards of voices almost close at
his ear
He drew himself straight upright against the wall and scarcely breathing
listened attentively
»This is far enough« said a voice which was evidently that of the
gentleman »I will not suffer the young lady to go any farther Many people
would have distrusted you too much to have come even so far but you see I am
willing to humour you«
»To humour me« cried the voice of the girl whom he had followed »Youre
considerate indeed sir To humour me Well well its no matter«
»Why for what« said the gentleman in a kinder tone »for what purpose can
you have brought us to this strange place Why not have let me speak to you
above there where it is light and there is something stirring instead of
bringing us to this dark and dismal hole«
»I told you before« replied Nancy »that I was afraid to speak to you
there I dont know why it is« said the girl shuddering »but I have such a
fear and dread upon me tonight that I can hardly stand«
»A fear of what« asked the gentleman who seemed to pity her
»I scarcely know of what« replied the girl »I wish I did Horrible
thoughts of death and shrouds with blood upon them and a fear that has made me
burn as if I was on fire have been upon me all day I was reading a book
tonight to wile the time away and the same things came into the print«
»Imagination« said the gentleman soothing her
»No imagination« replied the girl in a hoarse voice »Ill swear I saw
coffin written in every page of the book in large black letters aye and they
carried one close to me in the streets tonight«
»There is nothing unusual in that« said the gentleman »They have passed me
often«
»Real ones« rejoined the girl »This was not«
There was something so uncommon in her manner that the flesh of the
concealed listener crept as he heard the girl utter these words and the blood
chilled within him He had never experienced a greater relief than in hearing
the sweet voice of the young lady as she begged her to be calm and not allow
herself to become the prey of such fearful fancies
»Speak to her kindly« said the young lady to her companion »Poor creature
She seems to need it«
»Your haughty religious people would have held their heads up to see me as I
am tonight and preached of flames and vengeance« cried the girl »Oh dear
lady why arnt those who claim to be Gods own folks as gentle and as kind to
us poor wretches as you who having youth and beauty and all that they have
lost might be a little proud instead of so much humbler«
»Ah« said the gentleman »A Turk turns his face after washing it well to
the East when he says his prayers these good people after giving their faces
such a rub against the World as to take the smiles off turn with no less
regularity to the darkest side of Heaven Between the Mussulman and the
Pharisee commend me to the first«
These words appeared to be addressed to the young lady and were perhaps
uttered with the view of affording Nancy time recover herself The gentleman
shortly afterwards addressed himself to her
»You were not here last Sunday night« he said
»I couldnt come« replied Nancy »I was kept by force«
»By whom«
»Him that I told the young lady of before«
»You were not suspected of holding any communication with anybody on the
subject which has brought us here tonight I hope« asked the old gentleman
»No« replied the girl shaking her head »Its not very easy for me to
leave him unless he knows why I couldnt have seen the lady when I did but
that I gave him a drink of laudanum before I came away«
»Did he awake before you returned« inquired the gentleman
»No and neither he nor any of them suspect me«
»Good« said the gentleman »Now listen to me«
»I am ready« replied the girl as he paused for a moment
»This young lady« the gentleman began »has communicated to me and to some
other friends who can be safely trusted what you told her nearly a fortnight
since I confess to you that I had doubts at first whether you were to be
implicitly relied upon but now I firmly believe you are«
»I am« said the girl earnestly
»I repeat that I firmly believe it To prove to you that I am disposed to
trust you I tell you without reserve that we propose to extort the secret
whatever it may be from the fears of this man Monks But if if « said the
gentleman »he cannot be secured or if secured cannot be acted upon as we
wish you must deliver up the Jew«
»Fagin« cried the girl recoiling
»That man must be delivered up by you« said the gentleman
»I will not do it I will never do it« replied the girl »Devil that he is
and worse than devil as he has been to me I will never do that«
»You will not« said the gentleman who seemed fully prepared for this
answer
»Never« returned the girl
»Tell me why«
»For one reason« rejoined the girl firmly »for one reason that the lady
knows and will stand by me in I know she will for I have her promise and for
this other reason besides that bad life as he has led I have led a bad life
too there are many of us who have kept the same courses together and Ill not
turn upon them who might any of them have turned upon me but didnt bad
as they are«
»Then« said the gentleman quickly as if this had been the point he had
been aiming to attain »put Monks into my hands and leave him to me to deal
with«
»What if he turns against the others«
»I promise you that in that case if the truth is forced from him there the
matter will rest there must be circumstances in Olivers little history which
it would be painful to drag before the public eye and if the truth is once
elicited they shall go scot free«
»And if it is not« suggested the girl
»Then« pursued the gentleman »this Fagin shall not be brought to justice
without your consent In such a case I could show you reasons I think which
would induce you to yield it«
»Have I the ladys promise for that« asked the girl
»You have« replied Rose »My true and faithful pledge«
»Monks would never learn how you knew what you do« said the girl after a
short pause
»Never« replied the gentleman »The intelligence should be so brought to
bear upon him that he could never even guess«
»I have been a liar and among liars from a little child« said the girl
after another interval of silence »but I will take your words«
After receiving an assurance from both that she might safely do so she
proceeded in a voice so low that it was often difficult for the listener to
discover even the purport of what she said to describe by name and situation
the publichouse whence she had been followed that night From the manner in
which she occasionally paused it appeared as if the gentleman were making some
hasty notes of the information she communicated When she had thoroughly
explained the localities of the place the best position from which to watch it
without exciting observation and the night and hour on which Monks was most in
the habit of frequenting it she seemed to consider for a few moments for the
purpose of recalling his features and appearance more forcibly to her
recollection
»He is tall« said the girl »and a strongly made man but not stout he has
a lurking walk and as he walks constantly looks over his shoulder first on
one side and then on the other Dont forget that for his eyes are sunk in his
head so much deeper than any other mans that you might almost tell him by that
alone His face is dark like his hair and eyes and although he cant be more
than six or eight and twenty withered and haggard His lips are often
discoloured and disfigured with the marks of teeth for he has desperate fits
and sometimes even bites his hands and covers them with wounds why did you
start« said the girl stopping suddenly
The gentleman replied in a hurried manner that he was not conscious of
having done so and begged her to proceed
»Part of this« said the girl »Ive drawn out from other people at the
house I tell you of for I have only seen him twice and both times he was
covered up in a large cloak I think thats all I can give you to know him by
Stay though« she added »Upon his throat so high that you can see a part of it
below his neckerchief when he turns his face there is «
»A broad red mark like a burn or scald« cried the gentleman
»Hows this« said the girl »You know him«
The young lady uttered a cry of surprise and for a few moments they were so
still that the listener could distinctly hear them breathe
»I think I do« said the gentleman breaking silence »I should by your
description We shall see Many people are singularly like each other It may
not be the same«
As he expressed himself to this effect with assumed carelessness he took a
step or two nearer the concealed spy as the latter could tell from the
distinctness with which he heard him mutter »It must be he«
»Now« he said returning so it seemed by the sound to the spot where he
had stood before »you have given us most valuable assistance young woman and
I wish you to be the better for it What can I do to serve you«
»Nothing« replied Nancy
»You will not persist in saying that« rejoined the gentleman with a voice
and emphasis of kindness that might have touched a much harder and more obdurate
heart »Think now Tell me«
»Nothing sir« rejoined the girl weeping »You can do nothing to help me
I am past all hope indeed«
»You put yourself beyond its pale« said the gentleman »The past has been a
dreary waste with you of youthful energies misspent and such priceless
treasures lavished as the Creator bestows but once and never grants again but
for the future you may hope I do not say that it is in our power to offer you
peace of heart and mind for that must come as you seek it but a quiet asylum
either in England or if you fear to remain here in some foreign country it
is not only within the compass of our ability but our most anxious wish to
secure you Before the dawn of morning before this river wakes to the first
glimpse of daylight you shall be placed as entirely beyond the reach of your
former associates and leave as utter an absence of all trace behind you as if
you were to disappear from the earth this moment Come I would not have you go
back to exchange one word with any old companion or take one look at any old
haunt or breathe the very air which is pestilence and death to you Quit them
all while there is time and opportunity«
»She will be persuaded now« cried the young lady »She hesitates I am
sure«
»I fear not my dear« said the gentleman
»No sir I do not« replied the girl after a short struggle »I am chained
to my old life I loathe and hate it now but I cannot leave it I must have
gone too far to turn back and yet I dont know for if you had spoken to me
so some time ago I should have laughed it off But« she said looking hastily
round »this fear comes over me again I must go home«
»Home« repeated the young lady with great stress upon the word
»Home lady« rejoined the girl »To such a home as I have raised for myself
with the work of my whole life Let us part I shall be watched or seen Go Go
If I have done you any service all I ask is that you leave me and let me go
my way alone«
»It is useless« said the gentleman with a sigh »We compromise her safety
perhaps by staying here We may have detained her longer than she expected
already«
»Yes yes« urged the girl »You have«
»What« cried the young lady »can be the end of this poor creatures life«
»What« repeated the girl »Look before you lady Look at that dark water
How many times do you read of such as I who spring into the tide and leave no
living thing to care for or bewail them It may be years hence or it may be
only months but I shall come to that at last«
»Do not speak thus pray« returned the young lady sobbing
»It will never reach your ears dear lady and God forbid such horrors
should« replied the girl »Good night good night«
The gentleman turned away
»This purse« cried the young lady »Take it for my sake that you may have
some resource in an hour of need and trouble«
»No« replied the girl »I have not done this for money Let me have that to
think of And yet give me something that you have worn I should like to have
something no no not a ring your gloves or handkerchief anything that I
can keep as having belonged to you sweet lady There Bless you God bless
you Good night good night«
The violent agitation of the girl and the apprehension of some discovery
which would subject her to illusage and violence seemed to determine the
gentleman to leave her as she requested The sound of retreating footsteps were
audible and the voices ceased
The two figures of the young lady and her companion soon afterwards appeared
upon the bridge They stopped at the summit of the stairs
»Hark« cried the young lady listening »Did she call I thought I heard
her voice«
»No my love« replied Mr Brownlow looking sadly back »She has not moved
and will not till we are gone«
Rose Maylie lingered but the old gentleman drew her arm through his and
led her with gentle force away As they disappeared the girl sunk down nearly
at her full length upon one of the stone stairs and vented the anguish of her
heart in bitter tears
After a time she arose and with feeble and tottering steps ascended to the
street The astonished listener remained motionless on his post for some minutes
afterwards and having ascertained with many cautious glances round him that
he was again alone crept slowly from his hidingplace and returned stealthily
and in the shade of the wall in the same manner as he had descended
Peeping out more than once when he reached the top to make sure that he
was unobserved Noah Claypole darted away at his utmost speed and made for the
Jews house as fast as his legs would carry him
Chapter XLVII
Fatal Consequences
It was nearly two hours before daybreak that time which in the autumn of the
year may be truly called the dead of night when the streets are silent and
deserted when even sounds appear to slumber and profligacy and riot have
staggered home to dream it was at this still and silent hour that Fagin sat
watching in his old lair with face so distorted and pale and eyes so red and
bloodshot that he looked less like a man than like some hideous phantom moist
from the grave and worried by an evil spirit
He sat crouching over a cold hearth wrapped in an old torn coverlet with
his face turned towards a wasting candle that stood upon a table by his side
His right hand was raised to his lips and as absorbed in thought he bit his
long black nails he disclosed among his toothless gums a few such fangs as
should have been a dogs or rats
Stretched upon a mattress on the floor lay Noah Claypole fast asleep
Towards him the old man sometimes directed his eyes for an instant and then
brought them back again to the candle which with a longburnt wick drooping
almost double and hot grease falling down in clots upon the table plainly
showed that his thoughts were busy elsewhere
Indeed they were Mortification at the overthrow of his notable scheme
hatred of the girl who had dared to palter with strangers an utter distrust of
the sincerity of her refusal to yield him up bitter disappointment at the loss
of his revenge on Sikes the fear of detection and ruin and death and a
fierce and deadly rage kindled by all these were the passionate considerations
which following close upon each other with rapid and ceaseless whirl shot
through the brain of Fagin as every evil thought and blackest purpose lay
working at his heart
He sat without changing his attitude in the least or appearing to take the
smallest heed of time until his quick ear seemed to be attracted by a footstep
in the street
»At last« he muttered wiping his dry and fevered mouth »At last«
The bell rang gently as he spoke He crept up stairs to the door and
presently returned accompanied by a man muffled to the chin who carried a
bundle under one arm Sitting down and throwing back his outer coat the man
displayed the burly frame of Sikes
»There« he said laying the bundle on the table »Take care of that and do
the most you can with it Its been trouble enough to get I thought I should
have been here three hours ago«
Fagin laid his hand upon the bundle and locking it in the cupboard sat
down again without speaking But he did not take his eyes off the robber for an
instant during this action and now that they sat over against each other face
to face he looked fixedly at him with his lips quivering so violently and his
face so altered by the emotions which had mastered him that the housebreaker
involuntarily drew back his chair and surveyed him with a look of real
affright
»Wot now« cried Sikes »Wot do you look at a man so for«
Fagin raised his right hand and shook his trembling forefinger in the air
but his passion was so great that the power of speech was for the moment gone
»Damme« said Sikes feeling in his breast with a look of alarm »Hes gone
mad I must look to myself here«
»No no« rejoined Fagin finding his voice »Its not youre not the
person Bill Ive no no fault to find with you«
»Oh you havent havent you« said Sikes looking sternly at him and
ostentatiously passing a pistol into a more convenient pocket »Thats lucky
for one of us Which one that is dont matter«
»Ive got that to tell you Bill« said Fagin drawing his chair nearer
»will make you worse than me«
»Aye« returned the robber with an incredulous air »Tell away Look sharp
or Nance will think Im lost«
»Lost« cried Fagin »She has pretty well settled that in her own mind
already«
Sikes looked with an aspect of great perplexity into the Jews face and
reading no satisfactory explanation of the riddle there clenched his coat
collar in his huge hand and shook him soundly
»Speak will you« he said »or if you dont it shall be for want of
breath Open your mouth and say wot youve got to say in plain words Out with
it you thundering old cur out with it«
»Suppose that lad thats lying there « Fagin began
Sikes turned round to where Noah was sleeping as if he had not previously
observed him »Well« he said resuming his former position
»Suppose that lad« pursued Fagin »was to peach to blow upon us all
first seeking out the right folks for the purpose and then having a meeting
with em in the street to paint our likenesses describe every mark that they
might know us by and the crib where we might be most easily taken Suppose he
was to do all this and besides to blow upon a plant weve all been in more or
less of his own fancy not grabbed trapped tried earwigged by the parson
and brought to it on bread and water but of his own fancy to please his own
taste stealing out at nights to find those most interested against us and
peaching to them Do you hear me« cried the Jew his eyes flashing with rage
»Suppose he did all this what then«
»What then« replied Slices with a tremendous oath »If he was left alive
till I came Id grind his skull under the iron heel of my boot into as many
grains as there are hairs upon his head«
»What if I did it« cried Fagin almost in a yell »I that know so much and
could hang so many besides myself«
»I dont know« replied Sikes clenching his teeth and turning white at the
mere suggestion »Id do something in the jail that ud get me put in irons and
if I was tried along with you Id fall upon you with them in the open court
and beat your brains out afore the people I should have such strength«
muttered the robber poising his brawny arm »that I could smash your head as if
a loaded waggon had gone over it«
»You would«
»Would I« said the housebreaker »Try me«
»If it was Charley or the Dodger or Bet or «
»I dont care who« replied Sikes impatiently »Whoever it was Id serve
them the same«
Fagin looked hard at the robber and motioning him to be silent stooped
over the bed upon the floor and shook the sleeper to rouse him Sikes leant
forward in his chair looking on with his hands upon his knees as if wondering
much what all this questioning and preparation was to end in
»Bolter Bolter Poor lad« said Fagin looking up with an expression of
devilish anticipation and speaking slowly and with marked emphasis »Hes tired
tired with watching for her so long watching for her Bill«
»Wot dye mean« asked Sikes drawing back
Fagin made no answer but bending over the sleeper again hauled him into a
sitting posture When his assumed name had been repeated several times Noah
rubbed his eyes and giving a heavy yawn looked sleepily about him
»Tell me that again once again just for him to hear« said the Jew
pointing to Sikes as he spoke
»Tell yer what« asked the sleepy Noah shaking himself pettishly
»That about NANCY« said Fagin clutching Sikes by the wrist as if to
prevent his leaving the house before he had heard enough »You followed her«
»Yes«
»To London Bridge«
»Yes«
»Where she met two people«
»So she did«
»A gentleman and a lady that she had gone to of her own accord before who
asked her to give up all her pals and Monks first which she did and to
describe him which she did and to tell her what house it was that we meet at
and go to which she did and where it could be best watched from which she
did and what time the people went there which she did She did all this She
told it all every word without a threat without a murmur she did did she
not« cried Fagin half mad with fury
»All right« replied Noah scratching his head »Thats just what it was«
»What did they say about last Sunday«
»About last Sunday« replied Noah considering »Why I told yer that
before«
»Again Tell it again« cried Fagin tightening his grasp on Sikes and
brandishing his other hand aloft as the foam flew from his lips
»They asked her« said Noah who as he grew more wakeful seemed to have a
dawning perception who Sikes was »they asked her why she didnt come last
Sunday as she promised She said she couldnt«
»Why why Tell him that«
»Because she was forcibly kept at home by Bill the man she had told them of
before« replied Noah
»What more of him« cried Fagin »What more of the man she had told them of
before Tell him that tell him that«
»Why that she couldnt very easily get out of doors unless he knew where
she was going to« said Noah »and so the first time she went to see the lady
she ha ha ha it made me laugh when she said it that it did she gave him
a drink of laudanum«
»Hells fire« cried Sikes breaking fiercely from the Jew »Let me go«
Flinging the old man from him he rushed from the room and darted wildly
and furiously up the stairs
»Bill Bill« cried Fagin following him hastily »A word Only a word«
The word would not have been exchanged but that the housebreaker was unable
to open the door on which he was expending fruitless oaths and violence when
the Jew came panting up
»Let me out« said Sikes »Dont speak to me its not safe Let me out I
say«
»Hear me speak a word« rejoined Fagin laying his hand upon the lock »You
wont be «
»Well« replied the other
»You wont be too violent Bill«
The day was breaking and there was light enough for the men to see each
others faces They exchanged one brief glance there was a fire in the eyes of
both which could not be mistaken
»I mean« said Fagin showing that he felt all disguise was now useless
»not too violent for safety Be crafty Bill and not too bold«
Sikes made no reply but pulling open the door of which Fagin had turned
the lock dashed into the silent streets
Without one pause or moments consideration without once turning his head
to the right or left or raising his eyes to the sky or lowering them to the
ground but looking straight before him with savage resolution his teeth so
tightly compressed that the strained jaw seemed starting through his skin the
robber held on his headlong course nor muttered a word nor relaxed a muscle
until he reached his own door He opened it softly with a key strode lightly
up the stairs and entering his own room doublelocked the door and lifting a
heavy table against it drew back the curtain of the bed
The girl was lying halfdressed upon it He had roused her from her sleep
for she raised herself with a hurried and startled look
»Get up« said the man
»It is you Bill« said the girl with an expression of pleasure at his
return
»It is« was the reply »Get up«
There was a candle burning but the man hastily drew it from the
candlestick and hurled it under the grate Seeing the faint light of early day
without the girl rose to undraw the curtain
»Let it be« said Sikes thrusting his hand before her »Theres light
enough for wot Ive got to do«
»Bill« said the girl in the low voice of alarm »why do you look like that
at me«
The robber sat regarding her for a few seconds with dilated nostrils and
heaving breast and then grasping her by the head and throat dragged her into
the middle of the room and looking once towards the door placed his heavy hand
upon her mouth
»Bill Bill« gasped the girl wrestling with the strength of mortal fear
»I I wont scream or cry not once hear me speak to me tell me what I
have done«
»You know you she devil« returned the robber suppressing his breath »You
were watched tonight every word you said was heard«
»Then spare my life for the love of Heaven as I spared yours« rejoined the
girl clinging to him »Bill dear Bill you cannot have the heart to kill me
Oh think of all I have given up only this one night for you You shall have
time to think and save yourself this crime I will not loose my hold you
cannot throw me off Bill Bill for dear Gods sake for your own for mine
stop before you spill my blood I have been true to you upon my guilty soul I
have«
The man struggled violently to release his arms but those of the girl were
clasped round his and tear her as he would he could not tear them away
»Bill« cried the girl striving to lay her head upon his breast »the
gentleman and that dear lady told me tonight of a home in some foreign country
where I could end my days in solitude and peace Let me see them again and beg
them on my knees to show the same mercy and goodness to you and let us both
leave this dreadful place and far apart lead better lives and forget how we
have lived except in prayers and never see each other more It is never too
late to repent They told me so I feel it now but we must have time a
little little time«
The housebreaker freed one arm and grasped his pistol The certainty of
immediate detection if he fired flashed across his mind even in the midst of
his fury and he beat it twice with all the force he could summon upon the
upturned face that almost touched his own
She staggered and fell nearly blinded with the blood that rained down from
a deep gash in her forehead but raising herself with difficulty on her knees
drew from her bosom a white handkerchief Rose Maylies own and holding it
up in her folded hands as high towards Heaven as her feeble strength would
allow breathed one prayer for mercy to her Maker
It was a ghastly figure to look upon The murderer staggering backward to
the wall and shutting out the sight with his hand seized a heavy club and
struck her down
Chapter XLVIII
The Flight of Sikes
Of all bad deeds that under cover of the darkness had been committed within
wide Londons bounds since night hung over it that was the worst Of all the
horrors that rose with an ill scent upon the morning air that was the foulest
and most cruel
The sun the bright sun that brings back not light alone but new life
and hope and freshness to man burst upon the crowded city in clear and
radiant glory Through costlycoloured glass and papermended window through
cathedral dome and rotten crevice it shed its equal ray It lighted up the room
where the murdered woman lay It did He tried to shut it out but it would
stream in If the sight had been a ghastly one in the dull morning what was it
now in all that brilliant light
He had not moved he had been afraid to stir There had been a moan and
motion of the hand and with terror added to rage he had struck and struck
again Once he threw a rug over it but it was worse to fancy the eyes and
imagine them moving towards him than to see them glaring upward as if watching
the reflection of the pool of gore that quivered and danced in the sunlight on
the ceiling He had plucked it off again And there was the body mere flesh
and blood no more but such flesh and so much blood
He struck a light kindled a fire and thrust the club into it There was
hair upon the end which blazed and shrunk into a light cinder and caught by
the air whirled up the chimney Even that frightened him sturdy as he was but
he held the weapon till it broke and then piled it on the coals to burn away
and smoulder into ashes He washed himself and rubbed his clothes there were
spots that would not be removed but he cut the pieces out and burnt them How
those stains were dispersed about the room The very feet of the dog were
bloody
All this time he had never once turned his back upon the corpse no not
for a moment Such preparations completed he moved backward towards the door
dragging the dog with him lest he should soil his feet anew and carry out new
evidences of the crime into the streets He shut the door softly locked it
took the key and left the house
He crossed over and glanced up at the window to be sure that nothing was
visible from the outside There was the curtain still drawn which she would
have opened to admit the light she never saw again It lay nearly under there
He knew that God how the sun poured down upon the very spot
The glance was instantaneous It was a relief to have got free of the room
He whistled on the dog and walked rapidly away
He went through Islington strode up the hill at Highgate on which stands
the stone in honour of Whittington turned down to Highgate Hill unsteady of
purpose and uncertain where to go struck off to the right again almost as
soon as he began to descend it and taking the footpath across the fields
skirted Caen Wood and so came out on Hampstead Heath Traversing the hollow by
the Vale of Health he mounted the opposite bank and crossing the road which
joins the villages of Hampstead and Highgate made along the remaining portion
of the heath to the fields at North End in one of which he laid himself down
under a hedge and slept
Soon he was up again and away not far into the country but back towards
London by the highroad then back again then over another part of the same
ground as he already traversed then wandering up and down in fields and lying
on ditches brinks to rest and starting up to make for some other spot and do
the same and ramble on again
Where could he go that was near and not too public to get some meat and
drink Hendon That was a good place not far off and out of most peoples way
Thither he directed his steps running sometimes and sometimes with a
strange perversity loitering at a snails pace or stopping altogether and idly
breaking the hedges with his stick But when he got there all the people he met
the very children at the doors seemed to view him with suspicion Back he
turned again without the courage to purchase bit or drop though he had tasted
no food for many hours and once more he lingered on the Heath uncertain where
to go
He wandered over miles and miles of ground and still came back to the old
place Morning and noon had passed and the day was on the wane and still he
rambled to and fro and up and down and round and round and still lingered
about the same spot At last he got away and shaped his course for Hatfield
It was nine oclock at night when the man quite tired out and the dog
limping and lame from the unaccustomed exercise turned down the hill by the
church of the quiet village and plodding along the little street crept into a
small publichouse whose scanty light had guided them to the spot There was a
fire in the taproom and some countrylabourers were drinking before it They
made room for the stranger but he sat down in the furthest corner and ate and
drank alone or rather with his dog to whom he cast a morsel of food from time
to time
The conversation of the men assembled here turned upon the neighbouring
land and farmers and when those topics were exhausted upon the age of some
old man who had been buried on the previous Sunday the young men present
considering him very old and the old men present declaring him to have been
quite young not older one whitehaired grandfather said than he was with
ten or fifteen year of life in him at least if he had taken care if he had
taken care
There was nothing to attract attention or excite alarm in this The robber
after paying his reckoning sat silent and unnoticed in his corner and had
almost dropped asleep when he was half wakened by the noisy entrance of a
newcomer
This was an antic fellow half pedlar and half mountebank who travelled
about the country on foot to vend hones strops razors washballs
harnesspaste medicine for dogs and horses cheap perfumery cosmetics and
suchlike wares which he carried in a case slung to his back His entrance was
the signal for various homely jokes with the countrymen which slackened not
until he had made his supper and opened his box of treasures when he
ingeniously contrived to unite business with amusement
»And what be that stoof Good to eat Harry« asked a grinning countryman
pointing to some compositioncakes in one corner
»This« said the fellow producing one »this is the infallible and
invaluable composition for removing all sorts of stain rust dirt mildew
spick speck spot or spatter from silk satin linen cambric cloth crape
stuff carpet merino muslin bombazeen or woollen stuff Winestains
fruitstains beerstains waterstains paintstains pitchstains any stains
all come out at one rub with the infallible and invaluable composition If a
lady stains her honour she has only need to swallow one cake and shes cured at
once for its poison If a gentleman wants to prove this he has only need to
bolt one little square and he has put it beyond question for its quite as
satisfactory as a pistolbullet and a great deal nastier in the flavour
consequently the more credit in taking it One penny a square With all these
virtues one penny a square«
There were two buyers directly and more of the listeners plainly hesitated
The vendor observing this increased in loquacity
»Its all bought up as fast as it can be made« said the fellow »There are
fourteen watermills six steamengines and a galvanic battery always
aworking upon it and they cant make it fast enough though the men work so
hard that they die off and the widows is pensioned directly with twenty pound
ayear for each of the children and a premium of fifty for twins One penny a
square Two halfpence is all the same and four farthings is received with joy
One penny a square Winestains fruitstains beerstains waterstains
paintstains pitchstains mudstains bloodstains Here is a stain upon the
hat of a gentleman in company that Ill take clean out before he can order me
a pint of ale«
»Hah« cried Sikes starting up »Give that back«
»Ill take it clean out sir« replied the man winking to the company
»before you can come across the room to get it Gentlemen all observe the dark
stain upon this gentlemans hat no wider than a shilling but thicker than a
halfcrown Whether it is a winestain fruitstain beerstain waterstain
paintstain pitchstain mudstain or bloodstain «
The man got no further for Sikes with a hideous imprecation overthrew the
table and tearing the hat from him burst out of the house
With the same perversity of feeling and irresolution that had fastened upon
him despite himself all day the murderer finding that he was not followed
and that they most probably considered him some drunken sullen fellow turned
back up the town and getting out of the glare of the lamps of a stagecoach
that was standing in the street was walking past when he recognised the mail
from London and saw that it was standing at the little postoffice He almost
knew what was to come but he crossed over and listened
The guard was standing at the door waiting for the letterbag A man
dressed like a gamekeeper came up at the moment and he handed him a basket
which lay ready on the pavement
»Thats for your people« said the guard »Now look alive in there will
you Damn that ere bag it warnt ready night afore last this wont do you
know«
»Anything new up in town Ben« asked the gamekeeper drawing back to the
windowshutters the better to admire the horses
»No nothing that I knows on« replied the man pulling on his gloves
»Corns up a little I heerd talk of a murder too down Spitalfields way but I
dont reckon much upon it«
»Oh thats quite true« said a gentleman inside who was looking out of the
window »And a dreadful murder it was«
»Was it sir« rejoined the guard touching his hat »Man or woman pray
sir«
»A woman« replied the gentleman »It is supposed «
»Now Ben« replied the coachman impatiently
»Damn that ere bag« said the guard »are you gone to sleep in there«
»Coming« cried the office keeper running out
»Coming« growled the guard »Ah and sos the young ooman of property
thats going to take a fancy to me but I dont know when Here give hold All
riight«
The horn sounded a few cheerful notes and the coach was gone
Sikes remained standing in the street apparently unmoved by what he had
just heard and agitated by no stronger feeling than a doubt where to go At
length he went back again and took the road which leads from Hatfield to St
Albans
He went on doggedly but as he left the town behind him and plunged into
the solitude and darkness of the road he felt a dread and awe creeping upon him
which shook him to the core Every object before him substance or shadow still
or moving took the semblance of some fearful thing but these fears were
nothing compared to the sense that haunted him of that mornings ghastly figure
following at his heels He could trace its shadow in the gloom supply the
smallest item of the outline and note how stiff and solemn it seemed to stalk
along He could hear its garments rustling in the leaves and every breath of
wind came laden with that last low cry If he stopped it did the same If he
ran it followed not running too that would have been a relief but like a
corpse endowed with the mere machinery of life and borne on one slow melancholy
wind that never rose or fell
At times he turned with desperate determination resolved to beat this
phantom off though it should look him dead but the hair rose on his head and
his blood stood still for it had turned with him and was behind him then He
had kept it before him that morning but it was behind now always He leaned
his back against a bank and felt that it stood above him visibly out against
the cold nightsky He threw himself upon the road on his back upon the road
At his head it stood silent erect and still a living gravestone with its
epitaph in blood
Let no man talk of murderers escaping justice and hint that Providence must
sleep There were twenty score of violent deaths in one long minute of that
agony of fear
There was a shed in a field he passed that offered shelter for the night
Before the door were three tall poplar trees which made it very dark within
and the wind moaned through them with a dismal wail He could not walk on till
daylight came again and here he stretched himself close to the wall to
undergo new torture
For now a vision came before him as constant and more terrible than that
from which he had escaped Those widely staring eyes so lustreless and so
glassy that he had better borne to see them than think upon them appeared in
the midst of the darkness light in themselves but giving light to nothing
There were but two but they were everywhere If he shut out the sight there
came the room with every wellknown object some indeed that he would have
forgotten if he had gone over its contents from memory each in its accustomed
place The body was in its place and its eyes were as he saw them when he stole
away He got up and rushed into the field without The figure was behind him
He reentered the shed and shrunk down once more The eyes were there before
he had laid himself along
And here he remained in such terror as none but he can know trembling in
every limb and the cold sweat starting from every pore when suddenly there
arose upon the nightwind the noise of distant shouting and the roar of voices
mingled in alarm and wonder Any sound of men in that lonely place even though
it conveyed a real cause of alarm was something to him He regained his
strength and energy at the prospect of personal danger and springing to his
feet rushed into the open air
The broad sky seemed on fire Rising into the air with showers of sparks
and rolling one above the other were sheets of fame lighting the atmosphere
for miles round and driving clouds of smoke in the direction where he stood
The shouts grew louder as new voices swelled the roar and he could hear the cry
of Fire mingled with the ringing of an alarmbell the fall of heavy bodies
and the crackling of flames as they twined round some new obstacle and shot
aloft as though refreshed by food The noise increased as he looked There were
people there men and women light bustle It was like new life to him He
darted onward straight headlong dashing through brier and brake and
leaping gate and fence as madly as his dog who careered with loud and sounding
bark before him
He came upon the spot There were halfdressed figures tearing to and fro
some endeavouring to drag the frightened horses from the stables others driving
the cattle from the yard and outhouses and others coming laden from the
burning pile amidst a shower of falling sparks and the tumbling down of
redhot beams The apertures where doors and windows stood an hour ago
disclosed a mass of raging fire walls rocked and crumbled into the burning
well the molten lead and iron poured down white hot upon the ground Women
and children shrieked and men encouraged each other with noisy shouts and
cheers The clanking of the enginepumps and the spirting and hissing of the
water as it fell upon the blazing wood added to the tremendous roar He
shouted too till he was hoarse and flying from memory and himself plunged
into the thickest of the throng
Hither and thither he dived that night now working at the pumps and now
hurrying through the smoke and flame but never ceasing to engage himself
wherever noise and men were thickest Up and down the ladders upon the roofs of
buildings over floors that quaked and trembled with his weight under the lee
of falling bricks and stones in every part of that great fire was he but he
bore a charmed life and had neither scratch nor bruise nor weariness nor
thought till morning dawned again and only smoke and blackened ruins remained
This mad excitement over there returned with tenfold force the dreadful
consciousness of his crime He looked suspiciously about him for the men were
conversing in groups and he feared to be the subject of their talk The dog
obeyed the significant beck of his finger and they drew off stealthily
together He passed near an engine where some men were seated and they called
to him to share in their refreshment He took some bread and meat and as he
drank a draught of beer heard the firemen who were from London talking about
the murder »He has gone to Birmingham they say« said one »but theyll have
him yet for the scouts are out and by tomorrow night therell be a cry all
through the country«
He hurried off and walked till he almost dropped upon the ground then lay
down in a lane and had a long but broken and uneasy sleep He wandered on
again irresolute and undecided and oppressed with the fear of another solitary
night
Suddenly he took the desperate resolution of going back to London
»Theres somebody to speak to there at all events« he thought »A good
hidingplace too Theyll never expect to nab me there after this country
scent Why cant I lie by for a week or so and forcing blunt from Fagin get
abroad to France Damme Ill risk it«
He acted upon this impulse without delay and choosing the least frequented
roads began his journey back resolved to lie concealed within a short distance
of the metropolis and entering it at dusk by a circuitous route to proceed
straight to that part of it which he had fixed on for his destination
The dog though If any descriptions of him were out it would not be
forgotten that the dog was missing and had probably gone with him This might
lead to his apprehension as he passed along the streets He resolved to drown
him and walked on looking about for a pond picking up a heavy stone and tying
it to his handkerchief as he went
The animal looked up into his masters face while these preparations were
making whether his instinct apprehended something of their purpose or the
robbers sidelong look at him was sterner than ordinary he skulked a little
farther in the rear than usual and cowered as he came more slowly along When
his master halted at the brink of a pool and looked round to call him he
stopped outright
»Do you hear me call Come here« cried Sikes
The animal came up from the very force of habit but as Sikes stooped to
attach the handkerchief to his throat he uttered a low growl and started back
»Come back« said the robber
The dog wagged his tail but moved not Sikes made a running noose and
called him again
The dog advanced retreated paused an instant turned and scoured away at
his hardest speed
The man whistled again and again and sat down and waited in the expectation
that he would return But no dog appeared and at length he resumed his journey
Chapter XLIX
Monks and Mr Brownlow at Length Meet Their Conversation and the Intelligence
That Interrupts It
The twilight was beginning to close in when Mr Brownlow alighted from a
hackneycoach at his own door and knocked softly The door being opened a
sturdy man got out of the coach stationed himself on one side of the steps
while another man who had been seated on the box dismounted too and stood
upon the other side At a sign from Mr Brownlow they helped out a third man
and taking him between them hurried him into the house This man was Monks
They walked in the same manner up the stairs without speaking and Mr
Brownlow preceding them led the way into a backroom At the door of this
apartment Monks who had ascended with evident reluctance stopped The two men
looked to the old gentleman as if for instructions
»He knows the alternative« said Mr Brownlow »If he hesitates moves a
finger but as you bid him drag him into the street call for the aid of the
police and impeach him as a felon in my name«
»How dare you say this of me« asked Monks
»How dare you urge me to it young man« replied Mr Brownlow confronting
him with a steady look »Are you mad enough to leave this house Unhand him
There sir You are free to go and we to follow But I warn you by all I hold
most solemn and most sacred that the instant you set foot in the street that
instant will I have you apprehended on a charge of fraud and robbery I am
resolute and immoveable If you are determined to be the same your blood be
upon your own head«
»By what authority am I kidnapped in the street and brought here by these
dogs« asked Monks looking from one to the other of the men who stood beside
him
»By mine« replied Mr Brownlow »Those persons are indemnified by me If
you complain of being deprived of your liberty you had power and opportunity
to retrieve it as you came along but you deemed it advisable to remain quiet
I say again throw yourself for protection on the law I will appeal to the law
too but when you have gone too far to recede do not sue to me for leniency
when the power will have passed into other hands and do not say I plunged you
down the gulf into which you rushed yourself«
Monks was plainly disconcerted and alarmed besides He hesitated
»You will decide quickly« said Mr Brownlow with perfect firmness and
composure »If you wish me to prefer my charges publicly and consign you to a
punishment the extent of which although I can with a shudder foresee I
cannot control once more I say you know the way If not and you appeal to my
forbearance and the mercy of those you have deeply injured seat yourself
without a word in that chair It has waited for you two whole days«
Monks muttered some unintelligible words but wavered still
»You will be prompt« said Mr Brownlow »A word from me and the
alternative has gone for ever«
Still the man hesitated
»I have not the inclination to parley« said Mr Brownlow »and as I
advocate the dearest interests of others I have not the right«
»Is there « demanded Monks with a faltering tongue »is there no middle
course«
»None«
Monks looked at the old gentleman with an anxious eye but reading in his
countenance nothing but severity and determination walked into the room and
shrugging his shoulders sat down
»Lock the door on the outside« said Mr Brownlow to the attendants »and
come when I ring«
The men obeyed and the two were left alone together
»This is pretty treatment sir« said Monks throwing down his hat and
cloak »from my fathers oldest friend«
»It is because I was your fathers oldest friend young man« returned Mr
Brownlow »it is because the hopes and wishes of young and happy years were
bound up with him and that fair creature of his blood and kindred who rejoined
her God in youth and left me here a solitary lonely man it is because he
knelt with me beside his only sisters deathbed when he was yet a boy on the
morning that would but Heaven willed otherwise have made her my young wife
it is because my seared heart clung to him from that time forth through all
his trials and errors till he died it is because old recollections and
associations filled my heart and even the sight of you brings with it old
thoughts of him it is because of all these things that I am moved to treat you
gently now yes Edward Leeford even now and blush for your unworthiness who
bear the name«
»What has the name to do with it« asked the other after contemplating
half in silence and half in dogged wonder the agitation of his companion
»What is the name to me«
»Nothing« replied Mr Brownlow »nothing to you But it was hers and even
at this distance of time brings back to me an old man the glow and thrill
which I once felt only to hear it repeated by a stranger I am very glad you
have changed it very very«
»This is all mighty fine« said Monks to retain his assumed designation
after a long silence during which he had jerked himself in sullen defiance to
and fro and Mr Brownlow had sat shading his face with his hand »But what do
you want with me«
»You have a brother« said Mr Brownlow rousing himself »a brother the
whisper of whose name in your ear when I came behind you in the street was in
itself almost enough to make you accompany me hither in wonder and alarm«
»I have no brother« replied Monks »You know I was an only child Why do
you talk to me of brothers You know that as well as I«
»Attend to what I do know and you may not« said Mr Brownlow »I shall
interest you by and by I know that of the wretched marriage into which family
pride and the most sordid and narrowest of all ambition forced your unhappy
father when a mere boy you were the sole and most unnatural issue«
»I dont care for hard names« interrupted Monks with a jeering laugh »You
know the fact and thats enough for me«
»But I also know« pursued the old gentleman »the misery the slow torture
the protracted anguish of that illassorted union I know how listlessly and
wearily each of that wretched pair dragged on their heavy chain through a world
that was poisoned to them both I know how cold formalities were succeeded by
open taunts how indifference gave place to dislike dislike to hate and hate
to loathing until at last they wrenched the clanking bond asunder and retiring
a wide space apart carried each a galling fragment of which nothing but death
could break the rivets to hide it in new society beneath the gayest looks they
could assume Your mother succeeded she forgot it soon But it rusted and
cankered at your fathers heart for years«
»Well they were separated« said Monks »and what of that«
»When they had been separated for some time« returned Mr Brownlow »and
your mother wholly given up to continental frivolities had utterly forgotten
the young husband ten good years her junior who with prospects blighted
lingered on at home he fell among new friends This circumstance at least you
know already«
»Not I« said Monks turning away his eyes and beating his foot upon the
ground as a man who is determined to deny everything »Not I«
»Your manner no less than your actions assures me that you have never
forgotten it or ceased to think of it with bitterness« returned Mr Brownlow
»I speak of fifteen years ago when you were not more than eleven years old and
your father but oneandthirty for he was I repeat a boy when his father
ordered him to marry Must I go back to events which cast a shade upon the
memory of your parent or will you spare it and disclose to me the truth«
»I have nothing to disclose« rejoined Monks »You must talk on if you
will«
»These new friends then« said Mr Brownlow »were a naval officer retired
from active service whose wife had died some halfayear before and left him
with two children there had been more but of all their family happily but
two survived They were both daughters one a beautiful creature of nineteen
and the other a mere child of two or three years old«
»Whats this to me« asked Monks
»They resided« said Mr Brownlow without seeming to hear the interruption
»in a part of the country to which your father in his wandering had repaired
and where he had taken up his abode Acquaintance intimacy friendship fast
followed on each other Your father was gifted as few men are He had his
sisters soul and person As the old officer knew him more and more he grew to
love him I would that it had ended there His daughter did the same«
The old gentleman paused Monks was biting his lips with his eyes fixed
upon the floor seeing this he immediately resumed
»The end of a year found him contracted solemnly contracted to that
daughter the object of the first true ardent only passion of a guileless
girl«
»Your tale is of the longest« observed Monks moving restlessly in his
chair
»It is a true tale of grief and trial and sorrow young man« returned Mr
Brownlow »and such tales usually are if it were one of unmixed joy and
happiness it would be very brief At length one of those rich relations to
strengthen whose interest and importance your father had been sacrificed as
others are often it is no uncommon case died and to repair the misery he
had been instrumental in occasioning left him his panacea for all griefs
Money It was necessary that he should immediately repair to Rome whither this
man had sped for health and where he had died leaving his affairs in great
confusion He went was seized with mortal illness there was followed the
moment the intelligence reached Paris by your mother who carried you with her
he died the day after her arrival leaving no will no will so that the whole
property fell to her and you«
At this part of the recital Monks held his breath and listened with a face
of intense eagerness though his eyes were not directed towards the speaker As
Mr Brownlow paused he changed his position with the air of one who has
experienced a sudden relief and wiped his hot face and hands
»Before he went abroad and as he passed through London on his way« said
Mr Brownlow slowly and fixing his eyes upon the others face »he came to
me«
»I never heard of that« interrupted Monks in a tone intended to appear
incredulous but savouring more of disagreeable surprise
»He came to me and left with me among some other things a picture a
portrait painted by himself a likeness of this poor girl which he did not
wish to leave behind and could not carry forward on his hasty journey He was
worn by anxiety and remorse almost to a shadow talked in a wild distracted
way of ruin and dishonour worked by himself confided to me his intention to
convert his whole property at any loss into money and having settled on his
wife and you a portion of his recent acquisition to fly the country I guessed
too well he would not fly alone and never see it more Even from me his old
and early friend whose strong attachment had taken root in the earth that
covered one most dear to both even from me he withheld any more particular
confession promising to write and tell me all and after that to see me once
again for the last time on earth Alas That was the last time I had no
letter and I never saw him more
I went« said Mr Brownlow after a short pause »I went when all was over
to the scene of his I will use the term the world would freely use for
worldly harshness or favour are now alike to him of his guilty love resolved
that if my fears were realised that erring child should 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 place by night Why or whither none can tell«
Monks drew his breath yet more freely and looked round with a smile of
triumph
»When your brother« said Mr Brownlow drawing nearer to the others chair
»When your brother a feeble ragged neglected child was cast in my way by a
stronger hand than chance and rescued by me from a life of vice and infamy «
»What« cried Monks
»By me« said Mr Brownlow »I told you I should interest you before long I
say by me I see that your cunning associate suppressed my name although for
aught he knew it would be quite strange to your ears When he was rescued by
me then and lay recovering from sickness in my house his strong resemblance
to this picture I have spoken of struck me with astonishment Even when I first
saw him in all his dirt and misery there was a lingering expression in his face
that came upon me like a glimpse of some old friend flashing on one in a vivid
dream I need not tell you he was snared away before I knew his history «
»Why not« asked Monks hastily
»Because you know it well«
»I«
»Denial to me is vain« replied Mr Brownlow »I shall show you that I know
more than that«
»You you cant prove anything against me« stammered Monks »I defy you
to do it«
»We shall see« returned the old gentleman with a searching glance »I lost
the boy and no efforts of mine could recover him Your mother being dead I
knew that you alone could solve the mystery if anybody could and as when I had
last heard of you you were on your own estate in the West Indies whither as
you well know you retired upon your mothers death to escape the consequences
of vicious courses here I made the voyage You had left it months before and
were supposed to be in London but no one could tell where I returned Your
agents had no clue to your residence You came and went they said as strangely
as you had ever done sometimes for days together and sometimes not for months
keeping to all appearance the same low haunts and mingling with the same
infamous herd who had been your associates when a fierce ungovernable boy I
wearied them with new applications I paced the streets 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 and
robbery are highsounding words justified you think by a fancied resemblance
in some young imp to an idle daub of a dead mans Brother You dont even know
that a child was born of this maudlin pair you dont even know that«
»I did not« replied Mr Brownlow rising too »but within the last
fortnight I have learnt it all You have a brother you know it and him There
was a will which your mother destroyed leaving the secret and the gain to you
at her own death It contained a reference to some child likely to be the result
of this sad connection which child was born and accidentally encountered by
you when your suspicions were first awakened by his resemblance to his father
You repaired to the place of his birth There existed proofs proofs long
suppressed of his birth and parentage Those proofs were destroyed by you and
now in your own words to your accomplice the Jew the only proofs of the boys
identity lie at the bottom of the river and the old hag that received them from
the mother is rotting in her coffin Unworthy son coward liar you who hold
your councils with thieves and murderers in dark rooms at night you whose
plots and wiles have brought a violent death upon the head of one worth millions
such as you you who from your cradle were gall and bitterness to your own
fathers heart and in whom all evil passions vice and profligacy festered
till they found a vent in a hideous disease which has made your face an index
even to your mind you Edward Leeford do you still brave me«
»No no no« returned the coward overwhelmed by these accumulated charges
»Every word« cried the old gentleman »every word that has passed between
you and this detested villain is known to me Shadows on the wall have caught
your whispers and brought them to my ear the sight of the persecuted child has
turned vice itself and given it the courage and almost the attributes of
virtue Murder has been done to which you were morally if not really a party«
»No no« interposed Monks »I I know nothing of that I was going to
inquire the truth of the story when you overtook me I didnt know the cause I
thought it was a common quarrel«
»It was the partial disclosure of your secrets« replied Mr Brownlow »Will
you disclose the whole«
»Yes I will«
»Set your hand to a statement of truth and facts and repeat it before
witnesses«
»That I promise too«
»Remain quietly here until such a document is drawn up and proceed with me
to such a place as I may deem most advisable for the purpose of attesting it«
»If you insist upon that Ill do that also« replied Monks
»You must do more than that« said Mr Brownlow »Make restitution to an
innocent and unoffending child for such he is although the offspring of a
guilty and most miserable love You have not forgotten the provisions of the
will Carry them into execution so far as your brother is concerned and then go
where you please In this world you need meet no more«
While Monks was pacing up and down meditating with dark and evil looks on
this proposal and the possibilities of evading it torn by his fears on the one
hand and his hatred on the other the door was hurriedly unlocked and a
gentleman Mr Losberne entered the room in violent agitation
»The man will be taken« he cried »He will be taken tonight«
»The murderer« asked Mr Brownlow
»Yes yes« replied the other »His dog has been seen lurking about some old
haunt and there seems little doubt that his master either is or will be
there under cover of the darkness Spies are hovering about in every direction
I have spoken to the men who are charged with his capture and they tell me he
cannot escape A reward of a hundred pounds is proclaimed by Government
tonight«
»I will give fifty more« said Mr Brownlow »and proclaim it with my own
lips upon the spot if I can reach it Where is Mr Maylie«
»Harry As soon as he had seen your friend here safe in a coach with you
he hurried off to where he heard this« replied the doctor »and mounting his
horse sallied forth to join the first party at some place in the outskirts
agreed upon between them«
»Fagin« said Mr Brownlow »what of him«
»When I last heard he had not been taken but he will be or is by this
time Theyre sure of him«
»Have you made up your mind« asked Mr Brownlow in a low voice of Monks
»Yes« he replied »You you will be secret with me«
»I will Remain here till I return It is your only hope of safety«
They left the room and the door was again locked
»What have you done« asked the doctor in a whisper
»All that I could hope to do and even more Coupling the poor girls
intelligence with my previous knowledge and the result of our good friends
inquiries on the spot I left him no loophole of escape and laid bare the whole
villany which by these lights became plain as day Write and appoint the evening
after tomorrow at seven for the meeting We shall be down there a few hours
before but shall require rest especially the young lady who may have greater
need of firmness than either you or I can quite foresee just now But my blood
boils to avenge this poor murdered creature Which way have they taken«
»Drive straight to the office and you will be in time« replied Mr
Losberne »I will remain here«
The two gentlemen hastily separated each in a fever of excitement wholly
uncontrollable
Chapter L
The Pursuit and Escape
Near to that part of the Thames on which the church at Rotherhithe abuts where
the buildings on the banks are dirtiest and the vessels on the river blackest
with the dust of colliers and the smoke of closebuilt lowroofed houses there
exists the filthiest the strangest the most extraordinary of the many
localities that are hidden in London wholly unknown even by name to the great
mass of its inhabitants
To reach this place the visitor has to penetrate through a maze of close
narrow and muddy streets thronged by the roughest and poorest of waterside
people and devoted to the traffic they may be supposed to occasion The
cheapest and least delicate provisions are heaped in the shops the coarsest and
commonest articles of wearing apparel dangle at the salesmans door and stream
from the houseparapet and windows Jostling with unemployed labourers of the
lowest class ballastheavers coalwhippers brazen women ragged children and
the raff and refuse of the river he makes his way with difficulty along
assailed by offensive sights and smells from the narrow alleys which branch off
on the right and left and deafened by the clash of ponderous waggons that bear
great piles of merchandise from the stacks of warehouses that rise from every
corner Arriving at length in streets remoter and lessfrequented than those
through which he has passed he walks beneath tottering housefronts projecting
over the pavement dismantled walls that seem to totter as he passes chimneys
half crushed half hesitating to fall windows guarded by rusty iron bars that
time and dirt have almost eaten away every imaginable sign of desolation and
neglect
In such a neighbourhood beyond Dockhead in the Borough of Southwark stands
Jacobs Island surrounded by a muddy ditch six or eight feet deep and fifteen
or twenty wide when the tide is in once called Mill Pond but known in the days
of this story as Folly Ditch It is a creek or inlet from the Thames and can
always be filled at high water by opening the sluices at the Lead Mills from
which it took its old name At such times a stranger looking from one of the
wooden bridges thrown across it at Mill Lane will see the inhabitants of the
houses on either side lowering from their back doors and windows buckets
pails domestic utensils of all kinds in which to haul the water up and when
his eye is turned from these operations to the houses themselves his utmost
astonishment will be excited by the scene before him Crazy wooden galleries
common to the backs of halfadozen houses with holes from which to look upon
the slime beneath windows broken and patched with poles thrust out on which
to dry the linen that is never there rooms so small so filthy so confined
that the air would seem too tainted even for the dirt and squalor which they
shelter wooden chambers thrusting themselves out above the mud and threatening
to fall into it as some have done dirtbesmeared walls and decaying
foundations every repulsive lineament of poverty every loathsome indication of
filth rot and garbage all these ornament the banks of Folly Ditch
In Jacobs Island the warehouses are roofless and empty the walls are
crumbling down the windows are windows no more the doors are falling into the
streets the chimneys are blackened but they yield no smoke Thirty or forty
years ago before losses and chancery suits came upon it it was a thriving
place but now it is a desolate island indeed The houses have no owners they
are broken open and entered upon by those who have the courage and there they
live and there they die They must have powerful motives for a secret
residence or be reduced to a destitute condition indeed who seek a refuge in
Jacobs Island
In an upper room of one of these houses a detached house of fair size
ruinous in other respects but strongly defended at door and window of which
house the back commanded the ditch in manner already described there were
assembled three men who regarding each other every now and then with looks
expressive of perplexity and expectation sat for some time in profound and
gloomy silence One of these was Toby Crackit another Mr Chitling and the
third a robber of fifty years whose nose had been almost beaten in in some old
scuffle and whose face bore a frightful scar which might probably be traced to
the same occasion This man was a returned transport and his name was Kags
»I wish« said Toby turning to Mr Chitling »that you had picked out some
other crib when the two old ones got too warm and had not come here my fine
feller«
»Why didnt you blunderhead« said Kags
»Well I thought youd have been a little more glad to see me than this«
replied Mr Chitling with a melancholy air
»Why looke young gentleman« said Toby »when a man keeps himself so very
exclusive as I have done and by that means has a snug house over his head with
nobody a prying and smelling about it its rather a startling thing to have the
honour of a wisit from a young gentleman however respectable and pleasant a
person he may be to play cards with at conweniency circumstanced as you are«
»Especially when the exclusive young man has got a friend stopping with
him thats arrived sooner than was expected from foreign parts and is too
modest to want to be presented to the Judges on his return« added Mr Kags
There was a short silence after which Toby Crackit seeming to abandon as
hopeless any further effort to maintain his usual devilmaycare swagger turned
to Chitling and said
»When was Fagin took then«
»Just at dinnertime two oclock this afternoon Charley and I made our
lucky up the washus chimney and Bolter got into the empty waterbutt head
downwards but his legs were so precious long that they stuck out at the top
and so they took him too«
»And Bet«
»Poor Bet She went to see the Body to speak to who it was« replied
Chitling his countenance falling more and more »and went off mad screaming
and raving and beating her head against the boards so they put a straitweskut
on her and took her to the hospital and there she is«
»Wots come of young Bates« demanded Kags
»He hung about not to come over here afore dark but hell be here soon«
replied Chitling »Theres nowhere else to go to now for the people at the
Cripples are all in custody and the bar of the ken I went up there and see it
with my own eyes is filled with traps«
»This is a smash« observed Toby biting his lips »Theres more than one
will go with this«
»The sessions are on« said Kags »if they get the inquest over and Bolter
turns Kings evidence as of course he will from what hes said already they
can prove Fagin an accessory before the fact and get the trial on on Friday
and hell swing in six days from this by G «
»You should have heard the people groan« said Chitling »the officers
fought like devils or theyd have torn him away He was down once but they
made a ring round him and fought their way along You should have seen how he
looked about him all muddy and bleeding and clung to them as if they were his
dearest friends I can see em now not able to stand upright with the pressing
of the mob and dragging him along amongst em I can see the people jumping up
one behind another and snarling with their teeth and making at him I can see
the blood upon his hair and beard and hear the cries with which the women
worked themselves into the centre of the crowd at the street corner and swore
theyd tear his heart out«
The horrorstricken witness of this scene pressed his hands upon his ears
and with his eyes closed got up and paced violently to and fro like one
distracted
While he was thus engaged and the two men sat by in silence with their eyes
fixed upon the floor a pattering noise was heard upon the stairs and Sikess
dog bounded into the room They ran to the window down stairs and into the
street The dog had jumped in at an open window he made no attempt to follow
them nor was his master to be seen
»Whats the meaning of this« said Toby when they had returned »He cant be
coming here I I hope not«
»If he was coming here hed have come with the dog« said Kags stooping
down to examine the animal who lay panting on the floor »Here Give us some
water for him he has run himself faint«
»Hes drunk it all up every drop« said Chitling after watching the dog
some time in silence »Covered with mud lame halfblind he must have come
a long way«
»Where can he have come from« exclaimed Toby »Hes been to the other kens
of course and finding them filled with strangers come on here where hes been
many a time and often But where can he have come from first and how comes he
here alone without the other«
»He« none of them called the murderer by his old name »He cant have
made away with himself What do you think« said Chitling
Toby shook his head
»If he had« said Kags »the dog ud want to lead us away to where he did
it No I think hes got out of the country and left the dog behind He must
have given him the slip somehow or he wouldnt be so easy«
This solution appearing the most probable one was adopted as the right
the dog creeping under a chair coiled himself up to sleep without more notice
from anybody
It being now dark the shutter was closed and a candle lighted and placed
upon the table The terrible events of the last two days had made a deep
impression on all three increased by the danger and uncertainty of their own
position They drew their chairs closer together starting at every sound They
spoke little and that in whispers and were as silent and awestricken as if
the remains of the murdered woman lay in the next room
They had sat thus some time when suddenly was heard a hurried knocking at
the door below
»Young Bates« said Kags looking angrily round to check the fear he felt
himself
The knocking came again No it wasnt he He never knocked like that
Crackit went to the window and shaking all over drew in his head There
was no need to tell them who it was his pale face was enough The dog too was
on the alert in an instant and ran whining to the door
»We must let him in« he said taking up the candle
»Isnt there any help for it« asked the other man in a hoarse voice
»None He must come in«
»Dont leave us in the dark« said Kags taking down a candle from the
chimneypiece and lighting it with such a trembling hand that the knocking was
twice repeated before he had finished
Crackit went down to the door and returned followed by a man with the lower
part of his face buried in a handkerchief and another tied over his head under
his hat He drew them slowly off Blanched face sunken eyes hollow cheeks
beard of three days growth wasted flesh short thick breath it was the very
ghost of Sikes
He laid his hand upon a chair which stood in the middle of the room but
shuddering as he was about to drop into it and seeming to glance over his
shoulder dragged it back close to the wall as close as it would go ground
it against it and sat down
Not a word had been exchanged He looked from one to another in silence If
an eye were furtively raised and met his it was instantly averted When his
hollow voice broke silence they all three started They seemed never to have
heard its tones before
»How came that dog here« he asked
»Alone Three hours ago«
»Tonights paper says that Fagins took Is it true or a lie«
»True«
They were silent again
»Damn you all« said Sikes passing his hand across his forehead »Have you
nothing to say to me«
There was an uneasy movement among them but nobody spoke
»You that keep this house« said Sikes turning his face to Crackit »do you
mean to sell me or to let me lie here till this hunt is over«
»You may stop here if you think it safe« returned the person addressed
after some hesitation
Sikes carried his eyes slowly up the wall behind him rather trying to turn
his head than actually doing it and said »Is it the body is it buried«
They shook their heads
»Why isnt it« he retorted with the same glance behind him »Wot do they
keep such ugly things above the ground for Whos that knocking«
Crackit intimated by a motion of his hand as he left the room that there
was nothing to fear and directly came back with Charley Bates behind him Sikes
sat opposite the door so that the moment the boy entered the room he
encountered his figure
»Toby« said the boy falling back as Sikes turned his eyes towards him
»why didnt you tell me this down stairs«
There had been something so tremendous in the shrinking off of the three
that the wretched man was willing to propitiate even this lad Accordingly he
nodded and made as though he would shake hands with him
»Let me go into some other room« said the boy retreating still farther
»Charley« said Sikes stepping forward »Dont you dont you know me«
»Dont come nearer me« answered the boy still retreating and looking
with horror in his eyes upon the murderers face »You monster«
The man stopped halfway and they looked at each other but Sikess eyes
sunk gradually to the ground
»Witness you three« cried the boy shaking his clenched fist and becoming
more and more excited as he spoke »Witness you three Im not afraid of him
if they come here after him Ill give him up I will I tell you out at once
He may kill me for it if he likes or if he dares but if I am here Ill give
him up Id give him up if he was to be boiled alive Murder Help If theres
the pluck of a man among you three youll help me Murder Help Down with
him«
Pouring out these cries and accompanying them with violent gesticulation
the boy actually threw himself singlehanded upon the strong man and in the
intensity of his energy and the suddenness of his surprise brought him heavily
to the ground
The three spectators seemed quite stupefied They offered no interference
and the boy and man rolled on the ground together the former heedless of the
blows that showered upon him wrenching his hands tighter and tighter in the
garments about the murderers breast and never ceasing to call for help with
all his might
The contest however was too unequal to last long Sikes had him down and
his knee was on his throat when Crackit pulled him back with a look of alarm
and pointed to the window There were lights gleaming below voices in loud and
earnest conversation the tramp of hurried footsteps endless they seemed in
number crossing the nearest wooden bridge One man on horseback seemed to be
among the crowd for there was the noise of hoofs rattling on the uneven
pavement The gleam of lights increased the footsteps came more thickly and
noisily on Then came a loud knocking at the door and then a hoarse murmur
from such a multitude of angry voices as would have made the boldest quail
»Help« shrieked the boy in a voice that rent the air
»Hes here Break down the door«
»In the Kings name« cried the voices without and the hoarse cry arose
again but louder
»Break down the door« screamed the boy »I tell you theyll never open it
Run straight to the room where the light is Break down the door«
Strokes thick and heavy rattled upon the door and lower windowshutters as
he ceased to speak and a loud huzzah burst from the crowd giving the listener
for the first time some adequate idea of its immense extent
»Open the door of some place where I can lock this screeching Hellbabe«
cried Sikes fiercely running to and fro and dragging the boy now as easily
as if he were an empty sack »That door Quick« He flung him in bolted it and
turned the key »Is the downstairs door fast«
»Doublelocked and chained« replied Crackit who with the other two men
still remained quite helpless and bewildered
»The panels are they strong«
»Lined with sheetiron«
»And the windows too«
»Yes and the windows«
»Damn you« cried the desperate ruffian throwing up the sash and menacing
the crowd »Do your worst Ill cheat you yet«
Of all the terrific yells that ever fell on mortal ears none could exceed
the cry of the infuriated throng Some shouted to those who were nearest to set
the house on fire others roared to the officers to shoot him dead Among them
all none showed such fury as the man on horseback who throwing himself out of
the saddle and bursting through the crowd as if he were parting water cried
beneath the window in a voice that rose above all others »Twenty guineas to
the man who brings a ladder«
The nearest voices took up the cry and hundreds echoed it Some called for
ladders some for sledgehammers some ran with torches to and fro as if to seek
them and still came back and roared again some spent their breath in impotent
curses and execrations some pressed forward with the ecstasy of madmen and
thus impeded the progress of those below some among the boldest attempted to
climb up by the waterspout and crevices in the wall and all waved to and fro
in the darkness beneath like a field of corn moved by an angry wind and joined
from time to time in one loud furious roar
»The tide« cried the murderer as he staggered back into the room and shut
the faces out »the tide was in as I came up Give me a rope a long rope
Theyre all in front I may drop into the Folly Ditch and clear off that way
Give me a rope or I shall do three more murders and kill myself«
The panicstricken men pointed to where such articles were kept the
murderer hastily selecting the longest and strongest cord hurried up to the
housetop
All the windows in the rear of the house had been long ago bricked up
except one small trap in the room where the boy was locked and that was too
small even for the passage of his body But from this aperture he had never
ceased to call on those without to guard the back and thus when the murderer
emerged at last on the housetop by the door in the roof a loud shout
proclaimed the fact to those in front who immediately began to pour round
pressing upon each other in an unbroken stream
He planted a board which he had carried up with him for the purpose so
firmly against the door that it must be matter of great difficulty to open it
from the inside and creeping over the tiles looked over the low parapet
The water was out and the ditch a bed of mud
The crowd had been hushed during these few moments watching his motions and
doubtful of his purpose but the instant they perceived it and knew it was
defeated they raised a cry of triumphant execration to which all their previous
shouting had been whispers Again and again it rose Those who were at too great
a distance to know its meaning took up the sound it echoed and reechoed it
seemed as though the whole city had poured its population out to curse him
On pressed the people from the front on on on in a strong struggling
current of angry faces with here and there a glaring torch to light them up
and show them out in all their wrath and passion The houses on the opposite
side of the ditch had been entered by the mob sashes were thrown up or torn
bodily out there were tiers and tiers of faces in every window cluster upon
cluster of people clinging to every housetop Each little bridge and there
were three in sight bent beneath the weight of the crowd upon it Still the
current poured on to find some nook or hole from which to vent their shouts and
only for an instant see the wretch
»They have him now« cried a man on the nearest bridge »Hurrah«
The crowd grew light with uncovered heads and again the shout uprose
»I will give fifty pounds« cried an old gentleman from the same quarter
»to the man who takes him alive I will remain here till he comes to ask me for
it«
There was another roar At this moment the word was passed among the crowd
that the door was forced at last and that he who had first called for the
ladder had mounted into the room The stream abruptly turned as this
intelligence ran from mouth to mouth and the people at the windows seeing
those upon the bridges pouring back quitted their stations and running into
the street joined the concourse that now thronged pellmell to the spot they
had left each man crushing and striving with his neighbour and all panting
with impatience to get near the door and look upon the criminal as the officers
brought him out The cries and shrieks of those who were pressed almost to
suffocation or trampled down and trodden under foot in the confusion were
dreadful the narrow ways were completely blocked up and at this time between
the rush of some to regain the space in front of the house and the unavailing
struggles of others to extricate themselves from the mass the immediate
attention was distracted from the murderer although the universal eagerness for
his capture was if possible increased
The man had shrunk down thoroughly quelled by the ferocity of the crowd
and the impossibility of escape but seeing this sudden change with no less
rapidity than it had occurred he sprang upon his feet determined to make one
last effort for his life by dropping into the ditch and at the risk of being
stifled endeavouring to creep away in the darkness and confusion
Roused into new strength and energy and stimulated by the noise within the
house which announced that an entrance had really been effected he set his foot
against the stack of chimneys fastened one end of the rope tightly and firmly
round it and with the other made a strong running noose by the aid of his hands
and teeth almost in a second He could let himself down by the cord to within a
less distance of the ground than his own height and had his knife ready in his
hand to cut it then and drop
At the very instant when he brought the loop over his head previous to
slipping it beneath his armpits and when the old gentleman beforementioned
who had clung so tight to the railing of the bridge as to resist the force of
the crowd and retain his position earnestly warned those about him that the
man was about to lower himself down at that very instant the murderer looking
behind him on the roof threw his arms above his head and uttered a yell of
terror
»The eyes again« he cried in an unearthly screech
Staggering as if struck by lightning he lost his balance and tumbled over
the parapet The noose was on his neck It ran up with his weight tight as a
bowstring and swift as the arrow it speeds He fell for fiveandthirty feet
There was a sudden jerk a terrific convulsion of the limbs and there he hung
with the open knife clenched in his stiffening hand
The old chimney quivered with the shock but stood it bravely The murderer
swung lifeless against the wall and the boy thrusting aside the dangling body
which obscured his view called to the people to come and take him out for
Gods sake
A dog which had lain concealed till now ran backwards and forwards on the
parapet with a dismal howl and collecting himself for a spring jumped for the
dead mans shoulders Missing his aim he fell into the ditch turning
completely over as he went and striking his head against a stone dashed out
his brains
Chapter LI
Affording an Explanation of More Mysteries Than One and Comprehending a
Proposal of Marriage with No Word of Settlement or PinMoney
The events narrated in the last chapter were yet but two days old when Oliver
found himself at three oclock in the afternoon in a travellingcarriage
rolling fast towards his native town Mrs Maylie and Rose and Mrs Bedwin
and the good doctor were with him and Mr Brownlow followed in a postchaise
accompanied by one other person whose name had not been mentioned
They had not talked much upon the way for Oliver was in a flutter of
agitation and uncertainty which deprived him of the power of collecting his
thoughts and almost of speech and appeared to have scarcely less effect on his
companions who shared it in at least an equal degree He and the two ladies
had been very carefully made acquainted by Mr Brownlow with the nature of the
admissions which had been forced from Monks and although they knew that the
object of their present journey was to complete the work which had been so well
begun still the whole matter was enveloped in enough or doubt and mystery to
leave them in endurance of the most intense suspense
The same kind friend had with Mr Losbernes assistance cautiously stopped
all channels of communication through which they could receive intelligence of
the dreadful occurrences that had so recently taken place »It was quite true«
he said »that they must know them before long but it might be at a better time
than the present and it could not be at a worse« So they travelled on in
silence each busied with reflections on the object which had brought them
together and no one disposed to give utterance to the thoughts which crowded
upon all
But if Oliver under these influences had remained silent while they
journeyed towards his birthplace by a road he had never seen how the whole
current of his recollections ran back to old times and what a crowd of emotions
were wakened up in his breast when they turned into that which he had traversed
on foot a poor houseless wandering boy without a friend to help him or a
roof to shelter his head
»See there there« cried Oliver eagerly clasping the hand of Rose and
pointing out at the carriage window »thats the stile I came over there are
the hedges I crept behind for fear any one should overtake me and force me
back Yonder is the path across the fields leading to the old house where I was
a little child Oh Dick Dick my dear old friend if I could only see you now«
»You will see him soon« replied Rose gently taking his folded hands
between her own »You shall tell him how happy you are and how rich you have
grown and that in all your happiness you have none so great as the coming back
to make him happy too«
»Yes yes« said Oliver »and well well take him away from here and
have him clothed and taught and send him to some quiet country place where he
may grow strong and well shall we«
Rose nodded yes for the boy was smiling through such happy tears that she
could not speak
»You will be kind and good to him for you are to every one« said Oliver
»It will make you cry I know to hear what he can tell but never mind never
mind it will be all over and you will smile again I know that too to think
how changed he is you did the same with me He said God bless you to me when I
ran away« cried the boy with a burst of affectionate emotion »and I will say
God bless you now and show him how I love him for it«
As they approached the town and at length drove through its narrow streets
it became matter of no small difficulty to restrain the boy within reasonable
bounds There was Sowerberrys the undertakers just as it used to be only
smaller and less imposing in appearance than he remembered it there were all
the wellknown shops and houses with almost every one of which he had some
slight incident connected there was Gamfields cart the very cart he used to
have standing at the old publichouse door there was the workhorse the
dreary prison of his youthful days with its dismal windows frowning on the
street there was the same lean porter standing at the gate at sight of whom
Oliver involuntarily shrunk back and then laughed at himself for being so
foolish then cried then laughed again there were scores of faces at the
doors and windows that he knew quite well there was nearly everything as if he
had left it but yesterday and all his recent life had been but a happy dream
But it was pure earnest joyful reality They drove straight to the door of
the chief hotel which Oliver used to stare up at with awe and think a mighty
palace but which had somehow fallen off in grandeur and size and here was Mr
Grimwig all ready to receive them kissing the young lady and the old one too
when they got out of the coach as if he were the grandfather of the whole
party all smiles and kindness and not offering to eat his head no not once
not even when he contradicted a very old postboy about the nearest road to
London and maintained he knew it best though he had only come that way once
and that time fast asleep There was dinner prepared and there were bedrooms
ready and everything was arranged as if by magic
Notwithstanding all this when the hurry of the first halfhour was over
the same silence and constraint prevailed that had marked their journey down
Mr Brownlow did not join them at dinner but remained in a separate room The
two other gentlemen hurried in and out with anxious faces and during the short
intervals when they were present conversed apart Once Mrs Maylie was called
away and after being absent for nearly an hour returned with eyes swollen with
weeping All these things made Rose and Oliver who were not in any new secrets
nervous and uncomfortable They sat wondering in silence or if they exchanged
a few words spoke in whispers as if they were afraid to hear the sound of
their own voices
At length when nine oclock had come and they began to think they were to
hear no more that night Mr Losberne and Mr Grimwig entered the room followed
by Mr Brownlow and a man whom Oliver almost shrieked with surprise to see for
they told him it was his brother and it was the same man he had met at the
markettown and seen looking in with Fagin at the window of his little room
Monks cast a look of hate which even then he could not dissemble at the
astonished boy and sat down near the door Mr Brownlow who had papers in his
hand walked to a table near which Rose and Oliver were seated
»This is a painful task« said he »but these declarations which have been
signed in London before many gentlemen must be in substance repeated here I
would have spared you the degradation but we must hear them from your own lips
before we part and you know why«
»Go on« said the person addressed turning away his face »Quick I have
almost done enough I think Dont keep me here«
»This child« said Mr Brownlow drawing Oliver to him and laying his hand
upon his head »is your halfbrother the illegitimate son of your father my
dear friend Edwin Leeford by poor young Agnes Fleming who died in giving him
birth«
»Yes« said Monks scowling at the trembling boy the beating of whose heart
he might have heard »That is their bastard child«
»The term you use« said Mr Brownlow sternly »is a reproach to those who
long since passed beyond the feeble censure of the world It reflects disgrace
on no one living except you who use it Let that pass He was born in this
town«
»In the workhouse of this town« was the sullen reply »You have the story
there« He pointed impatiently to the papers as he spoke
»I must have it here too« said Mr Brownlow looking round upon the
listeners
»Listen then You« returned Monks »His father being taken ill at Rome was
joined by his wife my mother from whom he had been long separated who went
from Paris and took me with her to look after his property for what I know
for she had no great affection for him nor he for her He knew nothing of us
for his senses were gone and he slumbered on till next day when he died Among
the papers in his desk were two dated on the night his illness first came on
directed to yourself« he addressed himself to Mr Brownlow »and enclosed in a
few short lines to you with an intimation on the cover of the package that it
was not to be forwarded till after he was dead One of these papers was a letter
to this girl Agnes the other a will«
»What of the letter« asked Mr Brownlow
»The letter A sheet of paper crossed and crossed again with a penitent
confession and prayers to God to help her He had palmed a tale on the girl
that some secret mystery to be explained one day prevented his marrying her
just then and so she had gone on trusting patiently to him until she trusted
too far and lost what none could ever give her back She was at that time
within a few months of her confinement He told her all he had meant to do to
hide her shame if he had lived and prayed her if he died not to curse his
memory or think the consequences of their sin would be visited on her or their
young child for all the guilt was his He reminded her of the day he had given
her the little locket and the ring with her christian name engraved upon it and
a blank left for that which he hoped one day to have bestowed upon her prayed
her yet to keep it and wear it next her heart as she had done before and
then ran on wildly in the same words over and over again as if he had gone
distracted I believe he had«
»The will« said Mr Brownlow as Olivers tears fell fast
Monks was silent
»The will« said Mr Brownlow speaking for him »was in the same spirit as
the letter He talked of miseries which his wife had brought upon him of the
rebellious disposition vice malice and premature bad passions of you his only
son who had been trained to hate him and left you and your mother each an
annuity of eight hundred pounds The bulk of his property he divided into two
equal portions one for Agnes Fleming and the other for their child if it
should be born alive and ever come of age If it were a girl it was to inherit
the money unconditionally but if a boy only on the stipulation that in his
minority he should never have stained his name with any public act of dishonour
meanness cowardice or wrong He did this he said to mark his confidence in
the mother and his conviction only strengthened by approaching death that
the child would share her gentle heart and noble nature If he were
disappointed in this expectation then the money was to come to you for then
and not till then when both children were equal would he recognise your prior
claim upon his purse who had none upon his heart but had from an infant
repulsed him with coldness and aversion«
»My mother« said Monks in a louder tone »did what a woman should have
done She burnt this will The letter never reached its destination but that
and other proofs she kept in case they ever tried to lie away the blot The
girls father had the truth from her with every aggravation that her violent
hate I love her for it now could add Goaded by shame and dishonour he fled
with his children into a remote corner of Wales changing his very name that his
friends might never know of his retreat and here no great while afterwards he
was found dead in his bed The girl had left her home in secret some weeks
before he had searched for her on foot in every town and village near it was
on the night when he returned home assured that she had destroyed herself to
hide her shame and his that his old heart broke«
There was a short silence here until Mr Brownlow took up the thread of the
narrative
»Years after this« he said »this mans Edward Leefords mother came to
me He had left her when only eighteen robbed her of 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 to recover him before she died Inquires were set
on foot and strict searches made They were unavailing for a long time but
ultimately successful and he went back with her to France«
»There she died« said Monks »after a lingering illness and on her
deathbed she bequeathed these secrets to me together with her unquenchable
and deadly hatred of all whom they involved though she need not have left me
that for I had inherited it long before She would not believe that the girl
had destroyed herself and the child too but was filled with the impression
that a male child had been born and was alive I swore to her if ever it
crossed my path to hunt it down never to let it rest to pursue it with the
bitterest and most unrelenting animosity to vent upon it the hatred that I
deeply felt and to spit upon the empty vaunt of that insulting will by dragging
it if I could to the very gallowsfoot She was right He came in my way at
last I began well and but for babbling drabs I would have finished as I
began«
As the villain folded his arms tight together and muttered curses on
himself in the impotence of baffled malice Mr Brownlow turned to the terrified
group beside him and explained that the Jew who had been his old accomplice
and confidant had a large reward for keeping Oliver ensnared of which some
part was to be given up in the event of his being rescued and that a dispute
on this head had led to their visit to the country house for the purpose of
identifying him
»The locket and ring« said Mr Brownlow turning to Monks
»I bought them from the man and woman I told you of who stole them from the
nurse who stole them from the corpse« answered Monks without raising his eyes
»You know what became of them«
Mr Brownlow merely nodded to Mr Grimwig who disappearing with great
alacrity shortly returned pushing in Mrs Bumble and dragging her unwilling
consort after him
»Do my his deceive me« cried Mr Bumble with illfeigned enthusiasm »or
is that little Oliver Oh Oliver if you knowd how Ive been agrieving for
you «
»Hold your tongue fool« murmured Mrs Bumble
»Isnt natur natur Mrs Bumble« remonstrated the workhouse master »Cant
I be supposed to feel I as brought him up porochially when I see him
asetting here among ladies and gentlemen of the very affablest description I
always loved that boy as if hed been my my my own grandfather« said Mr
Bumble halting for an appropriate comparison »Master Oliver my dear you
remember the blessed gentleman in the white waistcoat Ah he went to heaven
last week in a oak coffin with plated handles Oliver«
»Come sir« said Mr Grimwig tartly »suppress your feelings«
»I will do my endeavours sir« replied Mr Bumble »How do you do sir I
hope you are very well«
This salutation was addressed to Mr Brownlow who had stepped up to within
a short distance of the respectable couple He inquired as he pointed to Monks
»Do you know that person«
»No« replied Mrs Bumble flatly
»Perhaps you dont« said Mr Brownlow addressing her spouse
»I never saw him in all my life« said Mr Bumble
»Nor sold him anything perhaps«
»No« replied Mrs Bumble
»You never had perhaps a certain gold locket and ring« said Mr Brownlow
»Certainly not« replied the matron »Why are we brought here to answer to
such nonsense as this«
Again Mr Brownlow nodded to Mr Grimwig and again that gentleman limped
away with extraordinary readiness But not again did he return with a stout man
and wife for this time he led in two palsied women who shook and tottered as
they walked
»You shut the door the night old Sally died« said the foremost one raising
her shrivelled hand »but you couldnt shut out the sound nor stop the chinks«
»No no« said the other looking round her and wagging her toothless jaws
»No no no«
»We heard her try to tell you what shed done and saw you take a paper from
her hand and watched you too next day to the pawnbrokers shop« said the
first
»Yes« added the second »and it was a locket and gold ring We found out
that and saw it given you We were by Oh we were by«
»And we know more than that« resumed the first »for she told us often
long ago that the young mother had told her that feeling she should never get
over it she was on her way at the time that she was taken ill to die near the
grave of the father of the child«
»Would you like to see the pawnbroker himself« asked Mr Grimwig with a
motion towards the door
»No« replied the woman »if he« she pointed to Monks »has been coward
enough to confess as I see he has and you have sounded all these hags till you
have found the right ones I have nothing more to say I did sell them and
theyre where youll never get them What then«
»Nothing« replied Mr Brownlow »except that it remains for us to take care
that neither of you is employed in a situation of trust again You may leave the
room«
»I hope« said Mr Bumble looking about him with great ruefulness as Mr
Grimwig disappeared with the two old women »I hope that this unfortunate little
circumstance will not deprive me of my porochial office«
»Indeed it will« replied Mr Brownlow »You may make up your mind to that
and think yourself well off besides«
»It was all Mrs Bumble She would do it« urged Mr Bumble first looking
round to ascertain that his partner had left the room
»That is no excuse« replied Mr Brownlow »You were present on the occasion
of the destruction of these trinkets and indeed are the more guilty of the two
in the eye of the law for the law supposes that your wife acts under your
direction«
»If the law supposes that« said Mr Bumble squeezing his hat emphatically
in both hands »the law is a ass a idiot If thats the eye of the law the
law is a bachelor and the worst I wish the law is that his eye may be opened
by experience by experience«
Laying great stress on the repetition of these two words Mr Bumble fixed
his hat on very tight and putting his hands in his pockets followed his
helpmate down stairs
»Young lady« said Mr Brownlow turning to Rose »give me your hand Do not
tremble You need not fear to hear the few remaining words we have to say«
»If they have I do not know how they can but if they have any reference
to me« said Rose »pray let me hear them at some other time I have not
strength or spirits now«
»Nay« returned the old gentleman drawing her arm through his »you have
more fortitude than this I am sure Do you know this young lady sir«
»Yes« replied Monks
»I never saw you before« said Rose faintly
»I have seen you often« returned Monks
»The father of the unhappy Agnes had two daughters« said Mr Brownlow
»What was the fate of the other the child«
»The child« replied Monks »when her father died in a strange place in a
strange name without a letter book or scrap of paper that yielded the
faintest clue by which his friends or relatives could be traced the child was
taken by some wretched cottagers who reared it as their own«
»Go on« said Mr Brownlow signing to Mrs Maylie to approach »Go on«
»You couldnt find the spot to which these people had repaired« said Monks
»but where friendship fails hatred will often force a way My mother found it
after a year of cunning search ay and found the child«
»She took it did she«
»No The people were poor and began to sicken at least the man did of
their fine humanity so she left it with them giving them a small present of
money which would not last long and promised more which she never meant to
send She didnt quite rely however on their discontent and poverty for the
childs unhappiness but told the history of the sisters shame with such
alterations as suited her bade them take good heed of the child for she came
of bad blood and told them she was illegitimate and sure to go wrong at one
time or other The circumstances countenanced all this the people believed it
and there the child dragged on an existence miserable enough even to satisfy
us until a widow lady residing then at Chester saw the girl by chance
pitied her and took her home There was some cursed spell I think against us
for in spite of all our efforts she remained there and was happy I lost sight
of her two or three years ago and saw her no more until a few months back«
»Do you see her now«
»Yes Leaning on your arm«
»But not the less my niece« cried Mrs Maylie folding the fainting girl in
her arms »not the less my dearest child I would not lose her now for all the
treasures of the world My sweet companion my own dear girl«
»The only friend I ever had« cried Rose clinging to her »The kindest
best of friends My heart will burst I cannot bear all this«
»You have borne more and have been through all the best and gentlest
creature that ever shed happiness on every one she knew« said Mrs Maylie
embracing her tenderly »Come come my love remember who this is who waits to
clasp you in his arms poor child See here look look my dear«
»Not aunt« cried Oliver throwing his arms about her neck »Ill never call
her aunt sister my own dear sister that something taught my heart to love so
dearly from the first Rose dear darling Rose«
Let the tears which fell and the broken words which were exchanged in the
long close embrace between the orphans be sacred A father sister and mother
were gained and lost in that one moment Joy and grief were mingled in the
cup but there were no bitter tears for even grief itself arose so softened
and clothed in such sweet and tender recollections that it became a solemn
pleasure and lost all character of pain
They were a long long time alone A soft tap at the door at length
announced that some one was without Oliver opened it glided away and gave
place to Harry Maylie
»I know it all« he said taking a seat beside the lovely girl »Dear Rose
I know it all«
»I am not here by accident« he added after a lengthened silence »nor have
I heard all this tonight for I knew it yesterday only yesterday Do you
guess that I have come to remind you of a promise«
»Stay« said Rose »You do know all«
»All You gave me leave at any time within a year to renew the subject of
our last discourse«
»I did«
»Not to press you to alter your determination« pursued the young man »but
to hear you repeat it if you would I was to lay whatever of station or fortune
I might possess at your feet and if you still adhered to your former
determination I pledged myself by no word or act to seek to change it«
»The same reasons which influenced me then will influence me now« said
Rose firmly »If I ever owed a strict and rigid duty to her whose goodness
saved me from a life of indigence and suffering when should I ever feel it as
I should tonight It is a struggle« said Rose »but one I am proud to make it
is a pang but one my heart shall bear«
»The disclosure of tonight « Harry began
»The disclosure of tonight« replied Rose softly »leaves me in the same
position with reference to you as that in which I stood before«
»You harden your heart against me Rose« urged her lover
»Oh Harry Harry« said the young lady bursting into tears »I wish I
could and spare myself this pain«
»Then why inflict it on yourself« said Harry taking her hand »Think dear
Rose think what you have heard tonight«
»And what have I heard What have I heard« cried Rose »That a sense of his
deep disgrace so worked upon my own father that he shunned all there we have
said enough Harry we have said enough«
»Not yet not yet« said the young man detaining her as she rose »My
hopes my wishes prospects feeling every thought in life except my love for
you have undergone a change I offer you now no distinction among a bustling
crowd no mingling with a 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 and those alone are all I have
to offer«
»What do you mean« she faltered
»I mean but this that when I left you last I left you with a firm
determination to level all fancied barriers between yourself and me resolved
that if my world could not be yours I would make yours mine that no pride of
birth should curl the lip at you for I would turn from it This I have done
Those who have shrunk from me because of this have shrunk from you and proved
you so far right Such power and patronage such relatives of influence and
rank as smiled upon me then look coldly now but there are smiling fields and
waving trees in Englands richest county and by one village church mine
Rose my own there stands a rustic dwelling which you can make me prouder of
than all the hopes I have renounced measured a thousandfold This is my rank
and station now and here I lay it down«
»Its a trying thing waiting supper for lovers« said Mr Grimwig waking up
and pulling his pockethandkerchief from over his head
Truth to tell the supper had been waiting a most unreasonable time Neither
Mrs Maylie nor Harry nor Rose who all came in together could offer a word
in extenuation
»I had serious thoughts of eating my head tonight« said Mr Grimwig »for
I began to think I should get nothing else Ill take the liberty if youll
allow me of saluting the bride that is to be«
Mr Grimwig lost no time in carrying this notice into effect upon the
blushing girl and the example being contagious was followed both by the
doctor and Mr Brownlow some people affirm that Harry Maylie had been observed
to set it originally in a dark room adjoining but the best authorities
consider this downright scandal he being young and a clergyman
»Oliver my child« said Mrs Maylie »where have you been and why do you
look so sad There are tears stealing down your face at this moment What is the
matter«
It is a world of disappointment often to the hopes we most cherish and
hopes that do our nature the greatest honour
Poor Dick was dead
Chapter LII
Fagins Last Night Alive
The court was paved from floor to roof wiyth human faces Inquisitive and
eager eyes peered from every inch of space From the rail before the dock away
into the sharpest angle of the smallest corner in the galleries all looks were
fixed upon one man Fagin Before him and behind above below on the right
and on the left he seemed to stand surrounded by a firmament all bright with
gleaming eyes
He stood there in all this glare of living light with one hand resting on
the wooden slab before him the other held to his ear and his head thrust
forward to enable him to catch with greater distinctness every word that fell
from the presiding judge who was delivering his charge to the jury At times
he turned his eyes sharply upon them to observe the effect of the slightest
featherweight in his favour and when the points against him were stated with
terrible distinctness looked towards his counsel in mute appeal that he would
even then urge something in his behalf Beyond these manifestations of anxiety
he stirred not hand or foot He had scarcely moved since the trial began and
now that the judge ceased to speak he still remained in the same strained
attitude of close attention with his gaze bent on him as though he listened
still
A slight bustle in the court recalled him to himself Looking round he saw
that the jurymen had turned together to consider of their verdict As his eyes
wandered to the gallery he could see the people rising above each other to see
his face some hastily applying their glasses to their eyes and others
whispering their neighbours with looks expressive of abhorrence A few there
were who seemed unmindful of him and looked only to the jury in impatient
wonder how they could delay But in no one face not even among the women of
whom there were many there could he read the faintest sympathy with himself
or any feeling but one of allabsorbing interest that he should be condemned
As he saw all this in one bewildered glance the deathlike stillness came
again and looking back he saw that the jurymen had turned towards the judge
Hush
They only sought permission to retire
He looked wistfully into their faces one by one when they passed out as
though to see which way the greater number leant but that was fruitless The
jailer touched him on the shoulder He followed mechanically to the end of the
dock and sat down on a chair The man pointed it out or he would not have seen
it
He looked up into the gallery again Some of the people were eating and
some fanning themselves with handkerchiefs for the crowded place was very hot
There was one young man sketching his face in a little notebook He wondered
whether it was like and looked on when the artist broke his pencilpoint and
made another with his knife as any idle spectator might have done
In the same way when he turned his eyes towards the judge his mind began
to busy itself with the fashion of his dress and what it cost and how he put
it on There was an old fat gentleman on the bench too who had gone out some
half an hour before and now come back He wondered within himself whether this
man had been to get his dinner what he had had and where he had had it and
pursued this train of careless thought until some new object caught his eye and
roused another
Not that all this time his mind was for an instant free from one
oppressive overwhelming sense of the grave that opened at his feet it was ever
present to him but in a vague and general way and he could not fix his
thoughts upon it Thus even while he trembled and turned burning hot at the
idea of speedy death he fell to counting the iron spikes before him and
wondering how the head of one had been broken off and whether they would mend
it or leave it as it was Then he thought of all the horrors of the gallows
and the scaffold and stopped to watch a man sprinkling the floor to cool it
and then went on to think again
At length there was a cry of silence and a breathless look from all towards
the door The jury returned and passed him close He could glean nothing from
their faces they might as well have been of stone Perfect stillness ensued
not a rustle not a breath Guilty
The building rang with a tremendous shout and another and another and
then it echoed loud groans that gathered strength as they swelled out like
angry thunder It was a peal of joy from the populace outside greeting the news
that he would die on Monday
The noise subsided and he was asked if he had anything to say why sentence
of death should not be passed upon him He had resumed his listening attitude
and looked intently at his questioner while the demand was made but it was
twice repeated before he seemed to hear it and then he only muttered that he
was an old man an old man an old man and so dropping into a whisper was
silent again
The judge assumed the black cap and the prisoner still stood with the same
air and gesture A woman in the gallery uttered some exclamation called forth
by this dread solemnity he looked hastily up as if angry at the interruption
and bent forward yet more attentively The address was solemn and impressive
the sentence fearful to hear But he stood like a marble figure without the
motion of a nerve His haggard face was still thrust forward his underjaw
hanging down and his eyes staring out before him when the jailer put his hand
upon his arm and beckoned him away He gazed stupidly about him for an instant
and obeyed
They led him through a paved room under the court where some prisoners were
waiting till their turns came and others were talking to their friends who
crowded round a grate which looked into the open yard There was nobody there
to speak to him but as he passed the prisoners fell back to render him more
visible to the people who were clinging to the bars and they assailed him with
opprobrious names and screeched and hissed He shook his fist and would have
spat upon them but his conductors hurried him on through a gloomy passage
lighted by a few dim lamps into the interior of the prison
Here he was searched that he might not have about him the means of
anticipating the law this ceremony performed they led him to one of the
condemned cells and left him there alone
He sat down on a stone bench opposite the door which served for seat and
bedstead and casting his bloodshot eyes upon the ground tried to collect his
thoughts After awhile he began to remember a few disjointed fragments of what
the judge had said though it had seemed to him at the time that he could not
hear a word These gradually fell into their proper places and by degrees
suggested more so that in a little time he had the whole almost as it was
delivered To be hanged by the neck till he was dead that was the end To be
hanged by the neck till he was dead
As it came on very dark he began to think of all the men he had known who
had died upon the scaffold some of them through his means They rose up in
such quick succession that he could hardly count them He had seen some of them
die and had joked too because they died with prayers upon their lips With
what a rattling noise the drop went down and how suddenly they changed from
strong and vigorous men to dangling heaps of clothes
Some of them might have inhabited that very cell sat upon that very spot
It was very dark why didnt they bring a light The cell had been built for
many years Scores of men must have passed their last hours there It was like
sitting in a vault strewn with dead bodies the cap the noose the pinioned
arms the faces that he knew even beneath that hideous veil Light light
At length when his hands were raw with beating against the heavy door and
walls two men appeared one bearing a candle which he thrust into an iron
candlestick fixed against the wall the other dragging in a mattress on which to
pass the night for the prisoner was to be left alone no more
Then came night dark dismal silent night Other watchers are glad to
hear the churchclocks strike for they tell of life and coming day To him they
brought despair The boom of every iron bell came laden with the one deep
hollow sound Death What availed the noise and bustle of cheerful morning
which penetrated even there to him It was another form of knell with mockery
added to the warning
The day passed off Day There was no day it was gone as soon as come and
night came on again night so long and yet so short long in its dreadful
silence and short in its fleeting hours At one time he raved and blasphemed
and at another howled and tore his hair Venerable men of his own persuasion had
come to pray beside him but he had driven them away with curses They renewed
their charitable efforts and he beat them off
Saturday night He had only one night more to live And as he thought of
this the day broke Sunday
It was not until the night of this last awful day that a withering sense of
his helpless desperate state came in its full intensity upon his blighted soul
not that he had ever held any defined or positive hope of mercy but that he had
never been able to consider more than the dim probability of dying so soon He
had spoken little to either of the two men who relieved each other in their
attendance upon him and they for their parts made no effort to rouse his
attention He had sat there awake but dreaming Now he started up every
minute and with gasping mouth and burning skin hurried to and fro in such a
paroxysm of fear and wrath that even they used to such sights recoiled from
him with horror He grew so terrible at last in all the tortures of his evil
conscience that one man could not bear to sit there eyeing him done and so
the two kept watch together
He cowered down upon his stone bed and thought of the past He had been
wounded with some missiles from the crowd on the day of his capture and his
head was bandaged with a linen cloth His red hair hung down upon his bloodless
face his beard was torn and twisted into knots his eyes shone with a terrible
light his unwashed flesh crackled with the fever that burnt him up
Eightnineten If it was not a trick to frighten him and those were the real
hours treading on each others heels where would he be when they came round
again Eleven Another struck before the voice of the previous hour had ceased
to vibrate At eight he would be the only mourner in his own funeral train at
eleven
Those dreadful walls of Newgate which have hidden so much misery and such
unspeakable anguish not only from the eyes but too often and too long from
the thoughts of men never held so dread a spectacle as that The few who
lingered as they passed and wondered what the man was doing who was to be
hanged tomorrow would have slept but ill that night if they could have seen
him
From early in the evening until nearly midnight little groups of two and
three presented themselves at the lodgegate and inquired with anxious faces
whether any reprieve had been received These being answered in the negative
communicated the welcome intelligence to clusters in the street who pointed out
to one another the door from which he must come out and showed where the
scaffold would be built and walking with unwilling steps away turned back to
conjure up the scene By degrees they fell off one by one and for an hour in
the dead of night the street was left to solitude and darkness
The space before the prison was cleared and a few strong barriers painted
black had been already thrown across the road to break the pressure of the
expected crowd when Mr Brownlow and Oliver appeared at the wicket and
presented an order of admission to the prisoner signed by one of the sheriffs
They were immediately admitted into the lodge
»Is the young gentleman to come too sir« said the man whose duty it was to
conduct them »Its not a sight for children sir«
»It is not indeed my friend« rejoined Mr Brownlow »but my business with
this man is intimately connected with him and as this child has seen him in the
full career of his success and villany I think it as well even at the cost of
some pain and fear that he should see him now«
These few words had been said apart so as to be inaudible to Oliver The
man touched his hat and glancing at Oliver with some curiosity opened another
gate opposite to that by which they had entered and led them on through dark
and winding ways towards the cells
»This« said the man stopping in a gloomy passage where a couple of workmen
were making some preparations in profound silence »this is the place he passes
through If you step this way you can see the door he goes out at«
He led them into a stone kitchen fitted with coppers for dressing the
prison food and pointed to a door There was an open grating above it through
which came the sound of mens voices mingled with the noise of hammering and
the throwing down of boards They were putting up the scaffold
From this place they passed through several strong gates opened by other
turnkeys from the inner side and having entered an open yard ascended a
flight of narrow steps and came into a passage with a row of strong doors on
the left hand Motioning them to remain where they were the turnkey knocked at
one of these with his bunch of keys The two attendants after a little
whispering came out into the passage stretching themselves as if glad of the
temporary relief and motioned the visitors to follow the jailer into the cell
They did so
The condemned criminal was seated on his bed rocking himself from side to
side with a countenance more like that of a snared beast than the face of a
man His mind was evidently wandering to his old life for he continued to
mutter without appearing conscious of their presence otherwise than as a part
of his vision
»Good boy Charley well done « he mumbled »Oliver too ha ha ha
Oliver too quite the gentleman now quite the take that boy away to bed«
The jailer took the disengaged hand of Oliver and whispering him not to be
alarmed looked on without speaking
»Take him away to bed« cried Fagin »Do you hear me some of you He has
been the the somehow the cause of all this Its worth the money to bring
him up to it Bolters throat Bill never mind the girl Bolters throat as
deep as you can cut Saw his head off«
»Fagin« said the jailer
»Thats me« cried the Jew falling instantly into the attitude of
listening he had assumed upon his trial »An old man my Lord a very old old
man«
»Here« said the turnkey laying his hand upon his breast to keep him down
»Heres somebody wants to see you to ask you some questions I suppose Fagin
Fagin Are you a man«
»I shant be one long« he replied looking up with a face retaining no
human expression but rage and terror »Strike them all dead What right have
they to butcher me«
As he spoke he caught sight of Oliver and Mr Brownlow Shrinking to the
furthest corner of the seat he demanded to know what they wanted there
»Steady« said the turnkey still holding him down »Now sir tell him what
you want Quick if you please for he grows worse as the time gets on«
»You have some papers« said Mr Brownlow advancing »which were placed in
your hands for better security by a man called Monks«
»Its all a lie together« replied Fagin »I havent one not one«
»For the love of God« said Mr Brownlow solemnly »do not say that now
upon the very verge of death but tell me where they are You know that Sikes is
dead that Monks has confessed that there is no hope of any further gain Where
are those papers«
»Oliver« cried Fagin beckoning to him »Here here Let me whisper to
you«
»I am not afraid« said Oliver in a low voice as he relinquished Mr
Brownlows hand
»The papers« said Fagin drawing Oliver towards him »are in a canvas bag
in a hole a little way up the chimney in the top frontroom I want to talk to
you my dear I want to talk to you«
»Yes yes« returned Oliver »Let me say a prayer Do Let me say one
prayer Say only one upon your knees with me and we will talk till morning«
»Outside outside« replied Fagin pushing the boy before him towards the
door and looking vacantly over his head »Say Ive gone to sleep theyll
believe you You can get me out if you take me so Now then now then«
»Oh God forgive this wretched man« cried the boy with a burst of tears
»Thats right thats right« said Fagin »Thatll help us on This door
first If I shake and tremble as we pass the gallows dont you mind but hurry
on Now now now«
»Have you nothing else to ask him sir« inquired the turnkey
»No other question« replied Mr Brownlow »If I hoped we could recall him
to a sense of his position «
»Nothing will do that sir« replied the man shaking his head »You had
better leave him«
The door of the cell opened and the attendants returned
»Press on press on« cried Fagin »Softly but not so slow Faster
faster«
The men laid hands upon him and disengaging Oliver from his grasp held him
back He struggled with the power of desperation for an instant and then sent
up cry upon cry that penetrated even those massive walls and rang in their ears
until they reached the open yard
It was some time before they left the prison Oliver nearly swooned after
this frightful scene and was so weak that for an hour or more he had not the
strength to walk
Day was dawning when they again emerged A great multitude had already
assembled the windows were filled with people smoking and playing cards to
beguile the time the crowd were pushing quarrelling joking Everything told
of life and animation but one dark cluster of objects in the centre of all
the black stage the crossbeam the rope and all the hideous apparatus of
death
Chapter LIII
And Last
The fortunes of those who have figured in this tale are nearly closed The
little that remains to their historian to relate is told in few and simple
words
Before three months had passed Rose Fleming and Harry Maylie were married
in the village church which was henceforth to be the scene of the young
clergymans labours on the same day they entered into possession of their new
and happy home
Mrs Maylie took up her abode with her son and daughterinlaw to enjoy
during the tranquil remainder of her days the greatest felicity that age and
worth can know the contemplation of the happiness of those on whom the warmest
affections and tenderest cares of a wellspent life have been unceasingly
bestowed
It appeared on full and careful investigation that if the wreck of
property remaining in the custody of Monks which had never prospered either in
his hands or in those of his mother were equally divided between himself and
Oliver it would yield to each little more than three thousand pounds By the
provisions of his fathers will Oliver would have been entitled to the whole
but Mr Brownlow unwilling to deprive the elder son of the opportunity of
retrieving his former vices and pursuing an honest career proposed this mode of
distribution to which his young charge joyfully acceded
Monks still bearing that assumed name retired with his portion to a
distant part of the New World where having quickly squandered it he once more
fell into his old courses and after undergoing a long confinement for some
fresh act of fraud and knavery at length sunk under an attack of his old
disorder and died in prison As far from home died the chief remaining members
of his friend Fagins gang
Mr Brownlow adopted Oliver as his son Removing with him and the old
housekeeper to within a mile of the parsonagehouse where his dear friends
resided he gratified the only remaining wish of Olivers warm and earnest
heart and thus linked together a little society whose condition approached as
nearly to one of perfect happiness as can ever be known in this changing world
Soon after the marriage of the young people the worthy doctor returned to
Chertsey where bereft of the presence of his old friends he would have been
discontented if his temperament had admitted of such a feeling and would have
turned quite peevish if he had known how For two or three months he contented
himself with hinting that he feared the air began to disagree with him then
finding that the place really no longer was to him what it had been he
settled his business on his assistant took a bachelors cottage outside the
village of which his young friend was pastor and instantaneously recovered
Here he took to gardening planting fishing carpentering and various other
pursuits of a similar kind all undertaken with his characteristic impetuosity
In each and all he has since become famous throughout the neighbourhood as a
most profound authority
Before his removal he had managed to contract a strong friendship for Mr
Grimwig which that eccentric gentleman cordially reciprocated He is
accordingly visited by Mr Grimwig a great many times in the course of the year
On all such occasions Mr Grimwig plants fishes and carpenters with great
ardour doing everything in a very singular and unprecedented manner but always
maintaining with his favourite asseveration that his mode is the right one On
Sundays he never fails to criticise the sermon to the young clergymans face
always informing Mr Losberne in strict confidence afterwards that he
considers it an excellent performance but deems it as well not to say so It is
a standing and very favourite joke for Mr Brownlow to rally him on his old
prophecy concerning Oliver and to remind him of the night on which they sat
with the watch between them waiting his return but Mr Grimwig contends that
he was right in the main and in proof thereof remarks that Oliver did not
come back after all which always calls forth a laugh on his side and
increases his good humour
Mr Noah Claypole receiving a free pardon from the Crown in consequence of
being admitted approver against Fagin and considering his profession not
altogether as safe a one as he could wish was for some little time at a loss
for the means of a livelihood not burthened with too much work After some
consideration he went into business as an Informer in which calling he
realises a genteel subsistence His plan is to walk out once a week during
church time attended by Charlotte in respectable attire The lady faints away at
the doors of charitable publicans and the gentleman being accommodated with
threepennyworth of brandy to restore her lays an information next day and
pockets half the penalty Sometimes Mr Claypole faints himself but the result
is the same
Mr and Mrs Bumble deprived of their situations were gradually reduced to
great indigence and misery and finally became paupers in that very same
workhouse in which they had once lorded it over others Mr Bumble has been
heard to say that in this reverse and degradation he has not even spirits to
be thankful for being separated from his wife
As to Mr Giles and Brittles they still remain in their old posts although
the former is bald and the lastnamed 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 to this day the villagers have never
been able to discover to which establishment they properly belong
Master Charles Bates appalled by Sikess crime fell into a train of
reflection whether an honest life was not after all the best Arriving at the
conclusion that it certainly was he turned his back upon the scenes of the
past resolved to amend it in some new sphere of action He struggled hard and
suffered much for some time but having a contented disposition and a good
purpose succeeded in the end and from being a farmers drudge and a
carriers lad he is now the merriest young grazier in all Northamptonshire
And now the hand that traces these words falters as it approaches the
conclusion of its task and would weave for a little longer space the thread
of these adventures
I would fain linger yet with a few of those among whom I have so long moved
and share their happiness by endeavouring to depict it I would show Rose Maylie
in all the bloom and grace of early womanhood shedding on her secluded path in
life soft and gentle light that fell on all who trod it with her and shone
into their hearts I would paint her the life and joy of the fireside circle
and the lively summer group I would follow her through the sultry fields at
noon and hear the low tones of her sweet voice in the moonlit evening walk I
would watch her in all her goodness and charity abroad and the smiling untiring
discharge of domestic duties at home I would paint her and her dead sisters
child happy in their love for one another and passing whole hours together in
picturing the friends whom they had so sadly lost I would summon before me
once again those joyous little faces that clustered round her 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 thousand looks and smiles and turns of thought and speech I would fain
recall them every one
How Mr Brownlow went on from day to day filling the mind of his adopted
child with stores of knowledge and becoming attached to him more and more as
his nature developed itself and showed the thriving seeds of all he wished him
to become how he traced in him new traits of his early friend that awakened
in his own bosom old remembrances melancholy and yet sweet and soothing how
the two orphans tried by adversity remembered its lessons in mercy to others
and mutual love and fervent thanks to Him who had protected and preserved them
these are all matters which need not to be told I have said that they were
truly happy and without strong affection and humanity of heart and gratitude
to that Being whose code is Mercy and whose great attribute is Benevolence to
all things that breathe happiness can never be attained
Within the altar of the old village church there stands a white marble
tablet which bears as yet but one word AGNES There is no coffin in that tomb
and may it be many many years before another name is placed above it But if
the spirits of the Dead ever come back to earth to visit spots hallowed by the
love the love beyond the grave of those whom they knew in life I believe
that the shade of Agnes sometimes hovers round that solemn nook I believe it
none the less because that nook is in a Church and she was weak and erring
1 Or were virtually then