Theyounggentelmansmiled,asiftointimatethatthelatterfragmentsofdiscoursewereplayfullyironical;andfinishedthebeerashedidso。
Thisunexpectedofferofshelterwastootemptingtoberesisted;
especiallyasitwasimmediatelyfollowedup,bytheassurancethattheoldgentlemanreferredto,woulddoubtlessprovideOliverwithacomfortableplace,withoutlossoftime。Thisledtoamorefriendlyandconfidentialdialogue;fromwhichOliverdiscoveredthathisfriend'snamewasJackDawkins,andthathewasapeculiarpetandprotegeoftheelderlygentlemanbeforementioned。
Mr。Dawkin'sappearancedidnotsayavastdealinfavourofthecomfortswhichhispatron'sinterestobtainedforthosewhomhetookunderhisprotection;but,ashehadaratherflightlyanddissolutemodeofconversing,andfurthermoreavowedthatamonghisintimatefriendshewasbetterknownbythesobriquetof'TheArtfulDodger,'Oliverconcludedthat,beingofadissipatedandcarelessturn,themoralpreceptsofhisbenefactorhadhithertobeenthrownawayuponhim。Underthisimpression,hesecretlyresolvedtocultivatethegoodopinionoftheoldgentlemanasquicklyaspossible;and,ifhefoundtheDodgerincorrigible,ashemorethanhalfsuspectedheshould,todeclinethehonourofhisfartheracquaintance。
AsJohnDawkinsobjectedtotheirenteringLondonbeforenightfall,itwasnearlyeleveno'clockwhentheyreachedtheturnpikeatIslington。TheycrossedfromtheAngelintoSt。
John'sRoad;struckdownthesmallstreetwhichterminatesatSadler'sWellsTheatre;throughExmouthStreetandCoppiceRow;
downthelittlecourtbythesideoftheworkhouse;acrosstheclassicgroundwhichonceborethenameofHockley-in-the-Hole;
thenceintoLittleSaffronHill;andsointoSaffronHilltheGreat:alongwhichtheDodgerscuddedatarapidpace,directingOlivertofollowcloseathisheels。
AlthoughOliverhadenoughtooccupyhisattentioninkeepingsightofhisleader,hecouldnothelpbestowingafewhastyglancesoneithersideoftheway,ashepassedalong。Adirtierormorewretchedplacehehadneverseen。Thestreetwasverynarrowandmuddy,andtheairwasimpregnatedwithfilthyodours。
Therewereagoodmanysmallshops;buttheonlystockintradeappearedtobeheapsofchildren,who,evenatthattimeofnight,werecrawlinginandoutatthedoors,orscreamingfromtheinside。Thesoleplacesthatseemedtoprosperamidthegeneralblightoftheplace,werethepublic-houses;andinthem,thelowestordersofIrishwerewranglingwithmightandmain。
Coveredwaysandyards,whichhereandtheredivergedfromthemainstreet,disclosedlittleknotsofhouses,wheredrunkenmenandwomenwerepositivelywallowinginfilth;andfromseveralofthedoor-ways,greatill-lookingfellowswerecautiouslyemerging,bound,toallappearance,onnoverywell-disposedorharmlesserrands。
Oliverwasjustconsideringwhetherhehadn'tbetterrunaway,whentheyreachedthebottomofthehill。Hisconductor,catchinghimbythearm,pushedopenthedoorofahousenearFieldLane;anddrawinghimintothepassage,closeditbehindthem。
'Now,then!'criedavoicefrombelow,inreplytoawhistlefromtheDodger。
'Plummyandslam!'wasthereply。
Thisseemedtobesomewatchwordorsignalthatallwasright;
forthelightofafeeblecandlegleamedonthewallattheremoteendofthepassage;andaman'sfacepeepedout,fromwhereabalustradeoftheoldkitchenstaircasehadbeenbrokenaway。
'There'stwoonyou,'saidtheman,thrustingthecandlefartherout,andshieldinghiseyeswithhishand。'Who'sthet'otherone?'
'Anewpal,'repliedJackDawkins,pullingOliverforward。
'Wheredidhecomefrom?'
'Greenland。IsFaginupstairs?'
'Yes,he'sasortin'thewipes。Upwithyou!'Thecandlewasdrawnback,andthefacedisappeared。
Oliver,gropinghiswaywithonehand,andhavingtheotherfirmlygraspedbyhiscompanion,ascendedwithmuchdifficultythedarkandbrokenstairs:whichhisconductormountedwithaneaseandexpeditionthatshowedhewaswellacquaintedwiththem。
Hethrewopenthedoorofaback-room,anddrewOliverinafterhim。
Thewallsandceilingoftheroomwereperfectlyblackwithageanddirt。Therewasadealtablebeforethefire:uponwhichwereacandle,stuckinaginger-beerbottle,twoorthreepewterpots,aloafandbutter,andaplate。Inafrying-pan,whichwasonthefire,andwhichwassecuredtothemantelshelfbyastring,somesausageswerecooking;andstandingoverthem,withatoasting-forkinhishand,wasaveryoldshrivelledJew,whosevillainous-lookingandrepulsivefacewasobscuredbyaquantityofmattedredhair。Hewasdressedinagreasyflannelgown,withhisthroatbare;andseemedtobedividinghisattentionbetweenthefrying-panandtheclothes-horse,overwhichagreatnumberofsilkhandkerchiefslwerehanging。Severalroughbedsmadeofoldsacks,werehuddledsidebysideonthefloor。Seatedroundthetablewerefourorfiveboys,noneolderthantheDodger,smokinglongclaypipes,anddrinkingspiritswiththeairofmiddle-agedmen。TheseallcrowdedabouttheirassociateashewhisperedafewwordstotheJew;andthenturnedroundandgrinnedatOliver。SodidtheJewhimself,toasting-forkinhand。
'Thisishim,Fagin,'saidJackDawkins;'myfriendOliverTwist。'
TheJewgrinned;and,makingalowobeisancetoOliver,tookhimbythehand,andhopedheshouldhavethehonourofhisintimateacquaintance。Uponthis,theyounggentlemanwiththepipescameroundhim,andshookbothhishandsveryhard——especiallytheoneinwhichheheldhislittlebundle。Oneyounggentlemanwasveryanxioustohanguphiscapforhim;andanotherwassoobligingastoputhishandsinhispockets,inorderthat,ashewasverytired,hemightnothavethetroubleofemptyingthem,himself,whenhewenttobed。Thesecivilitieswouldprobablybeextendedmuchfarther,butforaliberalexerciseoftheJew'stoasting-forkontheheadsandshouldersoftheaffectionateyouthswhoofferedthem。
'Weareverygladtoseeyou,Oliver,very,'saidtheJew。
'Dodger,takeoffthesausages;anddrawatubnearthefireforOliver。Ah,you'rea-staringatthepocket-handkerchiefs!eh,mydear。Thereareagoodmanyof'em,ain'tthere?We'vejustlooked'emout,readyforthewash;that'sall,Oliver;that'sall。Ha!ha!ha!'
Thelatterpartofthisspeech,washailedbyaboisterousshoutfromallthehopefulpupilsofthemerryoldgentleman。Inthemidstofwhichtheywenttosupper。
Oliveratehisshare,andtheJewthenmixedhimaglassofhotgin-and-water:tellinghimhemustdrinkitoffdirectly,becauseanothergentlemanwantedthetumbler。Oliverdidashewasdesired。Immediatelyafterwardshefelthimselfgentlyliftedontooneofthesacks;andthenhesunkintoadeepsleep。
CHAPTERIX
CONTAININGFURTHERPARTICULARSCONCERNINGTHEPLEASANTOLD
GENTLEMAN,ANDHISHOPEFULPUPILS
ItwaslatenextmorningwhenOliverawoke,fromasound,longsleep。TherewasnootherpersonintheroombuttheoldJew,whowasboilingsomecoffeeinasaucepanforbreakfast,andwhistlingsoftlytohimselfashestirreditroundandround,withanironspoon。Hewouldstopeverynowandthentolistenwhentherewastheleastnoisebelow:andwhenhehadsatistifiedhimself,hewouldgoonwhistlingandstirringagain,asbefore。
AlthoughOliverhadrousedhimselffromsleep,hewasnotthoroughlyawake。Thereisadrowsystate,betweensleepingandwaking,whenyoudreammoreinfiveminuteswithyoureyeshalfopen,andyourselfhalfconsciousofeverythingthatispassingaroundyou,thanyouwouldinfivenightswithyoureyesfastclosed,andyoursenseswraptinperfectunconsciousness。Atsuchtime,amortalknowsjustenoughofwhathismindisdoing,toformsomeglimmeringconceptionofitsmightypowers,itsboundingfromearthandspurningtimeandspace,whenfreedfromtherestraintofitscorporealassociate。
Oliverwaspreciselyinthiscondition。HesawtheJewwithhishalf-closedeyes;heardhislowwhistling;andrecognisedthesoundofthespoongratingagainstthesaucepan'ssides:andyettheself-samesenseswerementallyengaged,atthesametime,inbusyactionwithalmosteverybodyhehadeverknown。
Whenthecoffeewasdone,theJewdrewthesaucepantothehob。
Standing,theninanirresoluteattitudeforafewminutes,asifhedidnotwellknowhowtoemployhimself,heturnedroundandlookedatOliver,andcalledhimbyhisname。Hedidnotanswer,andwastoallappearancesasleep。
Aftersatisfiyinghimselfuponthishead,theJewsteppedgentlytothedoor:whichhefastened。Hethendrewforth:asitseemedtoOliver,fromsometrapinthefloor:asmallbox,whichheplacedcarefullyonthetable。Hiseyesglistenedasheraisedthelid,andlookedin。Dragginganoldchairtothetable,hesatdown;andtookfromitamagnificentgoldwatch,sparklingwithjewels。
'Aha!'saidtheJew,shrugginguphisshoulders,anddistortingeveryfeaturewithahideousgrin。'Cleverdogs!Cleverdogs!
Staunchtothelast!Nevertoldtheoldparsonwheretheywere。
NeverpoacheduponoldFagin!Andwhyshouldthey?Itwouldn'thaveloosenedtheknot,orkeptthedropup,aminutelonger。
No,no,no!Finefellows!Finefellows!'
Withthese,andothermutteredreflectionsofthelikenature,theJewoncemoredepositedthewatchinitsplaceofsafety。Atleasthalfadozenmorewereseverallydrawnforthfromthesamebox,andsurveyedwithequalpleasure;besidesrings,brooches,bracelet,andotherarticlesofjewellery,ofsuchmagnificentmaterials,andcostlyworkmanship,thatOliverhadnoidea,evenoftheirnames。
Havingreplacedthesetrinkets,theJewtookoutanother:sosmallthatitlayinthepalmofhishand。Thereseemedtobesomeveryminuteinscriptiononit;fortheJewlaiditflatuponthetable,andshadingitwithhishand,poredoverit,longandearnestly。Atlengthheputitdown,asifdespairingofsuccess;and,leaningbackinhischair,muttered:
'Whatafinethingcapitalpunishmentis!Deadmenneverrepent;
deadmenneverbringawkwardstoriestolight。Ah,it'safinethingforthetrade!Fiveof'emstrungupinarow,andnonelefttoplaybooty,orturnwhite-livered!'
AstheJewutteredthesewords,hisbrightdarkeyes,whichhadbeenstaringvacantlybeforehim,fellonOliver'sface;theboy'seyeswerefixedonhisinmutecuriousity;andalthoughtherecognitionwasonlyforaninstant——forthebriefestspaceoftimethatcanpossiblybeconceived——itwasenoughtoshowtheoldmanthathehadbeenobserved。
Heclosedthelidoftheboxwithaloudcrash;and,layinghishandonabreadknifewhichwasonthetable,startedfuriouslyup。Hetrembledverymuchthough;for,eveninhisterror,Olivercouldseethattheknifequiveredintheair。
'What'sthat?'saidtheJew。'Whatdoyouwatchmefor?Whyareyouawake?Whathaveyouseen?Speakout,boy!Quick——quick!
foryourlife。
'Iwasn'tabletosleepanylonger,sir,'repliedOliver,meekly。
'IamverysorryifIhavedisturbedyou,sir。'
'Youwerenotawakeanhourago?'saidtheJew,scowlingfiercelyontheboy。
'No!No,indeed!'repliedOliver。
'Areyousure?'criedtheJew:withastillfiercerlookthanbefore:andathreateningattitude。
'UponmywordIwasnot,sir,'repliedOliver,earnestly。'Iwasnot,indeed,sir。'
'Tush,tush,mydear!'saidtheJew,abruptlyresuminghisoldmanner,andplayingwiththeknifealittle,beforehelaiditdown;asiftoinducethebeliefthathehadcaughtitup,inmeresport。'OfcourseIknowthat,mydear。Ionlytriedtofrightenyou。You'reabraveboy。Ha!ha!you'reabraveboy,Oliver。'TheJewrubbedhishandswithachuckle,butglanceduneasilyatthebox,notwithstanding。
'Didyouseeanyoftheseprettythings,mydear?'saidtheJew,layinghishanduponitafterashortpause。
'Yes,sir,'repliedOliver。
'Ah!'saidtheJew,turningratherpale。'They——they'remine,Oliver;mylittleproperty。AllIhavetoliveupon,inmyoldage。Thefolkscallmeamiser,mydear。Onlyamiser;that'sall。'
Oliverthoughttheoldgentlemanmustbeadecidedmisertoliveinsuchadirtyplace,withsomanywatches;but,thinkingthatperhapshisfondnessfortheDodgerandtheotherboys,costhimagooddealofmoney,heonlycastadeferentiallookattheJew,andaskedifhemightgetup。
'Certainly,mydear,certainly,'repliedtheoldgentleman。
'Stay。There'sapitcherofwaterinthecornerbythedoor。
Bringithere;andI'llgiveyouabasintowashin,mydear。'
Olivergotup;walkedacrosstheroom;andstoopedforaninstanttoraisethepitcher。Whenheturnedhishead,theboxwasgone。
Hehadscarcelywashedhimself,andmadeeverythingtidy,byemptyingthebasinoutofthewindow,agreeablytotheJew'sdirections,whentheDodgerreturned:accompaniedbyaverysprightlyyoungfriend,whomOliverhadseensmokingonthepreviousnight,andwhowasnowformallyintroducedtohimasCharleyBates。Thefoursatdown,tobreakfast,onthecoffee,andsomehotrollsandhamwhichtheDodgerhadbroughthomeinthecrownofhishat。
'Well,'saidtheJew,glancingslylyatOliver,andaddressinghimselftotheDodger,'Ihopeyou'vebeenatworkthismorning,mydears?'
'Hard,'repliedtheDodger。
'Asnails,'addedCharleyBates。
'Goodboys,goodboys!'saidtheJew。'Whathaveyougot,Dodger?'
'Acoupleofpocket-books,'repliedthatyounggentlman。
'Lined?'inquiredtheJew,witheagerness。
'Prettywell,'repliedtheDodger,producingtwopocket-books;
onegreen,andtheotherred。
'Notsoheavyastheymightbe,'saidtheJew,afterlookingattheinsidescarefully;'butveryneatandnicelymade。Ingeniousworkman,ain'the,Oliver?'
'Veryindeed,sir,'saidOliver。AtwhichMr。CharlesBateslaugheduproariously;verymuchtotheamazementofOliver,whosawnothingtolaughat,inanythingthathadpassed。
'Andwhathaveyougot,mydear?'saidFagintoCharleyBates。
'Wipes,'repliedMasterBates;atthesametimeproducingfourpocket-handkerchiefs。
'Well,'saidtheJew,inspectingthemclosely;'they'reverygoodones,very。Youhaven'tmarkedthemwell,though,Charley;sothemarksshallbepickedoutwithaneedle,andwe'llteachOliverhowtodoit。Shallus,Oliver,eh?Ha!ha!ha!'
'Ifyouplease,sir,'saidOliver。
'You'dliketobeabletomakepocket-handkerchiefsaseasyasCharleyBates,wouldn'tyou,mydear?'saidtheJew。
'Verymuch,indeed,ifyou'llteachme,sir,'repliedOliver。
MasterBatessawsomethingsoexquisitelyludicrousinthisreply,thatheburstintoanotherlaugh;whichlaugh,meetingthecoffeehewasdrinking,andcarryingitdownsomewrongchannel,verynearlyterminatedinhisprematuresuffocation。
'Heissojollygreen!'saidCharleywhenherecovered,asanapologytothecompanyforhisunpolitebehaviour。
TheDodgersaidnothing,buthesmoothedOliver'shairoverhiseyes,andsaidhe'dknowbetter,byandby;uponwhichtheoldgentleman,observingOliver'scolourmounting,changedthesubjectbyaskingwhethertherehadbeenmuchofacrowdattheexecutionthatmorning?Thismadehimwondermoreandmore;foritwasplainfromtherepliesofthetwoboysthattheyhadbothbeenthere;andOlivernaturallywonderedhowtheycouldpossiblyhavefoundtimetobesoveryindustrious。
Whenthebreakfastwasclearedaway;themerryoldgentlmanandthetwoboysplayedataverycuriousanduncommongame,whichwasperformedinthisway。Themerryoldgentleman,placingasnuff-boxinonepocketofhistrousers,anote-caseintheother,andawatchinhiswaistcoatpocket,withaguard-chainroundhisneck,andstickingamockdiamondpininhisshirt:
buttonedhiscoattightroundhim,andputtinghisspectacle-caseandhandkerchiefinhispockets,trottedupanddowntheroomwithastick,inimitationofthemannerinwhicholdgentlmenwalkaboutthestreetsanyhourintheday。Sometimeshestoppedatthefire-place,andsometimesatthedoor,makingbelievethathewasstaringwithallhismightintoshop-windows。Atsuchtimes,hewouldlookconstantlyroundhim,forfearofthieves,andwouldkeepslappingallhispocketsinturn,toseethathehadn'tlostanything,insuchaveryfunnyandnaturalmanner,thatOliverlaughedtillthetearsrandownhisface。Allthistime,thetwoboysfollowedhimcloselyabout:gettingoutofhissight,sonimbly,everytimeheturnedround,thatitwasimpossibletofollowtheirmotions。Atlast,theDodgertroduponhistoes,orranuponhisbootaccidently,whileCharleyBatesstumbledupagainsthimbehind;andinthatonemomenttheytookfromhim,withthemostextraordinaryrapidity,snuff-box,note-case,watch-guard,chain,shirt-pin,pocket-handkerchief,eventhespectacle-case。Iftheoldgentlmanfeltahandinanyoneofhispockets,hecriedoutwhereitwas;andthenthegamebeganalloveragain。
Whenthisgamehadbeenplayedagreatmanytimes,acoupleofyoungladiescalledtoseetheyounggentleman;oneofwhomwasnamedBet,andtheotherNancy。Theyworeagooddealofhair,notveryneatlyturnedupbehind,andwereratheruntidyabouttheshoesandstockings。Theywerenotexactlypretty,perhaps;
buttheyhadagreatdealofcolourintheirfaces,andlookedquitestoutandhearty。Beingremarkablyfreeandagreeableintheirmanners,Oliverthoughtthemverynicegirlsindeed。Asthereisnodoubttheywere。
Thevisitorsstoppedalongtime。Spiritswereproduced,inconsequenceofoneoftheyoungladiescomplainingofacoldnessinherinside;andtheconversationtookaveryconvivialandimprovingturn。Atlength,CharleyBatesexpressedhisopinionthatitwastimetopadthehoof。This,itoccurredtoOliver,mustbeFrenchforgoingout;fordirectlyafterwards,theDodger,andCharley,andthetwoyoungladies,wentawaytogether,havingbeenkindlyfurnishedbytheamiableoldJewwithmoneytospend。
'There,mydear,'saidFagin。'That'sapleasantlife,isn'tit?
Theyhavegoneoutfortheday。'
'Havetheydonework,sir?'inquiredOliver。
'Yes,'saidtheJew;'thatis,unlesstheyshouldunexpectedlycomeacrossany,whentheyareout;andtheywon'tneglectit,iftheydo,mydear,dependuponit。Make'emyourmodels,mydear。
Make'emyourmodels,'tappingthefire-shovelonthehearthtoaddforcetohiswords;'doeverythingtheybidyou,andtaketheiradviceinallmatters——especiallytheDodger's,mydear。
He'llbeagreatmanhimself,andwillmakeyouonetoo,ifyoutakepatternbyhim——Ismyhandkerchiefhangingoutofmypocket,mydear?'saidtheJew,stoppingshort。
'Yes,sir,'saidOliver。
'Seeifyoucantakeitout,withoutmyfeelingit;asyousawthemdo,whenwewereatplaythismorning。'
Oliverheldupthebottomofthepocketwithonehand,ashehadseentheDodgerholdit,anddrewthehandkerchieflightyoutofitwiththeother。
'Isitgone?'criedtheJew。
'Hereitis,sir,'saidOliver,showingitinhishand。
'You'reacleverboy,mydear,'saidtheplayfuloldgentleman,pattingOliverontheheadapprovingly。'Ineversawasharperlad。Here'sashillingforyou。Ifyougoon,inthisway,you'llbethegreatestmanofthetime。Andnowcomehere,andI'llshowyouhowtotakethemarksoutofthehandkerchiefs。'
Oliverwonderedwhatpickingtheoldgentleman'spocketinplay,hadtodowithhischancesofbeingagreatman。But,thinkingthattheJew,beingsomuchhissenior,mustknowbest,hefollowedhimquietlytothetable,andwassoondeeplyinvolvedinhisnewstudy。
CHAPTERX
OLIVERBECOMESBETTERACQUAINTEDWITHTHECHARACTERSOFHISNEW
ASSOCIATES;ANDPURCHASESEXPERIENCEATAHIGHPRICE。BEINGA
SHORT,BUTVERYIMPORTANTCHAPTER,INTHISHISTORY
Formanydays,OliverremainedintheJew'sroom,pickingthemarksoutofthepocket-handkerchief,ofwhichagreatnumberwerebroughthome,andsometimestakingpartinthegamealreadydescribed:whichthetwoboysandtheJewplayed,regularly,everymorning。Atlength,hebegantolanguishforfreshair,andtookmanyoccasionsofearnestlyentreatingtheoldgentlemantoallowhimtogoouttoworkwithhistwocompanions。
Oliverwasrenderedthemoreanxioustobeactivelyemployed,bywhathehadseenofthesternmoralityoftheoldgentleman'scharacter。WhenevertheDodgerorCharleyBatescamehomeatnight,empty-handed,hewouldexpatiatewithgreatvehemenceonthemiseryofidleandlazyhabits;andwouldenforceuponthemthenecessityofanactivelife,bysendingthemsupperlesstobed。Ononeoccasion,indeed,heevenwentsofarastoknockthembothdownaflightofstairs;butthiswascarryingouthisvirtuouspreceptstoanunusualextent。
Atlength,onemorning,Oliverobtainedthepermissionhehadsoeagerlysought。Therehadbeennohandkerchiefstoworkupon,fortwoorthreedays,andthedinnershadbeenrathermeagre。
Perhapsthesewerereasonsfortheoldgentleman'sgivinghisassent;but,whethertheywereorno,hetoldOliverhemightgo,andplacedhimunderthejointguardianshipofCharleyBates,andhisfriendtheDodger。
Thethreeboyssalliedout;theDodgerwithhiscoat-sleevestuckedup,andhishatcocked,asusual;MasterBatessaunteringalongwithhishandsinhispockets;andOliverbetweenthem,wonderingwheretheyweregoing,andwhatbranchofmanufacturehewouldbeinstructedin,first。
Thepaceatwhichtheywent,wassuchaverylazy,ill-lookingsaunter,thatOliversoonbegantothinkhiscompanionsweregoingtodeceivetheoldgentleman,bynotgoingtoworkatall。
TheDodgerhadaviciouspropensity,too,ofpullingthecapsfromtheheadsofsmallboysandtossingthemdownareas;whileCharleyBatesexhibitedsomeveryloosenotionsconcerningtherightsofproperty,bypilferingdiversapplesandonionsfromthestallsatthekennelsides,andthrustingthemintopocketswhichweresosurprisinglycapacious,thattheyseemedtounderminehiswholesuitofclothesineverydirection。Thesethingslookedsobad,thatOliverwasonthepointofdeclaringhisintentionofseekinghiswayback,inthebestwayhecould;
whenhisthoughtsweresuddenlydirectedintoanotherchannel,byaverymysteriouschangeofbehaviouronthepartoftheDodger。
TheywerejustemergingfromanarrowcourtnotfarfromtheopensquareinClerkenwell,whichisyetcalled,bysomestrangeperversionofterms,'TheGreen':whentheDodgermadeasuddenstop;and,layinghisfingeronhislip,drewhiscompanionsbackagain,withthegreatestcautionandcircumspection。
'What'sthematter?'demandedOliver。
'Hush!'repliedtheDodger。'Doyouseethatoldcoveatthebook-stall?'
'Theoldgentlemanovertheway?'saidOliver。'Yes,Iseehim。'
'He'lldo,'saidtheDoger。
'Aprimeplant,'observedMasterCharleyBates。
Oliverlookedfromonetotheother,withthegreatestsurprise;
buthewasnotpermittedtomakeanyinquiries;forthetwoboyswalkedstealthilyacrosstheroad,andslunkclosebehindtheoldgentlemantowardswhomhisattentionhadbeendirected。Oliverwalkedafewpacesafterthem;and,notknowingwhethertoadvanceorretire,stoodlookingoninsilentamazement。
Theoldgentlemanwasaveryrespectable-lookingpersonage,withapowderedheadandgoldspectacles。Hewasdressedinabottle-greencoatwithablackvelvetcollar;worewhitetrousers;andcarriedasmartbamboocaneunderhisarm。Hehadtakenupabookfromthestall,andtherehestood,readingaway,ashardasifhewereinhiselbow-chair,inhisownstudy。Itisverypossiblethathefanciedhimselfthere,indeed;foritwasplain,fromhisabstraction,thathesawnotthebook-stall,northestreet,northeboys,nor,inshort,anythingbutthebookitself:whichhewasreadingstraightthrough:turningovertheleafwhenhegottothebottomofapage,beginningatthetoplineofthenextone,andgoingregularlyon,withthegreatestinterestandeagerness。
WhatwasOliver'shorrorandalarmashestoodafewpacesoff,lookingonwithhiseyelidsaswideopenastheywouldpossiblygo,toseetheDodgerplungehishandintotheoldgentleman'spocket,anddrawfromthenceahandkerchief!ToseehimhandthesametoCharleyBates;andfinallytobeholdthem,bothrunningawayroundthecorneratfullspeed!
Inaninstantthewholemysteryofthehankerchiefs,andthewatches,andthejewels,andtheJew,rushedupontheboy'smind。
Hestood,foramoment,withthebloodsotinglingthroughallhisveinsfromterror,thathefeltasifhewereinaburningfire;then,confusedandfrightened,hetooktohisheels;and,notknowingwhathedid,madeoffasfastashecouldlayhisfeettotheground。
Thiswasalldoneinaminute'sspace。IntheveryinstantwhenOliverbegantorun,theoldgentleman,puttinghishandtohispocket,andmissinghishandkerchief,turnedsharpround。Seeingtheboyscuddingawayatsucharapidpace,heverynaturallyconcludedhimtobethedepredator;andshouting'Stopthief!'
withallhismight,madeoffafterhim,bookinhand。
Buttheoldgentlemanwasnottheonlypersonwhoraisedthehue-and-cry。TheDodgerandMasterBates,unwillingtoattractpublicattentionbyrunningdowntheopenstreet,hadmerelyreturedintotheveryfirstdoorwayroundthecorner。Theynosoonerheardthecry,andsawOliverrunning,than,guessingexactlyhowthematterstood,theyissuedforthwithgreatpromptitude;and,shouting'Stopthief!'too,joinedinthepursuitlikegoodcitizens。
AlthoughOliverhadbeenbroughtupbyphilosophers,hewasnottheoreticallyacquaintedwiththebeautifulaxiomthatself-preservationisthefirstlawofnature。Ifhehadbeen,perhapshewouldhavebeenpreparedforthis。Notbeingprepared,however,italarmedhimthemore;soawayhewentlikethewind,withtheoldgentlemanandthetwoboysroaringandshoutingbehindhim。
'Stopthief!Stopthief!'Thereisamagicinthesound。Thetradesmanleaveshiscounter,andthecar-manhiswaggon;thebutcherthrowsdownhistray;thebakerhisbasket;themilkmanhispail;theerrand-boyhisparcels;theschool-boyhismarbles;
thepaviourhispickaxe;thechildhisbattledore。Awaytheyrun,pell-mell,helter-skelter,slap-dash:tearing,yelling,screaming,knockingdownthepassengersastheyturnthecorners,rousingupthedogs,andastonishingthefowls:andstreets,squares,andcourts,re-echowiththesound。
'Stopthief!Stopthief!'Thecryistakenupbyahundredvoices,andthecrowdaccumulateateveryturning。Awaytheyfly,splashingthroughthemud,andrattlingalongthepavements:
upgothewindows,outrunthepeople,onwardbearthemob,awholeaudiencedesertPunchintheverythickestoftheplot,and,joiningtherushingthrong,swelltheshout,andlendfreshvigourtothecry,'Stopthief!Stopthief!'
'Stopthief!Stopthief!'ThereisapassionFORHUNTING
SOMETHINGdeeplyimplantedinthehumanbreast。Onewretchedbreathlesschild,pantingwithexhaustion;terrorinhislooks;
agaonyinhiseyes;largedropsofperspirationstreamingdownhisface;strainseverynervetomakeheaduponhispursuers;andastheyfollowonhistrack,andgainuponhimeveryinstant,theyhailhisdecreasingstrengthwithjoy。'Stopthief!'Ay,stophimforGod'ssake,wereitonlyinmercy!
Stoppedatlast!Acleverblow。Heisdownuponthepavement;
andthecrowdeagerlygatherroundhim:eachnewcomer,jostlingandstrugglingwiththeotherstocatchaglimpse。'Standaside!''Givehimalittleair!''Nonsense!hedon'tdeserveit。''Where'sthegentleman?''Herehisis,comingdownthestreet。''Makeroomthereforthegentleman!''Isthistheboy,sir!''Yes。'
Oliverlay,coveredwithmudanddust,andbleedingfromthemouth,lookingwildlyroundupontheheapoffacesthatsurroundedhim,whentheoldgentlemanwasofficiouslydraggedandpushedintothecirclebytheforemostofthepursuers。
'Yes,'saidthegentleman,'Iamafraiditistheboy。'
'Afraid!'murmuredthecrowd。'That'sagood'un!'
'Poorfellow!'saidthegentleman,'hehashurthimself。'
'_I_didthat,sir,'saidagreatlubberlyfellow,steppingforward;'andpreciouslyIcutmyknuckleagin'hismouth。I
stoppedhim,sir。'
Thefollowtouchedhishatwithagrin,expectingsomethingforhispains;but,theoldgentleman,eyeinghimwithanexpressionofdislike,lookanxiouslyround,asifhecontemplatedrunningawayhimself:whichitisverypossiblehemighthaveattemptedtodo,andthushaveaffordedanotherchase,hadnotapoliceofficerwhoisgenerallythelastpersontoarriveinsuchcasesatthatmomentmadehiswaythroughthecrowd,andseizedOliverbythecollar。
'Come,getup,'saidtheman,roughly。
'Itwasn'tmeindeed,sir。Indeed,indeed,itwastwootherboys,'saidOliver,claspinghishandspassionately,andlookinground。'Theyareheresomewhere。'
'Ohno,theyain't,'saidtheofficer。Hemeantthistobeironical,butitwastruebesides;fortheDodgerandCharleyBateshadfiledoffdownthefirstconvenientcourttheycameto。
'Come,getup!'
'Don'thurthim,'saidtheoldgentleman,compassionately。
'Ohno,Iwon'thurthim,'repliedtheofficer,tearinghisjackethalfoffhisback,inproofthereof。'Come,Iknowyou;
itwon'tdo。Willyoustanduponyourlegs,youyoungdevil?'
Oliver,whocouldhardlystand,madeashifttoraisehimselfonhisfeet,andwasatonceluggedalongthestreetsbythejacket-collar,atarapidpace。Thegentlemanwalkedonwiththembytheofficer'sside;andasmanyofthecrowdascouldachievethefeat,gotalittleahead,andstaredbackatOliverfromtimetotime。Theboysshoutedintriumph;andontheywent。
CHAPTERXI
TREATSOFMR。FANGTHEPOLICEMAGISTRATE;ANDFURNISHESASLIGHT
SPECIMENOFHISMODEOFADMINISTERINGJUSTICE
Theoffencehadbeencommittedwithinthedistrict,andindeedintheimmediateneighborhoodof,averynotoriousmetropolitanpoliceoffice。ThecrowdhadonlythesatisfactionofaccompanyingOliverthroughtwoorthreestreets,anddownaplacecalledMuttonHill,whenhewasledbeneathalowarchway,andupadirtycourt,intothisdispensaryofsummaryjustice,bythebackway。Itwasasmallpavedyardintowhichtheyturned;
andheretheyencounteredastoutmanwithabunchofwhiskersonhisface,andabunchofkeysinhishand。
'What'sthematternow?'saidthemancarelessly。
'Ayoungfogle-hunter,'repliedthemanwhohadOliverincharge。
'Areyouthepartythat'sbeenrobbed,sir?'inquiredthemanwiththekeys。
'Yes,Iam,'repliedtheoldgentleman;'butIamnotsurethatthisboyactuallytookthehandkerchief。I——Iwouldrathernotpressthecase。'
'Mustgobeforethemagistratenow,sir,'repliedtheman。'Hisworshipwillbedisengagedinhalfaminute。Now,younggallows!'
ThiswasaninvitationforOlivertoenterthroughadoorwhichheunlockedashespoke,andwhichledintoastonecell。Herehewassearched;andnothingbeingfounduponhim,lockedup。
Thiscellwasinshapeandsizesomethinglikeanareacellar,onlynotsolight。Itwasmostintolablydirty;foritwasMondaymorning;andithadbeentenantedbysixdrunkenpeople,whohadbeenlockedup,elsewhere,sinceSaturdaynight。Butthisislittle。Inourstation-houses,menandwomenareeverynightconfinedonthemosttrivialcharges——thewordisworthnoting——indungeons,comparedwithwhich,thoseinNewgate,occupiedbythemostatrociousfelons,tried,foundguilty,andundersentenceofdeath,arepalaces。Letanyonewhodoubtsthis,comparethetwo。
TheoldgentlemanlookedalmostasruefulasOliverwhenthekeygratedinthelock。Heturnedwithasightothebook,whichhadbeentheinnocentcauseofallthisdisturbance。
'Thereissomethinginthatboy'sface,'saidtheoldgentlemantohimselfashewalkedslowlyaway,tappinghischinwiththecoverofthebook,inathoughtfulmanner;'somethingthattouchesandinterestsme。CANhebeinnocent?Helookedlike——Byethebye,'exclaimedtheoldgentleman,haltingveryabruptly,andstaringupintothesky,'Blessmysoul!——wherehaveIseensomethinglikethatlookbefore?'
Aftermusingforsomeminutes,theoldgentlemanwalked,withthesamemeditativeface,intoabackanteroomopeningfromtheyard;
andthere,retiringintoacorner,calledupbeforehismind'seyeavastamphitheatreoffacesoverwhichaduskycurtainhadhungformanyyears。'No,'saidtheoldgentleman,shakinghishead;'itmustbeimagination。
Hewanderedoverthemagain。Hehadcalledthemintoview,anditwasnoteasytoreplacetheshroudthathadsolongconcealedthem。Therewerethefacesoffriends,andfoes,andofmanythathadbeenalmoststrangerspeeringintrusivelyfromthecrowd;therewerethefacesofyoungandbloominggirlsthatwerenowoldwomen;therewerefacesthatthegravehadchangedandclosedupon,butwhichthemind,superiortoitspower,stilldressedintheiroldfreshnessandbeauty,callingbackthelustreoftheeyes,thebrightnessofthesmile,thebeamingofthesoulthroughitsmaskofclay,andwhisperingofbeautybeyondthetomb,changedbuttobeheightened,andtakenfromearthonlytobesetupasalight,toshedasoftandgentleglowuponthepathtoHeaven。
ButtheoldgentlemancouldrecallnoonecountenanceofwhichOliver'sfeaturesboreatrace。So,heheavedasighovertherecollectionsheawakened;andbeing,happilyforhimself,anabsentoldgentleman,buriedthemagaininthepagesofthemustybook。
Hewasrousedbyatouchontheshoulder,andarequestfromthemanwiththekeystofollowhimintotheoffice。Heclosedhisbookhastily;andwasatonceusheredintotheimposingpresenceoftherenownedMr。Fang。
Theofficewasafrontparlour,withapanelledwall。Mr。Fangsatbehindabar,attheupperend;andononesidethedoorwasasortofwoodenpeninwhichpoorlittleOliverwasalreadydeposited;tremblingverymuchattheawfulnessofthescene。
Mr。Fangwasalean,long-backed,stiff-necked,middle-sizedman,withnogreatquantityofhair,andwhathehad,growingonthebackandsidesofhishead。Hisfacewasstern,andmuchflushed。Ifhewerereallynotinthehabitofdrinkingrathermorethanwasexactlygoodforhim,hemighthavebroughtactionagainsthiscountenanceforlibel,andhaverecoveredheavydamages。
Theoldgentlemanbowedrespectfully;andadvancingtothemagistrate'sdesk,saidsuitingtheactiontotheword,'Thatismynameandaddress,sir。'Hethenwithdrewapaceortwo;and,withanotherpoliteandgentlemanlyinclinationofthehead,waitedtobequestioned。
Now,itsohappenedthatMr。Fangwasatthatmomentperusingaleadingarticleinanewspaperofthemorning,advertingtosomerecentdecisionofhis,andcommendinghim,forthethreehundredandfiftiethtime,tothespecialandparticularnoticeoftheSecretaryofStatefortheHomeDepartment。Hewasoutoftemper;andhelookedupwithanangryscowl。
'Whoareyou?'saidMr。Fang。
Theoldgentlemanpointed,withsomesurprise,tohiscard。
'Officer!'saidMr。Fang,tossingthecardcontemptuouslyawaywiththenewspaper。'Whoisthisfellow?'
'Myname,sir,'saidtheoldgentleman,speakingLIKEagentleman,'myname,sir,isBrownlow。Permitmetoinquirethenameofthemagistratewhooffersagratuitousandunprovokedinsulttoarespectableperson,undertheprotectionofthebench。'Sayingthis,Mr。Brownlowlookedaroundtheofficeasifinsearchofsomepersonwhowouldaffordhimtherequiredinformation。
'Officer!'saidMr。Fang,throwingthepaperononeside,'what'sthisfellowchargedwith?'
'He'snotchargedatall,yourworship,'repliedtheofficer。'Heappearsagainstthisboy,yourworship。'
Hisworshpknewthisperfectlywell;butitwasagoodannoyance,andasafeone。
'Appearsagainsttheboy,doeshe?'saidMr。Fang,surveyingMr。
Brownlowcontemptuouslyfromheadtofoot。'Swearhim!'
'BeforeIamsworn,Imustbegtosayoneword,'saidMr。
Brownlow;'andthatis,thatIreallynever,withoutactualexperience,couldhavebelieved——'
'Holdyourtongue,sir!'saidMr。Fang,peremptorily。
'Iwillnot,sir!'repliedtheoldgentleman。
'Holdyourtonguethisinstant,orI'llhaveyouturnedoutoftheoffice!'saidMr。Fang。'You'reaninsolentimpertinentfellow。Howdareyoubullyamagistrate!'
'What!'exclaimedtheoldgentleman,reddening。
'Swearthisperson!'saidFangtotheclerk。'I'llnothearanotherword。Swearhim。'
Mr。Brownlow'sindignatonwasgreatlyroused;butreflectingperhaps,thathemightonlyinjuretheboybygivingventtoit,hesuppressedhisfeelingsandsubmittedtobeswornatonce。
'Now,'saidFang,'what'sthechargeagainstthisboy?Whathaveyougottosay,sir?'
'Iwasstandingatabookstall——'Mr。Brownlowbegan。
'Holdyourtongue,sir,'saidMr。Fang。'Policeman!Where'sthepoliceman?Here,swearthispoliceman。Now,policeman,whatisthis?'
Thepoliceman,withbecominghumility,relatedhowhehadtakenthecharge;howhehadsearchedOliver,andfoundnothingonhisperson;andhowthatwasallheknewaboutit。
'Arethereanywitnesses?'inquiredMr。Fang。
'None,yourworship,'repliedthepoliceman。
Mr。Fangsatsilentforsomeminutes,andthen,turningroundtotheprosecutor,saidinatoweringpassion。
'Doyoumeantostatewhatyourcomplaintagainstthisboyis,man,ordoyounot?Youhavebeensworn。Now,ifyoustandthere,refusingtogiveevidence,I'llpunishyoufordisrespecttothebench;Iwill,by——'
Bywhat,orbywhom,nobodyknows,fortheclerkandjailorcoughedveryloud,justattherightmoment;andtheformerdroppedaheavybookuponthefloor,thuspreventingthewordfrombeingheard——accidently,ofcourse。
Withmanyinterruptions,andrepeatedinsults,Mr。Brownlowcontrivedtostatehiscase;observingthat,inthesurpriseofthemoment,hehadrunaftertheboybecausehehadsawhimrunningaway;andexpressinghishopethat,ifthemagistrateshouldbelievehim,althoughnotactuallythethief,tobeconnectedwiththethieves,hewoulddealaslenientlywithhimasjusticewouldallow。
'Hehasbeenhurtalready,'saidtheoldgentlemaninconclusion。
'AndIfear,'headded,withgreatenergy,lookingtowardsthebar,'Ireallyfearthatheisill。'
'Oh!yes,Idaresay!'saidMr。Fang,withasneer。'Come,noneofyourtrickshere,youyoungvagabond;theywon'tdo。What'syourname?'
Olivertriedtoreplybuthistonguefailedhim。Hewasdeadlypale;andthewholeplaceseemedturningroundandround。
'What'syourname,youhardenedscoundrel?'demandedMr。Fang。
'Officer,what'shisname?'
Thiswasaddressedtoabluffoldfellow,inastripedwaistcoat,whowasstandingbythebar。HebentoverOliver,andrepeatedtheinquiry;butfindinghimreallyincapableofunderstandingthequestion;andknowingthathisnotreplyingwouldonlyinfuriatethemagistratethemore,andaddtotheseverityofhissentence;hehazardedaguess。
'Hesayshisname'sTomWhite,yourworship,'saidthekind-heartedthief-taker。
'Oh,hewon'tspeakout,won'the?'saidFang。'Verywell,verywell。Wheredoeshelive?'
'Wherehecan,yourworship,'repliedtheofficer;againpretendingtoreceiveOliver'sanswer。
'Hasheanyparents?'inquiredMr。Fang。
'Hesaystheydiedinhisinfancy,yourworship,'repliedtheofficer:hazardingtheusualreply。
Atthispointoftheinquiry,Oliverraisedhishead;and,lookingroundwithimploringeyes,murmuredafeebleprayerforadraughtofwater。
'Stuffandnonsense!'saidMr。Fang:'don'ttrytomakeafoolofme。'
'Ithinkhereallyisill,yourworship,'remonstratedtheofficer。
'Iknowbetter,'saidMr。Fang。
'Takecareofhim,officer,'saidtheoldgentleman,raisinghishandsinstinctively;'he'llfalldown。'
'Standaway,officer,'criedFang;'lethim,ifhelikes。'
Oliveravailedhimselfofthekindpermission,andfelltothefloorinafaintingfit。Themenintheofficelookedateachother,butnoonedaredtostir。
'Iknewhewasshamming,'saidFang,asifthiswereincontestableproofofthefact。'Lethimliethere;he'llsoonbetiredofthat。'
'Howdoyouproposetodealwiththecase,sir?'inquiredtheclerkinalowvoice。
'Summarily,'repliedMr。Fang。'Hestandscommittedforthreemonths——hardlabourofcourse。Cleartheoffice。'
Thedoorwasopenedforthispurpose,andacoupleofmenwerepreparingtocarrytheinsensibleboytohiscell;whenanelderlymanofdecentbutpoorappearance,cladinanoldsuitofblack,rushedhastilyintotheoffice,andadvancedtowardsthebench。
'Stop,stop!don'ttakehimaway!ForHeaven'ssakestopamoment!'criedthenewcomer,breathlesswithhaste。
AlthoughthepresidingGeniiinsuchanofficeasthis,exerciseasummaryandarbitrarypowerovertheliberties,thegoodname,thecharacter,almostthelives,ofHerMajesty'ssubjects,expeciallyofthepoorerclass;andalthough,withinsuchwalls,enoughfantastictricksaredailyplayedtomaketheangelsblindwithweeping;theyareclosedtothepublic,savethroughthemediumofthedailypress。Footnote:Orwerevirtually,then。
Mr。Fangwasconsequentlynotalittleindignanttoseeanunbiddenguestenterinsuchirreverentdisorder。
'Whatisthis?Whoisthis?Turnthismanout。Cleartheoffice!'criedMr。Fang。
'IWILLspeak,'criedtheman;'Iwillnotbeturnedout。Isawitall。Ikeepthebook-stall。Idemandtobesworn。Iwillnotbeputdown。Mr。Fang,youmusthearme。Youmustnotrefuse,sir。'
Themanwasright。Hismannerwasdetermined;andthematterwasgrowingrathertooserioustobehushedup。
'Sweartheman,'growledMr。Fang。withaveryillgrace。'Now,man,whathaveyougottosay?'
'This,'saidtheman:'Isawthreeboys:twoothersandtheprisonerhere:loiteringontheoppositesideoftheway,whenthisgentlemanwasreading。Therobberywascommittedbyanotherboy。Isawitdone;andIsawthatthisboywasperfectlyamazedandstupifiedbyit。'Havingbythistimerecoveredalittlebreath,theworthybook-stallkeeperproceededtorelate,inamorecoherentmannertheexactcircumstancesoftherobbery。
'Whydidn'tyoucomeherebefore?'saidFang,afterapause。
'Ihadn'tasoultomindtheshop,'repliedtheman。'Everybodywhocouldhavehelpedme,hadjoinedinthepursuit。Icouldgetnobodytillfiveminutesago;andI'verunherealltheway。'
'Theprosecutorwasreading,washe?'inquiredFang,afteranotherpause。
'Yes,'repliedtheman。'Theverybookhehasinhishand。'
'Oh,thatbook,eh?'saidFang。'Isitpaidfor?'
'No,itisnot,'repliedtheman,withasmile。
'Dearme,Iforgotallaboutit!'exclaimedtheabsentoldgentleman,innocently。
'Anicepersontopreferachargeagainstapoorboy!'saidFang,withacomicalefforttolookhumane。'Iconsider,sir,thatyouhaveobtainedpossessionofthatbook,underverysuspiciousanddisreputablecircumstances;andyoumaythinkyourselfveryfortunatethattheownerofthepropertydeclinestoprosecute。
Letthisbealessontoyou,myman,orthelawwillovertakeyouyet。Theboyisdischarged。Cleartheoffice!'
'D——nme!'criedtheoldgentleman,burstingoutwiththeragehehadkeptdownsolong,'d——nme!I'll——'
'Cleartheoffice!'saidthemagistrate。'Officers,doyouhear?
Cleartheoffice!'
Themandatewasobeyed;andtheindignantMr。Brownlowwasconveyedout,withthebookinonehand,andthebamboocaneintheother:inaperfectphrenzyofrageanddefiance。Hereachedtheyard;andhispassionvanishedinamoment。LittleOliverTwistlayonhisbackonthepavement,withhisshirtunbuttoned,andhistemplesbathedwithwater;hisfaceadeadlywhite;andacoldtrembleconvulsinghiswholeframe。
'Poorboy,poorboy!'saidMr。Brownlow,bendingoverhim。'Callacoach,somebody,pray。Directly!'
Acoachwasobtained,andOliverhavingbeencarefullylaidontheseat,theoldgentlemangotinandsathimselfontheother。
'MayIaccompanyyou?'saidthebook-stallkeeper,lookingin。
'Blessme,yes,mydearsir,'saidMr。Brownlowquickly。'I
forgotyou。Dear,dear!Ihavethisunhappybookstill!Jumpin。Poorfellow!There'snotimetolose。'
Thebook-stallkeepergotintothecoach;andawaytheydrove。
CHAPTERXII
INWHICHOLIVERISTAKENBETTERCAREOFTHANHEEVERWASBEFORE。
ANDINWHICHTHENARRATIVEREVERTSTOTHEMERRYOLDGENTLEMANAND
HISYOUTHFULFRIENDS。
Thecoachrattledaway,overnearlythesamegroundasthatwhichOliverhadtraversedwhenhefirstenteredLondonincompanywiththeDodger;and,turningadifferentwaywhenitreachedtheAngelatIslington,stoppedatlengthbeforeaneathouse,inaquietshadystreetnearPentonville。Here,abedwasprepared,withoutlossoftime,inwhichMr。Brownlowsawhisyoungchargecarefullyandcomfortablydeposited;andhere,hewastendedwithakindnessandsolicitudethatknewnobounds。
But,formanydays,Oliverremainedinsensibletoallthegoodnessofhisnewfriends。Thesunroseandsank,androseandsankagain,andmanytimesafterthat;andstilltheboylaystretchedonhisuneasybed,dwindlingawaybeneaththedryandwastingheatoffever。Thewormdoesnotworkmoresurelyonthedeadbody,thandoesthisslowcreepingfireuponthelivingframe。
Weak,andthin,andpallid,heawokeatlastfromwhatseemedtohavebeenalongandtroubleddream。Feeblyraisinghimselfinthebed,withhisheadrestingonhistremblingarm,helookedanxiouslyaround。
'Whatroomisthis?WherehaveIbeenbroughtto?'saidOliver。
'ThisisnottheplaceIwenttosleepin。'
Heutteredthesewordsinafeeblevoice,beingveryfaintandweak;buttheywereoverheardatonce。Thecurtainatthebed'sheadwashastilydrawnback,andamotherlyoldlady,veryneatlyandpreciselydressed,roseassheundrewit,fromanarm-chaircloseby,inwhichshehadbeensittingatneedle-work。
'Hush,mydear,'saidtheoldladysoftly。'Youmustbeveryquiet,oryouwillbeillagain;andyouhavebeenverybad,——asbadasbadcouldbe,prettynigh。Liedownagain;there'sadear!'Withthosewords,theoldladyverygentlyplacedOliver'sheaduponthepillow;and,smoothingbackhishairfromhisforehead,lookedsokindlyandlovinginhisface,thathecouldnothelpplacinghislittlewitheredhandinhers,anddrawingitroundhisneck。
'Saveus!'saidtheoldlady,withtearsinhereyes。'Whatagratefullittledearitis。Prettycreetur!WhatwouldhismotherfeelifshehadsatbyhimasIhave,andcouldseehimnow!'
'Perhapsshedoesseeme,'whisperedOliver,foldinghishandstogether;'perhapsshehassatbyme。Ialmostfeelasifshehad。'
'Thatwasthefever,mydear,'saidtheoldladymildly。
'Isupposeitwas,'repliedOliver,'becauseheavenisalongwayoff;andtheyaretoohappythere,tocomedowntothebedsideofapoorboy。ButifsheknewIwasill,shemusthavepitiedme,eventhere;forshewasveryillherselfbeforeshedied。Shecan'tknowanythingaboutmethough,'addedOliverafteramoment'ssilence。'Ifshehadseenmehurt,itwouldhavemadeheresorrowful;andherfacehasalwayslookedsweetandhappy,whenIhavedreamedofher。'
Theoldladymadenoreplytothis;butwipinghereyesfirst,andherspectacles,whichlayonthecounterpane,afterwards,asiftheywerepartandparcelofthosefeatures,broughtsomecoolstuffforOlivertodrink;andthen,pattinghimonthecheek,toldhimhemustlieveryquiet,orhewouldbeillagain。
So,Oliverkeptverystill;partlybecausehewasanxioustoobeythekindoldladyinallthings;andpartly,totellthetruth,becausehewascompletelyexhaustedwithwhathehadalreadysaid。Hesoonfellintoagentledoze,fromwhichhewasawakenedbythelightofacandle:which,beingbroughtnearthebed,showedhimagentlemanwithaverylargeandloud-tickinggoldwatchinhishand,whofelthispulse,andsaidhewasagreatdealbetter。
'YouAREagreatdealbetter,areyounot,mydear?'saidthegentleman。
'Yes,thankyou,sir,'repliedOliver。
'Yes,Iknowyouare,'saidthegentleman:'You'rehungrytoo,an'tyou?'
'No,sir,'answeredOliver。
'Hem!'saidthegentleman。'No,Iknowyou'renot。Heisnothungry,Mrs。Bedwin,'saidthegentleman:lookingverywise。
Theoldladymadearespectfulinclinationofthehead,whichseemedtosaythatshethoughtthedoctorwasaverycleverman。
Thedoctorappearedmuchofthesameopinionhimself。
'Youfeelsleepy,don'tyou,mydear?'saidthedoctor。
'No,sir,'repliedOliver。
'No,'saidthedoctor,withaveryshrewdandsatisfiedlook。
'You'renotsleepy。Northirsty。Areyou?'
'Yes,sir,ratherthirsty,'answeredOliver。
'JustasIexpected,Mrs。Bedwin,'saidthedoctor。'It'sverynaturalthatheshouldbethirsty。Youmaygivehimalittletea,ma'am,andsomedrytoastwithoutanybutter。Don'tkeephimtoowarm,ma'am;butbecarefulthatyoudon'tlethimbetoocold;willyouhavethegoodness?'
Theoldladydroppedacurtsey。Thedoctor,aftertastingthecoolstuff,andexpressingaqualifiedapprovalofit,hurriedaway:hisbootscreakinginaveryimportantandwealthymannerashewentdownstairs。
Oliverdozedoffagain,soonafterthis;whenheawoke,itwasnearlytwelveo'clock。Theoldladytenderlybadehimgood-nightshortlyafterwards,andlefthiminchargeofafatoldwomanwhohadjustcome:bringingwithher,inalittlebundle,asmallPrayerBookandalargenightcap。Puttingthelatteronherheadandtheformeronthetable,theoldwoman,aftertellingOliverthatshehadcometositupwithhim,drewherchairclosetothefireandwentoffintoaseriesofshortnaps,chequeredatfrequentintervalswithsundrytumblingsforward,anddiversmoansandchokings。These,however,hadnoworseeffectthancausinghertorubhernoseveryhard,andthenfallasleepagain。
Andthusthenightcreptslowlyon。Oliverlayawakeforsometime,countingthelittlecirclesoflightwhichthereflectionoftherushlight-shadethrewupontheceiling;ortracingwithhislanguideyestheintricatepatternofthepaperonthewall。
Thedarknessandthedeepstillnessoftheroomwereverysolemn;
astheybroughtintotheboy'smindthethoughtthatdeathhadbeenhoveringthere,formanydaysandnights,andmightyetfillitwiththegloomanddreadofhisawfulpresence,heturnedhisfaceuponthepillow,andferventlyprayedtoHeaven。
Gradually,hefellintothatdeeptranquilsleepwhicheasefromrecentsufferingaloneimparts;thatcalmandpeacefulrestwhichitispaintowakefrom。Who,ifthisweredeath,wouldberousedagaintoallthestrugglesandturmoilsoflife;toallitscaresforthepresent;itsanxietiesforthefuture;morethanall,itswearyrecollectionsofthepast!
Ithadbeenbrightday,forhours,whenOliveropenedhiseyes;
hefeltcheerfulandhappy。Thecrisisofthediseasewassafelypast。Hebelongedtotheworldagain。
Inthreedays'timehewasabletositinaneasy-chair,wellproppedupwithpillows;and,ashewasstilltooweaktowalk,Mrs。Bedwinhadhimcarrieddownstairsintothelittlehousekeeper'sroom,whichbelongedtoher。Havinghimset,here,bythefire-side,thegoodoldladysatherselfdowntoo;and,beinginastateofconsiderabledelightatseeinghimsomuchbetter,forthwithbegantocrymostviolently。
'Nevermindme,mydear,'saidtheoldlady;'I'monlyhavingaregulargoodcry。There;it'sallovernow;andI'mquitecomfortable。'
'You'revery,verykindtome,ma'am,'saidOliver。
'Well,neveryoumindthat,mydear,'saidtheoldlady;'that'sgotnothingtodowithyourbroth;andit'sfulltimeyouhadit;
forthedoctorsaysMr。Brownlowmaycomeintoseeyouthismorning;andwemustgetupourbestlooks,becausethebetterwelook,themorehe'llbepleased。'Andwiththis,theoldladyappliedherselftowarmingup,inalittlesaucepan,abasinfullofbroth:strongenough,Oliverthought,tofurnishanampledinner,whenreducedtotheregulationstrength,forthreehundredandfiftypaupers,atthelowestcomputation。
'Areyoufondofpictures,dear?'inquiredtheoldlady,seeingthatOliverhadfixedhiseyes,mostintently,onaportraitwhichhungagainstthewall;justoppositehischair。
'Idon'tquiteknow,ma'am,'saidOliver,withouttakinghiseyesfromthecanvas;'IhaveseensofewthatIhardlyknow。Whatabeautiful,mildfacethatlady'sis!'
'Ah!'saidtheoldlady,'paintersalwaysmakeladiesoutprettierthantheyare,ortheywouldn'tgetanycustom,child。
Themanthatinventedthemachinefortakinglikenessesmighthaveknownthatwouldneversucceed;it'sadealtoohonest。A
deal,'saidtheoldlady,laughingveryheartilyatherownacuteness。
'Is——isthatalikeness,ma'am?'saidOliver。
'Yes,'saidtheoldlady,lookingupforamomentfromthebroth;
'that'saportrait。'
'Whose,ma'am?'askedOliver。
'Why,really,mydear,Idon'tknow,'answeredtheoldladyinagood-humouredmanner。'It'snotalikenessofanybodythatyouorIknow,Iexpect。Itseemstostrikeyourfancy,dear。'
'Itissopretty,'repliedOliver。
'Why,sureyou'renotafraidofit?'saidtheoldlady:observingingreatsurprise,thelookofawewithwhichthechildregardedthepainting。
'Ohno,no,'returnedOliverquickly;'buttheeyeslooksosorrowful;andwhereIsit,theyseemfixeduponme。Itmakesmyheartbeat,'addedOliverinalowvoice,'asifitwasalive,andwantedtospeaktome,butcouldn't。'
'Lordsaveus!'exclaimedtheoldlady,starting;'don'ttalkinthatway,child。You'reweakandnervousafteryourillness。
Letmewheelyourchairroundtotheotherside;andthenyouwon'tseeit。There!'saidtheoldlady,suitingtheactiontotheword;'youdon'tseeitnow,atallevents。'
OliverDIDseeitinhismind'seyeasdistinctlyasifhehadnotalteredhisposition;buthethoughtitbetternottoworrythekindoldlady;sohesmiledgentlywhenshelookedathim;
andMrs。Bedwin,satisfiedthathefeltmorecomfortable,saltedandbrokebitsoftoastedbreadintothebroth,withallthebustlebefittingsosolemnapreparation。Olivergotthroughitwithextraordinaryexpedition。Hehadscarcelyswallowedthelastspoonful,whentherecameasoftrapatthedoor。'Comein,'saidtheoldlady;andinwalkedMr。Brownlow。
Now,theoldgentlemancameinasbriskasneedbe;but,hehadnosoonerraisedhisspectaclesonhisforehead,andthrusthishandsbehindtheskirtsofhisdressing-gowntotakeagoodlonglookatOliver,thanhiscountenanceunderwentaverygreatvarietyofoddcontortions。Oliverlookedverywornandshadowyfromsickness,andmadeanineffectualattempttostandup,outofrespecttohisbenefactor,whichterminatedinhissinkingbackintothechairagain;andthefactis,ifthetruthmustbetold,thatMr。Brownlow'sheart,beinglargeenoughforanysixordinaryoldgentlemenofhumanedisposition,forcedasupplyoftearsintohiseyes,bysomehydraulicprocesswhichwearenotsufficientlyphilosophicaltobeinaconditiontoexplain。