Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist
By Charles Dickens
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CHAPTER I vive 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
TREATS OF THE PLACE merit of being the most concise and faithful specimen of bi-
ography, extant in the literature of any age or country.
WHERE OLIVER TWIST Although I am not disposed to maintain that the being
born in a workhouse, is in itself the most fortunate and en-
WAS BORN AND OF viable circumstance that can possibly befall a human being,
I do mean to say that in this particular instance, it was the
THE CIRCUMSTANCES best thing for Oliver Twist that could by possibility have oc-
curred. The fact is, that there was considerable difficulty in
ATTENDING HIS BIRTH inducing Oliver to take upon himself the office of respira-
tion,—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 be-
A mong other public buildings in a certain town, which

for many reasons it will be prudent to refrain from men-
tioning, and to which I will assign no fictitious name, there
ing decidedly in favour of the latter. Now, if, during this
brief period, Oliver had been surrounded by careful grand-
mothers, anxious aunts, experienced nurses, and doctors
is one anciently common to most towns, great or small: to of profound wisdom, he would most inevitably and indu-
wit, a workhouse; and in this workhouse was born; on a day bitably have been killed in no time. There being nobody by,
and date which I need not trouble myself to repeat, inas- however, but a pauper old woman, who was rendered rather
much as it can be of no possible consequence to the reader, misty by an unwonted allowance of beer; and a parish sur-
in this stage of the business at all events; the item of mortal- geon who did such matters by contract; Oliver and Nature
ity whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter. fought out the point between them. The result was, that, af-
For a long time after it was ushered into this world of ter a few struggles, Oliver breathed, sneezed, and proceeded
sorrow and trouble, by the parish surgeon, it remained a to advertise to the inmates of the workhouse the fact of a
matter of considerable doubt whether the child would sur- new burden having been imposed upon the parish, by set-
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ting up as loud a cry as could reasonably have been expected child.
from a male infant who had not been possessed of that very The surgeon deposited it in her arms. She imprinted
useful appendage, a voice, for a much longer space of time her cold white lips passionately on its forehead; passed her
than three minutes and a quarter. hands over her face; gazed wildly round; shuddered; fell
As Oliver gave this first proof of the free and proper back—and died. They chafed her breast, hands, and tem-
action of his lungs, the patchwork coverlet which was care- ples; but the blood had stopped forever. They talked of hope
lessly flung over the iron bedstead, rustled; the pale face of and comfort. They had been strangers too long.
a young woman was raised feebly from the pillow; and a ‘It’s all over, Mrs. Thingummy!’ said the surgeon at last.
faint voice imperfectly articulated the words, ‘Let me see ‘Ah, poor dear, so it is!’ said the nurse, picking up the
the child, and die.’ cork of the green bottle, which had fallen out on the pillow,
The surgeon had been sitting with his face turned to- as she stooped to take up the child. ‘Poor dear!’
wards the fire: giving the palms of his hands a warm and ‘You needn’t mind sending up to me, if the child cries,
a rub alternately. As the young woman spoke, he rose, and nurse,’ said the surgeon, putting on his gloves with great de-
advancing to the bed’s head, said, with more kindness than liberation. ‘It’s very likely it WILL be troublesome. Give it a
might have been expected of him: little gruel if it is.’ He put on his hat, and, pausing by the bed-
‘Oh, you must not talk about dying yet.’ side on his way to the door, added, ‘She was a good-looking
‘Lor bless her dear heart, no!’ interposed the nurse, hasti- girl, too; where did she come from?’
ly depositing in her pocket a green glass bottle, the contents ‘She was brought here last night,’ replied the old woman,
of which she had been tasting in a corner with evident sat- ‘by the overseer’s order. She was found lying in the street.
isfaction. She had walked some distance, for her shoes were worn to
‘Lor bless her dear heart, when she has lived as long as pieces; but where she came from, or where she was going to,
I have, sir, and had thirteen children of her own, and all nobody knows.’
on ‘em dead except two, and them in the wurkus with me, The surgeon leaned over the body, and raised the left
she’ll know better than to take on in that way, bless her dear hand. ‘The old story,’ he said, shaking his head: ‘no wed-
heart! Think what it is to be a mother, there’s a dear young ding-ring, I see. Ah! Good-night!’
lamb do.’ The medical gentleman walked away to dinner; and the
Apparently this consolatory perspective of a mother’s nurse, having once more applied herself to the green bottle,
prospects failed in producing its due effect. The patient sat down on a low chair before the fire, and proceeded to
shook her head, and stretched out her hand towards the dress the infant.

What an excellent example of the power of dress, young
Oliver Twist was! Wrapped in the blanket which had hith- CHAPTER II
erto 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 cali- TREATS OF OLIVER
co robes which had grown yellow in the same service, he
was badged and ticketed, and fell into his place at once— TWIST’S GROWTH,
a parish child—the orphan of a workhouse—the humble,
half-starved drudge—to be cuffed and buffeted through the EDUCATION, AND BOARD
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 church-wardens and
overseers, perhaps he would have cried the louder.
F or 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 authori-
ties 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 con-
solation 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 dispatched to a branch-
workhouse some three miles off, where twenty or thirty
other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws, rolled about
the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much

food or too much clothing, under the parental superinten- from want and cold, or fell into the fire from neglect, or got
dence of an elderly female, who received the culprits at and half-smothered by accident; in any one of which cases, the
for the consideration of sevenpence-halfpenny per small miserable little being was usually summoned into another
head per week. Sevenpence-halfpenny’s worth per week is world, and there gathered to the fathers it had never known
a good round diet for a child; a great deal may be got for in this.
sevenpence-halfpenny, quite enough to overload its stom- Occasionally, when there was some more than usually
ach, and make it uncomfortable. The elderly female was a interesting inquest upon a parish child who had been over-
woman of wisdom and experience; she knew what was good looked in turning up a bedstead, or inadvertently scalded
for children; and she had a very accurate perception of what to death when there happened to be a washing—though
was good for herself. So, she appropriated the greater part of the latter accident was very scarce, anything approaching
the weekly stipend to her own use, and consigned the rising to a washing being of rare occurance in the farm—the jury
parochial generation to even a shorter allowance than was would take it into their heads to ask troublesome questions,
originally provided for them. Thereby finding in the lowest or the parishioners would rebelliously affix their signatures
depth a deeper still; and proving herself a very great experi- to a remonstrance. But these impertinences were speedily
mental philosopher. checked by the evidence of the surgeon, and the testimony
Everybody knows the story of another experimental phi- of the beadle; the former of whom had always opened the
losopher who had a great theory about a horse being able body and found nothing inside (which was very probable
to live without eating, and who demonstrated it so well, indeed), and the latter of whom invariably swore whatever
that he had got his own horse down to a straw a day, and the parish wanted; which was very self-devotional. Besides,
would unquestionably have rendered him a very spirited the board made periodical pilgrimages to the farm, and al-
and rampacious animal on nothing at all, if he had not died, ways sent the beadle the day before, to say they were going.
four-and-twenty hours before he was to have had his first The children were neat and clean to behold, when THEY
comfortable bait of air. Unfortunately for, the experimenal went; and what more would the people have!
philosophy of the female to whose protecting care Oliver It cannot be expected that this system of farming would
Twist was delivered over, a similar result usually attended produce any very extraordinary or luxuriant crop. Oli-
the operation of HER system; for at the very moment when ver Twist’s ninth birthday found him a pale thin child,
the child had contrived to exist upon the smallest possible somewhat diminutive in stature, and decidely small in cir-
portion of the weakest possible food, it did perversely hap- cumference. But nature or inheritance had implanted a good
pen in eight and a half cases out of ten, either that it sickened sturdy spirit in Oliver’s breast. It had had plenty of room to

expand, thanks to the spare diet of the establishment; and Mann,’ inquired Mr. Bumble, grasping his cane, ‘to keep
perhaps to this circumstance may be attributed his having the parish officers a waiting at your garden-gate, when they
any ninth birth-day at all. Be this as it may, however, it was come here upon porochial business with the porochial or-
his ninth birthday; and he was keeping it in the coal-cellar phans? Are you aweer, Mrs. Mann, that you are, as I may say,
with a select party of two other young gentleman, who, af- a porochial delegate, and a stipendiary?’
ter participating with him in a sound thrashing, had been ‘I’m sure Mr. Bumble, that I was only a telling one or two
locked up for atrociously presuming to be hungry, when of the dear children as is so fond of you, that it was you a
Mrs. Mann, the good lady of the house, was unexpectedly coming,’ replied Mrs. Mann with great humility.
startled by the apparition of Mr. Bumble, the beadle, striv- Mr. Bumble had a great idea of his oratorical powers and
ing to undo the wicket of the garden-gate. his importance. He had displayed the one, and vindicated
‘Goodness gracious! Is that you, Mr. Bumble, sir?’ said the other. He relaxed.
Mrs. Mann, thrusting her head out of the window in well- ‘Well, well, Mrs. Mann,’ he replied in a calmer tone; ‘it
affected ecstasies of joy. ‘(Susan, take Oliver and them two may be as you say; it may be. Lead the way in, Mrs. Mann,
brats upstairs, and wash ‘em directly.)—My heart alive! Mr. for I come on business, and have something to say.’
Bumble, how glad I am to see you, sure-ly!’ Mrs. Mann ushered the beadle into a small parlour with
Now, Mr. Bumble was a fat man, and a choleric; so, in- a brick floor; placed a seat for him; and officiously deposited
stead of responding to this open-hearted salutation in a his cocked hat and can on the table before him. Mr. Bumble
kindred spirit, he gave the little wicket a tremendous shake, wiped from his forehead the perspiration which his walk
and then bestowed upon it a kick which could have ema- had engendered, glanced complacently at the cocked hat,
nated from no leg but a beadle’s. and smiled. Yes, he smiled. Beadles are but men: and Mr.
‘Lor, only think,’ said Mrs. Mann, running out,—for the Bumble smiled.
three boys had been removed by this time,—‘only think of ‘Now don’t you be offended at what I’m a going to say,’
that! That I should have forgotten that the gate was bolted observed Mrs. Mann, with captivating sweetness. ‘You’ve
on the inside, on account of them dear children! Walk in had a long walk, you know, or I wouldn’t mention it. Now,
sir; walk in, pray, Mr. Bumble, do, sir.’ will you take a little drop of somethink, Mr. Bumble?’
Although this invitation was accompanied with a curt- ‘Not a drop. Nor a drop,’ said Mr. Bumble, waving his
sey that might have softened the heart of a church-warden, right hand in a dignified, but placid manner.
it by no means mollified the beadle. ‘I think you will,’ said Mrs. Mann, who had noticed the
‘Do you think this respectful or proper conduct, Mrs. tone of the refusal, and the gesture that had accompanied
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it. ‘Just a leetle drop, with a little cold water, and a lump of standing the most superlative, and, I may say, supernat’ral
sugar.’ exertions on the part of this parish,’ said Bumble, ‘we have
Mr. Bumble coughed. never been able to discover who is his father, or what was
‘Now, just a leetle drop,’ said Mrs. Mann persuasively. his mother’s settlement, name, or con—dition.’
‘What is it?’ inquired the beadle. Mrs Mann raised her hands in astonishment; but add-
‘Why, it’s what I’m obliged to keep a little of in the house, ed, after a moment’s reflection, ‘How comes he to have any
to put into the blessed infants’ Daffy, when they ain’t well, name at all, then?’
Mr. Bumble,’ replied Mrs. Mann as she opened a corner The beadle drew himself up with great pride, and said, ‘I
cupboard, and took down a bottle and glass. ‘It’s gin. I’ll inwented it.’
not deceive you, Mr. B. It’s gin.’ ‘You, Mr. Bumble!’
‘Do you give the children Daffy, Mrs. Mann?’ inquired ‘I, Mrs. Mann. We name our fondlings in alphabetical
Bumble, following with this eyes the interesting process of order. The last was a S,—Swubble, I named him. This was a
mixing. T,—Twist, I named HIM. The next one comes will be Unwin,
‘Ah, bless ‘em, that I do, dear as it is,’ replied the nurse. ‘I and the next Vilkins. I have got names ready made to the
couldn’t see ‘em suffer before my very eyes, you know sir.’ end of the alphabet, and all the way through it again, when
‘No’; said Mr. Bumble approvingly; ‘no, you could not. we come to Z.’
You are a humane woman, Mrs. Mann.’ (Here she set down ‘Why, you’re quite a literary character, sir!’ said Mrs.
the glass.) ‘I shall take a early opportunity of mentioning it Mann.
to the board, Mrs. Mann.’ (He drew it towards him.) ‘You ‘Well, well,’ said the beadle, evidently gratified with the
feel as a mother, Mrs. Mann.’ (He stirred the gin-and-wa- compliment; ‘perhaps I may be. Perhaps I may be, Mrs.
ter.) ‘I—I drink your health with cheerfulness, Mrs. Mann’; Mann.’ He finished the gin-and-water, and added, ‘Oliver
and he swallowed half of it. being now too old to remain here, the board have deter-
‘And now about business,’ said the beadle, taking out a mined to have him back into the house. I have come out
leathern pocket-book. ‘The child that was half-baptized Ol- myself to take him there. So let me see him at once.’
iver Twist, is nine year old to-day.; ‘I’ll fetch him directly,’ said Mrs. Mann, leaving the room
‘Bless him!’ interposed Mrs. Mann, inflaming her left eye for that purpose. Oliver, having had by this time as much of
with the corner of her apron. the outer coat of dirt which encrusted his face and hands,
‘And notwithstanding a offered reward of ten pound, removed, as could be scrubbed off in one washing, was led
which was afterwards increased to twenty pound. Notwith- into the room by his benevolent protectress.

‘Make a bow to the gentleman, Oliver,’ said Mrs. Mann. him. Wretched as were the little companions in misery he
Oliver made a bow, which was divided between the bea- was leaving behind, they were the only friends he had ever
dle on the chair, and the cocked hat on the table. known; and a sense of his loneliness in the great wide world,
‘Will you go along with me, Oliver?’ said Mr. Bumble, in sank into the child’s heart for the first time.
a majestic voice. Mr. Bumble walked on with long strides; little Oliver,
Oliver was about to say that he would go along with firmly grasping his gold-laced cuff, trotted beside him, in-
anybody with great readiness, when, glancing upward, he quiring at the end of every quarter of a mile whether they
caught sight of Mrs. Mann, who had got behind the beadle’s were ‘nearly there.’ To these interrogations Mr. Bumble re-
chair, and was shaking her fist at him with a furious coun- turned very brief and snappish replies; for the temporary
tenance. He took the hint at once, for the fist had been too blandness which gin-and-water awakens in some bosoms
often impressed upon his body not to be deeply impressed had by this time evaporated; and he was once again a bea-
upon his recollection. dle.
‘Will she go with me?’ inquired poor Oliver. Oliver had not been within the walls of the workhouse a
‘No, she can’t,’ replied Mr. Bumble. ‘But she’ll come and quarter of an hour, and had scarcely completed the demoli-
see you sometimes.’ tion of a second slice of bread, when Mr. Bumble, who had
This was no very great consolation to the child. Young handed him over to the care of an old woman, returned;
as he was, however, he had sense enough to make a feint and, telling him it was a board night, informed him that the
of feeling great regret at going away. It was no very diffi- board had said he was to appear before it forthwith.
cult matter for the boy to call tears into his eyes. Hunger Not having a very clearly defined notion of what a live
and recent ill-usage are great assistants if you want to cry; board was, Oliver was rather astounded by this intelligence,
and Oliver cried very naturally indeed. Mrs. Mann gave and was not quite certain whether he ought to laugh or cry.
him a thousand embraces, and what Oliver wanted a great He had no time to think about the matter, however; for Mr.
deal more, a piece of bread and butter, less he should seem Bumble gave him a tap on the head, with his cane, to wake
too hungry when he got to the workhouse. With the slice him up: and another on the back to make him lively: and
of bread in his hand, and the little brown-cloth parish cap bidding him to follow, conducted him into a large white-
on his head, Oliver was then led away by Mr. Bumble from washed room, where eight or ten fat gentlemen were sitting
the wretched home where one kind word or look had never round a table. At the top of the table, seated in an arm-chair
lighted the gloom of his infant years. And yet he burst into rather higher than the rest, was a particularly fat gentleman
an agony of childish grief, as the cottage-gate closed after with a very round, red face.

‘Bow to the board,’ said Bumble. Oliver brushed away Christian, and a marvellously good Christian too, if Oliver
two or three tears that were lingering in his eyes; and seeing had prayed for the people who fed and took care of HIM.
no board but the table, fortunately bowed to that. But he hadn’t, because nobody had taught him.
‘What’s your name, boy?’ said the gentleman in the high ‘Well! You have come here to be educated, and taught
chair. a useful trade,’ said the red-faced gentleman in the high
Oliver was frightened at the sight of so many gentlemen, chair.
which made him tremble: and the beadle gave him another ‘So you’ll begin to pick oakum to-morrow morning at six
tap behind, which made him cry. These two causes made o’clock,’ added the surly one in the white waistcoat.
him answer in a very low and hesitating voice; whereupon For the combination of both these blessings in the one
a gentleman in a white waistcoat said he was a fool. Which simple process of picking oakum, Oliver bowed low by the
was a capital way of raising his spirits, and putting him direction of the beadle, and was then hurried away to a
quite at his ease. large ward; where, on a rough, hard bed, he sobbed himself
‘Boy,’ said the gentleman in the high chair, ‘listen to me. to sleep. What a novel illustration of the tender laws of Eng-
You know you’re an orphan, I suppose?’ land! They let the paupers go to sleep!
‘What’s that, sir?’ inquired poor Oliver. Poor Oliver! He little thought, as he lay sleeping in hap-
‘The boy IS a fool—I thought he was,’ said the gentleman py unconsciousness of all around him, that the board had
in the white waistcoat. that very day arrived at a decision which would exercise the
‘Hush!’ said the gentleman who had spoken first. ‘You most material influence over all his future fortunes. But
know you’ve got no father or mother, and that you were they had. And this was it:
brought up by the parish, don’t you?’ The members of this board were very sage, deep, philo-
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Oliver, weeping bitterly. sophical men; and when they came to turn their attention
‘What are you crying for?’ inquired the gentleman in the to the workhouse, they found out at once, what ordinary
white waistcoat. And to be sure it was very extraordinary. folks would nver have discovered—the poor people liked it!
What COULD the boy be crying for? It was a regular place of public entertainment for the poorer
‘I hope you say your prayers every night,’ said another classes; a tavern where there was nothing to pay; a pub-
gentleman in a gruff voice; ‘and pray for the people who lic breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper all the year round; a
feed you, and take care of you—like a Christian.’ brick and mortar elysium, where it was all play and no work.
‘Yes, sir,’ stammered the boy. The gentleman who spoke ‘Oho!’ said the board, looking very knowing; ‘we are the fel-
last was unconsciously right. It would have been very like a lows to set this to rights; we’ll stop it all, in no time.’ So,

they established the rule, that all poor people should have The room in which the boys were fed, was a large stone
the alternative (for they would compel nobody, not they), hall, with a copper at one end: out of which the master,
of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or
a quick one out of it. With this view, they contracted with two women, ladled the gruel at mealtimes. Of this festive
the water-works to lay on an unlimited supply of water; and composition each boy had one porringer, and no more—ex-
with a corn-factor to supply periodically small quantities of cept on occasions of great public rejoicing, when he had two
oatmeal; and issued three meals of thin gruel a day, with an ounces and a quarter of bread besides.
onion twice a week, and half a roll of Sundays. They made The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished
a great many other wise and humane regulations, having them with their spoons till they shone again; and when
reference to the ladies, which it is not necessary to repeat; they had performed this operation (which never took very
kindly undertook to divorce poor married people, in conse- long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls), they
quence of the great expense of a suit in Doctors’ Commons; would sit staring at the copper, with such eager eyes, as if
and, instead of compelling a man to support his family, as they could have devoured the very bricks of which it was
they had theretofore done, took his family away from him, composed; employing themselves, meanwhile, in sucking
and made him a bachelor! There is no saying how many ap- their fingers most assiduously, with the view of catching up
plicants for relief, under these last two heads, might have any stray splashes of gruel that might have been cast there-
started up in all classes of society, if it had not been coupled on. Boys have generally excellent appetites. Oliver Twist
with the workhouse; but the board were long-headed men, and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation
and had provided for this difficulty. The relief was insepara- for three months: at last they got so voracious and wild with
ble from the workhouse and the gruel; and that frightened hunger, that one boy, who was tall for his age, and hadn’t
people. been used to that sort of thing (for his father had kept a
For the first six months after Oliver Twist was removed, small cook-shop), hinted darkly to his companions, that
the system was in full operation. It was rather expensive at unless he had another basin of gruel per diem, he was afraid
first, in consequence of the increase in the undertaker’s bill, he might some night happen to eat the boy who slept next
and the necessity of taking in the clothes of all the paupers, him, who happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. He
which fluttered loosely on their wasted, shrunken forms, had a wild, hungry eye; and they implicitly believed him. A
after a week or two’s gruel. But the number of workhouse council was held; lots were cast who should walk up to the
inmates got thin as well as the paupers; and the board were master after supper that evening, and ask for more; and it
in ecstasies. fell to Oliver Twist.

The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The mas- Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he
ter, in his cook’s uniform, stationed himself at the copper; asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the
his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the dietary?’
gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the ‘He did, sir,’ replied Bumble.
short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered ‘That boy will be hung,’ said the gentleman in the white
each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours waistcoat. ‘I know that boy will be hung.’
nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hun- Nobody controverted the prophetic gentleman’s opinion.
ger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and An animated discussion took place. Oliver was ordered into
advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: instant confinement; and a bill was next morning pasted on
somewhat alarmed at his own temerity: the outside of the gate, offering a reward of five pounds to
‘Please, sir, I want some more.’ anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the
The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very parish. In other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist were
pale. He gazed in stupified astonishment on the small rebel offered to any man or woman who wanted an apprentice to
for some seconds, and then clung for support to the cop- any trade, business, or calling.
per. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys ‘I never was more convinced of anything in my life,’ said
with fear. the gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the
‘What!’ said the master at length, in a faint voice. gate and read the bill next morning: ‘I never was more con-
‘Please, sir,’ replied Oliver, ‘I want some more.’ vinced of anything in my life, than I am that that boy will
The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle; come to be hung.’
pinioned him in his arm; and shrieked aloud for the bea- As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the white
dle. waistcoated gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps
The board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr. mar the interest of this narrative (supposing it to possess
Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and ad- any at all), if I ventured to hint just yet, whether the life of
dressing the gentleman in the high chair, said, Oliver Twist had this violent termination or no.
‘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,

CHAPTER III 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 un-
der their hands and seals. There was a still greater obstacle
RELATES HOW OLIVER in Oliver’s youth and childishness. He only cried bitterly all
day; and, when the long, dismal night came on, spread his
TWIST WAS VERY NEAR little hands before his eyes to shut out the darkness, and
crouching in the corner, tried to sleep: ever and anon wak-
GETTING A PLACE WHICH ing with a start and tremble, and drawing himself closer
and closer to the wall, as if to feel even its cold hard surface
WOULD NOT HAVE were a protection in the gloom and loneliness which sur-
rounded him.
BEEN A SINECURE 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
F or a week after the commission of the impious and pro-

fane offence of asking for more, Oliver remained a close
prisoner in the dark and solitary room to which he had been
ablutions every morning under the pump, in a stone yard,
in the presence of Mr. Bumble, who prevented his catch-
ing cold, and caused a tingling sensation to pervade his
consigned by the wisdom and mercy of the board. It appears, frame, by repeated applications of the cane. As for society,
at first sight not unreasonable to suppose, that, if he had en- he was carried every other day into the hall where the boys
tertained a becoming feeling of respect for the prediction of dined, and there sociably flogged as a public warning and
the gentleman in the white waistcoat, he would have estab- example. And so for from being denied the advantages of
lished that sage individual’s prophetic character, once and religious consolation, he was kicked into the same apart-
for ever, by tying one end of his pocket-handkerchief to a ment every evening at prayer-time, and there permitted to
hook in the wall, and attaching himself to the other. To the listen to, and console his mind with, a general supplication
performance of this feat, however, there was one obstacle: of the boys, containing a special clause, therein inserted by
namely, that pocket-handkerchiefs being decided articles authority of the board, in which they entreated to be made

good, virtuous, contented, and obedient, and to be guarded blow on the head, just to stun him till he came back again.
from the sins and vices of Oliver Twist: whom the supplica- Having completed these arrangements, he walked up to the
tion distinctly set forth to be under the exclusive patronage gate, to read the bill.
and protection of the powers of wickedness, and an article The gentleman with the white waistcoat was standing at
direct from the manufactory of the very Devil himself. the gate with his hands behind him, after having delivered
It chanced one morning, while Oliver’s affairs were in himself of some profound sentiments in the board-room.
this auspicious and confortable state, that Mr. Gamfield, Having witnessed the little dispute between Mr. Gamfield
chimney-sweep, went his way down the High Street, deeply and the donkey, he smiled joyously when that person came
cogitating in his mind his ways and means of paying cer- up to read the bill, for he saw at once that Mr. Gamfield
tain arrears of rent, for which his landlord had become was exactly the sort of master Oliver Twist wanted. Mr.
rather pressing. Mr. Gamfield’s most sanguine estimate of Gamfield smiled, too, as he perused the document; for five
his finances could not raise them within full five pounds of pounds was just the sum he had been wishing for; and, as
the desired amount; and, in a species of arthimetical des- to the boy with which it was encumbered, Mr. Gamfield,
peration, he was alternately cudgelling his brains and his knowing what the dietary of the workhouse was, well knew
donkey, when passing the workhouse, his eyes encountered he would be a nice small pattern, just the very thing for
the bill on the gate. register stoves. So, he spelt the bill through again, from be-
‘Wo—o!’ said Mr. Gamfield to the donkey. ginning to end; and then, touching his fur cap in token of
The donkey was in a state of profound abstraction: won- humility, accosted the gentleman in the white waistcoat.
dering, probably, whether he was destined to be regaled ‘This here boy, sir, wot the parish wants to ‘prentis,’ said
with a cabbage-stalk or two when he had disposed of the Mr. Gamfield.
two sacks of soot with which the little cart was laden; so, ‘Ay, my man,’ said the gentleman in the white waistcoat,
without noticing the word of command, he jogged onward. with a condescending smile. ‘What of him?’
Mr. Gamfield growled a fierce imprecation on the donkey ‘If the parish vould like him to learn a right pleasant
generally, but more particularly on his eyes; and, running trade, in a good ‘spectable chimbley-sweepin’ bisness,’ said
after him, bestowed a blow on his head, which would inevi- Mr. Gamfield, ‘I wants a ‘prentis, and I am ready to take
tably have beaten in any skull but a donkey’s. Then, catching him.’
hold of the bridle, he gave his jaw a sharp wrench, by way ‘Walk in,’ said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. Mr.
of gentle reminder that he was not his own master; and by Gamfield having lingered behind, to give the donkey an-
these means turned him round. He then gave him another other blow on the head, and another wrench of the jaw, as a

caution not to run away in his absence, followed the gentle- prove of it.’
man with the white waistcoat into the room where Oliver ‘Not at all,’ said the gentleman in the white waistcoat.
had first seen him. ‘Decidedly not,’ added the other members.
‘It’s a nasty trade,’ said Mr. Limbkins, when Gamfield As Mr. Gamfield did happen to labour under the slight
had again stated his wish. imputation of having bruised three or four boys to death
‘Young boys have been smothered in chimneys before already, it occurred to him that the board had, perhaps, in
now,’ said another gentleman. some unaccountable freak, taken it into their heads that
‘That’s acause they damped the straw afore they lit it in this extraneous circumstance ought to influence their pro-
the chimbley to make ‘em come down again,’ said Gamfield; ceedings. It was very unlike their general mode of doing
‘that’s all smoke, and no blaze; vereas smoke ain’t o’ no use business, if they had; but still, as he had no particular wish
at all in making a boy come down, for it only sinds him to to revive the rumour, he twisted his cap in his hands, and
sleep, and that’s wot he likes. Boys is wery obstinit, and wery walked slowly from the table.
lazy, Gen’l’men, and there’s nothink like a good hot blaze to ‘So you won’t let me have him, gen’l’men?’ said Mr. Gam-
make ‘em come down vith a run. It’s humane too, gen’l’men, field, pausing near the door.
acause, even if they’ve stuck in the chimbley, roasting their ‘No,’ replied Mr. Limbkins; ‘at least, as it’s a nasty busi-
feet makes ‘em struggle to hextricate theirselves.’ ness, we think you ought to take something less than the
The gentleman in the white waistcoat appeared very premium we offered.’
much amused by this explanation; but his mirth was speed- Mr. Gamfield’s countenance brightened, as, with a quick
ily checked by a look from Mr. Limbkins. The board then step, he returned to the table, and said,
procedded to converse among themselves for a few minutes, ‘What’ll you give, gen’l’men? Come! Don’t be too hard on
but in so low a tone, that the words ‘saving of expenditure,’ a poor man. What’ll you give?’
‘looked well in the accounts,’ ‘have a printed report pub- ‘I should say, three pound ten was plenty,’ said Mr. Limb-
lished,’ were alone audible. These only chanced to be heard, kins.
indeed, or account of their being very frequently repeated ‘Ten shillings too much,’ said the gentleman in the white
with great emphasis. waistcoat.
At length the whispering ceased; and the members of the ‘Come!’ said Gamfield; ‘say four pound, gen’l’men. Say
board, having resumed their seats and their solemnity, Mr. four pound, and you’ve got rid of him for good and all.
Limbkins said: There!’
‘We have considered your proposition, and we don’t ap- ‘Three pound ten,’ repeated Mr. Limbkins, firmly.

‘Come! I’ll split the diff’erence, gen’l’men, urged Gam- ‘Don’t make your eyes red, Oliver, but eat your food and
field. ‘Three pound fifteen.’ be thankful,’ said Mr. Bumble, in a tone of impressive pom-
‘Not a farthing more,’ was the firm reply of Mr. Limb- posity. ‘You’re a going to be made a ‘prentice of, Oliver.’
kins. ‘A prentice, sir!’ said the child, trembling.
‘You’re desperate hard upon me, gen’l’men, said Gam- ‘Yes, Oliver,’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘The kind and blessed
field, wavering. gentleman which is so amny parents to you, Oliver, when
‘Pooh! pooh! nonsense!’ said the gentleman in the white you have none of your own: are a going to ‘prentice you:
waistcoat. ‘He’d be cheap with nothing at all, as a premi- and to set you up in life, and make a man of you: although
um. Take him, you silly fellow! He’s just the boy for you. He the expense to the parish is three pound ten!—three pound
wants the stick, now and then: it’ll do him good; and his ten, Oliver!—seventy shillins—one hundred and forty six-
board needn’t come very expensive, for he hasn’t been over- pences!—and all for a naughty orphan which noboday can’t
fed since he was born. Ha! ha! ha!’ love.’
Mr. Gamfield gave an arch look at the faces round the As Mr. Bumble paused to take breath, after delivering
table, and, observing a smile on all of them, gradually broke this address in an awful voice, the tears rolled down the
into a smile himself. The bargain was made. Mr. Bumble, poor child’s face, and he sobbed bitterly.
was at once instructed that Oliver Twist and his indentures ‘Come,’ said Mr. Bumble, somewhat less pompously, for
were to be conveyed before the magistrate, for signature it was gratifying to his feelings to observe the effect his elo-
and approval, that very afternoon. quence had produced; ‘Come, Oliver! Wipe your eyes with
In pursuance of this determination, little Oliver, to his the cuffs of your jacket, and don’t cry into your gruel; that’s
excessive astonishment, was released from bondage, and a very foolish action, Oliver.’ It certainly was, for there was
ordered to put himself into a clean shirt. He had hardly quite enough water in it already.
achieved this very unusual gymnastic performance, when On their way to the magistrate, Mr. Bumble instructed
Mr. Bumble brought him, with his own hands, a basin of Oliver that all he would have to do, would be to look very
gruel, and the holiday allowance of two ounces and a quar- happy, and say, when the gentleman asked him if he wanted
ter of bread. At this tremendous sight, Oliver began to cry to be apprenticed, that he should like it very much indeed;
very piteously: thinking, not unaturally, that the board both of which injunctions Oliver promised to obey: the
must have determined to kill him for some useful purpose, rather as Mr. Bumble threw in a gentle hint, that if he failed
or they never would have begun to fatten him up in that in either particular, there was no telling what would be done
way. to him. When they arrived at the office, he was shut up in a

little room by himself, and admonished by Mr. Bumble to his head for a moment, and pulled the other old gentleman
stay there, until he came back to fetch him. by the sleeve; whereupon, the last-mentioned old gentleman
There the boy remained, with a palpitating heart, for woke up.
half an hour. At the expiration of which time Mr. Bumble ‘Oh, is this the boy?’ said the old gentleman.
thrust in his head, unadorned with the cocked hat, and said ‘This is him, sir,’ replied Mr. Bumble. ‘Bow to the magis-
aloud: trate, my dear.’
‘Now, Oliver, my dear, come to the gentleman.’ As Mr. Oliver roused himself, and made his best obeisance. He
Bumble said this, he put on a grim and threatening look, had been wondering, with his eyes fixed on the magistrates’
and added, in a low voice, ‘Mind what I told you, you young powder, whether all boards were born with that white stuff
rascal!’ on their heads, and were boards from thenceforth on that
Oliver stared innocently in Mr. Bumble’s face at this account.
somewhat contradictory style of address; but that gentle- ‘Well,’ said the old gentleman, ‘I suppose he’s fond of
man prevented his offering any remark thereupon, by chimney-sweeping?’
leading him at once into an adjoining room: the door of ‘He doats on it, your worship,’ replied Bumble; giving Ol-
which was open. It was a large room, with a great window. iver a sly pinch, to intimate that he had better not say he
Behind a desk, sat two old gentleman with powdered heads: didn’t.
one of whom was reading the newspaper; while the other ‘And he WILL be a sweep, will he?’ inquired the old gen-
was perusing, with the aid of a pair of tortoise-shell spec- tleman.
tacles, a small piece of parchment which lay before him. Mr. ‘If we was to bind him to any other trade to-morrow, he’d
Limbkins was standing in front of the desk on one side; and run away simultaneous, your worship,’ replied Bumble.
Mr. Gamfield, with a partially washed face, on the other; ‘And this man that’s to be his master—you, sir—you’ll
while two or three bluff-looking men, in top-boots, were treat him well, and feed him, and do all that sort of thing,
lounging about. will you?’ said the old gentleman.
The old gentleman with the spectacles gradually dozed ‘When I says I will, I means I will,’ replied Mr. Gamfield
off, over the little bit of parchment; and there was a short doggedly.
pause, after Oliver had been stationed by Mr. Bumble in ‘You’re a rough speaker, my friend, but you look an hon-
front of the desk. est, open-hearted man,’ said the old gentleman: turning his
‘This is the boy, your worship,’ said Mr. Bumble. spectacles in the direction of the candidate for Oliver’s pre-
The old gentleman who was reading the newspaper raised mium, whose villainous countenance was a regular stamped

receipt for cruelty. But the magistrate was half blind and Oliver fell on his knees, and clasping his hands together,
half childish, so he couldn’t reasonably be expected to dis- prayed that they would order him back to the dark room—
cern what other people did. that they would starve him—beat him—kill him if they
‘I hope I am, sir,’ said Mr. Gamfield, with an ugly leer. pleased—rather than send him away with that dreadful
‘I have no doubt you are, my friend,’ replied the old gen- man.
tleman: fixing his spectacles more firmly on his nose, and ‘Well!’ said Mr. Bumble, raising his hands and eyes with
looking about him for the inkstand. most impressive solemnite. ‘Well! of all the artful and de-
It was the critical moment of Oliver’s fate. If the inkstand signing orphans that ever I see, Oliver, you are one of the
had been where the old gentleman though it was, he would most bare-facedest.’
have dipped his pen into it, and signed the indentures, and ‘Hold your tongue, Beadle,’ said the second old gentle-
Oliver would have been straightway hurried off. But, as it man, when Mr. Bumble had given vent to this compound
chanced to be immediately under his nose, it followed, as a adjective.
matter of course, that he looked all over his desk for it, with- ‘I beg your worship’s pardon,’ said Mr. Bumble, incred-
out finding it; and happening in the course of his search ulous of having heard aright. ‘Did your worship speak to
to look straight before him, his gaze encountered the pale me?’
and terrified face of Oliver Twist: who, despite all the ad- ‘Yes. Hold your tongue.’
monitory looks and pinches of Bumble, was regarding the Mr. Bumble was stupefied with astonishment. A beadle
repulsive countenance of his future master, with a mingled ordered to hold his tongue! A moral revolution!
expression of horror and fear, too palpable to be mistaken, The old gentleman in the tortoise-shell spectacles looked
even by a half-blind magistrate. at his companion, he nodded significantly.
The old gentleman stopped, laid down his pen, and ‘We refuse to sanction these indentures,’ said the old gen-
looked from Oliver to Mr. Limbkins; who attempted to take tleman:
snuff with a cheerful and unconcerned aspect. tossing aside the piece of parchment as he spoke.
‘My boy!’ said the old gentleman, ‘you look pale and ‘I hope,’ stammered Mr. Limbkins: ‘I hope the magis-
alarmed. What is the matter?’ trates will not form the opinion that the authorities have
‘Stand a little away from him, Beadle,’ said the other mag- been guilty of any improper conduct, on the unsupported
istrate: laying aside the paper, and leaning forward with an testimony of a child.’
expression of interest. ‘Now, boy, tell us what’s the matter: ‘The magistrates are not called upon to pronounce any
don’t be afraid.’ 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.’ CHAPTER IV
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 OLIVER, BEING OFFERED
mystery, and said he wished he might come to good; where-
unto Mr. Gamfield replied, that he wished he might come ANOTHER PLACE,
to him; which, although he agreed with the beadle in most
matters, would seem to be a wish of a totaly opposite de- MAKES HIS FIRST ENTRY
scription.
The next morning, the public were once informed that INTO PUBLIC LIFE
Oliver Twist was again To Let, and that five pounds would
be paid to anybody who would take possession of him.
I n 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 im-
itation 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 possi-
bly be done with him: the probability being, that the skipper
would flog him to death, in a playful mood, some day af-
ter dinner, or would knock his brains out with an iron bar;
both pastimes being, as is pretty generally known, very fa-
vourite and common recreations among gentleman 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 ‘So are the coffins,’ replied the beadle: with precisely as
appeared; so, they came to the conclusion that the only way near an approach to a laugh as a great official ought to in-
of providing for Oliver effectually, was to send him to sea dulge in.
without delay. Mr. Sowerberry was much tickled at this: as of course
Mr. Bumble had been despatched to make various prelim- he ought to be; and laughed a long time without cessation.
inary inquiries, with the view of finding out some captain ‘Well, well, Mr. Bumble,’ he said at length, ‘there’s no deny-
or other who wanted a cabin-boy without any friends; and ing that, since the new system of feeding has come in, the
was returning to the workhouse to communicate the result coffins are something narrower and more shallow than they
of his mission; when he encountered at the gate, no less a used to be; but we must have some profit, Mr. Bumble. Well-
person than Mr. Sowerberry, the parochial undertaker. seasoned timber is an expensive article, sir; and all the iron
Mr. Sowerberry was a tall gaunt, large-jointed man, at- handles come, by canal, from Birmingham.’
tired in a suit of threadbare black, with darned cotton ‘Well, well,’ said Mr. Bumble, ‘every trade has its draw-
stockings of the same colour, and shoes to answer. His fea- backs. A fair profit is, of course, allowable.’
tures were not naturally intended to wear a smiling aspect, ‘Of course, of course,’ replied the undertaker; ‘and if I
but he was in general rather given to professional jocos- don’t get a profit upon this or that particular article, why, I
ity. His step was elastic, and his face betokened inward make it up in the long-run, you see—he! he! he!’
pleasantry, as he advanced to Mr. Bumble, and shook him ‘Just so,’ said Mr. Bumble.
cordially by the hand. ‘Though I must say,’ continued the undertaker, resuming
‘I have taken the measure of the two women that died last the current of observations which the beadle had interrupt-
night, Mr. Bumble,’ said the undertaker. ed: ‘though I must say, Mr. Bumble, that I have to contend
‘You’ll make your fortune, Mr. Sowerberry,’ said the bea- against one very great disadvantage: which is, that all the
dle, as he thrust his thumb and forefinger into the proferred stout people go off the quickest. The people who have been
snuff-box of the undertaker: which was an ingenious little better off, and have paid rates for many years, are the first
model of a patent coffin. ‘I say you’ll make your fortune, Mr. to sink when they come into the house; and let me tell you,
Sowerberry,’ repeated Mr. Bumble, tapping the undertaker Mr. Bumble, that three or four inches over one’s calculation
on the shoulder, in a friendly manner, with his cane. makes a great hole in one’s profits: especially when one has
‘Think so?’ said the undertaker in a tone which half ad- a family to provide for, sir.’
mitted and half disputed the probability of the event. ‘The As Mr. Sowerberry said this, with the becoming indigna-
prices allowed by the board are very small, Mr. Bumble.’ tion of an ill-used man; and as Mr. Bumble felt that it rather

tended to convey a reflection on the honour of the parish; ‘And they made it a special verdict, I think,’ said the un-
the latter gentleman thought it advisable to change the sub- dertaker, ‘by adding some words to the effect, that if the
ject. Oliver Twist being uppermost in his mind, he made relieving officer had—‘
him his theme. ‘Tush! Foolery!’ interposed the beadle. ‘If the board at-
‘By the bye,’ said Mr. Bumble, ‘you don’t know anybody tended to all the nonsense that ignorant jurymen talk,
who wants a boy, do you? A porochial ‘prentis, who is at they’d have enough to do.’
present a dead-weight; a millstone, as I may say, round the ‘Very true,’ said the undertaker; ‘they would indeed.’
porochial throat? Liberal terms, Mr. Sowerberry, liberal ‘Juries,’ said Mr. Bumble, grasping his cane tightly, as
terms?’ As Mr. Bumble spoke, he raised his cane to the bill was his wont when working into a passion: ‘juries is ined-
above him, and gave three distinct raps upon the words ‘five dicated, vulgar, grovelling wretches.’
pounds’: which were printed thereon in Roman capitals of ‘So they are,’ said the undertaker.
gigantic size. ‘They haven’t no more philosophy nor political economy
‘Gadso!’ said the undertaker: taking Mr. Bumble by the about ‘em than that,’ said the beadle, snapping his fingers
gilt-edged lappel of his official coat; ‘that’s just the very contemptuously.
thing I wanted to speak to you about. You know—dear me, ‘No more they have,’ acquiesced the undertaker.
what a very elegant button this is, Mr. Bumble! I never no- ‘I despise ‘em,’ said the beadle, growing very red in the
ticed it before.’ face.
‘Yes, I think it rather pretty,’ said the beadle, glancing ‘So do I,’ rejoined the undertaker.
proudly downwards at the large brass buttons which em- ‘And I only wish we’d a jury of the independent sort, in
bellished his coat. ‘The die is the same as the porochial the house for a week or two,’ said the beadle; ‘the rules and
seal—the Good Samaritan healing the sick and bruised regulations of the board would soon bring their spirit down
man. The board presented it to me on Newyear’s morning, for ‘em.’
Mr. Sowerberry. I put it on, I remember, for the first time, to ‘Let ‘em alone for that,’ replied the undertaker. So saying,
attend the inquest on that reduced tradesman, who died in he smiled, approvingly: to calm the rising wrath of the in-
a doorway at midnight.’ dignant parish officer.
‘I recollect,’ said the undertaker. ‘The jury brought it in, Mr Bumble lifted off his cocked hat; took a handker-
‘Died from exposure to the cold, and want of the common chief from the inside of the crown; wiped from his forehead
necessaries of life,’ didn’t they?’ the perspiration which his rage had engendered; fixed the
Mr. Bumble nodded. cocked hat on again; and, turning to the undertaker, said

in a calmer voice: feeling on the part of anybody, they were rather out, in this
‘Well; what about the boy?’ particular instance. The simple fact was, that Oliver, in-
‘Oh!’ replied the undertaker; why, you know, Mr. Bumble, stead of possessing too little feeling, possessed rather too
I pay a good deal towards the poor’s rates.’ much; and was in a fair way of being reduced, for life, to
‘Hem!’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘Well?’ a state of brutal stupidity and sullenness by the ill usage
‘Well,’ replied the undertaker, ‘I was thinking that if I pay he had received. He heard the news of his destination, in
so much towards ‘em, I’ve a right to get as much out of ‘em perfect silence; and, having had his luggage put into his
as I can, Mr. Bumble; and so—I think I’ll take the boy my- hand—which was not very difficult to carry, inasmuch as it
self.’ was all comprised within the limits of a brown paper parcel,
Mr. Bumble grasped the undertaker by the arm, and led about half a foot square by three inches deep—he pulled his
him into the building. Mr. Sowerberry was closeted with cap over his eyes; and once more attaching himself to Mr.
the board for five minutes; and it was arranged that Oli- Bumble’s coat cuff, was led away by that dignitary to a new
ver should go to him that evening ‘upon liking’—a phrase scene of suffering.
which means, in the case of a parish apprentice, that if the For some time, Mr. Bumble drew Oliver along, without
master find, upon a short trial, that he can get enough work notice or remark; for the beadle carried his head very erect,
out of a boy without putting too much food into him, he as a beadle always should: and, it being a windy day, lit-
shall have him for a term of years, to do what he likes with. tle Oliver was completely enshrouded by the skirts of Mr.
When little Oliver was taken before ‘the gentlemen’ that Bumble’s coat as they blew open, and disclosed to great ad-
evening; and informed that he was to go, that night, as gen- vantage his flapped waistcoat and drab plush knee-breeches.
eral house-lad to a coffin-maker’s; and that if he complained As they drew near to their destination, however, Mr. Bum-
of his situation, or ever came back to the parish again, he ble thought it expedient to look down, and see that the boy
would be sent to sea, there to be drowned, or knocked on was in good order for inspection by his new master: which
the head, as the case might be, he evinced so little emotion, he accordingly did, with a fit and becoming air of gracious
that they by common consent pronounced him a hardened patronage.
young rascal, and orered Mr. Bumble to remove him forth- ‘Oliver!’ said Mr. Bumble.
with. ‘Yes, sir,’ replied Oliver, in a low, tremulous voice.
Now, although it was very natural that the board, of all ‘Pull that cap off your eyes, and hold up your head, sir.’
people in the world, should feel in a great state of virtuous Although Oliver did as he was desired, at once; and
astonishment and horror at the smallest tokens of want of passed the back of his unoccupied hand briskly across his

eyes, he left a tear in them when he looked up at his conduc- tered.
tor. As Mr. Bumble gazed sternly upon him, it rolled down ‘Aha!’ said the undertaker; looking up from the book,
his cheek. It was followed by another, and another. The and pausing in the middle of a word; ‘is that you, Bumble?’
child made a strong effort, but it was an unsuccessful one. ‘No one else, Mr. Sowerberry,’ replied the beadle. ‘Here!
Withdrawing his other hand from Mr. Bumble’s he covered I’ve brought the boy.’ Oliver made a bow.
his face with both; and wept until the tears sprung out from ‘Oh! that’s the boy, is it?’ said the undertaker: raising the
between his chin and bony fingers. candle above his head, to get a better view of Oliver. ‘Mrs.
‘Well!’ exclaimed Mr. Bumble, stopping short, and dart- Sowerberry, will you have the goodness to come here a mo-
ing at his little charge a look of intense malignity. ‘Well! Of ment, my dear?’
ALL the ungratefullest, and worst-disposed boys as ever I Mrs. Sowerberry emerged from a little room behind the
see, Oliver, you are the—‘ shop, and presented the form of a short, then, squeezed-up
‘No, no, sir,’ sobbed Oliver, clinging to the hand which woman, with a vixenish countenance.
held the well-known cane; ‘no, no, sir; I will be good indeed; ‘My dear,’ said Mr. Sowerberry, deferentially, ‘this is the
indeed, indeed I will, sir! I am a very little boy, sir; and it is boy from the workhouse that I told you of.’ Oliver bowed
so—so—‘ again.
‘So what?’ inquired Mr. Bumble in amazement. ‘Dear me!’ said the undertaker’s wife, ‘he’s very small.’
‘So lonely, sir! So very lonely!’ cried the child. ‘Everybody ‘Why, he IS rather small,’ replied Mr. Bumble: looking
hates me. Oh! sir, don’t, don’t pray be cross to me!’ The child at Oliver as if it were his fault that he was no bigger; ‘he is
beat his hand upon his heart; and looked in his compan- small. There’s no denying it. But he’ll grow, Mrs. Sowerber-
ion’s face, with tears of real agony. ry—he’ll grow.’
Mr. Bumble regarded Oliver’s piteous and helpless look, ‘Ah! I dare say he will,’ replied the lady pettishly, ‘on our
with some astonishment, for a few seconds; hemmed three victuals and our drink. I see no saving in parish children,
or four times in a husky manner; and after muttering some- not I; for they always cost more to keep, than they’re worth.
thing about ‘that troublesome cough,’ bade Oliver dry his However, men always think they know best. There! Get
eyes and be a good boy. Then once more taking his hand, he downstairs, little bag o’ bones.’ With this, the undertaker’s
walked on with him in silence. wife opened a side door, and pushed Oliver down a steep
The undertaker, who had just putup the shutters of his flight of stairs into a stone cell, damp and dark: forming the
shop, was making some entries in his day-book by the light ante-room to the coal-cellar, and denominated ‘kitchen’;
of a most appropriate dismal candle, when Mr. Bumble en- wherein sat a slatternly girl, in shoes down at heel, and blue

worsted stockings very much out of repair. you do or don’t, for you can’t sleep anywhere else. Come;
‘Here, Charlotte,’ said Mr. Sowerberry, who had followed don’t keep me here all night!’
Oliver down, ‘give this boy some of the cold bits that were Oliver lingered no longer, but meekly followed his new
put by for Trip. He hasn’t come home since the morning, so mistress.
he may go without ‘em. I dare say the boy isn’t 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 well-fed 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 wit-
nessed 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 Phi-
losopher making the same sort of meal himself, with the
same relish.
‘Well,’ said the undertaker’s wife, when Oliver had fin-
ished 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 re-
plied in the affirmative.
‘Then come with me,’ said Mrs. Sowerberry: taking up
a dim and dirty lamp, and leading the way upstairs; ‘your
bed’s under the counter. You don’t mind sleeping among
the coffins, I suppose? But it doesn’t much matter whether

CHAPTER V ranged, in regular array, a long row of elm boards cut in
the same shape: looking in the dim light, like high-shoul-
dered ghosts with their hands in their breeches pockets.
Coffin-plates, elm-chips, bright-headed nails, and shreds of
OLIVER MINGLES WITH black cloth, lay scattered on the floor; and the wall behind
the counter was ornamented with a lively representation of
NEW ASSOCIATES. GOING two mutes in very stiff neckcloths, on duty at a large private
door, with a hearse drawn by four black steeds, approaching
TO A FUNERAL FOR THE in the distance. The shop was close and hot. The atmosphere
seemed tainted with the smell of coffins. The recess beneath
FIRST TIME, HE FORMS AN the counter in which his flock mattress was thrust, looked
like a grave.
UNFAVOURABLE NOTION Nor were these the only dismal feelings which depressed
Oliver. He was alone in a strange place; and we all know
OF HIS MASTER’S BUSINESS 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 well-remembered
face sank heavily into his heart.
O liver, being left to himself in the undertaker’s shop, set

the lamp down on a workman’s bench, and gazed tim-
idly about him with a feeling of awe and dread, which many
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
people a good deal older than he will be at no loss to under- churchyard ground, with the tall grass waving gently above
stand. An unfinished coffin on black tressels, which stood his head, and the sound of the old deep bell to soothe him
in the middle of the shop, looked so gloomy and death-like in his sleep.
that a cold tremble came over him, every time his eyes wan- Oliver was awakened in the morning, by a loud kicking
dered in the direction of the dismal object: from which he at the outside of the shop-door: which, before he could hud-
almost expected to see some frightful form slowly rear its dle on his clothes, was repeated, in an angry and impetuous
head, to drive him mad with terror. Against the wall were manner, about twenty-five times. When he began to undo

the chain, the legs desisted, and a voice began. ‘I kicked,’ replied the charity-boy.
‘Open the door, will yer?’ cried the voice which belonged ‘Did you want a coffin, sir?’ inquired Oliver, innocently.
to the legs which had kicked at the door. At this, the charity-boy looked monstrous fierce; and
‘I will, directly, sir,’ replied Oliver: undoing the chain, said that Oliver would want one before long, if he cut jokes
and turning the key. with his superiors in that way.
‘I suppose yer the new boy, ain’t yer?’ said the voice ‘Yer don’t know who I am, I suppose, Work’us?’ said the
through the key-hole. charity-boy, in continuation: descending from the top of
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Oliver. the post, meanwhile, with edifying gravity.
‘How old are yer?’ inquired the voice. ‘No, sir,’ rejoined Oliver.
‘Ten, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘I’m Mister Noah Claypole,’ said the charity-boy, ‘and
‘Then I’ll whop yer when I get in,’ said the voice; ‘you just you’re under me. Take down the shutters, yer idle young
see if I don’t, that’s all, my work’us brat!’ and having made ruffian!’ With this, Mr. Claypole administered a kick to Ol-
this obliging promise, the voice began to whistle. iver, and entered the shop with a dignified air, which did
Oliver had been too often subjected to the process to him great credit. It is difficult for a large-headed, small-eyed
which the very expressive monosyllable just recorded bears youth, of lumbering make and heavy countenance, to look
reference, to entertain the smallest doubt that the owner of dignified under any circumstances; but it is more especially
the voice, whoever he might be, would redeem his pledge, so, when superadded to these personal attractions are a red
most honourably. He drew back the bolts with a trembling nose and yellow smalls.
hand, and opened the door. Oliver, having taken down the shutters, and broken a
For a second or two, Oliver glanced up the street, and pane of glass in his effort to stagger away beneath the weight
down the street, and over the way: impressed with the be- of the first one to a small court at the side of the house in
lief that the unknown, who had addressed him through the which they were kept during the day, was graciously assisted
key-hole, had walked a few paces off, to warm himself; for by Noah: who having consoled him with the assurance that
nobody did he see but a big charity-boy, sitting on a post in ‘he’d catch it,’ condescended to help him. Mr. Sowerberry
front of the house, eating a slice of bread and butter: which came down soon after. Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Sowerberry
he cut into wedges, the size of his mouth, with a clasp-knife, appeared. Oliver having ‘caught it,’ in fulfilment of Noah’s
and then consumed with great dexterity. prediction, followed that young gentleman down the stairs
‘I beg your pardon, sir,’ said Oliver at length: seeing that to breakfast.
no other visitor made his appearance; ‘did you knock?’ ‘Come near the fire, Noah,’ said Charlotte. ‘I saved a nice

little bit of bacon for you from master’s breakfast. Oliver, tune had cast in his way a nameless orphan, at whom even
shut that door at Mister Noah’s back, and take them bits the meanest could point the finger of scorn, he retorted on
that I’ve put out on the cover of the bread-pan. There’s your him with interest. This affords charming food for contem-
tea; take it away to that box, and drink it there, and make plation. It shows us what a beautiful thing human nature
haste, for they’ll want you to mind the shop. D’ye hear?’ may be made to be; and how impartially the same amia-
‘D’ye hear, Work’us?’ said Noah Claypole. ble qualities are developed in the finest lord and the dirtiest
‘Lor, Noah!’ said Charlotte, ‘what a rum creature you are! charity-boy.
Why don’t you let the boy alone?’ Oliver had been sojourning at the undertaker’s some
‘Let him alone!’ said Noah. ‘Why everybody lets him three weeks or a month. Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry—the
alone enough, for the matter of that. Neither his father nor shop being shut up—were taking their supper in the little
his mother will ever interfere with him. All his relations let back-parlour, when Mr. Sowerberry, after several deferen-
him have his own way pretty well. Eh, Charlotte? He! he! tial glances at his wife, said,
he!’ ‘My dear—‘ He was going to say more; but, Mrs. Sower-
‘Oh, you queer soul!’ said Charlotte, bursting into a berry looking up, with a peculiarly unpropitious aspect, he
hearty laugh, in which she was joined by Noah; after which stopped short.
they both looked scornfully at poor Oliver Twist, as he sat ‘Well,’ said Mrs. Sowerberry, sharply.
shivering on the box in the coldest corner of the room, and ‘Nothing, my dear, nothing,’ said Mr. Sowerberry.
ate the stale pieces which had been specially reserved for ‘Ugh, you brute!’ said Mrs. Sowerberry.
him. ‘Not at all, my dear,’ said Mr. Sowerberry humbly. ‘I
Noah was a charity-boy, but not a workhouse orphan. thought you didn’t want to hear, my dear. I was only going
No chance-child was he, for he could trace his genealo- to say—‘
gy all the way back to his parents, who lived hard by; his ‘Oh, don’t tell me what you were going to say,’ interposed
mother being a washerwoman, and his father a drunken Mrs. Sowerberry. ‘I am nobody; don’t consult me, pray. I
soldier, discharged with a wooden leg, and a diurnal pen- don’t want to intrude upon your secrets.’ As Mrs. Sowerber-
sion of twopence-halfpenny and an unstateable fraction. ry said this, she gave an hysterical laugh, which threatened
The shop-boys in the neighbourhood had long been in the violent consequences.
habit of branding Noah in the public streets, with the ig- ‘But, my dear,’ said Sowerberry, ‘I want to ask your ad-
nominious epithets of ‘leathers,’ ‘charity,’ and the like; and vice.’
Noah had bourne them without reply. But, now that for- ‘No, no, don’t ask mine,’ replied Mrs. Sowerberry, in an

affecting manner: ‘ask somebody else’s.’ Here, there was quiescence in his proposition; it was speedily determined,
another hysterical laugh, which frightened Mr. Sowerber- therefore, that Oliver should be at once initiated into the
ry very much. This is a very common and much-approved mysteries of the trade; and, with this view, that he should
matrimonial course of treatment, which is often very ef- accompany his master on the very next occasion of his ser-
fective It at once reduced Mr. Sowerberry to begging, as a vices being required.
special favour, to be allowed to say what Mrs. Sowerberry The occasion was not long in coming. Half an hour af-
was most curious to hear. After a short duration, the per- ter breakfast next morning, Mr. Bumble entered the shop;
mission was most graciously conceded. and supporting his cane against the counter, drew forth his
‘It’s only about young Twist, my dear,’ said Mr. Sower- large leathern pocket-book: from which he selected a small
berry. ‘A very good-looking boy, that, my dear.’ scrap of paper, which he handed over to Sowerberry.
‘He need be, for he eats enough,’ observed the lady. ‘Aha!’ said the undertaker, glancing over it with a lively
‘There’s an expression of melancholy in his face, my dear,’ countenance; ‘an order for a coffin, eh?’
resumed Mr. Sowerberry, ‘which is very interesting. He ‘For a coffin first, and a porochial funeral afterwards,’
would make a delightful mute, my love.’ replied Mr. Bumble, fastening the strap of the leathern
Mrs. Sowerberry looked up with an expression of con- pocket-book: which, like himself, was very corpulent.
siderable wonderment. Mr. Sowerberry remarked it and, ‘Bayton,’ said the undertaker, looking from the scrap of
without allowing time for any observation on the good la- paper to Mr. Bumble. ‘I never heard the name before.’
dy’s part, proceeded. Bumble shook his head, as he replied, ‘Obstinate people,
‘I don’t mean a regular mute to attend grown-up people, Mr. Sowerberry; very obstinate. Proud, too, I’m afraid, sir.’
my dear, but only for children’s practice. It would be very ‘Proud, eh?’ exclaimed Mr. Sowerberry with a sneer.
new to have a mute in proportion, my dear. You may de- ‘Come, that’s too much.’
pend upon it, it would have a superb effect.’ ‘Oh, it’s sickening,’ replied the beadle. ‘Antimonial, Mr.
Mrs. Sowerberry, who had a good deal of taste in the Sowerberry!’
undertaking way, was much struck by the novelty of this ‘So it is,’ asquiesced the undertaker.
idea; but, as it would have been compromising her dignity ‘We only heard of the family the night before last,’ said
to have said so, under existing circumstances, she merely the beadle; ‘and we shouldn’t have known anything about
inquired, with much sharpness, why such an obvious sug- them, then, only a woman who lodges in the same house
gestion had not presented itself to her husband’s mind made an application to the porochial committee for them
before? Mr. Sowerberry rightly construed this, as an ac- 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 Mr. Bumble’s voice.
very clever lad) sent ‘em some medicine in a blacking-bottle, He needn’t haven taken the trouble to shrink from Mr.
offhand.’ Bumble’s glance, however; for that functionary, on whom
‘Ah, there’s promptness,’ said the undertaker. the prediction of the gentleman in the white waistcoat had
‘Promptness, indeed!’ replied the beadle. ‘But what’s made a very strong impression, thought that now the un-
the consequence; what’s the ungrateful behaviour of these dertaker had got Oliver upon trial the subject was better
rebels, sir? Why, the husband sends back word that the avoided, until such time as he should be firmly bound for
medicine won’t suit his wife’s complaint, and so she shan’t seven years, and all danger of his being returned upon the
take it—says she shan’t take it, sir! Good, strong, whole- hands of the parish should be thus effectually and legally
some medicine, as was given with great success to two Irish overcome.
labourers and a coal-heaver, ony a week before—sent ‘em ‘Well,’ said Mr. Sowerberry, taking up his hat. ‘the sooner
for nothing, with a blackin’-bottle in,—and he sends back this job is done, the better. Noah, look after the shop. Oliver,
word that she shan’t take it, sir!’ put on your cap, and come with me.’ Oliver obeyed, and fol-
As the atrocity presented itself to Mr. Bumble’s mind in lowed his master on his professional mission.
full force, he struck the counter sharply with his cane, and They walked on, for some time, through the most crowd-
became flushed with indignation. ed and densely inhabited part of the town; and then, striking
‘Well,’ said the undertaker, ‘I ne—ver—did—‘ down a narrow street more dirty and miserable than any
‘Never did, sir!’ ejaculated the beadle. ‘No, nor nobody they had yet passed through, paused to look for the house
never did; but now she’s dead, we’ve got to bury her; and which was the object of their search. The houses on either
that’s the direction; and the sooner it’s done, the better.’ side were high and large, but very old, and tenanted by
Thus saying, Mr. Bumble put on his cocked hat wrong people of the poorest class: as their neglected appearance
side first, in a fever of parochial excietment; and flounced would have sufficiently dentoed, without the concurrent
out of the shop. testimony afforded by the squalid looks of the few men and
‘Why, he was so angry, Oliver, that he forgot even to ask women who, with folded arms and bodies half doubled, oc-
after you!’ said Mr. Sowerberry, looking after the beadle as casionally skulked along. A great many of the tenements
he strode down the street. had shop-fronts; but these were fast closed, and mouldering
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Oliver, who had carefully kept himself away; only the upper rooms being inhabited. Some houses
out of sight, during the interview; and who was shaking which had become insecure from age and decay, were pre-
from head to foot at the mere recollection of the sound of vented from falling into the street, by huge beams of wood

reared against the walls, and firmly planted in the road; but was wrinkled; her two remaining teeth protruded over her
even these crazy dens seemed to have been selected as the under lip; and her eyes were bright and piercing. Oliver was
nightly haunts of some houseless wretches, for many of the afriad to look at either her or the man. They seemed so like
rough boards which supplied the place of door and window, the rats he had seen outside.
were wrenched from their positions, to afford an aperture ‘Nobody shall go near her,’ said the man, starting fiercely
wide enough for the passage of a human body. The kennel up, as the undertaker approached the recess. ‘Keep back!
was stagnant and filthy. The very rats, which here and there Damn you, keep back, if you’ve a life to lose!’
lay putrefying in its rottenness, were hideous with famine. ‘Nonsense, my good man,’ said the undertaker, who was
There was neither knocker nor bell-handle at the open pretty well used to misery in all its shapes. ‘Nonsense!’
door where Oliver and his master stopped; so, groping his ‘I tell you,’ said the man: clenching his hands, and stamp-
way cautiously through the dark passage, and bidding Oliver ing furiously on the floor,—‘I tell you I won’t have her put
keep close to him and not be afraid the undertaker mount- into the ground. She couldn’t rest there. The worms would
ed to the top of the first flight of stairs. Stumbling against a worry her—not eat her—she is so worn away.’
door on the landing, he rapped at it with his knuckles. The undertaker offered no reply to this raving; but pro-
It was opened by a young girl of thirteen or fourteen. The ducing a tape from his pocket, knelt down for a moment by
undertaker at once saw enough of what the room contained, the side of the body.
to know it was the apartment to which he had been directed. ‘Ah!’ said the man: bursting into tears, and sinking on
He stepped in; Oliver followed him. his knees at the feet of the dead woman; ‘kneel down, kneel
There was no fire in the room; but a man was crouch- down —kneel round her, every one of you, and mark my
ing, mechanically, over the empty stove. An old woman, too, words! I say she was starved to death. I never knew how bad
had drawn a low stool to the cold hearth, and was sitting she was, till the fever came upon her; and then her bones
beside him. There were some ragged children in another were starting through the skin. There was neither fire nor
corner; and in a small recess, opposite the door, there lay candle; she died in the dark—in the dark! She couldn’t even
upon the ground, something covered with an old blanket. see her children’s faces, though we heard her gasping out
Oliver shuddered as he cast his eyes toward the place, and their names. I begged for her in the streets: and they sent
crept involuntarily closer to his master; for though it was me to prison. When I came back, she was dying; and all the
covered up, the boy felt that it was a corpse. blood in my heart has dried up, for they starved her to death.
The man’s face was thin and very pale; his hair and beard I swear it before the God that saw it! They starved her!’ He
were grizzly; his eyes were blookshot. The old woman’s face twined his hands in his hair; and, with a loud scream, rolled

grovelling upon the floor: his eyes fixed, and the foam cov- The next day, (the family having been meanwhile re-
ering his lips. lieved with a half-quartern loaf and a piece of cheese, left
The terrified children cried bitterly; but the old woman, with them by Mr. Bumble himself,) Oliver and his master
who had hitherto remained as quiet as if she had been whol- returned to the miserable abode; where Mr. Bumble had
ly deaf to all that passed, menaced them into silence. Having already arrived, accompanied by four men from the work-
unloosened the cravat of the man who still remained ex- house, who were to act as bearers. An old black cloak had
tended on the ground, she tottered towards the undertaker. been thrown over the rags of the old woman and the man;
‘She was my daughter,’ said the old woman, nodding her and the bare coffin having been screwed down, was hoisted
head in the direction of the corpse; and speaking with an on the shoulders of the bearers, and carried into the street.
idiotic leer, more ghastly than even the presence of death ‘Now, you must put your best leg foremost, old lady!’
in such a place. ‘Lord, Lord! Well, it IS strange that I who whispered Sowerberry in the old woman’s ear; ‘we are rath-
gave birth to her, and was a woman then, should be alive er late; and it won’t do, to keep the clergyman waiting. Move
and merry now, and she lying ther: so cold and stiff! Lord, on, my men,—as quick as you like!’
Lord!—to think of it; it’s as good as a play—as good as a Thus directed, the bearers trotted on under their light
play!’ burden; and the two mourners kept as near them, as they
As the wretched creature mumbled and chuckled in her could. Mr. Bumble and Sowerberry walked at a good smart
hideous merriment, the undertaker turned to go away. pace in front; and Oliver, whose legs were not so long as his
‘Stop, stop!’ said the old woman in a loud whisper. ‘Will master’s, ran by the side.
she be buried to-morrow, or next day, or to-night? I laid her There was not so great a necessity for hurrying as
out; and I must walk, you know. Send me a large cloak: a Mr. Sowerberry had anticipated, however; for when they
good warm one: for it is bitter cold. We should have cake reached the obscure corner of the churchyard in which the
and wine, too, before we go! Never mind; send some bread— nettles grew, and where the parish graves were made, the
only a loaf of bread and a cup of water. Shall we have some clergyman had not arrived; and the clerk, who was sitting
bread, dear?’ she said eagerly: by the vestry-room fire, seemed to think it by no means
catching at the undertaker’s coat, as he once more moved improbable that it might be an hour or so, before he came.
towards the door. So, they put the bier on the brink of the grave; and the two
‘Yes, yes,’ said the undertaker,’of course. Anything you mourners waited patiently in the damp clay, with a cold
like!’ He disengaged himself from the old woman’s grasp; rain drizzling down, while the ragged boys whom the spec-
and, drawing Oliver after him, hurried away. tacle had attracted into the churchyard played a noisy game

at hide-and-seek among the tombstones, or varied their tion; so they threw a can of cold water over him; and when
amusements by jumping backwards and forwards over the he came to, saw him safely out of the churchyard, locked the
coffin. Mr. Sowerberry and Bumble, being personal friends gate, and departed on their different ways.
of the clerk, sat by the fire with him, and read the paper. ‘Well, Oliver,’ said Sowerberry, as they walked home,
At length, after a lapse of something more than an hour, ‘how do you like it?’
Mr. Bumble, and Sowerberry, and the clerk, were seen ‘Pretty well, thank you, sir’ replied Oliver, with consider-
running towards the grave. Immediately afterwards, the able hesitation. ‘Not very much, sir.’
clergyman appeared: putting on his surplice as he came ‘Ah, you’ll get used to it in time, Oliver,’ said Sowerberry.
along. Mr. Bumble then thrashed a boy or two, to keep up ‘Nothing when you ARE used to it, my boy.’
appearances; and the reverend gentleman, having read as Oliver wondered, in his own mind, whether it had taken
much of the burial service as could be compressed into four a very long time to get Mr. Sowerberry used to it. But he
minutes, gave his surplice to the clerk, and walked away thought it better not to ask the question; and walked back to
again. the shop: thinking over all he had seen and heard.
‘Now, Bill!’ said Sowerberry to the grave-digger. ‘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 grave-digger 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 atten-

CHAPTER VI ished undertaker, he had many opportunities of observing
the beautiful resignation and fortitude with which some
strong-minded people bear their trials and losses.
For instance; when Sowerberry had an order for the
OLIVER, BEING GOADED burial of some rich old lady or gentleman, who was sur-
rounded by a great number of nephews and nieces, who had
BY THE TAUNTS OF NOAH, been perfectly inconsolable during the previous illness, and
whose grief had been wholly irrepressible even on the most
ROUSES INTO ACTION, AND public occasions, they would be as happy among themselves
as need be—quite cheerful and contented—conversing to-
RATHER ASTONISHES HIM gether 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
T he month’s 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
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, re-
weeks, Oliver acquired a great deal of experience. The suc- covered almost as soon as they reached home, and became
cess of Mr. Sowerberry’s ingenious speculation, exceeded quite composed before the tea-drinking was over. All this
even his most sanguine hopes. The oldest inhabitants rec- was very pleasant and improving to see; and Oliver beheld
ollected no period at which measles had been so prevalent, it with great admiration.
or so fatal to infant existence; and many were the mournful That Oliver Twist was moved to resignation by the ex-
processions which little Oliver headed, in a hat-band reach- ample of these good people, I cannot, although I am his
ing down to his knees, to the indescribable admiration and biographer, undertake to affirm with any degree of confi-
emotion of all the mothers in the town. As Oliver accom- dence; but I can most distinctly say, that for many months
panied his master in most of his adult expeditions too, in he continued meekly to submit to the domination and ill-
order that he might acquire that equanimity of demeanour treatment of Noah Claypole: who used him far worse than
and full command of nerve which was essential to a fin- before, now that his jealousy was roused by seeing the new

boy promoted to the black stick and hatband, while he, the But, making Oliver cry, Noah attempted to be more face-
old one, remained stationary in the muffin-cap and leath- tious still; and in his attempt, did what many sometimes
ers. Charlotte treated him ill, because Noah did; and Mrs. do to this day, when they want to be funny. He got rather
Sowerberry was his decided enemy, because Mr. Sowerber- personal.
ry was disposed to be his friend; so, between these three ‘Work’us,’ said Noah, ‘how’s your mother?’
on one side, and a glut of funerals on the other, Oliver was ‘She’s dead,’ replied Oliver; ‘don’t you say anything about
not altogether as comfortable as the hungry pig was, when her to me!’
he was shut up, by mistake, in the grain department of a Oliver’s colour rose as he said this; he breathed quickly;
brewery. and there was a curious working of the mouth and nostrils,
And now, I come to a very important passage in Oliver’s which Mr. Claypole thought must be the immediate pre-
history; for I have to record an act, slight and unimport- cursor of a violent fit of crying. Under this impression he
ant perhaps in appearance, but which indirectly produced returned to the charge.
a material change in all his future prospects and proceed- ‘What did she die of, Work’us?’ said Noah.
ings. ‘Of a broken heart, some of our old nurses told me,’ re-
One day, Oliver and Noah had descended into the kitch- plied Oliver: more as if he were talking to himself, than
en at the usual dinner-hour, to banquet upon a small joint of answering Noah. ‘I think I know what it must be to die of
mutton—a pound and a half of the worst end of the neck— that!’
when Charlotte being called out of the way, there ensued a ‘Tol de rol lol lol, right fol lairy, Work’us,’ said Noah, as
brief interval of time, which Noah Claypole, being hungry a tear rolled down Oliver’s cheek. ‘What’s set you a snivel-
and vicious, considered he could not possibly devote to a ling now?’
worthier purpose than aggravating and tantalising young ‘Not YOU,’ replied Oliver, sharply. ‘There; that’s enough.
Oliver Twist. Don’t say anything more to me about her; you’d better not!’
Intent upon this innocent amusement, Noah put his feet ‘Better not!’ exclaimed Noah. ‘Well! Better not! Work’us,
on the table-cloth; and pulled Oliver’s hair; and twitched don’t be impudent. YOUR mother, too! She was a nice ‘un
his ears; and expressed his opinion that he was a ‘sneak’; she was. Oh, Lor!’ And here, Noah nodded his head ex-
and furthermore announced his intention of coming to pressively; and curled up as much of his small red nose as
see him hanged, whenever that desirable event should take muscular action could collect together, for the occasion.
place; and entered upon various topics of petty annoyance, ‘Yer know, Work’us,’ continued Noah, emboldened by
like a malicious and ill-conditioned charity-boy as he was. Oliver’s silence, and speaking in a jeering tone of affected

pity: of all tones the most annoying: ‘Yer know, Work’us, it Charlotte, and a louder from Mrs. Sowerberry; the former
can’t be helped now; and of course yer couldn’t help it then; of whom rushed into the kitchen by a side-door, while the
and I am very sorry for it; and I’m sure we all are, and pity latter paused on the staircase till she was quite certain that
yer very much. But yer must know, Work’us, yer mother it was consistent with the preservation of human life, to
was a regular right-down bad ‘un.’ come further down.
‘What did you say?’ inquired Oliver, looking up very ‘Oh, you little wretch!’ screamed Charlotte: seizing Oli-
quickly. ver with her utmost force, which was about equal to that of
‘A regular right-down bad ‘un, Work’us,’ replied Noah, a moderately strong man in particularly good training. ‘Oh,
coolly. ‘And it’s a great deal better, Work’us, that she died you little un-grate-ful, mur-de-rous, hor-rid villain!’ And
when she did, or else she’d have been hard labouring in between every syllable, Charlotte gave Oliver a blow with
Bridewell, or transported, or hung; which is more likely all her might: accompanying it with a scream, for the ben-
than either, isn’t it?’ efit of society.
Crimson with fury, Oliver started up; overthrew the Charlotte’s fist was by no means a light one; but, lest
chair and table; seized Noah by the throat; shook him, in it should not be effectual in calming Oliver’s wrath, Mrs.
the violence of his rage, till his teeth chattered in his head; Sowerberry plunged into the kitchen, and assisted to hold
and collecting his whole force into one heavy blow, felled him with one hand, while she scratched his face with the
him to the ground. other. In this favourable position of affairs, Noah rose from
A minute ago, the boy had looked the quiet child, mild, the ground, and pommelled him behind.
dejected creature that harsh treatment had made him. But This was rather too violent exercise to last long. When
his spirit was roused at last; the cruel insult to his dead they were all wearied out, and could tear and beat no longer,
mother had set his blood on fire. His breast heaved; his at- they dragged Oliver, struggling and shouting, but nothing
titude was erect; his eye bright and vivid; his whole person daunted, into the dust-cellar, and there locked him up. This
changed, as he stood glaring over the cowardly tormentor being done, Mrs. Sowerberry sunk into a chair, and burst
who now lay crouching at his feet; and defied him with an into tears.
energy he had never known before. ‘Bless her, she’s going off!’ said Charlotte. ‘A glass of wa-
‘He’ll murder me!’ blubbered Noah. ‘Charlotte! missis! ter, Noah, dear. Make haste!’
Here’s the new boy a murdering of me! Help! help! Oliver’s ‘Oh! Charlotte,’ said Mrs. Sowerberry: speaking as well
gone mad! Char—lotte!’ as she could, through a deficiency of breath, and a suffi-
Noah’s shouts were responded to, by a loud scream from ciency of cold water, which Noah had poured over her head

and shoulders. ‘Oh! Charlotte, what a mercy we have not all Noah stopped to make no reply, but started off at his
been murdered in our beds!’ fullest speed; and very much it astonished the people who
‘Ah! mercy indeed, ma’am,’ was the reply. I only hope were out walking, to see a charity-boy tearing through the
this’ll teach master not to have any more of these dreadful streets pell-mell, with no cap on his head, and a clasp-knife
creatures, that are born to be murderers and robbers from at his eye.
their very cradle.
Poor Noah! He was all but killed, ma’am, when I come
in.’
‘Poor fellow!’ said Mrs. Sowerberry: looking piteously on
the charity-boy.
Noah, whose top waistcoat-button might have been
somewhere on a level with the crown of Oliver’s head,
rubbed his eyes with the inside of his wrists while this com-
miseration was bestowed upon him, and performed some
affecting tears and sniffs.
‘What’s to be done!’ exclaimed Mrs. Sowerberry. ‘Your
master’s not at home; there’s not a man in the house, and
he’ll kick that door down in ten minutes.’ Oliver’s vigorous
plunges against the bit of timber in question, rendered this
occurance highly probable.
‘Dear, dear! I don’t know, ma’am,’ said Charlotte, ‘unless
we send for the police-officers.’
‘Or the millingtary,’ suggested Mr. Claypole.
‘No, no,’ said Mrs. Sowerberry: bethinking herself of Ol-
iver’s 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.
It’ll keep the swelling down.’

CHAPTER VII sion, and forgetfulness of personal dignity.
‘Oh, Mr. Bumble, sir!’ said Noah: ‘Oliver, sir, —Oliver
has—‘
‘What? What?’ interposed Mr. Bumble: with a gleam of
OLIVER CONTINUES pleasure in his metallic eyes. ‘Not run away; he hasn’t run
away, has he, Noah?’
REFRACTORY ‘No, sir, no. Not run away, sir, but he’s 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
N oah Claypole ran along the streets at his swiftest pace,

and paused not once for breath, until he reached the
workhouse-gate. Having rested here, for a minute or so, to
twisted his body into an extensive variety of eel-like posi-
tions; thereby giving Mr. Bumble to understand that, from
the violent and sanguinary onset of Oliver Twist, he had
collect a good burst of sobs and an imposing show of tears sustained severe internal injury and damage, from which
and terror, he knocked loudly at the wicket; and presented he was at that moment suffering the acutest torture.
such a rueful face to the aged pauper who opened it, that When Noah saw that the intelligence he communicated
even he, who saw nothing but rueful faces about him at the perfectly paralysed Mr. Bumble, he imparted additional ef-
best of times, started back in astonishment. fect thereunto, by bewailing his dreadful wounds ten times
‘Why, what’s the matter with the boy!’ said the old pau- louder than before; and when he observed a gentleman in a
per. white waistcoat crossing the yard, he was more tragic in his
‘Mr. Bumble! Mr. Bumble!’ cried Noah, wit well-affect- lamentations than ever: rightly conceiving it highly expedi-
ed dismay: and in tones so loud and agitated, that they not ent to attract the notice, and rouse the indignation, of the
only caught the ear of Mr. Bumble himself, who happened gentleman aforesaid.
to be hard by, but alarmed him so much that he rushed into The gentleman’s notice was very soon attracted; for he
the yard without his cocked hat, —which is a very curious had not walked three paces, when he turned angrily round,
and remarkable circumstance: as showing that even a bea- and inquired what that young cur was howling for, and
dle, acted upon a sudden and powerful impulse, may be why Mr. Bumble did not favour him with something which
afflicted with a momentary visitation of loss of self-posses- would render the series of vocular exclamations so desig-

nated, an involuntary process? themselves with all speed to the undertaker’s shop.
‘It’s a poor boy from the free-school, sir,’ replied Mr. Here the position of affairs had not at all improved. Sow-
Bumble, ‘who has been nearly murdered—all but murdered, erberry had not yet returned, and Oliver continued to kick,
sir, —by young Twist.’ with undiminished vigour, at the cellar-door. The accounts
‘By Jove!’ exclaimed the gentleman in the white waist- of his ferocity as related by Mrs. Sowerberry and Charlotte,
coat, stopping short. ‘I knew it! I felt a strange presentiment were of so startling a nature, that Mr. Bumble judged it
from the very first, that that audacious young savage would prudent to parley, before opening the door. With this view
come to be hung!’ he gave a kick at the outside, by way of prelude; and, then,
‘He has likewise attempted, sir, to murder the female ser- applying his mouth to the keyhole, said, in a deep and im-
vant,’ said Mr. Bumble, with a face of ashy paleness. pressive tone:
‘And his missis,’ interposed Mr. Claypole. ‘Oliver!’
‘And his master, too, I think you said, Noah?’ added Mr. ‘Come; you let me out!’ replied Oliver, from the inside.
Bumble. ‘Do you know this here voice, Oliver?’ said Mr. Bumble.
‘No! he’s out, or he would have murdered him,’ replied ‘Yes,’ replied Oliver.
Noah. ‘He said he wanted to.’ ‘Ain’t you afraid of it, sir? Ain’t you a-trembling while I
‘Ah! Said he wanted to, did he, my boy?’ inquired the gen- speak, sir?’ said Mr. Bumble.
tleman in the white waistcoat. ‘No!’ replied Oliver, boldly.
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Noah. ‘And please, sir, missis wants to An answer so different from the one he had expected to
know whether Mr. Bumble can spare time to step up there, elicit, and was in the habit of receiving, staggered Mr. Bum-
directly, and flog him— ‘cause master’s out.’ ble not a little. He stepped back from the keyhole; drew
‘Certainly, my boy; certainly,’ said the gentleman in the himself up to his full height; and looked from one to anoth-
white waistcoat: smiling benignly, and patting Noah’s head, er of the three bystanders, in mute astonishment.
which was about three inches higher than his own. ‘You’re a ‘Oh, you know, Mr. Bumble, he must be mad,’ said Mrs.
good boy—a very good boy. Here’s a penny for you. Bumble, Sowerberry.
just step up to Sowerberry’s with your cane, and seed what’s ‘No boy in half his senses could venture to speak so to
best to be done. Don’t spare him, Bumble.’ you.’
‘No, I will not, sir,’ replied the beadle. And the cocked hat ‘It’s not Madness, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble, after a few
and cane having been, by this time, adjusted to their own- moments of deep meditation. ‘It’s Meat.’
er’s satisfaction, Mr. Bumble and Noah Claypole betook ‘What?’ exclaimed Mrs. Sowerberry.

‘Meat, ma’am, meat,’ replied Bumble, with stern empha- at this juncture. Oliver’s offence having been explained to
sis. ‘You’ve over-fed him, ma’am. You’ve raised a artificial him, with such exaggerations as the ladies thought best cal-
soul and spirit in him, ma’am unbecoming a person of his culated to rouse his ire, he unlocked the cellar-door in a
condition: as the board, Mrs. Sowerberry, who are practical twinkling, and dragged his rebellious apprentice out, by the
philosophers, will tell you. What have paupers to do with collar.
soul or spirit? It’s quite enough that we let ‘em have live Oliver’s clothes had been torn in the beating he had re-
bodies. If you had kept the boy on gruel, ma’am, this would ceived; his face was bruised and scratched; and his hair
never have happened.’ scattered over his forehead. The angry flush had not disap-
‘Dear, dear!’ ejaculated Mrs. Sowerberry, piously raising peared, however; and when he was pulled out of his prison,
her eyes to the kitchen ceiling: ‘this comes of being liberal!’ he scowled boldly on Noah, and looked quite undismayed.
The liberality of Mrs. Sowerberry to Oliver, had consist- ‘Now, you are a nice young fellow, ain’t you?’ said Sower-
ed of a profuse bestowal upon him of all the dirty odds and berry; giving Oliver a shake, and a box on the ear.
ends which nobody else would eat; so there was a great deal ‘He called my mother names,’ replied Oliver.
of meekness and self-devotion in her voluntarily remaining ‘Well, and what if he did, you little ungrateful wretch?’
under Mr. Bumble’s heavy accusation. Of which, to do her said Mrs. Sowerberry. ‘She deserved what he said, and
justice, she was wholly innocent, in thought, word, or deed. worse.’
‘Ah!’ said Mr. Bumble, when the lady brought her eyes ‘She didn’t’ said Oliver.
down to earth again; ‘the only thing that can be done now, ‘She did,’ said Mrs. Sowerberry.
that I know of, is to leave him in the cellar for a day or so, ‘It’s a lie!’ said Oliver.
till he’s a little starved down; and then to take him out, Mrs. Sowerberry burst into a flood of tears.
and keep him on gruel all through the apprenticeship. He This flood of tears left Mr. Sowerberry no alternative. If he
comes of a bad family. Excitable natures, Mrs. Sowerber- had hesitated for one instant to punish Oliver most severely,
ry! Both the nurse and doctor said, that that mother of his it must be quite clear to every experienced reader that he
made her way here, against difficulties and pain that would would have been, according to all precedents in disputes of
have killed any well-disposed woman, weeks before.’ matrimony established, a brute, an unnatural husband, an
At this point of Mr. Bumble’s discourse, Oliver, just hear- insulting creature, a base imitation of a man, and various
ing enough to know that some allusion was being made to other agreeable characters too numerous for recital within
his mother, recommenced kicking, with a violence that ren- the limits of this chapter. To do him justice, he was, as far
dered every other sound inaudible. Sowerberry returned as his power went—it was not very extensive—kindly dis-

posed towards the boy; perhaps, because it was his interest It was a cold, dark night. The stars seemed, to the boy’s
to be so; perhaps, because his wife disliked him. The flood eyes, farther from the earth than he had ever seen them be-
of tears, however, left him no resource; so he at once gave fore; there was no wind; and the sombre shadows thrown
him a drubbing, which satisfied even Mrs. Sowerberry her- by the trees upon the ground, looked sepulchral and death-
self, and rendered Mr. Bumble’s subsequent application of like, from being so still. He softly reclosed the door. Having
the parochial cane, rather unnecessary. For the rest of the availed himself of the expiring light of the candle to tie up
day, he was shut up in the back kitchen, in company with in a handkerchief the few articles of wearing apparel he had,
a pump and a slice of bread; and at night, Mrs. Sowerber- sat himself down upon a bench, to wait for morning.
ry, after making various remarks outside the door, by no With the first ray of light that struggled through the
means complimentary to the memory of his mother, looked crevices in the shutters, Oliver arose, and again unbarred
into the room, and, amidst the jeers and pointings of Noah the door. One timid look around—one moment’s pause of
and Charlotte, ordered him upstairs to his dismal bed. hesitation—he had closed it behind him, and was in the
It was not until he was left alone in the silence and still- open street.
ness of the gloomy workshop of the undertaker, that Oliver He looked to the right and to the left, uncertain whither
gave way to the feelings which the day’s treatment may be to fly.
supposed likely to have awakened in a mere child. He had He remembered to have seen the waggons, as they went
listened to their taunts with a look of contempt; he had out, toiling up the hill. He took the same route; and arriving
borne the lash without a cry: for he felt that pride swell- at a footpath across the fields: which he knew, after some
ing in his heart which would have kept down a shriek to distance, led out again into the road; struck into it, and
the last, though they had roasted him alive. But now, when walked quickly on.
there were none to see or hear him, he fell upon his knees on Along this same footpath, Oliver well-remembered he
the floor; and, hiding his face in his hands, wept such tears had trotted beside Mr. Bumble, when he first carried him to
as, God send for the credit of our nature, few so young may the workhouse from the farm. His way lay directly in front
ever have cause to pour out before him! of the cottage. His heart beat quickly when he bethought
For a long time, Oliver remained motionless in this at- himself of this; and he half resolved to turn back. He had
titude. The candle was burning low in the socket when he come a long way though, and should lose a great deal of
rose to his feet. Having gazed cautiously round him, and time by doing so. Besides, it was so early that there was very
listened intently, he gently undid the fastenings of the door, little fear of his being seen; so he walked on.
and looked abroad. He reached the house. There was no appearance of its in-

mates stirring at that early hour. Oliver stopped, and peeped the first that Oliver had ever heard invoked upon his head;
into the garden. A child was weeding one of the little beds; and through the struggles and sufferings, and troubles and
as he stopped, he raised his pale face and disclosed the fea- changes, of his after life, he never once forgot it.
tures 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 musn’t say you saw me, Dick,’ said Oliver. ‘I am run-
ning away. They beat and ill-use me, Dick; and I am going
to seek my fortune, some long way off. I don’t 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
don’t stop, don’t stop!’
‘Yes, yes, I will, to say good-b’ye 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
Oliver’s neck. ‘Good-b’ye, dear! God bless you!’
The blessing was from a young child’s lips, but it was

CHAPTER VIII London!—that great 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
OLIVER WALKS 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,
TO LONDON. HE who must die in the streets unless some one helped him. As
these things passed through his thoughts, he jumped upon
ENCOUNTERS ON THE his feet, and again walked forward.
He had diminished the distance between himself and
ROAD A STRANGE SORT London by full four miles more, before he recollected how
much he must undergo ere he could hope to reach his place
OF YOUNG GENTLEMAN 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 Sowerberry’s after some funeral in which he had
O liver reached the stile at which the by-path terminat-

ed; and once more gained the high-road. It was eight
o’clock now. Though he was nearly five miles away from the
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 pen-
town, he ran, and hid behind the hedges, by turns, till noon: ny; but they small helps to a sixty-five miles’ walk in winter
fearing that he might be pursued and overtaken. Then he time.’ But Oliver’s thoughts, like those of most other people,
sat down to rest by the side of the milestone, and began to although they were extremely ready and active to point out
think, for the first time, where he had better go and try to his difficulties, were wholly at a loss to suggest any feasible
live. mode of surmounting them; so, after a good deal of think-
The stone by which he was seated, bore, in large charac- ing to no particular purpose, he changed his little bundle
ters, an intimation that it was just seventy miles from that over to the other shoulder, and trudged on.
spot to London. The name awakened a new train of ideas in Oliver walked twenty miles that day; and all that time
the boy’s mind. tasted nothing but the crust of dry bread, and a few draughts

of water, which he begged at the cottage-doors by the road- would be sent to jail. This frightened Oliver very much, and
side. When the night came, he turned into a meadow; and, made him glad to get out of those villages with all possible
creeping close under a hay-rick, determined to lie there, till expedition. In others, he would stand about the inn-yards,
morning. He felt frightened at first, for the wind moaned and look mournfully at every one who passed: a proceed-
dismally over the empty fields: and he was cold and hun- ing which generally terminated in the landlady’s ordering
gry, and more alone than he had ever felt before. Being very one of the post-boys who were lounging about, to drive that
tired with his walk, however, he soon fell asleep and forgot strange boy out of the place, for she was sure he had come
his troubles. to steal something. If he begged at a farmer’s house, ten to
He felt cold and stiff, when he got up next morning, and one but they threatened to set the dog on him; and when he
so hungry that he was obliged to exchange the penny for a showed his nose in a shop, they talked about the beadle—
small loaf, in the very first village through which he passed. which brought Oliver’s heart into his mouth,—very often
He had walked no more than twelve miles, when night the only thing he had there, for many hours together.
closed in again. His feet were sore, and his legs so weak that In fact, if it had not been for a good-hearted turnpike-
they trembled beneath him. Another night passed in the man, and a benevolent old lady, Oliver’s troubles would
bleak damp air, made him worse; when he set forward on have been shortened by the very same process which had
his journey next morning he could hardly crawl along. put an end to his mother’s; in other words, he would most
He waited at the bottom of a steep hill till a stage-coach assuredly have fallen dead upon the king’s highway. But the
came up, and then begged of the outside passengers; but turnpike-man gave him a meal of bread and cheese; and
there were very few who took any notice of him: and even the old lady, who had a shipwrecked grandson wandering
those told him to wait till they got to the top of the hill, and barefoot in some distant part of the earth, took pity upon
then let them see how far he could run for a halfpenny. Poor the poor orphan, and gave him what little she could afford—
Oliver tried to keep up with the coach a little way, but was and more—with such kind and gently words, and such tears
unable to do it, by reason of his fatigue and sore feet. When of sympathy and compassion, that they sank deeper into
the outsides saw this, they put their halfpence back into their Oliver’s soul, than all the sufferings he had ever undergone.
pockets again, declaring that he was an idle young dog, and Early on the seventh morning after he had left his native
didn’t deserve anything; and the coach rattled away and left place, Oliver limped slowly into the little town of Barnet.
only a cloud of dust behind. The window-shutters were closed; the street was empty; not
In some villages, large painted boards were fixed up: a soul had awakened to the business of the day. The sun was
warning all persons who begged within the district, that they rising in all its splendid beauty; but the light only served to

show the boy his own lonesomeness and desolation, as he and manners of a man. He was short of his age: with rath-
sat, with bleeding feet and covered with dust, upon a door- er bow-legs, and little, sharp, ugly eyes. His hat was stuck
step. on the top of his head so lightly, that it threatened to fall
By degrees, the shutters were opened; the window-blinds off every moment—and would have done so, very often, if
were drawn up; and people began passing to and fro. Some the wearer had not had a knack of every now and then giv-
few stopped to gaze at Oliver for a moment or two, or turned ing his head a sudden twitch, which brought it back to its
round to stare at him as they hurried by; but none relieved old place again. He wore a man’s coat, which reached nearly
him, or troubled themselves to inquire how he came there. to his heels. He had turned the cuffs back, half-way up his
He had no heart to beg. And there he sat. arm, to get his hands out of the sleeves: apparently with the
He had been crouching on the step for some time: won- ultimated view of thrusting them into the pockets of his
dering at the great number of public-houses (every other corduroy trousers; for there he kept them. He was, altogeth-
house in Barnet was a tavern, large or small), gazing list- er, as roystering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever
lessly at the coaches as they passed through, and thinking stood four feet six, or something less, in the bluchers.
how strange it seemed that they could do, with ease, in a ‘Hullo, my covey! What’s the row?’ said this strange
few hours, what it had taken him a whole week of courage young gentleman to Oliver.
and determination beyond his years to accomplish: when ‘I am very hungry and tired,’ replied Oliver: the tears
he was roused by observing that a boy, who had passed him standing in his eyes as he spoke. ‘I have walked a long way. I
carelessly some minutes before, had returned, and was now have been walking these seven days.’
surveying him most earnestly from the opposite side of the ‘Walking for sivin days!’ said the young gentleman. ‘Oh,
way. He took little heed of this at first; but the boy remained I see. Beak’s order, eh? But,’ he added, noticing Oliver’s look
in the same attitude of close observation so long, that Oli- of surprise, ‘I suppose you don’t know what a beak is, my
ver raised his head, and returned his steady look. Upon this, flash com-pan-i-on.’
the boy crossed over; and walking close up to Oliver, said Oliver mildly replied, that he had always heard a bird’s
‘Hullo, my covey! What’s the row?’ mouth described by the term in question.
The boy who addressed this inquiry to the young way- ‘My eyes, how green!’ exclaimed the young gentleman.
farer, was about his own age: but one of the queerest looking ‘Why, a beak’s a madgst’rate; and when you walk by a beak’s
boys that Oliver had even seen. He was a snub-nosed, flat- order, it’s not straight forerd, but always agoing up, and niv-
browed, common-faced boy enough; and as dirty a juvenile er a coming down agin. Was you never on the mill?’
as one would wish to see; but he had about him all the airs ‘What mill?’ inquired Oliver.

‘What mill! Why, THE mill—the mill as takes up so little ‘No.’
room that it’ll work inside a Stone Jug; and always goes bet- The strange boy whistled; and put his arms into his pock-
ter when the wind’s low with people, than when it’s high; ets, as far as the big coat-sleeves would let them go.
acos then they can’t get workmen. But come,’ said the young ‘Do you live in London?’ inquired Oliver.
gentleman; ‘you want grub, and you shall have it. I’m at low- ‘Yes. I do, when I’m at home,’ replied the boy. ‘I suppose
water-mark myself—only one bob and a magpie; but, as far you want some place to sleep in to-night, don’t you?’
as it goes, I’ll fork out and stump. Up with you on your pins. ‘I do, indeed,’ answered Oliver. ‘I have not slept under a
There! Now then! roof since I left the country.’
Morrice!’ ‘Don’t fret your eyelids on that score.’ said the young gen-
Assisting Oliver to rise, the young gentleman took him tleman. ‘I’ve got to be in London to-night; and I know a
to an adjacent chandler’s shop, where he purchased a suf- ‘spectable old gentleman as lives there, wot’ll give you lodg-
ficiency of ready-dressed ham and a half-quartern loaf, or, ings for nothink, and never ask for the change—that is, if
as he himself expressed it, ‘a fourpenny bran!’ the ham be- any genelman he knows interduces you. And don’t he know
ing kept clean and preserved from dust, by the ingenious me? Oh, no!
expedient of making a hole in the loaf by pulling out a por- Not in the least! By no means. Certainly not!’
tion of the crumb, and stuffing it therein. Taking the bread The young gentelman smiled, as if to intimate that the
under his arm, the young gentlman turned into a small latter fragments of discourse were playfully ironical; and
public-house, and led the way to a tap-room in the rear of finished the beer as he did so.
the premises. Here, a pot of beer was brought in, by direc- This unexpected offer of shelter was too tempting to be
tion of the mysterious youth; and Oliver, falling to, at his resisted; especially as it was immediately followed up, by the
new friend’s bidding, made a long and hearty meal, during assurance that the old gentleman referred to, would doubt-
the progress of which the strange boy eyed him from time less provide Oliver with a comfortable place, without loss of
to time with great attention. time. This led to a more friendly and confidential dialogue;
‘Going to London?’ said the strange boy, when Oliver had from which Oliver discovered that his friend’s name was
at length concluded. Jack Dawkins, and that he was a peculiar pet and protege of
‘Yes.’ the elderly gentleman before mentioned.
‘Got any lodgings?’ Mr. Dawkin’s appearance did not say a vast deal in fa-
‘No.’ vour of the comforts which his patron’s interest obtained
‘Money?’ for those whom he took under his protection; but, as he had

a rather flightly and dissolute mode of conversing, and fur- that time of night, were crawling in and out at the doors,
thermore avowed that among his intimate friends he was or screaming from the inside. The sole places that seemed
better known by the sobriquet of ‘The Artful Dodger,’ Oli- to prosper amid the general blight of the place, were the
ver concluded that, being of a dissipated and careless turn, public-houses; and in them, the lowest orders of Irish were
the moral precepts of his benefactor had hitherto been wrangling with might and main. Covered ways and yards,
thrown away upon him. Under this impression, he secretly which here and there diverged from the main street, dis-
resolved to cultivate the good opinion of the old gentleman closed little knots of houses, where drunken men and
as quickly as possible; and, if he found the Dodger incorri- women were positively wallowing in filth; and from several
gible, as he more than half suspected he should, to decline of the door-ways, great ill-looking fellows were cautiously
the honour of his farther acquaintance. emerging, bound, to all appearance, on no very well-dis-
As John Dawkins objected to their entering London be- posed or harmless errands.
fore nightfall, it was nearly eleven o’clock when they reached Oliver was just considering whether he hadn’t better run
the turnpike at Islington. They crossed from the Angel into away, when they reached the bottom of the hill. His con-
St. John’s Road; struck down the small street which termi- ductor, catching him by the arm, pushed open the door of
nates at Sadler’s Wells Theatre; through Exmouth Street a house near Field Lane; and drawing him into the passage,
and Coppice Row; down the little court by the side of the closed it behind them.
workhouse; across the classic ground which once bore the ‘Now, then!’ cried a voice from below, in reply to a whis-
name of Hockley-in-the-Hole; thence into Little Saffron tle from the Dodger.
Hill; and so into Saffron Hill the Great: along which the ‘Plummy and slam!’ was the reply.
Dodger scudded at a rapid pace, directing Oliver to follow This seemed to be some watchword or signal that all was
close at his heels. right; for the light of a feeble candle gleamed on the wall
Although Oliver had enough to occupy his attention in at the remote end of the passage; and a man’s face peeped
keeping sight of his leader, he could not help bestowing a out, from where a balustrade of the old kitchen staircase
few hasty glances on either side of the way, as he passed had been broken away.
along. A dirtier or more wretched place he had never seen. ‘There’s two on you,’ said the man, thrusting the candle
The street was very narrow and muddy, and the air was im- farther out, and shielding his eyes with his hand. ‘Who’s
pregnated with filthy odours. the t’other one?’
There were a good many small shops; but the only stock ‘A new pal,’ replied Jack Dawkins, pulling Oliver for-
in trade appeared to be heaps of children, who, even at ward.

‘Where did he come from?’ Jew; and then turned round and grinned at Oliver. So did
‘Greenland. Is Fagin upstairs?’ the Jew himself, toasting-fork in hand.
‘Yes, he’s a sortin’ the wipes. Up with you!’ The candle ‘This is him, Fagin,’ said Jack Dawkins; ‘my friend Oli-
was drawn back, and the face disappeared. ver Twist.’
Oliver, groping his way with one hand, and having the The Jew grinned; and, making a low obeisance to Oli-
other firmly grasped by his companion, ascended with ver, took him by the hand, and hoped he should have the
much difficulty the dark and broken stairs: which his con- honour of his intimate acquaintance. Upon this, the young
ductor mounted with an ease and expedition that showed gentleman with the pipes came round him, and shook both
he was well acquainted with them. his hands very hard—especially the one in which he held
He threw open the door of a back-room, and drew Oliver his little bundle. One young gentleman was very anxious to
in after him. hang up his cap for him; and another was so obliging as to
The walls and ceiling of the room were perfectly black put his hands in his pockets, in order that, as he was very
with age and dirt. There was a deal table before the fire: tired, he might not have the trouble of emptying them, him-
upon which were a candle, stuck in a ginger-beer bottle, self, when he went to bed. These civilities would probably be
two or three pewter pots, a loaf and butter, and a plate. In a extended much farther, but for a liberal exercise of the Jew’s
frying-pan, which was on the fire, and which was secured toasting-fork on the heads and shoulders of the affectionate
to the mantelshelf by a string, some sausages were cooking; youths who offered them.
and standing over them, with a toasting-fork in his hand, ‘We are very glad to see you, Oliver, very,’ said the Jew.
was a very old shrivelled Jew, whose villainous-looking and ‘Dodger, take off the sausages; and draw a tub near the fire
repulsive face was obscured by a quantity of matted red hair. for Oliver. Ah, you’re a-staring at the pocket-handkerchiefs!
He was dressed in a greasy flannel gown, with his throat eh, my dear. There are a good many of ‘em, ain’t there?
bare; and seemed to be dividing his attention between the We’ve just looked ‘em out, ready for the wash; that’s all, Oli-
frying-pan and the clothes-horse, over which a great num- ver; that’s all. Ha! ha! ha!’
ber of silk handkerchiefsl were hanging. Several rough beds The latter part of this speech, was hailed by a boisterous
made of old sacks, were huddled side by side on the floor. shout from all the hopeful pupils of the merry old gentle-
Seated round the table were four or five boys, none older man. In the midst of which they went to supper.
than the Dodger, smoking long clay pipes, and drinking Oliver ate his share, and the Jew then mixed him a glass
spirits with the air of middle-aged men. These all crowded of hot gin-and-water: telling him he must drink it off di-
about their associate as he whispered a few words to the rectly, 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 CHAPTER IX
sunk into a deep sleep.
CONTAINING FURTHER
PARTICULARS
CONCERNING THE
PLEASANT OLD
GENTLEMAN, AND HIS
HOPEFUL PUPILS
I t 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 satistified himself, he would go on whis-
tling 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 min- torting every feature with a hideous grin. ‘Clever dogs!
utes with your eyes half open, and yourself half conscious Clever dogs! Staunch to the last! Never told the old parson
of everything that is passing around you, than you would in where they were. Never poached upon old Fagin! And why
five nights with your eyes fast closed, and your senses wrapt should they? It wouldn’t have loosened the knot, or kept the
in perfect unconsciousness. At such time, a mortal knows drop up, a minute longer. No, no, no! Fine fellows! Fine fel-
just enough of what his mind is doing, to form some glim- lows!’
mering conception of its mighty powers, its bounding from With these, and other muttered reflections of the like
earth and spurning time and space, when freed from the nature, the Jew once more deposited the watch in its place
restraint of its corporeal associate. of safety. At least half a dozen more were severally drawn
Oliver was precisely in this condition. He saw the Jew forth from the same box, and surveyed with equal plea-
with his half-closed eyes; heard his low whistling; and recog- sure; besides rings, brooches, bracelet, and other articles of
nised the sound of the spoon grating against the saucepan’s jewellery, of such magnificent materials, and costly work-
sides: and yet the self-same senses were mentally engaged, manship, that Oliver had no idea, even of their names.
at the same time, in busy action with almost everybody he Having replaced these trinkets, the Jew took out another:
had ever known. so small that it lay in the palm of his hand. There seemed to
When the coffee was done, the Jew drew the saucepan to be some very minute inscription on it; for the Jew laid it flat
the hob. Standing, then in an irresolute attitude for a few upon the table, and shading it with his hand, pored over it,
minutes, as if he did not well know how to employ himself, long and earnestly. At length he put it down, as if despairing
he turned round and looked at Oliver, and called him by of success; and, leaning back in his chair, muttered:
his name. He did not answer, and was to all appearances ‘What a fine thing capital punishment is! Dead men nev-
asleep. er repent; dead men never bring awkward stories to light.
After satisfiying himself upon this head, the Jew stepped Ah, it’s a fine thing for the trade! Five of ‘em strung up in a
gently to the door: which he fastened. He then drew forth: row, and none left to play booty, or turn white-livered!’
as it seemed to Oliver, from some trap in the floor: a small As the Jew uttered these words, his bright dark eyes,
box, which he placed carefully on the table. His eyes glis- which had been staring vacantly before him, fell on Oliver’s
tened as he raised the lid, and looked in. Dragging an old face; the boy’s eyes were fixed on his in mute curiousity; and
chair to the table, he sat down; and took from it a magnifi- although the recognition was only for an instant—for the
cent gold watch, sparkling with jewels. briefest space of time that can possibly be conceived—it was
‘Aha!’ said the Jew, shrugging up his shoulders, and dis- enough to show the old man that he had been observed.

He closed the lid of the box with a loud crash; and, laying my old age. The folks call me a miser, my dear. Only a mi-
his hand on a bread knife which was on the table, started fu- ser; that’s all.’
riously up. He trembled very much though; for, even in his Oliver thought the old gentleman must be a decided mi-
terror, Oliver could see that the knife quivered in the air. ser to live in such a dirty place, with so many watches; but,
‘What’s that?’ said the Jew. ‘What do you watch me for? thinking that perhaps his fondness for the Dodger and the
Why are you awake? What have you seen? Speak out, boy! other boys, cost him a good deal of money, he only cast a
Quick—quick! for your life. deferential look at the Jew, and asked if he might get up.
‘I wasn’t able to sleep any longer, sir,’ replied Oliver, ‘Certainly, my dear, certainly,’ replied the old gentleman.
meekly. ‘Stay. There’s a pitcher of water in the corner by the door.
‘I am very sorry if I have disturbed you, sir.’ Bring it here; and I’ll give you a basin to wash in, my dear.’
‘You were not awake an hour ago?’ said the Jew, scowling Oliver got up; walked across the room; and stooped for
fiercely on the boy. an instant to raise the pitcher. When he turned his head, the
‘No! No, indeed!’ replied Oliver. box was gone.
‘Are you sure?’ cried the Jew: with a still fiercer look than He had scarcely washed himself, and made everything
before: and a threatening attitude. tidy, by emptying the basin out of the window, agreeably to
‘Upon my word I was not, sir,’ replied Oliver, earnestly. ‘I the Jew’s directions, when the Dodger returned: accompa-
was not, indeed, sir.’ nied by a very sprightly young friend, whom Oliver had seen
‘Tush, tush, my dear!’ said the Jew, abruptly resuming his smoking on the previous night, and who was now formally
old manner, and playing with the knife a little, before he introduced to him as Charley Bates. The four sat down, to
laid it down; as if to induce the belief that he had caught it breakfast, on the coffee, and some hot rolls and ham which
up, in mere sport. ‘Of course I know that, my dear. I only the Dodger had brought home in the crown of his hat.
tried to frighten you. You’re a brave boy. Ha! ha! you’re a ‘Well,’ said the Jew, glancing slyly at Oliver, and address-
brave boy, Oliver.’ The Jew rubbed his hands with a chuckle, ing himself to the Dodger, ‘I hope you’ve been at work this
but glanced uneasily at the box, notwithstanding. morning, my dears?’
‘Did you see any of these pretty things, my dear?’ said the ‘Hard,’ replied the Dodger.
Jew, laying his hand upon it after a short pause. ‘As nails,’ added Charley Bates.
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘Good boys, good boys!’ said the Jew. ‘What have you got,
‘Ah!’ said the Jew, turning rather pale. ‘They—they’re Dodger?’
mine, Oliver; my little property. All I have to live upon, in ‘A couple of pocket-books,’ replied that young gentlman.

‘Lined?’ inquired the Jew, with eagerness. ‘He is so jolly green!’ said Charley when he recovered, as
‘Pretty well,’ replied the Dodger, producing two pocket- an apology to the company for his unpolite behaviour.
books; one green, and the other red. The Dodger said nothing, but he smoothed Oliver’s hair
‘Not so heavy as they might be,’ said the Jew, after look- over his eyes, and said he’d know better, by and by; upon
ing at the insides carefully; ‘but very neat and nicely made. which the old gentleman, observing Oliver’s colour mount-
Ingenious workman, ain’t he, Oliver?’ ing, changed the subject by asking whether there had been
‘Very indeed, sir,’ said Oliver. At which Mr. Charles Bates much of a crowd at the execution that morning? This made
laughed uproariously; very much to the amazement of Ol- him wonder more and more; for it was plain from the re-
iver, who saw nothing to laugh at, in anything that had plies of the two boys that they had both been there; and
passed. Oliver naturally wondered how they could possibly have
‘And what have you got, my dear?’ said Fagin to Charley found time to be so very industrious.
Bates. When the breakfast was cleared away; the merry old
‘Wipes,’ replied Master Bates; at the same time produc- gentlman and the two boys played at a very curious and
ing four pocket-handkerchiefs. uncommon game, which was performed in this way. The
‘Well,’ said the Jew, inspecting them closely; ‘they’re very merry old gentleman, placing a snuff-box in one pocket of
good ones, very. You haven’t marked them well, though, his trousers, a note-case in the other, and a watch in his
Charley; so the marks shall be picked out with a needle, and waistcoat pocket, with a guard-chain round his neck, and
we’ll teach Oliver how to do it. Shall us, Oliver, eh? Ha! ha! sticking a mock diamond pin in his shirt: buttoned his coat
ha!’ tight round him, and putting his spectacle-case and hand-
‘If you please, sir,’ said Oliver. kerchief in his pockets, trotted up and down the room with
‘You’d like to be able to make pocket-handkerchiefs as a stick, in imitation of the manner in which old gentlmen
easy as Charley Bates, wouldn’t you, my dear?’ said the Jew. walk about the streets any hour in the day. Sometimes he
‘Very much, indeed, if you’ll teach me, sir,’ replied Oli- stopped at the fire-place, and sometimes at the door, making
ver. believe that he was staring with all his might into shop-win-
Master Bates saw something so exquisitely ludicrous in dows. At such times, he would look constantly round him,
this reply, that he burst into another laugh; which laugh, for fear of thieves, and would keep slapping all his pockets
meeting the coffee he was drinking, and carrying it down in turn, to see that he hadn’t lost anything, in such a very
some wrong channel, very nearly terminated in his prema- funny and natural manner, that Oliver laughed till the tears
ture suffocation. ran down his face. All this time, the two boys followed him

closely about: getting out of his sight, so nimbly, every time ‘There, my dear,’ said Fagin. ‘That’s a pleasant life, isn’t
he turned round, that it was impossible to follow their mo- it?
tions. At last, the Dodger trod upon his toes, or ran upon his They have gone out for the day.’
boot accidently, while Charley Bates stumbled up against ‘Have they done work, sir?’ inquired Oliver.
him behind; and in that one moment they took from him, ‘Yes,’ said the Jew; ‘that is, unless they should unexpect-
with the most extraordinary rapidity, snuff-box, note-case, edly come across any, when they are out; and they won’t
watch-guard, chain, shirt-pin, pocket-handkerchief, even neglect it, if they do, my dear, depend upon it. Make ‘em
the spectacle-case. If the old gentlman felt a hand in any your models, my dear.
one of his pockets, he cried out where it was; and then the Make ‘em your models,’ tapping the fire-shovel on the
game began all over again. hearth to add force to his words; ‘do everything they bid
When this game had been played a great many times, a you, and take their advice in all matters—especially the
couple of young ladies called to see the young gentleman; Dodger’s, my dear. He’ll be a great man himself, and will
one of whom was named Bet, and the other Nancy. They make you one too, if you take pattern by him.—Is my hand-
wore a good deal of hair, not very neatly turned up behind, kerchief hanging out of my pocket, my dear?’ said the Jew,
and were rather untidy about the shoes and stockings. They stopping short.
were not exactly pretty, perhaps; but they had a great deal of ‘Yes, sir,’ said Oliver.
colour in their faces, and looked quite stout and hearty. Be- ‘See if you can take it out, without my feeling it; as you
ing remarkably free and agreeable in their manners, Oliver saw them do, when we were at play this morning.’
thought them very nice girls indeed. As there is no doubt Oliver held up the bottom of the pocket with one hand,
they were. as he had seen the Dodger hold it, and drew the handker-
The visitors stopped a long time. Spirits were produced, chief lighty out of it with the other.
in consequence of one of the young ladies complaining of ‘Is it gone?’ cried the Jew.
a coldness in her inside; and the conversation took a very ‘Here it is, sir,’ said Oliver, showing it in his hand.
convivial and improving turn. At length, Charley Bates ex- ‘You’re a clever boy, my dear,’ said the playful old gentle-
pressed his opinion that it was time to pad the hoof. This, it man, patting Oliver on the head approvingly. ‘I never saw a
occurred to Oliver, must be French for going out; for direct- sharper lad. Here’s a shilling for you. If you go on, in this
ly afterwards, the Dodger, and Charley, and the two young way, you’ll be the greatest man of the time. And now come
ladies, went away together, having been kindly furnished by here, and I’ll show you how to take the marks out of the
the amiable old Jew with money to spend. handkerchiefs.’

Oliver wondered what picking the old gentleman’s pock-
et in play, had to do with his chances of being a great man. CHAPTER X
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.
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
F or many days, Oliver remained in the Jew’s room, pick-

ing the marks out of the pocket-handkerchief, (of which
a great number were brought home,) and sometimes tak-
ing part in the game already described: which the two boys

and the Jew played, regularly, every morning. At length, he work at all. The Dodger had a vicious propensity, too, of
began to languish for fresh air, and took many occasions of pulling the caps from the heads of small boys and tossing
earnestly entreating the old gentleman to allow him to go them down areas; while Charley Bates exhibited some very
out to work with his two companions. loose notions concerning the rights of property, by pilfering
Oliver was rendered the more anxious to be actively em- divers apples and onions from the stalls at the kennel sides,
ployed, by what he had seen of the stern morality of the old and thrusting them into pockets which were so surprisingly
gentleman’s character. Whenever the Dodger or Charley capacious, that they seemed to undermine his whole suit of
Bates came home at night, empty-handed, he would expa- clothes in every direction. These things looked so bad, that
tiate with great vehemence on the misery of idle and lazy Oliver was on the point of declaring his intention of seeking
habits; and would enforce upon them the necessity of an his way back, in the best way he could; when his thoughts
active life, by sending them supperless to bed. On one oc- were suddenly directed into another channel, by a very mys-
casion, indeed, he even went so far as to knock them both terious change of behaviour on the part of the Dodger.
down a flight of stairs; but this was carrying out his virtu- They were just emerging from a narrow court not far
ous precepts to an unusual extent. from the open square in Clerkenwell, which is yet called,
At length, one morning, Oliver obtained the permission by some strange perversion of terms, ‘The Green’: when the
he had so eagerly sought. There had been no handkerchiefs Dodger made a sudden stop; and, laying his finger on his lip,
to work upon, for two or three days, and the dinners had drew his companions back again, with the greatest caution
been rather meagre. Perhaps these were reasons for the old and circumspection.
gentleman’s giving his assent; but, whether they were or no, ‘What’s the matter?’ demanded Oliver.
he told Oliver he might go, and placed him under the joint ‘Hush!’ replied the Dodger. ‘Do you see that old cove at
guardianship of Charley Bates, and his friend the Dodger. the book-stall?’
The three boys sallied out; the Dodger with his coat- ‘The old gentleman over the way?’ said Oliver. ‘Yes, I see
sleeves tucked up, and his hat cocked, as usual; Master Bates him.’
sauntering along with his hands in his pockets; and Oliver ‘He’ll do,’ said the Doger.
between them, wondering where they were going, and what ‘A prime plant,’ observed Master Charley Bates.
branch of manufacture he would be instructed in, first. Oliver looked from one to the other, with the greatest
The pace at which they went, was such a very lazy, ill-look- surprise; but he was not permitted to make any inquiries;
ing saunter, that Oliver soon began to think his companions for the two boys walked stealthily across the road, and
were going to deceive the old gentleman, by not going to slunk close behind the old gentleman towards whom his at-

tention had been directed. Oliver walked a few paces after a burning fire; then, confused and frightened, he took to his
them; and, not knowing whether to advance or retire, stood heels; and, not knowing what he did, made off as fast as he
looking on in silent amazement. could lay his feet to the ground.
The old gentleman was a very respectable-looking per- This was all done in a minute’s space. In the very instant
sonage, with a powdered head and gold spectacles. He was when Oliver began to run, the old gentleman, putting his
dressed in a bottle-green coat with a black velvet collar; hand to his pocket, and missing his handkerchief, turned
wore white trousers; and carried a smart bamboo cane un- sharp round. Seeing the boy scudding away at such a rapid
der his arm. He had taken up a book from the stall, and pace, he very naturally concluded him to be the depredator;
there he stood, reading away, as hard as if he were in his and shouting ‘Stop thief!’ with all his might, made off after
elbow-chair, in his own study. It is very possible that he him, book in hand.
fancied himself there, indeed; for it was plain, from his ab- But the old gentleman was not the only person who raised
straction, that he saw not the book-stall, nor the street, nor the hue-and-cry. The Dodger and Master Bates, unwilling
the boys, nor, in short, anything but the book itself: which to attract public attention by running down the open street,
he was reading straight through: turning over the leaf when had merely retured into the very first doorway round the
he got to the bottom of a page, beginning at the top line of corner. They no sooner heard the cry, and saw Oliver run-
the next one, and going regularly on, with the greatest in- ning, than, guessing exactly how the matter stood, they
terest and eagerness. issued forth with great promptitude; and, shouting ‘Stop
What was Oliver’s horror and alarm as he stood a few thief!’ too, joined in the pursuit like good citizens.
paces off, looking on with his eyelids as wide open as they Although Oliver had been brought up by philosophers,
would possibly go, to see the Dodger plunge his hand into he was not theoretically acquainted with the beautiful axi-
the old gentleman’s pocket, and draw from thence a hand- om that self-preservation is the first law of nature. If he had
kerchief! To see him hand the same to Charley Bates; and been, perhaps he would have been prepared for this. Not
finally to behold them, both running away round the corner being prepared, however, it alarmed him the more; so away
at full speed! he went like the wind, with the old gentleman and the two
In an instant the whole mystery of the hankerchiefs, and boys roaring and shouting behind him.
the watches, and the jewels, and the Jew, rushed upon the ‘Stop thief! Stop thief!’ There is a magic in the sound.
boy’s mind. The tradesman leaves his counter, and the car-man his
He stood, for a moment, with the blood so tingling waggon; the butcher throws down his tray; the baker his
through all his veins from terror, that he felt as if he were in basket; the milkman his pail; the errand-boy his parcels;

the school-boy his marbles; the paviour his pickaxe; the ‘Is this the boy, sir!’ ‘Yes.’
child his battledore. Away they run, pell-mell, helter-skel- Oliver lay, covered with mud and dust, and bleeding
ter, slap-dash: tearing, yelling, screaming, knocking down from the mouth, looking wildly round upon the heap of
the passengers as they turn the corners, rousing up the dogs, faces that surrounded him, when the old gentleman was of-
and astonishing the fowls: and streets, squares, and courts, ficiously dragged and pushed into the circle by the foremost
re-echo with the sound. of the pursuers.
‘Stop thief! Stop thief!’ The cry is taken up by a hundred ‘Yes,’ said the gentleman, ‘I am afraid it is the boy.’
voices, and the crowd accumulate at every turning. Away ‘Afraid!’ murmured the crowd. ‘That’s a good ‘un!’
they fly, splashing through the mud, and rattling along the ‘Poor fellow!’ said the gentleman, ‘he has hurt himself.’
pavements: ‘I did that, sir,’ said a great lubberly fellow, stepping for-
up go the windows, out run the people, onward bear the ward; ‘and preciously I cut my knuckle agin’ his mouth. I
mob, a whole audience desert Punch in the very thickest of stopped him, sir.’
the plot, and, joining the rushing throng, swell the shout, The follow touched his hat with a grin, expecting some-
and lend fresh vigour to the cry, ‘Stop thief! Stop thief!’ thing for his pains; but, the old gentleman, eyeing him with
‘Stop thief! Stop thief!’ There is a passion FOR HUNT- an expression of dislike, look anxiously round, as if he con-
ING SOMETHING deeply implanted in the human breast. templated running away himself: which it is very possible
One wretched breathless child, panting with exhaustion; he might have attempted to do, and thus have afforded an-
terror in his looks; agaony in his eyes; large drops of perspi- other chase, had not a police officer (who is generally the
ration streaming down his face; strains every nerve to make last person to arrive in such cases) at that moment made his
head upon his pursuers; and as they follow on his track, way through the crowd, and seized Oliver by the collar.
and gain upon him every instant, they hail his decreasing ‘Come, get up,’ said the man, roughly.
strength with joy. ‘Stop thief!’ Ay, stop him for God’s sake, ‘It wasn’t me indeed, sir. Indeed, indeed, it was two oth-
were it only in mercy! er boys,’ said Oliver, clasping his hands passionately, and
Stopped at last! A clever blow. He is down upon the pave- looking round. ‘They are here somewhere.’
ment; and the crowd eagerly gather round him: each new ‘Oh no, they ain’t,’ said the officer. He meant this to be
comer, jostling and struggling with the others to catch a ironical, but it was true besides; for the Dodger and Char-
glimpse. ‘Stand aside!’ ‘Give him a little air!’ ‘Nonsense! he ley Bates had filed off down the first convenient court they
don’t deserve it.’ ‘Where’s the gentleman?’ ‘Here his is, com- came to.
ing down the street.’ ‘Make room there for the gentleman!’ ‘Come, get up!’

‘Don’t hurt him,’ said the old gentleman, compassion-
ately. CHAPTER XI
‘Oh no, I won’t hurt him,’ replied the officer, tearing his
jacket half off his back, in proof thereof. ‘Come, I know you;
it won’t do. Will you stand upon your legs, you young dev-
il?’ TREATS OF MR. FANG THE
Oliver, who could hardly stand, made a shift to raise
himself on his feet, and was at once lugged along the streets POLICE MAGISTRATE;
by the jacket-collar, at a rapid pace. The gentleman walked
on with them by the officer’s side; and as many of the crowd AND FURNISHES A SLIGHT
as could achieve the feat, got a little ahead, and stared back
at Oliver from time to time. The boys shouted in triumph; SPECIMEN OF HIS MODE OF
and on they went.
ADMINISTERING JUSTICE
T he offence had been committed within the district, and

indeed in the immediate neighborhood of, a very no-
torious 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 back way. It was a
small paved yard into which they turned; and here they en-
countered a stout man with a bunch of whiskers on his face,
and a bunch of keys in his hand.
‘What’s the matter now?’ said the man carelessly.
‘A young fogle-hunter,’ replied the man who had Oliver

in charge. man to himself as he walked slowly away, tapping his chin
‘Are you the party that’s been robbed, sir?’ inquired the with the cover of the book, in a thoughtful manner; ‘some-
man with the keys. thing that touches and interests me. CAN he be innocent?
‘Yes, I am,’ replied the old gentleman; ‘but I am not sure He looked like—Bye the bye,’ exclaimed the old gentleman,
that this boy actually took the handkerchief. I—I would halting very abruptly, and staring up into the sky, ‘Bless my
rather not press the case.’ soul!—where have I seen something like that look before?’
‘Must go before the magistrate now, sir,’ replied the man. After musing for some minutes, the old gentleman walked,
‘His worship will be disengaged in half a minute. Now, with the same meditative face, into a back anteroom open-
young gallows!’ ing from the yard; and there, retiring into a corner, called
This was an invitation for Oliver to enter through a door up before his mind’s eye a vast amphitheatre of faces over
which he unlocked as he spoke, and which led into a stone which a dusky curtain had hung for many years. ‘No,’ said
cell. Here he was searched; and nothing being found upon the old gentleman, shaking his head; ‘it must be imagina-
him, locked up. tion.
This cell was in shape and size something like an area He wandered over them again. He had called them into
cellar, only not so light. It was most intolably dirty; for view, and it was not easy to replace the shroud that had so
it was Monday morning; and it had been tenanted by six long concealed them. There were the faces of friends, and
drunken people, who had been locked up, elsewhere, since foes, and of many that had been almost strangers peering
Saturday night. But this is little. In our station-houses, men intrusively from the crowd; there were the faces of young
and women are every night confined on the most trivial and blooming girls that were now old women; there were
charges—the word is worth noting—in dungeons, com- faces that the grave had changed and closed upon, but
pared with which, those in Newgate, occupied by the most which the mind, superior to its power, still dressed in their
atrocious felons, tried, found guilty, and under sentence of old freshness and beauty, calling back the lustre of the eyes,
death, are palaces. Let any one who doubts this, compare the brightness of the smile, the beaming of the soul through
the two. its mask of clay, and whispering of beauty beyond the tomb,
The old gentleman looked almost as rueful as Oliver changed but to be heightened, and taken from earth only to
when the key grated in the lock. He turned with a sigh to be set up as a light, to shed a soft and gentle glow upon the
the book, which had been the innocent cause of all this dis- path to Heaven.
turbance. But the old gentleman could recall no one countenance
‘There is something in that boy’s face,’ said the old gentle- of which Oliver’s features bore a trace. So, he heaved a sigh

over the recollections he awakened; and being, happily for Department. He was out of temper; and he looked up with
himself, an absent old gentleman, buried them again in the an angry scowl.
pages of the musty book. ‘Who are you?’ said Mr. Fang.
He was roused by a touch on the shoulder, and a request The old gentleman pointed, with some surprise, to his
from the man with the keys to follow him into the office. card.
He closed his book hastily; and was at once ushered into the ‘Officer!’ said Mr. Fang, tossing the card contemptuously
imposing presence of the renowned Mr. Fang. away with the newspaper. ‘Who is this fellow?’
The office was a front parlour, with a panelled wall. Mr. ‘My name, sir,’ said the old gentleman, speaking LIKE
Fang sat behind a bar, at the upper end; and on one side the a gentleman, ‘my name, sir, is Brownlow. Permit me to in-
door was a sort of wooden pen in which poor little Oliver quire the name of the magistrate who offers a gratuitous
was already deposited; trembling very much at the awful- and unprovoked insult to a respectable person, under the
ness of the scene. protection of the bench.’ Saying this, Mr. Brownlow looked
Mr. Fang was a lean, long-backed, stiff-necked, middle- around the office as if in search of some person who would
sized man, with no great quantity of hair, and what he had, afford him the required information.
growing on the back and sides of his head. His face was ‘Officer!’ said Mr. Fang, throwing the paper on one side,
stern, and much flushed. If he were really not in the habit ‘what’s this fellow charged with?’
of drinking rather more than was exactly good for him, he ‘He’s not charged at all, your worship,’ replied the officer.
might have brought action against his countenance for libel, ‘He appears against this boy, your worship.’
and have recovered heavy damages. His worshp knew this perfectly well; but it was a good
The old gentleman bowed respectfully; and advancing to annoyance, and a safe one.
the magistrate’s desk, said suiting the action to the word, ‘Appears against the boy, does he?’ said Mr. Fang, sur-
‘That is my name and address, sir.’ He then withdrew a pace veying Mr. Brownlow contemptuously from head to foot.
or two; and, with another polite and gentlemanly inclina- ‘Swear him!’
tion of the head, waited to be questioned. ‘Before I am sworn, I must beg to say one word,’ said Mr.
Now, it so happened that Mr. Fang was at that moment Brownlow; ‘and that is, that I really never, without actual
perusing a leading article in a newspaper of the morning, experience, could have believed—‘
adverting to some recent decision of his, and commending ‘Hold your tongue, sir!’ said Mr. Fang, peremptorily.
him, for the three hundred and fiftieth time, to the special ‘I will not, sir!’ replied the old gentleman.
and particular notice of the Secretary of State for the Home ‘Hold your tongue this instant, or I’ll have you turned

out of the office!’ said Mr. Fang. ‘You’re an insolent imperti- former dropped a heavy book upon the floor, thus prevent-
nent fellow. How dare you bully a magistrate!’ ing the word from being heard—accidently, of course.
‘What!’ exclaimed the old gentleman, reddening. With many interruptions, and repeated insults, Mr.
‘Swear this person!’ said Fang to the clerk. ‘I’ll not hear Brownlow contrived to state his case; observing that, in the
another word. Swear him.’ surprise of the moment, he had run after the boy because
Mr. Brownlow’s indignaton was greatly roused; but re- he had saw him running away; and expressing his hope that,
flecting perhaps, that he might only injure the boy by giving if the magistrate should believe him, although not actually
vent to it, he suppressed his feelings and submitted to be the thief, to be connected with the thieves, he would deal as
sworn at once. leniently with him as justice would allow.
‘Now,’ said Fang, ‘what’s the charge against this boy? ‘He has been hurt already,’ said the old gentleman in con-
What have you got to say, sir?’ clusion.
‘I was standing at a bookstall—‘ Mr. Brownlow began. ‘And I fear,’ he added, with great energy, looking towards
‘Hold your tongue, sir,’ said Mr. Fang. ‘Policeman! the bar, ‘I really fear that he is ill.’
Where’s the policeman? Here, swear this policeman. Now, ‘Oh! yes, I dare say!’ said Mr. Fang, with a sneer. ‘Come,
policeman, what is this?’ none of your tricks here, you young vagabond; they won’t
The policeman, with becoming humility, related how do. What’s your name?’
he had taken the charge; how he had searched Oliver, and Oliver tried to reply but his tongue failed him. He was
found nothing on his person; and how that was all he knew deadly pale; and the whole place seemed turning round and
about it. round.
‘Are there any witnesses?’ inquired Mr. Fang. ‘What’s your name, you hardened scoundrel?’ demanded
‘None, your worship,’ replied the policeman. Mr. Fang. ‘Officer, what’s his name?’
Mr. Fang sat silent for some minutes, and then, turning This was addressed to a bluff old fellow, in a striped
round to the prosecutor, said in a towering passion. waistcoat, who was standing by the bar. He bent over Oliver,
‘Do you mean to state what your complaint against this and repeated the inquiry; but finding him really incapable
boy is, man, or do you not? You have been sworn. Now, if of understanding the question; and knowing that his not
you stand there, refusing to give evidence, I’ll punish you replying would only infuriate the magistrate the more, and
for disrespect to the bench; I will, by—‘ add to the severity of his sentence; he hazarded a guess.
By what, or by whom, nobody knows, for the clerk and ‘He says his name’s Tom White, your worship,’ said the
jailor coughed very loud, just at the right moment; and the kind-hearted thief-taker.

‘Oh, he won’t speak out, won’t he?’ said Fang. ‘Very well, men were preparing to carry the insensible boy to his cell;
very well. Where does he live?’ when an elderly man of decent but poor appearance, clad in
‘Where he can, your worship,’ replied the officer; again an old suit of black, rushed hastily into the office, and ad-
pretending to receive Oliver’s answer. vanced towards the bench.
‘Has he any parents?’ inquired Mr. Fang. ‘Stop, stop! don’t take him away! For Heaven’s sake stop a
‘He says they died in his infancy, your worship,’ replied moment!’ cried the new comer, breathless with haste.
the officer: hazarding the usual reply. Although the presiding Genii in such an office as this, ex-
At this point of the inquiry, Oliver raised his head; and, ercise a summary and arbitrary power over the liberties, the
looking round with imploring eyes, murmured a feeble good name, the character, almost the lives, of Her Majesty’s
prayer for a draught of water. subjects, expecially of the poorer class; and although, within
‘Stuff and nonsense!’ said Mr. Fang: ‘don’t try to make a such walls, enough fantastic tricks are daily played to make
fool of me.’ the angels blind with weeping; they are closed to the public,
‘I think he really is ill, your worship,’ remonstrated the save through the medium of the daily press.(Footnote: Or
officer. were virtually, then.) Mr. Fang was consequently not a little
‘I know better,’ said Mr. Fang. indignant to see an unbidden guest enter in such irreverent
‘Take care of him, officer,’ said the old gentleman, raising disorder.
his hands instinctively; ‘he’ll fall down.’ ‘What is this? Who is this? Turn this man out. Clear the
‘Stand away, officer,’ cried Fang; ‘let him, if he likes.’ office!’ cried Mr. Fang.
Oliver availed himself of the kind permission, and fell ‘I WILL speak,’ cried the man; ‘I will not be turned out. I
to the floor in a fainting fit. The men in the office looked at saw it all. I keep the book-stall. I demand to be sworn. I will
each other, but no one dared to stir. not be put down. Mr. Fang, you must hear me. You must
‘I knew he was shamming,’ said Fang, as if this were in- not refuse, sir.’
contestable proof of the fact. ‘Let him lie there; he’ll soon be The man was right. His manner was determined; and the
tired of that.’ matter was growing rather too serious to be hushed up.
‘How do you propose to deal with the case, sir?’ inquired ‘Swear the man,’ growled Mr. Fang. with a very ill grace.
the clerk in a low voice. ‘Now, man, what have you got to say?’
‘Summarily,’ replied Mr. Fang. ‘He stands committed for ‘This,’ said the man: ‘I saw three boys: two others and
three months—hard labour of course. Clear the office.’ the prisoner here: loitering on the opposite side of the way,
The door was opened for this purpose, and a couple of when this gentleman was reading. The robbery was com-

mitted by another boy. I saw it done; and I saw that this boy ‘Clear the office!’ said the magistrate. ‘Officers, do you
was perfectly amazed and stupified by it.’ Having by this hear?
time recovered a little breath, the worthy book-stall keeper Clear the office!’
proceeded to relate, in a more coherent manner the exact The mandate was obeyed; and the indignant Mr. Brown-
circumstances of the robbery. low was conveyed out, with the book in one hand, and the
‘Why didn’t you come here before?’ said Fang, after a bamboo cane in the other: in a perfect phrenzy of rage and
pause. defiance. He reached the yard; and his passion vanished in
‘I hadn’t a soul to mind the shop,’ replied the man. ‘Every- a moment. Little Oliver Twist lay on his back on the pave-
body who could have helped me, had joined in the pursuit. ment, with his shirt unbuttoned, and his temples bathed
I could get nobody till five minutes ago; and I’ve run here with water; his face a deadly white; and a cold tremble con-
all the way.’ vulsing his whole frame.
‘The prosecutor was reading, was he?’ inquired Fang, af- ‘Poor boy, poor boy!’ said Mr. Brownlow, bending over
ter another pause. him. ‘Call a coach, somebody, pray. Directly!’
‘Yes,’ replied the man. ‘The very book he has in his A coach was obtained, and Oliver having been carefully
hand.’ laid on the seat, the old gentleman got in and sat himself on
‘Oh, that book, eh?’ said Fang. ‘Is it paid for?’ the other.
‘No, it is not,’ replied the man, with a smile. ‘May I accompany you?’ said the book-stall keeper, look-
‘Dear me, I forgot all about it!’ exclaimed the absent old ing in.
gentleman, innocently. ‘Bless me, yes, my dear sir,’ said Mr. Brownlow quickly. ‘I
‘A nice person to prefer a charge against a poor boy!’ said forgot you. Dear, dear! I have this unhappy book still! Jump
Fang, with a comical effort to look humane. ‘I consider, sir, in. Poor fellow! There’s no time to lose.’
that you have obtained possession of that book, under very The book-stall keeper got into the coach; and away they
suspicious and disreputable circumstances; and you may drove.
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!’
‘D—n me!’ cried the old gentleman, bursting out with
the rage he had kept down so long, ‘d—n me! I’ll—‘

CHAPTER XII 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
IN WHICH OLIVER IS goodness of his new friends. The sun rose and sank, and
rose and sank again, and many times after that; and still
TAKEN BETTER CARE the boy lay stretched on his uneasy bed, dwindling away
beneath the dry and wasting heat of fever. The worm does
OF THAN HE EVER WAS not work more surely on the dead body, than does this slow
creeping fire upon the living frame.
BEFORE. AND IN WHICH Weak, and thin, and pallid, he awoke at last from what
seemed to have been a long and troubled dream. Feebly
THE NARRATIVE REVERTS raising himself in the bed, with his head resting on his
trembling arm, he looked anxiously around.
TO THE MERRY OLD ‘What room is this? Where have I been brought to?’ said
Oliver. ‘This is not the place I went to sleep in.’
GENTLEMAN AND HIS He uttered these words in a feeble voice, being very faint
and weak; but they were overheard at once. The curtain at
YOUTHFUL FRIENDS. the bed’s head was hastily drawn back, and a motherly old
lady, very neatly and precisely dressed, rose as she undrew
it, from an arm-chair close by, in which she had been sitting
at needle-work.
‘Hush, my dear,’ said the old lady softly. ‘You must be
T he 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 dif-
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;
there’s a dear!’ With those words, the old lady very gently
ferent way when it reached the Angel at Islington, stopped placed Oliver’s head upon the pillow; and, smoothing back
at length before a neat house, in a quiet shady street near his hair from his forehead, looked so kindly and loving in
Pentonville. Here, a bed was prepared, without loss of time, his face, that he could not help placing his little withered

hand in hers, and drawing it round his neck. very large and loud-ticking gold watch in his hand, who felt
‘Save us!’ said the old lady, with tears in her eyes. ‘What his pulse, and said he was a great deal better.
a grateful little dear it is. Pretty creetur! What would his ‘You ARE a great deal better, are you not, my dear?’ said
mother feel if she had sat by him as I have, and could see the gentleman.
him now!’ ‘Yes, thank you, sir,’ replied Oliver.
‘Perhaps she does see me,’ whispered Oliver, folding his ‘Yes, I know you are,’ said the gentleman: ‘You’re hungry
hands together; ‘perhaps she has sat by me. I almost feel as too, an’t you?’
if she had.’ ‘No, sir,’ answered Oliver.
‘That was the fever, my dear,’ said the old lady mildly. ‘Hem!’ said the gentleman. ‘No, I know you’re not. He
‘I suppose it was,’ replied Oliver, ‘because heaven is a long is not hungry, Mrs. Bedwin,’ said the gentleman: looking
way off; and they are too happy there, to come down to the very wise.
bedside of a poor boy. But if she knew I was ill, she must The old lady made a respectful inclination of the head,
have pitied me, even there; for she was very ill herself before which seemed to say that she thought the doctor was a very
she died. She can’t know anything about me though,’ added clever man. The doctor appeared much of the same opinion
Oliver after a moment’s silence. ‘If she had seen me hurt, it himself.
would have made here sorrowful; and her face has always ‘You feel sleepy, don’t you, my dear?’ said the doctor.
looked sweet and happy, when I have dreamed of her.’ ‘No, sir,’ replied Oliver.
The old lady made no reply to this; but wiping her eyes ‘No,’ said the doctor, with a very shrewd and satisfied
first, and her spectacles, which lay on the counterpane, af- look. ‘You’re not sleepy. Nor thirsty. Are you?’
terwards, as if they were part and parcel of those features, ‘Yes, sir, rather thirsty,’ answered Oliver.
brought some cool stuff for Oliver to drink; and then, pat- ‘Just as I expected, Mrs. Bedwin,’ said the doctor. ‘It’s
ting him on the cheek, told him he must lie very quiet, or he very natural that he should be thirsty. You may give him
would be ill again. a little tea, ma’am, and some dry toast without any butter.
So, Oliver kept very still; partly because he was anxious Don’t keep him too warm, ma’am; but be careful that you
to obey the kind old lady in all things; and partly, to tell don’t let him be too cold; will you have the goodness?’
the truth, because he was completely exhausted with what The old lady dropped a curtsey. The doctor, after tast-
he had already said. He soon fell into a gentle doze, from ing the cool stuff, and expressing a qualified approval of it,
which he was awakened by the light of a candle: which, be- hurried away: his boots creaking in a very important and
ing brought near the bed, showed him a gentleman with a wealthy manner as he went downstairs.

Oliver dozed off again, soon after this; when he awoke, his eyes; he felt cheerful and happy. The crisis of the disease
it was nearly twelve o’clock. The old lady tenderly bade him was safely past. He belonged to the world again.
good-night shortly afterwards, and left him in charge of a In three days’ time he was able to sit in an easy-chair,
fat old woman who had just come: bringing with her, in a well propped up with pillows; and, as he was still too weak
little bundle, a small Prayer Book and a large nightcap. Put- to walk, Mrs. Bedwin had him carried downstairs into the
ting the latter on her head and the former on the table, the little housekeeper’s room, which belonged to her. Having
old woman, after telling Oliver that she had come to sit up him set, here, by the fire-side, the good old lady sat her-
with him, drew her chair close to the fire and went off into self down too; and, being in a state of considerable delight
a series of short naps, chequered at frequent intervals with at seeing him so much better, forthwith began to cry most
sundry tumblings forward, and divers moans and chokings. violently.
These, however, had no worse effect than causing her to rub ‘Never mind me, my dear,’ said the old lady; ‘I’m only
her nose very hard, and then fall asleep again. having a regular good cry. There; it’s all over now; and I’m
And thus the night crept slowly on. Oliver lay awake for quite comfortable.’
some time, counting the little circles of light which the re- ‘You’re very, very kind to me, ma’am,’ said Oliver.
flection of the rushlight-shade threw upon the ceiling; or ‘Well, never you mind that, my dear,’ said the old lady;
tracing with his languid eyes the intricate pattern of the pa- ‘that’s got nothing to do with your broth; and it’s full time
per on the wall. The darkness and the deep stillness of the you had it; for the doctor says Mr. Brownlow may come in
room were very solemn; as they brought into the boy’s mind to see you this morning; and we must get up our best looks,
the thought that death had been hovering there, for many because the better we look, the more he’ll be pleased.’ And
days and nights, and might yet fill it with the gloom and with this, the old lady applied herself to warming up, in a
dread of his awful presence, he turned his face upon the pil- little saucepan, a basin full of broth: strong enough, Oliver
low, and fervently prayed to Heaven. thought, to furnish an ample dinner, when reduced to the
Gradually, he fell into that deep tranquil sleep which ease regulation strength, for three hundred and fifty paupers, at
from recent suffering alone imparts; that calm and peaceful the lowest computation.
rest which it is pain to wake from. Who, if this were death, ‘Are you fond of pictures, dear?’ inquired the old lady,
would be roused again to all the struggles and turmoils of seeing that Oliver had fixed his eyes, most intently, on a por-
life; to all its cares for the present; its anxieties for the fu- trait which hung against the wall; just opposite his chair.
ture; more than all, its weary recollections of the past! ‘I don’t quite know, ma’am,’ said Oliver, without taking
It had been bright day, for hours, when Oliver opened his eyes from the canvas; ‘I have seen so few that I hardly

know. What a beautiful, mild face that lady’s is!’ had not altered his position; but he thought it better not
‘Ah!’ said the old lady, ‘painters always make ladies out to worry the kind old lady; so he smiled gently when she
prettier than they are, or they wouldn’t get any custom, looked at him; and Mrs. Bedwin, satisfied that he felt more
child. The man that invented the machine for taking like- comfortable, salted and broke bits of toasted bread into the
nesses might have known that would never succeed; it’s a broth, with all the bustle befitting so solemn a preparation.
deal too honest. A deal,’ said the old lady, laughing very Oliver got through it with extraordinary expedition. He
heartily at her own acuteness. had scarcely swallowed the last spoonful, when there came
‘Is—is that a likeness, ma’am?’ said Oliver. a soft rap at the door. ‘Come in,’ said the old lady; and in
‘Yes,’ said the old lady, looking up for a moment from the walked Mr. Brownlow.
broth; ‘that’s a portrait.’ Now, the old gentleman came in as brisk as need be; but,
‘Whose, ma’am?’ asked Oliver. he had no sooner raised his spectacles on his forehead, and
‘Why, really, my dear, I don’t know,’ answered the old thrust his hands behind the skirts of his dressing-gown
lady in a good-humoured manner. ‘It’s not a likeness of any- to take a good long look at Oliver, than his countenance
body that you or I know, I expect. It seems to strike your underwent a very great variety of odd contortions. Oliver
fancy, dear.’ looked very worn and shadowy from sickness, and made
‘It is so pretty,’ replied Oliver. an ineffectual attempt to stand up, out of respect to his
‘Why, sure you’re not afraid of it?’ said the old lady: ob- benefactor, which terminated in his sinking back into the
serving in great surprise, the look of awe with which the chair again; and the fact is, if the truth must be told, that
child regarded the painting. Mr. Brownlow’s heart, being large enough for any six ordi-
‘Oh no, no,’ returned Oliver quickly; ‘but the eyes look nary old gentlemen of humane disposition, forced a supply
so sorrowful; and where I sit, they seem fixed upon me. It of tears into his eyes, by some hydraulic process which we
makes my heart beat,’ added Oliver in a low voice, ‘as if it are not sufficiently philosophical to be in a condition to ex-
was alive, and wanted to speak to me, but couldn’t.’ plain.
‘Lord save us!’ exclaimed the old lady, starting; ‘don’t talk ‘Poor boy, poor boy!’ said Mr. Brownlow, clearing his
in that way, child. You’re weak and nervous after your ill- throat. ‘I’m rather hoarse this morning, Mrs. Bedwin. I’m
ness. Let me wheel your chair round to the other side; and afraid I have caught cold.’
then you won’t see it. There!’ said the old lady, suiting the ‘I hope not, sir,’ said Mrs. Bedwin. ‘Everything you have
action to the word; ‘you don’t see it now, at all events.’ had, has been well aired, sir.’
Oliver DID see it in his mind’s eye as distinctly as if he ‘I don’t know, Bedwin. I don’t know,’ said Mr. Brownlow;

‘I rather think I had a damp napkin at dinner-time yester- familiar face came upon him so strongly, that he could not
day; but never mind that. How do you feel, my dear?’ withdraw his gaze.
‘Very happy, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘And very grateful in- ‘I hope you are not angry with me, sir?’ said Oliver, rais-
deed, sir, for your goodness to me.’ ing his eyes beseechingly.
‘Good by,’ said Mr. Brownlow, stoutly. ‘Have you given ‘No, no,’ replied the old gentleman. ‘Why! what’s this?
him any nourishment, Bedwin? Any slops, eh?’ Bedwin, look there!’
‘He has just had a basin of beautiful strong broth, sir,’ re- As he spoke, he pointed hastily to the picture over Oli-
plied Mrs. Bedwin: drawing herself up slightly, and laying ver’s head, and then to the boy’s face. There was its living
strong emphasis on the last word: to intimate that between copy. The eyes, the head, the mouth; every feature was the
slops, and broth will compounded, there existed no affinity same. The expression was, for the instant, so precisely alike,
or connection whatsoever. that the minutest line seemed copied with startling accu-
‘Ugh!’ said Mr. Brownlow, with a slight shudder; ‘a cou- racy!
ple of glasses of port wine would have done him a great deal Oliver knew not the cause of this sudden exclamation;
more good. Wouldn’t they, Tom White, eh?’ for, not being strong enough to bear the start it gave him,
‘My name is Oliver, sir,’ replied the little invalid: with a he fainted away. A weakness on his part, which affords the
look of great astonishment. narrative an opportunity of relieving the reader from sus-
‘Oliver,’ said Mr. Brownlow; ‘Oliver what? Oliver White, pense, in behalf of the two young pupils of the Merry Old
eh?’ Gentleman; and of recording—
‘No, sir, Twist, Oliver Twist.’ That when the Dodger, and his accomplished friend
‘Queer name!’ said the old gentleman. ‘What made you Master Bates, joined in the hue-and-cry which was raised
tell the magistrate your name was White?’ at Oliver’s heels, in consequence of their executing an ille-
‘I never told him so, sir,’ returned Oliver in amazement. gal conveyance of Mr. Brownlow’s personal property, as has
This sounded so like a falsehood, that the old gentleman been already described, they were actuated by a very laud-
looked somewhat sternly in Oliver’s face. It was impossible able and becoming regard for themselves; and forasmuch as
to doubt him; there was truth in every one of its thin and the freedom of the subject and the liberty of the individual
sharpened lineaments. are among the first and proudest boasts of a true-hearted
‘Some mistake,’ said Mr. Brownlow. But, although his Englishman, so, I need hardly beg the reader to observe,
motive for looking steadily at Oliver no longer existed, the that this action should tend to exalt them in the opinion of
old idea of the resemblance between his features and some all public and patriotic men, in almost as great a degree as

this strong proof of their anxiety for their own preservation likely to affect themselves. Thus, to do a great right, you may
and safety goes to corroborate and confirm the little code do a little wrong; and you may take any means which the
of laws which certain profound and sound-judging philos- end to be attained, will justify; the amount of the right, or
ophers have laid down as the main-springs of all Nature’s the amount of the wrong, or indeed the distinction between
deeds and actions: the said philosophers very wisely reduc- the two, being left entirely to the philosopher concerned, to
ing the good lady’s proceedings to matters of maxim and be settled and determined by his clear, comprehensive, and
theory: and, by a very neat and pretty compliment to her impartial view of his own particular case.
exalted wisdom and understanding, putting entirely out of It was not until the two boys had scoured, with great ra-
sight any considerations of heart, or generous impulse and pidity, through a most intricate maze of narrow streets and
feeling. For, these are matters totally beneath a female who courts, that they ventured to halt beneath a low and dark
is acknowledged by universal admission to be far above the archway. Having remained silent here, just long enough
numerous little foibles and weaknesses of her sex. to recover breath to speak, Master Bates uttered an excla-
If I wanted any further proof of the strictly philosophi- mation of amusement and delight; and, bursting into an
cal nature of the conduct of these young gentlemen in their uncontrollable fit of laughter, flung himself upon a door-
very delicate predicament, I should at once find it in the fact step, and rolled thereon in a transport of mirth.
(also recorded in a foregoing part of this narrative), of their ‘What’s the matter?’ inquired the Dodger.
quitting the pursuit, when the general attention was fixed ‘Ha! ha! ha!’ roared Charley Bates.
upon Oliver; and making immediately for their home by ‘Hold your noise,’ remonstrated the Dodger, looking cau-
the shortest possible cut. Although I do not mean to assert tiously round. ‘Do you want to be grabbed, stupid?’
that it is usually the practice of renowned and learned sages, ‘I can’t help it,’ said Charley, ‘I can’t help it! To see him
to shorten the road to any great conclusion (their course splitting away at that pace, and cutting round the corners,
indeed being rather to lengthen the distance, by various and knocking up again’ the posts, and starting on again as
circumlocations and discursive staggerings, like unto those if he was made of iron as well as them, and me with the wipe
in which drunken men under the pressure of a too mighty in my pocket, singing out arter him—oh, my eye!’ The vivid
flow of ideas, are prone to indulge); still, I do mean to say, imagination of Master Bates presented the scene before him
and do say distinctly, that it is the invariable practice of in too strong colours. As he arrived at this apostrophe, he
many mighty philosophers, in carrying out their theories, again rolled upon the door-step, and laughed louder than
to evince great wisdom and foresight in providing against before.
every possible contingency which can be supposed at all ‘What’ll Fagin say?’ inquired the Dodger; taking advan-

tage of the next interval of breathlessness on the part of his ‘Why, how’s this?’ muttered the Jew: changing counte-
friend to propound the question. nance; ‘only two of ‘em? Where’s the third? They can’t have
‘What?’ repeated Charley Bates. got into trouble. Hark!’
‘Ah, what?’ said the Dodger. The footsteps approached nearer; they reached the land-
‘Why, what should he say?’ inquired Charley: stopping ing. The door was slowly opened; and the Dodger and
rather suddenly in his merriment; for the Dodger’s manner Charley Bates entered, closing it behind them.
was impressive. ‘What should he say?’
Mr. Dawkins whistled for a couple of minutes; then, tak-
ing 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
wouldn’t, 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 long-tailed coat under his
arm, thrust his tongue into his cheek, slapped the bridge
of his nose some half-dozen times in a familiar but expres-
sive 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 min-
utes 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 hand; a pocket-knife 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.

CHAPTER XIII But they made no reply.
‘What’s become of the boy?’ said the Jew, seizing the
Dodger tightly by the collar, and threatening him with hor-
rid imprecations. ‘Speak out, or I’ll throttle you!’
SOME NEW Mr. Fagin looked so very much in earnest, that Charley
Bates, who deemed it prudent in all cases to be on the safe
ACQUAINTANCES side, and who conceived it by no means improbable that
it might be his turn to be throttled second, dropped upon
ARE INTRODUCED his knees, and raised a loud, well-sustained, and continu-
ous roar—something between a mad bull and a speaking
TO THE INTELLIGENT trumpet.
‘Will you speak?’ thundered the Jew: shaking the Dodger
READER, CONNECTED so much that his keeping in the big coat at all, seemed per-
fectly miraculous.
WITH WHOM VARIOUS ‘Why, the traps have got him, and that’s all about it,’ said
the Dodger, sullenly. ‘Come, let go o’ me, will you!’ And,
PLEASANT MATTERS ARE swinging himself, at one jerk, clean out of the big coat,
which he left in the Jew’s hands, the Dodger snatched up the
RELATED, APPERTAINING toasting fork, and made a pass at the merry old gentleman’s
waistcoat; which, if it had taken effect, would have let a little
TO THIS HISTORY more merriment out, than could have been easily replaced.
The Jew stepped back in this emergency, with more agili-
ty than could have been anticipated in a man of his apparent
decrepitude; and, seizing up the pot, prepared to hurl it at
his assailant’s head. But Charley Bates, at this moment, call-
‘W here’s Oliver?’ said the Jew, rising with a menacing

look. ‘Where’s the boy?’
The young thieves eyed their preceptor as if they were
ing his attention by a perfectly terrific howl, he suddenly
altered its destination, and flung it full at that young gentle-
man.
alarmed at his violence; and looked uneasily at each other. ‘Why, what the blazes is in the wind now!’ growled a deep

voice. ‘Who pitched that ‘ere at me? It’s well it’s the beer, and This command was accompanied with a kick, which sent
not the pot, as hit me, or I’d have settled somebody. I might the animal to the other end of the room. He appeared well
have know’d, as nobody but an infernal, rich, plundering, used to it, however; for he coiled himself up in a corner very
thundering old Jew could afford to throw away any drink quietly, without uttering a sound, and winking his very ill-
but water—and not that, unless he done the River Company looking eyes twenty times in a minute, appeared to occupy
every quarter. Wot’s it all about, Fagin? D—me, if my neck- himself in taking a survey of the apartment.
handkercher an’t lined with beer! Come in, you sneaking ‘What are you up to? Ill-treating the boys, you covetous,
warmint; wot are you stopping outside for, as if you was avaricious, in-sa-ti-a-ble old fence?’ said the man, seating
ashamed of your master! Come in!’ himself deliberately. ‘I wonder they don’t murder you! I
The man who growled out these words, was a stoutly- would if I was them. If I’d been your ‘prentice, I’d have done
built fellow of about five-and-thirty, in a black velveteen it long ago, and—no, I couldn’t have sold you afterwards, for
coat, very soiled drab breeches, lace-up half boots, and grey you’re fit for nothing but keeping as a curiousity of ugliness
cotton stockings which inclosed a bulky pair of legs, with in a glass bottle, and I suppose they don’t blow glass bottles
large swelling calves;—the kind of legs, which in such cos- large enough.’
tume, always look in an unfinished and incomplete state ‘Hush! hush! Mr. Sikes,’ said the Jew, trembling; ‘don’t
without a set of fetters to garnish them. He had a brown speak so loud!’
hat on his head, and a dirty belcher handkerchief round ‘None of your mistering,’ replied the ruffian; ‘you always
his neck: with the long frayed ends of which he smeared mean mischief when you come that. You know my name:
the beer from his face as he spoke. He disclosed, when he out with it! I shan’t disgrace it when the time comes.’
had done so, a broad heavy countenance with a beard of ‘Well, well, then—Bill Sikes,’ said the Jew, with abject hu-
three days’ growth, and two scowling eyes; one of which mility. ‘You seem out of humour, Bill.’
displayed various parti-coloured symptoms of having been ‘Perhaps I am,’ replied Sikes; ‘I should think you was rath-
recently damaged by a blow. er out of sorts too, unless you mean as little harm when you
‘Come in, d’ye hear?’ growled this engaging ruffian. throw pewter pots about, as you do when you blab and—‘
A white shaggy dog, with his face scratched and torn in ‘Are you mad?’ said the Jew, catching the man by the
twenty different places, skulked into the room. sleeve, and pointing towards the boys.
‘Why didn’t you come in afore?’ said the man. ‘You’re Mr. Sikes contented himself with tying an imaginary
getting too proud to own me afore company, are you? Lie knot under his left ear, and jerking his head over on the
down!’ right shoulder; a piece of dumb show which the Jew ap-

peared to understand perfectly. He then, in cant terms, with The man started, and turned round upon the Jew. But
which his whole conversation was plentifully besprinkled, the old gentleman’s shoulders were shrugged up to his ears;
but which would be quite unintelligible if they were record- and his eyes were vacantly staring on the opposite wall.
ed here, demanded a glass of liquor. There was a long pause. Every member of the respectable
‘And mind you don’t poison it,’ said Mr. Sikes, laying his coterie appeared plunged in his own reflections; not except-
hat upon the table. ing the dog, who by a certain malicious licking of his lips
This was said in jest; but if the speaker could have seen seemed to be meditating an attack upon the legs of the first
the evil leer with which the Jew bit his pale lip as he turned gentleman or lady he might encounter in the streets when
round to the cupboard, he might have thought the caution he went out.
not wholly unnecessary, or the wish (at all events) to im- ‘Somebody must find out wot’s been done at the office,’
prove upon the distiller’s ingenuity not very far from the said Mr. Sikes in a much lower tone than he had taken since
old gentleman’s merry heart. he came in.
After swallowing two of three glasses of spirits, Mr. Sikes The Jew nodded assent.
condescended to take some notice of the young gentlemen; ‘If he hasn’t peached, and is committed, there’s no fear
which gracious act led to a conversation, in which the cause till he comes out again,’ said Mr. Sikes, ‘and then he must be
and manner of Oliver’s capture were circumstantially de- taken care on. You must get hold of him somehow.’
tailed, with such alterations and improvements on the truth, Again the Jew nodded.
as to the Dodger appeared most advisable under the cir- The prudence of this line of action, indeed, was obvious;
cumstances. but, unfortunately, there was one very strong objection to
‘I’m afraid,’ said the Jew, ‘that he may say something its being adopted. This was, that the Dodger, and Charley
which will get us into trouble.’ Bates, and Fagin, and Mr. William Sikes, happened, one
‘That’s very likely,’ returned Sikes with a malicious grin. and all, to entertain a violent and deeply-rooted antipathy
‘You’re blowed upon, Fagin.’ to going near a police-office on any ground or pretext what-
‘And I’m afraid, you see, added the Jew, speaking as if he ever.
had not noticed the interruption; and regarding the other How long they might have sat and looked at each other,
closely as he did so,—‘I’m afraid that, if the game was up in a state of uncertainty not the most pleasant of its kind, it
with us, it might be up with a good many more, and that it is difficult to guess. It is not necessary to make any guesses
would come out rather worse for you than it would for me, on the subject, however; for the sudden entrance of the two
my dear.’ young ladies whom Oliver had seen on a former occasion,

caused the conversation to flow afresh. ‘She’ll go, Fagin,’ said Sikes.
‘The very thing!’ said the Jew. ‘Bet will go; won’t you, my ‘No, she won’t, Fagin,’ said Nancy.
dear?’ ‘Yes, she will, Fagin,’ said Sikes.
‘Wheres?’ inquired the young lady. And Mr. Sikes was right. By dint of alternate threats,
‘Only just up to the office, my dear,’ said the Jew coax- promises, and bribes, the lady in question was ultimately
ingly. prevailed upon to undertake the commission. She was not,
It is due to the young lady to say that she did not positive- indeed, withheld by the same considerations as her agreeable
ly affirm that she would not, but that she merely expressed friend; for, having recently removed into the neighborhood
an emphatic and earnest desire to be ‘blessed’ if she would; of Field Lane from the remote but genteel suburb of Rat-
a polite and delicate evasion of the request, which shows cliffe, she was not under the same apprehension of being
the young lady to have been possessed of that natural good recognised by any of her numerous acquaintance.
breeding which cannot bear to inflict upon a fellow-crea- Accordingly, with a clean white apron tied over her gown,
ture, the pain of a direct and pointed refusal. and her curl-papers tucked up under a straw bonnet,—both
The Jew’s countenance fell. He turned from this young articles of dress being provided from the Jew’s inexhaustible
lady, who was gaily, not to say gorgeously attired, in a red stock,—Miss Nancy prepared to issue forth on her errand.
gown, green boots, and yellow curl-papers, to the other fe- ‘Stop a minute, my dear,’ said the Jew, producing, a little
male. covered basket. ‘Carry that in one hand. It looks more re-
‘Nancy, my dear,’ said the Jew in a soothing manner, spectable, my dear.’
‘what do YOU say?’ ‘Give her a door-key to carry in her t’other one, Fagin,’
‘That it won’t do; so it’s no use a-trying it on, Fagin,’ re- said Sikes; ‘it looks real and genivine like.’
plied Nancy. ‘Yes, yes, my dear, so it does,’ said the Jew, hanging a
‘What do you mean by that?’ said Mr. Sikes, looking up large street-door key on the forefinger of the young lady’s
in a surly manner. right hand.
‘What I say, Bill,’ replied the lady collectedly. ‘There; very good! Very good indeed, my dear!’ said the
‘Why, you’re just the very person for it,’ reasoned Mr. Jew, rubbing his hands.
Sikes: ‘nobody about here knows anything of you.’ ‘Oh, my brother! My poor, dear, sweet, innocent little
‘And as I don’t want ‘em to, neither,’ replied Nancy in the brother!’ exclaimed Nancy, bursting into tears, and wring-
same composed manner, ‘it’s rather more no than yes with ing the little basket and the street-door key in an agony of
me, Bill.’ distress. ‘What has become of him! Where have they taken

him to! Oh, do have pity, and tell me what’s been done with been very properly committed by Mr. Fang to the House of
the dear boy, gentlemen; do, gentlemen, if you please, gen- Correction for one month; with the appropriate and amus-
tlemen!’ ing remark that since he had so much breath to spare, it
Having uttered those words in a most lamentable and would be more wholesomely expended on the treadmill
heart-broken tone: to the immeasurable delight of her hear- than in a musical instrument. He made no answer: being
ers: Miss Nancy paused, winked to the company, nodded occupied mentally bewailing the loss of the flute, which had
smilingly round, and disappeared. been confiscated for the use of the county: so Nancy passed
‘Ah, she’s a clever girl, my dears,’ said the Jew, turning on to the next cell, and knocked there.
round to his young friends, and shaking his head gravely, as ‘Well!’ cried a faint and feeble voice.
if in mute admonition to them to follow the bright example ‘Is there a little boy here?’ inquired Nancy, with a pre-
they had just beheld. liminary sob.
‘She’s a honour to her sex,’ said Mr. Sikes, filling his glass, ‘No,’ replied the voice; ‘God forbid.’
and smiting the table with his enormous fist. ‘Here’s her This was a vagrant of sixty-five, who was going to prison
health, and wishing they was all like her!’ for NOT playing the flute; or, in other words, for begging in
While these, and many other encomiums, were being the streets, and doing nothing for his livelihood. In the next
passed on the accomplished Nancy, that young lady made cell was another man, who was going to the same prison
the best of her way to the police-office; whither, notwith- for hawking tin saucepans without license; thereby doing
standing a little natural timidity consequent upon walking something for his living, in defiance of the Stamp-office.
through the streets alone and unprotected, she arrived in But, as neither of these criminals answered to the name
perfect safety shortly afterwards. of Oliver, or knew anything about him, Nancy made straight
Entering by the back way, she tapped softly with the key up to the bluff officer in the striped waistcoat; and with the
at one of the cell-doors, and listened. There was no sound most piteous wailings and lamentations, rendered more pit-
within: so she coughed and listened again. Still there was no eous by a prompt and efficient use of the street-door key and
reply: so she spoke. the little basket, demanded her own dear brother.
‘Nolly, dear?’ murmured Nancy in a gentle voice; ‘Nol- ‘I haven’t got him, my dear,’ said the old man.
ly?’ ‘Where is he?’ screamed Nancy, in a distracted manner.
There was nobody inside but a miserable shoeless crimi- ‘Why, the gentleman’s got him,’ replied the officer.
nal, who had been taken up for playing the flute, and who, ‘What gentleman! Oh, gracious heavens! What gentle-
the offence against society having been clearly proved, had man?’ exclaimed Nancy.

In reply to this incoherent questioning, the old man in- carefully double-locking and barring the door behind them,
formed the deeply affected sister that Oliver had been taken drew from its place of concealment the box which he had
ill in the office, and discharged in consequence of a wit- unintentionally disclosed to Oliver. Then, he hastily pro-
ness having proved the robbery to have been committed by ceeded to dispose the watches and jewellery beneath his
another boy, not in custody; and that the prosecutor had clothing.
carried him away, in an insensible condition, to his own A rap at the door startled him in this occupation. ‘Who’s
residence: of and concerning which, all the informant knew there?’ he cried in a shrill tone.
was, that it was somewhere in Pentonville, he having heard ‘Me!’ replied the voice of the Dodger, through the key-
that word mentioned in the directions to the coachman. hole.
In a dreadful state of doubt and uncertainty, the agonised ‘What now?’ cried the Jew impatiently.
young woman staggered to the gate, and then, exchanging ‘Is he to be kidnapped to the other ken, Nancy says?’ in-
her faltering walk for a swift run, returned by the most quired the Dodger.
devious and complicated route she could think of, to the ‘Yes,’ replied the Jew, ‘wherever she lays hands on him.
domicile of the Jew. Find him, find him out, that’s all. I shall know what to do
Mr. Bill Sikes no sooner heard the account of the expedi- next; never fear.’
tion delivered, than he very hastily called up the white dog, The boy murmured a reply of intelligence: and hurried
and, putting on his hat, expeditiously departed: without de- downstairs after his companions.
voting any time to the formality of wishing the company ‘He has not peached so far,’ said the Jew as he pursued his
good-morning. occupation. ‘If he means to blab us among his new friends,
‘We must know where he is, my dears; he must be found,’ we may stop his mouth yet.’
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; ‘there’s money,
my dears. I shall shut up this shop to-night. You’ll know
where to find me! Don’t stop here a minute. Not an instant,
my dears!’
With these words, he pushed them from the room: and

CHAPTER XIV ensued: which indeed bore no reference to Oliver’s histo-
ry 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 housekeep-
COMPRISING FURTHER er’s 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
PARTICULARS OF OLIVER’S beautiful lady. His expectations were disappointed, howev-
er, for the picture had been removed.
STAY AT MR. BROWNLOW’S, ‘Ah!’ said the housekeeper, watching the direction of Ol-
iver’s eyes. ‘It is gone, you see.’
WITH THE REMARKABLE ‘I see it is ma’am,’ replied Oliver. ‘Why have they taken
it away?’
PREDICTION WHICH ‘It has been taken down, child, because Mr. Brownlow
said, that as it seemed to worry you, perhaps it might pre-
ONE MR. GRIMWIG vent your getting well, you know,’ rejoined the old lady.
‘Oh, no, indeed. It didn’t worry me, ma’am,’ said Oliver. ‘I
UTTERED CONCERNING liked to see it. I quite loved it.’
‘Well, well!’ said the old lady, good-humouredly; ‘you
HIM, WHEN HE WENT 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
OUT ON AN ERRAND something else.’
This was all the information Oliver could 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
O liver soon recovering from the fainting-fit into which

Mr. Brownlow’s abrupt exclamation had thrown him,
the subject of the picture was carefully avoided, both by the
many stories she told him, about an amiable and handsome
daughter of hers, who was married to an amiable and hand-
some man, and lived in the country; and about a son, who
old gentleman and Mrs. Bedwin, in the conversation that was clerk to a merchant in the West Indies; and who was,

also, such a good young man, and wrote such dutiful letters ture, as he was sitting talking to Mrs. Bedwin, there came a
home four times a-year, that it brought the tears into her message down from Mr. Brownlow, that if Oliver Twist felt
eyes to talk about them. When the old lady had expatiated, pretty well, he should like to see him in his study, and talk
a long time, on the excellences of her children, and the mer- to him a little while.
its of her kind good husband besides, who had been dead ‘Bless us, and save us! Wash your hands, and let me part
and gone, poor dear soul! just six-and-twenty years, it was your hair nicely for you, child,’ said Mrs. Bedwin. ‘Dear
time to have tea. After tea she began to teach Oliver crib- heart alive! If we had known he would have asked for you,
bage: which he learnt as quickly as she could teach: and at we would have put you a clean collar on, and made you as
which game they played, with great interest and gravity, un- smart as sixpence!’
til it was time for the invalid to have some warm wine and Oliver did as the old lady bade him; and, although she
water, with a slice of dry toast, and then to go cosily to bed. lamented grievously, meanwhile, that there was not even
They were happy days, those of Oliver’s recovery. Ev- time to crimp the little frill that bordered his shirt-collar;
erything was so quiet, and neat, and orderly; everybody so he looked so delicate and handsome, despite that important
kind and gentle; that after the noise and turbulence in the personal advantage, that she went so far as to say: looking at
midst of which he had always lived, it seemed like Heaven him with great complacency from head to foot, that she re-
itself. He was no sooner strong enough to put his clothes on, ally didn’t think it would have been possible, on the longest
properly, than Mr. Brownlow caused a complete new suit, notice, to have made much difference in him for the better.
and a new cap, and a new pair of shoes, to be provided for Thus encouraged, Oliver tapped at the study door. On
him. As Oliver was told that he might do what he liked with Mr. Brownlow calling to him to come in, he found himself
the old clothes, he gave them to a servant who had been very in a little back room, quite full of books, with a window,
kind to him, and asked her to sell them to a Jew, and keep looking into some pleasant little gardens. There was a table
the money for herself. This she very readily did; and, as Oli- drawn up before the window, at which Mr. Brownlow was
ver looked out of the parlour window, and saw the Jew roll seated reading. When he saw Oliver, he pushed the book
them up in his bag and walk away, he felt quite delighted to away from him, and told him to come near the table, and sit
think that they were safely gone, and that there was now no down. Oliver complied; marvelling where the people could
possible danger of his ever being able to wear them again. be found to read such a great number of books as seemed to
They were sad rags, to tell the truth; and Oliver had never be written to make the world wiser. Which is still a marvel
had a new suit before. to more experienced people than Oliver Twist, every day of
One evening, about a week after the affair of the pic- their lives.

‘There are a good many books, are there not, my boy?’ ‘Thank you, sir,’ said Oliver. At the earnest manner of his
said Mr. Brownlow, observing the curiosity with which Oli- reply, the old gentleman laughed again; and said something
ver surveyed the shelves that reached from the floor to the about a curious instinct, which Oliver, not understanding,
ceiling. paid no very great attention to.
‘A great number, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘I never saw so ‘Now,’ said Mr. Brownlow, speaking if possible in a kind-
many.’ er, but at the same time in a much more serious manner,
‘You shall read them, if you behave well,’ said the old gen- than Oliver had ever known him assume yet, ‘I want you
tleman kindly; ‘and you will like that, better than looking at to pay great attention, my boy, to what I am going to say.
the outsides,—that is, some cases; because there are books I shall talk to you without any reserve; because I am sure
of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.’ you are well able to understand me, as many older persons
‘I suppose they are those heavy ones, sir,’ said Oliver, would be.’
pointing to some large quartos, with a good deal of gilding ‘Oh, don’t tell you are going to send me away, sir, pray!’
about the binding. exclaimed Oliver, alarmed at the serious tone of the old
‘Not always those,’ said the old gentleman, patting Oliver gentleman’s commencement! ‘Don’t turn me out of doors
on the head, and smiling as he did so; ‘there are other equal- to wander in the streets again. Let me stay here, and be a
ly heavy ones, though of a much smaller size. How should servant. Don’t send me back to the wretched place I came
you like to grow up a clever man, and write books, eh?’ from. Have mercy upon a poor boy, sir!’
‘I think I would rather read them, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘My dear child,’ said the old gentleman, moved by the
‘What! wouldn’t you like to be a book-writer?’ said the warmth of Oliver’s sudden appeal; ‘you need not be afraid
old gentleman. of my deserting you, unless you give me cause.’
Oliver considered a little while; and at last said, he should ‘I never, never will, sir,’ interposed Oliver.
think it would be a much better thing to be a book-seller; ‘I hope not,’ rejoined the old gentleman. ‘I do not think
upon which the old gentleman laughed heartily, and de- you ever will. I have been deceived, before, in the objects
clared he had said a very good thing. Which Oliver felt glad whom I have endeavoured to benefit; but I feel strongly dis-
to have done, though he by no means knew what it was. posed to trust you, nevertheless; and I am more interested
‘Well, well,’ said the old gentleman, composing his fea- in your behalf than I can well account for, even to myself.
tures. ‘Don’t be afraid! We won’t make an author of you, The persons on whom I have bestowed my dearest love, lie
while there’s an honest trade to be learnt, or brick-making deep in their graves; but, although the happiness and de-
to turn to.’ light of my life lie buried there too, I have not made a coffin

of my heart, and sealed it up, forever, on my best affections. ‘Shall I go downstairs, sir?’ inquired Oliver.
Deep affliction has but strengthened and refined them.’ ‘No,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, ‘I would rather you remained
As the old gentleman said this in a low voice: more to here.’
himself than to his companion: and as he remained silent At this moment, there walked into the room: supporting
for a short time afterwards: Oliver sat quite still. himself by a thick stick: a stout old gentleman, rather lame
‘Well, well!’ said the old gentleman at length, in a more in one leg, who was dressed in a blue coat, striped waist-
cheerful tone, ‘I only say this, because you have a young coat, nankeen breeches and gaiters, and a broad-brimmed
heart; and knowing that I have suffered great pain and sor- white hat, with the sides turned up with green. A very small-
row, you will be more careful, perhaps, not to wound me plaited shirt frill stuck out from his waistcoat; and a very
again. You say you are an orphan, without a friend in the long steel watch-chain, with nothing but a key at the end,
world; all the inquiries I have been able to make, confirm dangled loosely below it. The ends of his white neckerchief
the statement. Let me hear your story; where you come were twisted into a ball about the size of an orange; the vari-
from; who brought you up; and how you got into the com- ety of shapes into which his countenance was twisted, defy
pany in which I found you. Speak the truth, and you shall description. He had a manner of screwing his head on one
not be friendless while I live.’ side when he spoke; and of looking out of the corners of
Oliver’s sobs checked his utterance for some minutes; his eyes at the same time: which irresistibly reminded the
when he was on the point of beginning to relate how he had beholder of a parrot. In this attitude, he fixed himself, the
been brought up at the farm, and carried to the workhouse moment he made his appearance; and, holding out a small
by Mr. Bumble, a peculiarly impatient little double-knock piece of orange-peel at arm’s length, exclaimed, in a growl-
was heard at the street-door: and the servant, running up- ing, discontented voice.
stairs, announced Mr. Grimwig. ‘Look here! do you see this! Isn’t it a most wonderful and
‘Is he coming up?’ inquired Mr. Brownlow. extraordinary thing that I can’t call at a man’s house but I
‘Yes, sir,’ replied the servant. ‘He asked if there were any find a piece of this poor surgeon’s friend on the staircase?
muffins in the house; and, when I told him yes, he said he I’ve been lamed with orange-peel once, and I know orange-
had come to tea.’ peel will be my death, or I’ll be content to eat my own head,
Mr. Brownlow smiled; and, turning to Oliver, said that sir!’
Mr. Grimwig was an old friend of his, and he must not mind This was the handsome offer with which Mr. Grimwig
his being a little rough in his manners; for he was a worthy backed and confirmed nearly every assertion he made; and
creature at bottom, as he had reason to know. it was the more singular in his case, because, even admit-

ting for the sake of argument, the possibility of scientific to him,’ I called out of the window, ‘he’s an assassin! A man-
improvements being brought to that pass which will enable trap!’ So he is. If he is not—‘ Here the irascible old gentleman
a gentleman to eat his own head in the event of his being so gave a great knock on the ground with his stick; which was
disposed, Mr. Grimwig’s head was such a particularly large always understood, by his friends, to imply the customary
one, that the most sanguine man alive could hardly enter- offer, whenever it was not expressed in words. Then, still
tain a hope of being able to get through it at a sitting—to put keeping his stick in his hand, he sat down; and, opening a
entirely out of the question, a very thick coating of powder. double eye-glass, which he wore attached to a broad black
‘I’ll eat my head, sir,’ repeated Mr. Grimwig, striking his riband, took a view of Oliver: who, seeing that he was the
stick upon the ground. ‘Hallo! what’s that!’ looking at Oli- object of inspection, coloured, and bowed again.
ver, and retreating a pace or two. ‘That’s the boy, is it?’ said Mr. Grimwig, at length.
‘This is young Oliver Twist, whom we were speaking ‘That’s the boy,’ replied Mr. Brownlow.
about,’ said Mr. Brownlow. ‘How are you, boy?’ said Mr. Grimwig.
Oliver bowed. ‘A great deal better, thank you, sir,’ replied Oliver.
‘You don’t mean to say that’s the boy who had the fever, Mr Brownlow, seeming to apprehend that his singular
I hope?’ said Mr. Grimwig, recoiling a little more. ‘Wait friend was about to say something disagreeable, asked Oli-
a minute! Don’t speak! Stop—‘ continued Mr. Grimwig, ver to step downstairs and tell Mrs. Bedwin they were ready
abruptly, losing all dread of the fever in his triumph at the for tea; which, as he did not half like the visitor’s manner, he
discovery; ‘that’s the boy who had the orange! If that’s not was very happy to do.
the boy, sir, who had the orange, and threw this bit of peel ‘He is a nice-looking boy, is he not?’ inquired Mr. Brown-
upon the staircase, I’ll eat my head, and his too.’ low.
‘No, no, he has not had one,’ said Mr. Brownlow, laughing. ‘I don’t know,’ replied Mr. Grimwig, pettishly.
‘Come! Put down your hat; and speak to my young friend.’ ‘Don’t know?’
‘I feel strongly on this subject, sir,’ said the irritable old ‘No. I don’t know. I never see any difference in boys. I only
gentleman, drawing off his gloves. ‘There’s always more or knew two sort of boys. Mealy boys, and beef-faced boys.’
less orange-peel on the pavement in our street; and I KNOW ‘And which is Oliver?’
it’s put there by the surgeon’s boy at the corner. A young ‘Mealy. I know a friend who has a beef-faced boy; a fine
woman stumbled over a bit last night, and fell against my boy, they call him; with a round head, and red cheeks, and
garden-railings; directly she got up I saw her look towards glaring eyes; a horrid boy; with a body and limbs that ap-
his infernal red lamp with the pantomime-light. ‘Don’t go pear 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! whether the housekeeper was in the habit of counting the
The wretch!’ plate at night; because if she didn’t find a table-spoon or two
‘Come,’ said Mr. Brownlow, ‘these are not the charac- missing some sunshiny morning, why, he would be content
teristics of young Oliver Twist; so he needn’t excite your to—and so forth.
wrath.’ All this, Mr. Brownlow, although himself somewhat of
‘They are not,’ replied Mr. Grimwig. ‘He may have an impetuous gentleman: knowing his friend’s peculiari-
worse.’ ties, bore with great good humour; as Mr. Grimwig, at tea,
Here, Mr. Brownlow coughed impatiently; which ap- was graciously pleased to express his entire approval of the
peared to afford Mr. Grimwig the most exquisite delight. muffins, matters went on very smoothly; and Oliver, who
‘He may have worse, I say,’ repeated Mr. Grimwig. ‘Where made one of the party, began to feel more at his ease than he
does he come from! Who is he? What is he? He has had a had yet done in the fierce old gentleman’s presence.
fever. What of that? Fevers are not peculiar to good peope; ‘And when are you going to hear at full, true, and par-
are they? Bad people have fevers sometimes; haven’t they, ticular account of the life and adventures of Oliver Twist?’
eh? I knew a man who was hung in Jamaica for murdering asked Grimwig of Mr. Brownlow, at the conclusion of the
his master. He had had a fever six times; he wasn’t recom- meal; looking sideways at Oliver, as he resumed his subject.
mended to mercy on that account. Pooh! nonsense!’ ‘To-morrow morning,’ replied Mr. Brownlow. ‘I would
Now, the fact was, that in the inmost recesses of his rather he was alone with me at the time. Come up to me to-
own heart, Mr. Grimwig was strongly disposed to admit morrow morning at ten o’clock, my dear.’
that Oliver’s appearance and manner were unusually pre- ‘Yes, sir,’ replied Oliver. He answered with some hesita-
possessing; but he had a strong appetite for contradiction, tion, because he was confused by Mr. Grimwig’s looking so
sharpened on this occasion by the finding of the orange- hard at him.
peel; and, inwardly determining that no man should ‘I’ll tell you what,’ whispered that gentleman to Mr.
dictate to him whether a boy was well-looking or not, he Brownlow; ‘he won’t come up to you to-morrow morning. I
had resolved, from the first, to oppose his friend. When Mr. saw him hesitate. He is deceiving you, my good friend.’
Brownlow admitted that on no one point of inquiry could ‘I’ll swear he is not,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, warmly.
he yet return a satisfactory answer; and that he had post- ‘If he is not,’ said Mr. Grimwig, ‘I’ll—‘ and down went
poned any investigation into Oliver’s previous history until the stick.
he thought the boy was strong enough to hear it; Mr. Grim- ‘I’ll answer for that boy’s truth with my life!’ said Mr.
wig chuckled maliciously. And he demanded, with a sneer, Brownlow, knocking the table.

‘And I for his falsehood with my head!’ rejoined Mr. The old gentleman was just going to say that Oliver
Grimwig, knocking the table also. should not go out on any account; when a most malicious
‘We shall see,’ said Mr. Brownlow, checking his rising an- cough from Mr. Grimwig determined him that he should;
ger. and that, by his prompt discharge of the commission, he
‘We will,’ replied Mr. Grimwig, with a provoking smile; should prove to him the injustice of his suspicions: on this
‘we will.’ head at least: at once.
As fate would have it, Mrs. Bedwin chanced to bring in, at ‘You SHALL go, my dear,’ said the old gentleman. ‘The
this moment, a small parcel of books, which Mr. Brownlow books are on a chair by my table. Fetch them down.’
had that morning purchased of the identical bookstall- Oliver, delighted to be of use, brought down the books
keeper, who has already figured in this history; having laid under his arm in a great bustle; and waited, cap in hand, to
them on the table, she prepared to leave the room. hear what message he was to take.
‘Stop the boy, Mrs. Bedwin!’ said Mr. Brownlow; ‘there is ‘You are to say,’ said Mr. Brownlow, glancing steadily at
something to go back.’ Grimwig; ‘you are to say that you have brought those books
‘He has gone, sir,’ replied Mrs. Bedwin. back; and that you have come to pay the four pound ten I
‘Call after him,’ said Mr. Brownlow; ‘it’s particular. He is owe him. This is a five-pound note, so you will have to bring
a poor man, and they are not paid for. There are some books me back, ten shillings change.’
to be taken back, too.’ ‘I won’t be ten minutes, sir,’ said Oliver, eagerly. Having
The street-door was opened. Oliver ran one way; and the buttoned up the bank-note in his jacket pocket, and placed
girl ran another; and Mrs. Bedwin stood on the step and the books carefully under his arm, he made a respectful
screamed for the boy; but there was no boy in sight. Oliver bow, and left the room. Mrs. Bedwin followed him to the
and the girl returned, in a breathless state, to report that street-door, giving him many directions about the nearest
there were no tidings of him. way, and the name of the bookseller, and the name of the
‘Dear me, I am very sorry for that,’ exclaimed Mr. Brown- street: all of which Oliver said he clearly understood. Hav-
low; ‘I particularly wished those books to be returned ing superadded many injunctions to be sure and not take
to-night.’ cold, the old lady at length permitted him to depart.
‘Send Oliver with them,’ said Mr. Grimwig, with an iron- ‘Bless his sweet face!’ said the old lady, looking after him.
ical smile; ‘he will be sure to deliver them safely, you know.’ ‘I can’t bear, somehow, to let him go out of my sight.’
‘Yes; do let me take them, if you please, sir,’ said Oliver. At this moment, Oliver looked gaily round, and nodded
‘I’ll run all the way, sir.’ before he turned the corner. The old lady smilingly returned

his salutation, and, closing the door, went back, to her own tinued to sit, in silence, with the watch between them.
room.
‘Let me see; he’ll be back in twenty minutes, at the lon-
gest,’ 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?’ in-
quired Mr. Grimwig.
‘Don’t you?’ asked Mr. Brownlow, smiling.
The spirit of contradiction was strong in Mr. Grimwig’s
breast, at the moment; and it was rendered stronger by his
friend’s 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 five-pound note in his pocket.
He’ll join his old friends the thieves, and laugh at you. If
ever that boy returns to this house, sir, I’ll 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, al-
though Mr. Grimwig was not by any means a bad-hearted
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 Oli-
ver Twist might not come back.
It grew so dark, that the figures on the dial-plate were
scarcely discernible; but there the two old gentlemen con-

CHAPTER XV ‘Keep quiet, you warmint! Keep quiet!’ said Mr. Sikes,
suddenly breaking silence. Whether his meditations were so
intense as to be disturbed by the dog’s winking, or whether
his feelings were so wrought upon by his reflections that
SHOWING HOW VERY they required all the relief derivable from kicking an unof-
fending animal to allay them, is matter for argument and
FOND OF OLIVER TWIST, consideration. Whatever was the cause, the effect was a kick
and a curse, bestowed upon the dog simultaneously.
THE MERRY OLD JEW AND Dogs are not generally apt to revenge injuries inflicted
upon them by their masters; but Mr. Sikes’s dog, having
MISS NANCY WERE faults of temper in common with his owner, and labouring,
perhaps, at this moment, under a powerful sense of inju-
ry, made no more ado but at once fixed his teeth in one of
the half-boots. Having given in a hearty shake, he retired,
growling, under a form; just escaping the pewter measure
I n the obscure parlour of a low public-house, in the filth-

iest part of Little Saffron Hill; a dark and gloomy den,
where a flaring gas-light burnt all day in the winter-time;
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
and where no ray of sun ever shone in the summer: there clasp-knife, which he drew from his pocket. ‘Come here,
sat, brooding over a little pewter measure and a small glass, you born devil! Come here! D’ye hear?’
strongly impregnated with the smell of liquor, a man in a The dog no doubt heard; because Mr. Sikes spoke in the
velveteen coat, drab shorts, half-boots and stockings, whom very harshest key of a very harsh voice; but, appearing to en-
even by that dim light no experienced agent of the police tertain some unaccountable objection to having his throat
would have hesitated to recognise as Mr. William Sikes. At cut, he remained where he was, and growled more fiercely
his feet, sat a white-coated, red-eyed dog; who occupied than before: at the same time grasping the end of the poker
himself, alternately, in winking at his master with both eyes between his teeth, and biting at it like a wild beast.
at the same time; and in licking a large, fresh cut on one This resistance only infuriated Mr. Sikes the more; who,
side of his mouth, which appeared to be the result of some dropping on his knees, began to assail the animal most fu-
recent conflict. riously. The dog jumped from right to left, and from left to

right; snapping, growling, and barking; the man thrust and ‘Grin away,’ said Sikes, replacing the poker, and survey-
swore, and struck and blasphemed; and the struggle was ing him with savage contempt; ‘grin away. You’ll never have
reaching a most critical point for one or other; when, the the laugh at me, though, unless it’s behind a nightcap. I’ve
door suddenly opening, the dog darted out: leaving Bill got the upper hand over you, Fagin; and, d—me, I’ll keep it.
Sikes with the poker and the clasp-knife in his hands. There! If I go, you go; so take care of me.’
There must always be two parties to a quarrel, says the ‘Well, well, my dear,’ said the Jew, ‘I know all that; we—
old adage. Mr. Sikes, being disappointed of the dog’s par- we—have a mutual interest, Bill,—a mutual interest.’
ticipation, at once transferred his share in the quarrel to the ‘Humph,’ said Sikes, as if he though the interest lay rather
new comer. more on the Jew’s side than on his. ‘Well, what have you got
‘What the devil do you come in between me and my dog to say to me?’
for?’ said Sikes, with a fierce gesture. ‘It’s all passed safe through the melting-pot,’ replied Fa-
‘I didn’t know, my dear, I didn’t know,’ replied Fagin, gin, ‘and this is your share. It’s rather more than it ought to
humbly; for the Jew was the new comer. be, my dear; but as I know you’ll do me a good turn another
‘Didn’t know, you white-livered thief!’ growled Sikes. time, and—‘
‘Couldn’t you hear the noise?’ ‘Stow that gammon,’ interposed the robber, impatiently.
‘Not a sound of it, as I’m a living man, Bill,’ replied the ‘Where is it? Hand over!’
Jew. ‘Yes, yes, Bill; give me time, give me time,’ replied the Jew,
‘Oh no! You hear nothing, you don’t,’ retorted Sikes with soothingly. ‘Here it is! All safe!’ As he spoke, he drew forth
a fierce sneer. ‘Sneaking in and out, so as nobody hears how an old cotton handkerchief from his breast; and untying
you come or go! I wish you had been the dog, Fagin, half a a large knot in one corner, produced a small brown-paper
minute ago.’ packet. Sikes, snatching it from him, hastily opened it; and
‘Why?’ inquired the Jew with a forced smile. proceeded to count the sovereigns it contained.
‘Cause the government, as cares for the lives of such men ‘This is all, is it?’ inquired Sikes.
as you, as haven’t half the pluck of curs, lets a man kill a ‘All,’ replied the Jew.
dog how he likes,’ replied Sikes, shutting up the knife with ‘You haven’t opened the parcel and swallowed one or two
a very expressive look; ‘that’s why.’ as you come along, have you?’ inquired Sikes, suspiciously.
The Jew rubbed his hands; and, sitting down at the table, ‘Don’t put on an injured look at the question; you’ve done it
affected to laugh at the pleasantry of his friend. He was ob- many a time. Jerk the tinkler.’
viously very ill at ease, however. These words, in plain English, conveyed an injunction to

ring the bell. It was answered by another Jew: younger than the Jew reamining silent, and not lifting his eyes from the
Fagin, but nearly as vile and repulsive in appearance. ground, he retired; and presently returned, ushering in
Bill Sikes merely pointed to the empty measure. The Jew, Nancy; who was decorated with the bonnet, apron, basket,
perfectly understanding the hint, retired to fill it: previous- and street-door key, complete.
ly exchanging a remarkable look with Fagin, who raised his ‘You are on the scent, are you, Nancy?’ inquired Sikes,
eyes for an instant, as if in expectation of it, and shook his proffering the glass.
head in reply; so slightly that the action would have been al- ‘Yes, I am, Bill,’ replied the young lady, disposing of its
most imperceptible to an observant third person. It was lost contents; ‘and tired enough of it I am, too. The young brat’s
upon Sikes, who was stooping at the moment to tie the boot- been ill and confined to the crib; and—‘
lace which the dog had torn. Possibly, if he had observed the ‘Ah, Nancy, dear!’ said Fagin, looking up.
brief interchange of signals, he might have thought that it Now, whether a peculiar contraction of the Jew’s red eye-
boded no good to him. brows, and a half closing of his deeply-set eyes, warned Miss
‘Is anybody here, Barney?’ inquired Fagin; speaking, Nancy that she was disposed to be too communicative, is not
now that that Sikes was looking on, without raising his eyes a matter of much importance. The fact is all we need care
from the ground. for here; and the fact is, that she suddenly checked herself,
‘Dot a shoul,’ replied Barney; whose words: whether they and with several gracious smiles upon Mr. Sikes, turned the
came from the heart or not: made their way through the conversation to other matters. In about ten minutes’ time,
nose. Mr. Fagin was seized with a fit of coughing; upon which
‘Nobody?’ inquired Fagin, in a tone of surprise: which Nancy pulled her shawl over her shoulders, and declared
perhaps might mean that Barney was at liberty to tell the it was time to go. Mr. Sikes, finding that he was walking
truth. a short part of her way himself, expressed his intention of
‘Dobody but Biss Dadsy,’ replied Barney. accompanying her; they went away together, followed, at a
‘Nancy!’ exclaimed Sikes. ‘Where? Strike me blind, if I little distant, by the dog, who slunk out of a back-yard as
don’t honour that ‘ere girl, for her native talents.’ soon as his master was out of sight.
‘She’s bid havid a plate of boiled beef id the bar,’ replied The Jew thrust his head out of the room door when Sikes
Barney. had left it; looked after him as we walked up the dark pas-
‘Send her here,’ said Sikes, pouring out a glass of liquor. sage; shook his clenched fist; muttered a deep curse; and
‘Send her here.’ then, with a horrible grin, reseated himself at the table;
Barney looked timidly at Fagin, as if for permission; where he was soon deeply absorbed in the interesting pages

of the Hue-and-Cry. dreadfully hysterical, that a couple of women who came up
Meanwhile, Oliver Twist, little dreaming that he was at the moment asked a butcher’s boy with a shiny head of
within so very short a distance of the merry old gentleman, hair anointed with suet, who was also looking on, whether
was on his way to the book-stall. When he got into Clerken- he didn’t think he had better run for the doctor. To which,
well, he accidently turned down a by-street which was not the butcher’s boy: who appeared of a lounging, not to say in-
exactly in his way; but not discovering his mistake until he dolent disposition: replied, that he thought not.
had got half-way down it, and knowing it must lead in the ‘Oh, no, no, never mind,’ said the young woman, grasp-
right direction, he did not think it worth while to turn back; ing Oliver’s hand; ‘I’m better now. Come home directly, you
and so marched on, as quickly as he could, with the books cruel boy! Come!’
under his arm. ‘Oh, ma’am,’ replied the young woman, ‘he ran away, near
He was walking along, thinking how happy and content- a month ago, from his parents, who are hard-working and
ed he ought to feel; and how much he would give for only respectable people; and went and joined a set of thieves and
one look at poor little Dick, who, starved and beaten, might bad characters; and almost broke his mother’s heart.’
be weeping bitterly at that very moment; when he was star- ‘Young wretch!’ said one woman.
tled by a young woman screaming out very loud. ‘Oh, my ‘Go home, do, you little brute,’ said the other.
dear brother!’ And he had hardly looked up, to see what the ‘I am not,’ replied Oliver, greatly alarmed. ‘I don’t know
matter was, when he was stopped by having a pair of arms her. I haven’t any sister, or father and mother either. I’m an
thrown tight round his neck. orphan; I live at Pentonville.’
‘Don’t,’ cried Oliver, struggling. ‘Let go of me. Who is it? ‘Only hear him, how he braves it out!’ cried the young
What are you stopping me for?’ woman.
The only reply to this, was a great number of loud lamen- ‘Why, it’s Nancy!’ exclaimed Oliver; who now saw her
tations from the young woman who had embraced him; and face for the first time; and started back, in irrepressible as-
who had a little basket and a street-door key in her hand. tonishment.
‘Oh my gracious!’ said the young woman, ‘I have found ‘You see he knows me!’ cried Nancy, appealing to the
him! Oh! Oliver! Oliver! Oh you naughty boy, to make me bystanders. ‘He can’t help himself. Make him come home,
suffer such distress on your account! Come home, dear, there’s good people, or he’ll kill his dear mother and father,
come. Oh, I’ve found him. Thank gracious goodness heavins, and break my heart!’
I’ve found him!’ With these incoherent exclamations, the ‘What the devil’s this?’ said a man, bursting out of a beer-
young woman burst into another fit of crying, and got so shop, with a white dog at his heels; ‘young Oliver! Come

home to your poor mother, you young dog! Come home di- or no; for there was nobody to care for them, had they been
rectly.’ ever so plain.
‘I don’t belong to them. I don’t know them. Help! help! *********
cried Oliver, struggling in the man’s powerful grasp. The gas-lamps were lighted; Mrs. Bedwin was waiting
‘Help!’ repeated the man. ‘Yes; I’ll help you, you young anxiously at the open door; the servant had run up the
rascal! street twenty times to see if there were any traces of Oli-
What books are these? You’ve been a stealing ‘em, have ver; and still the two old gentlemen sat, perseveringly, in the
you? Give ‘em here.’ With these words, the man tore the vol- dark parlour, with the watch between them.
umes from his grasp, and struck him on the head.
‘That’s right!’ cried a looker-on, from a garret-window.
‘That’s the only way of bringing him to his senses!’
‘To be sure!’ cried a sleepy-faced carpenter, casting an ap-
proving look at the garret-window.
‘It’ll do him good!’ said the two women.
‘And he shall have it, too!’ rejoined the man, administer-
ing another blow, and seizing Oliver by the collar. ‘Come on,
you young villain! Here, Bull’s-eye, mind him, boy! Mind
him!’
Weak with recent illness; stupified 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 hard-
ened little wretch he was described to be; what could one
poor child do! Darkness had set in; it was a low neighbor-
hood; 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

CHAPTER XVI ‘Give me the other,’ said Sikes, seizing Oliver’s unoccu-
pied hand. ‘Here, Bull’s-Eye!’
The dog looked up, and growled.
‘See here, boy!’ said Sikes, putting his other hand to Oli-
RELATES WHAT BECAME ver’s throat; ‘if he speaks ever so soft a word, hold him! D’ye
mind!’
OF OLIVER TWIST, The dog growled again; and licking his lips, eyed Oliver
as if he were anxious to attach himself to his windpipe with-
AFTER HE HAD BEEN out delay.
‘He’s as willing as a Christian, strike me blind if he isn’t!’
CLAIMED BY NANCY said Sikes, regarding the animal with a kind of grim and fe-
rocious approval. ‘Now, you know what you’ve got to expect,
master, so call away as quick as you like; the dog will soon
stop that game. Get on, young’un!’
Bull’s-eye wagged his tail in acknowledgment of this
T he narrow streets and courts, at length, terminated in a

large open space; scattered about which, were pens for
beasts, and other indications of a cattle-market. Sikes slack-
unusually endearing form of speech; and, giving vent to an-
other admonitory growl for the benefit of Oliver, led the way
onward.
ened his pace when they reached this spot: the girl being It was Smithfield that they were crossing, although it
quite unable to support any longer, the rapid rate at which might have been Grosvenor Square, for anything Oliver
they had hitherto walked. Turning to Oliver, he roughly knew to the contrary. The night was dark and foggy. The
commanded him to take hold of Nancy’s hand. lights in the shops could scarecely struggle through the
‘Do you hear?’ growled Sikes, as Oliver hesitated, and heavy mist, which thickened every moment and shrouded
looked round. the streets and houses in gloom; rendering the strange place
They were in a dark corner, quite out of the track of pas- still stranger in Oliver’s eyes; and making his uncertainty
sengers. the more dismal and depressing.
Oliver saw, but too plainly, that resistance would be of They had hurried on a few paces, when a deep church-
no avail. He held out his hand, which Nancy clasped tight bell struck the hour. With its first stroke, his two conductors
in hers. stopped, and turned their heads in the direction whence

the sound proceeded. would do me. Come on, and don’t stand preaching there.’
‘Eight o’ clock, Bill,’ said Nancy, when the bell ceased. The girl burst into a laugh; drew her shawl more closely
‘What’s the good of telling me that; I can hear it, can’t I!’ round her; and they walked away. But Oliver felt her hand
replied Sikes. tremble, and, looking up in her face as they passed a gas-
‘I wonder whether THEY can hear it,’ said Nancy. lamp, saw that it had turned a deadly white.
‘Of course they can,’ replied Sikes. ‘It was Bartlemy time They walked on, by little-frequented and dirty ways, for
when I was shopped; and there warn’t a penny trumpet in a full half-hour: meeting very few people, and those ap-
the fair, as I couldn’t hear the squeaking on. Arter I was pearing from their looks to hold much the same position
locked up for the night, the row and din outside made the in society as Mr. Sikes himself. At length they turned into
thundering old jail so silent, that I could almost have beat a very filthy narrow street, nearly full of old-clothes shops;
my brains out against the iron plates of the door.’ the dog running forward, as if conscious that there was no
‘Poor fellow!’ said Nancy, who still had her face turned further occasion for his keeping on guard, stopped before
towards the quarter in which the bell had sounded. ‘Oh, Bill, the door of a shop that was closed and apparently unten-
such fine young chaps as them!’ anted; the house was in a ruinous condition, and on the
‘Yes; that’s all you women think of,’ answered Sikes. ‘Fine door was nailed a board, intimating that it was to let: which
young chaps! Well, they’re as good as dead, so it don’t much looked as if it had hung there for many years.
matter.’ ‘All right,’ cried Sikes, glancing cautiously about.
With this consolation, Mr. Sikes appeared to repress Nancy stooped below the shutters, and Oliver heard the
a rising tendency to jealousy, and, clasping Oliver’s wrist sound of a bell. They crossed to the opposite side of the
more firmly, told him to step out again. street, and stood for a few moments under a lamp. A noise,
‘Wait a minute!’ said the girl: ‘I wouldn’t hurry by, if it as if a sash window were gently raised, was heard; and soon
was you that was coming out to be hung, the next time eight afterwards the door softly opened. Mr. Sikes then seized the
o’clock struck, Bill. I’d walk round and round the place till terrified boy by the collar with very little ceremony; and all
I dropped, if the snow was on the ground, and I hadn’t a three were quickly inside the house.
shawl to cover me.’ The passage was perfectly dark. They waited, while the
‘And what good would that do?’ inquired the unsenti- person who had let them in, chained and barred the door.
mental Mr. Sikes. ‘Unless you could pitch over a file and ‘Anybody here?’ inquired Sikes.
twenty yards of good stout rope, you might as well be walk- ‘No,’ replied a voice, which Oliver thought he had heard
ing fifty mile off, or not walking at all, for all the good it before.

‘Is the old ‘un here?’ asked the robber. his feet, he snatched the cleft stick from the Dodger; and,
‘Yes,’ replied the voice, ‘and precious down in the mouth advancing to Oliver, viewed him round and round; while
he has been. Won’t he be glad to see you? Oh, no!’ the Jew, taking off his nightcap, made a great number of
The style of this reply, as well as the voice which delivered low bows to the bewildered boy. The Artful, meantime, who
it, seemed familiar to Oliver’s ears: but it was impossible to was of a rather saturnine disposition, and seldom gave way
distinguish even the form of the speaker in the darkness. to merriment when it interfered with business, rifled Oli-
‘Let’s have a glim,’ said Sikes, ‘or we shall go breaking ver’s pockets with steady assiduity.
our necks, or treading on the dog. Look after your legs if ‘Look at his togs, Fagin!’ said Charley, putting the light
you do!’ so close to his new jacket as nearly to set him on fire. ‘Look
‘Stand still a moment, and I’ll get you one,’ replied the at his togs! Superfine cloth, and the heavy swell cut! Oh, my
voice. The receding footsteps of the speaker were heard; and, eye, what a game! And his books, too! Nothing but a gentle-
in another minute, the form of Mr. John Dawkins, other- man, Fagin!’
wise the Artful Dodger, appeared. He bore in his right hand ‘Delighted to see you looking so well, my dear,’ said the
a tallow candle stuck in the end of a cleft stick. Jew, bowing with mock humility. ‘The Artful shall give you
The young gentleman did not stop to bestow any other another suit, my dear, for fear you should spoil that Sunday
mark of recognition upon Oliver than a humourous grin; one. Why didn’t you write, my dear, and say you were com-
but, turning away, beckoned the visitors to follow him down ing? We’d have got something warm for supper.’
a flight of stairs. They crossed an empty kitchen; and, open- At his, Master Bates roared again: so loud, that Fagin
ing the door of a low earthy-smelling room, which seemed himself relaxed, and even the Dodger smiled; but as the
to have been built in a small back-yard, were received with Artful drew forth the five-pound note at that instant, it is
a shout of laughter. doubtful whether the sally of the discovery awakened his
‘Oh, my wig, my wig!’ cried Master Charles Bates, from merriment.
whose lungs the laughter had proceeded: ‘here he is! oh, cry, ‘Hallo, what’s that?’ inquired Sikes, stepping forward as
here he is! Oh, Fagin, look at him! Fagin, do look at him! I the Jew seized the note. ‘That’s mine, Fagin.’
can’t bear it; it is such a jolly game, I cant’ bear it. Hold me, ‘No, no, my dear,’ said the Jew. ‘Mine, Bill, mine. You
somebody, while I laugh it out.’ shall have the books.’
With this irrepressible ebullition of mirth, Master Bates ‘If that ain’t mine!’ said Bill Sikes, putting on his hat with
laid himself flat on the floor: and kicked convulsively for a determined air; ‘mine and Nancy’s that is; I’ll take the boy
five minutes, in an ectasy of facetious joy. Then jumping to back again.’

The Jew started. Oliver started too, though from a very books and money. Keep me here all my life long; but pray,
different cause; for he hoped that the dispute might really pray send them back. He’ll think I stole them; the old lady:
end in his being taken back. all of them who were so kind to me: will think I stole them.
‘Come! Hand over, will you?’ said Sikes. Oh, do have mercy upon me, and send them back!’
‘This is hardly fair, Bill; hardly fair, is it, Nancy?’ inquired With these words, which were uttered with all the energy
the Jew. of passionate grief, Oliver fell upon his knees at the Jew’s
‘Fair, or not fair,’ retorted Sikes, ‘hand over, I tell you! Do feet; and beat his hands together, in perfect desperation.
you think Nancy and me has got nothing else to do with our ‘The boy’s right,’ remarked Fagin, looking covertly round,
precious time but to spend it in scouting arter, and kidnap- and knitting his shaggy eyebrows into a hard knot. ‘You’re
ping, every young boy as gets grabbed through you? Give it right, Oliver, you’re right; they WILL think you have sto-
here, you avaricious old skeleton, give it here!’ len ‘em. Ha! ha!’ chuckled the Jew, rubbing his hands, ‘it
With this gentle remonstrance, Mr. Sikes plucked the couldn’t have happened better, if we had chosen our time!’
note from between the Jew’s finger and thumb; and looking ‘Of course it couldn’t,’ replied Sikes; ‘I know’d that, di-
the old man coolly in the face, folded it up small, and tied it rectly I see him coming through Clerkenwell, with the
in his neckerchief. books under his arm. It’s all right enough. They’re soft-
‘That’s for our share of the trouble,’ said Sikes; ‘and not hearted psalm-singers, or they wouldn’t have taken him
half enough, neither. You may keep the books, if you’re fond in at all; and they’ll ask no questions after him, fear they
of reading. If you ain’t, sell ‘em.’ should be obliged to prosecute, and so get him lagged. He’s
‘They’re very pretty,’ said Charley Bates: who, with sun- safe enough.’
dry grimaces, had been affecting to read one of the volumes Oliver had looked from one to the other, while these
in question; ‘beautiful writing, isn’t is, Oliver?’ At sight of words were being spoken, as if he were bewildered, and
the dismayed look with which Oliver regarded his tormen- could scarecely understand what passed; but when Bill Sikes
tors, Master Bates, who was blessed with a lively sense of concluded, he jumped suddenly to his feet, and tore wildly
the ludicrous, fell into another ectasy, more boisterous than from the room: uttering shrieks for help, which made the
the first. bare old house echo to the roof.
‘They belong to the old gentleman,’ said Oliver, wringing ‘Keep back the dog, Bill!’ cried Nancy, springing before
his hands; ‘to the good, kind, old gentleman who took me the door, and closing it, as the Jew and his two pupils dart-
into his house, and had me nursed, when I was near dying ed out in pursuit. ‘Keep back the dog; he’ll tear the boy to
of the fever. Oh, pray send them back; send him back the pieces.’

‘Serve him right!’ cried Sikes, struggling to disengage and breathed quickly.
himself from the girl’s grasp. ‘Stand off from me, or I’ll split ‘Wanted to get assistance; called for the police; did you?’
your head against the wall.’ sneered the Jew, catching the boy by the arm. ‘We’ll cure
‘I don’t care for that, Bill, I don’t care for that,’ screamed you of that, my young master.’
the girl, struggling violently with the man, ‘the child shan’t The Jew inflicted a smart blow on Oliver’s shoulders with
be torn down by the dog, unless you kill me first.’ the club; and was raising it for a second, when the girl, rush-
‘Shan’t he!’ said Sikes, setting his teeth. ‘I’ll soon do that, ing forward, wrested it from his hand. She flung it into the
if you don’t keep off.’ fire, with a force that brought some of the glowing coals
The housebreaker flung the girl from him to the further whirling out into the room.
end of the room, just as the Jew and the two boys returned, ‘I won’t stand by and see it done, Fagin,’ cried the girl.
dragging Oliver among them. ‘You’ve got the boy, and what more would you have?—Let
‘What’s the matter here!’ said Fagin, looking round. him be—let him be—or I shall put that mark on some of
‘The girl’s gone mad, I think,’ replied Sikes, savagely. you, that will bring me to the gallows before my time.’
‘No, she hasn’t,’ said Nancy, pale and breathless from the The girl stamped her foot violently on the floor as she
scuffle; ‘no, she hasn’t, Fagin; don’t think it.’ vented this threat; and with her lips compressed, and her
‘Then keep quiet, will you?’ said the Jew, with a threaten- hands clenched, looked alternately at the Jew and the other
ing look. robber: her face quite colourless from the passion of rage
‘No, I won’t do that, neither,’ replied Nancy, speaking into which she had gradually worked herself.
very loud. ‘Come! What do you think of that?’ ‘Why, Nancy!’ said the Jew, in a soothing tone; after a
Mr. Fagin was sufficiently well acquainted with the man- pause, during which he and Mr. Sikes had stared at one an-
ners and customs of that particular species of humanity other in a disconcerted manner; ‘you,—you’re more clever
to which Nancy belonged, to feel tolerably certain that it than ever to-night. Ha! ha! my dear, you are acting beauti-
would be rather unsafe to prolong any conversation with fully.’
her, at present. With the view of diverting the attention of ‘Am I!’ said the girl. ‘Take care I don’t overdo it. You will
the company, he turned to Oliver. be the worse for it, Fagin, if I do; and so I tell you in good
‘So you wanted to get away, my dear, did you?’ said the time to keep clear of me.’
Jew, taking up a jagged and knotted club which law in a cor- There is something about a roused woman: especially if
ner of the fireplace; ‘eh?’ she add to all her other strong passions, the fierce impulses
Oliver made no reply. But he watched the Jew’s motions, of recklessness and despair; which few men like to provoke.

The Jew saw that it would be hopeless to affect any further ‘You’re a nice one,’ added Sikes, as he surveyed her with
mistake regarding the reality of Miss Nancy’s rage; and, a contemptuous air, ‘to take up the humane and gen—teel
shrinking involuntarily back a few paces, cast a glance, half side! A pretty subject for the child, as you call him, to make
imploring and half cowardly, at Sikes: as if to hint that he a friend of!’
was the fittest person to pursue the dialogue. ‘God Almighty help me, I am!’ cried the girl passionate-
Mr. Sikes, thus mutely appealed to; and possibly feeling ly; ‘and I wish I had been struck dead in the street, or had
his personal pride and influence interested in the immedi- changed places with them we passed so near to-night, be-
ate reduction of Miss Nancy to reason; gave utterance to fore I had lent a hand in bringing him here. He’s a thief, a
about a couple of score of curses and threats, the rapid pro- liar, a devil, all that’s bad, from this night forth. Isn’t that
duction of which reflected great credit on the fertility of his enough for the old wretch, without blows?’
invention. As they produced no visible effect on the object ‘Come, come, Sikes,’ said the Jew appealing to him in a
against whom they were discharged, however, he resorted remonstratory tone, and motioning towards the boys, who
to more tangible arguments. were eagerly attentive to all that passed; ‘we must have civil
‘What do you mean by this?’ said Sikes; backing the in- words; civil words, Bill.’
quiry with a very common imprecation concerning the ‘Civil words!’ cried the girl, whose passion was frightful
most beautiful of human features: which, if it were heard to see. ‘Civil words, you villain! Yes, you deserve ‘em from
above, only once out of every fifty thousand times that it is me. I thieved for you when I was a child not half as old as
uttered below, would render blindness as common a disor- this!’ pointing to Oliver. ‘I have been in the same trade, and
der as measles: ‘what do you mean by it? Burn my body! Do in the same service, for twelve years since. Don’t you know
you know who you are, and what you are?’ it? Speak out! Don’t you know it?’
‘Oh, yes, I know all about it,’ replied the girl, laughing ‘Well, well,’ replied the Jew, with an attempt at pacifica-
hysterically; and shaking her head from side to side, with a tion; ‘and, if you have, it’s your living!’
poor assumption of indifference. ‘Aye, it is!’ returned the girl; not speaking, but pouring
‘Well, then, keep quiet,’ rejoined Sikes, with a growl like out the words in one continuous and vehement scream. ‘It
that he was accustomed to use when addressing his dog, ‘or is my living; and the cold, wet, dirty streets are my home;
I’ll quiet you for a good long time to come.’ and you’re the wretch that drove me to them long ago, and
The girl laughed again: even less composedly than before; that’ll keep me there, day and night, day and night, till I
and, darting a hasty look at Sikes, turned her face aside, and die!’
bit her lip till the blood came. ‘I shall do you a mischief!’ interposed the Jew, goaded

by these reproaches; ‘a mischief worse than that, if you say play of which, to Fagin, by the Jew who purchased them,
much more!’ had been the very first clue received, of his whereabout.
The girl said nothing more; but, tearing her hair and ‘Put off the smart ones,’ said Charley, ‘and I’ll give ‘em to
dress in a transport of passion, made such a rush at the Fagin to take care of. What fun it is!’
Jew as would probably have left signal marks of her re- Poor Oliver unwillingly complied. Master Bates roll-
venge upon him, had not her wrists been seized by Sikes at ing up the new clothes under his arm, departed from the
the right moment; upon which, she made a few ineffectual room, leaving Oliver in the dark, and locking the door be-
struggles, and fainted. hind him.
‘She’s all right now,’ said Sikes, laying her down in a cor- The noise of Charley’s laughter, and the voice of Miss
ner. ‘She’s uncommon strong in the arms, when she’s up in Betsy, who opportunely arrived to throw water over her
this way.’ friend, and perform other feminine offices for the promo-
The Jew wiped his forehead: and smiled, as if it were a re- tion of her recovery, might have kept many people awake
lief to have the disturbance over; but neither he, nor Sikes, under more happy circumstances than those in which Oli-
nor the dog, nor the boys, seemed to consider it in any other ver was placed. But he was sick and weary; and he soon fell
light than a common occurance incidental to business. sound asleep.
‘It’s the worst of having to do with women,’ said the Jew,
replacing his club; ‘but they’re clever, and we can’t get on, in
our line, without ‘em. Charley, show Oliver to bed.’
‘I suppose he’d 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 com-
mission, 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. Brownlow’s; and the accidental dis-

CHAPTER XVII pectations 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 grey-headed seneschal sings a funny
chorus with a funnier body of vassals, who are free of all
OLIVER’S DESTINY sorts of places, from church vaults to palaces, and roam
about in company, carolling perpetually.
CONTINUING Such changes appear absurd; but they are not so un-
natural as they would seem at first sight. The transitions in
UNPROPITIOUS, BRINGS real life from well-spread boards to death-beds, and from
mourning-weeds to holiday garments, are not a whit less
A GREAT MAN TO startling; only, there, we are busy actors, instead of passive
lookers-on, which makes a vast difference. The actors in the
LONDON TO INJURE mimic life of the theatre, are blind to violent transitions and
abrupt impulses of passion or feeling, which, presented be-
HIS REPUTATION fore 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 au-
I t is the custom on the stage, in all good murderous melo-

dramas, to present the tragic and the comic scenes, in as
regular alternation, as the layers of red and white in a side of
thorship: an author’s 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
streaky bacon. The hero sinks upon his straw bed, weighed introduction to the present one may perhaps be deemed un-
down by fetters and misfortunes; in the next scene, his necessary. If so, let it be considered a delicate intimation on
faithful but unconscious squire regales the audience with a the part of the historian that he is going back to the town in
comic song. We behold, with throbbing bosoms, the hero- which Oliver Twist was born; the reader taking it for grant-
ine in the grasp of a proud and ruthless baron: her virtue ed that there are good and substantial reasons for making
and her life alike in danger, drawing forth her dagger to the journey, or he would not be invited to proceed upon
preserve the one at the cost of the other; and just as our ex- such an expedition.

Mr. Bumble emerged at early morning from the ‘Mrs. Mann, ma’am, good morning.’
workhouse-gate, and walked with portly carriage and com- ‘Well, and good morning to YOU, sir,’ replied Mrs. Mann,
manding steps, up the High Street. He was in the full bloom with many smiles; ‘and hoping you find yourself well, sir!’
and pride of beadlehood; his cocked hat and coat were daz- ‘So-so, Mrs. Mann,’ replied the beadle. ‘A porochial life is
zling in the morning sun; he clutched his cane with the not a bed of roses, Mrs. Mann.’
vigorous tenacity of health and power. Mr. Bumble always ‘Ah, that it isn’t indeed, Mr. Bumble,’ rejoined the lady.
carried his head high; but this morning it was higher than And all the infant paupers might have chorussed the rejoin-
usual. There was an abstraction in his eye, an elevation in der with great propriety, if they had heard it.
his air, which might have warned an observant stranger ‘A porochial life, ma’am,’ continued Mr. Bumble, strik-
that thoughts were passing in the beadle’s mind, too great ing the table with his cane, ‘is a life of worrit, and vexation,
for utterance. and hardihood; but all public characters, as I may say, must
Mr. Bumble stopped not to converse with the small shop- suffer prosecution.’
keepers and others who spoke to him, deferentially, as he Mrs. Mann, not very well knowing what the beadle meant,
passed along. He merely returned their salutations with a raised her hands with a look of sympathy, and sighed.
wave of his hand, and relaxed not in his dignified pace, un- ‘Ah! You may well sigh, Mrs. Mann!’ said the beadle.
til he reached the farm where Mrs. Mann tended the infant Finding she had done right, Mrs. Mann sighed again:
paupers with parochial care. evidently to the satisfaction of the public character: who,
‘Drat that beadle!’ said Mrs. Mann, hearing the well- repressing a complacent smile by looking sternly at his
known shaking at the garden-gate. ‘If it isn’t him at this cocked hat, said,
time in the morning! Lauk, Mr. Bumble, only think of its ‘Mrs. Mann, I am going to London.’
being you! Well, dear me, it IS a pleasure, this is! Come into ‘Lauk, Mr. Bumble!’ cried Mrs. Mann, starting back.
the parlour, sir, please.’ ‘To London, ma’am,’ resumed the inflexible beadle, ‘by
The first sentence was addressed to Susan; and the excla- coach. I and two paupers, Mrs. Mann! A legal action is a
mations of delight were uttered to Mr. Bumble: as the good coming on, about a settlement; and the board has appoint-
lady unlocked the garden-gate: and showed him, with great ed me—me, Mrs. Mann—to dispose to the matter before
attention and respect, into the house. the quarter-sessions at Clerkinwell.
‘Mrs. Mann,’ said Mr. Bumble; not sitting upon, or drop- And I very much question,’ added Mr. Bumble, drawing
ping himself into a seat, as any common jackanapes would: himself up, ‘whether the Clerkinwell Sessions will not find
but letting himself gradually and slowly down into a chair; themselves in the wrong box before they have done with

me.’ per, from his pocket-book; and requested a receipt: which
‘Oh! you mustn’t be too hard upon them, sir,’ said Mrs. Mrs. Mann wrote.
Mann, coaxingly. ‘It’s very much blotted, sir,’ said the farmer of infants;
‘The Clerkinwell Sessions have brought it upon them- ‘but it’s formal enough, I dare say. Thank you, Mr. Bumble,
selves, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble; ‘and if the Clerkinwell sir, I am very much obliged to you, I’m sure.’
Sessions find that they come off rather worse than they ex- Mr. Bumble nodded, blandly, in acknowledgment of Mrs.
pected, the Clerkinwell Sessions have only themselves to Mann’s curtsey; and inquired how the children were.
thank.’ ‘Bless their dear little hearts!’ said Mrs. Mann with emo-
There was so much determination and depth of purpose tion, ‘they’re as well as can be, the dears! Of course, except
about the menacing manner in which Mr. Bumble deliv- the two that died last week. And little Dick.’
ered himself of these words, that Mrs. Mann appeared quite ‘Isn’t that boy no better?’ inquired Mr. Bumble.
awed by them. At length she said, Mrs. Mann shook her head.
‘You’re going by coach, sir? I thought it was always usual ‘He’s a ill-conditioned, wicious, bad-disposed porochial
to send them paupers in carts.’ child that,’ said Mr. Bumble angrily. ‘Where is he?’
‘That’s when they’re ill, Mrs. Mann,’ said the beadle. ‘We ‘I’ll bring him to you in one minute, sir,’ replied Mrs.
put the sick paupers into open carts in the rainy weather, to Mann. ‘Here, you Dick!’
prevent their taking cold.’ After some calling, Dick was discovered. Having had
‘Oh!’ said Mrs. Mann. his face put under the pump, and dried upon Mrs. Mann’s
‘The opposition coach contracts for these two; and takes gown, he was led into the awful presence of Mr. Bumble,
them cheap,’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘They are both in a very low the beadle.
state, and we find it would come two pound cheaper to The child was pale and thin; his cheeks were sunken; and
move ‘em than to bury ‘em—that is, if we can throw ‘em his eyes large and bright. The scanty parish dress, the liv-
upon another parish, which I think we shall be able to do, if ery of his misery, hung loosely on his feeble body; and his
they don’t die upon the road to spite us. Ha! ha! ha!’ young limbs had wasted away, like those of an old man.
When Mr. Bumble had laughed a little while, his eyes Such was the little being who stood trembling beneath
again encountered the cocked hat; and he became grave. Mr. Bumble’s glance; not daring to lift his eyes from the
‘We are forgetting business, ma’am,’ said the beadle; ‘here floor; and dreading even to hear the beadle’s voice.
is your porochial stipend for the month.’ ‘Can’t you look at the gentleman, you obstinate boy?’ said
Mr. Bumble produced some silver money rolled up in pa- Mrs. Mann.

The child meekly raised his eyes, and encountered those up her hands, and looking malignantly at Dick. ‘I never see
of Mr. Bumble. such a hardened little wretch!’
‘What’s the matter with you, porochial Dick?’ inquired ‘Take him away, ma’am!’ said Mr. Bumble imperiously.
Mr. Bumble, with well-timed jocularity. ‘This must be stated to the board, Mrs. Mann.
‘Nothing, sir,’ replied the child faintly. ‘I hope the gentleman will understand that it isn’t my
‘I should think not,’ said Mrs. Mann, who had of course fault, sir?’ said Mrs. Mann, whimpering pathetically.
laughed very much at Mr. Bumble’s humour. ‘They shall understand that, ma’am; they shall be ac-
‘You want for nothing, I’m sure.’ quainted with the true state of the case,’ said Mr. Bumble.
‘I should like—‘ faltered the child. ‘There; take him away, I can’t bear the sight on him.’
‘Hey-day!’ interposed Mr. Mann, ‘I suppose you’re going Dick was immediately taken away, and locked up in the
to say that you DO want for something, now? Why, you lit- coal-cellar. Mr. Bumble shortly afterwards took himself off,
tle wretch—‘ to prepare for his journey.
‘Stop, Mrs. Mann, stop!’ said the beadle, raising his hand At six o’clock next morning, Mr. Bumble: having ex-
with a show of authority. ‘Like what, sir, eh?’ changed his cocked hat for a round one, and encased his
‘I should like,’ said the child, ‘to leave my dear love to person in a blue great-coat with a cape to it: took his place
poor Oliver Twist; and to let him know how often I have on the outside of the coach, accompanied by the criminals
sat by myself and cried to think of his wandering about in whose settlement was disputed; with whom, in due course
the dark nights with nobody to help him. And I should like of time, he arrived in London.
to tell him,’ said the child pressing his small hands togeth- He experienced no other crosses on the way, than those
er, and speaking with great fervour, ‘that I was glad to die which originated in the perverse behaviour of the two pau-
when I was very young; for, perhaps, if I had lived to be a pers, who persisted in shivering, and complaining of the
man, and had grown old, my little sister who is in Heaven, cold, in a manner which, Mr. Bumble declared, caused his
might forget me, or be unlike me; and it would be so much teeth to chatter in his head, and made him feel quite un-
happier if we were both children there together.’ comfortable; although he had a great-coat on.
Mr. Bumble surveyed the little speaker, from head to Having disposed of these evil-minded persons for the
foot, with indescribable astonishment; and, turning to his night, Mr. Bumble sat himself down in the house at which
companion, said, ‘They’re all in one story, Mrs. Mann. That the coach stopped; and took a temperate dinner of steaks,
out-dacious Oliver had demogalized them all!’ oyster sauce, and porter. Putting a glass of hot gin-and-wa-
‘I couldn’t have believed it, sir’ said Mrs Mann, holding ter on the chimney-piece, he drew his chair to the fire; and,

with sundry moral reflections on the too-prevalent sin of listening at the parlour door, hastened into the passage in a
discontent and complaining, composed himself to read the breathless state.
paper. ‘Come in, come in,’ said the old lady: ‘I knew we should
The very first paragraph upon which Mr. Bumble’s eye hear of him. Poor dear! I knew we should! I was certain of
rested, was the following advertisement. it. Bless his heart! I said so all along.’
‘FIVE GUINEAS REWARD Having heard this, the worthy old lady hurried back into
‘Whereas a young boy, named Oliver Twist, absconded, the parlour again; and seating herself on a sofa, burst into
or was enticed, on Thursday evening last, from his home, tears. The girl, who was not quite so susceptible, had run
at Pentonville; and has not since been heard of. The above upstairs meanwhile; and now returned with a request that
reward will be paid to any person who will give such in- Mr. Bumble would follow her immediately: which he did.
formation as will lead to the discovery of the said Oliver He was shown into the little back study, where sat Mr.
Twist, or tend to throw any light upon his previous history, Brownlow and his friend Mr. Grimwig, with decanters and
in which the advertiser is, for many reasons, warmly inter- glasses before them. The latter gentleman at once burst into
ested.’ the exclamation:
And then followed a full description of Oliver’s dress, ‘A beadle. A parish beadle, or I’ll eat my head.’
person, appearance, and disappearance: with the name and ‘Pray don’t interrupt just now,’ said Mr. Brownlow. ‘Take
address of Mr. Brownlow at full length. a seat, will you?’
Mr. Bumble opened his eyes; read the advertisement, Mr. Bumble sat himself down; quite confounded by the
slowly and carefully, three several times; and in some- oddity of Mr. Grimwig’s manner. Mr. Brownlow moved the
thing more than five minutes was on his way to Pentonville: lamp, so as to obtain an uninterrupted view of the beadle’s
having actually, in his excitement, left the glass of hot gin- countenance; and said, with a little impatience,
and-water, untasted. ‘Now, sir, you come in consequence of having seen the
‘Is Mr. Brownlow at home?’ inquired Mr. Bumble of the advertisement?’
girl who opened the door. ‘Yes, sir,’ said Mr. Bumble.
To this inquiry the girl returned the not uncommon, but ‘And you ARE a beadle, are you not?’ inquired Mr. Grim-
rather evasive reply of ‘I don’t know; where do you come wig.
from?’ ‘I am a porochial beadle, gentlemen,’ rejoined Mr. Bum-
Mr. Bumble no sooner uttered Oliver’s name, in ex- ble proudly.
planation of his errand, than Mrs. Bedwin, who had been ‘Of course,’ observed Mr. Grimwig aside to his friend, ‘I

knew he was. A beadle all over!’ ly attack on an unoffending lad, and running away in the
Mr. Brownlow gently shook his head to impose silence night-time from his master’s house. In proof of his really
on his friend, and resumed: being the person he represented himself, Mr. Bumble laid
‘Do you know where this poor boy is now?’ upon the table the papers he had brought to town. Folding
‘No more than nobody,’ replied Mr. Bumble. his arms again, he then awaited Mr. Brownlow’s observa-
‘Well, what DO you know of him?’ inquired the old gen- tions.
tleman. ‘Speak out, my friend, if you have anything to say. ‘I fear it is all too true,’ said the old gentleman sorrow-
What DO you know of him?’ fully, after looking over the papers. ‘This is not much for
‘You don’t happen to know any good of him, do you?’ your intelligence; but I would gladly have given you treble
said Mr. Grimwig, caustically; after an attentive perusal of the money, if it had been favourable to the boy.’
Mr. Bumble’s features. It is not improbable that if Mr. Bumble had been pos-
Mr. Bumble, catching at the inquiry very quickly, shook sessed of this information at an earlier period of the
his head with portentous solemnity. interview, he might have imparted a very different colour-
‘You see?’ said Mr. Grimwig, looking triumphantly at Mr. ing to his little history. It was too late to do it now, however;
Brownlow. so he shook his head gravely, and, pocketing the five guin-
Mr. Brownlow looked apprehensively at Mr. Bumble’s eas, withdrew.
pursed-up countenance; and requested him to commu- Mr. Brownlow paced the room to and fro for some min-
nicate what he knew regarding Oliver, in as few words as utes; evidently so much disturbed by the beadle’s tale, that
possible. even Mr. Grimwig forbore to vex him further.
Mr. Bumble put down his hat; unbuttoned his coat; fold- At length he stopped, and rang the bell violently.
ed his arms; inclined his head in a retrospective manner; ‘Mrs. Bedwin,’ said Mr. Brownlow, when the housekeep-
and, after a few moments’ reflection, commenced his story. er appeared; ‘that boy, Oliver, is an imposter.’
It would be tedious if given in the beadle’s words: oc- ‘It can’t be, sir. It cannot be,’ said the old lady energeti-
cupying, as it did, some twenty minutes in the telling; but cally.
the sum and substance of it was, that Oliver was a found- ‘I tell you he is,’ retorted the old gentleman. ‘What do you
ling, born of low and vicious parents. That he had, from his mean by can’t be? We have just heard a full account of him
birth, displayed no better qualities than treachery, ingrati- from his birth; and he has been a thorough-paced little vil-
tude, and malice. That he had terminated his brief career in lain, all his life.’
the place of his birth, by making a sanguinary and coward- ‘I never will believe it, sir,’ replied the old lady, firmly.

‘Never!’
‘You old women never believe anything but quack-doc- CHAPTER XVIII
tors, and lying story-books,’ growled Mr. Grimwig. ‘I knew
it all along. Why didn’t you take my advise in the beginning;
you would if he hadn’t had a fever, I suppose, eh? He was in-
teresting, wasn’t he? Interesting! Bah!’ And Mr. Grimwig HOW OLIVER PASSED
poked the fire with a flourish.
‘He was a dear, grateful, gentle child, sir,’ retorted Mrs. HIS TIME IN THE
Bedwin, indignantly. ‘I know what children are, sir; and
have done these forty years; and people who can’t say the IMPROVING SOCIETY OF
same, shouldn’t say anything about them. That’s my opin-
ion!’ HIS REPUTABLE FRIENDS
This was a hard hit at Mr. Grimwig, who was a bache-
lor. 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
A bout 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
was far from feeling. ‘Never let me hear the boy’s name on the crying sin of ingratitude; of which he clearly demon-
again. I rang to tell you that. Never. Never, on any pretence, strated he had been guilty, to no ordinary extent, in wilfully
mind! You may leave the room, Mrs. Bedwin. Remember! I absenting himself from the society of his anxious friends;
am in earnest.’ and, still more, in endeavouring to escape from them af-
There were sad hearts at Mr. Brownlow’s that night. ter so much trouble and expense had been incurred in his
Oliver’s heart sank within him, when he thought of his recovery. Mr. Fagin laid great stress on the fact of his hav-
good friends; it was well for him that he could not know ing taken Oliver in, and cherished him, when, without his
what they had heard, or it might have broken outright. timely aid, he might have perished with hunger; and he re-
lated the dismal and affecting history of a young lad whom,
in his philanthropy, he had succoured under parallel cir-
cumstances, but who, proving unworthy of his confidence

and evincing a desire to communicate with the police, had The Jew, smiling hideously, patted Oliver on the head,
unfortunately come to be hanged at the Old Bailey one and said, that if he kept himself quiet, and applied him-
morning. Mr. Fagin did not seek to conceal his share in the self to business, he saw they would be very good friends
catastrophe, but lamented with tears in his eyes that the yet. Then, taking his hat, and covering himself with an old
wrong-headed and treacherous behaviour of the young per- patched great-coat, he went out, and locked the room-door
son in question, had rendered it necessary that he should behind him.
become the victim of certain evidence for the crown: which, And so Oliver remained all that day, and for the greater
if it were not precisely true, was indispensably necessary for part of many subsequent days, seeing nobody, between ear-
the safety of him (Mr. Fagin) and a few select friends. Mr. ly morning and midnight, and left during the long hours to
Fagin concluded by drawing a rather disagreeable picture commune with his own thoughts. Which, never failing to
of the discomforts of hanging; and, with great friendliness revert to his kind friends, and the opinion they must long
and politeness of manner, expressed his anxious hopes that ago have formed of him, were sad indeed.
he might never be obliged to submit Oliver Twist to that un- After the lapse of a week or so, the Jew left the room-door
pleasant operation. unlocked; and he was at liberty to wander about the house.
Little Oliver’s blood ran cold, as he listened to the Jew’s It was a very dirty place. The rooms upstairs had great
words, and imperfectly comprehended the dark threats high wooden chimney-pieces and large doors, with pan-
conveyed in them. That it was possible even for justice itself elled walls and cornices to the ceiling; which, although they
to confound the innocent with the guilty when they were in were black with neglect and dust, were ornamented in vari-
accidental companionship, he knew already; and that deep- ous ways. From all of these tokens Oliver concluded that a
ly-laid plans for the destruction of inconveniently knowing long time ago, before the old Jew was born, it had belonged
or over-communicative persons, had been really devised to better people, and had perhaps been quite gay and hand-
and carried out by the Jew on more occasions than one, he some: dismal and dreary as it looked now.
thought by no means unlikely, when he recollected the gen- Spiders had built their webs in the angles of the walls
eral nature of the altercations between that gentleman and and ceilings; and sometimes, when Oliver walked softly
Mr. Sikes: which seemed to bear reference to some foregone into a room, the mice would scamper across the floor, and
conspiracy of the kind. As he glanced timidly up, and met run back terrified to their holes. With these exceptions,
the Jew’s searching look, he felt that his pale face and trem- there was neither sight nor sound of any living thing; and
bling limbs were neither unnoticed nor unrelished by that often, when it grew dark, and he was tired of wandering
wary old gentleman. from room to room, he would crouch in the corner of the

passage by the street-door, to be as near living people as he to have some faces, however bad, to look upon; too desirous
could; and would remain there, listening and counting the to conciliate those about him when he could honestly do so;
hours, until the Jew or the boys returned. to throw any objection in the way of this proposal. So he
In all the rooms, the mouldering shutters were fast at once expressed his readiness; and, kneeling on the floor,
closed: the bars which held them were screwed tight into while the Dodger sat upon the table so that he could take
the wood; the only light which was admitted, stealing its his foot in his laps, he applied himself to a process which
way through round holes at the top: which made the rooms Mr. Dawkins designated as ‘japanning his trotter-cases.’
more gloomy, and filled them with strange shadows. There The phrase, rendered into plain English, signifieth, clean-
was a back-garret window with rusty bars outside, which ing his boots.
had no shutter; and out of this, Oliver often gazed with a Whether it was the sense of freedom and independence
melancholy face for hours together; but nothing was to be which a rational animal may be supposed to feel when he
descried from it but a confused and crowded mass of house- sits on a table in an easy attitude smoking a pipe, swinging
tops, blackened chimneys, and gable-ends. Sometimes, one leg carelessly to and fro, and having his boots cleaned
indeed, a grizzly head might be seen, peering over the para- all the time, without even the past trouble of having taken
pet-wall of a distant house; but it was quickly withdrawn them off, or the prospective misery of putting them on, to
again; and as the window of Oliver’s observatory was nailed disturb his reflections; or whether it was the goodness of
down, and dimmed with the rain and smoke of years, it was the tobacco that soothed the feelings of the Dodger, or the
as much as he could do to make out the forms of the differ- mildness of the beer that mollified his thoughts; he was evi-
ent objects beyond, without making any attempt to be seen dently tinctured, for the nonce, with a spice of romance and
or heard,—which he had as much chance of being, as if he enthusiasm, foreign to his general nature. He looked down
had lived inside the ball of St. Paul’s Cathedral. on Oliver, with a thoughtful countenance, for a brief space;
One afternoon, the Dodger and Master Bates being en- and then, raising his head, and heaving a gentle sign, said,
gaged out that evening, the first-named young gentleman half in abstraction, and half to Master Bates:
took it into his head to evince some anxiety regarding the ‘What a pity it is he isn’t a prig!’
decoration of his person (to do him justice, this was by no ‘Ah!’ said Master Charles Bates; ‘he don’t know what’s
means an habitual weakness with him); and, with this end good for him.’
and aim, he condescendingly commanded Oliver to assist The Dodger sighed again, and resumed his pipe: as did
him in his toilet, straightway. Charley Bates. They both smoked, for some seconds, in si-
Oliver was but too glad to make himself useful; too happy lence.

‘I suppose you don’t even know what a prig is?’ said the tians, between whom, and Mr. Sikes’ dog, there exist strong
Dodger mournfully. and singular points of resemblance.
‘I think I know that,’ replied Oliver, looking up. ‘It’s a ‘Well, well,’ said the Dodger, recurring to the point from
the—; you’re one, are you not?’ inquired Oliver, checking which they had strayed: with that mindfulness of his pro-
himself. fession which influenced all his proceedings. ‘This hasn’t go
‘I am,’ replied the Doger. ‘I’d scorn to be anything else.’ anything to do with young Green here.’
Mr. Dawkins gave his hat a ferocious cock, after delivering ‘No more it has,’ said Charley. ‘Why don’t you put your-
this sentiment, and looked at Master Bates, as if to denote self under Fagin, Oliver?’
that he would feel obliged by his saying anything to the con- ‘And make your fortun’ out of hand?’ added the Dodger,
trary. with a grin.
‘I am,’ repeated the Dodger. ‘So’s Charley. So’s Fagin. So’s ‘And so be able to retire on your property, and do the gen-
Sikes. So’s Nancy. So’s Bet. So we all are, down to the dog. teel: as I mean to, in the very next leap-year but four that
And he’s the downiest one of the lot!’ ever comes, and the forty-second Tuesday in Trinity-week,’
‘And the least given to peaching,’ added Charley Bates. said Charley Bates.
‘He wouldn’t so much as bark in a witness-box, for fear ‘I don’t like it,’ rejoined Oliver, timidly; ‘I wish they would
of committing himself; no, not if you tied him up in one, let me go. I—I—would rather go.’
and left him there without wittles for a fortnight,’ said the ‘And Fagin would RATHER not!’ rejoined Charley.
Dodger. Oliver knew this too well; but thinking it might be dan-
‘Not a bit of it,’ observed Charley. gerous to express his feelings more openly, he only sighed,
‘He’s a rum dog. Don’t he look fierce at any strange cove and went on with his boot-cleaning.
that laughs or sings when he’s in company!’ pursued the ‘Go!’ exclaimed the Dodger. ‘Why, where’s your spirit?’
Dodger. ‘Won’t he growl at all, when he hears a fiddle play- Don’t you take any pride out of yourself? Would you go and
ing! And don’t he hate other dogs as ain’t of his breed! Oh, be dependent on your friends?’
no!’ ‘Oh, blow that!’ said Master Bates: drawing two or three
‘He’s an out-and-out Christian,’ said Charley. silk handkerchiefs from his pocket, and tossing them into a
This was merely intended as a tribute to the animal’s abil- cupboard, ‘that’s too mean; that is.’
ities, but it was an appropriate remark in another sense, if ‘I couldn’t do it,’ said the Dodger, with an air of haughty
Master Bates had only known it; for there are a good many disgust.
ladies and gentlemen, claiming to be out-and-out Chris- ‘You can leave your friends, though,’ said Oliver with a

half smile; ‘and let them be punished for what you did.’ be the death of me, I know he will.’ Master Charley Bates,
‘That,’ rejoined the Dodger, with a wave of his pipe, ‘That having laughed heartily again, resumed his pipe with tears
was all out of consideration for Fagin, ‘cause the traps know in his eyes.
that we work together, and he might have got into trouble ‘You’ve been brought up bad,’ said the Dodger, surveying
if we hadn’t made our lucky; that was the move, wasn’t it, his boots with much satisfaction when Oliver had polished
Charley?’ them. ‘Fagin will make something of you, though, or you’ll
Master Bates nodded assent, and would have spoken, but be the first he ever had that turned out unprofitable. You’d
the recollection of Oliver’s flight came so suddenly upon better begin at once; for you’ll come to the trade long before
him, that the smoke he was inhaling got entagled with a you think of it; and you’re only losing time, Oliver.’
laugh, and went up into his head, and down into his throat: Master Bates backed this advice with sundry moral ad-
and brought on a fit of coughing and stamping, about five monitions of his own: which, being exhausted, he and his
minutes long. friend Mr. Dawkins launched into a glowing description of
‘Look here!’ said the Dodger, drawing forth a handful of the numerous pleasures incidental to the life they led, in-
shillings and halfpence. ‘Here’s a jolly life! What’s the odds terspersed with a variety of hints to Oliver that the best
where it comes from? Here, catch hold; there’s plenty more thing he could do, would be to secure Fagin’s favour with-
where they were took from. You won’t, won’t you? Oh, you out more delay, by the means which they themselves had
precious flat!’ employed to gain it.
‘It’s naughty, ain’t it, Oliver?’ inquired Charley Bates. ‘And always put this in your pipe, Nolly,’ said the Dodger,
‘He’ll come to be scragged, won’t he?’ as the Jew was heard unlocking the door above, ‘if you don’t
‘I don’t know what that means,’ replied Oliver. take fogels and tickers—‘
‘Something in this way, old feller,’ said Charly. As he said ‘What’s the good of talking in that way?’ interposed Mas-
it, Master Bates caught up an end of his neckerchief; and, ter Bates; ‘he don’t know what you mean.’
holding it erect in the air, dropped his head on his shoul- ‘If you don’t take pocket-handkechers and watches,’ said
der, and jerked a curious sound through his teeth; thereby the Dodger, reducing his conversation to the level of Oli-
indicating, by a lively pantomimic representation, that ver’s capacity, ‘some other cove will; so that the coves that
scragging and hanging were one and the same thing. lose ‘em will be all the worse, and you’ll be all the worse,
‘That’s what it means,’ said Charley. ‘Look how he stares, too, and nobody half a ha’p’orth the better, except the chaps
Jack! wot gets them—and you’ve just as good a right to them as
I never did see such prime company as that ‘ere boy; he’ll they have.’

‘To be sure, to be sure!’ said the Jew, who had entered un- same remark he considered to apply to the regulation mode
seen by Oliver. ‘It all lies in a nutshell my dear; in a nutshell, of cutting the hair: which he held to be decidedly unlaw-
take the Dodger’s word for it. Ha! ha! ha! He understands ful. Mr. Chitling wound up his observations by stating that
the catechism of his trade.’ he had not touched a drop of anything for forty-two moral
The old man rubbed his hands gleefully together, as he long hard-working days; and that he ‘wished he might be
corroborated the Dodger’s reasoning in these terms; and busted if he warn’t as dry as a lime-basket.’
chuckled with delight at his pupil’s proficiency. ‘Where do you think the gentleman has come from, Oli-
The conversation proceeded no farther at this time, for ver?’ inquired the Jew, with a grin, as the other boys put a
the Jew had returned home accompanied by Miss Betsy, bottle of spirits on the table.
and a gentleman whom Oliver had never seen before, but ‘I—I—don’t know, sir,’ replied Oliver.
who was accosted by the Dodger as Tom Chitling; and who, ‘Who’s that?’ inquired Tom Chitling, casting a contemp-
having lingered on the stairs to exchange a few gallantries tuous look at Oliver.
with the lady, now made his appearance. ‘A young friend of mine, my dear,’ replied the Jew.
Mr. Chitling was older in years than the Dodger: having ‘He’s in luck, then,’ said the young man, with a meaning
perhaps numbered eighteen winters; but there was a degree look at Fagin. ‘Never mind where I came from, young ‘un;
of deference in his deportment towards that young gentle- you’ll find your way there, soon enough, I’ll bet a crown!’
man which seemed to indicate that he felt himself conscious At this sally, the boys laughed. After some more jokes on
of a slight inferiority in point of genius and professional the same subject, they exchanged a few short whispers with
aquirements. He had small twinkling eyes, and a pock- Fagin; and withdrew.
marked face; wore a fur cap, a dark corduroy jacket, greasy After some words apart between the last comer and Fa-
fustian trousers, and an apron. His wardrobe was, in truth, gin, they drew their chairs towards the fire; and the Jew,
rather out of repair; but he excused himself to the compa- telling Oliver to come and sit by him, led the conversation
ny by stating that his ‘time’ was only out an hour before; to the topics most calculated to interest his hearers. These
and that, in consequence of having worn the regimentals were, the great advantages of the trade, the proficiency of
for six weeks past, he had not been able to bestow any atten- the Dodger, the amiability of Charley Bates, and the liber-
tion on his private clothes. Mr. Chitling added, with strong ality of the Jew himself. At length these subjects displayed
marks of irritation, that the new way of fumigating clothes signs of being thoroughly exhausted; and Mr. Chitling did
up yonder was infernal unconstitutional, for it burnt holes the same: for the house of correction becomes fatiguing af-
in them, and there was no remedy against the County. The ter 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 CHAPTER XIX
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 Oliver’s, Mr. Fa-
gin best knew. At other times the old man would tell them IN WHICH A NOTABLE
stories of robberies he had committed in his younger days:
mixed up with so much that was droll and curious, that Ol- PLAN IS DISCUSSED AND
iver could not help laughing heartily, and showing that he
was amused in spite of all his better feelings. DETERMINED ON
In short, the wily old Jew had the boy in his toils. Having
prepared his mind, by solitude and gloom, to prefer any so-
ciety 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.
I t was a chill, damp, windy night, when the Jew: buttoning
his great-coat tight round his shrivelled body, and pull-
ing 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 un-
til 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
neighborhood of Whitechapel. The Jew stopped for an in-
stant at the corner of the street; and, glancing suspiciously
round, crossed the road, and struck off in the direction of
the Spitalfields.
The mud lay thick upon the stones, and a black mist hung
over the streets; the rain fell sluggishly down, and every-
thing felt cold and clammy to the touch. It seemed just the

night when it befitted such a being as the Jew to be abroad. from which he had risen: wagging his tail as he went, to
As he glided stealthily along, creeping beneath the shelter of show that he was as well satisfied as it was in his nature to
the walls and doorways, the hideous old man seemed like be.
some loathsome reptile, engendered in the slime and dark- ‘Well!’ said Sikes.
ness through which he moved: crawling forth, by night, in ‘Well, my dear,’ replied the Jew.—‘Ah! Nancy.’
search of some rich offal for a meal. The latter recognition was uttered with just enough of
He kept on his course, through many winding and nar- embarrassment to imply a doubt of its reception; for Mr.
row ways, until he reached Bethnal Green; then, turning Fagin and his young friend had not met, since she had inter-
suddenly off to the left, he soon became involved in a maze fered in behalf of Oliver. All doubts upon the subject, if he
of the mean and dirty streets which abound in that close had any, were speedily removed by the young lady’s behav-
and densely-populated quarter. iour. She took her feet off the fender, pushed back her chair,
The Jew was evidently too familiar with the ground he and bade Fagin draw up his, without saying more about it:
traversed to be at all bewildered, either by the darkness of for it was a cold night, and no mistake.
the night, or the intricacies of the way. He hurried through ‘It is cold, Nancy dear,’ said the Jew, as he warmed his
several alleys and streets, and at length turned into one, skinny hands over the fire. ‘It seems to go right through
lighted only by a single lamp at the farther end. At the door one,’ added the old man, touching his side.
of a house in this street, he knocked; having exchanged ‘It must be a piercer, if it finds its way through your heart,’
a few muttered words with the person who opened it, he said Mr. Sikes. ‘Give him something to drink, Nancy. Burn
walked upstairs. my body, make haste! It’s enough to turn a man ill, to see
A dog growled as he touched the handle of a room-door; his lean old carcase shivering in that way, like a ugly ghost
and a man’s voice demanded who was there. just rose from the grave.’
‘Only me, Bill; only me, my dear,’ said the Jew looking Nancy quickly brought a bottle from a cupboard, in
in. which there were many: which, to judge from the diversity
‘Bring in your body then,’ said Sikes. ‘Lie down, you of their appearance, were filled with several kinds of liquids.
stupid brute! Don’t you know the devil when he’s got a great- Sikes pouring out a glass of brandy, bade the Jew drink it
coat on?’ off.
Apparently, the dog had been somewhat deceived by Mr. ‘Quite enough, quite, thankye, Bill,’ replied the Jew, put-
Fagin’s outer garment; for as the Jew unbuttoned it, and ting down the glass after just setting his lips to it.
threw it over the back of a chair, he retired to the corner ‘What! You’re afraid of our getting the better of you, are

you?’ inquired Sikes, fixing his eyes on the Jew. ‘Ugh!’ ed to stop this burst of indignation; ‘somebody will hear us,
With a hoarse grunt of contempt, Mr. Sikes seized the my dear. Somebody will hear us.’
glass, and threw the remainder of its contents into the ash- ‘Let ‘em hear!’ said Sikes; ‘I don’t care.’ But as Mr. Sikes
es: as a preparatory ceremony to filling it again for himself: DID care, on reflection, he dropped his voice as he said the
which he did at once. words, and grew calmer.
The Jew glanced round the room, as his companion ‘There, there,’ said the Jew, coaxingly. ‘It was only my
tossed down the second glassful; not in curiousity, for he caution, nothing more. Now, my dear, about that crib at
had seen it often before; but in a restless and suspicious Chertsey; when is it to be done, Bill, eh? When is it to be
manner habitual to him. It was a meanly furnished apart- done? Such plate, my dear, such plate!’ said the Jew: rub-
ment, with nothing but the contents of the closet to induce bing his hands, and elevating his eyebrows in a rapture of
the belief that its occupier was anything but a working man; anticipation.
and with no more suspicious articles displayed to view than ‘Not at all,’ replied Sikes coldly.
two or three heavy bludgeons which stood in a corner, and ‘Not to be done at all!’ echoed the Jew, leaning back in
a ‘life-preserver’ that hung over the chimney-piece. his chair.
‘There,’ said Sikes, smacking his lips. ‘Now I’m ready.’ ‘No, not at all,’ rejoined Sikes. ‘At least it can’t be a put-up
‘For business?’ inquired the Jew. job, as we expected.’
‘For business,’ replied Sikes; ‘so say what you’ve got to ‘Then it hasn’t been properly gone about,’ said the Jew,
say.’ turning pale with anger. ‘Don’t tell me!’
‘About the crib at Chertsey, Bill?’ said the Jew, drawing ‘But I will tell you,’ retorted Sikes. ‘Who are you that’s
his chair forward, and speaking in a very low voice. not to be told? I tell you that Toby Crackit has been hanging
‘Yes. Wot about it?’ inquired Sikes. about the place for a fortnight, and he can’t get one of the
‘Ah! you know what I mean, my dear,’ said the Jew. ‘He servants in line.’
knows what I mean, Nancy; don’t he?’ ‘Do you mean to tell me, Bill,’ said the Jew: softening as
‘No, he don’t,’ sneered Mr. Sikes. ‘Or he won’t, and that’s the other grew heated: ‘that neither of the two men in the
the same thing. Speak out, and call things by their right house can be got over?’
names; don’t sit there, winking and blinking, and talking ‘Yes, I do mean to tell you so,’ replied Sikes. ‘The old lady
to me in hints, as if you warn’t the very first that thought has had ‘em these twenty years; and if you were to give ‘em
about the robbery. Wot d’ye mean?’ five hundred pound, they wouldn’t be in it.’
‘Hush, Bill, hush!’ said the Jew, who had in vain attempt- ‘But do you mean to say, my dear,’ remonstrated the Jew,

‘that the women can’t be got over?’ ‘Yes,’ said the Jew, as suddenly rousing himself.
‘Not a bit of it,’ replied Sikes. ‘Is it a bargain?’ inquired Sikes.
‘Not by flash Toby Crackit?’ said the Jew incredulously. ‘Yes, my dear, yes,’ rejoined the Jew; his eyes glistening,
‘Think what women are, Bill,’ and every muscle in his face working, with the excitement
‘No; not even by flash Toby Crackit,’ replied Sikes. ‘He that the inquiry had awakened.
says he’s worn sham whiskers, and a canary waistcoat, the ‘Then,’ said Sikes, thrusting aside the Jew’s hand, with
whole blessed time he’s been loitering down there, and it’s some disdain, ‘let it come off as soon as you like. Toby and
all of no use.’ me were over the garden-wall the night afore last, sounding
‘He should have tried mustachios and a pair of military the panels of the door and shutters. The crib’s barred up at
trousers, my dear,’ said the Jew. night like a jail; but there’s one part we can crack, safe and
‘So he did,’ rejoined Sikes, ‘and they warn’t of no more softly.’
use than the other plant.’ ‘Which is that, Bill?’ asked the Jew eagerly.
The Jew looked blank at this information. After ruminat- ‘Why,’ whispered Sikes, ‘as you cross the lawn—‘
ing for some minutes with his chin sunk on his breast, he ‘Yes?’ said the Jew, bending his head forward, with his
raised his head and said, with a deep sigh, that if flash Toby eyes almost starting out of it.
Crackit reported aright, he feared the game was up. ‘Umph!’ cried Sikes, stopping short, as the girl, scarcely
‘And yet,’ said the old man, dropping his hands on his moving her head, looked suddenly round, and pointed for
knees, ‘it’s a sad thing, my dear, to lose so much when we an instant to the Jew’s face. ‘Never mind which part it is.
had set our hearts upon it.’ You can’t do it without me, I know; but it’s best to be on the
‘So it is,’ said Mr. Sikes. ‘Worse luck!’ safe side when one deals with you.’
A long silence ensued; during which the Jew was plunged ‘As you like, my dear, as you like’ replied the Jew. ‘Is there
in deep thought, with his face wrinkled into an expression no help wanted, but yours and Toby’s?’
of villainy perfectly demoniacal. Sikes eyed him furtively ‘None,’ said Sikes. ‘Cept a centre-bit and a boy. The first
from time to time. Nancy, apparently fearful of irritating we’ve both got; the second you must find us.’
the housebreaker, sat with her eyes fixed upon the fire, as if ‘A boy!’ exclaimed the Jew. ‘Oh! then it’s a panel, eh?’
she had been deaf to all that passed. ‘Never mind wot it is!’ replied Sikes. ‘I want a boy, and
‘Fagin,’ said Sikes, abruptly breaking the stillness that he musn’t be a big ‘un. Lord!’ said Mr. Sikes, reflectively, ‘if
prevailed; ‘is it worth fifty shiners extra, if it’s safely done I’d only got that young boy of Ned, the chimbley-sweeper’s!
from the outside?’ He kept him small on purpose, and let him out by the job.

But the father gets lagged; and then the Juvenile Delinquent chair up to the table, and putting her elbows upon it.
Society comes, and takes the boy away from a trade where ‘No, no, my dear, I know you’re not,’ said the Jew; ‘but—‘
he was arning money, teaches him to read and write, and in and again the old man paused.
time makes a ‘prentice of him. And so they go on,’ said Mr. ‘But wot?’ inquired Sikes.
Sikes, his wrath rising with the recollection of his wrongs, ‘I didn’t know whether she mightn’t p’r’aps be out of sorts,
‘so they go on; and, if they’d got money enough (which it’s you know, my dear, as she was the other night,’ replied the
a Providence they haven’t,) we shouldn’t have half a dozen Jew.
boys left in the whole trade, in a year or two.’ At this confession, Miss Nancy burst into a loud laugh;
‘No more we should,’ acquiesed the Jew, who had been and, swallowing a glass of brandy, shook her head with
considering during this speech, and had only caught the an air of defiance, and burst into sundry exclamations of
last sentence. ‘Bill!’ ‘Keep the game a-going!’ ‘Never say die!’ and the like. These
‘What now?’ inquired Sikes. seemed to have the effect of re-assuring both gentlemen; for
The Jew nodded his head towards Nancy, who was still the Jew nodded his head with a satisfied air, and resumed
gazing at the fire; and intimated, by a sign, that he would his seat: as did Mr. Sikes likewise.
have her told to leave the room. Sikes shrugged his shoulders ‘Now, Fagin,’ said Nancy with a laugh. ‘Tell Bill at once,
impatiently, as if he thought the precaution unnecessary; about Oliver!’
but complied, nevertheless, by requesting Miss Nancy to ‘Ha! you’re a clever one, my dear: the sharpest girl I ever
fetch him a jug of beer. saw!’ said the Jew, patting her on the neck. ‘It WAS about
‘You don’t want any beer,’ said Nancy, folding her arms, Oliver I was going to speak, sure enough. Ha! ha! ha!’
and retaining her seat very composedly. ‘What about him?’ demanded Sikes.
‘I tell you I do!’ replied Sikes. ‘He’s the boy for you, my dear,’ replied the Jew in a hoarse
‘Nonsense,’ rejoined the girl coolly, ‘Go on, Fagin. I know whisper; laying his finger on the side of his nose, and grin-
what he’s going to say, Bill; he needn’t mind me.’ ning frightfully.
The Jew still hesitated. Sikes looked from one to the other ‘He!’ exclaimed. Sikes.
in some surprise. ‘Have him, Bill!’ said Nancy. ‘I would, if I was in your
‘Why, you don’t mind the old girl, do you, Fagin?’ he place. He mayn’t be so much up, as any of the others; but
asked at length. ‘You’ve known her long enough to trust her, that’s not what you want, if he’s only to open a door for you.
or the Devil’s in it. She ain’t one to blab. Are you Nancy?’ Depend upon it he’s a safe one, Bill.’
‘I should think not!’ replied the young lady: drawing her ‘I know he is,’ rejoined Fagin. ‘He’s been in good training

these last few weeks, and it’s time he began to work for his with some confusion, ‘not worth the taking. Their looks
bread. Besides, the others are all too big.’ convict ‘em when they get into trouble, and I lose ‘em all.
‘Well, he is just the size I want,’ said Mr. Sikes, ruminat- With this boy, properly managed, my dears, I could do what
ing. I couldn’t with twenty of them. Besides,’ said the Jew, re-
‘And will do everything you want, Bill, my dear,’ inter- covering his self-possession, ‘he has us now if he could only
posed the Jew; ‘he can’t help himself. That is, if you frighten give us leg-bail again; and he must be in the same boat with
him enough.’ us. Never mind how he came there; it’s quite enough for my
‘Frighten him!’ echoed Sikes. ‘It’ll be no sham frighten- power over him that he was in a robbery; that’s all I want.
ing, mind you. If there’s anything queer about him when we Now, how much better this is, than being obliged to put the
once get into the work; in for a penny, in for a pound. You poor leetle boy out of the way—which would be dangerous,
won’t see him alive again, Fagin. Think of that, before you and we should lose by it besides.’
send him. Mark my words!’ said the robber, poising a crow- ‘When is it to be done?’ asked Nancy, stopping some tur-
bar, which he had drawn from under the bedstead. bulent exclamation on the part of Mr. Sikes, expressive of
‘I’ve thought of it all,’ said the Jew with energy. ‘I’ve—I’ve the disgust with which he received Fagin’s affectation of hu-
had my eye upon him, my dears, close—close. Once let him manity.
feel that he is one of us; once fill his mind with the idea that ‘Ah, to be sure,’ said the Jew; ‘when is it to be done, Bill?’
he has been a thief; and he’s ours! Ours for his life. Oho! It ‘I planned with Toby, the night arter to-morrow,’ re-
couldn’t have come about better! The old man crossed his joined Sikes in a surly voice, ‘if he heerd nothing from me
arms upon his breast; and, drawing his head and shoulders to the contrairy.’
into a heap, literally hugged himself for joy. ‘Good,’ said the Jew; ‘there’s no moon.’
‘Ours!’ said Sikes. ‘Yours, you mean.’ ‘No,’ rejoined Sikes.
‘Perhaps I do, my dear,’ said the Jew, with a shrill chuckle. ‘It’s all arranged about bringing off the swag, is it?’ asked
‘Mine, if you like, Bill.’ the Jew.
‘And wot,’ said Sikes, scowling fiercely on his agreeable Sikes nodded.
friend, ‘wot makes you take so much pains about one chalk- ‘And about—‘
faced kid, when you know there are fifty boys snoozing ‘Oh, ah, it’s all planned,’ rejoined Sikes, interrupting
about Common Garden every night, as you might pick and him. ‘Never mind particulars. You’d better bring the boy
choose from?’ here to-morrow night. I shall get off the stone an hour arter
‘Because they’re of no use to me, my dear,’ replied the Jew, daybreak. Then you hold your tongue, and keep the melting-

pot ready, and that’s all you’ll have to do.’ ‘Good-night, Nancy,’ said the Jew, muffling himself up
After some discussion, in which all three took an active as before.
part, it was decided that Nancy should repair to the Jew’s ‘Good-night.’
next evening when the night had set in, and bring Oliver Their eyes met, and the Jew scrutinised her, narrowly.
away with her; Fagin craftily observing, that, if he evinced There was no flinching about the girl. She was as true and
any disinclination to the task, he would be more willing to earnest in the matter as Toby Crackit himself could be.
accompany the girl who had so recently interfered in his be- The Jew again bade her good-night, and, bestowing a sly
half, than anybody else. It was also solemnly arranged that kick upon the prostrate form of Mr. Sikes while her back
poor Oliver should, for the purposes of the contemplated was turned, groped downstairs.
expedition, be unreservedly consigned to the care and cus- ‘Always the way!’ muttered the Jew to himself as he turned
tody of Mr. William Sikes; and further, that the said Sikes homeward. ‘The worst of these women is, that a very little
should deal with him as he thought fit; and should not be thing serves to call up some long-forgotten feeling; and, the
held responsible by the Jew for any mischance or evil that best of them is, that it never lasts. Ha! ha! The man against
might be necessary to visit him: it being understood that, to the child, for a bag of gold!’
render the compact in this respect binding, any representa- Beguiling the time with these pleasant reflections, Mr.
tions made by Mr. Sikes on his return should be required to Fagin wended his way, through mud and mire, to his gloomy
be confirmed and corroborated, in all important particu- abode: where the Dodger was sitting up, impatiently await-
lars, by the testimony of flash Toby Crackit. ing his return.
These preliminaries adjusted, Mr. Sikes proceeded to ‘Is Oliver a-bed? I want to speak to him,’ was his first re-
drink brandy at a furious rate, and to flourish the crow- mark as they descended the stairs.
bar in an alarming manner; yelling forth, at the same time, ‘Hours ago,’ replied the Dodger, throwing open a door.
most unmusical snatches of song, mingled with wild exe- ‘Here he is!’
crations. At length, in a fit of professional enthusiasm, he The boy was lying, fast asleep, on a rude bed upon the
insisted upon producing his box of housebreaking tools: floor; so pale with anxiety, and sadness, and the closeness
which he had no sooner stumbled in with, and opened for of his prison, that he looked like death; not death as it shows
the purpose of explaining the nature and properties of the in shroud and coffin, but in the guise it wears when life has
various implements it contained, and the peculiar beauties just departed; when a young and gentle spirit has, but an in-
of their construction, than he fell over the box upon the stant, fled to Heaven, and the gross air of the world has not
floor, and went to sleep where he fell. had time to breathe upon the changing dust it hallowed.

‘Not now,’ said the Jew, turning softly away. ‘To-morrow.
To-morrow.’ CHAPTER XX
WHEREIN OLVER IS
DELIVERED OVER TO
MR. WILLIAM SIKES
W hen 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 sit-
ting 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
shouldn’t like to lose you. Don’t be afraid, Oliver, you shall
come back to us again. Ha! ha! ha! We won’t 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 tioned him to light it. He did so; and, as he placed the
very glad to get away if he could. candlestick upon the table, saw that the Jew was gazing
‘I suppose,’ said the Jew, fixing his eyes on Oliver, ‘you fixedly at him, with lowering and contracted brows, from
want to know what you’re going to Bill’s for—-eh, my the dark end of the room.
dear?’ ‘Take heed, Oliver! take heed!’ said the old man, shak-
Oliver coloured, involuntarily, to find that the old thief ing his right hand before him in a warning manner. ‘He’s
had been reading his thoughts; but boldly said, Yes, he did a rough man, and thinks nothing of blood when his own
want to know. is up. W hatever falls out, say nothing; and do what he bids
‘Why, do you think?’ inquired Fagin, parrying the ques- you. Mind!’ Placing a strong emphasis on the last word, he
tion. suffered his features gradually to resolve themselves into a
‘Indeed I don’t know, sir,’ replied Oliver. ghastly grin, and, nodding his head, left the room.
‘Bah!’ said the Jew, turning away with a disappointed Oliver leaned his head upon his hand when the old man
countenance from a close perusal of the boy’s face. ‘Wait till disappeared, and pondered, with a trembling heart, on the
Bill tells you, then.’ words he had just heard. The more he thought of the Jew’s
The Jew seemed much vexed by Oliver’s not expressing admonition, the more he was at a loss to divine its real pur-
any greater curiosity on the subject; but the truth is, that, pose and meaning.
although Oliver felt very anxious, he was too much con- He could think of no bad object to be attained by send-
fused by the earnest cunning of Fagin’s looks, and his own ing him to Sikes, which would not be equally well answered
speculations, to make any further inquiries just then. He by his remaining with Fagin; and after meditating for a long
had no other opportunity: for the Jew remained very surly time, concluded that he had been selected to perform some
and silent till night: when he prepared to go abroad. ordinary menial offices for the housebreaker, until another
‘You may burn a candle,’ said the Jew, putting one upon boy, better suited for his purpose could be engaged. He was
the table. ‘And here’s a book for you to read, till they come too well accustomed to suffering, and had suffered too much
to fetch you. Good-night!’ where he was, to bewail the prospect of change very severely.
‘Good-night!’ replied Oliver, softly. He remained lost in thought for some minutes; and then,
The Jew walked to the door: looking over his shoulder with a heavy sigh, snuffed the candle, and, taking up the
at the boy as he went. Suddenly stopping, he called him by book which the Jew had left with him, began to read.
his name. He turned over the leaves. Carelessly at first; but, light-
Oliver looked up; the Jew, pointing to the candle, mo- ing on a passage which attracted his attention, he soon

became intent upon the volume. It was a history of the lives He had concluded his prayer, but still remained with his
and trials of great criminals; and the pages were soiled and head buried in his hands, when a rustling noise aroused
thumbed with use. Here, he read of dreadful crimes that him.
made the blood run cold; of secret murders that had been ‘What’s that!’ he cried, starting up, and catching sight of
committed by the lonely wayside; of bodies hidden from the a figure standing by the door. ‘Who’s there?’
eye of man in deep pits and wells: which would not keep ‘Me. Only me,’ replied a tremulous voice.
them down, deep as they were, but had yielded them up at Oliver raised the candle above his head: and looked to-
last, after many years, and so maddened the murderers with wards the door. It was Nancy.
the sight, that in their horror they had confessed their guilt, ‘Put down the light,’ said the girl, turning away her head.
and yelled for the gibbet to end their agony. Here, too, he ‘It hurts my eyes.’
read of men who, lying in their beds at dead of night, had Oliver saw that she was very pale, and gently inquired if
been tempted (so they said) and led on, by their own bad she were ill. The girl threw herself into a chair, with her back
thoughts, to such dreadful bloodshed as it made the flesh towards him: and wrung her hands; but made no reply.
creep, and the limbs quail, to think of. The terrible descrip- ‘God forgive me!’ she cried after a while, ‘I never thought
tions were so real and vivid, that the sallow pages seemed to of this.’
turn red with gore; and the words upon them, to be sound- ‘Has anything happened?’ asked Oliver. ‘Can I help you?
ed in his ears, as if they were whispered, in hollow murmers, I will if I can. I will, indeed.’
by the spirits of the dead. She rocked herself to and fro; caught her throat; and, ut-
In a paroxysm of fear, the boy closed the book, and tering a gurgling sound, gasped for breath.
thrust it from him. Then, falling upon his knees, he prayed ‘Nancy!’ cried Oliver, ‘What is it?’
Heaven to spare him from such deeds; and rather to will The girl beat her hands upon her knees, and her feet
that he should die at once, than be reserved for crimes, so upon the ground; and, suddenly stopping, drew her shawl
fearful and appaling. By degrees, he grew more calm, and close round her: and shivered with cold.
besought, in a low and broken voice, that he might be res- Oliver stirred the fire. Drawing her chair close to it, she
cued from his present dangers; and that if any aid were to be sat there, for a little time, without speaking; but at length
raised up for a poor outcast boy who had never known the she raised her head, and looked round.
love of friends or kindred, it might come to him now, when, ‘I don’t know what comes over me sometimes,’ said she,
desolate and deserted, he stood alone in the midst of wick- affecting to busy herself in arranging her dress; ‘it’s this
edness and guilt. damp dirty room, I think. Now, Nolly, dear, are you ready?’

‘Am I to go with you?’ asked Oliver. Struck by the energy of her manner, Oliver looked up in
‘Yes. I have come from Bill,’ replied the girl. ‘You are to her face with great surprise. She seemed to speak the truth;
go with me.’ her countenance was white and agitated; and she trembled
‘What for?’ asked Oliver, recoiling. with very earnestness.
‘What for?’ echoed the girl, raising her eyes, and averting ‘I have saved you from being ill-used once, and I will
them again, the moment they encountered the boy’s face. again, and I do now,’ continued the girl aloud; ‘for those
‘Oh! For no harm.’ who would have fetched you, if I had not, would have been
‘I don’t believe it,’ said Oliver: who had watched her far more rough than me. I have promised for your being
closely. quiet and silent; if you are not, you will only do harm to
‘Have it your own way,’ rejoined the girl, affecting to yourself and me too, and perhaps be my death. See here! I
laugh. ‘For no good, then.’ have borne all this for you already, as true as God sees me
Oliver could see that he had some power over the girl’s show it.’
better feelings, and, for an instant, thought of appealing to She pointed, hastily, to some livid bruises on her neck
her compassion for his helpless state. But, then, the thought and arms; and continued, with great rapidity:
darted across his mind that it was barely eleven o’clock; and ‘Remember this! And don’t let me suffer more for you,
that many people were still in the streets: of whom surely just now. If I could help you, I would; but I have not the
some might be found to give credence to his tale. As the power. They don’t mean to harm you; whatever they make
reflection occured to him, he stepped forward: and said, you do, is no fault of yours. Hush! Every word from you is a
somewhat hastily, that he was ready. blow for me. Give me your hand. Make haste! Your hand!
Neither his brief consideration, nor its purport, was lost She caught the hand which Oliver instinctively placed in
on his companion. She eyed him narrowly, while he spoke; hers, and, blowing out the light, drew him after her up the
and cast upon him a look of intelligence which sufficient- stairs. The door was opened, quickly, by some one shrouded
ly showed that she guessed what had been passing in his in the darkness, and was as quickly closed, when they had
thoughts. passed out. A hackney-cabriolet was in waiting; with the
‘Hush!’ said the girl, stooping over him, and pointing same vehemence which she had exhibited in addressing Ol-
to the door as she looked cautiously round. ‘You can’t help iver, the girl pulled him in with her, and drew the curtains
yourself. I have tried hard for you, but all to no purpose. close. The driver wanted no directions, but lashed his horse
You are hedged round and round. If ever you are to get loose into full speed, without the delay of an instant.
from here, this is not the time.’ The girl still held Oliver fast by the hand, and continued

to pour into his ear, the warnings and assurances she had ‘for the sake of his young carcase: as would otherways have
already imparted. All was so quick and hurried, that he had suffered for it. Come here, young ‘un; and let me read you a
scarcely time to recollect where he was, or how he came lectur’, which is as well got over at once.’
there, when to carriage stopped at the house to which the Thus addressing his new pupil, Mr. Sikes pulled off Oli-
Jew’s steps had been directed on the previous evening. ver’s cap and threw it into a corner; and then, taking him by
For one brief moment, Oliver cast a hurried glance along the shoulder, sat himself down by the table, and stood the
the empty street, and a cry for help hung upon his lips. But boy in front of him.
the girl’s voice was in his ear, beseeching him in such tones ‘Now, first: do you know wot this is?’ inquired Sikes, tak-
of agony to remember her, that he had not the heart to ut- ing up a pocket-pistol which lay on the table.
ter it. While he hesitated, the opportunity was gone; he was Oliver replied in the affirmative.
already in the house, and the door was shut. ‘Well, then, look here,’ continued Sikes. ‘This is powder;
‘This way,’ said the girl, releasing her hold for the first that ‘ere’s a bullet; and this is a little bit of a old hat for wad-
time. din’.’
‘Bill!’ Oliver murmured his comprehension of the different
‘Hallo!’ replied Sikes: appearing at the head of the stairs, bodies referred to; and Mr. Sikes proceeded to load the pis-
with a candle. ‘Oh! That’s the time of day. Come on!’ tol, with great nicety and deliberation.
This was a very strong expression of approbation, an ‘Now it’s loaded,’ said Mr. Sikes, when he had finished.
uncommonly hearty welcome, from a person of Mr. Sikes’ ‘Yes, I see it is, sir,’ replied Oliver.
temperament. Nancy, appearing much gratified thereby, sa- ‘Well,’ said the robber, grasping Oliver’s wrist, and put-
luted him cordially. ting the barrel so close to his temple that they touched; at
‘Bull’s-eye’s gone home with Tom,’ observed Sikes, as he which moment the boy could not repress a start; ‘if you
lighted them up. ‘He’d have been in the way.’ speak a word when you’re out o’ doors with me, except when
‘That’s right,’ rejoined Nancy. I speak to you, that loading will be in your head without no-
‘So you’ve got the kid,’ said Sikes when they had all tice. So, if you DO make up your mind to speak without
reached the room: closing the door as he spoke. leave, say your prayers first.’
‘Yes, here he is,’ replied Nancy. Having bestowed a scowl upon the object of this warn-
‘Did he come quiet?’ inquired Sikes. ing, to increase its effect, Mr. Sikes continued.
‘Like a lamb,’ rejoined Nancy. ‘As near as I know, there isn’t anybody as would be ask-
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Sikes, looking grimly at Oliver; ing very partickler arter you, if you WAS disposed of; so I

needn’t take this devil-and-all of trouble to explain matters iver had no great appetite for it—Mr. Sikes disposed of a
to you, if it warn’t for you own good. D’ye hear me?’ couple of glasses of spirits and water, and threw himself on
‘The short and the long of what you mean,’ said Nancy: the bed; ordering Nancy, with many imprecations in case
speaking very emphatically, and slightly frowning at Oliver of failure, to call him at five precisely. Oliver stretched him-
as if to bespeak his serious attention to her words: ‘is, that self in his clothes, by command of the same authority, on a
if you’re crossed by him in this job you have on hand, you’ll mattress upon the floor; and the girl, mending the fire, sat
prevent his ever telling tales afterwards, by shooting him before it, in readiness to rouse them at the appointed time.
through the head, and will take your chance of swinging For a long time Oliver lay awake, thinking it not impos-
for it, as you do for a great many other things in the way of sible that Nancy might seek that opportunity of whispering
business, every month of your life.’ some further advice; but the girl sat brooding over the fire,
‘That’s it!’ observed Mr. Sikes, approvingly; ‘women can without moving, save now and then to trim the light. Weary
always put things in fewest words.— Except when it’s blow- with watching and anxiety, he at length fell asleep.
ing up; and then they lengthens it out. And now that he’s When he awoke, the table was covered with tea-things,
thoroughly up to it, let’s have some supper, and get a snooze and Sikes was thrusting various articles into the pockets of
before starting.’ his great-coat, which hung over the back of a chair. Nancy
In pursuance of this request, Nancy quickly laid the cloth; was busily engaged in preparing breakfast. It was not yet
disappearing for a few minutes, she presently returned with daylight; for the candle was still burning, and it was quite
a pot of porter and a dish of sheep’s heads: which gave occa- dark outside. A sharp rain, too, was beating against the
sion to several pleasant witticisms on the part of Mr. Sikes, window-panes; and the sky looked black and cloudy.
founded upon the singular coincidence of ‘jemmies’ being ‘Now, then!’ growled Sikes, as Oliver started up; ‘half-
a can name, common to them, and also to an ingenious im- past five! Look sharp, or you’ll get no breakfast; for it’s late
plement much used in his profession. Indeed, the worthy as it is.’
gentleman, stimulated perhaps by the immediate prospect Oliver was not long in making his toilet; having taken
of being on active service, was in great spirits and good hu- some breakfast, he replied to a surly inquiry from Sikes, by
mour; in proof whereof, it may be here remarked, that he saying that he was quite ready.
humourously drank all the beer at a draught, and did not Nancy, scarcely looking at the boy, threw him a handker-
utter, on a rough calculation, more than four-score oaths chief to tie round his throat; Sikes gave him a large rough
during the whole progress of the meal. cape to button over his shoulders. Thus attired, he gave
Supper being ended—it may be easily conceived that Ol- his hand to the robber, who, merely pausing to show him

with a menacing gesture that he had that same pistol in a
side-pocket of his great-coat, clasped it firmly in his, and, CHAPTER XXI
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, per- THE EXPEDITION
fectly motionless before it.
I t 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 over-
flowing. There was a faint glimmering of the coming day in
the sky; but it rather aggrevated 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 house-tops, 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 stage-coach,
covered with mud, rattled briskly by: the driver bestowing,
as he passed, and admonitory lash upon the heavy wag-
goner who, by keeping on the wrong side of the road, had

endangered his arriving at the office, a quarter of a minute four deep. Countrymen, butchers, drovers, hawkers, boys,
after his time. The public-houses, with gas-lights burning thieves, idlers, and vagabonds of every low grade, were
inside, were already open. By degrees, other shops began to mingled together in a mass; the whistling of drovers, the
be unclosed, and a few scattered people were met with. Then, barking dogs, the bellowing and plunging of the oxen, the
came straggling groups of labourers going to their work; bleating of sheep, the grunting and squeaking of pigs, the
then, men and women with fish-baskets on their heads; cries of hawkers, the shouts, oaths, and quarrelling on all
donkey-carts laden with vegetables; chaise-carts filled with sides; the ringing of bells and roar of voices, that issued from
live-stock or whole carcasses of meat; milk-women with every public-house; the crowding, pushing, driving, beat-
pails; an unbroken concourse of people, trudging out with ing, whooping and yelling; the hideous and discordant dim
various supplies to the eastern suburbs of the town. As they that resounded from every corner of the market; and the
approached the City, the noise and traffic gradually in- unwashed, unshaven, squalid, and dirty figues constantly
creased; when they threaded the streets between Shoreditch running to and fro, and bursting in and out of the throng;
and Smithfield, it had swelled into a roar of sound and bus- rendered it a stunning and bewildering scene, which quite
tle. It was as light as it was likely to be, till night came on confounded the senses.
again, and the busy morning of half the London population Mr. Sikes, dragging Oliver after him, elbowed his way
had begun. through the thickest of the crowd, and bestowed very little
Turning down Sun Street and Crown Street, and cross- attention on the numerous sights and sounds, which so as-
ing Finsbury square, Mr. Sikes struck, by way of Chiswell tonished the boy. He nodded, twice or thrice, to a passing
Street, into Barbican: thence into Long Lane, and so into friend; and, resisting as many invitations to take a morning
Smithfield; from which latter place arose a tumult of discor- dram, pressed steadily onward, until they were clear of the
dant sounds that filled Oliver Twist with amazement. turmoil, and had made their way through Hosier Lane into
It was market-morning. The ground was covered, nearly Holborn.
ankle-deep, with filth and mire; a thick steam, perpetually ‘Now, young ‘un!’ said Sikes, looking up at the clock of
rising from the reeking bodies of the cattle, and mingling St. Andrew’s Church, ‘hard upon seven! you must step out.
with the fog, which seemd to rest upon the chimney-tops, Come, don’t lag behind already, Lazy-legs!’
hung heavily above. All the pens in the centre of the large Mr. Sikes accompanied this speech with a jerk at his little
area, and as many temporary pens as could be crowded into companion’s wrist; Oliver, quickening his pace into a kind
the vacant space, were filled with sheep; tied up to posts by of trot between a fast walk and a run, kept up with the rapid
the gutter side were long lines of beasts and oxen, three or strides of the house-breaker as well as he could.

They held their course at this rate, until they had passed ver by the hand all the while; and lifting him down directly,
Hyde Park corner, and were on their way to Kensington: bestowed a furious look upon him, and rapped the side-
when Sikes relaxed his pace, until an empty cart which was pocket with his fist, in a significant manner.
at some little distance behind, came up. Seeing ‘Hounslow’ ‘Good-bye, boy,’ said the man.
written on it, he asked the driver with as much civility as ‘He’s sulky,’ replied Sikes, giving him a shake; ‘he’s sulky.
he could assume, if he would give them a lift as far as Isle- A young dog! Don’t mind him.’
worth. ‘Not I!’ rejoined the other, getting into his cart. ‘It’s a fine
‘Jump up,’ said the man. ‘Is that your boy?’ day, after all.’ And he drove away.
‘Yes; he’s my boy,’ replied Sikes, looking hard at Oliver, Sikes waited until he had fairly gone; and then, telling
and putting his hand abstractedly into the pocket where the Oliver he might look about him if he wanted, once again led
pistol was. him onward on his journey.
‘Your father walks rather too quick for you, don’t he, my They turned round to the left, a short way past the pub-
man?’ inquired the driver: seeing that Oliver was out of lic-house; and then, taking a right-hand road, walked on for
breath. a long time: passing many large gardens and gentlemen’s
‘Not a bit of it,’ replied Sikes, interposing. ‘He’s used to houses on both sides of the way, and stopping for nothing
it. but a little beer, until they reached a town. Here against the
Here, take hold of my hand, Ned. In with you!’ wall of a house, Oliver saw written up in pretty large let-
Thus addressing Oliver, he helped him into the cart; and ters, ‘Hampton.’ They lingered about, in the fields, for some
the driver, pointing to a heap of sacks, told him to lie down hours. At length they came back into the town; and, turning
there, and rest himself. into an old public-house with a defaced sign-board, ordered
As they passed the different mile-stones, Oliver won- some dinner by the kitchen fire.
dered, more and more, where his companion meant to take The kitchen was an old, low-roofed room; with a great
him. Kensington, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Kew Bridge, beam across the middle of the ceiling, and benches, with
Brentford, were all passed; and yet they went on as steadily high backs to them, by the fire; on which were seated sev-
as if they had only just begun their journey. At length, they eral rough men in smock-frocks, drinking and smoking.
came to a public-house called the Coach and Horses; a little They took no notice of Oliver; and very little of Sikes; and,
way beyond which, another road appeared to run off. And as Sikes took very little notice of the, he and his young com-
here, the cart stopped. rade sat in a corner by themselves, without being much
Sikes dismounted with great precipitation, holding Oli- troubled by their company.

They had some cold meat for dinner, and sat so long after date us, and wot’s to prevent my standing treat for a pint or
it, while Mr. Sikes indulged himself with three or four pipes, so, in return?’
that Oliver began to feel quite certain they were not going The stranger reflected upon this argument, with a very
any further. Being much tired with the walk, and getting up profound face; having done so, he seized Sikes by the hand:
so early, he dozed a little at first; then, quite overpowered by and declared he was a real good fellow. To which Mr. Sikes
fatigue and the fumes of the tobacco, fell asleep. replied, he was joking; as, if he had been sober, there would
It was quite dark when he was awakened by a push from have been strong reason to suppose he was.
Sikes. Rousing himself sufficiently to sit up and look about After the exchange of a few more compliments, they bade
him, he found that worthy in close fellowship and commu- the company good-night, and went out; the girl gathering
nication with a labouring man, over a pint of ale. up the pots and glasses as they did so, and lounging out to
‘So, you’re going on to Lower Halliford, are you?’ in- the door, with her hands full, to see the party start.
quired Sikes. The horse, whose health had been drunk in his absence,
‘Yes, I am,’ replied the man, who seemed a little the was standing outside: ready harnessed to the cart. Oliver
worse—or better, as the case might be—for drinking; ‘and and Sikes got in without any further ceremony; and the man
not slow about it neither. My horse hasn’t got a load behind to whom he belonged, having lingered for a minute or two
him going back, as he had coming up in the mornin’; and ‘to bear him up,’ and to defy the hostler and the world to
he won’t be long a-doing of it. Here’s luck to him. Ecod! he’s produce his equal, mounted also. Then, the hostler was told
a good ‘un!’ to give the horse his head; and, his head being given him, he
‘Could you give my boy and me a lift as far as there?’ de- made a very unpleasant use of it: tossing it into the air with
manded Sikes, pushing the ale towards his new friend. great disdain, and running into the parlour windows over
‘If you’re going directly, I can,’ replied the man, looking the way; after performing those feats, and supporting him-
out of the pot. ‘Are you going to Halliford?’ self for a short time on his hind-legs, he started off at great
‘Going on to Shepperton,’ replied Sikes. speed, and rattled out of the town right gallantly.
‘I’m your man, as far as I go,’ replied the other. ‘Is all paid, The night was very dark. A damp mist rose from the
Becky?’ river, and the marshy ground about; and spread itself over
‘Yes, the other gentleman’s paid,’ replied the girl. the dreary fields. It was piercing cold, too; all was gloomy
‘I say!’ said the man, with tipsy gravity; ‘that won’t do, and black. Not a word was spoken; for the driver had grown
you know.’ sleepy; and Sikes was in no mood to lead him into conver-
‘Why not?’ rejoined Sikes. ‘You’re a-going to accommo- sation. Oliver sat huddled together, in a corner of the cart;

bewildered with alarm and apprehension; and figuring a window on each side of the dilapidated entrance; and one
strange objects in the gaunt trees, whose branches waved story above; but no light was visible. The house was dark,
grimly to and fro, as if in some fantastic joy at the desola- dismantled: and the all appearance, uninhabited.
tion of the scene. Sikes, with Oliver’s hand still in his, softly approached
As they passed Sunbury Church, the clock struck sev- the low porch, and raised the latch. The door yielded to the
en. There was a light in the ferry-house window opposite: pressure, and they passed in together.
which streamed across the road, and threw into more som-
bre shadow a dark yew-tree 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

CHAPTER XXII 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
public-house on Saffron Hill.
THE BURGLARY ‘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 Oli-
‘H allo!’ cried a loud, hoarse voice, as soon as they set

foot in the passage.
‘Don’t make such a row,’ said Sikes, bolting the door.
ver 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
‘Show a glim, Toby.’ head, a man was reposing at full length, smoking a long clay
‘Aha! my pal!’ cried the same voice. ‘A glim, Barney, a pipe. He was dressed in a smartly-cut snuff-coloured coat,
glim! Show the gentleman in, Barney; wake up first, if con- with large brass buttons; an orange neckerchief; a coarse,
venient.’ staring, shawl-pattern waistcoat; and drab breeches. Mr.
The speaker appeared to throw a boot-jack, or some such Crackit (for he it was) had no very great quantity of hair, ei-
article, at the person he addressed, to rouse him from his ther upon his head or face; but what he had, was of a reddish
slumbers: for the noise of a wooden body, falling violently, dye, and tortured into long corkscrew curls, through which
was heard; and then an indistinct muttering, as of a man he occasionally thrust some very dirty fingers, ornamented
between sleep and awake. with large common rings. He was a trifle above the middle
‘Do you hear?’ cried the same voice. ‘There’s Bill Sikes size, and apparently rather weak in the legs; but this cir-
in the passage with nobody to do the civil to him; and you cumstance by no means detracted from his own admiration
sleeping there, as if you took laudanum with your meals, of his top-boots, which he contemplated, in their elevated
and nothing stronger. Are you any fresher now, or do you situation, with lively satisfaction.
want the iron candlestick to wake you thoroughly?’ ‘Bill, my boy!’ said this figure, turning his head towards
A pair of slipshod feet shuffled, hastily, across the bare the door, ‘I’m glad to see you. I was almost afraid you’d
floor of the room, as this interrogatory was put; and there given it up: in which case I should have made a personal
issued, from a door on the right hand; first, a feeble candle: wentur. Hallo!’

Uttering this exclamation in a tone of great surprise, as the same.
his eyes rested on Oliver, Mr. Toby Crackit brought himself ‘A drain for the boy,’ said Toby, half-filling a wine-glass.
into a sitting posture, and demanded who that was. ‘Down with it, innocence.’
‘The boy. Only the boy!’ replied Sikes, drawing a chair ‘Indeed,’ said Oliver, looking piteously up into the man’s
towards the fire. face; ‘indeed, I—‘
‘Wud of Bister Fagid’s lads,’ exclaimed Barney, with a ‘Down with it!’ echoed Toby. ‘Do you think I don’t know
grin. what’s good for you? Tell him to drink it, Bill.’
‘Fagin’s, eh!’ exclaimed Toby, looking at Oliver. ‘Wot an ‘He had better!’ said Sikes clapping his hand upon his
inwalable boy that’ll make, for the old ladies’ pockets in pocket. ‘Burn my body, if he isn’t more trouble than a whole
chapels! His mug is a fortin’ to him.’ family of Dodgers. Drink it, you perwerse imp; drink it!’
‘There—there’s enough of that,’ interposed Sikes, im- Frightened by the menacing gestures of the two men,
patiently; and stooping over his recumbant friend, he Oliver hastily swallowed the contents of the glass, and im-
whispered a few words in his ear: at which Mr. Crackit mediately fell into a violent fit of coughing: which delighted
laughed immensely, and honoured Oliver with a long stare Toby Crackit and Barney, and even drew a smile from the
of astonishment. surly Mr. Sikes.
‘Now,’ said Sikes, as he resumed his seat, ‘if you’ll give us This done, and Sikes having satisfied his appetite (Oli-
something to eat and drink while we’re waiting, you’ll put ver could eat nothing but a small crust of bread which they
some heart in us; or in me, at all events. Sit down by the fire, made him swallow), the two men laid themselves down on
younker, and rest yourself; for you’ll have to go out with us chairs for a short nap. Oliver retained his stool by the fire;
again to-night, though not very far off.’ Barney wrapped in a blanket, stretched himself on the floor:
Oliver looked at Sikes, in mute and timid wonder; and close outside the fender.
drawing a stool to the fire, sat with his aching head upon They slept, or appeared to sleep, for some time; nobody
his hands, scarecely knowing where he was, or what was stirring but Barney, who rose once or twice to throw coals
passing around him. on the fire. Oliver fell into a heavy doze: imagining him-
‘Here,’ said Toby, as the young Jew placed some frag- self straying along the gloomy lanes, or wandering about
ments of food, and a bottle upon the table, ‘Success to the the dark churchyard, or retracing some one or other of the
crack!’ He rose to honour the toast; and, carefully deposit- scenes of the past day: when he was roused by Toby Crackit
ing his empty pipe in a corner, advanced to the table, filled jumping up and declaring it was half-past one.
a glass with spirits, and drank off its contents. Mr. Sikes did In an instant, the other two were on their legs, and all

were actively engaged in busy preparation. Sikes and his up as before, and was soon asleep again.
companion enveloped their necks and chins in large dark It was now intensely dark. The fog was much heavier
shawls, and drew on their great-coats; Barney, opening a than it had been in the early part of the night; and the at-
cupboard, brought forth several articles, which he hastily mosphere was so damp, that, although no rain fell, Oliver’s
crammed into the pockets. hair and eyebrows, within a few minutes after leaving the
‘Barkers for me, Barney,’ said Toby Crackit. house, had become stiff with the half-frozen moisture that
‘Here they are,’ replied Barney, producing a pair of pis- was floating about. They crossed the bridge, and kept on to-
tols. ‘You loaded them yourself.’ wards the lights which he had seen before. They were at no
‘All right!’ replied Toby, stowing them away. ‘The per- great distance off; and, as they walked pretty briskly, they
suaders?’ soon arrived at Chertsey.
‘I’ve got ‘em,’ replied Sikes. ‘Slap through the town,’ whispered Sikes; ‘there’ll be no-
‘Crape, keys, centre-bits, darkies—nothing forgotten?’ body in the way, to-night, to see us.’
inquired Toby: fastening a small crowbar to a loop inside Toby acquiesced; and they hurried through the main
the skirt of his coat. street of the little town, which at that late hour was wholly
‘All right,’ rejoined his companion. ‘Bring them bits of deserted. A dim light shone at intervals from some bed-
timber, Barney. That’s the time of day.’ room window; and the hoarse barking of dogs occasionally
With these words, he took a thick stick from Barney’s broke the silence of the night. But there was nobody abroad.
hands, who, having delivered another to Toby, busied him- They had cleared the town, as the church-bell struck two.
self in fastening on Oliver’s cape. Quickening their pace, they turned up a road upon the
‘Now then!’ said Sikes, holding out his hand. left hand. After walking about a quarter of a mile, they
Oliver: who was completely stupified by the unwonted stopped before a detached house surrounded by a wall: to
exercise, and the air, and the drink which had been forced the top of which, Toby Crackit, scarcely pausing to take
upon him: put his hand mechanically into that which Sikes breath, climbed in a twinkling.
extended for the purpose. ‘The boy next,’ said Toby. ‘Hoist him up; I’ll catch hold
‘Take his other hand, Toby,’ said Sikes. ‘Look out, Bar- of him.’
ney.’ Before Oliver had time to look round, Sikes had caught
The man went to the door, and returned to announce him under the arms; and in three or four seconds he and
that all was quiet. The two robbers issued forth with Oliver Toby were lying on the grass on the other side. Sikes followed
between them. Barney, having made all fast, rolled himself directly. And they stole cautiously towards the house.

And now, for the first time, Oliver, well-nigh mad with swung open on its hinges.
grief and terror, saw that housebreaking and robbery, if not It was a little lattice window, about five feet and a half
murder, were the objects of the expedition. He clasped his above the ground, at the back of the house: which belonged
hands together, and involuntarily uttered a subdued ex- to a scullery, or small brewing-place, at the end of the
clamation of horror. A mist came before his eyes; the cold passage. The aperture was so small, that the inmates had
sweat stood upon his ashy face; his limbs failed him; and he probably not thought it worth while to defend it more se-
sank upon his knees. curely; but it was large enough to admit a boy of Oliver’s
‘Get up!’ murmured Sikes, trembling with rage, and size, nevertheless. A very brief exercise of Mr. Sike’s art, suf-
drawing the pistol from his pocket; ‘Get up, or I’ll strew ficed to overcome the fastening of the lattice; and it soon
your brains upon the grass.’ stood wide open also.
‘Oh! for God’s sake let me go!’ cried Oliver; ‘let me run ‘Now listen, you young limb,’ whispered Sikes, drawing
away and die in the fields. I will never come near London; a dark lantern from his pocket, and throwing the glare full
never, never! Oh! pray have mercy on me, and do not make on Oliver’s face; ‘I’m a going to put you through there. Take
me steal. For the love of all the bright Angels that rest in this light; go softly up the steps straight afore you, and along
Heaven, have mercy upon me!’ the little hall, to the street door; unfasten it, and let us in.’
The man to whom this appeal was made, swore a dread- ‘There’s a bolt at the top, you won’t be able to reach,’ in-
ful oath, and had cocked the pistol, when Toby, striking it terposed Toby. ‘Stand upon one of the hall chairs. There are
from his grasp, placed his hand upon the boy’s mouth, and three there, Bill, with a jolly large blue unicorn and gold
dragged him to the house. pitchfork on ‘em: which is the old lady’s arms.’
‘Hush!’ cried the man; ‘it won’t answer here. Say another ‘Keep quiet, can’t you?’ replied Sikes, with a threatening
word, and I’ll do your business myself with a crack on the look. ‘The room-door is open, is it?’
head. That makes no noise, and is quite as certain, and more ‘Wide,’ repied Toby, after peeping in to satisfy himself.
genteel. Here, Bill, wrench the shutter open. He’s game ‘The game of that is, that they always leave it open with a
enough now, I’ll engage. I’ve seen older hands of his age catch, so that the dog, who’s got a bed in here, may walk up
took the same way, for a minute or two, on a cold night.’ and down the passage when he feels wakeful. Ha! ha! Bar-
Sikes, invoking terrific imprecations upon Fagin’s head ney ‘ticed him away to-night. So neat!’
for sending Oliver on such an errand, plied the crowbar vig- Although Mr. Crackit spoke in a scarcely audible whisper,
orously, but with little noise. After some delay, and some and laughed without noise, Sikes imperiously commanded
assistance from Toby, the shutter to which he had referred, him to be silent, and to get to work. Toby complied, by first

producing his lantern, and placing it on the ground; then fore his eyes—a flash—a loud noise—a smoke—a crash
by planting himself firmly with his head against the wall somewhere, but where he knew not,—and he staggered
beneath the window, and his hands upon his knees, so as back.
to make a step of his back. This was no sooner done, than Sikes had disappeared for an instant; but he was up again,
Sikes, mounting upon him, put Oiver gently through the and had him by the collar before the smoke had cleared
window with his feet first; and, without leaving hold of his away. He fired his own pistol after the men, who were al-
collar, planted him safely on the floor inside. ready retreating; and dragged the boy up.
‘Take this lantern,’ said Sikes, looking into the room. ‘Clasp your arm tighter,’ said Sikes, as he drew him
‘You see the stairs afore you?’ through the window. ‘Give me a shawl here. They’ve hit him.
Oliver, more dead than alive, gasped out, ‘Yes.’ Sikes, Quick! How the boy bleeds!’
pointing to the street-door with the pistol-barrel, briefly ad- Then came the loud ringing of a bell, mingled with the
vised him to take notice that he was within shot all the way; noise of fire-arms, and the shouts of men, and the sensa-
and that if he faltered, he would fall dead that instant. tion of being carried over uneven ground at a rapid pace.
‘It’s done in a minute,’ said Sikes, in the same low whis- And then, the noises grew confused in the distance; and a
per. ‘Directly I leave go of you, do your work. Hark!’ cold deadly feeling crept over the boy’s heart; and he saw or
‘What’s that?’ whispered the other man. heard no more.
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 upstairs from the hall,
and alarm the family. Filled with this idea, he advanced at
once, but stealthiy.
‘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 half-dressed men at the top of the stairs swam be-

CHAPTER XXIII scattered it in air. Bleak, dark, and piercing cold, it was a
night for the well-housed 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 hunger-
WHICH CONTAINS worn outcasts close their eyes in our bare streets, at such
times, who, let their crimes have been what they may, can
THE SUBSTANCE OF A hardly open them in a more bitter world.
Such was the aspect of out-of-doors affairs, when Mr.
PLEASANT CONVERSATION Corney, the matron of the workhouse to which our read-
ers have been already introduced as the birthplace of Oliver
BETWEEN MR. BUMBLE Twist, sat herself down before a cheerful fire in her own lit-
tle room, and glanced, with no small degree of complacency,
AND A LADY; AND SHOWS at a small round table: on which stood a tray of correspond-
ing size, furnished with all necessary materials for the most
THAT EVEN A BEADLE grateful meal that matrons enjoy. In fact, Mrs. Corney was
about to solace herself with a cup of tea. As she glanced
MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE from the table to the fireplace, where the smallest of all pos-
sible kettles was singing a small song in a small voice, her
ON SOME POINTS inward satisfaction evidently increased,—so much so, in-
deed, that Mrs. Corney smiled.
‘Well!’ said the matron, leaning her elbow on the table,
and looking reflectively at the fire; ‘I’m sure we have all on
us a great deal to be grateful for! A great deal, if we did but
T he 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
know it. Ah!’
Mrs. Corney shook her head mournfully, as if deploring
the mental blindness of those paupers who did not know
the sharp wind that howled abroad: which, as if expending it; and thrusting a silver spoon (private property) into the
increased fury on such prey as it found, caught it savagely inmost recesses of a two-ounce tin tea-caddy, proceeded to
up in clouds, and, whirling it into a thousand misty eddies, make the tea.

How slight a thing will disturb the equanimity of our ‘At your service, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble, who had been
frail minds! The black teapot, being very small and easily stopping outside to rub his shoes clean, and to shake the
filled, ran over while Mrs. Corney was moralising; and the snow off his coat; and who now made his appearance, bear-
water slightly scalded Mrs. Corney’s hand. ing the cocked hat in one hand and a bundle in the other.
‘Drat the pot!’ said the worthy matron, setting it down ‘Shall I shut the door, ma’am?’
very hastily on the hob; ‘a little stupid thing, that only holds The lady modestly hesitated to reply, lest there should
a couple of cups! What use is it of, to anybody! Except,’ said be any impropriety in holding an interview with Mr. Bum-
Mrs. Corney, pausing, ‘except to a poor desolate creature ble, with closed doors. Mr. Bumble taking advantage of the
like me. Oh dear!’ hesitation, and being very cold himself, shut it without per-
With these words, the matron dropped into her chair, mission.
and, once more resting her elbow on the table, thought of ‘Hard weather, Mr. Bumble,’ said the matron.
her solitary fate. The small teapot, and the single cup, had ‘Hard, indeed, ma’am,’ replied the beadle. ‘Anti-porochi-
awakened in her mind sad recollections of Mr. Corney (who al weather this, ma’am. We have given away, Mrs. Corney,
had not been dead more than five-and-twenty years); and we have given away a matter of twenty quartern loaves and a
she was overpowered. cheese and a half, this very blessed afternoon; and yet them
‘I shall never get another!’ said Mrs. Corney, pettishly; ‘I paupers are not contented.’
shall never get another—like him.’ ‘Of course not. When would they be, Mr. Bumble?’ said
Whether this remark bore reference to the husband, or the matron, sipping her tea.
the teapot, is uncertain. It might have been the latter; for ‘When, indeed, ma’am!’ rejoined Mr. Bumble. ‘Why
Mrs. Corney looked at it as she spoke; and took it up af- here’s one man that, in consideraton of his wife and large
terwards. She had just tasted her first cup, when she was family, has a quartern loaf and a good pound of cheese, full
disturbed by a soft tap at the room-door. weight. Is he grateful, ma’am? Is he grateful? Not a copper
‘Oh, come in with you!’ said Mrs. Corney, sharply. ‘Some farthing’s worth of it! What does he do, ma’am, but ask for
of the old women dying, I suppose. They always die when a few coals; if it’s only a pocket handkerchief full, he says!
I’m at meals. Don’t stand there, letting the cold air in, don’t. Coals! What would he do with coals? Toast his cheese with
What’s amiss now, eh?’ ‘em and then come back for more. That’s the way with these
‘Nothing, ma’am, nothing,’ replied a man’s voice. people, ma’am; give ‘em a apron full of coals to-day, and
‘Dear me!’ exclaimed the matron, in a much sweeter tone, they’ll come back for another, the day after to-morrow, as
‘is that Mr. Bumble?’ brazen as alabaster.’

The matron expressed her entire concurrence in this in- coming.’
telligible simile; and the beadle went on. ‘Dear me!’ exclaimed Mrs. Corney. ‘Well, that is a good
‘I never,’ said Mr. Bumble, ‘see anything like the pitch one, too!’
it’s got to. The day afore yesterday, a man—you have been ‘Yes. Betwixt you and me, ma’am,’ returned Mr. Bumble,
a married woman, ma’am, and I may mention it to you—a ‘that’s the great principle; and that’s the reason why, if you
man, with hardly a rag upon his back (here Mrs. Corney look at any cases that get into them owdacious newspapers,
looked at the floor), goes to our overseer’s door when he has you’ll always observe that sick families have been relieved
got company coming to dinner; and says, he must be re- with slices of cheese. That’s the rule now, Mrs. Corney, all
lieved, Mrs. Corney. As he wouldn’t go away, and shocked over the country. But, however,’ said the beadle, stopping to
the company very much, our overseer sent him out a pound unpack his bundle, ‘these are official secrets, ma’am; not to
of potatoes and half a pint of oatmeal. ‘My heart!’ says the be spoken of; except, as I may say, among the porochial of-
ungrateful villain, ‘what’s the use of THIS to me? You might ficers, such as ourselves. This is the port wine, ma’am, that
as well give me a pair of iron spectacles!’ ‘Very good,’ says the board ordered for the infirmary; real, fresh, genuine
our overseer, taking ‘em away again, ‘you won’t get anything port wine; only out of the cask this forenoon; clear as a bell,
else here.’ ‘Then I’ll die in the streets!’ says the vagrant. ‘Oh and no sediment!’
no, you won’t,’ says our overseer.’ Having held the first bottle up to the light, and shaken it
‘Ha! ha! That was very good! So like Mr. Grannett, wasn’t well to test its excellence, Mr. Bumble placed them both on
it?’ interposed the matron. ‘Well, Mr. Bumble?’ top of a chest of drawers; folded the handkerchief in which
‘Well, ma’am,’ rejoined the beadle, ‘he went away; and he they had been wrapped; put it carefully in his pocket; and
DID die in the streets. There’s a obstinate pauper for you!’ took up his hat, as if to go.
‘It beats anything I could have believed,’ observed the ‘You’ll have a very cold walk, Mr. Bumble,’ said the ma-
matron emphatically. ‘But don’t you think out-of-door relief tron.
a very bad thing, any way, Mr. Bumble? You’re a gentleman ‘It blows, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble, turning up his
of experience, and ought to know. Come.’ coat-collar, ‘enough to cut one’s ears off.’
‘Mrs. Corney,’ said the beadle, smiling as men smile who The matron looked, from the little kettle, to the bea-
are conscious of superior information, ‘out-of-door relief, dle, who was moving towards the door; and as the beadle
properly managed, ma’am: is the porochial safeguard. The coughed, preparatory to bidding her good-night, bashfully
great principle of out-of-door relief is, to give the paupers inquired whether—whether he wouldn’t take a cup of tea?
exactly what they don’t want; and then they get tired of Mr. Bumble instantaneously turned back his collar again;

laid his hat and stick upon a chair; and drew another chair ingly; ‘so very domestic.’
up to the table. As he slowly seated himself, he looked at the ‘Oh, yes!’ rejoined the matron with enthusiasm; ‘so fond
lady. She fixed her eyes upon the little teapot. Mr. Bumble of their home too, that it’s quite a pleasure, I’m sure.’
coughed again, and slightly smiled. ‘Mrs. Corney, ma’am, said Mr. Bumble, slowly, and mark-
Mrs. Corney rose to get another cup and saucer from the ing the time with his teaspoon, ‘I mean to say this, ma’am;
closet. As she sat down, her eyes once again encountered that any cat, or kitten, that could live with you, ma’am, and
those of the gallant beadle; she coloured, and applied herself NOT be fond of its home, must be a ass, ma’am.’
to the task of making his tea. Again Mr. Bumble coughed— ‘Oh, Mr. Bumble!’ remonstrated Mrs. Corney.
louder this time than he had coughed yet. ‘It’s of no use disguising facts, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble,
‘Sweet? Mr. Bumble?’ inquired the matron, taking up the slowly flourishing the teaspoon with a kind of amorous dig-
sugar-basin. nity which made him doubly impressive; ‘I would drown it
‘Very sweet, indeed, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble. He myself, with pleasure.’
fixed his eyes on Mrs. Corney as he said this; and if ever a ‘Then you’re a cruel man,’ said the matron vivaciously, as
beadle looked tender, Mr. Bumble was that beadle at that she held out her hand for the beadle’s cup; ‘and a very hard-
moment. hearted man besides.’
The tea was made, and handed in silence. Mr. Bumble, ‘Hard-hearted, ma’am?’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘Hard?’ Mr.
having spread a handkerchief over his knees to prevent the Bumble resigned his cup without another word; squeezed
crumbs from sullying the splendour of his shorts, began to Mrs. Corney’s little finger as she took it; and inflicting two
eat and drink; varying these amusements, occasionally, by open-handed slaps upon his laced waistcoat, gave a mighty
fetching a deep sigh; which, however, had no injurious ef- sigh, and hitched his chair a very little morsel farther from
fect upon his appetite, but, on the contrary, rather seemed the fire.
to facilitate his operations in the tea and toast department. It was a round table; and as Mrs. Corney and Mr. Bum-
‘You have a cat, ma’am, I see,’ said Mr. Bumble, glancing ble had been sitting opposite each other, with no great space
at one who, in the centre of her family, was basking before between them, and fronting the fire, it will be seen that Mr.
the fire; ‘and kittens too, I declare!’ Bumble, in receding from the fire, and still keeping at the
‘I am so fond of them, Mr. Bumble,you can’t think,’ re- table, increased the distance between himself and Mrs. Cor-
plied the matron. ‘They’re SO happy, SO frolicsome, and SO ney; which proceeding, some prudent readers will doubtless
cheerful, that they are quite companions for me.’ be disposed to admire, and to consider an act of great hero-
‘Very nice animals, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble, approv- ism on Mr. Bumble’s part: he being in some sort tempted by

time, place, and opportunity, to give utterance to certain for, Mr. Bumble?’
soft nothings, which however well they may become the lips The beadle drank his tea to the last drop; finished a piece
of the light and thoughtless, do seem immeasurably beneath of toast; whisked the crumbs off his knees; wiped his lips;
the dignity of judges of the land, members of parliament, and deliberately kissed the matron.
ministers of state, lord mayors, and other great public func- ‘Mr. Bumble!’ cried that discreet lady in a whisper; for
tionaries, but more particularly beneath the stateliness and the fright was so great, that she had quite lost her voice, ‘Mr.
gravity of a beadle: who (as is well known) should be the Bumble, I shall scream!’ Mr. Bumble made no reply; but in a
sternest and most inflexible among them all. slow and dignified manner, put his arm round the matron’s
Whatever were Mr. Bumble’s intentions, however (and no waist.
doubt they were of the best): it unfortunately happened, as As the lady had stated her intention of screaming, of
has been twice before remarked, that the table was a round course she would have screamed at this additional boldness,
one; consequently Mr. Bumble, moving his chair by little but that the exertion was rendered unnecessary by a hasty
and little, soon began to diminish the distance between knocking at the door: which was no sooner heard, than Mr.
himself and the matron; and, continuing to travel round Bumble darted, with much agility, to the wine bottles, and
the outer edge of the circle, brought his chair, in time, close began dusting them with great violence: while the matron
to that in which the matron was seated. sharply demanded who was there.
Indeed, the two chairs touched; and when they did so, It is worthy of remark, as a curious physical instance of
Mr. Bumble stopped. the efficacy of a sudden surprise in counteracting the effects
Now, if the matron had moved her chair to the right, she of extreme fear, that her voice had quite recovered all its of-
would have been scorched by the fire; and if to the left, she ficial asperity.
must have fallen into Mr. Bumble’s arms; so (being a dis- ‘If you please, mistress,’ said a withered old female pau-
creet matron, and no doubt foreseeing these consequences per, hideously ugly: putting her head in at the door, ‘Old
at a glance) she remained where she was, and handed Mr. Sally is a-going fast.’
Bumble another cup of tea. ‘Well, what’s that to me?’ angrily demanded the matron.
‘Hard-hearted, Mrs. Corney?’ said Mr. Bumble, stirring ‘I can’t keep her alive, can I?’
his tea, and looking up into the matron’s face; ‘are YOU ‘No, no, mistress,’ replied the old woman, ‘nobody can;
hard-hearted, Mrs. Corney?’ she’s far beyond the reach of help. I’ve seen a many peo-
‘Dear me!’ exclaimed the matron, ‘what a very curious ple die; little babes and great strong men; and I know when
question from a single man. What can you want to know death’s a-coming, well enough. But she’s troubled in her

mind: and when the fits are not on her,—and that’s not often,
for she is dying very hard,—she says she has got something CHAPTER XXIV
to tell, which you must hear. She’ll never die quiet till you
come, mistress.’
At this intelligence, the worthy Mrs. Corney muttered a
variety of invectives against old women who couldn’t even TREATS ON A VERY POOR
die without purposely annoying their betters; and, muf-
fling herself in a thick shawl which she hastily caught up, SUBJECT. BUT IS A SHORT
briefly requested Mr. Bumble to stay till she came back, lest
anything particular should occur. Bidding the messenger ONE, AND MAY BE
walk fast, and not be all night hobbling up the stairs, she
followed her from the room with a very ill grace, scolding FOUND OF IMPORTANCE
all the way.
Mr. Bumble’s conduct on being left to himself, was rather IN THIS HISTORY
inexplicable. He opened the closet, counted the teaspoons,
weighed the sugar-tongs, closely inspected a silver milk-pot
to ascertain that it was of the genuine metal, and, having
satisfied his curiosity on these points, put on his cocked hat
corner-wise, and danced with much gravity four distinct
times round the table.
I t was no unfit messanger of death, who had disturbed the
quiet of the matron’s room. Her body was bent by age; her
limbs trembled with palsy; her face, distorted into a mum-
Having gone through this very extraordinary perfor- bling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some
mance, he took off the cocked hat again, and, spreading wild pencil, than the work of Nature’s hand.
himself before the fire with his back towards it, seemed to Alas! How few of Nature’s faces are left alone to gladden
be mentally engaged in taking an exact inventory of the fur- us with their beauty! The cares, and sorrows, and hunger-
niture. ings, 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 Heaven’s
surface clear. It is a common thing for the countenances of
the dead, even in that fixed and rigid state, to subside into

the long-forgotten expression of sleeping infancy, and settle bed, as if he had previously quite forgotten the patient, ‘it’s
into the very look of early life; so calm, so peaceful, do they all U.P. there, Mrs. Corney.’
grow again, that those who knew them in their happy child- ‘It is, is it, sir?’ asked the matron.
hood, kneel by the coffin’s side in awe, and see the Angel ‘If she lasts a couple of hours, I shall be surprised.’ said
even upon earth. the apothecary’s apprentice, intent upon the toothpick’s
The old crone tottered alone the passages, and up the point. ‘It’s a break-up of the system altogether. Is she doz-
stairs, muttering some indistinct answers to the chidings ing, old lady?’
of her companion; being at length compelled to pause for The attendant stooped over the bed, to ascertain; and
breath, she gave the light into her hand, and remained be- nodded in the affirmative.
hind to follow as she might: while the more nimble superior ‘Then perhaps she’ll go off in that way, if you don’t make
made her way to the room where the sick woman lay. a row,’ said the young man. ‘Put the light on the floor. She
It was a bare garret-room, with a dim light burning at won’t see it there.’
the farther end. There was another old woman watching by The attendant did as she was told: shaking her head
the bed; the parish apothecary’s apprentice was standing by meanwhile, to intimate that the woman would not die so
the fire, making a toothpick out of a quill. easily; having done so, she resumed her seat by the side of
‘Cold night, Mrs. Corney,’ said this young gentleman, as the other nurse, who had by this time returned. The mis-
the matron entered. tress, with an expression of impatience, wrapped herself in
‘Very cold, indeed, sir,’ replied the mistress, in her most her shawl, and sat at the foot of the bed.
civil tones, and dropping a curtsey as she spoke. The apothecary’s apprentice, having completed the man-
‘You should get better coals out of your contractors,’ said ufacture of the toothpick, planted himself in front of the fire
the apothecary’s deputy, breaking a lump on the top of the and made good use of it for ten minutes or so: when appar-
fire with the rusty poker; ‘these are not at all the sort of ently growing rather dull, he wished Mrs. Corney joy of her
thing for a cold night.’ job, and took himself off on tiptoe.
‘They’re the board’s choosing, sir,’ returned the matron. When they had sat in silence for some time, the two old
‘The least they could do, would be to keep us pretty warm: women rose from the bed, and crouching over the fire, held
for our places are hard enough.’ out their withered hands to catch the heat. The flame threw
The conversation was here interrupted by a moan from a ghastly light on their shrivelled faces, and made their ug-
the sick woman. liness appear terrible, as, in this position, they began to
‘Oh!’ said the young mag, turning his face towards the converse in a low voice.

‘Did she say any more, Anny dear, while I was gone?’ in- into her own. While they were thus employed, the matron,
quired the messenger. who had been impatiently watching until the dying woman
‘Not a word,’ replied the other. ‘She plucked and tore at should awaken from her stupor, joined them by the fire, and
her arms for a little time; but I held her hands, and she soon sharply asked how long she was to wait?
dropped off. She hasn’t much strength in her, so I easily kept ‘Not long, mistress,’ replied the second woman, looking
her quiet. I ain’t so weak for an old woman, although I am up into her face. ‘We have none of us long to wait for Death.
on parish allowance; no, no!’ Patience, patience! He’ll be here soon enough for us all.’
‘Did she drink the hot wine the doctor said she was to ‘Hold your tongue, you doting idiot!’ said the matron
have?’ demanded the first. sternly. ‘You, Martha, tell me; has she been in this way be-
‘I tried to get it down,’ rejoined the other. ‘But her teeth fore?’
were tight set, and she clenched the mug so hard that it was ‘Often,’ answered the first woman.
as much as I could do to get it back again. So I drank it; and ‘But will never be again,’ added the second one; ‘that is,
it did me good!’ she’ll never wake again but once—and mind, mistress, that
Looking cautiously round, to ascertain that they were won’t be for long!’
not overheard, the two hags cowered nearer to the fire, and ‘Long or short,’ said the matron, snappishly, ‘she won’t
chuckled heartily. find me here when she does wake; take care, both of you,
‘I mind the time,’ said the first speaker, ‘when she would how you worry me again for nothing. It’s no part of my duty
have done the same, and made rare fun of it afterwards.’ to see all the old women in the house die, and I won’t—that’s
‘Ay, that she would,’ rejoined the other; ‘she had a merry more. Mind that, you impudent old harridans. If you make
heart. a fool of me again, I’ll soon cure you, I warrant you!’
A many, many, beautiful corpses she laid out, as nice She was bouncing away, when a cry from the two women,
and neat as waxwork. My old eyes have seen them—ay, and who had turned towards the bed, caused her to look round.
those old hands touched them too; for I have helped her, The patient had raised herself upright, and was stretching
scores of times.’ her arms towards them.
Stretching forth her trembling fingers as she spoke, the ‘Who’s that?’ she cried, in a hollow voice.
old creature shook them exultingly before her face, and ‘Hush, hush!’ said one of the women, stooping over her.
fumbling in her pocket, brought out an old time-discol- ‘Lie down, lie down!’
oured tin snuff-box, from which she shook a few grains into ‘I’ll never lie down again alive!’ said the woman, strug-
the outstretched palm of her companion, and a few more gling. ‘I WILL tell her! Come here! Nearer! Let me whisper

in your ear.’ ‘Ay,’ murmured the sick woman, relapsing into her for-
She clutched the matron by the arm, and forcing her into mer drowsy state, ‘what about her?—what about—I know!’
a chair by the bedside, was about to speak, when looking she cried, jumping fiercely up: her face flushed, and her eyes
round, she caught sight of the two old women bending for- starting from her head—‘I robbed her, so I did! She wasn’t
ward in the attitude of eager listeners. cold—I tell you she wasn’t cold, when I stole it!’
‘Turn them away,’ said the woman, drowsily; ‘make haste! ‘Stole what, for God’s sake?’ cried the matron, with a ges-
make haste!’ ture as if she would call for help.
The two old crones, chiming in together, began pour- ‘IT!’ replied the woman, laying her hand over the other’s
ing out many piteous lamentations that the poor dear was mouth. ‘The only thing she had. She wanted clothes to keep
too far gone to know her best friends; and were uttering her warm, and food to eat; but she had kept it safe, and had
sundry protestations that they would never leave her, when it in her bosom. It was gold, I tell you! Rich gold, that might
the superior pushed them from the room, closed the door, have saved her life!’
and returned to the bedside. On being excluded, the old ‘Gold!’ echoed the matron, bending eagerly over the
ladies changed their tone, and cried through the keyhole woman as she fell back. ‘Go on, go on—yest—what of it?
that old Sally was drunk; which, indeed, was not unlikely; Who was the mother?
since, in addition to a moderate dose of opium prescribed When was it?’
by the apothecary, she was labouring under the effects of a ‘She charge me to keep it safe,’ replied the woman with a
final taste of gin-and-water which had been privily admin- groan, ‘and trusted me as the only woman about her. I stole
istered, in the openness of their hearts, by the worthy old it in my heart when she first showed it me hanging round
ladies themselves. her neck; and the child’s death, perhaps, is on me besides!
‘Now listen to me,’ said the dying woman aloud, as if They would have treated him better, if they had known it
making a great effort to revive one latent spark of energy. all!’
‘In this very room—in this very bed—I once nursed a pretty ‘Known what?’ asked the other. ‘Speak!’
young creetur’, that was brought into the house with her ‘The boy grew so like his mother,’ said the woman, ram-
feet cut and bruised with walking, and all soiled with dust bling on, and not heeding the question, ‘that I could never
and blood. She gave birth to a boy, and died. Let me think— forget it when I saw his face. Poor girl! poor girl! She was so
what was the year again!’ young, too! Such a gentle lamb! Wait; there’s more to tell. I
‘Never mind the year,’ said the impatient auditor; ‘what have not told you all, have I?’
about her?’ ‘No, no,’ replied the matron, inclining her head to catch

the words, as they came more faintly from the dying wom-
an. ‘Be quick, or it may be too late!’ CHAPTER XXV
‘The mother,’ said the woman, making a more violent ef-
fort 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 WHEREIN THIS HISTORY
not feel so much disgraced to hear its poor young mother
named. ‘And oh, kind Heaven!’ she said, folding her thin REVERTS TO MR. FAGIN
hands together, ‘whether it be boy or girl, raise up some
friends for it in this troubled world, and take pity upon a AND COMPANY
lonely desolate child, abandoned to its mercy!‘
‘The boy’s 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
W hile these things were passing in the country work-
house, Mr. Fagin sat in the old den—the same from
which Oliver had been removed by the girl—brooding over
reply; but drew back, instinctively, as she once again rose, a dull, smoky fire. He held a pair of bellows upon his knee,
slowly and stiffly, into a sitting posture; then, clutching the with which he had apparently been endeavouring to rouse
coverlid with both hands, muttered some indistinct sounds it into more cheerful action; but he had fallen into deep
in her throat, and fell lifeless on the bed. thought; and with his arms folded on them, and his chin
******* resting on his thumbs, fixed his eyes, abstractedly, on the
‘Stone dead!’ said one of the old women, hurrying in as rusty bars.
soon as the door was opened. At a table behind him sat the Artful Dodger, Master
‘And nothing to tell, after all,’ rejoined the matron, walk- Charles Bates, and Mr. Chitling: all intent upon a game of
ing carelessly away. whist; the Artful taking dummy against Master Bates and
The two crones, to all appearance, too busily occupied in Mr. Chitling. The countenance of the first-named gentleman,
the preparations for their dreadful duties to make any reply, peculiarly intelligent at all times, acquired great additional
were left alone, hovering about the body. interest from his close observance of the game, and his at-
tentive perusal of Mr. Chitling’s hand; upon which, from

time to time, as occasion served, he bestowed a variety of a very long face, as he drew half-a-crown from his waist-
earnest glances: wisely regulating his own play by the result coat-pocket. ‘I never see such a feller as you, Jack; you win
of his observations upon his neighbour’s cards. It being a everything. Even when we’ve good cards, Charley and I
cold night, the Dodger wore his hat, as, indeed, was often can’t make nothing of ‘em.’
his custom within doors. He also sustained a clay pipe be- Either the master or the manner of this remark, which
tween his teeth, which he only removed for a brief space was made very ruefully, delighted Charley Bates so much,
when he deemed it necessary to apply for refreshment to a that his consequent shout of laughter roused the Jew from
quart pot upon the table, which stood ready filled with gin- his reverie, and induced him to inquire what was the mat-
and-water for the accommodation of the company. ter.
Master Bates was also attentive to the play; but being of a ‘Matter, Fagin!’ cried Charley. ‘I wish you had watched
more excitable nature than his accomplished friend, it was the play. Tommy Chitling hasn’t won a point; and I went
observable that he more frequently applied himself to the partners with him against the Artfull and dumb.’
gin-and-water, and moreover indulged in many jests and ir- ‘Ay, ay!’ said the Jew, with a grin, which sufficiently dem-
relevant remarks, all highly unbecoming a scientific rubber. onstrated that he was at no loss to understand the reason.
Indeed, the Artful, presuming upon their close attachment, ‘Try ‘em again, Tom; try ‘em again.’
more than once took occasion to reason gravely with his ‘No more of it for me, thank ‘ee, Fagin,’ replied Mr. Chit-
companion upon these improprieties; all of which remon- ling; ‘I’ve had enough. That ‘ere Dodger has such a run of
strances, Master Bates received in extremely good part; luck that there’s no standing again’ him.’
merely requesting his friend to be ‘blowed,’ or to insert his ‘Ha! ha! my dear,’ replied the Jew, ‘you must get up very
head in a sack, or replying with some other neatly-turned early in the morning, to win against the Dodger.’
witticism of a similar kind, the happy application of which, ‘Morning!’ said Charley Bates; ‘you must put your boots
excited considerable admiration in the mind of Mr. Chit- on over-night, and have a telescope at each eye, and a op-
ling. It was remarkable that the latter gentleman and his era-glass between your shoulders, if you want to come over
partner invariably lost; and that the circumstance, so far him.’
from angering Master Bates, appeared to afford him the Mr. Dawkins received these handsome compliments
highest amusement, inasmuch as he laughed most uproari- with much philosophy, and offered to cut any gentleman
ously at the end of every deal, and protested that he had in company, for the first picture-card, at a shilling at a time.
never seen such a jolly game in all his born days. Nobody accepting the challenge, and his pipe being by this
‘That’s two doubles and the rub,’ said Mr. Chitling, with time smoked out, he proceeded to amuse himself by sketch-

ing a ground-plan of Newgate on the table with the piece of ‘What I mean to say, Fagin,’ replied Mr. Chitling, very
chalk which had served him in lieu of counters; whistling, red in the face, ‘is, that that isn’t anything to anybody here.’
meantime, with peculiar shrillness. ‘No more it is,’ replied the Jew; ‘Charley will talk. Don’t
‘How precious dull you are, Tommy!’ said the Dodger, mind him, my dear; don’t mind him. Betsy’s a fine girl. Do
stopping short when there had been a long silence; and ad- as she bids you, Tom, and you will make your fortune.’
dressing Mr. Chitling. ‘What do you think he’s thinking of, ‘So I DO do as she bids me,’ replied Mr. Chitling; ‘I
Fagin?’ shouldn’t have been milled, if it hadn’t been for her advice.
‘How should I know, my dear?’ replied the Jew, looking But it turned out a good job for you; didn’t it, Fagin! And
round as he plied the bellows. ‘About his losses, maybe; or what’s six weeks of it? It must come, some time or another,
the little retirement in the country that he’s just left, eh? Ha! and why not in the winter time when you don’t want to go
ha! Is that it, my dear?’ out a-walking so much; eh, Fagin?’
‘Not a bit of it,’ replied the Dodger, stopping the subject ‘Ah, to be sure, my dear,’ replied the Jew.
of discourse as Mr. Chitling was about to reply. ‘What do ‘You wouldn’t mind it again, Tom, would you,’ asked the
YOU say, Charley?’ Dodger, winking upon Charley and the Jew, ‘if Bet was all
‘I should say,’ replied Master Bates, with a grin, ‘that he right?’
was uncommon sweet upon Betsy. See how he’s a-blushing! ‘I mean to say that I shouldn’t,’ replied Tom, angrily.
Oh, my eye! here’s a merry-go-rounder! Tommy Chitling’s ‘There, now. Ah! Who’ll say as much as that, I should like
in love! Oh, Fagin, Fagin! what a spree!’ to know; eh, Fagin?’
Thoroughly overpowered with the notion of Mr. Chitling ‘Nobody, my dear,’ replied the Jew; ‘not a soul, Tom. I
being the victim of the tender passion, Master Bates threw don’t know one of ‘em that would do it besides you; not one
himself back in his chair with such violence, that he lost his of ‘em, my dear.’
balance, and pitched over upon the floor; where (the acci- ‘I might have got clear off, if I’d split upon her; mightn’t I,
dent abating nothing of his merriment) he lay at full length Fagin?’ angrily pursued the poor half-witted dupe. ‘A word
until his laugh was over, when he resumed his former posi- from me would have done it; wouldn’t it, Fagin?’
tion, and began another laugh. ‘To be sure it would, my dear,’ replied the Jew.
‘Never mind him, my dear,’ said the Jew, winking at Mr. ‘But I didn’t blab it; did I, Fagin?’ demanded Tom, pour-
Dawkins, and giving Master Bates a reproving tap with the ing question upon question with great volubility.
nozzle of the bellows. ‘Betsy’s a fine girl. Stick up to her, ‘No, no, to be sure,’ replied the Jew; ‘you were too stout-
Tom. Stick up to her.’ hearted for that. A deal too stout, my dear!’

‘Perhaps I was,’ rejoined Tom, looking round; ‘and if I length he raised his head.
was, what’s to laugh at, in that; eh, Fagin?’ ‘Where is he?’ he asked.
The Jew, perceiving that Mr. Chitling was considerably The Dodger pointed to the floor above, and made a ges-
roused, hastened to assure him that nobody was laughing; ture, as if to leave the room.
and to prove the gravity of the company, appealed to Master ‘Yes,’ said the Jew, answering the mute inquiry; ‘bring
Bates, the principal offender. But, unfortunately, Charley, in him down.
opening his mouth to reply that he was never more serious Hush! Quiet, Charley! Gently, Tom! Scarce, scarce!’
in his life, was unable to prevent the escape of such a violent This brief direction to Charley Bates, and his recent an-
roar, that the abused Mr. Chitling, without any preliminary tagonist, was softly and immediately obeyed. There was no
ceremonies, rushed across the room and aimed a blow at sound of their whereabout, when the Dodger descended
the offender; who, being skilful in evading pursuit, ducked the stairs, bearing the light in his hand, and followed by a
to avoid it, and chose his time so well that it lighted on the man in a coarse smock-frock; who, after casting a hurried
chest of the merry old gentleman, and caused him to stag- glance round the room, pulled off a large wrapper which
ger to the wall, where he stood panting for breath, while Mr. had concealed the lower portion of his face, and disclosed:
Chitling looked on in intense dismay. all haggard, unwashed, and unshorn: the features of flash
‘Hark!’ cried the Dodger at this moment, ‘I heard the tin- Toby Crackit.
kler.’ Catching up the light, he crept softly upstairs. ‘How are you, Faguey?’ said this worthy, nodding to the
The bell was rung again, with some impatience, while the Jew. ‘Pop that shawl away in my castor, Dodger, so that I
party were in darkness. After a short pause, the Dodger re- may know where to find it when I cut; that’s the time of day!
appeared, and whispered Fagin mysteriously. You’ll be a fine young cracksman afore the old file now.’
‘What!’ cried the Jew, ‘alone?’ With these words he pulled up the smock-frock; and,
The Dodger nodded in the affirmative, and, shading the winding it round his middle, drew a chair to the fire, and
flame of the candle with his hand, gave Charley Bates a pri- placed his feet upon the hob.
vate intimation, in dumb show, that he had better not be ‘See there, Faguey,’ he said, pointing disconsolately to his
funny just then. Having performed this friendly office, he top boots; ‘not a drop of Day and Martin since you know
fixed his eyes on the Jew’s face, and awaited his directions. when; not a bubble of blacking, by Jove! But don’t look at me
The old man bit his yellow fingers, and meditated for in that way, man. All in good time. I can’t talk about busi-
some seconds; his face working with agitation the while, as ness till I’ve eat and drank; so produce the sustainance, and
if he dreaded something, and feared to know the worst. At let’s have a quiet fill-out for the first time these three days!’

The Jew motioned to the Dodger to place what eatables pale.
there were, upon the table; and, seating himself opposite ‘Mean!’ cried the Jew, stamping furiously on the ground.
the housebreaker, waited his leisure. ‘Where are they? Sikes and the boy! Where are they? Where
To judge from appearances, Toby was by no means in a have they been? Where are they hiding? Why have they not
hurry to open the conversation. At first, the Jew content- been here?’
ed himself with patiently watching his countenance, as if ‘The crack failed,’ said Toby faintly.
to gain from its expression some clue to the intelligence he ‘I know it,’ replied the Jew, tearing a newspaper from his
brought; but in vain. pocket and pointing to it. ‘What more?’
He looked tired and worn, but there was the same com- ‘They fired and hit the boy. We cut over the fields at the
placent repose upon his features that they always wore: and back, with him between us—straight as the crow flies—
through dirt, and beard, and whisker, there still shone, un- through hedge and ditch. They gave chase. Damme! the
impaired, the self-satisfied smirk of flash Toby Crackit. Then whole country was awake, and the dogs upon us.’
the Jew, in an agony of impatience, watched every morsel he ‘The boy!’
put into his mouth; pacing up and down the room, mean- ‘Bill had him on his back, and scudded like the wind. We
while, in irrepressible excitement. It was all of no use. Toby stopped to take him between us; his head hung down, and
continued to eat with the utmost outward indifference, un- he was cold. They were close upon our heels; every man for
til he could eat no more; then, ordering the Dodger out, he himself, and each from the gallows! We parted company,
closed the door, mixed a glass of spirits and water, and com- and left the youngster lying in a ditch. Alive or dead, that’s
posed himself for talking. all I know about him.’
‘First and foremost, Faguey,’ said Toby. The Jew stopped to hear no more; but uttering a loud yell,
‘Yes, yes!’ interposed the Jew, drawing up his chair. and twining his hands in his hair, rushed from the room,
Mr. Crackit stopped to take a draught of spirits and wa- and from the house.
ter, 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,
‘how’s Bill?’
‘What!’ screamed the Jew, starting from his seat.
‘Why, you don’t mean to say—‘ began Toby, turning

CHAPTER XXVI the by-ways 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
IN WHICH A MYSTERIOUS shuffling pace, and seemed to breathe more freely.
Near to the spot on which Snow Hill and Holborn Hill
CHARACTER APPEARS meet, opens, upon the right hand as you come out of the
City, a narrow and dismal alley, leading to Saffron Hill. In
UPON THE SCENE; its filthy shops are exposed for sale huge bunches of second-
hand silk handkerchiefs, of all sizes and patterns; for here
AND MANY THINGS, reside the traders who purchase them from pick-pockets.
Hundreds of these handkerchiefs hang dangling from pegs
INSEPARABLE FROM THIS outside the windows or flaunting from the door-posts; and
the shelves, within, are piled with them. Confined as the
HISTORY, ARE DONE limits of Field Lane are, it has its barber, its coffee-shop, its
beer-shop, and its fried-fish warehouse. It is a commercial
AND PERFORMED colony of itself: the emporium of petty larceny: visited at
early morning, and setting-in of dusk, by silent merchants,
who traffic in dark back-parlours, and who go as strangely
as they come. Here, the clothesman, the shoe-vamper, and
the rag-merchant, display their goods, as sign-boards to the
T he old man had gained the street corner, before he be-

gan to recover the effect of Toby Crackit’s intelligence.
He had relaxed nothing of his unusual speed; but was still
petty thief; here, stores of old iron and bones, and heaps of
mildewy fragments of woollen-stuff and linen, rust and rot
in the grimy cellars.
pressing onward, in the same wild and disordered manner, It was into this place that the Jew turned. He was well
when the sudden dashing past of a carriage: and a boister- known to the sallow denizens of the lane; for such of them
ous cry from the foot passengers, who saw his danger: drove as were on the look-out to buy or sell, nodded, familiarly, as
him back upon the pavement. Avoiding, as much as was he passed along. He replied to their salutations in the same
possible, all the main streets, and skulking only through way; but bestowed no closer recognition until he reached

the further end of the alley; when he stopped, to address a there with you!’
salesman of small stature, who had squeezed as much of his But as the Jew, looking back, waved his hand to intimate
person into a child’s chair as the chair would hold, and was that he preferred being alone; and, moreover, as the little
smoking a pipe at his warehouse door. man could not very easily disengage himself from the chair;
‘Why, the sight of you, Mr. Fagin, would cure the hop- the sign of the Cripples was, for a time, bereft of the advan-
talymy!’ said this respectable trader, in acknowledgment of tage of Mr. Lively’s presence. By the time he had got upon
the Jew’s inquiry after his health. his legs, the Jew had disappeared; so Mr. Lively, after inef-
‘The neighbourhood was a little too hot, Lively,’ said Fa- fectually standing on tiptoe, in the hope of catching sight
gin, elevating his eyebrows, and crossing his hands upon of him, again forced himself into the little chair, and, ex-
his shoulders. changing a shake of the head with a lady in the opposite
‘Well, I’ve heerd that complaint of it, once or twice be- shop, in which doubt and mistrust were plainly mingled,
fore,’ replied the trader; ‘but it soon cools down again; don’t resumed his pipe with a grave demeanour.
you find it so?’ The Three Cripples, or rather the Cripples; which was the
Fagin nodded in the affirmative. Pointing in the direc- sign by which the establishment was familiarly known to
tion of Saffron Hill, he inquired whether any one was up its patrons: was the public-house in which Mr. Sikes and
yonder to-night. his dog have already figured. Merely making a sign to a
‘At the Cripples?’ inquired the man. man at the bar, Fagin walked straight upstairs, and opening
The Jew nodded. the door of a room, and softly insinuating himself into the
‘Let me see,’ pursued the merchant, reflecting. chamber, looked anxiously about: shading his eyes with his
‘Yes, there’s some half-dozen of ‘em gone in, that I knows. hand, as if in search of some particular person.
I don’t think your friend’s there.’ The room was illuminated by two gas-lights; the glare
‘Sikes is not, I suppose?’ inquired the Jew, with a disap- of which was prevented by the barred shutters, and close-
pointed countenance. ly-drawn curtains of faded red, from being visible outside.
‘Non istwentus, as the lawyers say,’ replied the little man, The ceiling was blackened, to prevent its colour from be-
shaking his head, and looking amazingly sly. ‘Have you got ing injured by the flaring of the lamps; and the place was
anything in my line to-night?’ so full of dense tobacco smoke, that at first it was scarcely
‘Nothing to-night,’ said the Jew, turning away. possible to discern anything more. By degrees, however, as
‘Are you going up to the Cripples, Fagin?’ cried the little some of it cleared away through the open door, an assem-
man, calling after him. ‘Stop! I don’t mind if I have a drop blage of heads, as confused as the noises that greeted the

ear, might be made out; and as the eye grew more accus- almost every grade, irresistibly attracted the attention, by
tomed to the scene, the spectator gradually became aware their very repulsiveness. Cunning, ferocity, and drunke-
of the presence of a numerous company, male and female, ness in all its stages, were there, in their strongest aspect;
crowded round a long table: at the upper end of which, sat a and women:
chairman with a hammer of office in his hand; while a pro- some with the last lingering tinge of their early freshness
fessional gentleman with a bluish nose, and his face tied up almost fading as you looked: others with every mark and
for the benefit of a toothache, presided at a jingling piano in stamp of their sex utterly beaten out, and presenting but
a remote corner. one loathsome blank of profligacy and crime; some mere
As Fagin stepped softly in, the professional gentleman, girls, others but young women, and none past the prime of
running over the keys by way of prelude, occasioned a life; formed the darkest and saddest portion of this dreary
general cry of order for a song; which having subsided, a picture.
young lady proceeded to entertain the company with a bal- Fagin, troubled by no grave emotions, looked eagerly
lad in four verses, between each of which the accompanyist from face to face while these proceedings were in prog-
played the melody all through, as loud as he could. When ress; but apparently without meeting that of which he was
this was over, the chairman gave a sentiment, after which, in search. Succeeding, at length, in catching the eye of the
the professional gentleman on the chairman’s right and left man who occupied the chair, he beckoned to him slightly,
volunteered a duet, and sang it, with great applause. and left the room, as quietly as he had entered it.
It was curious to observe some faces which stood out ‘What can I do for you, Mr. Fagin?’ inquired the man,
prominently from among the group. There was the chair- as he followed him out to the landing. ‘Won’t you join us?
man himself, (the landlord of the house,) a coarse, rough, They’ll be delighted, every one of ‘em.’
heavy built fellow, who, while the songs were proceeding, The Jew shook his head impatiently, and said in a whis-
rolled his eyes hither and thither, and, seeming to give him- per, ‘Is HE here?’
self up to joviality, had an eye for everything that was done, ‘No,’ replied the man.
and an ear for everything that was said—and sharp ones, ‘And no news of Barney?’ inquired Fagin.
too. Near him were the singers: receiving, with professional ‘None,’ replied the landlord of the Cripples; for it was he.
indifference, the compliments of the company, and ap- ‘He won’t stir till it’s all safe. Depend on it, they’re on the
plying themselves, in turn, to a dozen proffered glasses of scent down there; and that if he moved, he’d blow upon the
spirits and water, tendered by their more boisterous admir- thing at once. He’s all right enough, Barney is, else I should
ers; whose countenances, expressive of almost every vice in have heard of him. I’ll pound it, that Barney’s managing

properly. Let him alone for that.’ riolet, and bade the man drive towards Bethnal Green. He
‘Will HE be here to-night?’ asked the Jew, laying the same dismissed him within some quarter of a mile of Mr. Sikes’s
emphasis on the pronoun as before. residence, and performed the short remainder of the dis-
‘Monks, do you mean?’ inquired the landlord, hesitating. tance, on foot.
‘Hush!’ said the Jew. ‘Yes.’ ‘Now,’ muttered the Jew, as he knocked at the door, ‘if
‘Certain,’ replied the man, drawing a gold watch from his there is any deep play here, I shall have it out of you, my girl,
fob; ‘I expected him here before now. If you’ll wait ten min- cunning as you are.’
utes, he’ll be—‘ She was in her room, the woman said. Fagin crept softly
‘No, no,’ said the Jew, hastily; as though, however de- upstairs, and entered it without any previous ceremony. The
sirous he might be to see the person in question, he was girl was alone; lying with her head upon the table, and her
nevertheless relieved by his absence. ‘Tell him I came here hair straggling over it.
to see him; and that he must come to me to-night. No, say to- ‘She has been drinking,’ thought the Jew, cooly, ‘or per-
morrow. As he is not here, to-morrow will be time enough.’ haps she is only miserable.’
‘Good!’ said the man. ‘Nothing more?’ The old man turned to close the door, as he made this
‘Not a word now,’ said the Jew, descending the stairs. reflection; the noise thus occasioned, roused the girl. She
‘I say,’ said the other, looking over the rails, and speak- eyed his crafty face narrowly, as she inquired to his recital
ing in a hoarse whisper; ‘what a time this would be for a of Toby Crackit’s story. When it was concluded, she sank
sell! I’ve got Phil Barker here: so drunk, that a boy might into her former attitude, but spoke not a word. She pushed
take him!’ the candle impatiently away; and once or twice as she fe-
‘Ah! But it’s not Phil Barker’s time,’ said the Jew, look- verishly changed her position, shuffled her feet upon the
ing up. ground; but this was all.
‘Phil has something more to do, before we can afford to During the silence, the Jew looked restlessly about the
part with him; so go back to the company, my dear, and room, as if to assure himself that there were no appearanc-
tell them to lead merry lives—WHILE THEY LAST. Ha! ha! es of Sikes having covertly returned. Apparently satisfied
ha!’ with his inspection, he coughed twice or thrice, and made
The landlord reciprocated the old man’s laugh; and re- as many efforts to open a conversation; but the girl heeded
turned to his guests. The Jew was no sooner alone, than him no more than if he had been made of stone. At length
his countenance resumed its former expression of anxiety he made another attempt; and rubbing his hands together,
and thought. After a brief reflection, he called a hack-cab- said, in his most concilitory tone,

‘And where should you think Bill was now, my dear?’ him yourself if you would have him escape Jack Ketch. And
The girl moaned out some half intelligible reply, that she do it the moment he sets foot in this room, or mind me, it
could not tell; and seemed, from the smothered noise that will be too late!’
escaped her, to be crying. ‘What is all this?’ cried the girl involuntarily.
‘And the boy, too,’ said the Jew, straining his eyes to ‘What is it?’ pursued Fagin, mad with rage. ‘When the
catch a glimpse of her face. ‘Poor leetle child! Left in a ditch, boy’s worth hundreds of pounds to me, am I to lose what
Nance; only think!’ chance threw me in the way of getting safely, through the
‘The child,’ said the girl, suddenly looking up, ‘is better whims of a drunken gang that I could whistle away the lives
where he is, than among us; and if no harm comes to Bill of! And me bound, too, to a born devil that only wants the
from it, I hope he lies dead in the ditch and that his young will, and has the power to, to—‘
bones may rot there.’ Panting for breath, the old man stammered for a word;
‘What!’ cried the Jew, in amazement. and in that instant checked the torrent of his wrath, and
‘Ay, I do,’ returned the girl, meeting his gaze. ‘I shall be changed his whole demeanour. A moment before, his
glad to have him away from my eyes, and to know that the clenched hands had grasped the air; his eyes had dilated;
worst is over. I can’t bear to have him about me. The sight of and his face grown livid with passion; but now, he shrunk
him turns me against myself, and all of you.’ into a chair, and, cowering together, trembled with the
‘Pooh!’ said the Jew, scornfully. ‘You’re drunk.’ apprehension of having himself disclosed some hidden vil-
‘Am I?’ cried the girl bitterly. ‘It’s no fault of yours, if I am lainy. After a short silence, he ventured to look round at his
not! You’d never have me anything else, if you had your will, companion. He appeared somewhat reassured, on behold-
except now;—the humour doesn’t suit you, doesn’t it?’ ing her in the same listless attitude from which he had first
‘No!’ rejoined the Jew, furiously. ‘It does not.’ roused her.
‘Change it, then!’ responded the girl, with a laugh. ‘Nancy, dear!’ croaked the Jew, in his usual voice. ‘Did
‘Change it!’ exclaimed the Jew, exasperated beyond all you mind me, dear?’
bounds by his companion’s unexpected obstinacy, and the ‘Don’t worry me now, Fagin!’ replied the girl, raising her
vexation of the night, ‘I WILL change it! Listen to me, you head languidly. ‘If Bill has not done it this time, he will an-
drab. Listen to me, who with six words, can strangle Sikes other. He has done many a good job for you, and will do
as surely as if I had his bull’s throat between my fingers now. many more when he can; and when he can’t he won’t; so no
If he comes back, and leaves the boy behind him; if he gets more about that.’
off free, and dead or alive, fails to restore him to me; murder ‘Regarding this boy, my dear?’ said the Jew, rubbing the

palms of his hands nervously together. might be the amount of the odds so long as a lady or gen-
‘The boy must take his chance with the rest,’ interrupted tleman was happy, Mr. Fagin, who had had considerable
Nancy, hastily; ‘and I say again, I hope he is dead, and out experience of such matters in his time, saw, with great sat-
of harm’s way, and out of yours,—that is, if Bill comes to no isfaction, that she was very far gone indeed.
harm. And if Toby got clear off, Bill’s pretty sure to be safe; Having eased his mind by this discovery; and having ac-
for Bill’s worth two of Toby any time.’ complished his twofold object of imparting to the girl what
‘And about what I was saying, my dear?’ observed the Jew, he had, that night, heard, and of ascertaining, with his own
keeping his glistening eye steadily upon her. eyes, that Sikes had not returned, Mr. Fagin again turned
‘Your must say it all over again, if it’s anything you want his face homeward: leaving his young friend asleep, with
me to do,’ rejoined Nancy; ‘and if it is, you had better wait her head upon the table.
till to-morrow. You put me up for a minute; but now I’m It was within an hour of midnight. The weather being
stupid again.’ dark, and piercing cold, he had no great temptation to loi-
Fagin put several other questions: all with the same drift ter. The sharp wind that scoured the streets, seemed to have
of ascertaining whether the girl had profited by his un- cleared them of passengers, as of dust and mud, for few peo-
guarded hints; but, she answered them so readily, and was ple were abroad, and they were to all appearance hastening
withal so utterly unmoved by his searching looks, that his fast home. It blew from the right quarter for the Jew, howev-
original impression of her being more than a trifle in liquor, er, and straight before it he went: trembling, and shivering,
was confirmed. Nancy, indeed, was not exempt from a fail- as every fresh gust drove him rudely on his way.
ing which was very common among the Jew’s female pupils; He had reached the corner of his own street, and was
and in which, in their tenderer years, they were rather en- already fumbling in his pocket for the door-key, when a
couraged than checked. Her disordered appearance, and a dark figure emerged from a projecting entrance which lay
wholesale perfume of Geneva which pervaded the apart- in deep shadow, and, crossing the road, glided up to him
ment, afforded stong confirmatory evidence of the justice unperceived.
of the Jew’s supposition; and when, after indulging in the ‘Fagin!’ whispered a voice close to his ear.
temporary display of violence above described, she subsid- ‘Ah!’ said the Jew, turning quickly round, ‘is that—‘
ed, first into dullness, and afterwards into a compound of ‘Yes!’ interrupted the stranger. ‘I have been lingering here
feelings: under the influence of which she shed tears one these two hours. Where the devil have you been?’
minute, and in the next gave utterance to various exclama- ‘On your business, my dear,’ replied the Jew, glancing
tions of ‘Never say die!’ and divers calculations as to what uneasily at his companion, and slackening his pace as he

spoke. ‘On your business all night.’ below, and that the boys were in the front one. Beckoning
‘Oh, of course!’ said the stranger, with a sneer. ‘Well; and the man to follow him, he led the way upstairs.
what’s come of it?’ ‘We can say the few words we’ve got to say in here, my
‘Nothing good,’ said the Jew. dear,’ said the Jew, throwing open a door on the first floor;
‘Nothing bad, I hope?’ said the stranger, stopping short, ‘and as there are holes in the shutters, and we never show
and turning a startled look on his companion. lights to our neighbours, we’ll set the candle on the stairs.
The Jew shook his head, and was about to reply, when the There!’
stranger, interrupting him, motioned to the house, before With those words, the Jew, stooping down, placed the
which they had by this time arrived: remarking, that he had candle on an upper flight of stairs, exactly opposite to the
better say what he had got to say, under cover: for his blood room door. This done, he led the way into the apartment;
was chilled with standing about so long, and the wind blew which was destitute of all movables save a broken arm-chair,
through him. and an old couch or sofa without covering, which stood be-
Fagin looked as if he could have willingly excused him- hind the door. Upon this piece of furniture, the stranger sat
self from taking home a visitor at that unseasonable hour; himself with the air of a weary man; and the Jew, drawing
and, indeed, muttered something about having no fire; but up the arm-chair opposite, they sat face to face. It was not
his companion repeating his request in a peremptory man- quite dark; the door was partially open; and the candle out-
ner, he unlocked the door, and requested him to close it side, threw a feeble reflection on the opposite wall.
softly, while he got a light. They conversed for some time in whispers. Though noth-
‘It’s as dark as the grave,’ said the man, groping forward ing of the conversation was distinguishable beyond a few
a few steps. ‘Make haste!’ disjointed words here and there, a listener might easily
‘Shut the door,’ whispered Fagin from the end of the pas- have perceived that Fagin appeared to be defending him-
sage. As he spoke, it closed with a loud noise. self against some remarks of the stranger; and that the latter
‘That wasn’t my doing,’ said the other man, feeling his was in a state of considerable irritation. They might have
way. ‘The wind blew it to, or it shut of its own accord: one been talking, thus, for a quarter of an hour or more, when
or the other. Look sharp with the light, or I shall knock my Monks—by which name the Jew had designated the strange
brains out against something in this confounded hole.’ man several times in the course of their colloquy—said,
Fagin stealthily descended the kitchen stairs. After a raising his voice a little,
short absence, he returned with a lighted candle, and the ‘I tell you again, it was badly planned. Why not have kept
intelligence that Toby Crackit was asleep in the back room him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling

pickpocket of him at once?’ ‘THAT was not my doing,’ observed Monks.
‘Only hear him!’ exclaimed the Jew, shrugging his shoul- ‘No, no, my dear!’ renewed the Jew. ‘And I don’t quarrel
ders. with it now; because, if it had never happened, you might
‘Why, do you mean to say you couldn’t have done it, if never have clapped eyes on the boy to notice him, and so led
you had chosen?’ demanded Monks, sternly. ‘Haven’t you to the discovery that it was him you were looking for. Well!
done it, with other boys, scores of times? If you had had I got him back for you by means of the girl; and then SHE
patience for a twelvemonth, at most, couldn’t you have got begins to favour him.’
him convicted, and sent safely out of the kingdom; perhaps ‘Throttle the girl!’ said Monks, impatiently.
for life?’ ‘Why, we can’t afford to do that just now, my dear,’ re-
‘Whose turn would that have served, my dear?’ inquired plied the Jew, smiling; ‘and, besides, that sort of thing is not
the Jew humbly. in our way; or, one of these days, I might be glad to have it
‘Mine,’ replied Monks. done. I know what these girls are, Monks, well. As soon as
‘But not mine,’ said the Jew, submissively. ‘He might have the boy begins to harden, she’ll care no more for him, than
become of use to me. When there are two parties to a bar- for a block of wood. You want him made a thief. If he is alive,
gain, it is only reasonable that the interests of both should I can make him one from this time; and, if—if—‘ said the
be consulted; is it, my good friend?’ Jew, drawing nearer to the other,—‘it’s not likely, mind,—
‘What then?’ demanded Monks. but if the worst comes to the worst, and he is dead—‘
‘I saw it was not easy to train him to the business,’ replied ‘It’s no fault of mine if he is!’ interposed the other man,
the Jew; ‘he was not like other boys in the same circum- with a look of terror, and clasping the Jew’s arm with trem-
stances.’ bling hands. ‘Mind that. Fagin! I had no hand in it. Anything
‘Curse him, no!’ muttered the man, ‘or he would have but his death, I told you from the first. I won’t shed blood;
been a thief, long ago.’ it’s always found out, and haunts a man besides. If they shot
‘I had no hold upon him to make him worse,’ pursued the him dead, I was not the cause; do you hear me? Fire this in-
Jew, anxiously watching the countenance of his companion. fernal den! What’s that?’
‘His hand was not in. I had nothing to frighten him with; ‘What!’ cried the Jew, grasping the coward round the
which we always must have in the beginning, or we labour body, with both arms, as he sprung to his feet. ‘Where?’
in vain. What could I do? Send him out with the Dodger ‘Yonder! replied the man, glaring at the opposite wall.
and Charley? We had enough of that, at first, my dear; I ‘The shadow! I saw the shadow of a woman, in a cloak and
trembled for us all.’ bonnet, pass along the wainscot like a breath!’

The Jew released his hold, and they rushed tumultuous- laughs, and confessed it could only have been his excited
ly from the room. The candle, wasted by the draught, was imagination. He declined any renewal of the conversation,
standing where it had been placed. It showed them only the however, for that night: suddenly remembering that it was
empty staircase, and their own white faces. They listened past one o’clock. And so the amiable couple parted.
intently: a profound silence reigned throughout the house.
‘It’s your fancy,’ said the Jew, taking up the light and
turning to his companion.
‘I’ll 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, as-
cended 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, there’s not a crea-
ture in the house except Toby and the boys; and they’re 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

CHAPTER XXVII 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)
ATONES FOR THE great virtues, imperatively claim at his hands. Towards this
end, indeed, he had purposed to introduce, in this place, a
UNPOLITENESS OF A dissertation touching the divine right of beadles, and eluci-
dative of the position, that a beadle can do no wrong: which
FORMER CHAPTER; WHICH could not fail to have been both pleasurable and profitable
to the right-minded reader but which he is unfortunately
DESERTED A LADY, MOST compelled, by want of time and space, to postpone to some
more convenient and fitting opportunity; on the arrival of
UNCEREMONIOUSLY which, he will be prepared to show, that a beadle proper-
ly constituted: that is to say, a parochial beadle, attached
to a parochail workhouse, and attending in his official ca-
pacity the parochial church: is, in right and virtue of his
office, possessed of all the excellences and best qualities of
A s 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
humanity; and that to none of those excellences, can mere
companies’ beadles, or court-of-law beadles, or even chapel-
of-ease beadles (save the last, and they in a very lowly and
under his arms, until such time as it might suit his pleasure inferior degree), lay the remotest sustainable claim.
to relieve him; and as it would still less become his station, Mr. Bumble had re-counted the teaspoons, re-weighed
or his gallentry to involve in the same neglect a lady on the sugar-tongs, made a closer inspection of the milk-pot,
whom that beadle had looked with an eye of tenderness and and ascertained to a nicety the exact condition of the fur-
affection, and in whose ear he had whispered sweet words, niture, down to the very horse-hair seats of the chairs; and
which, coming from such a quarter, might well thrill the had repeated each process full half a dozen times; before he
bosom of maid or matron of whatsoever degree; the histo- began to think that it was time for Mrs. Corney to return.
rian whose pen traces these words—trusting that he knows Thinking begets thinking; as there were no sounds of Mrs.
his place, and that he entertains a becoming reverence for Corney’s approach, it occured to Mr. Bumble that it would

be an innocent and virtuous way of spending the time, if he could not immediately think of the word ‘tenterhooks,’ so
were further to allay his curiousity by a cursory glance at he said ‘broken bottles.’
the interior of Mrs. Corney’s chest of drawers. ‘Oh, Mr. Bumble!’ cried the lady, ‘I have been so dread-
Having listened at the keyhole, to assure himself that fully put out!’
nobody was approaching the chamber, Mr. Bumble, begin- ‘Put out, ma’am!’ exclaimed Mr. Bumble; ‘who has dared
ning at the bottom, proceeded to make himself acquainted to—? I know!’ said Mr. Bumble, checking himself, with na-
with the contents of the three long drawers: which, being tive majesty, ‘this is them wicious paupers!’
filled with various garments of good fashion and texture, ‘It’s dreadful to think of!’ said the lady, shuddering.
carefully preserved between two layers of old newspapers, ‘Then DON’T think of it, ma’am,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble.
speckled with dried lavender: seemed to yield him exceeding ‘I can’t help it,’ whimpered the lady.
satisfaction. Arriving, in course of time, at the right-hand ‘Then take something, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble sooth-
corner drawer (in which was the key), and beholding there- ingly. ‘A little of the wine?’
in a small padlocked box, which, being shaken, gave forth ‘Not for the world!’ replied Mrs. Corney. ‘I couldn’t,—oh!
a pleasant sound, as of the chinking of coin, Mr. Bumble The top shelf in the right-hand corner—oh!’ Uttering these
returned with a stately walk to the fireplace; and, resum- words, the good lady pointed, distractedly, to the cupboard,
ing his old attitude, said, with a grave and determined air, and underwent a convulsion from internal spasms. Mr.
‘I’ll do it!’ He followed up this remarkable declaration, by Bumble rushed to the closet; and, snatching a pint green-
shaking his head in a waggish manner for ten minutes, as glass bottle from the shelf thus incoherently indicated, filled
though he were remonstrating with himself for being such a tea-cup with its contents, and held it to the lady’s lips.
a pleasant dog; and then, he took a view of his legs in profile, ‘I’m better now,’ said Mrs. Corney, falling back, after
with much seeming pleasure and interest. drinking half of it.
He was still placidly engaged in this latter survey, when Mr. Bumble raised his eyes piously to the ceiling in
Mrs. Corney, hurrying into the room, threw herself, in a thankfulness; and, bringing them down again to the brim
breathless state, on a chair by the fireside, and covering her of the cup, lifted it to his nose.
eyes with one hand, placed the other over her heart, and ‘Peppermint,’ exclaimed Mrs. Corney, in a faint voice,
gasped for breath. smiling gently on the beadle as she spoke. ‘Try it! There’s a
‘Mrs. Corney,’ said Mr. Bumble, stooping over the ma- little—a little something else in it.’
tron, ‘what is this, ma’am? Has anything happened, ma’am? Mr. Bumble tasted the medicine with a doubtful look;
Pray answer me: I’m on—on—‘ Mr. Bumble, in his alarm, smacked his lips; took another taste; and put the cup down

empty. this; the beadle drooped his, to get a view of Mrs. Corney’s
‘It’s very comforting,’ said Mrs. Corney. face. Mrs. Corney, with great propriety, turned her head
‘Very much so indeed, ma’am,’ said the beadle. As he away, and released her hand to get at her pocket-handker-
spoke, he drew a chair beside the matron, and tenderly in- chief; but insensibly replaced it in that of Mr. Bumble.
quired what had happened to distress her. ‘The board allows you coals, don’t they, Mrs. Corney?’ in-
‘Nothing,’ replied Mrs. Corney. ‘I am a foolish, excitable, quired the beadle, affectionately pressing her hand.
weak creetur.’ ‘And candles,’ replied Mrs. Corney, slightly returning the
‘Not weak, ma’am,’ retorted Mr. Bumble, drawing his pressure.
chair a little closer. ‘Are you a weak creetur, Mrs. Corney?’ ‘Coals, candles, and house-rent free,’ said Mr. Bumble.
‘We are all weak creeturs,’ said Mrs. Corney, laying down ‘Oh, Mrs. Corney, what an Angel you are!’
a general principle. The lady was not proof against this burst of feeling. She
‘So we are,’ said the beadle. sank into Mr. Bumble’s arms; and that gentleman in his agi-
Nothing was said on either side, for a minute or two af- tation, imprinted a passionate kiss upon her chaste nose.
terwards. By the expiration of that time, Mr. Bumble had ‘Such porochial perfection!’ exclaimed Mr. Bumble, rap-
illustrated the position by removing his left arm from the turously. ‘You know that Mr. Slout is worse to-night, my
back of Mrs. Corney’s chair, where it had previously rested, fascinator?’
to Mrs. Corney’s aprong-string, round which is gradually ‘Yes,’ replied Mrs. Corney, bashfully.
became entwined. ‘He can’t live a week, the doctor says,’ pursued Mr. Bum-
‘We are all weak creeturs,’ said Mr. Bumble. ble. ‘He is the master of this establishment; his death will
Mrs. Corney sighed. cause a wacancy; that wacancy must be filled up. Oh, Mrs.
‘Don’t sigh, Mrs. Corney,’ said Mr. Bumble. Corney, what a prospect this opens! What a opportunity for
‘I can’t help it,’ said Mrs. Corney. And she sighed again. a jining of hearts and housekeepings!’
‘This is a very comfortable room, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bum- Mrs. Corney sobbed.
ble looking round. ‘Another room, and this, ma’am, would ‘The little word?’ said Mr. Bumble, bending over the
be a complete thing.’ bashful beauty. ‘The one little, little, little word, my blessed
‘It would be too much for one,’ murmured the lady. Corney?’
‘But not for two, ma’am,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble, in soft ac- ‘Ye—ye—yes!’ sighed out the matron.
cents. ‘Eh, Mrs. Corney?’ ‘One more,’ pursued the beadle; ‘compose your darling
Mrs. Corney drooped her head, when the beadle said feelings for only one more. When is it to come off?’

Mrs. Corney twice essayed to speak: and twice failed. At presume to do it; and I can tell him that he wouldn’t do it a
length summoning up courage, she threw her arms around second time!’
Mr. Bumble’s neck, and said, it might be as soon as ever he Unembellished by any violence of gesticulation, this
pleased, and that he was ‘a irresistible duck.’ might have seemed no very high compliment to the lady’s
Matters being thus amicably and satisfactorily arranged, charms; but, as Mr. Bumble accompanied the threat with
the contract was solemnly ratified in another teacupful of many warlike gestures, she was much touched with this
the peppermint mixture; which was rendered the more proof of his devotion, and protested, with great admiration,
necessary, by the flutter and agitation of the lady’s spirits. that he was indeed a dove.
While it was being disposed of, she acquainted Mr. Bumble The dove then turned up his coat-collar, and put on his
with the old woman’s decease. cocked hat; and, having exchanged a long and affectionate
‘Very good,’ said that gentleman, sipping his peppermint; embrace with his future partner, once again braved the cold
‘I’ll call at Sowerberry’s as I go home, and tell him to send to- wind of the night: merely pausing, for a few minutes, in the
morrow morning. Was it that as frightened you, love?’ male paupers’ ward, to abuse them a little, with the view of
‘It wasn’t anything particular, dear,’ said the lady eva- satisfying himself that he could fill the office of workhouse-
sively. master with needful acerbity. Assured of his qualifications,
‘It must have been something, love,’ urged Mr. Bumble. Mr. Bumble left the building with a light heart, and bright
‘Won’t you tell your own B.?’ visions of his future promotion: which served to occupy his
‘Not now,’ rejoined the lady; ‘one of these days. After mind until he reached the shop of the undertaker.
we’re married, dear.’ Now, Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry having gone out to tea
‘After we’re married!’ exclaimed Mr. Bumble. ‘It wasn’t and supper: and Noah Claypole not being at any time dis-
any impudence from any of them male paupers as—‘ posed to take upon himself a greater amount of physical
‘No, no, love!’ interposed the lady, hastily. exertion than is necessary to a convenient performance of
‘If I thought it was,’ continued Mr. Bumble; ‘if I thought the two functions of eating and drinking, the shop was not
as any one of ‘em had dared to lift his wulgar eyes to that closed, although it was past the usual hour of shutting-up.
lovely countenance—‘ Mr. Bumble tapped with his cane on the counter several
‘They wouldn’t have dared to do it, love,’ responded the times; but, attracting no attention, and beholding a light
lady. shining through the glass-window of the little parlour at
‘They had better not!’ said Mr. Bumble, clenching his fist. the back of the shop, he made bold to peep in and see what
‘Let me see any man, porochial or extra-porochial, as would was going forward; and when he saw what was going for-

ward, he was not a little surprised. beautiful, delicate beard!’
The cloth was laid for supper; the table was covered with ‘I can’t manage any more,’ said Noah. ‘I’m very sorry.
bread and butter, plates and glasses; a porter-pot and a wine- Come here, Charlotte, and I’ll kiss yer.’
bottle. At the upper end of the table, Mr. Noah Claypole ‘What!’ said Mr. Bumble, bursting into the room. ‘Say
lolled negligently in an easy-chair, with his legs thrown over that again, sir.’
one of the arms: an open clasp-knife in one hand, and a Charlotte uttered a scream, and hid her face in her apron.
mass of buttered bread in the other. Close beside him stood Mr. Claypole, without making any further change in his
Charlotte, opening oysters from a barrel: which Mr. Clay- position than suffering his legs to reach the ground, gazed
pole condescended to swallow, with remarkable avidity. at the beadle in drunken terror.
A more than ordinary redness in the region of the young ‘Say it again, you wile, owdacious fellow!’ said Mr. Bum-
gentleman’s nose, and a kind of fixed wink in his right eye, ble. ‘How dare you mention such a thing, sir? And how dare
denoted that he was in a slight degree intoxicated; these you encourage him, you insolent minx? Kiss her!’ exclaimed
symptoms were confirmed by the intense relish with which Mr. Bumble, in strong indignation. ‘Faugh!’
he took his oysters, for which nothing but a strong appre- ‘I didn’t mean to do it!’ said Noah, blubbering. ‘She’s al-
ciation of their cooling properties, in cases of internal fever, ways a-kissing of me, whether I like it, or not.’
could have sufficiently accounted. ‘Oh, Noah,’ cried Charlotte, reproachfully.
‘Here’s a delicious fat one, Noah, dear!’ said Charlotte; ‘Yer are; yer know yer are!’ retorted Noah. ‘She’s always
‘try him, do; only this one.’ a-doin’ of it, Mr. Bumble, sir; she chucks me under the chin,
‘What a delicious thing is a oyster!’ remarked Mr. Clay- please, sir; and makes all manner of love!’
pole, after he had swallowed it. ‘What a pity it is, a number ‘Silence!’ cried Mr. Bumble, sternly. ‘Take yourself down-
of ‘em should ever make you feel uncomfortable; isn’t it, stairs, ma’am. Noah, you shut up the shop; say another word
Charlotte?’ till your master comes home, at your peril; and, when he
‘It’s quite a cruelty,’ said Charlotte. does come home, tell him that Mr. Bumble said he was to
‘So it is,’ acquiesced Mr. Claypole. ‘An’t yer fond of oys- send a old woman’s shell after breakfast to-morrow morn-
ters?’ ing. Do you hear sir? Kissing!’ cried Mr. Bumble, holding
‘Not overmuch,’ replied Charlotte. ‘I like to see you eat up his hands. ‘The sin and wickedness of the lower orders in
‘em, Noah dear, better than eating ‘em myself.’ this porochial district is frightful! If Parliament don’t take
‘Lor!’ said Noah, reflectively; ‘how queer!’ their abominable courses under consideration, this coun-
‘Have another,’ said Charlotte. ‘Here’s one with such a try’s ruined, and the character of the peasantry gone for

ever!’ With these words, the beadle strode, with a lofty and
gloomy air, from the undertaker’s premises. CHAPTER XXVIII
And now that we have accompanied him so far on his
road home, and have made all necessary preparations for
the old woman’s funeral, let us set on foot a few inquires
after young Oliver Twist, and ascertain whether he be still LOOKS AFTER OLIVER,
lying in the ditch where Toby Crackit left him.
AND PROCEEDS WITH
HIS ADVENTURES
‘W olves tear your throats!’ muttered Sikes, grinding

his teeth. ‘I wish I was among some of you; you’d
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 white-livered hound!’ cried the robber, shout-
ing 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 stand-

still. For he was not quite satisfied that he was beyond the The dogs, who, in common with their masters, seemed
range of pistol-shot; and Sikes was in no mood to be played to have no particular relish for the sport in which they were
with. engaged, readily answered to the command. Three men,
‘Bear a hand with the boy,’ cried Sikes, beckoning furi- who had by this time advanced some distance into the field,
ously to his confederate. ‘Come back!’ stopped to take counsel together.
Toby made a show of returning; but ventured, in a low ‘My advice, or, leastways, I should say, my ORDERS, is,’
voice, broken for want of breath, to intimate considerable said the fattest man of the party, ‘that we ‘mediately go
reluctance as he came slowly along. home again.’
‘Quicker!’ cried Sikes, laying the boy in a dry ditch at his ‘I am agreeable to anything which is agreeable to Mr.
feet, and drawing a pistol from his pocket. ‘Don’t play booty Giles,’ said a shorter man; who was by no means of a slim
with me.’ figure, and who was very pale in the face, and very polite: as
At this moment the noise grew louder. Sikes, again frightened men frequently are.
looking round, could discern that the men who had given ‘I shouldn’t wish to appear ill-mannered, gentlemen,’ said
chase were already climbing the gate of the field in which the third, who had called the dogs back, ‘Mr. Giles ought to
he stood; and that a couple of dogs were some paces in ad- know.’
vance of them. ‘Certainly,’ replied the shorter man; ‘and whatever Mr.
‘It’s all up, Bill!’ cried Toby; ‘drop the kid, and show ‘em Giles says, it isn’t our place to contradict him. No, no, I
your heels.’ With this parting advice, Mr. Crackit, prefer- know my sitiwation! Thank my stars, I know my sitiwa-
ring the chance of being shot by his friend, to the certainty tion.’ To tell the truth, the little man DID seem to know
of being taken by his enemies, fairly turned tail, and dart- his situation, and to know perfectly well that it was by no
ed off at full speed. Sikes clenched his teeth; took one look means a desirable one; for his teeth chattered in his head as
around; threw over the prostrate form of Oliver, the cape in he spoke.
which he had been hurriedly muffled; ran along the front ‘You are afraid, Brittles,’ said Mr. Giles.
of the hedge, as if to distract the attention of those behind, ‘I an’t,’ said Brittles.
from the spot where the boy lay; paused, for a second, before ‘You are,’ said Giles.
another hedge which met it at right angles; and whirling his ‘You’re a falsehood, Mr. Giles,’ said Brittles.
pistol high into the air, cleared it at a bound, and was gone. ‘You’re a lie, Brittles,’ said Mr. Giles.
‘Ho, ho, there!’ cried a tremulous voice in the rear. ‘Pinch- Now, these four retorts arose from Mr. Giles’s taunt; and
er! Neptune! Come here, come here!’ Mr. Giles’s taunt had arisen from his indignation at having

the responsibility of going home again, imposed upon him- ‘You may depend upon it,’ said Giles, ‘that that gate
self under cover of a compliment. The third man brought stopped the flow of the excitement. I felt all mine suddenly
the dispute to a close, most philosophically. going away, as I was climbing over it.’
‘I’ll tell you what it is, gentlemen,’ said he, ‘we’re all By a remarkable coincidence, the other two had been
afraid.’ visited with the same unpleasant sensation at that precise
‘Speak for yourself, sir,’ said Mr. Giles, who was the pal- moment. It was quite obvious, therefore, that it was the
est of the party. gate; especially as there was no doubt regarding the time
‘So I do,’ replied the man. ‘It’s natural and proper to be at which the change had taken place, because all three re-
afraid, under such circumstances. I am.’ membered that they had come in sight of the robbers at the
‘So am I,’ said Brittles; ‘only there’s no call to tell a man instant of its occurance.
he is, so bounceably.’ This dialogue was held between the two men who had
These frank admissions softened Mr. Giles, who at once surprised the burglars, and a travelling tinker who had
owned that HE was afraid; upon which, they all three faced been sleeping in an outhouse, and who had been roused, to-
about, and ran back again with the completest unanimity, gether with his two mongrel curs, to join in the pursuit. Mr.
until Mr. Giles (who had the shortest wind of the party, as Giles acted in the double capacity of butler and steward to
was encumbered with a pitchfork) most handsomely in- the old lady of the mansion; Brittles was a lad of all-work:
sisted on stopping, to make an apology for his hastiness of who, having entered her service a mere child, was treated
speech. as a promising young boy still, though he was something
‘But it’s wonderful,’ said Mr. Giles, when he had ex- past thirty.
plained, ‘what a man will do, when his blood is up. I should Encouraging each other with such converse as this; but,
have committed murder—I know I should—if we’d caught keeping very close together, notwithstanding, and look-
one of them rascals.’ ing apprehensively round, whenever a fresh gust rattled
As the other two were impressed with a similar presenti- through the boughs; the three men hurried back to a tree,
ment; and as their blood, like his, had all gone down again; behind which they had left their lantern, lest its light should
some speculation ensued upon the cause of this sudden inform the thieves in what direction to fire. Catching up
change in their temperament. the light, they made the best of their way home, at a good
‘I know what it was,’ said Mr. Giles; ‘it was the gate.’ round trot; and long after their dusky forms had ceased to
‘I shouldn’t wonder if it was,’ exclaimed Brittles, catch- be discernible, the light might have been seen twinkling
ing at the idea. and dancing in the distance, like some exhalation of the

damp and gloomy atmosphere through which it was swiftly heart, which seemed to warn him that if he lay there, he
borne. must surely die: got upon his feet, and essayed to walk. His
The air grew colder, as day came slowly on; and the mist head was dizzy, and he staggered to and from like a drunk-
rolled along the ground like a dense cloud of smoke. The en man. But he kept up, nevertheless, and, with his head
grass was wet; the pathways, and low places, were all mire drooping languidly on his breast, went stumbling onward,
and water; the damp breath of an unwholesome wind went he knew not whither.
languidly by, with a hollow moaning. Still, Oliver lay mo- And now, hosts of bewildering and confused ideas came
tionless and insensible on the spot where Sikes had left crowding on his mind. He seemed to be still walking be-
him. tween Sikes and Crackit, who were angrily disputing—for
Morning drew on apace. The air become more sharp and the very words they said, sounded in his ears; and when he
piercing, as its first dull hue—the death of night, rather than caught his own attention, as it were, by making some vio-
the birth of day—glimmered faintly in the sky. The objects lent effort to save himself from falling, he found that he was
which had looked dim and terrible in the darkness, grew talking to them. Then, he was alone with Sikes, plodding
more and more defined, and gradually resolved into their on as on the previous day; and as shadowy people passed
familiar shapes. The rain came down, thick and fast, and them, he felt the robber’s grasp upon his wrist. Suddenly,
pattered noisily among the leafless bushes. But, Oliver felt it he started back at the report of firearms; there rose into the
not, as it beat against him; for he still lay stretched, helpless air, loud cries and shouts; lights gleamed before his eyes;
and unconscious, on his bed of clay. all was noise and tumult, as some unseen hand bore him
At length, a low cry of pain broke the stillness that pre- hurriedly away. Through all these rapid visions, there ran
vailed; and uttering it, the boy awoke. His left arm, rudely an undefined, uneasy conscious of pain, which wearied and
bandaged in a shawl, hung heavy and useless at his side; the tormented him incessantly.
bandage was saturated with blood. He was so weak, that he Thus he staggered on, creeping, almost mechanically, be-
could scarcely raise himself into a sitting posture; when he tween the bars of gates, or through hedge-gaps as they came
had done so, he looked feebly round for help, and groaned in his way, until he reached a road. Here the rain began to
with pain. Trembling in every joint, from cold and exhaus- fall so heavily, that it roused him.
tion, he made an effort to stand upright; but, shuddering He looked about, and saw that at no great distance there
from head to foot, fell prostrate on the ground. was a house, which perhaps he could reach. Pitying his con-
After a short return of the stupor in which he had been dition, they might have compassion on him; and if they did
so long plunged, Oliver: urged by a creeping sickness at his not, it would be better, he thought, to die near human be-

ings, than in the lonely open fields. He summoned up all the kitchen fender, leaning his left arm on the table, while,
his strength for one last trial, and bent his faltering steps with his right, he illustrated a circumstantial and minute
towards it. account of the robbery, to which his bearers (but especially
As he drew nearer to this house, a feeling come over him the cook and housemaid, who were of the party) listened
that he had seen it before. He remembered nothing of its with breathless interest.
details; but the shape and aspect of the building seemed fa- ‘It was about half-past tow,’ said Mr. Giles, ‘or I wouldn’t
miliar to him. swear that it mightn’t have been a little nearer three, when
That garden wall! On the grass inside, he had fallen on I woke up, and, turning round in my bed, as it might be so,
his knees last night, and prayed the two men’s mercy. It was (here Mr. Giles turned round in his chair, and pulled the
the very house they had attempted to rob. corner of the table-cloth over him to imitate bed-clothes,) I
Oliver felt such fear come over him when he recognised fancied I heerd a noise.’
the place, that, for the instant, he forgot the agony of his At this point of the narrative the cook turned pale, and
wound, and thought only of flight. Flight! He could scarcely asked the housemaid to shut the door: who asked Brittles,
stand: and if he were in full possession of all the best powers who asked the tinker, who pretended not to hear.
of his slight and youthful frame, whither could he fly? He ‘—Heerd a noise,’ continued Mr. Giles. ‘I says, at first,
pushed against the garden-gate; it was unlocked, and swung ‘This is illusion”; and was composing myself off to sleep,
open on its hinges. He tottered across the lawn; climbed the when I heerd the noise again, distinct.’
steps; knocked faintly at the door; and, his whole strength ‘What sort of a noise?’ asked the cook.
failing him, sunk down against one of the pillars of the little ‘A kind of a busting noise,’ replied Mr. Giles, looking
portico. round him.
It happened that about this time, Mr. Giles, Brittles, and ‘More like the noise of powdering a iron bar on a nutmeg-
the tinker, were recruiting themselves, after the fatigues and grater,’ suggested Brittles.
terrors of the night, with tea and sundries, in the kitchen. ‘It was, when you HEERD it, sir,’ rejoined Mr. Giles;
Not that it was Mr. Giles’s habit to admit to too great famil- ‘but, at this time, it had a busting sound. I turned down the
iarity the humbler servants: towards whom it was rather his clothes’; continued Giles, rolling back the table-cloth, ‘sat
wont to deport himself with a lofty affability, which, while it up in bed; and listened.’
gratified, could not fail to remind them of his superior posi- The cook and housemaid simultaneously ejaculated ‘Lor!’
tion in society. But, death, fires, and burglary, make all men and drew their chairs closer together.
equals; so Mr. Giles sat with his legs stretched out before ‘I heerd it now, quite apparent,’ resumed Mr. Giles.

‘“Somebody,’ I says, ‘is forcing of a door, or window; what’s We, being men, took a dark lantern that was standing on
to be done? I’ll call up that poor lad, Brittles, and save him Brittle’s hob, and groped our way downstairs in the pitch
from being murdered in his bed; or his throat,’ I says, ‘may dark,—as it might be so.’
be cut from his right ear to his left, without his ever know- Mr. Giles had risen from his seat, and taken two steps
ing it.‘ with his eyes shut, to accompany his description with ap-
Here, all eyes were turned upon Brittles, who fixed his propriate action, when he started violently, in common
upon the speaker, and stared at him, with his mouth wide with the rest of the company, and hurried back to his chair.
open, and his face expressive of the most unmitigated hor- The cook and housemaid screamed.
ror. ‘It was a knock,’ said Mr. Giles, assuming perfect serenity.
‘I tossed off the clothes,’ said Giles, throwing away the ta- ‘Open the door, somebody.’
ble-cloth, and looking very hard at the cook and housemaid, Nobody moved.
‘got softly out of bed; drew on a pair of—‘ ‘It seems a strange sort of a thing, a knock coming at
‘Ladies present, Mr. Giles,’ murmured the tinker. such a time in the morning,’ said Mr. Giles, surveying the
‘—Of SHOES, sir,’ said Giles, turning upon him, and lay- pale faces which surrounded him, and looking very blank
ing great emphasis on the word; ‘seized the loaded pistol himself; ‘but the door must be opened. Do you hear, some-
that always goes upstairs with the plate-basket; and walked body?’
on tiptoes to his room. ‘Brittles,’ I says, when I had woke Mr. Giles, as he spoke, looked at Brittles; but that young
him, ‘don’t be frightened!‘ man, being naturally modest, probably considered himself
‘So you did,’ observed Brittles, in a low voice. nobody, and so held that the inquiry could not have any
‘’We’re dead men, I think, Brittles,’ I says,’ continued application to him; at all events, he tendered no reply. Mr.
Giles; ‘“but don’t be frightened.‘ Giles directed an appealing glance at the tinker; but he had
‘WAS he frightened?’ asked the cook. suddenly fallen asleep. The women were out of the ques-
‘Not a bit of it,’ replied Mr. Giles. ‘He was as firm—ah! tion.
pretty near as firm as I was.’ ‘If Brittles would rather open the door, in the presence of
‘I should have died at once, I’m sure, if it had been me,’ witnesses,’ said Mr. Giles, after a short silence, ‘I am ready
observed the housemaid. to make one.’
‘You’re a woman,’ retorted Brittles, plucking up a little. ‘So am I,’ said the tinker, waking up, as suddenly as he
‘Brittles is right,’ said Mr. Giles, nodding his head, ap- had fallen asleep.
provingly; ‘from a woman, nothing else was to be expected. Brittles capitualated on these terms; and the party being

somewhat re-assured by the discovery (made on throwing ‘—In a lantern, miss,’ cried Brittles, applying one hand
open the shutters) that it was now broad day, took their way to the side of his mouth, so that his voice might travel the
upstairs; with the dogs in front. The two women, who were better.
afraid to stay below, brought up the rear. By the advice of Mr. The two women-servants ran upstairs to carry the intel-
Giles, they all talked very loud, to warn any evil-disposed ligence that Mr. Giles had captured a robber; and the tinker
person outside, that they were strong in numbers; and by a busied himself in endeavouring to restore Oliver, lest he
master-stoke of policy, originating in the brain of the same should die before he could be hanged. In the midst of all
ingenious gentleman, the dogs’ tails were well pinched, in this noise and commotion, there was heard a sweet female
the hall, to make them bark savagely. voice, which quelled it in an instant.
These precautions having been taken, Mr. Giles held on ‘Giles!’ whispered the voice from the stair-head.
fast by the tinker’s arm (to prevent his running away, as he ‘I’m here, miss,’ replied Mr. Giles. ‘Don’t be frightened,
pleasantly said), and gave the word of command to open miss; I ain’t much injured. He didn’t make a very desperate
the door. Brittles obeyed; the group, peeping timourously resistance, miss! I was soon too many for him.’
over each other’s shoulders, beheld no more formidable ob- ‘Hush!’ replied the young lady; ‘you frighten my aunt as
ject than poor little Oliver Twist, speechless and exhausted, much as the thieves did. Is the poor creature much hurt?’
who raised his heavy eyes, and mutely solicited their com- ‘Wounded desperate, miss,’ replied Giles, with indescrib-
passion. able complacency.
‘A boy!’ exclaimed Mr. Giles, valiantly, pushing the ‘He looks as if he was a-going, miss,’ bawled Brittles, in
tinker into the background. ‘What’s the matter with the— the same manner as before. ‘Wouldn’t you like to come and
eh?—Why—Brittles—look here—don’t you know?’ look at him, miss, in case he should?’
Brittles, who had got behind the door to open it, no soon- ‘Hush, pray; there’s a good man!’ rejoined the lady. ‘Wait
er saw Oliver, than he uttered a loud cry. Mr. Giles, seizing quietly only one instant, while I speak to aunt.’
the boy by one leg and one arm (fortunately not the broken With a footstep as soft and gentle as the voice, the speak-
limb) lugged him straight into the hall, and deposited him er tripped away. She soon returned, with the direction that
at full length on the floor thereof. the wounded person was to be carried, carefully, upstairs to
‘Here he is!’ bawled Giles, calling in a state of great ex- Mr. Giles’s room; and that Brittles was to saddle the pony
citement, up the staircase; ‘here’s one of the thieves, ma’am! and betake himself instantly to Chertsey: from which place,
Here’s a thief, miss! Wounded, miss! I shot him, miss; and he was to despatch, with all speed, a constable and doctor.
Brittles held the light.’ ‘But won’t 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 CHAPTER XXIX
little peep, miss?’
‘Not now, for the world,’ replied the young lady. ‘Poor fel-
low! Oh! treat him kindly, Giles for my sake!’
The old servant looked up at the speaker, as she turned HAS AN INTRODUCTORY
away, with a glance as proud and admiring as if she had
been his own child. Then, bending over Oliver, he helped to ACCOUNT OF THE
carry him upstairs, with the care and solicitude of a wom-
an. INMATES OF THE
HOUSE, TO WHICH
OLIVER RESORTED
I n a handsome room: though its furniture had rather the

air of old-fashioned comfort, than of modern elegance:
there sat two ladies at a well-spread breakfast-table. Mr.
Giles, dressed with scrupulous care in a full suit of black,
was in attendance upon them. He had taken his station
some half-way between the side-board and the breakfast-
table; 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
waist-coat, 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 blessed spirits might have smiled to look upon her.
the high-backed oaken chair in which she sat, was not more ‘And Brittles has been gone upwards of an hour, has he?’
upright than she. Dressed with the utmost nicety and pre- asked the old lady, after a pause.
cision, in a quaint mixture of by-gone costume, with some ‘An hour and twelve minutes, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Giles,
slight concessions to the prevailing taste, which rather referring to a silver watch, which he drew forth by a black
served to point the old style pleasantly than to impair its ribbon.
effect, she sat, in a stately manner, with her hands folded ‘He is always slow,’ remarked the old lady.
on the table before her. Her eyes (and age had dimmed but ‘Brittles always was a slow boy, ma’am,’ replied the atten-
little of their brightness) were attentively upon her young dant. And seeing, by the bye, that Brittles had been a slow
companion. boy for upwards of thirty years, there appeared no great
The younger lady was in the lovely bloom and spring- probability of his ever being a fast one.
time of womanhood; at that age, when, if ever angels be for ‘He gets worse instead of better, I think,’ said the elder
God’s good purposes enthroned in mortal forms, they may lady.
be, without impiety, supposed to abide in such as hers. ‘It is very inexcusable in him if he stops to play with any
She was not past seventeen. Cast in so slight and exqui- other boys,’ said the young lady, smiling.
site a mould; so mild and gentle; so pure and beautiful; that Mr. Giles was apparently considering the propriety of
earth seemed not her element, nor its rough creatures her indulging in a respectful smile himself, when a gig drove
fit companions. The very intelligence that shone in her deep up to the garden-gate: out of which there jumped a fat gen-
blue eye, and was stamped upon her noble head, seemed tleman, who ran straight up to the door: and who, getting
scarcely of her age, or of the world; and yet the changing quickly into the house by some mysterious process, burst
expression of sweetness and good humour, the thousand into the room, and nearly overturned Mr. Giles and the
lights that played about the face, and left no shadow there; breakfast-table together.
above all, the smile, the cheerful, happy smile, were made ‘I never heard of such a thing!’ exclaimed the fat gentle-
for Home, and fireside peace and happiness. man. ‘My dear Mrs. Maylie—bless my soul—in the silence
She was busily engaged in the little offices of the table. of the night, too—I NEVER heard of such a thing!’
Chancing to raise her eyes as the elder lady was regard- With these expressions of condolence, the fat gentleman
ing her, she playfully put back her hair, which was simply shook hands with both ladies, and drawing up a chair, in-
braided on her forehead; and threw into her beaming look, quired how they found themselves.
such an expression of affection and artless loveliness, that ‘You ought to be dead; positively dead with the fright,’

said the fat gentleman. ‘Why didn’t you send? Bless me, my party.
man should have come in a minute; and so would I; and my ‘Gad, that’s true!’ said the doctor. ‘Where is he? Show
assistant would have been delighted; or anybody, I’m sure, me the way. I’ll look in again, as I come down, Mrs. Maylie.
under such circumstances. Dear, dear! So unexpected! In That’s the little window that he got in at, eh? Well, I couldn’t
the silence of the night, too!’ have believed it!’
The doctor seemed expecially troubled by the fact of the Talking all the way, he followed Mr. Giles upstairs; and
robbery having been unexpected, and attempted in the while he is going upstairs, the reader may be informed, that
night-time; as if it were the established custom of gentle- Mr. Losberne, a surgeon in the neighbourhood, known
men in the housebreaking way to transact business at noon, through a circuit of ten miles round as ‘the doctor,’ had
and to make an appointment, by post, a day or two previ- grown fat, more from good-humour than from good living:
ous. and was as kind and hearty, and withal as eccentric an old
‘And you, Miss Rose,’ said the doctor, turning to the bachelor, as will be found in five times that space, by any
young lady, ‘I—‘ explorer alive.
‘Oh! very much so, indeed,’ said Rose, interrupting him; The doctor was absent, much longer than either he or the
‘but there is a poor creature upstairs, whom aunt wishes you ladies had anticipated. A large flat box was fetched out of
to see.’ the gig; and a bedroom bell was rung very often; and the
‘Ah! to be sure,’ replied the doctor, ‘so there is. That was servants ran up and down stairs perpetually; from which
your handiwork, Giles, I understand.’ tokens it was justly concluded that something important
Mr. Giles, who had been feverishly putting the tea-cups was going on above. At length he returned; and in reply to
to rights, blushed very red, and said that he had had that an anxious inquiry after his patient; looked very mysteri-
honour. ous, and closed the door, carefully.
‘Honour, eh?’ said the doctor; ‘well, I don’t know; per- ‘This is a very extraordinary thing, Mrs. Maylie,’ said the
haps it’s as honourable to hit a thief in a back kitchen, as to doctor, standing with his back to the door, as if to keep it
hit your man at twelve paces. Fancy that he fired in the air, shut.
and you’ve fought a duel, Giles.’ ‘He is not in danger, I hope?’ said the old lady.
Mr. Giles, who thought this light treatment of the matter ‘Why, that would NOT be an extraordinary thing, under
an unjust attempt at diminishing his glory, answered re- the circumstances,’ replied the doctor; ‘though I don’t think
spectfully, that it was not for the like of him to judge about he is. Have you seen the thief?’
that; but he rather thought it was no joke to the opposite ‘No,’ rejoined the old lady.

‘Nor heard anything about him?’
‘No.’ CHAPTER XXX
‘I beg your pardon, ma’am, 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 RELATES WHAT
bring his mind to the avowal, that he had only shot a boy.
Such commendations had been bestowed upon his bravery, OLIVER’S NEW VISITORS
that he could not, for the life of him, help postponing the
explanation for a few delicious minutes; during which he THOUGHT OF HIM
had flourished, in the very zenith of a brief reputation for
undaunted courage.
‘Rose wished to see the man,’ said Mrs. Maylie, ‘but I
wouldn’t hear of it.’
‘Humph!’ rejoined the doctor. ‘There is nothing very
alarming in his appearance. Have you any objection to see
W ith many loquacious assurances that they would be
agreeably surprised in the aspect of the criminal, the
doctor drew the young lady’s arm through one of him; and
him in my presence?’ offering his disengaged hand to Mrs. Maylie, led them, with
‘If it be necessary,’ replied the old lady, ‘certainly not.’ much ceremony and stateliness, upstairs.
‘Then I think it is necessary,’ said the doctor; ‘at all events, ‘Now,’ said the doctor, in a whisper, as he softly turned
I am quite sure that you would deeply regret not having the handle of a bedroom-door, ‘let us hear what you think
done so, if you postponed it. He is perfectly quiet and com- of him. He has not been shaved very recently, but he don’t
fortable now. Allow me—Miss Rose, will you permit me? look at all ferocious notwithstanding. Stop, though! Let me
Not the slightest fear, I pledge you my honour!’ first see that he is in visiting order.’
Stepping before them, he looked into the room. Motion-
ing 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, black-visaged ruffian they had ex-
pected 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 ‘But, can you—oh! can you really believe that this delicate
head reclined upon the other arm, which was half hidden boy has been the voluntary associate of the worst outcasts of
by his long hair, as it streamed over the pillow. society?’ said Rose.
The honest gentleman held the curtain in his hand, and The surgeon shook his head, in a manner which intimat-
looked on, for a minute or so, in silence. Whilst he was ed that he feared it was very possible; and observing that
watching the patient thus, the younger lady glided softly they might disturb the patient, led the way into an adjoin-
past, and seating herself in a chair by the bedside, gathered ing apartment.
Oliver’s hair from his face. As she stooped over him, her ‘But even if he has been wicked,’ pursued Rose, ‘think
tears fell upon his forehead. how young he is; think that he may never have known a
The boy stirred, and smiled in his sleep, as though these mother’s love, or the comfort of a home; that ill-usage and
marks of pity and compassion had awakened some pleasant blows, or the want of bread, may have driven him to herd
dream of a love and affection he had never known. Thus, a with men who have forced him to guilt. Aunt, dear aunt, for
strain of gentle music, or the rippling of water in a silent mercy’s sake, think of this, before you let them drag this sick
place, or the odour of a flower, or the mention of a familiar child to a prison, which in any case must be the grave of all
word, will sometimes call up sudden dim remembrances his chances of amendment. Oh! as you love me, and know
of scenes that never were, in this life; which vanish like a that I have never felt the want of parents in your goodness
breath; which some brief memory of a happier existence, and affection, but that I might have done so, and might have
long gone by, would seem to have awakened; which no vol- been equally helpless and unprotected with this poor child,
untary exertion of the mind can ever recall. have pity upon him before it is too late!’
‘What can this mean?’ exclaimed the elder lady. ‘This ‘My dear love,’ said the elder lady, as she folded the weep-
poor child can never have been the pupil of robbers!’ ing girl to her bosom, ‘do you think I would harm a hair of
‘Vice,’ said the surgeon, replacing the curtain, ‘takes up his head?’
her abode in many temples; and who can say that a fair out- ‘Oh, no!’ replied Rose, eagerly.
side shell not enshrine her?’ ‘No, surely,’ said the old lady; ‘my days are drawing to
‘But at so early an age!’ urged Rose. their close: and may mercy be shown to me as I show it to
‘My dear young lady,’ rejoined the surgeon, mournfully others! What can I do to save him, sir?’
shaking his head; ‘crime, like death, is not confined to the ‘Let me think, ma’am,’ said the doctor; ‘let me think.’
old and withered alone. The youngest and fairest are too of- Mr. Losberne thrust his hands into his pockets, and
ten its chosen victims.’ took several turns up and down the room; often stopping,

and balancing himself on his toes, and frowning frightful- our agreement is yet to come. He will wake in an hour or so,
ly. After various exclamations of ‘I’ve got it now’ and ‘no, I I dare say; and although I have told that thick-headed con-
haven’t,’ and as many renewals of the walking and frown- stable-fellow downstairs that he musn’t be moved or spoken
ing, he at length made a dead halt, and spoke as follows: to, on peril of his life, I think we may converse with him
‘I think if you give me a full and unlimited commission without danger. Now I make this stipulation—that I shall
to bully Giles, and that little boy, Brittles, I can manage it. examine him in your presence, and that, if, from what he
Giles is a faithful fellow and an old servant, I know; but says, we judge, and I can show to the satisfaction of your
you can make it up to him in a thousand ways, and reward cool reason, that he is a real and thorough bad one (which is
him for being such a good shot besides. You don’t object to more than possible), he shall be left to his fate, without any
that?’ farther interference on my part, at all events.’
‘Unless there is some other way of preserving the child,’ ‘Oh no, aunt!’ entreated Rose.
replied Mrs. Maylie. ‘Oh yes, aunt!’ said the doctor. ‘Is is a bargain?;
‘There is no other,’ said the doctor. ‘No other, take my ‘He cannot be hardened in vice,’ said Rose; ‘It is impos-
word for it.’ sible.’
‘Then my aunt invests you with full power,’ said Rose, ‘Very good,’ retorted the doctor; ‘then so much the more
smiling through her tears; ‘but pray don’t be harder upon reason for acceding to my proposition.’
the poor fellows than is indispensably necessary.’ Finally the treaty was entered into; and the parties there-
‘You seem to think,’ retorted the doctor, ‘that everybody unto sat down to wait, with some impatience, until Oliver
is disposed to be hard-hearted to-day, except yourself, Miss should awake.
Rose. I only hope, for the sake of the rising male sex general- The patience of the two ladies was destined to undergo a
ly, that you may be found in as vulnerable and soft-hearted a longer trial than Mr. Losberne had led them to expect; for
mood by the first eligible young fellow who appeals to your hour after hour passed on, and still Oliver slumbered heav-
compassion; and I wish I were a young fellow, that I might ily. It was evening, indeed, before the kind-hearted doctor
avail myself, on the spot, of such a favourable opportunity brought them the intelligence, that he was at length suffi-
for doing so, as the present.’ ciently restored to be spoken to. The boy was very ill, he said,
‘You are as great a boy as poor Brittles himself,’ returned and weak from the loss of blood; but his mind was so trou-
Rose, blushing. bled with anxiety to disclose something, that he deemed it
‘Well,’ said the doctor, laughing heartily, ‘that is no very better to give him the opportunity, than to insist upon his
difficult matter. But to return to this boy. The great point of remaining quiet until next morning: which he should oth-

erwise have done. himself for the remainder of the day, in consideration of
The conference was a long one. Oliver told them all his his services), and the constable. The latter gentleman had a
simple history, and was often compelled to stop, by pain large staff, a large head, large features, and large half-boots;
and want of strength. It was a solemn thing, to hear, in the and he looked as if he had been taking a proportionate al-
darkened room, the feeble voice of the sick child recount- lowance of ale—as indeed he had.
ing a weary catalogue of evils and calamities which hard The adventures of the previous night were still under dis-
men had brought upon him. Oh! if when we oppress and cussion; for Mr. Giles was expatiating upon his presence of
grind our fellow-creatures, we bestowed but one thought on mind, when the doctor entered; Mr. Brittles, with a mug of
the dark evidences of human error, which, like dense and ale in his hand, was corroborating everything, before his
heavy clouds, are rising, slowly it is true, but not less surely, superior said it.
to Heaven, to pour their after-vengeance on our heads; if ‘Sit still!’ said the doctor, waving his hand.
we heard but one instant, in imagination, the deep testi- ‘Thank you, sir, said Mr. Giles. ‘Misses wished some ale
mony of dead men’s voices, which no power can stifle, and to be given out, sir; and as I felt no ways inclined for my own
no pride shut out; where would be the injury and injustice, little room, sir, and was disposed for company, I am taking
the suffering, misery, cruelty, and wrong, that each day’s mine among ‘em here.’
life brings with it! Brittles headed a low murmur, by which the ladies and
Oliver’s pillow was smoothed by gentle hands that night; gentlemen generally were understood to express the grati-
and loveliness and virtue watched him as he slept. He felt fication they derived from Mr. Giles’s condescension. Mr.
calm and happy, and could have died without a murmur. Giles looked round with a patronising air, as much as to
The momentous interview was no sooner concluded, and say that so long as they behaved properly, he would never
Oliver composed to rest again, than the doctor, after wip- desert them.
ing his eyes, and condemning them for being weak all at ‘How is the patient to-night, sir?’ asked Giles.
once, betook himself downstairs to open upon Mr. Giles. ‘So-so’; returned the doctor. ‘I am afraid you have got
And finding nobody about the parlours, it occurred to him, yourself into a scrape there, Mr. Giles.’
that he could perhaps originate the proceedings with better ‘I hope you don’t mean to say, sir,’ said Mr. Giles, trem-
effect in the kitchen; so into the kitchen he went. bling, ‘that he’s going to die. If I thought it, I should never
There were assembled, in that lower house of the domes- be happy again. I wouldn’t cut a boy off: no, not even Brit-
tic parliament, the women-servants, Mr. Brittles, Mr. Giles, tles here; not for all the plate in the county, sir.’
the tinker (who had received a special invitation to regale ‘That’s not the point,’ said the doctor, mysteriously. ‘Mr.

Giles, are you a Protestant?’ and some of it had gone the wrong way.
‘Yes, sir, I hope so,’ faltered Mr. Giles, who had turned ‘Here’s the house broken into,’ said the doctor, ‘and a
very pale. couple of men catch one moment’s glimpse of a boy, in the
‘And what are YOU, boy?’ said the doctor, turning sharp- midst of gunpowder smoke, and in all the distraction of
ly upon Brittles. alarm and darkness. Here’s a boy comes to that very same
‘Lord bless me, sir!’ replied Brittles, starting violently; house, next morning, and because he happens to have his
‘I’m the same as Mr. Giles, sir.’ arm tied up, these men lay violent hands upon him—by do-
‘Then tell me this,’ said the doctor, ‘both of you, both of ing which, they place his life in great danger—and swear
you! Are you going to take upon yourselves to swear, that he is the thief. Now, the question is, whether these men are
that boy upstairs is the boy that was put through the little justified by the fact; if not, in what situation do they place
window last night? Out with it! Come! We are prepared for themselves?’
you!’ The constable nodded profoundly. He said, if that wasn’t
The doctor, who was universally considered one of the law, he would be glad to know what was.
best-tempered creatures on earth, made this demand in ‘I ask you again,’ thundered the doctor, ‘are you, on your
such a dreadful tone of anger, that Giles and Brittles, who solemn oaths, able to identify that boy?’
were considerably muddled by ale and excitement, stared at Brittles looked doubtfully at Mr. Giles; Mr. Giles looked
each other in a state of stupefaction. doubtfully at Brittles; the constable put his hand behind his
‘Pay attention to the reply, constable, will you?’ said the ear, to catch the reply; the two women and the tinker leaned
doctor, shaking his forefinger with great solemnity of man- forward to listen; the doctor glanced keenly round; when
ner, and tapping the bridge of his nose with it, to bespeak a ring was heard at the gate, and at the same moment, the
the exercise of that worthy’s utmost acuteness. ‘Something sound of wheels.
may come of this before long.’ ‘It’s the runners!’ cried Brittles, to all appearance much
The constable looked as wise as he could, and took up relieved.
his staff of office: which had been recling indolently in the ‘The what?’ exclaimed the doctor, aghast in his turn.
chimney-corner. ‘The Bow Street officers, sir,’ replied Brittles, taking up a
‘It’s a simple question of identity, you will observe,’ said candle; ‘me and Mr. Giles sent for ‘em this morning.’
the doctor. ‘What?’ cried the doctor.
‘That’s what it is, sir,’ replied the constable, coughing ‘Yes,’ replied Brittles; ‘I sent a message up by the coach-
with great violence; for he had finished his ale in a hurry, man, and I only wonder they weren’t here before, sir.’

‘You did, did you? Then confound your—slow coaches
down here; that’s all,’ said the doctor, walking away. CHAPTER XXXI
INVOLVES A CRITICAL
POSITION
‘W ho’s that?’ inquired Brittles, opening the door a lit-

tle way, with the chain up, and peeping out, shading
the candle with his hand.
‘Open the door,’ replied a man outside; ‘it’s the officers
from Bow Street, as was sent to to-day.’
Much comforted by this assurance, Brittles opened the
door to its full width, and confronted a portly man in a great-
coat; 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; ‘he’s in the gig, a-minding 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 garden-gate,
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 great-coats and hats, and showed like what recounted them at great length, and with much circum-
they were. locution. Messrs. Blathers and Duff looked very knowing
The man who had knocked at the door, was a stout per- meanwhile, and occasionally exchanged a nod.
sonage of middle height, aged about fifty: with shiny black ‘I can’t say, for certain, till I see the work, of course,’ said
hair, cropped pretty close; half-whiskers, a round face, Blathers; ‘but my opinion at once is,—I don’t mind com-
and sharp eyes. The other was a red-headed, bony man, in mitting myself to that extent,—that this wasn’t done by a
top-boots; with a rather ill-favoured countenance, and a yokel; eh, Duff?’
turned-up sinister-looking nose. ‘Certainly not,’ replied Duff.
‘Tell your governor that Blathers and Duff is here, will ‘And, translating the word yokel for the benefit of the
you?’ said the stouter man, smoothing down his hair, and ladies, I apprehend your meaning to be, that this attempt
laying a pair of handcuffs on the table. ‘Oh! Good-evening, was not made by a countryman?’ said Mr. Losberne, with
master. Can I have a word or two with you in private, if you a smile.
please?’ ‘That’s it, master,’ replied Blathers. ‘This is all about the
This was addressed to Mr. Losberne, who now made his robbery, is it?’
appearance; that gentleman, motioning Brittles to retire, ‘All,’ replied the doctor.
brought in the two ladies, and shut the door. ‘Now, what is this, about this here boy that the servants
‘This is the lady of the house,’ said Mr. Losberne, motion- are a-talking on?’ said Blathers.
ing towards Mrs. Maylie. ‘Nothing at all,’ replied the doctor. ‘One of the frightened
Mr. Blathers made a bow. Being desired to sit down, he servants chose to take it into his head, that he had some-
put his hat on the floor, and taking a chair, motioned to thing to do with this attempt to break into the house; but
Duff to do the same. The latter gentleman, who did not ap- it’s nonsense: sheer absurdity.’
pear quite so much accustomed to good society, or quite ‘Wery easy disposed of, if it is,’ remarked Duff.
so much at his ease in it—one of the two—seated himself, ‘What he says is quite correct,’ observed Blathers, nod-
after undergoing several muscular affections of the limbs, ding his head in a confirmatory way, and playing carelessly
and the head of his stick into his mouth, with some embar- with the handcuffs, as if they were a pair of castanets. ‘Who
rassment. is the boy?
‘Now, with regard to this here robbery, master,’ said What account does he give of himself? Where did he
Blathers. ‘What are the circumstances?’ come from? He didn’t drop out of the clouds, did he, mas-
Mr. Losberne, who appeared desirous of gaining time, ter?’

‘Of course not,’ replied the doctor, with a nervous glance ‘Upon my word,’ he said, making a halt, after a great
at the two ladies. ‘I know his whole history: but we can talk number of very rapid turns, ‘I hardly know what to do.’
about that presently. You would like, first, to see the place ‘Surely,’ said Rose, ‘the poor child’s story, faithfully re-
where the thieves made their attempt, I suppose?’ peated to these men, will be sufficient to exonerate him.’
‘Certainly,’ rejoined Mr. Blathers. ‘We had better inspect ‘I doubt it, my dear young lady,’ said the doctor, shaking
the premises first, and examine the servants afterwards. his head. ‘I don’t think it would exonerate him, either with
That’s the usual way of doing business.’ them, or with legal functionaries of a higher grade. What
Lights were then procured; and Messrs. Blathers and is he, after all, they would say? A runaway. Judged by mere
Duff, attended by the native constable, Brittles, Giles, and worldly considerations and probabilities, his story is a very
everybody else in short, went into the little room at the end doubtful one.’
of the passage and looked out at the window; and after- ‘You believe it, surely?’ interrupted Rose.
wards went round by way of the lawn, and looked in at the ‘I believe it, strange as it is; and perhaps I may be an old
window; and after that, had a candle handed out to inspect fool for doing so,’ rejoined the doctor; ‘but I don’t think it is
the shutter with; and after that, a lantern to trace the foot- exactly the tale for a practical police-officer, nevertheless.’
steps with; and after that, a pitchfork to poke the bushes ‘Why not?’ demanded Rose.
with. This done, amidst the breathless interest of all behold- ‘Because, my pretty cross-examiner,’ replied the doctor:
ers, they came in again; and Mr. Giles and Brittles were ‘because, viewed with their eyes, there are many ugly points
put through a melodramatic representation of their share about it; he can only prove the parts that look ill, and none
in the previous night’s adventures: which they performed of those that look well. Confound the fellows, they WILL
some six times over: contradiction each other, in not more have the way and the wherefore, and will take nothing for
than one important respect, the first time, and in not more granted. On his own showing, you see, he has been the com-
than a dozen the last. This consummation being arrived at, panion of thieves for some time past; he has been carried to
Blathers and Duff cleared the room, and held a long council a police-officer, on a charge of picking a gentleman’s pock-
together, compared with which, for secrecy and solemni- et; he has been taken away, forcibly, from that gentleman’s
ty, a consultation of great doctors on the knottiest point in house, to a place which he cannot describe or point out, and
medicine, would be mere child’s play. of the situation of which he has not the remotest idea. He is
Meanwhile, the doctor walked up and down the next brought down to Chertsey, by men who seem to have taken
room in a very uneasy state; and Mrs. Maylie and Rose a violent fancy to him, whether he will or no; and is put
looked on, with anxious faces. 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 carry it off with a bold face. The object is a good one, and
the very thing that would set him all to rights, there rushes that must be our excuse. The boy has strong symptoms of
into the way, a blundering dog of a half-bred butler, and fever upon him, and is in no condition to be talked to any
shoots him! As if on purpose to prevent his doing any good more; that’s one comfort. We must make the best of it; and
for himself! Don’t you see all this?’ if bad be the best, it is no fault of ours. Come in!’
‘I see it, of course,’ replied Rose, smiling at the doctor’s ‘Well, master,’ said Blathers, entering the room followed
impetuosity; ‘but still I do not see anything in it, to crimi- by his colleague, and making the door fast, before he said
nate the poor child.’ any more. ‘This warn’t a put-up thing.’
‘No,’ replied the doctor; ‘of course not! Bless the bright ‘And what the devil’s a put-up thing?’ demanded the doc-
eyes of your sex! They never see, whether for good or bad, tor, impatiently.
more than one side of any question; and that is, always, the ‘We call it a put-up robbery, ladies,’ said Blathers, turning
one which first presents itself to them.’ to them, as if he pitied their ignorance, but had a contempt
Having given vent to this result of experience, the doctor for the doctor’s, ‘when the servants is in it.’
put his hands into his pockets, and walked up and down the ‘Nobody suspected them, in this case,’ said Mrs. Maylie.
room with even greater rapidity than before. ‘Wery likely not, ma’am,’ replied Blathers; ‘but they might
‘The more I think of it,’ said the doctor, ‘the more I see have been in it, for all that.’
that it will occasion endless trouble and difficulty if we put ‘More likely on that wery account,’ said Duff.
these men in possession of the boy’s real story. I am cer- ‘We find it was a town hand,’ said Blathers, continuing
tain it will not be believed; and even if they can do nothing his report; ‘for the style of work is first-rate.’
to him in the end, still the dragging it forward, and giving ‘Wery pretty indeed it is,’ remarked Duff, in an under-
publicity to all the doubts that will be cast upon it, must in- tone.
terfere, materially, with your benevolent plan of rescuing ‘There was two of ‘em in it,’ continued Blathers; ‘and they
him from misery.’ had a boy with ‘em; that’s plain from the size of the window.
‘Oh! what is to be done?’ cried Rose. ‘Dear, dear! whyddid That’s all to be said at present. We’ll see this lad that you’ve
they send for these people?’ got upstairs at once, if you please.’
‘Why, indeed!’ exclaimed Mrs. Maylie. ‘I would not have ‘Perhaps they will take something to drink first, Mrs.
had them here, for the world.’ Maylie?’ said the doctor: his face brightening, as if some
‘All I know is,’ said Mr. Losberne, at last: sitting down new thought had occurred to him.
with a kind of desperate calmness, ‘that we must try and ‘Oh! to be sure!’ exclaimed Rose, eagerly. ‘You shall have

it immediately, if you will.’ ‘What was that?’ inquired Rose: anxious to encourage
‘Why, thank you, miss!’ said Blathers, drawing his coat- any symptoms of good-humour in the unwelcome visitors.
sleeve across his mouth; ‘it’s dry work, this sort of duty. ‘It was a robbery, miss, that hardly anybody would have
Anythink that’s handy, miss; don’t put yourself out of the been down upon,’ said Blathers. ‘This here Conkey Chick-
way, on our accounts.’ weed—‘
‘What shall it be?’ asked the doctor, following the young ‘Conkey means Nosey, ma’am,’ interposed Duff.
lady to the sideboard. ‘Of course the lady knows that, don’t she?’ demanded
‘A little drop of spirits, master, if it’s all the same,’ replied Mr. Blathers. ‘Always interrupting, you are, partner! This
Blathers. ‘It’s a cold ride from London, ma’am; and I always here Conkey Chickweed, miss, kept a public-house over
find that spirits comes home warmer to the feelings.’ Battlebridge way, and he had a cellar, where a good many
This interesting communication was addressed to Mrs. young lords went to see cock-fighting, and badger-draw-
Maylie, who received it very graciously. While it was being ing, and that; and a wery intellectural manner the sports
conveyed to her, the doctor slipped out of the room. was conducted in, for I’ve seen ‘em off’en. He warn’t one
‘Ah!’ said Mr. Blathers: not holding his wine-glass by the of the family, at that time; and one night he was robbed of
stem, but grasping the bottom between the thumb and fore- three hundred and twenty-seven guineas in a canvas bag,
finger of his left hand: and placing it in front of his chest; ‘I that was stole out of his bedrrom in the dead of night, by a
have seen a good many pieces of business like this, in my tall man with a black patch over his eye, who had concealed
time, ladies.’ himself under the bed, and after committing the robbery,
‘That crack down in the back lane at Edmonton, Blathers,’ jumped slap out of window: which was only a story high.
said Mr. Duff, assisting his colleague’s memory. He was wery quick about it. But Conkey was quick, too;
‘That was something in this way, warn’t it?’ rejoined Mr. for he fired a blunderbuss arter him, and roused the neigh-
Blathers; ‘that was done by Conkey Chickweed, that was.’ bourhood. They set up a hue-and-cry, directly, and when
‘You always gave that to him’ replied Duff. ‘It was the they came to look about ‘em, found that Conkey had hit the
Family Pet, I tell you. Conkey hadn’t any more to do with robber; for there was traces of blood, all the way to some
it than I had.’ palings a good distance off; and there they lost ‘em. How-
‘Get out!’ retorted Mr. Blathers; ‘I know better. Do you ever, he had made off with the blunt; and, consequently, the
mind that time when Conkey was robbed of his money, name of Mr. Chickweed, licensed witler, appeared in the
though? What a start that was! Better than any novel-book Gazette among the other bankrupts; and all manner of ben-
I ever see!’ efits and subscriptions, and I don’t know what all, was got

up for the poor man, who was in a wery low state of mind currence, but he warn’t to be seen nowhere, so they went
about his loss, and went up and down the streets, for three back to the public-house. Next morning, Spyers took his
or four days, a pulling his hair off in such a desperate man- old place, and looked out, from behind the curtain, for a
ner that many people was afraid he might be going to make tall man with a black patch over his eye, till his own two
away with himself. One day he came up to the office, all in a eyes ached again. At last, he couldn’t help shutting ‘em, to
hurry, and had a private interview with the magistrate, who, ease ‘em a minute; and the very moment he did so, he hears
after a deal of talk, rings the bell, and orders Jem Spyers in Chickweed a-roaring out, ‘Here he is!’ Off he starts once
(Jem was a active officer), and tells him to go and assist Mr. more, with Chickweed half-way down the street ahead of
Chickweed in apprehending the man as robbed his house. ‘I him; and after twice as long a run as the yesterday’s one,
see him, Spyers,’ said Chickweed, ‘pass my house yesterday the man’s lost again! This was done, once or twice more, till
morning,’ ‘Why didn’t you up, and collar him!’ says Spyers. one-half the neighbours gave out that Mr. Chickweed had
‘I was so struck all of a heap, that you might have fractured been robbed by the devil, who was playing tricks with him
my skull with a toothpick,’ says the poor man; ‘but we’re arterwards; and the other half, that poor Mr. Chickweed
sure to have him; for between ten and eleven o’clock at had gone mad with grief.’
night he passed again.’ Spyers no sooner heard this, than he ‘What did Jem Spyers say?’ inquired the doctor; who had
put some clean linen and a comb, in his pocket, in case he returned to the room shortly after the commencement of
should have to stop a day or two; and away he goes, and sets the story.
himself down at one of the public-house windows behind ‘Jem Spyers,’ resumed the officer, ‘for a long time said
the little red curtain, with his hat on, all ready to bolt out, nothing at all, and listened to everything without seem-
at a moment’s notice. He was smoking his pipe here, late at ing to, which showed he understood his business. But, one
night, when all of a sudden Chickweed roars out, ‘Here he morning, he walked into the bar, and taking out his snuff-
is! Stop thief! Murder!’ Jem Spyers dashes out; and there he box, says ‘Chickweed, I’ve found out who done this here
sees Chickweed, a-tearing down the street full cry. Away robbery.’ ‘Have you?’ said Chickweed. ‘Oh, my dear Spyers,
goes Spyers; on goes Chickweed; round turns the people; only let me have wengeance, and I shall die contented! Oh,
everybody roars out, ‘Thieves!’ and Chickweed himself my dear Spyers, where is the villain!’ ‘Come!’ said Spyers,
keeps on shouting, all the time, like mad. Spyers loses sight offering him a pinch of snuff, ‘none of that gammon! You
of him a minute as he turns a corner; shoots round; sees did it yourself.’ So he had; and a good bit of money he had
a little crowd; dives in; ‘Which is the man?’ ‘D—me!’ says made by it, too; and nobody would never have found it out,
Chickweed, ‘I’ve lost him again!’ It was a remarkable oc- if he hadn’t been so precious anxious to keep up appear-

ances!’ said Mr. Blathers, putting down his wine-glass, and ‘It was all done for the—for the best, sir,’ answered Giles.
clinking the handcuffs together. ‘I am sure I thought it was the boy, or I wouldn’t have med-
‘Very curious, indeed,’ observed the doctor. ‘Now, if you dled with him. I am not of an inhuman disposition, sir.’
please, you can walk upstairs.’ ‘Thought it was what boy?’ inquired the senior officer.
‘If YOU please, sir,’ returned Mr. Blathers. Closely fol- ‘The housebreaker’s boy, sir!’ replied Giles. ‘They—they
lowing Mr. Losberne, the two officers ascended to Oliver’s certainly had a boy.’
bedroom; Mr. Giles preceding the party, with a lighted can- ‘Well? Do you think so now?’ inquired Blathers.
dle. ‘Think what, now?’ replied Giles, looking vacantly at his
Oliver had been dozing; but looked worse, and was more questioner.
feverish than he had appeared yet. Being assisted by the ‘Think it’s the same boy, Stupid-head?’ rejoined Blathers,
doctor, he managed to sit up in bed for a minute or so; and impatiently.
looked at the strangers without at all understanding what ‘I don’t know; I really don’t know,’ said Giles, with a rue-
was going forward—in fact, without seeming to recollect ful countenance. ‘I couldn’t swear to him.’
where he was, or what had been passing. ‘What do you think?’ asked Mr. Blathers.
‘This,’ said Mr. Losberne, speaking softly, but with great ‘I don’t know what to think,’ replied poor Giles. ‘I don’t
vehemence notwithstanding, ‘this is the lad, who, being ac- think it is the boy; indeed, I’m almost certain that it isn’t.
cidently wounded by a spring-gun in some boyish trespass You know it can’t be.’
on Mr. What-d’ ye-call-him’s grounds, at the back here, ‘Has this man been a-drinking, sir?’ inquired Blathers,
comes to the house for assistance this morning, and is im- turning to the doctor.
mediately laid hold of and maltreated, by that ingenious ‘What a precious muddle-headed chap you are!’ said Duff,
gentleman with the candle in his hand: who has placed his addressing Mr. Giles, with supreme contempt.
life in considerable danger, as I can professionally certify.’ Mr. Losberne had been feeling the patient’s pulse during
Messrs. Blathers and Duff looked at Mr. Giles, as he was this short dialogue; but he now rose from the chair by the
thus recommended to their notice. The bewildered butler bedside, and remarked, that if the officers had any doubts
gazed from them towards Oliver, and from Oliver towards upon the subject, they would perhaps like to step into the
Mr. Losberne, with a most ludicrous mixture of fear and next room, and have Brittles before them.
perplexity. Acting upon this suggestion, they adjourned to a neigh-
‘You don’t mean to deny that, I suppose?’ said the doctor, bouring apartment, where Mr. Brittles, being called in,
laying Oliver gently down again. involved himself and his respected superior in such a won-

derful maze of fresh contradictions and impossibilities, as themselves, on investigation, into the one fact, that they had
tended to throw no particular light on anything, but the been discovered sleeping under a haystack; which, although
fact of his own strong mystification; except, indeed, his dec- a great crime, is only punishable by imprisonment, and is,
larations that he shouldn’t know the real boy, if he were put in the merciful eye of the English law, and its comprehen-
before him that instant; that he had only taken Oliver to be sive love of all the King’s subjects, held to be no satisfactory
he, because Mr. Giles had said he was; and that Mr. Giles proof, in the absence of all other evidence, that the sleeper,
had, five minutes previously, admitted in the kitchen, that or sleepers, have committed burglary accompanied with vi-
he begain to be very much afraid he had been a little too olence, and have therefore rendered themselves liable to the
hasty. punishment of death; Messrs. Blathers and Duff came back
Among other ingenious surmises, the question was then again, as wise as they went.
raised, whether Mr. Giles had really hit anybody; and upon In short, after some more examination, and a great deal
examination of the fellow pistol to that which he had fired, more conversation, a neighbouring magistrate was readily
it turned out to have no more destructive loading than induced to take the joint bail of Mrs. Maylie and Mr. Los-
gunpowder and brown paper: a discovery which made a berne for Oliver’s appearance if he should ever be called
considerable impression on everybody but the doctor, who upon; and Blathers and Duff, being rewarded with a cou-
had drawn the ball about ten minutes before. Upon no one, ple of guineas, returned to town with divided opinions on
however, did it make a greater impression than on Mr. Giles the subject of their expedition: the latter gentleman on a
himself; who, after labouring, for some hours, under the mature consideration of all the circumstances, inclining to
fear of having mortally wounded a fellow-creature, eagerly the belief that the burglarious attempt had originated with
caught at this new idea, and favoured it to the utmost. Fi- the Family Pet; and the former being equally disposed to
nally, the officers, without troubling themselves very much concede the full merit of it to the great Mr. Conkey Chick-
about Oliver, left the Chertsey constable in the house, and weed.
took up their rest for that night in the town; promising to Meanwhile, Oliver gradually throve and prospered under
return the next morning. the united care of Mrs. Maylie, Rose, and the kind-hearted
With the next morning, there came a rumour, that two Mr. Losberne. If fervent prayers, gushing from hearts over-
men and a boy were in the cage at Kingston, who had been charged with gratitude, be heard in heaven—and if they
apprehended over night under suspicious circumstances; be not, what prayers are!—the blessings which the orphan
and to Kingston Messrs. Blathers and Duff journeyed ac- child called down upon them, sunk into their souls, diffus-
cordingly. The suspicious circumstances, however, resolving ing peace and happiness.

CHAPTER XXXII feebly endeavouring to utter the words of thankfulness
that rose to his pale lips; ‘you shall have many opportuni-
ties of serving us, if you will. We are going into the country,
and my aunt intends that you shall accompany us. The qui-
OF THE HAPPY LIFE et place, the pure air, and all the pleasure and beauties of
spring, will restore you in a few days. We will employ you in
OLIVER BEGAN TO LEAD a hundred ways, when you can bear the trouble.’
‘The trouble!’ cried Oliver. ‘Oh! dear lady, if I could but
WITH HIS KIND FRIENDS 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;
O liver’s 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:
‘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.’
which hung about him for many weeks, and reduced him ‘Happy, ma’am!’ cried Oliver; ‘how kind of you to say so!’
sadly. But, at length, he began, by slow degrees, to get bet- ‘You will make me happier than I can tell you,’ replied the
ter, and to be able to say sometimes, in a few tearful words, young lady. ‘To think that my dear good aunt should have
how deeply he felt the goodness of the two sweet ladies, and been the means of rescuing any one from such sad misery
how ardently he hoped that when he grew strong and well as you have described to us, would be an unspeakable plea-
again, he could do something to show his gratitude; only sure to me; but to know that the object of her goodness and
something, which would let them see the love and duty compassion was sincerely grateful and attached, in conse-
with which his breast was full; something, however slight, quence, would delight me, more than you can well imagine.
which would prove to them that their gentle kindness had Do you understand me?’ she inquired, watching Oliver’s
not been cast away; but that the poor boy whom their char- thoughtful face.
ity had rescued from misery, or death, was eager to serve ‘Oh yes, ma’am, yes!’ replied Oliver eagerly; ‘but I was
them with his whole heart and soul. thinking that I am ungrateful now.’
‘Poor fellow!’ said Rose, when Oliver had been one day ‘To whom?’ inquired the young lady.

‘To the kind gentleman, and the dear old nurse, who took and, running down to the deserted tenement, began kick-
so much care of me before,’ rejoined Oliver. ‘If they knew ing at the door like a madman.
how happy I am, they would be pleased, I am sure.’ ‘Halloa?’ said a little ugly hump-backed man: opening
‘I am sure they would,’ rejoined Oliver’s benefactress; the door so suddenly, that the doctor, from the very im-
‘and Mr. Losberne has already been kind enough to prom- petus of his last kick, nearly fell forward into the passage.
ise that when you are well enough to bear the journey, he ‘What’s the matter here?’
will carry you to see them.’ ‘Matter!’ exclaimed the other, collaring him, without a
‘Has he, ma’am?’ cried Oliver, his face brightening with moment’s reflection. ‘A good deal. Robbery is the matter.’
pleasure. ‘I don’t know what I shall do for joy when I see ‘There’ll be Murder the matter, too,’ replied the hump-
their kind faces once again!’ backed man, coolly, ‘if you don’t take your hands off. Do
In a short time Oliver was sufficiently recovered to un- you hear me?’
dergo the fatigue of this expedition. One morning he and ‘I hear you,’ said the doctor, giving his captive a hearty
Mr. Losberne set out, accordingly, in a little carriage which shake.
belonged to Mrs. Maylie. When they came to Chertsey ‘Where’s—confound the fellow, what’s his rascally
Bridge, Oliver turned very pale, and uttered a loud excla- name—Sikes; that’s it. Where’s Sikes, you thief?’
mation. The hump-backed man stared, as if in excess of amaze-
‘What’s the matter with the boy?’ cried the doctor, as ment and indignation; then, twisting himself, dexterously,
usual, all in a bustle. ‘Do you see anything—hear any- from the doctor’s grasp, growled forth a volley of horrid
thing—feel anything—eh?’ oaths, and retired into the house. Before he could shut the
‘That, sir,’ cried Oliver, pointing out of the carriage win- door, however, the doctor had passed into the parlour, with-
dow. ‘That house!’ out a word of parley.
‘Yes; well, what of it? Stop coachman. Pull up here,’ cried He looked anxiously round; not an article of furniture;
the doctor. ‘What of the house, my man; eh?’ not a vestige of anything, animate or inanimate; not even
‘The thieves—the house they took me to!’ whispered Oli- the position of the cupboards; answered Oliver’s descrip-
ver. tion!
‘The devil it is!’ cried the doctor. ‘Hallo, there! let me ‘Now!’ said the hump-backed man, who had watched
out!’ him keenly, ‘what do you mean by coming into my house,
But, before the coachman could dismount from his box, in this violent way? Do you want to rob me, or to murder
he had tumbled out of the coach, by some means or other; me? Which is it?’

‘Did you ever know a man come out to do either, in a once more on their way, they could see him some distance
chariot and a pair, you ridiculous old vampire?’ said the ir- behind: beating his feet upon the ground, and tearing his
ritable doctor. hair, in transports of real or pretended rage.
‘What do you want, then?’ demanded the hunchback. ‘I am an ass!’ said the doctor, after a long silence. ‘Did you
‘Will you take yourself off, before I do you a mischief? Curse know that before, Oliver?’
you!’ ‘No, sir.’
‘As soon as I think proper,’ said Mr. Losberne, looking ‘Then don’t forget it another time.’
into the other parlour; which, like the first, bore no resem- ‘An ass,’ said the doctor again, after a further silence of
blance whatever to Oliver’s account of it. ‘I shall find you some minutes. ‘Even if it had been the right place, and the
out, some day, my friend.’ right fellows had been there, what could I have done, single-
‘Will you?’ sneered the ill-favoured cripple. ‘If you ever handed? And if I had had assistance, I see no good that I
want me, I’m here. I haven’t lived here mad and all alone, for should have done, except leading to my own exposure, and
five-and-twenty years, to be scared by you. You shall pay for an unavoidable statement of the manner in which I have
this; you shall pay for this.’ And so saying, the mis-shapen hushed up this business. That would have served me right,
little demon set up a yell, and danced upon the ground, as though. I am always involving myself in some scrape or
if wild with rage. other, by acting on impulse. It might have done me good.’
‘Stupid enough, this,’ muttered the doctor to himself; Now, the fact was that the excellent doctor had never
‘the boy must have made a mistake. Here! Put that in your acted upon anything but impulse all through his life, and
pocket, and shut yourself up again.’ With these words he if was no bad compliment to the nature of the impulses
flung the hunchback a piece of money, and returned to the which governed him, that so far from being involved in any
carriage. peculiar troubles or misfortunes, he had the warmest re-
The man followed to the chariot door, uttering the wild- spect and esteem of all who knew him. If the truth must
est imprecations and curses all the way; but as Mr. Losberne be told, he was a little out of temper, for a minute or two, at
turned to speak to the driver, he looked into the carriage, being disappointed in procuring corroborative evidence of
and eyed Oliver for an instant with a glance so sharp and Oliver’s story on the very first occasion on which he had a
fierce and at the same time so furious and vindictive, that, chance of obtaining any. He soon came round again, how-
waking or sleeping, he could not forget it for months after- ever; and finding that Oliver’s replies to his questions, were
wards. He continued to utter the most fearful imprecations, still as straightforward and consistent, and still delivered
until the driver had resumed his seat; and when they were with as much apparent sincerity and truth, as they had ever

been, he made up his mind to attach full credence to them, after a moment’s pause.
from that time forth. ‘Yes, sir’; replied the servant. ‘The old gentleman, the
As Oliver knew the name of the street in which Mr. housekeeper, and a gentleman who was a friend of Mr.
Brownlow resided, they were enabled to drive straight Brownlow’s, all went together.
thither. When the coach turned into it, his heart beat so ‘Then turn towards home again,’ said Mr. Losberne to
violently, that he could scarcely draw his breath. the driver; ‘and don’t stop to bait the horses, till you get out
‘Now, my boy, which house is it?’ inquired Mr. Losberne. of this confounded London!’
‘That! That!’ replied Oliver, pointing eagerly out of the ‘The book-stall keeper, sir?’ said Oliver. ‘I know the way
window. ‘The white house. Oh! make haste! Pray make there. See him, pray, sir! Do see him!’
haste! I feel as if I should die: it makes me tremble so.’ ‘My poor boy, this is disappointment enough for one day,’
‘Come, come!’ said the good doctor, patting him on the said the doctor. ‘Quite enough for both of us. If we go to the
shoulder. ‘You will see them directly, and they will be over- book-stall keeper’s, we shall certainly find that he is dead,
joyed to find you safe and well.’ or has set his house on fire, or run away. No; home again
‘Oh! I hope so!’ cried Oliver. ‘They were so good to me; so straight!’ And in obedience to the doctor’s impulse, home
very, very good to me.’ they went.
The coach rolled on. It stopped. No; that was the wrong This bitter disappointment caused Oliver much sorrow
house; the next door. It went on a few paces, and stopped and grief, even in the midst of his happiness; for he had
again. Oliver looked up at the windows, with tears of happy pleased himself, many times during his illness, with think-
expectation coursing down his face. ing of all that Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin would say to
Alas! the white house was empty, and there was a bill in him: and what delight it would be to tell them how many
the window. ‘To Let.’ long days and nights he had passed in reflecting on what
‘Knock at the next door,’ cried Mr. Losberne, taking Ol- they had done for him, and in bewailing his cruel separa-
iver’s arm in his. ‘What has become of Mr. Brownlow, who tion from them. The hope of eventually clearing himself
used to live in the adjoining house, do you know?’ with them, too, and explaining how he had been forced
The servant did not know; but would go and inquire. She away, had buoyed him up, and sustained him, under many
presently returned, and said, that Mr. Brownlow had sold of his recent trials; and now, the idea that they should have
off his goods, and gone to the West Indies, six weeks before. gone so far, and carried with them the belief that the was an
Oliver clasped his hands, and sank feebly backward. impostor and a robber—a belief which might remain un-
‘Has his housekeeper gone too?’ inquired Mr. Losberne, contradicted to his dying day—was almost more than he

could bear. ter, that a foretaste of heaven itself has soothed their quick
The circumstance occasioned no alteration, however, in decline, and they have sunk into their tombs, as peaceful-
the behaviour of his benefactors. After another fortnight, ly as the sun whose setting they watched from their lonely
when the fine warm weather had fairly begun, and every chamber window but a few hours before, faded from their
tree and flower was putting forth its young leaves and rich dim and feeble sight! The memories which peaceful country
blossoms, they made preparations for quitting the house at scenes call up, are not of this world, nor of its thoughts and
Chertsey, for some months. hopes. Their gentle influence may teach us how to weave
Sending the plate, which had so excited Fagin’s cupid- fresh garlands for the graves of those we loved: may puri-
ity, to the banker’s; and leaving Giles and another servant fy our thoughts, and bear down before it old enmity and
in care of the house, they departed to a cottage at some dis- hatred; but beneath all this, there lingers, in the least reflec-
tance in the country, and took Oliver with them. tive mind, a vague and half-formed consciousness of having
Who can describe the pleasure and delight, the peace of held such feelings long before, in some remote and distant
mind and soft tranquillity, the sickly boy felt in the balmy time, which calls up solemn thoughts of distant times to
air, and among the green hills and rich woods, of an inland come, and bends down pride and worldliness beneath it.
village! Who can tell how scenes of peace and quietude sink It was a lovely spot to which they repaired. Oliver, whose
into the minds of pain-worn dwellers in close and noisy days had been spent among squalid crowds, and in the midst
places, and carry their own freshness, deep into their jad- of noise and brawling, seemed to enter on a new existence
ed hearts! Men who have lived in crowded, pent-up streets, there. The rose and honeysuckle clung to the cottage walls;
through lives of toil, and who have never wished for change; the ivy crept round the trunks of the trees; and the gar-
men, to whom custom has indeed been second nature, and den-flowers perfumed the air with delicious odours. Hard
who have come almost to love each brick and stone that by, was a little churchyard; not crowded with tall unsightly
formed the narrow boundaries of their daily walks; even gravestones, but full of humble mounds, covered with fresh
they, with the hand of death upon them, have been known turf and moss: beneath which, the old people of the village
to yearn at last for one short glimpse of Nature’s face; and, lay at rest. Oliver often wandered here; and, thinking of the
carried far from the scenes of their old pains and plea- wretched grave in which his mother lay, would sometimes
sures, have seemed to pass at once into a new state of being. sit him down and sob unseen; but, when he raised his eyes
Crawling forth, from day to day, to some green sunny spot, to the deep sky overhead, he would cease to think of her
they have had such memories wakened up within them by as lying in the ground, and would weep for her, sadly, but
the sight of the sky, and hill and plain, and glistening wa- without pain.

It was a happy time. The days were peaceful and serene; the green leaves fluttering at the windows: the birds singing
the nights brought with them neither fear nor care; no lan- without: and the sweet-smelling air stealing in at the low
guishing in a wretched prison, or associating with wretched porch, and filling the homely building with its fragrance.
men; nothing but pleasant and happy thoughts. Every The poor people were so neat and clean, and knelt so rever-
morning he went to a white-headed old gentleman, who ently in prayer, that it seemed a pleasure, not a tedious duty,
lived near the little church: who taught him to read better, their assembling there together; and though the singing
and to write: and who spoke so kindly, and took such pains, might be rude, it was real, and sounded more musical (to
that Oliver could never try enough to please him. Then, he Oliver’s ears at least) than any he had ever heard in church
would walk with Mrs. Maylie and Rose, and hear them talk before. Then, there were the walks as usual, and many calls
of books; or perhaps sit near them, in some shady place, and at the clean houses of the labouring men; and at night, Oli-
listen whilst the young lady read: which he could have done, ver read a chapter or two from the Bible, which he had been
until it grew too dark to see the letters. Then, he had his studying all the week, and in the performance of which
own lesson for the next day to prepare; and at this, he would duty he felt more proud and pleased, than if he had been
work hard, in a little room which looked into the garden, till the clergyman himself.
evening came slowly on, when the ladies would walk out In the morning, Oliver would be a-foot by six o’clock,
again, and he with them: listening with such pleasure to all roaming the fields, and plundering the hedges, far and wide,
they said: and so happy if they wanted a flower that he could for nosegays of wild flowers, with which he would return
climb to reach, or had forgotten anything he could run to laden, home; and which it took great care and consideration
fetch: that he could never be quick enought about it. When to arrange, to the best advantage, for the embellishment of
it became quite dark, and they returned home, the young the breakfast-table. There was fresh groundsel, too, for Miss
lady would sit down to the piano, and play some pleasant Maylie’s birds, with which Oliver, who had been studying
air, or sing, in a low and gentle voice, some old song which it the subject under the able tuition of the village clerk, would
pleased her aunt to hear. There would be no candles lighted decorate the cages, in the most approved taste. When the
at such times as these; and Oliver would sit by one of the birds were made all spruce and smart for the day, there
windows, listening to the sweet music, in a perfect rapture. was usually some little commission of charity to execute in
And when Sunday came, how differently the day was the village; or, failing that, there was rare cricket-playing,
spent, from any way in which he had ever spent it yet! and sometimes, on the green; or, failing that, there was always
how happily too; like all the other days in that most hap- something to do in the garden, or about the plants, to which
py time! There was the little church, in the morning, with Oliver (who had studied this science also, under the same

master, who was a gardener by trade,) applied himself with
hearty good-will, until Miss Rose made her appearance: CHAPTER XXXIII
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 WHEREIN THE HAPPINESS
been unmingled happiness, and which, in Oliver’s were
true felicity. With the purest and most amiable generousity OF OLIVER AND HIS
on one side; and the truest, warmest, soul-felt gratitude on
the other; it is no wonder that, by the end of that short time, FRIENDS, EXPERIENCES
Oliver Twist had become completely domesticated with the
old lady and her niece, and that the fervent attachment of A SUDDEN CHECK
his young and sensitive heart, was repaid by their pride in,
and attachment to, himself.
S pring 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. Ol-

iver had long since grown stout and healthy; but health or spoke; ‘I shall be better presently. Close the window, pray!’
sickness made no difference in his warm feelings of a great Oliver hastened to comply with her request. The young
many people. He was still the same gentle, attached, affec- lady, making an effort to recover her cheerfulness, strove to
tionate creature that he had been when pain and suffering play some livelier tune; but her fingers dropped powerless
had wasted his strength, and when he was dependent for ev- over the keys. Covering her face with her hands, she sank
ery slight attention, and comfort on those who tended him. upon a sofa, and gave vent to the tears which she was now
One beautiful night, when they had taken a longer walk unable to repress.
than was customary with them: for the day had been un- ‘My child!’ said the elderly lady, folding her arms about
usually warm, and there was a brilliant moon, and a light her, ‘I never saw you so before.’
wind had sprung up, which was unusually refreshing. Rose ‘I would not alarm you if I could avoid it,’ rejoined Rose;
had been in high spirits, too, and they had walked on, in ‘but indeed I have tried very hard, and cannot help this. I
merry conversation, until they had far exceeded their or- fear I AM ill, aunt.’
dinary bounds. Mrs. Maylie being fatigued, they returned She was, indeed; for, when candles were brought, they
more slowly home. The young lady merely throwing off her saw that in the very short time which had elapsed since
simple bonnet, sat down to the piano as usual. After run- their return home, the hue of her countenance had changed
ning abstractedly over the keys for a few minutes, she fell to a marble whiteness. Its expression had lost nothing of its
into a low and very solemn air; and as she played it, they beauty; but it was changed; and there was an anxious hag-
heard a sound as if she were weeping. gard look about the gentle face, which it had never worn
‘Rose, my dear!’ said the elder lady. before. Another minute, and it was suffused with a crim-
Rose made no reply, but played a little quicker, as though son flush: and a heavy wildness came over the soft blue eye.
the words had roused her from some painful thoughts. Again this disappeared, like the shadow thrown by a pass-
‘Rose, my love!’ cried Mrs. Maylie, rising hastily, and ing cloud; and she was once more deadly pale.
bending over her. ‘What is this? In tears! My dear child, Oliver, who watched the old lady anxiously, observed
what distresses you?’ that she was alarmed by these appearances; and so in truth,
‘Nothing, aunt; nothing,’ replied the young lady. ‘I don’t was he; but seeing that she affected to make light of them,
know what it is; I can’t describe it; but I feel—‘ he endeavoured to do the same, and they so far succeeded,
‘Not ill, my love?’ interposed Mrs. Maylie. that when Rose was persuaded by her aunt to retire for the
‘No, no! Oh, not ill!’ replied Rose: shuddering as though night, she was in better spirits; and appeared even in better
some deadly chillness were passing over her, while she health: assuring them that she felt certain she should rise in

the morning, quite well. ‘Oh! consider how young and good she is, and what
‘I hope,’ said Oliver, when Mrs. Maylie returned, ‘that pleasure and comfort she gives to all about her. I am sure—
nothing is the matter? She don’t look well to-night, but—‘ certain—quite certain—that, for your sake, who are so
The old lady motioned to him not to speak; and sitting good yourself; and for her own; and for the sake of all she
herself down in a dark corner of the room, remained silent makes so happy; she will not die. Heaven will never let her
for some time. die so young.’
At length, she said, in a trembling voice: ‘Hush!’ said Mrs. Maylie, laying her hand on Oliver’s
‘I hope not, Oliver. I have been very happy with her for head. ‘You think like a child, poor boy. But you teach me
some years: too happy, perhaps. It may be time that I should my duty, notwithstanding. I had forgotten it for a moment,
meet with some misfortune; but I hope it is not this.’ Oliver, but I hope I may be pardoned, for I am old, and have
‘What?’ inquired Oliver. seen enough of illness and death to know the agony of sepa-
‘The heavy blow,’ said the old lady, ‘of losing the dear girl ration from the objects of our love. I have seen enough, too,
who has so long been my comfort and happiness.’ to know that it is not always the youngest and best who are
‘Oh! God forbid!’ exclaimed Oliver, hastily. spared to those that love them; but this should give us com-
‘Amen to that, my child!’ said the old lady, wringing her fort in our sorrow; for Heaven is just; and such things teach
hands. us, impressively, that there is a brighter world than this; and
‘Surely there is no danger of anything so dreadful?’ said that the passage to it is speedy. God’s will be done! I love
Oliver. her; and He know how well!’
‘Two hours ago, she was quite well.’ Oliver was surprised to see that as Mrs. Maylie said these
‘She is very ill now,’ rejoined Mrs. Maylies; ‘and will be words, she checked her lamentations as though by one ef-
worse, I am sure. My dear, dear Rose! Oh, what shall I do fort; and drawing herself up as she spoke, became composed
without her!’ and firm. He was still more astonished to find that this
She gave way to such great grief, that Oliver, suppressing firmness lasted; and that, under all the care and watching
his own emotion, ventured to remonstrate with her; and to which ensued, Mrs. Maylie was every ready and collected:
beg, earnestly, that, for the sake of the dear young lady her- performing all the duties which had devolved upon her,
self, she would be more calm. steadily, and, to all external appearances, even cheerfully.
‘And consider, ma’am,’ said Oliver, as the tears forced But he was young, and did not know what strong minds
themselves into his eyes, despite of his efforts to the con- are capable of, under trying circumstances. How should he,
trary. when their possessors so seldom know themselves?

An anxious night ensued. When morning came, Mrs. With these words, she gave Oliver her purse, and he
Maylie’s predictions were but too well verified. Rose was in started off, without more delay, at the greatest speed he
the first stage of a high and dangerous fever. could muster.
‘We must be active, Oliver, and not give way to useless Swiftly he ran across the fields, and down the little lanes
grief,’ said Mrs. Maylie, laying her finger on her lip, as she which sometimes divided them: now almost hidden by the
looked steadily into his face; ‘this letter must be sent, with high corn on either side, and now emerging on an open
all possible expedition, to Mr. Losberne. It must be carried field, where the mowers and haymakers were busy at their
to the market-town: which is not more than four miles off, work: nor did he stop once, save now and then, for a few sec-
by the footpath across the field: and thence dispatched, by onds, to recover breath, until he came, in a great heat, and
an express on horseback, straight to Chertsey. The people at covered with dust, on the little market-place of the market-
the inn will undertake to do this: and I can trust to you to town.
see it done, I know.’ Here he paused, and looked about for the inn. There were
Oliver could make no reply, but looked his anxiety to be a white bank, and a red brewery, and a yellow town-hall;
gone at once. and in one corner there was a large house, with all the wood
‘Here is another letter,’ said Mrs. Maylie, pausing to re- about it painted green: before which was the sign of ‘The
flect; ‘but whether to send it now, or wait until I see how George.’ To this he hastened, as soon as it caught his eye.
Rose goes on, I scarcely know. I would not forward it, unless He spoke to a postboy who was dozing under the gate-
I feared the worst.’ way; and who, after hearing what he wanted, referred him
‘Is it for Chertsey, too, ma’am?’ inquired Oliver; impatient to the ostler; who after hearing all he had to say again, re-
to execute his commission, and holding out his trembling ferred him to the landlord; who was a tall gentleman in a
hand for the letter. blue neckcloth, a white hat, drab breeches, and boots with
‘No,’ replied the old lady, giving it to him mechanically. tops to match, leaning against a pump by the stable-door,
Oliver glanced at it, and saw that it was directed to Harry picking his teeth with a silver toothpick.
Maylie, Esquire, at some great lord’s house in the country; This gentleman walked with much deliberation into the
where, he could not make out. bar to make out the bill: which took a long time making out:
‘Shall it go, ma’am?’ asked Oliver, looking up, impatient- and after it was ready, and paid, a horse had to be saddled,
ly. and a man to be dressed, which took up ten good minutes
‘I think not,’ replied Mrs. Maylie, taking it back. ‘I will more. Meanwhile Oliver was in such a desperate state of im-
wait until to-morrow.’ patience and anxiety, that he felt as if he could have jumped

upon the horse himself, and galloped away, full tear, to the ently. He advanced towards Oliver, as if with the intention
next stage. At length, all was ready; and the little parcel hav- of aiming a blow at him, but fell violently on the ground:
ing been handed up, with many injunctions and entreaties writhing and foaming, in a fit.
for its speedy delivery, the man set spurs to his horse, and Oliver gazed, for a moment, at the struggles of the mad-
rattling over the uneven paving of the market-place, was man (for such he supposed him to be); and then darted into
out of the town, and galloping along the turnpike-road, in the house for help. Having seen him safely carried into the
a couple of minutes. hotel, he turned his face homewards, running as fast as he
As it was something to feel certain that assistance was could, to make up for lost time: and recalling with a great
sent for, and that no time had been lost, Oliver hurried up deal of astonishment and some fear, the extraordinary be-
the inn-yard, with a somewhat lighter heart. He was turn- haviour of the person from whom he had just parted.
ing out of the gateway when he accidently stumbled against The circumstance did not dwell in his recollection long,
a tall man wrapped in a cloak, who was at that moment however:
coming out of the inn door. for when he reached the cottage, there was enough to
‘Hah!’ cried the man, fixing his eyes on Oliver, and sud- occupy his mind, and to drive all considerations of self
denly recoiling. ‘What the devil’s this?’ completely from his memory.
‘I beg your pardon, sir,’ said Oliver; ‘I was in a great hurry Rose Maylie had rapidly grown worse; before mid-night
to get home, and didn’t see you were coming.’ she was delirious. A medical practitioner, who resided on
‘Death!’ muttered the man to himself, glaring at the boy the spot, was in constant attendance upon her; and after
with his large dark eyes. ‘Who would have thought it! Grind first seeing the patient, he had taken Mrs. Maylie aside, and
him to ashes! pronounced her disorder to be one of a most alarming na-
He’d start up from a stone coffin, to come in my way!’ ture. ‘In fact,’ he said, ‘it would be little short of a miracle, if
‘I am sorry,’ stammered Oliver, confused by the strange she recovered.’
man’s wild look. ‘I hope I have not hurt you!’ How often did Oliver start from his bed that night, and
‘Rot you!’ murmured the man, in a horrible passion; be- stealing out, with noiseless footstep, to the staircase, listen
tween his clenched teeth; ‘if I had only had the courage to for the slightest sound from the sick chamber! How often
say the word, I might have been free of you in a night. Curs- did a tremble shake his frame, and cold drops of terror start
es on your head, and black death on your heart, you imp! upon his brow, when a sudden trampling of feet caused
What are you doing here?’ him to fear that something too dreadful to think of, had
The man shook his fist, as he uttered these words incoher- even then occurred! And what had been the fervency of all

the prayers he had ever muttered, compared with those he fair young creature lay, wasting fast. Oliver crept away to
poured forth, now, in the agony and passion of his supplica- the old churchyard, and sitting down on one of the green
tion for the life and health of the gentle creature, who was mounds, wept and prayed for her, in silence.
tottering on the deep grave’s verge! There was such peace and beauty in the scene; so much of
Oh! the suspense, the fearful, acute suspense, of stand- brightness and mirth in the sunny landscape; such blithe-
ing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling some music in the songs of the summer birds; such freedom
in the balance! Oh! the racking thoughts that crowd upon in the rapid flight of the rook, careering overhead; so much
the mind, and make the heart beat violently, and the breath of life and joyousness in all; that, when the boy raised his
come thick, by the force of the images they conjure up before aching eyes, and looked about, the thought instinctively oc-
it; the DESPERATE ANXIETY TO BE DOING SOME- curred to him, that this was not a time for death; that Rose
THING to relieve the pain, or lessen the danger, which we could surely never die when humbler things were all so glad
have no power to alleviate; the sinking of soul and spirit, and gay; that graves were for cold and cheerless winter: not
which the sad remembrance of our helplessness produces; for sunlight and fragrance. He almost thought that shrouds
what tortures can equal these; what reflections or endeav- were for the old and shrunken; and that they never wrapped
ours can, in the full tide and fever of the time, allay them! the young and graceful form in their ghastly folds.
Morning came; and the little cottage was lonely and still. A knell from the church bell broke harshly on these
People spoke in whispers; anxious faces appeared at the gate, youthful thoughts. Another! Again! It was tolling for the
from time to time; women and children went away in tears. funeral service. A group of humble mourners entered the
All the livelong day, and for hours after it had grown dark, gate: wearing white favours; for the corpse was young. They
Oliver paced softly up and down the garden, raising his eyes stood uncovered by a grave; and there was a mother—a
every instant to the sick chamber, and shuddering to see the mother once—among the weeping train. But the sun shone
darkened window, looking as if death lay stretched inside. brightly, and the birds sang on.
Late that night, Mr. Losberne arrived. ‘It is hard,’ said the Oliver turned homeward, thinking on the many kind-
good doctor, turning away as he spoke; ‘so young; so much nesses he had received from the young lady, and wishing
beloved; but there is very little hope.’ that the time could come again, that he might never cease
Another morning. The sun shone brightly; as brightly as showing her how grateful and attached he was. He had no
if it looked upon no misery or care; and, with every leaf and cause for self-reproach on the score of neglect, or want of
flower in full bloom about her; with life, and health, and thought, for he had been devoted to her service; and yet a
sounds and sights of joy, surrounding her on every side: the hundred little occasions rose up before him, on which he

fancied he might have been more zealous, and more ear- ‘No!’ cried the doctor, passionately. ‘As He is good and
nest, and wished he had been. We need be careful how we merciful, she will live to bless us all, for years to come.’
deal with those about us, when every death carries to some The lady fell upon her knees, and tried to fold her hands
small circle of survivors, thoughts of so much omitted, and together; but the energy which had supported her so long,
so little done—of so many things forgotten, and so many fled up to Heaven with her first thanksgiving; and she sank
more which might have been repaired! There is no remorse into the friendly arms which were extended to receive her.
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. Oliver’s heart sand 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 en-
tered.
‘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 ma’am, pray.’
‘Let me go, in God’s name! My dear child! She is dead!
She is dying!’

CHAPTER XXIV sense of the joyful change that had occurred, and the al-
most insupportable load of anguish which had been taken
from his breast.
The night was fast closing in, when he returned home-
CONTAINS SOME ward: laden with flowers which he had culled, with peculiar
care, for the adornment of the sick chamber. As he walked
INTRODUCTORY briskly along the road, he heard behind him, the noise of
some vehicle, approaching at a furious pace. Looking round,
PARTICULARS RELATIVE he saw that it was a post-chaise, driven at great speed; and
as the horses were galloping, and the road was narrow, he
TO A YOUNG GENTLEMAN stood leaning against a gate until it should have passed
him.
WHO NOW ARRIVES UPON As it dashed on, Oliver caught a glimpse of a man in a
white nitecap, whose face seemed familiar to him, although
THE SCENE; AND A NEW his view was so brief that he could not identify the person.
In another second or two, the nightcap was thrust out of
ADVENTURE WHICH the chaise-window, and a stentorian voice bellowed to the
driver to stop: which he did, as soon as he could pull up
HAPPENED TO OLIVER his horses. Then, the nightcap once again appeared: and the
same voice called Oliver by his name.
‘Here!’ cried the voice. ‘Oliver, what’s the news? Miss
Rose! Master O-li-ver!’
‘Is is you, Giles?’ cried Oliver, running up to the chaise-
I t 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
door.
Giles popped out his nightcap again, preparatory to
making some reply, when he was suddenly pulled back by
of understanding anything that had passed, until, after a a young gentleman who occupied the other corner of the
long ramble in the quiet evening air, a burst of tears came chaise, and who eagerly demanded what was the news.
to his relief, and he seemed to awaken, all at once, to a full ‘In a word!’ cried the gentleman, ‘Better or worse?’

‘Better—much better!’ replied Oliver, hastily. demonstrated by the very red eyes with which he regarded
‘Thank Heaven!’ exclaimed the gentleman. ‘You are the young gentleman, when he turned round and addressed
sure?’ him.
‘Quite, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘The change took place only a ‘I think you had better go on to my mother’s in the chaise,
few hours ago; and Mr. Losberne says, that all danger is at Giles,’ said he. ‘I would rather walk slowly on, so as to gain a
an end.’ little time before I see her. You can say I am coming.’
The gentleman said not another word, but, opening the ‘I beg your pardon, Mr. Harry,’ said Giles: giving a final
chaise-door, leaped out, and taking Oliver hurriedly by the polish to his ruffled countenance with the handkerchief;
arm, led him aside. ‘but if you would leave the postboy to say that, I should be
‘You are quite certain? There is no possibility of any very much obliged to you. It wouldn’t be proper for the
mistake on your part, my boy, is there?’ demanded the maids to see me in this state, sir; I should never have any
gentleman in a tremulous voice. ‘Do not deceive me, by more authority with them if they did.’
awakening hopes that are not to be fulfilled.’ ‘Well,’ rejoined Harry Maylie, smiling, ‘you can do as
‘I would not for the world, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘Indeed you you like. Let him go on with the luggage, if you wish it, and
may believe me. Mr. Losberne’s words were, that she would do you follow with us. Only first exchange that nightcap for
live to bless us all for many years to come. I heard him say some more appropriate covering, or we shall be taken for
so.’ madmen.’
The tears stood in Oliver’s eyes as he recalled the scene Mr. Giles, reminded of his unbecoming costume,
which was the beginning of so much happiness; and the snatched off and pocketed his nightcap; and substituted
gentleman turned his face away, and remained silent, for a hat, of grave and sober shape, which he took out of the
some minutes. Oliver thought he heard him sob, more than chaise. This done, the postboy drove off; Giles, Mr. Maylie,
once; but he feared to interrupt him by any fresh remark— and Oliver, followed at their leisure.
for he could well guess what his feelings were—and so stood As they walked along, Oliver glanced from time to time
apart, feigning to be occupied with his nosegay. with much interest and curiosity at the new comer. He
All this time, Mr. Giles, with the white nightcap on, had seemed about five-and-twenty years of age, and was of the
been sitting on the steps of the chaise, supporting an el- middle height; his countenance was frank and handsome;
bow on each knee, and wiping his eyes with a blue cotton and his demeanor easy and prepossessing. Notwithstand-
pocket-handkerchief dotted with white spots. That the hon- ing the difference between youth and age, he bore so strong
est fellow had not been feigning emotion, was abundently a likeness to the old lady, that Oliver would have had no

great difficulty in imagining their relationship, if he had not struggles in my own bosom, when I take what seems to me
already spoken of her as his mother. to be the strict line of duty.’
Mrs. Maylie was anxiously waiting to receive her son ‘This is unkind, mother,’ said Harry. ‘Do you still suppose
when he reached the cottage. The meeting did not take that I am a boy ignorant of my own mind, and mistaking
place without great emotion on both sides. the impulses of my own soul?’
‘Mother!’ whispered the young man; ‘why did you not ‘I think, my dear son,’ returned Mrs. Maylie, laying
write before?’ her hand upon his shoulder, ‘that youth has many gener-
‘I did,’ replied Mrs. Maylie; ‘but, on reflection, I de- ous impulses which do not last; and that among them are
termined to keep back the letter until I had heard Mr. some, which, being gratified, become only the more fleeting.
Losberne’s opinion.’ Above all, I think’ said the lady, fixing her eyes on her son’s
‘But why,’ said the young man, ‘why run the chance of face, ‘that if an enthusiastic, ardent, and ambitious man
that occurring which so nearly happened? If Rose had—I marry a wife on whose name there is a stain, which, though
cannot utter that word now—if this illness had terminated it originate in no fault of hers, may be visited by cold and
differently, how could you ever have forgiven yourself! How sordid people upon her, and upon his children also: and, in
could I ever have know happiness again!’ exact proportion to his success in the world, be cast in his
‘If that HAD been the case, Harry,’ said Mrs. Maylie, ‘I teeth, and made the subject of sneers against him: he may,
fear your happiness would have been effectually blighted, no matter how generous and good his nature, one day re-
and that your arrival here, a day sooner or a day later, would pent of the connection he formed in early life. And she may
have been of very, very little import.’ have the pain of knowing that he does so.’
‘And who can wonder if it be so, mother?’ rejoined the ‘Mother,’ said the young man, impatiently, ‘he would be a
young man; ‘or why should I say, IF?—It is—it is—you know selfish brute, unworthy alike of the name of man and of the
it, mother—you must know it!’ woman you describe, who acted thus.’
‘I know that she deserves the best and purest love the ‘You think so now, Harry,’ replied his mother.
heart of man can offer,’ said Mrs. Maylie; ‘I know that the ‘And ever will!’ said the young man. ‘The mental agony I
devotion and affection of her nature require no ordinary re- have suffered, during the last two days, wrings from me the
turn, but one that shall be deep and lasting. If I did not feel avowal to you of a passion which, as you well know, is not
this, and know, besides, that a changed behaviour in one one of yesterday, nor one I have lightly formed. On Rose,
she loved would break her heart, I should not feel my task sweet, gentle girl! my heart is set, as firmly as ever heart
so difficult of performance, or have to encounter so many 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 ‘No, indeed,’ replied his mother; ‘you have, or I mistake,
stake, you take my peace and happiness in your hands, and too strong a hold on her affections already. What I would
cast them to the wind. Mother, think better of this, and of say,’ resumed the old lady, stopping her son as he was about
me, and do not disregard the happiness of which you seem to speak, ‘is this. Before you stake your all on this chance;
to think so little.’ before you suffer yourself to be carried to the highest point
‘Harry,’ said Mrs. Maylie, ‘it is because I think so much of hope; reflect for a few moments, my dear child, on Rose’s
of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from history, and consider what effect the knowledge of her
being wounded. doubtful birth may have on her decision: devoted as she is
But we have said enough, and more than enough, on this to us, with all the intensity of her noble mind, and with that
matter, just now.’ perfect sacrifice of self which, in all matters, great or tri-
‘Let it rest with Rose, then,’ interposed Harry. ‘You will fling, has always been her characteristic.’
not press these overstrained opinions of yours, so far, as to ‘What do you mean?’
throw any obstacle in my way?’ ‘That I leave you to discover,’ replied Mrs. Maylie. ‘I must
‘I will not,’ rejoined Mrs. Maylie; ‘but I would have you go back to her. God bless you!’
consider—‘ ‘I shall see you again to-night?’ said the young man, ea-
‘I HAVE considered!’ was the impatient reply; ‘Mother, gerly.
I have considered, years and years. I have considered, ever ‘By and by,’ replied the lady; ‘when I leave Rose.’
since I have been capable of serious reflection. My feelings ‘You will tell her I am here?’ said Harry.
remain unchanged, as they ever will; and why should I suf- ‘Of course,’ replied Mrs. Maylie.
fer the pain of a delay in giving them vent, which can be ‘And say how anxious I have been, and how much I have
productive of no earthly good? No! Before I leave this place, suffered, and how I long to see her. You will not refuse to do
Rose shall hear me.’ this, mother?’
‘She shall,’ said Mrs. Maylie. ‘No,’ said the old lady; ‘I will tell her all.’ And pressing her
‘There is something in your manner, which would almost son’s hand, affectionately, she hastened from the room.
imply that she will hear me coldly, mother,’ said the young Mr. Losberne and Oliver had remained at another end of
man. the apartment while this hurried conversation was proceed-
‘Not coldly,’ rejoined the old lady; ‘far from it.’ ing. The former now held out his hand to Harry Maylie; and
‘How then?’ urged the young man. ‘She has formed no hearty salutations were exchanged between them. The doc-
other attachment?’ tor then communicated, in reply to multifarious questions

from his young friend, a precise account of his patient’s sit- an air of majesty, which was highly effective, that it had
uation; which was quite as consolatory and full of promise, pleased his mistress, in consideration of his gallant behav-
as Oliver’s statement had encouraged him to hope; and to iour on the occasion of that attempted robbery, to depost, in
the whole of which, Mr. Giles, who affected to be busy about the local savings-bank, the sum of five-and-twenty pounds,
the luggage, listened with greedy ears. for his sole use and benefit. At this, the two women-ser-
‘Have you shot anything particular, lately, Giles?’ in- vants lifted up their hands and eyes, and supposed that Mr.
quired the doctor, when he had concluded. Giles, pulling out his shirt-frill, replied, ‘No, no’; and that
‘Nothing particular, sir,’ replied Mr. Giles, colouring up if they observed that he was at all haughty to his inferiors,
to the eyes. he would thank them to tell him so. And then he made a
‘Nor catching any thieves, nor identifying any house- great many other remarks, no less illustrative of his humili-
breakers?’ said the doctor. ty, which were received with equal favour and applause, and
‘None at all, sir,’ replied Mr. Giles, with much gravity. were, withal, as original and as much to the purpose, as the
‘Well,’ said the doctor, ‘I am sorry to hear it, because you remarks of great men commonly are.
do that sort of thing admirably. Pray, how is Brittles?’ Above stairs, the remainder of the evening passed cheer-
‘The boy is very well, sir,’ said Mr. Giles, recovering his fully away; for the doctor was in high spirits; and however
usual tone of patronage; ‘and sends his respectful duty, sir.’ fatigued or thoughtful Harry Maylie might have been at first,
‘That’s well,’ said the doctor. ‘Seeing you here, reminds he was not proof against the worthy gentleman’s good hu-
me, Mr. Giles, that on the day before that on which I was mour, which displayed itself in a great variety of sallies and
called away so hurriedly, I executed, at the request of your professional recollections, and an abundance of small jokes,
good mistress, a small commission in your favour. Just step which struck Oliver as being the drollest things he had ever
into this corner a moment, will you?’ heard, and caused him to laugh proportionately; to the evi-
Mr. Giles walked into the corner with much importance, dent satisfaction of the doctor, who laughed immoderately
and some wonder, and was honoured with a short whis- at himself, and made Harry laugh almost as heartily, by the
pering conference with the doctor, on the termination of very force of sympathy. So, they were as pleasant a party as,
which, he made a great many bows, and retired with steps under the circumstances, they could well have been; and it
of unusual stateliness. The subject matter of this conference was late before they retired, with light and thankful hearts,
was not disclosed in the parlour, but the kitchen was speed- to take that rest of which, after the doubt and suspense they
ily enlightened concerning it; for Mr. Giles walked straight had recently undergone, they stood much in need.
thither, and having called for a mug of ale, announced, with Oliver rose next morning, in better heart, and went about

his usual occupations, with more hope and pleasure than lar little bunch, which was made up with great care, every
he had known for many days. The birds were once more morning. Oliver could not help noticing that the withered
hung out, to sing, in their old places; and the sweetest wild flowers were never thrown away, although the little vase
flowers that could be found, were once more gathered to was regularly replenished; nor, could he help observing,
gladden Rose with their beauty. The melancholy which had that whenever the doctor came into the garden, he invari-
seemed to the sad eyes of the anxious boy to hang, for days ably cast his eyes up to that particular corner, and nodded
past, over every object, beautiful as all were, was dispelled his head most expressively, as he set forth on his morning’s
by magic. The dew seemed to sparkle more brightly on the walk. Pending these observations, the days were flying by;
green leaves; the air to rustle among them with a sweeter and Rose was rapidly recovering.
music; and the sky itself to look more blue and bright. Such Nor did Oliver’s time hang heavy on his hands, although
is the influence which the condition of our own thoughts, the young lady had not yet left her chamber, and there were
exercise, even over the appearance of external objects. Men no evening walks, save now and then, for a short distance,
who look on nature, and their fellow-men, and cry that all with Mrs. Maylie.
is dark and gloomy, are in the right; but the sombre colours He applied himself, with redoubled assiduity, to the in-
are reflections from their own jaundiced eyes and hearts. structions of the white-headed old gentleman, and laboured
The real hues are delicate, and need a clearer vision. so hard that his quick progress surprised even himself. It
It is worthy of remark, and Oliver did not fail to note was while he was engaged in this pursuit, that he was great-
it at the time, that his morning expeditions were no lon- ly startled and distressed by a most unexpected occurence.
ger made alone. Harry Maylie, after the very first morning The little room in which he was accustomed to sit, when
when he met Oliver coming laden home, was seized with busy at his books, was on the ground-floor, at the back of the
such a passion for flowers, and displayed such a taste in house. It was quite a cottage-room, with a lattice-window:
their arrangement, as left his young companion far behind. around which were clusters of jessamine and honeysuckle,
If Oliver were behindhand in these respects, he knew where that crept over the casement, and filled the place with their
the best were to be found; and morning after morning they delicious perfume. It looked into a garden, whence a wick-
scoured the country together, and brought home the fairest et-gate opened into a small paddock; all beyond, was fine
that blossomed. The window of the young lady’s cham- meadow-land and wood. There was no other dwelling near,
ber was opened now; for she loved to feel the rich summer in that direction; and the prospect it commanded was very
air stream in, and revive her with its freshness; but there extensive.
always stood in water, just inside the lattice, one particu- One beautiful evening, when the first shades of twilight

were beginning to settle upon the earth, Oliver sat at this the sweet air was stirring among the creeping plants out-
window, intent upon his books. He had been poring over side. And yet he was asleep. Suddenly, the scene changed;
them for some time; and, as the day had been uncommonly the air became close and confined; and he thought, with a
sultry, and he had exerted himself a great deal, it it no dis- glow of terror, that he was in the Jew’s house again. There
paragement to the authors, whoever they may have been, to sat the hideous old man, in his accustomed corner, point-
say, that gradually and by slow degrees, he fell asleep. ing at him, and whispering to another man, with his face
There is a kind of sleep that steals upon us sometimes, averted, who sat beside him.
which, while it holds the body prisoner, does not free the ‘Hush, my dear!’ he thought he heard the Jew say; ‘it is he,
mind from a sense of things about it, and enable it to ram- sure enough. Come away.’
ble at its pleasure. So far as an overpowering heaviness, a ‘He!’ the other man seemed to answer; ‘could I mistake
prostration of strength, and an utter inability to control him, think you? If a crowd of ghosts were to put themselves
our thoughts or power of motion, can be called sleep, this into his exact shape, and he stood amongst them, there is
is it; and yet, we have a consciousness of all that is going on something that would tell me how to point him out. If you
about us, and, if we dream at such a time, words which are buried him fifty feet deep, and took me across his grave, I
really spoken, or sounds which really exist at the moment, fancy I should know, if there wasn’t a mark above it, that he
accommodate themselves with surprising readiness to our lay buried there?’
visions, until reality and imagination become so strangely The man seemed to say this, with such dreadful hatred,
blended that it is afterwards almost matter of impossibility that Oliver awoke with the fear, and started up.
to separate the two. Nor is this, the most striking phenom- Good Heaven! what was that, which sent the blood tin-
enon indcidental to such a state. It is an undoubted fact, gling to his heart, and deprived him of his voice, and of
that although our senses of touch and sight be for the time power to move! There—there—at the window—close be-
dead, yet our sleeping thoughts, and the visionary scenes fore him—so close, that he could have almost touched him
that pass before us, will be influenced and materially influ- before he started back: with his eyes peering into the room,
enced, by the MERE SILENT PRESENCE of some external and meeting his: there stood the Jew! And beside him, white
object; which may not have been near us when we closed with rage or fear, or both, were the scowling features of the
our eyes: and of whose vicinity we have had no waking con- man who had accosted him in the inn-yard.
sciousness. It was but an instant, a glance, a flash, before his eyes;
Oliver knew, perfectly well, that he was in his own little and they were gone. But they had recognised him, and
room; that his books were lying on the table before him; that he them; and their look was as firmly impressed upon his

memory, as if it had been deeply carved in stone, and set be-
fore him from his birth. He stood transfixed for a moment; CHAPTER XXXV
then, leaping from the window into the garden, called loud-
ly for help.
CONTAINING THE
UNSATISFACTORY RESULT
OF OLIVER’S ADVENTURE;
AND A CONVERSATION
OF SOME IMPORTANCE
BETWEEN HARRY
MAYLIE AND ROSE
W hen the inmates of the house, attracted by Oliver’s

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 ar-
ticulate the words, ‘The Jew! the Jew!’
Mr. Giles was at a loss to comprehend what this outcry
meant; but Harry Maylie, whose perceptions were some-
thing quicker, and who had heard Oliver’s history from his

mother, understood it at once. circuit of open ground, which it was impossible they could
‘What direction did he take?’ he asked, catching up a have accomplished in so short a time. A thick wood skirted
heavy stick which was standing in a corner. the meadow-land in another direction; but they could not
‘That,’ replied Oliver, pointing out the course the man have gained that covert for the same reason.
had taken; ‘I missed them in an instant.’ ‘It must have been a dream, Oliver,’ said Harry Maylie.
‘Then, they are in the ditch!’ said Harry. ‘Follow! And ‘Oh no, indeed, sir,’ replied Oliver, shuddering at the very
keep as near me, as you can.’ So saying, he sprang over the recollection of the old wretch’s countenance; ‘I saw him
hedge, and darted off with a speed which rendered it matter too plainly for that. I saw them both, as plainly as I see you
of exceeding difficulty for the others to keep near him. now.’
Giles followed as well as he could; and Oliver followed ‘Who was the other?’ inquired Harry and Mr. Losberne,
too; and in the course of a minute or two, Mr. Losberne, together.
who had been out walking, and just then returned, tum- ‘The very same man I told you of, who came so suddenly
bled over the hedge after them, and picking himself up upon me at the inn,’ said Oliver. ‘We had our eyes fixed full
with more agility than he could have been supposed to pos- upon each other; and I could swear to him.’
sess, struck into the same course at no contemptible speed, ‘They took this way?’ demanded Harry: ‘are you sure?’
shouting all the while, most prodigiously, to know what was ‘As I am that the men were at the window,’ replied Oliver,
the matter. pointing down, as he spoke, to the hedge which divided the
On they all went; nor stopped they once to breathe, until cottage-garden from the meadow. ‘The tall man leaped over,
the leader, striking off into an angle of the field indicated by just there; and the Jew, running a few paces to the right,
Oliver, began to search, narrowly, the ditch and hedge ad- crept through that gap.’
joining; which afforded time for the remainder of the party The two gentlemen watched Oliver’s earnest face, as he
to come up; and for Oliver to communicate to Mr. Losberne spoke, and looking from him to each other, seemed to fell
the circumstances that had led to so vigorous a pursuit. satisfied of the accuracy of what he said. Still, in no direc-
The search was all in vain. There were not even the trac- tion were there any appearances of the trampling of men
es of recent footsteps, to be seen. They stood now, on the in hurried flight. The grass was long; but it was trodden
summit of a little hill, commanding the open fields in every down nowhere, save where their own feet had crushed it.
direction for three or four miles. There was the village in the The sides and brinks of the ditches were of damp clay; but
hollow on the left; but, in order to gain that, after pursuing in no one place could they discern the print of men’s shoes,
the track Oliver had pointed out, the men must have made a or the slightest mark which would indicate that any feet had

pressed the ground for hours before. Rose herself: which Oliver could not fail to remark. Mrs.
‘This is strange!’ said Harry. Maylie and her son were often closeted together for a long
‘Strange?’ echoed the doctor. ‘Blathers and Duff, them- time; and more than once Rose appeared with traces of
selves, could make nothing of it.’ tears upon her face. After Mr. Losberne had fixed a day for
Notwithstanding the evidently useless nature of their his departure to Chertsey, these symptoms increased; and
search, they did not desist until the coming on of night it became evident that something was in progress which af-
rendered its further prosecution hopeless; and even then, fected the peace of the young lady, and of somebody else
they gave it up with reluctance. Giles was dispatched to the besides.
different ale-houses in the village, furnished with the best At length, one morning, when Rose was alone in the
description Oliver could give of the appearance and dress breakfast-parlour, Harry Maylie entered; and, with some
of the strangers. Of these, the Jew was, at all events, suf- hesitation, begged permission to speak with her for a few
ficiently remarkable to be remembered, supposing he had moments.
been seen drinking, or loitering about; but Giles returned ‘A few—a very few—will suffice, Rose,’ said the young
without any intelligence, calculated to dispel or lessen the man, drawing his chair towards her. ‘What I shall have to
mystery. say, has already presented itself to your mind; the most cher-
On the next day, fresh search was made, and the inquiries ished hopes of my heart are not unknown to you, though
renewed; but with no better success. On the day following, from my lips you have not heard them stated.’
Oliver and Mr. Maylie repaired to the market-town, in the Rose had been very pale from the moment of his en-
hope of seeing or hearing something of the men there; but trance; but that might have been the effect of her recent
this effort was equally fruitless. After a few days, the affair illness. She merely bowed; and bending over some plants
began to be forgotten, as most affairs are, when wonder, that stood near, waited in silence for him to proceed.
having no fresh food to support it, dies away of itself. ‘I—I—ought to have left here, before,’ said Harry.
Meanwhile, Rose was rapidly recovering. She had left her ‘You should, indeed,’ replied Rose. ‘Forgive me for saying
room: was able to go out; and mixing once more with the so, but I wish you had.’
family, carried joy into the hearts of all. ‘I was brought here, by the most dreadful and agonising
But, although this happy change had a visible effect on of all apprehensions,’ said the young man; ‘the fear of losing
the little circle; and although cheerful voices and merry the one dear being on whom my every wish and hope are
laughter were once more heard in the cottage; there was at fixed. You had been dying; trembling between earth and
times, an unwonted restraint upon some there: even upon heaven. We know that when the young, the beautiful, and

good, are visited with sickness, their pure spirits insensi- of health came back, and mingling with the spent and fee-
bly turn towards their bright home of lasting rest; we know, ble stream of life which circulated languidly within you,
Heaven help us! that the best and fairest of our kind, too of- swelled it again to a high and rushing tide. I have watched
ten fade in blooming.’ you change almost from death, to life, with eyes that turned
There were tears in the eyes of the gentle girl, as these blind with their eagerness and deep affection. Do not tell
words were spoken; and when one fell upon the flower over me that you wish I had lost this; for it has softened my heart
which she bent, and glistened brightly in its cup, making it to all mankind.’
more beautiful, it seemed as though the outpouring of her ‘I did not mean that,’ said Rose, weeping; ‘I only wish you
fresh young heart, claimed kindred naturally, with the love- had left here, that you might have turned to high and noble
liest things in nature. pursuits again; to pursuits well worthy of you.’
‘A creature,’ continued the young man, passionately, ‘a ‘There is no pursuit more worthy of me: more worthy
creature as fair and innocent of guile as one of God’s own of the highest nature that exists: than the struggle to win
angels, fluttered between life and death. Oh! who could such a heart as yours,’ said the young man, taking her hand.
hope, when the distant world to which she was akin, half ‘Rose, my own dear Rose! For years—for years—I have loved
opened to her view, that she would return to the sorrow and you; hoping to win my way to fame, and then come proudly
calamity of this! Rose, Rose, to know that you were passing home and tell you it had been pursued only for you to share;
away like some soft shadow, which a light from above, casts thinking, in my daydreams, how I would remind you, in
upon the earth; to have no hope that you would be spared that happy moment, of the many silent tokens I had given of
to those who linger here; hardly to know a reason why you a boy’s attachment, and claim your hand, as in redemption
should be; to feel that you belonged to that bright sphere of some old mute contract that had been sealed between us!
whither so many of the fairest and the best have winged That time has not arrived; but here, with not fame won, and
their early flight; and yet to pray, amid all these consolations, no young vision realised, I offer you the heart so long your
that you might be restored to those who loved you—these own, and stake my all upon the words with which you greet
were distractions almost too great to bear. They were mine, the offer.’
by day and night; and with them, came such a rushing tor- ‘Your behaviour has ever been kind and noble.’ said Rose,
rent of fears, and apprehensions, and selfish regrets, lest you mastering the emotions by which she was agitated. ‘As you
should die, and never know how devotedly I loved you, as believe that I am not insensible or ungrateful, so hear my
almost bore down sense and reason in its course. You re- answer.’
covered. Day by day, and almost hour by hour, some drop ‘It is, that I may endeavour to deserve you; it is, dear

Rose?’ appointment!’
‘It is,’ replied Rose, ‘that you must endeavour to forget ‘If I could have done so, without doing heavy wrong to
me; not as your old and dearly-attached companion, for him I loved,’ rejoined Rose, ‘I could have—‘
that would wound me deeply; but, as the object of your love. ‘Have received this declaration very differently?’ said
Look into the world; think how many hearts you would be Harry. ‘Do not conceal that from me, at least, Rose.’
proud to gain, are there. Confide some other passion to me, ‘I could,’ said Rose. ‘Stay!’ she added, disengaging her
if you will; I will be the truest, warmest, and most faithful hand, ‘why should we prolong this painful interview? Most
friend you have.’ painful to me, and yet productive of lasting happiness, not-
There was a pause, during which, Rose, who had covered withstanding; for it WILL be happiness to know that I once
her face with one hand, gave free vent to her tears. Harry held the high place in your regard which I now occupy, and
still retained the other. every triumph you achieve in life will animate me with new
‘And your reasons, Rose,’ he said, at length, in a low voice; fortitude and firmness. Farewell, Harry! As we have met to-
‘your reasons for this decision?’ day, we meet no more; but in other relations than those in
‘You have a right to know them,’ rejoined Rose. ‘You can which this conversation have placed us, we may be long and
say nothing to alter my resolution. It is a duty that I must happily entwined; and may every blessing that the prayers
perform. I owe it, alike to others, and to myself.’ of a true and earnest heart can call down from the source of
‘To yourself?’ all truth and sincerity, cheer and prosper you!’
‘Yes, Harry. I owe it to myself, that I, a friendless, por- ‘Another word, Rose,’ said Harry. ‘Your reason in your
tionless, girl, with a blight upon my name, should not give own words. From your own lips, let me hear it!’
your friends reason to suspect that I had sordidly yielded to ‘The prospect before you,’ answered Rose, firmly, ‘is a
your first passion, and fastened myself, a clog, on all your brilliant one. All the honours to which great talents and
hopes and projects. I owe it to you and yours, to prevent you powerful connections can help men in public life, are in
from opposing, in the warmth of your generous nature, this store for you. But those connections are proud; and I will
great obstacle to your progress in the world.’ neither mingle with such as may hold in scorn the mother
‘If your inclinations chime with your sense of duty—‘ who gave me life; nor bring disgrace or failure on the son of
Harry began. her who has so well supplied that mother’s place. In a word,’
‘They do not,’ replied Rose, colouring deeply. said the young lady, turning away, as her temporary firm-
‘Then you return my love?’ said Harry. ‘Say but that, dear ness forsook her, ‘there is a stain upon my name, which the
Rose; say but that; and soften the bitterness of this hard dis- world visits on innocent heads. I will carry it into no blood

but my own; and the reproach shall rest alone on me.’ when they come back withered; and they relieved her.
‘One word more, Rose. Dearest Rose! one more!’ cried ‘I cannot help this weakness, and it makes my purpose
Harry, throwing himself before her. ‘If I had been less—less stronger,’ said Rose, extending her hand. ‘I must leave you
fortunate, the world would call it—if some obscure and now, indeed.’
peaceful life had been my destiny—if I had been poor, sick, ‘I ask one promise,’ said Harry. ‘Once, and only once
helpless—would you have turned from me then? Or has more,—say within a year, but it may be much sooner,—I
my probable advancement to riches and honour, given this may speak to you again on this subject, for the last time.’
scruple birth?’ ‘Not to press me to alter my right determination,’ replied
‘Do not press me to reply,’ answered Rose. ‘The question Rose, with a melancholy smile; ‘it will be useless.’
does not arise, and never will. It is unfair, almost unkind, ‘No,’ said Harry; ‘to hear you repeat it, if you will—finally
to urge it.’ repeat it! I will lay at your feet, whatever of station of for-
‘If your answer be what I almost dare to hope it is,’ retort- tune I may possess; and if you still adhere to your present
ed Harry, ‘it will shed a gleam of happiness upon my lonely resolution, will not seek, by word or act, to change it.’
way, and light the path before me. It is not an idle thing to ‘Then let it be so,’ rejoined Rose; ‘it is but one pang the
do so much, by the utterance of a few brief words, for one more, and by that time I may be enabled to bear it better.’
who loves you beyond all else. Oh, Rose: in the name of my She extended her hand again. But the young man caught
ardent and enduring attachment; in the name of all I have her to his bosom; and imprinting one kiss on her beautiful
suffered for you, and all you doom me to undergo; answer forehead, hurried from the room.
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

CHAPTER XXXVI ‘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. Los-
berne; ‘though I confess I don’t think I shall. But yesterday
IS A VERY SHORT ONE, AND morning you had made up your mind, in a great hurry, to
stay here, and to accompany your mother, like a dutiful
MAY APPEAR OF NO GREAT son, to the sea-side. Before noon, you announce that you
are going to do me the honour of accompanying me as far
IMPORTANCE IN ITS PLACE, as I go, on your road to London. And at night, you urge
me, with great mystery, to start before the ladies are stir-
BUT IT SHOULD BE READ ring; the consequence of which is, that young Oliver here is
pinned down to his breakfast when he ought to be ranging
NOTWITHSTANDING, AS the meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds. Too
bad, isn’t it, Oliver?’
A SEQUEL TO THE LAST, ‘I should have been very sorry not to have been at home
when you and Mr. Maylie went away, sir,’ rejoined Oliver.
AND A KEY TO ONE THAT ‘That’s a fine fellow,’ said the doctor; ‘you shall come and
see me when you return. But, to speak seriously, Harry; has
WILL FOLLOW WHEN any communication from the great nobs produced this sud-
den anxiety on your part to be gone?’
ITS TIME ARRIVES ‘The great nobs,’ replied Harry, ‘under which designa-
tion, 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 oc-
cur to render necessary my immediate attendance among
‘A nd so you are resolved to be my travelling companion

this morning; eh?’ said the doctor, as Harry Maylie
joined him and Oliver at the breakfast-table. ‘Why, you are
them.’
‘Well,’ said the doctor, ‘you are a queer fellow. But of
course they will get you into parliament at the election be-
not in the same mind or intention two half-hours together!’ fore Christmas, and these sudden shiftings and changes are

no bad preparation for political life. There’s something in well. You understand me?’
that. Good training is always desirable, whether the race be ‘Oh! quite, sir, quite,’ replied Oliver.
for place, cup, or sweepstakes.’ ‘I would rather you did not mention it to them,’ said
Harry Maylie looked as if he could have followed up this Harry, hurrying over his words; ‘because it might make my
short dialogue by one or two remarks that would have stag- mother anxious to write to me oftener, and it is a trouble
gered the doctor not a little; but he contented himself with and worry to her. Let is be a secret between you and me; and
saying, ‘We shall see,’ and pursued the subject no farther. mind you tell me everything! I depend upon you.’
The post-chaise drove up to the door shortly afterwards; Oliver, quite elated and honoured by a sense of his im-
and Giles coming in for the luggage, the good doctor bus- portance, faithfully promised to be secret and explicit in his
tled out, to see it packed. communications. Mr. Maylie took leave of him, with many
‘Oliver,’ said Harry Maylie, in a low voice, ‘let me speak assurances of his regard and protection.
a word with you.’ The doctor was in the chaise; Giles (who, it had been ar-
Oliver walked into the window-recess to which Mr. ranged, should be left behind) held the door open in his
Maylie beckoned him; much surprised at the mixture of hand; and the women-servants were in the garden, looking
sadness and boisterous spirits, which his whole behaviour on. Harry cast one slight glance at the latticed window, and
displayed. jumped into the carriage.
‘You can write well now?’ said Harry, laying his hand ‘Drive on!’ he cried, ‘hard, fast, full gallop! Nothing short
upon his arm. of flying will keep pace with me, to-day.’
‘I hope so, sir,’ replied Oliver. ‘Halloa!’ cried the doctor, letting down the front glass
‘I shall not be at home again, perhaps for some time; I in a great hurry, and shouting to the postillion; ‘something
wish you would write to me—say once a fort-night: every al- very short of flyng will keep pace with me. Do you hear?’
ternate Monday: to the General Post Office in London. Will Jingling and clattering, till distance rendered its noise
you?’ inaudible, and its rapid progress only perceptible to the eye,
‘Oh! certainly, sir; I shall be proud to do it,’ exclaimed the vehicle wound its way along the road, almost hidden in
Oliver, greatly delighted with the commission. a cloud of dust: now wholly disappearing, and now becom-
‘I should like to know how—how my mother and Miss ing visible again, as intervening objects, or the intricacies
Maylie are,’ said the young man; ‘and you can fill up a sheet of the way, permitted. It was not until even the dusty cloud
by telling me what walks you take, and what you talk about, was no longer to be seen, that the gazers dispersed.
and whether she—they, I mean—seem happy and quite And there was one looker-on, who remained with eyes

fixed upon the spot where the carriage had disappeared,
long after it was many miles away; for, behind the white CHAPTER XXXVII
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 IN WHICH THE
am very, very glad.’
Tears are signs of gladness as well as grief; but those READER MAY PERCEIVE
which coursed down Rose’s face, as she sat pensively at the
window, still gazing in the same direction, seemed to tell A CONTRAST, NOT
more of sorrow than of joy.
UNCOMMON IN
MATRIMONIAL CASES
M r. 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 reflec-
tion of certain sickly rays of the sun, which were sent back
from its cold and shining surface. A paper fly-cage dangled
from the ceiling, to which he occasionally raised his eyes in
gloomy thought; and, as the heedless insects hovered round
the gaudy net-work, 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. Bumble’s gloom the only thing calculated

to awaken a pleasing melancholy in the bosom of a specta- ‘I sold myself,’ said Mr. Bumble, pursuing the same train
tor. There were not wanting other appearances, and those of relection, ‘for six teaspoons, a pair of sugar-tongs, and a
closely connected with his own person, which announced milk-pot; with a small quantity of second-hand furniture,
that a great change had taken place in the position of his af- and twenty pound in money. I went very reasonable. Cheap,
fairs. The laced coat, and the cocked hat; where were they? dirt cheap!’
He still wore knee-breeches, and dark cotton stockings on ‘Cheap!’ cried a shrill voice in Mr. Bumble’s ear: ‘you
his nether limbs; but they were not THE breeches. The coat would have been dear at any price; and dear enough I paid
was wide-skirted; and in that respect like THE coat, but, for you, Lord above knows that!’
oh how different! The mighty cocked hat was replaced by a Mr. Bumble turned, and encountered the face of his in-
modest round one. Mr. Bumble was no longer a beadle. teresting consort, who, imperfectly comprehending the few
There are some promotions in life, which, independent words she had overheard of his complaint, had hazarded
of the more substantial rewards they offer, require peculiar the foregoing remark at a venture.
value and dignity from the coats and waistcoats connected ‘Mrs. Bumble, ma’am!’ said Mr. Bumble, with a senti-
with them. A field-marshal has his uniform; a bishop his mental sternness.
silk apron; a counsellor his silk gown; a beadle his cocked ‘Well!’ cried the lady.
hat. Strip the bishop of his apron, or the beadle of his hat ‘Have the goodness to look at me,’ said Mr. Bumble, fix-
and lace; what are they? Men. Mere men. Dignity, and even ing his eyes upon her. (If she stands such a eye as that,’ said
holiness too, sometimes, are more questions of coat and Mr. Bumble to himself, ‘she can stand anything. It is a eye
waistcoat than some people imagine. I never knew to fail with paupers. If it fails with her, my
Mr. Bumle had married Mrs. Corney, and was master of power is gone.’)
the workhouse. Another beadle had come into power. On Whether an exceedingly small expansion of eye be suf-
him the cocked hat, gold-laced coat, and staff, had all three ficient to quell paupers, who, being lightly fed, are in no
descended. very high condition; or whether the late Mrs. Corney was
‘And to-morrow two months it was done!’ said Mr. Bum- particularly proof against eagle glances; are matters of
ble, with a sigh. ‘It seems a age.’ opinion. The matter of fact, is, that the matron was in no
Mr. Bumble might have meant that he had concentrated way overpowered by Mr. Bumble’s scowl, but, on the con-
a whole existence of happiness into the short space of eight trary, treated it with great disdain, and even raised a laugh
weeks; but the sigh—there was a vast deal of meaning in threreat, which sounded as though it were genuine.
the sigh. On hearing this most unexpected sound, Mr. Bumble

looked, first incredulous, and afterwards amazed. He then ver hats that improve with rain, his nerves were rendered
relapsed into his former state; nor did he rouse himself until stouter and more vigorous, by showers of tears, which, be-
his attention was again awakened by the voice of his parting tokens of weakness, and so far tacit admissions of his
ner. own power, please and exalted him. He eyed his good lady
‘Are you going to sit snoring there, all day?’ inquired Mrs. with looks of great satisfaction, and begged, in an encour-
Bumble. aging manner, that she should cry her hardest: the exercise
‘I am going to sit here, as long as I think proper, ma’am,’ being looked upon, by the faculty, as stronly conducive to
rejoined Mr. Bumble; ‘and although I was NOT snoring, health.
I shall snore, gape, sneeze, laugh, or cry, as the humour ‘It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises
strikes me; such being my prerogative.’ the eyes, and softens down the temper,’ said Mr. Bumble.
‘Your PREROGATIVE!’ sneered Mrs. Bumble, with inef- ‘So cry away.’
fable contempt. As he discharged himself of this pleasantry, Mr. Bumble
‘I said the word, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘The preroga- took his hat from a peg, and putting it on, rather rakishly,
tive of a man is to command.’ on one side, as a man might, who felt he had asserted his su-
‘And what’s the prerogative of a woman, in the name of periority in a becoming manner, thrust his hands into his
Goodness?’ cried the relict of Mr. Corney deceased. pockets, and sauntered towards the door, with much ease
‘To obey, ma’am,’ thundered Mr. Bumble. ‘Your late un- and waggishness depicted in his whole appearance.
fortunate husband should have taught it you; and then, Now, Mrs. Corney that was, had tried the tears, because
perhaps, he might have been alive now. I wish he was, poor they were less troublesome than a manual assault; but, she
man!’ was quite prepared to make trial of the latter mode of pro-
Mrs. Bumble, seeing at a glance, that the decisive mo- ceeding, as Mr. Bumble was not long in discovering.
ment had now arrived, and that a blow struck for the The first proof he experienced of the fact, was conveyed
mastership on one side or other, must necessarily be final in a hollow sound, immediately succeeded by the sudden
and conclusive, no sooner heard this allusion to the dead flying off of his hat to the opposite end of the room. This
and gone, than she dropped into a chair, and with a loud preliminary proceeding laying bare his head, the expert
scream that Mr. Bumble was a hard-hearted brute, fell into lady, clasping him tightly round the throat with one hand,
a paroxysm of tears. inflicted a shower of blows (dealt with singular vigour and
But, tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. dexterity) upon it with the other. This done, she created a
Bumble’s soul; his heart was waterproof. Like washable bea- little variety by scratching his face, and tearing his hair;

and, having, by this time, inflicted as much punishment as ifications for office.
she deemed necessary for the offence, she pushed him over But, the measure of his degradation was not yet full. Af-
a chair, which was luckily well situated for the purpose: and ter making a tour of the house, and thinking, for the first
defied him to talk about his prerogative again, if he dared. time, that the poor-laws really were too hard on people;
‘Get up!’ said Mrs. Bumble, in a voice of command. ‘And and that men who ran away from their wives, leaving them
take yourself away from here, unless you want me to do chargeable to the parish, ought, in justice to be visited with
something desperate.’ no punishment at all, but rather rewarded as meritorious
Mr. Bumble rose with a very rueful countenance: won- individuals who had suffered much; Mr. Bumble came to
dering much what something desperate might be. Picking a room where some of the female paupers were usually
up his hat, he looked towards the door. employed in washing the parish linen: when the sound of
‘Are you going?’ demanded Mr. Bumble. voices in conversation, now proceeded.
‘Certainly, my dear, certainly,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble, ‘Hem!’ said Mr. Bumble, summoning up all his native
making a quicker motion towards the door. ‘I didn’t intend dignity. ‘These women at least shall continue to respect the
to—I’m going, my dear! You are so very violent, that really prerogative. Hallo! hallo there! What do you mean by this
I—‘ noise, you hussies?’
At this instant, Mrs. Bumble stepped hastily forward to With these words, Mr. Bumble opened the door, and
replace the carpet, which had been kicked up in the scuffle. walked in with a very fierce and angry manner: which was at
Mr. Bumble immediately darted out of the room, without once exchanged for a most humiliated and cowering air, as
bestowing another thought on his unfinished sentence: his eyes unexpectedly rested on the form of his lady wife.
leaving the late Mrs. Corney in full possession of the field. ‘My dear,’ said Mr. Bumble, ‘I didn’t know you were
Mr. Bumble was fairly taken by surprise, and fairly beat- here.’
en. He had a decided propensity for bullying: derived no ‘Didn’t know I was here!’ repeated Mrs. Bumble. ‘What
inconsiderable pleasure from the exercise of petty cruelty; do YOU do here?’
and, consequently, was (it is needless to say) a coward. This ‘I thought they were talking rather too much to be doing
is by no means a disparagement to his character; for many their work properly, my dear,’ replied Mr. Bumble: glanc-
official personages, who are held in high respect and admi- ing distractedly at a couple of old women at the wash-tub,
ration, are the victims of similar infirmities. The remark is who were comparing notes of admiration at the workhouse-
made, indeed, rather in his favour than otherwise, and with master’s humility.
a view of impressing the reader with a just sense of his qual- ‘YOU thought they were talking too much?’ said Mrs.

Bumble. ‘What business is it of yours?’ was not only my own master, but everybody else’s, so far as
‘Why, my dear—‘ urged Mr. Bumble submissively. the porochial workhouse was concerned, and now!—‘
‘What business is it of yours?’ demanded Mrs. Bumble, It was too much. Mr. Bumble boxed the ears of the boy
again. who opened the gate for him (for he had reached the portal
‘It’s very true, you’re matron here, my dear,’ submitted in his reverie); and walked, distractedly, into the street.
Mr. Bumble; ‘but I thought you mightn’t be in the way just He walked up one street, and down another, until exer-
then.’ cise had abated the first passion of his grief; and then the
‘I’ll tell you what, Mr. Bumble,’ returned his lady. ‘We revulsion of feeling made him thirsty. He passed a great
don’t want any of your interference. You’re a great deal too many public-houses; but, at length paused before one in a
fond of poking your nose into things that don’t concern you, by-way, whose parlour, as he gathered from a hasty peep
making everybody in the house laugh, the moment your over the blinds, was deserted, save by one solitary customer.
back is turned, and making yourself look like a fool every It began to rain, heavily, at the moment. This determined
hour in the day. Be off; come!’ him. Mr. Bumble stepped in; and ordering something to
Mr. Bumble, seeing with excruciating feelings, the de- drink, as he passed the bar, entered the apartment into
light of the two old paupers, who were tittering together which he had looked from the street.
most rapturously, hesitated for an instant. Mrs. Bumble, The man who was seated there, was tall and dark, and
whose patience brooked no delay, caught up a bowl of soap- wore a large cloak. He had the air of a stranger; and seemed,
suds, and motioning him towards the door, ordered him by a certain haggardness in his look, as well as by the dusty
instantly to depart, on pain of receiving the contents upon soils on his dress, to have travelled some distance. He eyed
his portly person. Bumble askance, as he entered, but scarcely deigned to nod
What could Mr. Bumble do? He looked dejectedly round, his head in acknowledgment of his salutation.
and slunk away; and, as he reached the door, the titterings Mr. Bumble had quite dignity enough for two; supposing
of the paupers broke into a shrill chuckle of irrepressible even that the stranger had been more familiar: so he drank
delight. It wanted but this. He was degraded in their eyes; his gin-and-water in silence, and read the paper with great
he had lost caste and station before the very paupers; he had show of pomp and circumstance.
fallen from all the height and pomp of beadleship, to the It so happened, however: as it will happen very often,
lowest depth of the most snubbed hen-peckery. when men fall into company under such circumstances:
‘All in two months!’ said Mr. Bumble, filled with dismal that Mr. Bumble felt, every now and then, a powerful in-
thoughts. ‘Two months! No more than two months ago, I ducement, which he could not resist, to steal a look at the

stranger: and that whenever he did so, he withdrew his eyes, ‘I was,’ said Mr. Bumble, in some surprise; ‘porochial
in some confusion, to find that the stranger was at that mo- beadle.’
ment stealing a look at him. Mr. Bumble’s awkwardness ‘Just so,’ rejoined the other, nodding his head. ‘It was in
was enhanced by the very remarkable expression of the that character I saw you. What are you now?’
stranger’s eye, which was keen and bright, but shadowed by ‘Master of the workhouse,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble, slow-
a scowl of distrust and suspicion, unlike anything he had ly and impressively, to check any undue familiarity the
ever observed before, and repulsive to behold. stranger might otherwise assume. ‘Master of the work-
When they had encountered each other’s glance several house, young man!’
times in this way, the stranger, in a harsh, deep voice, broke ‘You have the same eye to your own interest, that you
silence. always had, I doubt not?’ resumed the stranger, looking
‘Were you looking for me,’ he said, ‘when you peered in keenly into Mr. Bumble’s eyes, as he raised them in aston-
at the window?’ ishment at the question.
‘Not that I am aware of, unless you’re Mr. —‘ Here Mr. ‘Don’t scruple to answer freely, man. I know you pretty
Bumble stopped short; for he was curious to know the well, you see.’
stranger’s name, and thought in his impatience, he might ‘I suppose, a married man,’ replied Mr. Bumble, shading
supply the blank. his eyes with his hand, and surveying the stranger, from
‘I see you were not,’ said the stranger; and expression of head to foot, in evident perplexity, ‘is not more averse to
quiet sarcasm playing about his mouth; ‘or you have known turning an honest penny when he can, than a single one.
my name. You don’t know it. I would recommend you not Porochial officers are not so well paid that they can afford
to ask for it.’ to refuse any little extra fee, when it comes to them in a civil
‘I meant no harm, young man,’ observed Mr. Bumble, and proper manner.’
majestically. The stranger smiled, and nodded his head again: as much
‘And have done none,’ said the stranger. to say, he had not mistaken his man; then rang the bell.
Another silence succeeded this short dialogue: which ‘Fill this glass again,’ he said, handing Mr. Bumble’s emp-
was again broken by the stranger. ty tumbler to the landlord. ‘Let it be strong and hot. You
‘I have seen you before, I think?’ said he. ‘You were dif- like it so, I suppose?’
ferently dressed at that time, and I only passed you in the ‘Not too strong,’ replied Mr. Bumble, with a delicate
street, but I should know you again. You were beadle here, cough.
once; were you not?’ ‘You understand what that means, landlord!’ said the

stranger, drily. parish to rear; and hid their shame, rot ‘em in the grave!’
The host smiled, disappeared, and shortly afterwards ‘The lying-in room, I suppose?’ said Mr. Bumble, not
returned with a steaming jorum: of which, the first gulp quite following the stranger’s excited description.
brought the water into Mr. Bumble’s eyes. ‘Yes,’ said the stranger. ‘A boy was born there.’
‘Now listen to me,’ said the stranger, after closing the ‘A many boys,’ observed Mr. Bumble, shaking his head,
door and window. ‘I came down to this place, to-day, to despondingly.
find you out; and, by one of those chances which the devil ‘A murrain on the young devils!’ cried the stranger; ‘I
throws in the way of his friends sometimes, you walked into speak of one; a meek-looking, pale-faced boy, who was
the very room I was sitting in, while you were uppermost apprenticed down here, to a coffin-maker—I wish he had
in my mind. I want some information from you. I don’t ask made his coffin, and screwed his body in it—and who after-
you to give it for mothing, slight as it is. Put up that, to be- wards ran away to London, as it was supposed.
gin with.’ ‘Why, you mean Oliver! Young Twist!’ said Mr. Bumble;
As he spoke, he pushed a couple of sovereigns across the ‘I remember him, of course. There wasn’t a obstinater young
table to his companion, carefully, as though unwilling that rascal—‘
the chinking of money should be heard without. When Mr. ‘It’s not of him I want to hear; I’ve heard enough of him,’
Bumble had scrupulously examined the coins, to see that said the stranger, stopping Mr. Bumble in the outset of a ti-
they were genuine, and had put them up, with much satis- rade on the subject of poor Oliver’s vices. ‘It’s of a woman;
faction, in his waistcoat-pocket, he went on: the hag that nursed his mother. Where is she?’
‘Carry your memory back—let me see—twelve years, last ‘Where is she?’ said Mr. Bumble, whom the gin-and-wa-
winter.’ ter had rendered facetious. ‘It would be hard to tell. There’s
‘It’s a long time,’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘Very good. I’ve done no midwifery there, whichever place she’s gone to; so I sup-
it.’ pose she’s out of employment, anyway.’
‘The scene, the workhouse.’ ‘What do you mean?’ demanded the stranger, sternly.
‘Good!’ ‘That she died last winter,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble.
‘And the time, night.’ The man looked fixedly at him when he had given this
‘Yes.’ information, and although he did not withdraw his eyes for
‘And the place, the crazy hole, wherever it was, in which some time afterwards, his gaze gradually became vacant and
miserable drabs brought forth the life and health so often abstracted, and he seemed lost in thought. For some time,
denied to themselves—gave birth to puling children for the he appeared doubtful whether he ought to be relieved or

disappointed by the intelligence; but at length he breathed needn’t tell you to be secret. It’s your interest.’
more freely; and withdrawing his eyes, observed that it was With these words, he led the way to the door, after stop-
no great matter. With that he rose, as if to depart. ping to pay for the liquor that had been drunk. Shortly
But Mr. Bumble was cunning enough; and he at once saw remarking that their roads were different, he departed,
that an opportunity was opened, for the lucrative disposal without more ceremony than an emphatic repetition of the
of some secret in the possession of his better half. He well hour of appointment for the following night.
remembered the night of old Sally’s death, which the occur- On glancing at the address, the parochial functionary
rences of that day had given him good reason to recollect, observed that it contained no name. The stranger had not
as the occasion on which he had proposed to Mrs. Corney; gone far, so he made after him to ask it.
and although that lady had never confided to him the dis- ‘What do you want?’ cried the man. turning quickly
closure of which she had been the solitary witness, he had round, as Bumble touched him on the arm. ‘Following me?’
heard enough to know that it related to something that had ‘Only to ask a question,’ said the other, pointing to the
occurred in the old woman’s attendance, as workhouse scrap of paper. ‘What name am I to ask for?’
nurse, upon the young mother of Oliver Twist. Hastily call- ‘Monks!’ rejoined the man; and strode hastily, away.
ing 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.
‘To-morrow,’ rejoined Bumble.
‘At nine in the evening,’ said the stranger, producing a
scrap of paper, and writing down upon it, an obscure ad-
dress by the water-side, in characters that betrayed his
agitation; ‘at nine in the evening, bring her to me there. I

CHAPTER XXXVIII ments, 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,
CONTAINING AN a few paces in front, as though—the way being dirty—to
give his wife the benefit of treading in his heavy footprints.
ACCOUNT OF WHAT They went on, in profound silence; every now and then, Mr.
Bumble relaxed his pace, and turned his head as if to make
PASSED BETWEEN MR. sure that his helpmate was following; then, discovering that
she was close at his heels, he mended his rate of walking,
AND MRS. BUMBLE, AND and proceeded, at a considerable increase of speed, towards
their place of destination.
MR. MONKS, AT THEIR This was far from being a place of doubtful character; for
it had long been known as the residence of none but low ruf-
NOCTURNAL INTERVIEW fians, 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 worm-eaten ship-timber: jumbled together without
any attempt at order or arrangement, and planted, for the
I t 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
most part, within a few feet of the river’s 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:
rain, and seemed to presage a violent thunder-storm, when appeared, at first, to indicate that the inhabitants of these
Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, turning out of the main street of the miserable cottages pursued some avocation on the river; but
town, directed their course towards a scattered little colo- a glance at the shattered and useless condition of the ar-
ny of ruinous houses, distant from it some mile and a-half, ticles thus displayed, would have led a passer-by, without
or thereabouts, and erected on a low unwholesome swamp, much difficulty, to the conjecture that they were disposed
bordering upon the river. there, rather for the preservation of appearances, than with
They were both wrapped in old and shabby outer gar- any view to their being actually employed.

In the heart of this cluster of huts; and skirting the riv- Mr. Bumble, who had eyed the building with very rueful
er, which its upper stories overhung; stood a large building, looks, was apparently about to express some doubts relative
formerly used as a manufactory of some kind. It had, in its to the advisability of proceeding any further with the enter-
day, probably furnished employment to the inhabitants of prise just then, when he was prevented by the appearance of
the surrounding tenements. But it had long since gone to Monks: w ho opened a small door, near which they stood,
ruin. The rat, the worm, and the action of the damp, had and beckoned them inwards.
weakened and rotted the piles on which it stood; and a con- ‘Come in!’ he cried impatiently, stamping his foot upon
siderable portion of the building had already sunk down the ground. ‘Don’t keep me here!’
into the water; while the remainder, tottering and bending The woman, who had hesitated at first, walked bold-
over the dark stream, seemed to wait a favourable opportu- ly in, without any other invitation. Mr. Bumble, who was
nity of following its old companion, and involving itself in ashamed or afraid to lag behind, followed: obviously very
the same fate. ill at ease and with scarcely any of that remarkable dignity
It was before this ruinous building that the worthy couple which was usually his chief characteristic.
paused, as the first peal of distant thunder reverberated in ‘What the devil made you stand lingering there, in the
the air, and the rain commenced pouring violently down. wet?’ said Monks, turning round, and addressing Bumble,
‘The place should be somewhere here,’ said Bumble, con- after he had bolted the door behind them.
sulting a scrap of paper he held in his hand. ‘We—we were only cooling ourselves,’ stammered Bum-
‘Halloa there!’ cried a voice from above. ble, looking apprehensively about him.
Following the sound, Mr. Bumble raised his head and ‘Cooling yourselves!’ retorted Monks. ‘Not all the rain
descried a man looking out of a door, breast-high, on the that ever fell, or ever will fall, will put as much of hell’s fire
second story. out, as a man can carry about with him. You won’t cool
‘Stand still, a minute,’ cried the voice; ‘I’ll be with you yourself so easily; don’t think it!’
directly.’ With which the head disappeared, and the door With this agreeable speech, Monks turned short upon
closed. the matron, and bent his gaze upon her, till even she, who
‘Is that the man?’ asked Mr. Bumble’s good lady. was not easily cowed, was fain to withdraw her eyes, and
Mr. Bumble nodded in the affirmative. turn them them towards the ground.
‘Then, mind what I told you,’ said the matron: ‘and be ‘This is the woman, is it?’ demanded Monks.
careful to say as little as you can, or you’ll betray us at ‘Hem! That is the woman,’ replied Mr. Bumble, mindful
once.’ of his wife’s caution.

‘You think women never can keep secrets, I suppose?’ ‘These fits come over me, now and then,’ said Monks, ob-
said the matron, interposing, and returning, as she spoke, serving his alarm; ‘and thunder sometimes brings them on.
the searching look of Monks. Don’t mind me now; it’s all over for this once.’
‘I know they will always keep ONE till it’s found out,’ Thus speaking, he led the way up the ladder; and hast-
said Monks. ily closing the window-shutter of the room into which it
‘And what may that be?’ asked the matron. led, lowered a lantern which hung at the end of a rope and
‘The loss of their own good name,’ replied Monks. ‘So, by pulley passed through one of the heavy beams in the ceil-
the same rule, if a woman’s a party to a secret that might ing: and which cast a dim light upon an old table and three
hang or transport her, I’m not afraid of her telling it to any- chairs that were placed beneath it.
body; not I! Do you understand, mistress?’ ‘Now,’ said Monks, when they had all three seated them-
‘No,’ rejoined the matron, slightly colouring as she selves, ‘the sooner we come to our business, the better for
spoke. all. The woman know what it is, does she?’
‘Of course you don’t!’ said Monks. ‘How should you?’ The question was addressed to Bumble; but his wife an-
Bestowing something half-way between a smile and ticipated the reply, by intimating that she was perfectly
a frown upon his two companions, and again beckoning acquainted with it.
them to follow him, the man hastened across the apartment, ‘He is right in saying that you were with this hag the
which was of considerable extent, but low in the roof. He night she died; and that she told you something—‘
was preparing to ascend a steep staircase, or rather ladder, ‘About the mother of the boy you named,’ replied the ma-
leading to another floor of warehouses above: when a bright tron interrupting him. ‘Yes.’
flash of lightning streamed down the aperture, and a peal ‘The first question is, of what nature was her communica-
of thunder followed, which shook the crazy building to its tion?’ said Monks.
centre. ‘That’s the second,’ observed the woman with much de-
‘Hear it!’ he cried, shrinking back. ‘Hear it! Rolling and liberation. ‘The first is, what may the communication be
crashing on as if it echoed through a thousand caverns worth?’
where the devils were hiding from it. I hate the sound!’ ‘Who the devil can tell that, without knowing of what
He remained silent for a few moments; and then, re- kind it is?’ asked Monks.
moving his hands suddenly from his face, showed, to the ‘Nobody better than you, I am persuaded,’ answered
unspeakable discomposure of Mr. Bumble, that it was much Mrs. Bumble: who did not want for spirit, as her yoke-fel-
distorted and discoloured. low could abundantly testify.

‘Humph!’ said Monks significantly, and with a look of ea- ‘Such matters keep well, and, like good wine, often dou-
ger inquiry; ‘there may be money’s worth to get, eh?’ ble their value in course of time,’ answered the matron, still
‘Perhaps there may,’ was the composed reply. preserving the resolute indifference she had assumed. ‘As
‘Something that was taken from her,’ said Monks. ‘Some- to lying dead, there are those who will lie dead for twelve
thing that she wore. Something that—‘ thousand years to come, or twelve million, for anything you
‘You had better bid,’ interrupted Mrs. Bumble. ‘I have or I know, who will tell strange tales at last!’
heard enough, already, to assure me that you are the man ‘What if I pay it for nothing?’ asked Monks, hesitating.
I ought to talk to.’ ‘You can easily take it away again,’ replied the matron. ‘I
Mr. Bumble, who had not yet been admitted by his better am but a woman; alone here; and unprotected.’
half into any greater share of the secret than he had origi- ‘Not alone, my dear, nor unprotected, neither,’ submitted
nally possessed, listened to this dialogue with outstretched Mr. Bumble, in a voice tremulous with fear: ‘I am here, my
neck and distended eyes: which he directed towards his dear. And besides,’ said Mr. Bumble, his teeth chattering as
wife and Monks, by turns, in undisguised astonishment; in- he spoke, ‘Mr. Monks is too much of a gentleman to attempt
creased, if possible, when the latter sternly demanded, what any violence on porochial persons. Mr. Monks is aware that
sum was required for the disclosure. I am not a young man, my dear, and also that I am a little
‘What’s it worth to you?’ asked the woman, as collectedly run to seed, as I may say; bu he has heerd: I say I have no
as before. doubt Mr. Monks has heerd, my dear: that I am a very de-
‘It may be nothing; it may be twenty pounds,’ replied termined officer, with very uncommon strength, if I’m once
Monks. ‘Speak out, and let me know which.’ roused. I only want a little rousing; that’s all.’
‘Add five pounds to the sum you have named; give me As Mr. Bumble spoke, he made a melancholy feint of
five-and-twenty pounds in gold,’ said the woman; ‘and I’ll grasping his lantern with fierce determination; and plainly
tell you all I know. Not before.’ showed, by the alarmed expression of every feature, that he
‘Five-and-twenty pounds!’ exclaimed Monks, drawing DID want a little rousing, and not a little, prior to mak-
back. ing any very warlike demonstration: unless, indeed, against
‘I spoke as plainly as I could,’ replied Mrs. Bumble. ‘It’s paupers, or other person or persons trained down for the
not a large sum, either.’ purpose.
‘Not a large sum for a paltry secret, that may be noth- ‘You are a fool,’ said Mrs. Bumble, in reply; ‘and had bet-
ing when it’s told!’ cried Monks impatiently; ‘and which has ter hold your tongue.’
been lying dead for twelve years past or more!’ ‘He had better have cut it out, before he came, if he can’t

speak in a lower tone,’ said Monks, grimly. ‘So! He’s your whisper; ‘No sick wretch or idiot in some other bed? No one
husband, eh?’ who could hear, and might, by possibility, understand?’
‘He my husband!’ tittered the matron, parrying the ques- ‘Not a soul,’ replied the woman; ‘we were alone. I stood
tion. alone beside the body when death came over it.’
‘I thought as much, when you came in,’ rejoined Monks, ‘Good,’ said Monks, regarding her attentively. ‘Go on.’
marking the angry glance which the lady darted at her ‘She spoke of a young creature,’ resumed the matron,
spouse as she spoke. ‘So much the better; I have less hesi- ‘who had brought a child into the world some years before;
tation in dealing with two people, when I find that there’s not merely in the same room, but in the same bed, in which
only one will between them. I’m in earnest. See here!’ she then lay dying.’
He thrust his hand into a side-pocket; and producing a ‘Ay?’ said Monks, with quivering lip, and glancing over
canvas bag, told out twenty-five sovereigns on the table, and his shoulder, ‘Blood! How things come about!’
pushed them over to the woman. ‘The child was the one you named to him last night,’ said
‘Now,’ he said, ‘gather them up; and when this cursed the matron, nodding carelessly towards her husband; ‘the
peal of thunder, which I feel is coming up to break over the mother this nurse had robbed.’
house-top, is gone, let’s hear your story.’ ‘In life?’ asked Monks.
The thunder, which seemed in fact much nearer, and to ‘In death,’ replied the woman, with something like a
shiver and break almost over their heads, having subsided, shudder. ‘She stole from the corpse, when it had hardly
Monks, raising his face from the table, bent forward to lis- turned to one, that which the dead mother had prayed her,
ten to what the woman should say. The faces of the three with her last breath, to keep for the infant’s sake.’
nearly touched, as the two men leant over the small table ‘She sold it,’ cried Monks, with desperate eagerness; ‘did
in their eagerness to hear, and the woman also leant for- she sell it? Where? When? To whom? How long before?’
ward to render her whisper audible. The sickly rays of the ‘As she told me, with great difficulty, that she had done
suspended lantern falling directly upon them, aggravated this,’ said the matron, ‘she fell back and died.’
the paleness and anxiety of their countenances: which, en- ‘Without saying more?’ cried Monks, in a voice which,
circled by the deepest gloom and darkness, looked ghastly from its very suppression, seemed only the more furious.
in the extreme. ‘It’s a lie! I’ll not be played with. She said more. I’ll tear the
‘When this woman, that we called old Sally, died,’ the life out of you both, but I’ll know what it was.’
matron began, ‘she and I were alone.’ ‘She didn’t utter another word,’ said the woman, to all
‘Was there no one by?’ asked Monks, in the same hollow appearance unmoved (as Mr. Bumble was very far from

being) by the strange man’s violence; ‘but she clutched my the date; which is within a year before the child was born. I
gown, violently, with one hand, which was partly closed; found out that.’
and when I saw that she was dead, and so removed the hand ‘And this is all?’ said Monks, after a close and eager scru-
by force, I found it clasped a scrap of dirty paper.’ tiny of the contents of the little packet.
‘Which contained—‘ interposed Monks, stretching for- ‘All,’ replied the woman.
ward. Mr. Bumble drew a long breath, as if he were glad to find
‘Nothing,’ replied the woman; ‘it was a pawnbroker’s du- that the story was over, and no mention made of taking the
plicate.’ five-and-twenty pounds back again; and now he took cour-
‘For what?’ demanded Monks. age to wipe the perspiration which had been trickling over
‘In good time I’ll tell you.’ said the woman. ‘I judge that his nose, unchecked, during the whole of the previous dia-
she had kept the trinket, for some time, in the hope of turn- logue.
ing it to better account; and then had pawned it; and had ‘I know nothing of the story, beyond what I can guess at,’
saved or scraped together money to pay the pawnbroker’s said his wife addressing Monks, after a short silence; ‘and I
interest year by year, and prevent its running out; so that want to know nothing; for it’s safer not. But I may ask you
if anything came of it, it could still be redeemed. Nothing two questions, may I?’
had come of it; and, as I tell you, she died with the scrap of ‘You may ask,’ said Monks, with some show of surprise;
paper, all worn and tattered, in her hand. The time was out ‘but whether I answer or not is another question.’
in two days; I thought something might one day come of it ‘—Which makes three,’ observed Mr. Bumble, essaying a
too; and so redeemed the pledge.’ stroke of facetiousness.
‘Where is it now?’ asked Monks quickly. ‘Is that what you expected to get from me?’ demanded
‘THERE,’ replied the woman. And, as if glad to be re- the matron.
lieved of it, she hastily threw upon the table a small kid bag ‘It is,’ replied Monks. ‘The other question?’
scarcely large enough for a French watch, which Monks ‘What do you propose to do with it? Can it be used
pouncing upon, tore open with trembling hands. It con- against me?’
tained a little gold locket: in which were two locks of hair, ‘Never,’ rejoined Monks; ‘nor against me either. See here!
and a plain gold wedding-ring. But don’t move a step forward, or your life is not worth a
‘It has the word ‘Agnes’ engraved on the inside,’ said the bulrush.’
woman. With these words, he suddenly wheeled the table aside,
‘There is a blank left for the surname; and then follows and pulling an iron ring in the boarding, threw back a large

trap-door which opened close at Mr. Bumble’s feet, and The three looking into each other’s faces, seemed to
caused that gentleman to retire several paces backward, breathe more freely.
with great precipitation. ‘There!’ said Monks, closing the trap-door, which fell
‘Look down,’ said Monks, lowering the lantern into the heavily back into its former position. ‘If the sea ever gives
gulf. ‘Don’t fear me. I could have let you down, quietly up its dead, as books say it will, it will keep its gold and sil-
enough, when you were seated over it, if that had been my ver to itself, and that trash among it. We have nothing more
game.’ to say, and may break up our pleasant party.’
Thus encouraged, the matron drew near to the brink; ‘By all means,’ observed Mr. Bumble, with great alacrity.
and even Mr. Bumble himself, impelled by curiousity, ven- ‘You’ll keep a quiet tongue in your head, will you?’ said
tured to do the same. The turbid water, swollen by the heavy Monks, with a threatening look. ‘I am not afraid of your
rain, was rushing rapidly on below; and all other sounds wife.’
were lost in the noise of its plashing and eddying against ‘You may depend upon me, young man,’ answered Mr.
the green and slimy piles. There had once been a water-mill Bumble, bowing himself gradually towards the ladder, with
beneath; the tide foaming and chafing round the few rot- excessive politeness. ‘On everybody’s account, young man;
ten stakes, and fragments of machinery that yet remained, on my own, you know, Mr. Monks.’
seemed to dart onward, with a new impulse, when freed ‘I am glad, for your sake, to hear it,’ remarked Monks.
from the obstacles which had unavailingly attempted to ‘Light your lantern! And get away from here as fast as you
stem its headlong course. can.’
‘If you flung a man’s body down there, where would it be It was fortunate that the conversation terminated at this
to-morrow morning?’ said Monks, swinging the lantern to point, or Mr. Bumble, who had bowed himself to within six
and fro in the dark well. inches of the ladder, would infallibly have pitched headlong
‘Twelve miles down the river, and cut to pieces besides,’ into the room below. He lighted his lantern from that which
replied Bumble, recoiling at the thought. Monks had detached from the rope, and now carried in his
Monks drew the little packet from his breast, where hand; and making no effort to prolong the discourse, de-
he had hurriedly thrust it; and tying it to a leaden weight, scended in silence, followed by his wife. Monks brought up
which had formed a part of some pulley, and was lying on the rear, after pausing on the steps to satisfy himself that
the floor, dropped it into the stream. It fell straight, and true there were no other sounds to be heard than the beating of
as a die; clove the water with a scarcely audible splash; and the rain without, and the rushing of the water.
was gone. They traversed the lower room, slowly, and with caution;

for Monks started at every shadow; and Mr. Bumble, hold-
ing his lantern a foot above the ground, walked not only CHAPTER XXXIX
with remarkable care, but with a marvellously light step for
a gentleman of his figure: looking nervously about him for
hidden trap-doors. The gate at which they had entered, was
softly unfastened and opened by Monks; merely exchang- INTRODUCES SOME
ing a nod with their mysterious acquaintance, the married
couple emerged into the wet and darkness outside. RESPECTABLE
They were no sooner gone, than Monks, who appeared
to entertain an invincible repugnance to being left alone, CHARACTERS WITH
called to a boy who had been hidden somewhere below.
Bidding him go first, and bear the light, he returned to the WHOM THE READER IS
chamber he had just quitted.
ALREADY ACQUAINTED,
AND SHOWS HOW
MONKS AND THE JEW
LAID THEIR WORTHY
HEADS TOGETHER
O n 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. Wil-
liam Sikes, awakening from a nap, drowsily growled forth

an inquiry what time of night it was. culty in recognising her as the same Nancy who has already
The room in which Mr. Sikes propounded this question, figured in this tale, but for the voice in which she replied to
was not one of those he had tenanted, previous to the Chert- Mr. Sikes’s question.
sey expedition, although it was in the same quarter of the ‘Not long gone seven,’ said the girl. ‘How do you feel to-
town, and was situated at no great distance from his former night, Bill?’
lodgings. It was not, in appearance, so desirable a habita- ‘As weak as water,’ replied Mr. Sikes, with an imprecation
tion as his old quarters: being a mean and badly-furnished on his eyes and limbs. ‘Here; lend us a hand, and let me get
apartment, of very limited size; lighted only by one small off this thundering bed anyhow.’
window in the shelving roof, and abutting on a close and Illness had not improved Mr. Sikes’s temper; for, as the
dirty lane. Nor were there wanting other indications of the girl raised him up and led him to a chair, he muttered vari-
good gentleman’s having gone down in the world of late: for ous curses on her awkwardnewss, and struck her.
a great scarcity of furniture, and total absence of comfort, ‘Whining are you?’ said Sikes. ‘Come! Don’t stand snivel-
together with the disappearance of all such small move- ling there. If you can’t do anything better than that, cut off
ables as spare clothes and linen, bespoke a state of extreme altogether. D’ye hear me?’
poverty; while the meagre and attenuated condition of Mr. ‘I hear you,’ replied the girl, turning her face aside, and
Sikes himself would have fully confirmed these symptoms, forcing a laugh. ‘What fancy have you got in your head
if they had stood in any need of corroboration. now?’
The housebreaker was lying on the bed, wrapped in his ‘Oh! you’ve thought better of it, have you?’ growled Sikes,
white great-coat, by way of dressing-gown, and displaying a marking the tear which trembled in her eye. ‘All the better
set of features in no degree improved by the cadaverous hue for you, you have.’
of illness, and the addition of a soiled nightcap, and a stiff, ‘Why, you don’t mean to say, you’d be hard upon me to-
black beard of a week’s growth. The dog sat at the bedside: night, Bill,’ said the girl, laying her hand upon his shoulder.
now eyeing his master with a wistful look, and now prick- ‘No!’ cried Mr. Sikes. ‘Why not?’
ing his ears, and uttering a low growl as some noise in the ‘Such a number of nights,’ said the girl, with a touch
street, or in the lower part of the house, attracted his atten- of woman’s tenderness, which communicated something
tion. Seated by the window, busily engaged in patching an like sweetness of tone, even to her voice: ‘such a number
old waistcoat which formed a portion of the robber’s ordi- of nights as I’ve been patient with you, nursing and caring
nary dress, was a female: so pale and reduced with watching for you, as if you had been a child: and this the first that I’ve
and privation, that there would have been considerable diffi- seen you like yourself; you wouldn’t have served me as you

did just now, if you’d thought of that, would you? Come, the room, hastily deposited on the floor a bundle with which
come; say you wouldn’t.’ he was laden; and snatching a bottle from the grasp of Mas-
‘Well, then,’ rejoined Mr. Sikes, ‘I wouldn’t. Why, damme, ter Charles Bates who came close at his heels, uncorked it
now, the girls’s whining again!’ in a twinkling with his teeth, and poured a portion of its
‘It’s nothing,’ said the girl, throwing herself into a chair. contents down the patient’s throat: previously taking a taste,
‘Don’t you seem to mind me. It’ll soon be over.’ himself, to prevent mistakes.
‘What’ll be over?’ demanded Mr. Sikes in a savage voice. ‘Give her a whiff of fresh air with the bellows, Charley,’
‘What foolery are you up to, now, again? Get up and bustle said Mr. Dawkins; ‘and you slap her hands, Fagin, while Bill
about, and don’t come over me with your woman’s non- undoes the petticuts.’
sense.’ These united restoratives, administered with great ener-
At any other time, this remonstrance, and the tone in gy: especially that department consigned to Master Bates,
which it was delivered, would have had the desired effect; who appeared to consider his share in the proceedings, a
but the girl being really weak and exhausted, dropped her piece of unexampled pleasantry: were not long in producing
head over the back of the chair, and fainted, before Mr. Sikes the desired effect. The girl gradually recovered her senses;
could get out a few of the appropriate oaths with which, on and, staggering to a chair by the bedside, hid her face upon
similar occasions, he was accustomed to garnish his threats. the pillow: leaving Mr. Sikes to confront the new comers, in
Not knowing, very well, what to do, in this uncommon some astonishment at their unlooked-for appearance.
emergency; for Miss Nancy’s hysterics were usually of that ‘Why, what evil wind has blowed you here?’ he asked Fa-
violent kind which the patient fights and struggles out of, gin.
without much assistance; Mr. Sikes tried a little blasphe- ‘No evil wind at all, my dear, for evil winds blow nobody
my: and finding that mode of treatment wholly ineffectual, any good; and I’ve brought something good with me, that
called for assistance. you’ll be glad to see. Dodger, my dear, open the bundle; and
‘What’s the matter here, my dear?’ said Fagin, looking give Bill the little trifles that we spent all our money on, this
in. morning.’
‘Lend a hand to the girl, can’t you?’ replied Sikes impa- In compliance with Mr. Fagin’s request, the Artful un-
tiently. ‘Don’t stand chattering and grinning at me!’ tied this bundle, which was of large size, and formed of an
With an exclamation of surprise, Fagin hastened to the old table-cloth; and handed the articles it contained, one by
girl’s assistance, while Mr. John Dawkins (otherwise the one, to Charley Bates: who placed them on the table, with
Artful Dodger), who had followed his venerable friend into various encomiums on their rarity and excellence.

‘Sitch a rabbit pie, Bill,’ exclaimed that young gentleman, and take no more notice of me, all this mortal time, than if I
disclosing to view a huge pasty; ‘sitch delicate creeturs, with was that ‘ere dog.—Drive him down, Charley!’
sitch tender limbs, Bill, that the wery bones melt in your ‘I never see such a jolly dog as that,’ cried Master Bates,
mouth, and there’s no occasion to pick ‘em; half a pound doing as he was desired. ‘Smelling the grub like a old lady
of seven and six-penny green, so precious strong that if a going to market! He’d make his fortun’ on the stage that
you mix it with biling water, it’ll go nigh to blow the lid of dog would, and rewive the drayma besides.’
the tea-pot off; a pound and a half of moist sugar that the ‘Hold your din,’ cried Sikes, as the dog retreated under
niggers didn’t work at all at, afore they got it up to sitch a the bed:
pitch of goodness,—oh no! Two half-quartern brans; pound still growling angrily. ‘What have you got to say for your-
of best fresh; piece of double Glo’ster; and, to wind up all, self, you withered old fence, eh?’
some of the richest sort you ever lushed!’ ‘I was away from London, a week and more, my dear, on
Uttering this last panegyrie, Master Bates produced, a plant,’ replied the Jew.
from one of his extensive pockets, a full-sized wine-bottle, ‘And what about the other fortnight?’ demanded Sikes.
carefully corked; while Mr. Dawkins, at the same instant, ‘What about the other fortnight that you’ve left me lying
poured out a wine-glassful of raw spirits from the bottle he here, like a sick rat in his hole?’
carried: which the invalid tossed down his throat without a ‘I couldn’t help it, Bill. I can’t go into a long explanation
moment’s hesitation. before company; but I couldn’t help it, upon my honour.’
‘Ah!’ said Fagin, rubbing his hands with great satisfac- ‘Upon your what?’ growled Sikes, with excessive disgust.
tion. ‘You’ll do, Bill; you’ll do now.’ ‘Here! Cut me off a piece of that pie, one of you boys, to take
‘Do!’ exclaimed Mr. Sikes; ‘I might have been done for, the taste of that out of my mouth, or it’ll choke me dead.’
twenty times over, afore you’d have done anything to help ‘Don’t be out of temper, my dear,’ urged Fagin, submis-
me. What do you mean by leaving a man in this state, three sively. ‘I have never forgot you, Bill; never once.’
weeks and more, you false-hearted wagabond?’ ‘No! I’ll pound it that you han’t,’ replied Sikes, with a bit-
‘Only hear him, boys!’ said Fagin, shrugging his shoulders. ter grin. ‘You’ve been scheming and plotting away, every
‘And us come to bring him all these beau-ti-ful things.’ hour that I have laid shivering and burning here; and Bill
‘The things is well enough in their way,’ observed Mr. was to do this; and Bill was to do that; and Bill was to do it
Sikes: a little soothed as he glanced over the table; ‘but what all, dirt cheap, as soon as he got well: and was quite poor
have you got to say for yourself, why you should leave me enough for your work. If it hadn’t been for the girl, I might
here, down in the mouth, health, blunt, and everything else; have died.’

‘There now, Bill,’ remonstrated Fagin, eagerly catching at ‘The Artful’s a deal too artful, and would forget to come, or
the word. ‘If it hadn’t been for the girl! Who but poor ould lose his way, or get dodged by traps and so be perwented, or
Fagin was the means of your having such a handy girl about anything for an excuse, if you put him up to it. Nancy shall
you?’ go to the ken and fetch it, to make all sure; and I’ll lie down
‘He says true enough there!’ said Nancy, coming hastily and have a snooze while she’s gone.’
forward. ‘Let him be; let him be.’ After a great deal of haggling and squabbling, Fagin
Nancy’s appearance gave a new turn to the conversation; beat down the amount of the required advance from five
for the boys, receiving a sly wink from the wary old Jew, pounds to three pounds four and sixpence: protesting
began to ply her with liquor: of which, however, she took with many solemn asseverations that that would only leave
very sparingly; while Fagin, assuming an unusual flow of him eighteen-pence to keep house with; Mr. Sikes sullenly
spirits, gradually brought Mr. Sikes into a better temper, by remarking that if he couldn’t get any more he must accom-
affecting to regard his threats as a little pleasant banter; and, pany him home; with the Dodger and Master Bates put the
moreover, by laughing very heartily at one or two rough eatables in the cupboard. The Jew then, taking leave of his
jokes, which, after repeated applications to the spirit-bottle, affectionate friend, returned homeward, attended by Nancy
he condescended to make. and the boys: Mr. Sikes, meanwhile, flinging himself on the
‘It’s all very well,’ said Mr. Sikes; ‘but I must have some bed, and composing himself to sleep away the time until
blunt from you to-night.’ the young lady’s return.
‘I haven’t a piece of coin about me,’ replied the Jew. In due course, they arrived at Fagin’s abode, where they
‘Then you’ve got lots at home,’ retorted Sikes; ‘and I must found Toby Crackit and Mr. Chitling intent upon their fif-
have some from there.’ teenth game at cribbage, which it is scarcely necessary to
‘Lots!’ cried Fagin, holding up is hands. ‘I haven’t so say the latter gentleman lost, and with it, his fifteenth and
much as would—‘ last sixpence: much to the amusement of his young friends.
‘I don’t know how much you’ve got, and I dare say you Mr. Crackit, apparently somewhat ashamed at being found
hardly know yourself, as it would take a pretty long time relaxing himself with a gentleman so much his inferior in
to count it,’ said Sikes; ‘but I must have some to-night; and station and mental endowments, yawned, and inquiring af-
that’s flat.’ ter Sikes, took up his hat to go.
‘Well, well,’ said Fagin, with a sigh, ‘I’ll send the Artful ‘Has nobody been, Toby?’ asked Fagin.
round presently.’ ‘Not a living leg,’ answered Mr. Crackit, pulling up
‘You won’t do nothing of the kind,’ rejoined Mr. Sikes. his collar; ‘it’s been as dull as swipes. You ought to stand

something handsome, Fagin, to recompense me for keep- cleaned me out. But I can go and earn some more, when I
ing house so long. Damme, I’m as flat as a juryman; and like; can’t I, Fagin?’
should have gone to sleep, as fast as Newgate, if I hadn’t had ‘To be sure you can, and the sooner you go the better,
the good natur’ to amuse this youngster. Horrid dull, I’m Tom; so make up your loss at once, and don’t lose any more
blessed if I an’t!’ time. Dodger!
With these and other ejaculations of the same kind, Mr. Charley! It’s time you were on the lay. Come! It’s near ten,
Toby Crackit swept up his winnings, and crammed them and nothing done yet.’
into his waistcoat pocket with a haughty air, as though such In obedience to this hint, the boys, nodding to Nancy,
small pieces of silver were wholly beneath the consideration took up their hats, and left the room; the Dodger and his vi-
of a man of his figure; this done, he swaggered out of the vacious friend indulging, as they went, in many witticisms
room, with so much elegance and gentility, that Mr. Chit- at the expense of Mr. Chitling; in whose conduct, it is but
ling, bestowing numerous admiring glances on his legs and justice to say, there was nothing very conspicuous or pecu-
boots till they were out of sight, assured the company that liar: inasmuch as there are a great number of spirited young
he considered his acquaintance cheap at fifteen sixpences bloods upon town, who pay a much higher price than Mr.
an interview, and that he didn’t value his losses the snap of Chitling for being seen in good society: and a great number
his little finger. of fine gentlemen (composing the good society aforesaid)
‘Wot a rum chap you are, Tom!’ said Master Bates, highly who established their reputation upon very much the same
amused by this declaration. footing as flash Toby Crackit.
‘Not a bit of it,’ replied Mr. Chitling. ‘Am I, Fagin?’ ‘Now,’ said Fagin, when they had left the room, ‘I’ll go
‘A very clever fellow, my dear,’ said Fagin, patting him on and get you that cash, Nancy. This is only the key of a little
the shoulder, and winking to his other pupils. cupboard where I keep a few odd things the boys get, my
‘And Mr. Crackit is a heavy swell; an’t he, Fagin?’ asked dear. I never lock up my money, for I’ve got none to lock
Tom. up, my dear—ha! ha! ha!—none to lock up. It’s a poor trade,
‘No doubt at all of that, my dear.’ Nancy, and no thanks; but I’m fond of seeing the young
‘And it is a creditable thing to have his acquaintance; an’t people about me; and I bear it all, I bear it all. Hush!’ he said,
it, Fagin?’ pursued Tom. hastily concealing the key in his breast; ‘who’s that? Listen!’
‘Very much so, indeed, my dear. They’re only jealous, The girl, who was sitting at the table with her arms fold-
Tom, because he won’t give it to them.’ ed, appeared in no way interested in the arrival: or to care
‘Ah!’ cried Tom, triumphantly, ‘that’s where it is! He has whether the person, whoever he was, came or went: until

the murmur of a man’s voice reached her ears. The instant ‘Great.’
she caught the sound, she tore off her bonnet and shawl, ‘And—and—good?’ asked Fagin, hesitating as though he
with the rapidity of lightning, and thrust them under the feared to vex the other man by being too sanguine.
table. The Jew, turning round immediately afterwards, she ‘Not bad, any way,’ replied Monks with a smile. ‘I have
muttered a complaint of the heat: in a tone of languor that been prompt enough this time. Let me have a word with
contrasted, very remarkably, with the extreme haste and vi- you.’
olence of this action: which, however, had been unobserved The girl drew closer to the table, and made no offer to leave
by Fagin, who had his back towards her at the time. the room, although she could see that Monks was pointing
‘Bah!’ he whispered, as though nettled by the interrup- to her. The Jew: perhaps fearing she might say something
tion; ‘it’s the man I expected before; he’s coming downstairs. aloud about the money, if he endeavoured to get rid of her:
Not a word about the money while he’s here, Nance. He pointed upward, and took Monks out of the room.
won’t stop long. Not ten minutes, my dear.’ ‘Not that infernal hole we were in before,’ she could hear
Laying his skinny forefinger upon his lip, the Jew car- the man say as they went upstairs. Fagin laughed; and mak-
ried a candle to the door, as a man’s step was heard upon ing some reply which did not reach her, seemed, by the
the stairs without. He reached it, at the same moment as the creaking of the boards, to lead his companion to the sec-
visitor, who, coming hastily into the room, was close upon ond story.
the girl before he observed her. Before the sound of their footsteps had ceased to echo
It was Monks. through the house, the girl had slipped off her shoes; and
‘Only one of my young people,’ said Fagin, observing drawing her gown loosely over her head, and muffling her
that Monks drew back, on beholding a stranger. ‘Don’t arms in it, stood at the door, listening with breathless in-
move, Nancy.’ terest. The moment the noise ceased, she glided from the
The girl drew closer to the table, and glancing at Monks room; ascended the stairs with incredible softness and si-
with an air of careless levity, withdrew her eyes; but as he lence; and was lost in the gloom above.
turned towards Fagin, she stole another look; so keen and The room remained deserted for a quarter of an hour or
searching, and full of purpose, that if there had been any more; the girl glided back with the same unearthly tread;
bystander to observe the change, he could hardly have and, immediately afterwards, the two men were heard de-
believed the two looks to have proceeded from the same scending. Monks went at once into the street; and the Jew
person. crawled upstairs again for the money. When he returned,
‘Any news?’ inquired Fagin. the girl was adjusting her shawl and bonnet, as if preparing

to be gone. to Mr. Sikes, he did not observe it; for merely inquiring if
‘Why, Nance!,’ exclaimed the Jew, starting back as he put she had brought the money, and receiving a reply in the af-
down the candle, ‘how pale you are!’ firmative, he uttered a growl of satisfaction, and replacing
‘Pale!’ echoed the girl, shading her eyes with her hands, his head upon the pillow, resumed the slumbers which her
as if to look steadily at him. arrival had interrupted.
‘Quite horrible. What have you been doing to yourself?’ It was fortunate for her that the possession of money oc-
‘Nothing that I know of, except sitting in this close place casioned him so much employment next day in the way of
for I don’t know how long and all,’ replied the girl carelessly. eating and drinking; and withal had so beneficial an effect
‘Come! Let me get back; that’s a dear.’ in smoothing down the asperities of his temper; that he had
With a sigh for every piece of money, Fagin told the neither time nor inclination to be very critical upon her be-
amount into her hand. They parted without more conversa- haviour and deportment. That she had all the abstracted and
tion, merely interchanging a ‘good-night.’ nervous manner of one who is on the eve of some bold and
When the girl got into the open street, she sat down upon hazardous step, which it has required no common struggle
a doorstep; and seemed, for a few moments, wholly bewil- to resolve upon, would have been obvious to the lynx-eyed
dered and unable to pursue her way. Suddenly she arose; Fagin, who would most probably have taken the alarm at
and hurrying on, in a direction quite opposite to that in once; but Mr. Sikes lacking the niceties of discrimination,
which Sikes was awaiting her returned, quickened her pace, and being troubled with no more subtle misgivings than
until it gradually resolved into a violent run. After com- those which resolve themselves into a dogged roughness
pletely exhausting herself, she stopped to take breath: and, of behaviour towards everybody; and being, furthermore,
as if suddenly recollecting herself, and deploring her inabil- in an unusually amiable condition, as has been already ob-
ity to do something she was bent upon, wrung her hands, served; saw nothing unusual in her demeanor, and indeed,
and burst into tears. troubled himself so little about her, that, had her agitation
It might be that her tears relieved her, or that she felt the been far more perceptible than it was, it would have been
full hopelessness of her condition; but she turned back; and very unlikely to have awakened his suspicions.
hurrying with nearly as great rapidity in the contrary di- As that day closed in, the girl’s excitement increased;
rection; partly to recover lost time, and partly to keep pace and, when night came on, and she sat by, watching until the
with the violent current of her own thoughts: soon reached housebreaker should drink himself asleep, there was an un-
the dwelling where she had left the housebreaker. usual paleness in her cheek, and a fire in her eye, that even
If she betrayed any agitation, when she presented herself Sikes observed with astonishment.

Mr. Sikes being weak from the fever, was lying in bed, glass to the bottom, and then, with many grumbling oaths,
taking hot water with his gin to render it less inflammatory; called for his physic. The girl jumped up, with great alacrity;
and had pushed his glass towards Nancy to be replenished poured it quickly out, but with her back towards him; and
for the third or fourth time, when these symptoms first held the vessel to his lips, while he drank off the contents.
struck him. ‘Now,’ said the robber, ‘come and sit aside of me, and put
‘Why, burn my body!’ said the man, raising himself on on your own face; or I’ll alter it so, that you won’t know it
his hands as he stared the girl in the face. ‘You look like a agin when you do want it.’
corpse come to life again. What’s the matter?’ The girl obeyed. Sikes, locking her hand in his, fell back
‘Matter!’ replied the girl. ‘Nothing. What do you look at upon the pillow: turning his eyes upon her face. They closed;
me so hard for?’ opened again; closed once more; again opened. He shifted
‘What foolery is this?’ demanded Sikes, grasping her by his position restlessly; and, after dozing again, and again,
the arm, and shaking her roughly. ‘What is it? What do you for two or three minutes, and as often springing up with a
mean? What are you thinking of?’ look of terror, and gazing vacantly about him, was suddenly
‘Of many things, Bill,’ replied the girl, shivering, and as stricken, as it were, while in the very attitude of rising, into
she did so, pressing her hands upon her eyes. ‘But, Lord! a deep and heavy sleep. The grasp of his hand relaxed; the
What odds in that?’ upraised arm fell languidly by his side; and he lay like one
The tone of forced gaiety in which the last words were in a profound trance.
spoken, seemd to produce a deeper impression on Sikes ‘The laudanum has taken effect at last,’ murmured the
than the wild and rigid look which had preceded them. girl, as she rose from the bedside. ‘I may be too late, even
‘I tell you wot it is,’ said Sikes; ‘if you haven’t caught the fe- now.’
ver, and got it comin’ on, now, there’s something more than She hastily dressed herself in her bonnet and shawl:
usual in the wind, and something dangerous too. You’re not looking fearfully round, from time to time, as if, despite
a-going to—. No, damme! you wouldn’t do that!’ the sleeping draught, she expected every moment to feel
‘Do what?’ asked the girl. the pressure of Sikes’s heavy hand upon her shoulder; then,
‘There ain’t,’ said Sikes, fixing his eyes upon her, and mut- stooping softly over the bed, she kissed the robber’s lips;
tering the words to himself; ‘there ain’t a stauncher-hearted and then opening and closing the room-door with noise-
gal going, or I’d have cut her throat three months ago. She’s less touch, hurried from the house.
got the fever coming on; that’s it.’ A watchman was crying half-past nine, down a dark pas-
Fortifying himself with this assurance, Sikes drained the sage through which she had to pass, in gaining the main

thoroughfare. en. She had loitered for a few paces as though irresolute, and
‘Has it long gone the half-hour?’ asked the girl. making up her mind to advance; but the sound determined
‘It’ll strike the hour in another quarter,’ said the man: her, and she stepped into the hall. The porter’s seat was
raising his lantern to her face. vacant. She looked round with an air of incertitude, and ad-
‘And I cannot get there in less than an hour or more,’ vanced towards the stairs.
muttered Nancy: brushing swiftly past him, and gliding ‘Now, young woman!’ said a smartly-dressed female,
rapidly down the street. looking out from a door behind her, ‘who do you want
Many of the shops were already closing in the back lanes here?’
and avenues through which she tracked her way, in mak- ‘A lady who is stopping in this house,’ answered the girl.
ing from Spitalfields towards the West-End of London. The ‘A lady!’ was the reply, accompanied with a scornful look.
clock struck ten, increasing her impatience. She tore along ‘What lady?’
the narrow pavement: elbowing the passengers from side to ‘Miss Maylie,’ said Nancy.
side; and darting almost under the horses’ heads, crossed The young woman, who had by this time, noted her ap-
crowded streets, where clusters of persons were eagerly pearance, replied only by a look of virtuous disdain; and
watching their opportunity to do the like. summoned a man to answer her. To him, Nancy repeated
‘The woman is mad!’ said the people, turning to look af- her request.
ter her as she rushed away. ‘What name am I to say?’ asked the waiter.
When she reached the more wealthy quarter of the town, ‘It’s of no use saying any,’ replied Nancy.
the streets were comparatively deserted; and here her head- ‘Nor business?’ said the man.
long progress excited a still greater curiosity in the stragglers ‘No, nor that neither,’ rejoined the girl. ‘I must see the
whom she hurried past. Some quickened their pace behind, lady.’
as though to see whither she was hastening at such an un- ‘Come!’ said the man, pushing her towards the door.
usual rate; and a few made head upon her, and looked back, ‘None of this. Take yourself off.’
surprised at her undiminished speed; but they fell off one ‘I shall be carried out if I go!’ said the girl violently; ‘and
by one; and when she neared her place of destination, she I can make that a job that two of you won’t like to do. Isn’t
was alone. there anybody here,’ she said, looking round, ‘that will see a
It was a family hotel in a quiet but handsome street near simple message carried for a poor wretch like me?’
Hyde Park. As the brilliant light of the lamp which burnt This appeal produced an effect on a good-tempered-faced
before its door, guided her to the spot, the clock struck elev- man-cook, who with some of the other servants was look-

ing on, and who stepped forward to interfere. the man returned, and said the young woman was to walk
‘Take it up for her, Joe; can’t you?’ said this person. upstairs.
‘What’s the good?’ replied the man. ‘You don’t suppose ‘It’s no good being proper in this world,’ said the first
the young lady will see such as her; do you?’ housemaid.
This allusion to Nancy’s doubtful character, raised a ‘Brass can do better than the gold what has stood the fire,’
vast quantity of chaste wrath in the bosoms of four house- said the second.
maids, who remarked, with great fervour, that the creature The third contented herself with wondering ‘what ladies
was a disgrace to her sex; and strongly advocated her being was made of’; and the fourth took the first in a quartette of
thrown, ruthlessly, into the kennel. ‘Shameful!’ with which the Dianas concluded.
‘Do what you like with me,’ said the girl, turning to the Regardless of all this: for she had weightier matters at
men again; ‘but do what I ask you first, and I ask you to give heart: Nancy followed the man, with trembling limbs, to
this message for God Almighty’s sake.’ a small ante-chamber, lighted by a lamp from the ceiling.
The soft-hearted cook added his intercession, and the re- Here he left her, and retired.
sult was that the man who had first appeared undertook its
delivery.
‘What’s 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, ‘you’re coming it strong!’
‘You give the message,’ said the girl firmly; ‘and let me
hear the answer.’
The man ran upstairs. 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

CHAPTER XL ing felt too proud to betray a feeble gleam of the womanly
feeling which she thought a weakness, but which alone con-
nected her with that humanity, of which her wasting life
had obliterated so many, many traces when a very child.
A STRANGE INTERVIEW, She raised her eyes sufficiently to observe that the fig-
ure which presented itself was that of a slight and beautiful
WHICH IS A SEQUEL TO girl; then, bending them on the ground, she tossed her head
with affected carelessness as she said:
THE LAST CHAMBER ‘It’s a hard matter to get to see you, lady. If I had taken of-
fence, and gone away, as many would have done, you’d 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
T he girl’s life had been squandered in the streets, and

among the most noisome of the stews and dens of Lon-
don, but there was something of the woman’s original nature
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 dis-
left in her still; and when she heard a light step approach- pleasure, took the girl completely by surprise, and she burst
ing the door opposite to that by which she had entered, and into tears.
thought of the wide contrast which the small room would ‘Oh, lady, lady!’ she said, clasping her hands passionately
in another moment contain, she felt burdened with the before her face, ‘if there was more like you, there would be
sense of her own deep shame, and shrunk as though she fewer like me,—there would—there would!’
could scarcely bear the presence of her with whom she had ‘Sit down,’ said Rose, earnestly. ‘If you are in poverty or
sought this interview. affliction I shall be truly glad to relieve you if I can,—I shall
But struggling with these better feelings was pride,—the indeed. Sit down.’
vice of the lowest and most debased creatures no less than ‘Let me stand, lady,’ said the girl, still weeping, ‘and do
of the high and self-assured. The miserable companion of not speak to me so kindly till you know me better. It is
thieves and ruffians, the fallen outcast of low haunts, the as- growing late. Is—is—that door shut?’
sociate of the scourings of the jails and hulks, living within ‘Yes,’ said Rose, recoiling a few steps, as if to be nearer as-
the shadow of the gallows itself,—even this degraded be- sistance in case she should require it. ‘Why?’

‘Because,’ said the girl, ‘I am about to put my life and the overheard. Do you know a man named Monks?’
lives of others in your hands. I am the girl that dragged lit- ‘No,’ said Rose.
tle Oliver back to old Fagin’s on the night he went out from ‘He knows you,’ replied the girl; ‘and knew you were here,
the house in Pentonville.’ for it was by hearing him tell the place that I found you
‘You!’ said Rose Maylie. out.’
‘I, lady!’ replied the girl. ‘I am the infamous creature you ‘I never heard the name,’ said Rose.
have heard of, that lives among the thieves, and that never ‘Then he goes by some other amongst us,’ rejoined the
from the first moment I can recollect my eyes and senses girl, ‘which I more than thought before. Some time ago, and
opening on London streets have known any better life, or soon after Oliver was put into your house on the night of
kinder words than they have given me, so help me God! Do the robbery, I—suspecting this man—listened to a conver-
not mind shrinking openly from me, lady. I am younger sation held between him and Fagin in the dark. I found out,
than you would think, to look at me, but I am well used to from what I heard, that Monks—the man I asked you about,
it. The poorest women fall back, as I make my way along the you know—‘
crowded pavement.’ ‘Yes,’ said Rose, ‘I understand.’
‘What dreadful things are these!’ said Rose, involuntarily ‘—That Monks,’ pursued the girl, ‘had seen him accident-
falling from her strange companion. ly with two of our boys on the day we first lost him, and
‘Thank Heaven upon your knees, dear lady,’ cried the had known him directly to be the same child that he was
girl, ‘that you had friends to care for and keep you in your watching for, though I couldn’t make out why. A bargain
childhood, and that you were never in the midst of cold and was struck with Fagin, that if Oliver was got back he should
hunger, and riot and drunkenness, and—and—something have a certain sum; and he was to have more for making
worse than all—as I have been from my cradle. I may use him a thief, which this Monks wanted for some purpose of
the word, for the alley and the gutter were mine, as they will his own.
be my deathbed.’ ‘For what purpose?’ asked Rose.
‘I pity you!’ said Rose, in a broken voice. ‘It wrings my ‘He caught sight of my shadow on the wall as I listened,
heart to hear you!’ in the hope of finding out,’ said the girl; ‘and there are not
‘Heaven bless you for your goodness!’ rejoined the girl. ‘If many people besides me that could have got out of their way
you knew what I am sometimes, you would pity me, indeed. in time to escape discovery. But I did; and I saw him no
But I have stolen away from those who would surely mur- more till last night.’
der me, if they knew I had been here, to tell you what I have ‘And what occurred then?’

‘I’ll tell you, lady. Last night he came again. Again they more. When he spoke of you and the other lady, and said it
went upstairs, and I, wrapping myself up so that my shadow seemed contrived by Heaven, or the devil, against him, that
would not betray me, again listened at the door. The first Oliver should come into your hands, he laughed, and said
words I heard Monks say were these: ‘So the only proofs there was some comfort in that too, for how many thou-
of the boy’s identity lie at the bottom of the river, and the sands and hundreds of thousands of pounds would you not
old hag that received them from the mother is rotting in give, if you had them, to know who your two-legged span-
her coffin.’ They laughed, and talked of his success in doing iel was.’
this; and Monks, talking on about the boy, and getting very ‘You do not mean,’ said Rose, turning very pale, ‘to tell
wild, said that though he had got the young devil’s mon- me that this was said in earnest?’
ey safely know, he’d rather have had it the other way; for, ‘He spoke in hard and angry earnest, if a man ever did,’
what a game it would have been to have brought down the replied the girl, shaking her head. ‘He is an earnest man
boast of the father’s will, by driving him through every jail when his hatred is up. I know many who do worse things;
in town, and then hauling him up for some capital felony but I’d rather listen to them all a dozen times, than to that
which Fagin could easily manage, after having made a good Monks once. It is growing late, and I have to reach home
profit of him besides.’ without suspicion of having been on such an errand as this.
‘What is all this!’ said Rose. I must get back quickly.’
‘The truth, lady, though it comes from my lips,’ replied ‘But what can I do?’ said Rose. ‘To what use can I turn
the girl. ‘Then, he said, with oaths common enough in my this communication without you? Back! Why do you wish
ears, but strange to yours, that if he could gratify his ha- to return to companions you paint in such terrible colors?
tred by taking the boy’s life without bringing his own neck If you repeat this information to a gentleman whom I can
in danger, he would; but, as he couldn’t, he’d be upon the summon in an instant from the next room, you can be con-
watch to meet him at every turn in life; and if he took ad- signed to some place of safety without half an hour’s delay.’
vantage of his birth and history, he might harm him yet. ‘In ‘I wish to go back,’ said the girl. ‘I must go back, be-
short, Fagin,’ he says, ‘Jew as you are, you never laid such cause—how can I tell such things to an innocent lady like
snares as I’ll contrive for my young brother, Oliver.‘ you?—because among the men I have told you of, there is
‘His brother!’ exclaimed Rose. one: the most desperate among them all; that I can’t leave:
‘Those were his words,’ said Nancy, glancing uneasily no, not even to be saved from the life I am leading now.’
round, as she had scarcely ceased to do, since she began to ‘Your having interfered in this dear boy’s behalf before,’
speak, for a vision of Sikes haunted her perpetually. ‘And said Rose; ‘your coming here, at so great a risk, to tell me

what you have heard; your manner, which convinces me not know; but I am drawn back to him through every suf-
of the truth of what you say; your evident contrition, and fering and ill usage; and I should be, I believe, if I knew that
sense of shame; all lead me to believe that you might yet be I was to die by his hand at last.’
reclaimed. Oh!’ said the earnest girl, folding her hands as ‘What am I to do?’ said Rose. ‘I should not let you depart
the tears coursed down her face, ‘do not turn a deaf ear to from me thus.’
the entreaties of one of your own sex; the first—the first, I ‘You should, lady, and I know you will,’ rejoined the girl,
do believe, who ever appealed to you in the voice of pity and rising. ‘You will not stop my going because I have trusted in
compassion. Do hear my words, and let me save you yet, for your goodness, and forced no promise from you, as I might
better things.’ have done.’
‘Lady,’ cried the girl, sinking on her knees, ‘dear, sweet, ‘Of what use, then, is the communication you have made?’
angel lady, you ARE the first that ever blessed me with such said Rose. ‘This mystery must be investigated, or how will
words as these, and if I had heard them years ago, they its disclosure to me, benefit Oliver, whom you are anxious
might have turned me from a life of sin and sorrow; but it is to serve?’
too late, it is too late!’ ‘You must have some kind gentleman about you that will
‘It is never too late,’ said Rose, ‘for penitence and atone- hear it as a secret, and advise you what to do,’ rejoined the
ment.’ girl.
‘It is,’ cried the girl, writhing in agony of her mind; ‘I can- ‘But where can I find you again when it is necessary?’
not leave him now! I could not be his death.’ asked Rose. ‘I do not seek to know where these dreadful
‘Why should you be?’ asked Rose. people live, but where will you be walking or passing at any
‘Nothing could save him,’ cried the girl. ‘If I told others settled period from this time?’
what I have told you, and led to their being taken, he would ‘Will you promise me that you will have my secret strictly
be sure to die. He is the boldest, and has been so cruel!’ kept, and come alone, or with the only other person that
‘Is it possible,’ cried Rose, ‘that for such a man as this, you knows it; and that I shall not be watched or followed?’ asked
can resign every future hope, and the certainty of immedi- the girl.
ate rescue? It is madness.’ ‘I promise you solemnly,’ answered Rose.
‘I don’t know what it is,’ answered the girl; ‘I only know ‘Every Sunday night, from eleven until the clock strikes
that it is so, and not with me alone, but with hundreds twelve,’ said the girl without hesitation, ‘I will walk on Lon-
of others as bad and wretched as myself. I must go back. don Bridge if I am alive.’
Whether it is God’s wrath for the wrong I have done, I do ‘Stay another moment,’ interposed Rose, as the girl moved

hurriedly towards the door. ‘Think once again on your own ‘You would serve me best, lady,’ replied the girl, wring-
condition, and the opportunity you have of escaping from ing her hands, ‘if you could take my life at once; for I have
it. You have a claim on me: not only as the voluntary bearer felt more grief to think of what I am, to-night, than I ever
of this intelligence, but as a woman lost almost beyond re- did before, and it would be something not to die in the hell
demption. Will you return to this gang of robbers, and to in which I have lived. God bless you, sweet lady, and send
this man, when a word can save you? What fascination is it as much happiness on your head as I have brought shame
that can take you back, and make you cling to wickedness on mine!’
and misery? Oh! is there no chord in your heart that I can Thus speaking, and sobbing aloud, the unhappy creature
touch! Is there nothing left, to which I can appeal against turned away; while Rose Maylie, overpowered by this ex-
this terrible infatuation!’ traordinary interview, which had more the semblance of a
‘When ladies as young, and good, and beautiful as you rapid dream than an actual occurance, sank into a chair,
are,’ replied the girl steadily, ‘give away your hearts, love and endeavoured to collect her wandering thoughts.
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 dishones-
ty—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.’

CHAPTER XLI 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 eight-and-forty hours? Or how could she postpone the
CONTAINING FRESH journey without exciting suspicion?
Mr. Losberne was with them, and would be for the next
DISCOVERIES, AND two days; but Rose was too well acquainted with the excel-
lent gentleman’s impetuosity, and foresaw too clearly the
SHOWING THAT SUPRISES, wrath with which, in the first explosion of his indignation,
he would regard the instrument of Oliver’s recapture, to
LIKE MISFORTUNES, trust him with the secret, when her representations in the
girl’s behalf could be seconded by no experienced person.
SELDOM COME ALONE These were all reasons for the greatest caution and most cir-
cumspect 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
H er situation was, indeed, one of no common trial and

difficulty.
While she felt the most eager and burning desire to
was scarcely to be thought of, for the same reason. Once
the thought occurred to her of seeking assistance from Har-
ry; but this awakened the recollection of their last parting,
penetrate the mystery in which Oliver’s history was envel- and it seemed unworthy of her to call him back, when—the
oped, she could not but hold sacred the confidence which tears rose to her eyes as she pursued this train of reflection—
the miserable woman with whom she had just conversed, he might have by this time learnt to forget her, and to be
had reposed in her, as a young and guileless girl. Her words happier away.
and manner had touched Rose Maylie’s heart; and, mingled Disturbed by these different reflections; inclining now
with her love for her young charge, and scarcely less intense to one course and then to another, and again recoiling from
in its truth and fervour, was her fond wish to win the out- all, as each successive consideration presented itself to her
cast back to repentance and hope. mind; Rose passed a sleepless and anxious night. After
They purposed remaining in London only three days, more communing with herself next day, she arrived at the

desperate conclusion of consulting Harry. ‘Getting out of a coach,’ replied Oliver, shedding tears of
‘If it be painful to him,’ she thought, ‘to come back here, delight, ‘and going into a house. I didn’t speak to him—I
how painful it will be to me! But perhaps he will not come; couldn’t speak to him, for he didn’t see me, and I trembled
he may write, or he may come himself, and studiously ab- so, that I was not able to go up to him. But Giles asked, for
stain from meeting me—he did when he went away. I hardly me, whether he lived there, and they said he did. Look here,’
thought he would; but it was better for us both.’ And here said Oliver, opening a scrap of paper, ‘here it is; here’s where
Rose dropped the pen, and turned away, as though the very he lives—I’m going there directly! Oh, dear me, dear me!
paper which was to be her messenger should not see her What shall I do when I come to see him and hear him speak
weep. again!’
She had taken up the same pen, and laid it down again With her attention not a little distracted by these and a
fifty times, and had considered and reconsidered the first great many other incoherent exclamations of joy, Rose read
line of her letter without writing the first word, when Oli- the address, which was Craven Street, in the Strand. She
ver, who had been walking in the streets, with Mr. Giles very soon determined upon turning the discovery to ac-
for a body-guard, entered the room in such breathless haste count.
and violent agitation, as seemed to betoken some new cause ‘Quick!’ she said. ‘Tell them to fetch a hackney-coach,
of alarm. and be ready to go with me. I will take you there directly,
‘What makes you look so flurried?’ asked Rose, advanc- without a minute’s loss of time. I will only tell my aunt that
ing to meet him. we are going out for an hour, and be ready as soon as you
‘I hardly know how; I feel as if I should be choked,’ re- are.’
plied the boy. ‘Oh dear! To think that I should see him at Oliver needed no prompting to despatch, and in little
last, and you should be able to know that I have told you more than five minutes they were on their way to Craven
the truth!’ Street. When they arrived there, Rose left Oliver in the
‘I never thought you had told us anything but the truth,’ coach, under pretence of preparing the old gentleman to re-
said Rose, soothing him. ‘But what is this?—of whom do ceive him; and sending up her card by the servant, requested
you speak?’ to see Mr. Brownlow on very pressing business. The servant
‘I have seen the gentleman,’ replied Oliver, scarcely able soon returned, to beg that she would walk upstairs; and fol-
to articulate, ‘the gentleman who was so good to me—Mr. lowing him into an upper room, Miss Maylie was presented
Brownlow, that we have so often talked about.’ to an elderly gentleman of benevolent appearance, in a bot-
‘Where?’ asked Rose. tle-green coat. At no great distance from whom, was seated

another old gentleman, in nankeen breeches and gaiters; on the table, upset it with a great crash, and falling back in
who did not look particularly benevolent, and who was sit- his chair, discharged from his features every expression but
ting with his hands clasped on the top of a thick stick, and one of unmitigated wonder, and indulged in a prolonged
his chin propped thereupon. and vacant stare; then, as if ashamed of having betrayed
‘Dear me,’ said the gentleman, in the bottle-green coat, so much emotion, he jerked himself, as it were, by a con-
hastily rising with great politeness, ‘I beg your pardon, vulsion into his former attitude, and looking out straight
young lady—I imagined it was some importunate person before him emitted a long deep whistle, which seemed, at
who—I beg you will excuse me. Be seated, pray.’ last, not to be discharged on empty air, but to die away in
‘Mr. Brownlow, I believe, sir?’ said Rose, glancing from the innermost recesses of his stomach.
the other gentleman to the one who had spoken. Mr. Browlow was no less surprised, although his aston-
‘That is my name,’ said the old gentleman. ‘This is my ishment was not expressed in the same eccentric manner.
friend, Mr. Grimwig. Grimwig, will you leave us for a few He drew his chair nearer to Miss Maylie’s, and said,
minutes?’ ‘Do me the favour, my dear young lady, to leave entirely
‘I believe,’ interposed Miss Maylie, ‘that at this period of out of the question that goodness and benevolence of which
our interview, I need not give that gentleman the trouble of you speak, and of which nobody else knows anything; and
going away. If I am correctly informed, he is cognizant of if you have it in your power to produce any evidence which
the business on which I wish to speak to you.’ will alter the unfavourable opinion I was once induced to
Mr. Brownlow inclined his head. Mr. Grimwig, who had entertain of that poor child, in Heaven’s name put me in
made one very stiff bow, and risen from his chair, made an- possession of it.’
other very stiff bow, and dropped into it again. ‘A bad one! I’ll eat my head if he is not a bad one,’ growled
‘I shall surprise you very much, I have no doubt,’ said Mr. Grimwig, speaking by some ventriloquial power, with-
Rose, naturally embarrassed; ‘but you once showed great out moving a muscle of his face.
benevolence and goodness to a very dear young friend of ‘He is a child of a noble nature and a warm heart,’ said
mine, and I am sure you will take an interest in hearing of Rose, colouring; ‘and that Power which has thought fit to
him again.’ try him beyond his years, has planted in his breast affec-
‘Indeed!’ said Mr. Brownlow. tions and feelings which would do honour to many who
‘Oliver Twist you knew him as,’ replied Rose. have numbered his days six times over.’
The words no sooner escaped her lips, than Mr. Grim- ‘I’m only sixty-one,’ said Mr. Grimwig, with the same
wig, who had been affecting to dip into a large book that lay rigid face.

‘And, as the devil’s in it if this Oliver is not twelve years factor and friend.
old at least, I don’t see the application of that remark.’ ‘Thank God!’ said the old gentleman. ‘This is great happi-
‘Do not heed my friend, Miss Maylie,’ said Mr. Brown- ness to me, great happiness. But you have not told me where
low; ‘he does not mean what he says.’ he is now, Miss Maylie. You must pardon my finding fault
‘Yes, he does,’ growled Mr. Grimwig. with you,—but why not have brought him?’
‘No, he does not,’ said Mr. Brownlow, obviously rising in ‘He is waiting in a coach at the door,’ replied Rose.
wrath as he spoke. ‘At this door!’ cried the old gentleman. With which he
‘He’ll eat his head, if he doesn’t,’ growled Mr. Grimwig. hurried out of the room, down the stairs, up the coachsteps,
‘He would deserve to have it knocked off, if he does,’ said and into the coach, without another word.
Mr. Brownlow. When the room-door closed behind him, Mr. Grimwig
‘And he’d uncommonly like to see any man offer to do it,’ lifted up his head, and converting one of the hind legs of his
responded Mr. Grimwig, knocking his stick upon the floor. chair into a pivot, described three distinct circles with the
Having gone thus far, the two old gentlemen severally assistance of his stick and the table; stitting in it all the time.
took snuff, and afterwards shook hands, according to their After performing this evolution, he rose and limped as fast
invariable custom. as he could up and down the room at least a dozen times,
‘Now, Miss Maylie,’ said Mr. Brownlow, ‘to return to the and then stopping suddenly before Rose, kissed her without
subject in which your humanity is so much interested. Will the slightest preface.
you let me know what intelligence you have of this poor ‘Hush!’ he said, as the young lady rose in some alarm at
child: allowing me to promise that I exhausted every means this unusual proceeding. ‘Don’t be afraid. I’m old enough
in my power of discovering him, and that since I have been to be your grandfather. You’re a sweet girl. I like you. Here
absent from this country, my first impression that he had they are!’
imposed upon me, and had been persuaded by his former In fact, as he threw himself at one dexterous dive into
associates to rob me, has been considerably shaken.’ his former seat, Mr. Brownlow returned, accompanied by
Rose, who had had time to collect her thoughts, at once Oliver, whom Mr. Grimwig received very graciously; and if
related, in a few natural words, all that had befallen Oliver the gratification of that moment had been the only reward
since he left Mr. Brownlow’s house; reserving Nancy’s in- for all her anxiety and care in Oliver’s behalf, Rose Maylie
formation for that gentleman’s private ear, and concluding would have been well repaid.
with the assurance that his only sorrow, for some months ‘There is somebody else who should not be forgotten, by
past, had been not being able to meet with his former bene- the bye,’ said Mr. Brownlow, ringing the bell. ‘Send Mrs.

Bedwin here, if you please.’ upon his neck by turns.
The old housekeeper answered the summons with all Leaving her and Oliver to compare notes at leisure, Mr.
dispatch; and dropping a curtsey at the door, waited for or- Brownlow led the way into another room; and there, heard
ders. from Rose a full narration of her interview with Nancy,
‘Why, you get blinder every day, Bedwin,’ said Mr. Brown- which occasioned him no little surprise and perplexity.
low, rather testily. Rose also explained her reasons for not confiding in her
‘Well, that I do, sir,’ replied the old lady. ‘People’s eyes, at friend Mr. Losberne in the first instance. The old gentleman
my time of life, don’t improve with age, sir.’ considered that she had acted prudently, and readily un-
‘I could have told you that,’ rejoined Mr. Brownlow; ‘but dertook to hold solemn conference with the worthy doctor
put on your glasses, and see if you can’t find out what you himself. To afford him an early opportunity for the execu-
were wanted for, will you?’ tion of this design, it was arranged that he should call at the
The old lady began to rummage in her pocket for her hotel at eight o’clock that evening, and that in the meantime
spectacles. But Oliver’s patience was not proof against this Mrs. Maylie should be cautiously informed of all that had
new trial; and yielding to his first impulse, he sprang into occurred. These preliminaries adjusted, Rose and Oliver re-
her arms. turned home.
‘God be good to me!’ cried the old lady, embracing him; Rose had by no means overrated the measure of the good
‘it is my innocent boy!’ doctor’s wrath. Nancy’s history was no sooner unfolded to
‘My dear old nurse!’ cried Oliver. him, than he poured forth a shower of mingled threats and
‘He would come back—I knew he would,’ said the old execrations; threatened to make her the first victim of the
lady, holding him in her arms. ‘How well he looks, and how combined ingenuity of Messrs. Blathers and Duff; and ac-
like a gentleman’s son he is dressed again! Where have you tually put on his hat preparatory to sallying forth to obtain
been, this long, long while? Ah! the same sweet face, but the assistance of those worthies. And, doubtless, he would,
not so pale; the same soft eye, but not so sad. I have never in this first outbreak, have carried the intention into effect
forgotten them or his quiet smile, but have seen them every without a moment’s consideration of the consequences, if
day, side by side with those of my own dear children, dead he had not been restrained, in part, by corresponding vio-
and gone since I was a lightsome young creature.’ Running lence on the side of Mr. Brownlow, who was himself of an
on thus, and now holding Oliver from her to mark how he irascible temperament, and party by such arguments and
had grown, now clasping him to her and passing her fingers representations as seemed best calculated to dissuade him
fondly through his hair, the good soul laughed and wept from his hotbrained purpose.

‘Then what the devil is to be done?’ said the impetu- rect opposition to our own interest—or at least to Oliver’s,
ous doctor, when they had rejoined the two ladies. ‘Are we which is the same thing.’
to pass a vote of thanks to all these vagabonds, male and ‘How?’ inquired the doctor.
female, and beg them to accept a hundred pounds, or so, ‘Thus. It is quite clear that we shall have extreme diffi-
apiece, as a trifling mark of our esteem, and some slight ac- culty in getting to the bottom of this mystery, unless we can
knowledgment of their kindness to Oliver?’ bring this man, Monks, upon his knees. That can only be
‘Not exactly that,’ rejoined Mr. Brownlow, laughing; ‘but done by stratagem, and by catching him when he is not sur-
we must proceed gently and with great care.’ rounded by these people. For, suppose he were apprehended,
‘Gentleness and care,’ exclaimed the doctor. ‘I’d send we have no proof against him. He is not even (so far as we
them one and all to—‘ know, or as the facts appear to us) concerned with the gang
‘Never mind where,’ interposed Mr. Brownlow. ‘But re- in any of their robberies. If he were not discharged, it is very
flect whether sending them anywhere is likely to attain the unlikely that he could receive any further punishment than
object we have in view.’ being committed to prison as a rogue and vagabond; and
‘What object?’ asked the doctor. of course ever afterwards his mouth would be so obstinate-
‘Simply, the discovery of Oliver’s parentage, and regain- ly closed that he might as well, for our purposes, be deaf,
ing for him the inheritance of which, if this story be true, he dumb, blind, and an idiot.’
has been fraudulently deprived.’ ‘Then,’ said the doctor impetuously, ‘I put it to you again,
‘Ah!’ said Mr. Losberne, cooling himself with his pocket- whether you think it reasonable that this promise to the girl
handkerchief; ‘I almost forgot that.’ should be considered binding; a promise made with the
‘You see,’ pursued Mr. Brownlow; ‘placing this poor girl best and kindest intentions, but really—‘
entirely out of the question, and supposing it were possible ‘Do not discuss the point, my dear young lady, pray,’ said
to bring these scoundrels to justice without compromising Mr. Brownlow, interrupting Rose as she was about to speak.
her safety, what good should we bring about?’ ‘The promise shall be kept. I don’t think it will, in the slight-
‘Hanging a few of them at least, in all probability,’ sug- est degree, interfere with our proceedings. But, before we
gested the doctor, ‘and transporting the rest.’ can resolve upon any precise course of action, it will be nec-
‘Very good,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, smiling; ‘but no essary to see the girl; to ascertain from her whether she will
doubt they will bring that about for themselves in the ful- point out this Monks, on the understanding that he is to be
ness of time, and if we step in to forestall them, it seems to dealt with by us, and not by the law; or, if she will not, or
me that we shall be performing a very Quixotic act, in di- cannot do that, to procure from her such an account of his

haunts and description of his person, as will enable us to ‘We stay in town, of course,’ said Mrs. Maylie, ‘while
identify him. She cannot be seen until next Sunday night; there remains the slightest prospect of prosecuting this in-
this is Tuesday. I would suggest that in the meantime, we quiry with a chance of success. I will spare neither trouble
remain perfectly quiet, and keep these matters secret even nor expense in behalf of the object in which we are all so
from Oliver himself.’ deeply interested, and I am content to remain here, if it be
Although Mr. Loseberne received with many wry faces a for twelve months, so long as you assure me that any hope
proposal involving a delay of five whole days, he was fain to remains.’
admit that no better course occurred to him just then; and ‘Good!’ rejoined Mr. Brownlow. ‘And as I see on the fac-
as both Rose and Mrs. Maylie sided very strongly with Mr. es about me, a disposition to inquire how it happened that
Brownlow, that gentleman’s proposition was carried unani- I was not in the way to corroborate Oliver’s tale, and had
mously. so suddenly left the kingdom, let me stipulate that I shall
‘I should like,’ he said, ‘to call in the aid of my friend be asked no questions until such time as I may deem it ex-
Grimwig. He is a strange creature, but a shrewd one, and pedient to forestall them by telling my own story. Believe
might prove of material assistance to us; I should say that he me, I make this request with good reason, for I might oth-
was bred a lawyer, and quitted the Bar in disgust because he erwise excite hopes destined never to be realised, and only
had only one brief and a motion of course, in twenty years, increase difficulties and disappointments already quite nu-
though whether that is recommendation or not, you must merous enough. Come! Supper has been announced, and
determine for yourselves.’ young Oliver, who is all alone in the next room, will have
‘I have no objection to your calling in your friend if I may begun to think, by this time, that we have wearied of his
call in mine,’ said the doctor. company, and entered into some dark conspiracy to thrust
‘We must put it to the vote,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, ‘who him forth upon the world.’
may he be?’ With these words, the old gentleman gave his hand to
‘That lady’s son, and this young lady’s—very old friend,’ Mrs. Maylie, and escorted her into the supper-room. Mr.
said the doctor, motioning towards Mrs. Maylie, and con- Losberne followed, leading Rose; and the council was, for
cluding with an expressive glance at her niece. the present, effectually broken up.
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 ac-
cordingly added to the committee.

CHAPTER XLII 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
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE encumbered with much luggage, as there merely dangled
from a stick which he carried over his shoulder, a small par-
OF OLIVER’S, EXHIBITING cel wrapped in a common handkerchief, and apparently
light enough. This circumstance, added to the length of his
DECIDED MARKS OF legs, which were of unusual extent, enabled him with much
ease to keep some half-dozen paces in advance of his com-
GENIUS, BECOMES A panion, to whom he occasionally turned with an impatient
jerk of the head: as if reproaching her tardiness, and urging
PUBLIC CHARACTER her to greater exertion.
Thus, they had toiled along the dusty road, taking little
IN THE METROPOLIS heed of any object within sight, save when they stepped
aside to allow a wider passage for the mail-coaches which
were whirling out of town, until they passed through High-
gate archway; when the foremost traveller stopped and
called impatiently to his companion,
U pon the night when Nancy, having lulled Mr. Sikes

to sleep, hurried on her self-imposed mission to Rose
Maylie, there advanced towards London, by the Great North
‘Come on, can’t yer? What a lazybones yer are, Char-
lotte.’
‘It’s a heavy load, I can tell you,’ said the female, coming
Road, two persons, upon whom it is expedient that this his- up, almost breathless with fatigue.
tory should bestow some attention. ‘Heavy! What are yer talking about? What are yer made
They were a man and woman; or perhaps they would be for?’ rejoined the male traveller, changing his own little
better described as a male and female: for the former was bundle as he spoke, to the other shoulder. ‘Oh, there yer are,
one of those long-limbed, knock-kneed, shambling, bony resting again!
people, to whom it is difficult to assign any precise age,— Well, if yer ain’t enough to tire anybody’s patience out, I
looking as they do, when they are yet boys, like undergrown don’t know what is!’

‘Is it much farther?’ asked the woman, resting her- erberry, if he come up after us, might poke in his old nose,
self against a bank, and looking up with the perspiration and have us taken back in a cart with handcuffs on,’ said
streaming from her face. Mr. Claypole in a jeering tone. ‘No! I shall go and lose my-
‘Much farther! Yer as good as there,’ said the long-legged self among the narrowest streets I can find, and not stop
tramper, pointing out before him. ‘Look there! Those are till we come to the very out-of-the-wayest house I can set
the lights of London.’ eyes on. ‘Cod, yer may thanks yer stars I’ve got a head; for
‘They’re a good two mile off, at least,’ said the woman de- if we hadn’t gone, at first, the wrong road a purpose, and
spondingly. come back across country, yer’d have been locked up hard
‘Never mind whether they’re two mile off, or twenty,’ said and fast a week ago, my lady. And serve yer right for being
Noah Claypole; for he it was; ‘but get up and come on, or I’ll a fool.’
kick yer, and so I give yer notice.’ ‘I know I ain’t as cunning as you are,’ replied Charlotte;
As Noah’s red nose grew redder with anger, and as he ‘but don’t put all the blame on me, and say I should have
crossed the road while speaking, as if fully prepared to put been locked up. You would have been if I had been, any
his threat into execution, the woman rose without any fur- way.’
ther remark, and trudged onward by his side. ‘Yer took the money from the till, yer know yer did,’ said
‘Where do you mean to stop for the night, Noah?’ she Mr. Claypole.
asked, after they had walked a few hundred yards. ‘I took it for you, Noah, dear,’ rejoined Charlotte.
‘How should I know?’ replied Noah, whose temper had ‘Did I keep it?’ asked Mr. Claypole.
been considerably impaired by walking. ‘No; you trusted in me, and let me carry it like a dear, and
‘Near, I hope,’ said Charlotte. so you are,’ said the lady, chucking him under the chin, and
‘No, not near,’ replied Mr. Claypole. ‘There! Not near; so drawing her arm through his.
don’t think it.’ This was indeed the case; but as it was not Mr. Claypole’s
‘Why not?’ habit to repose a blind and foolish confidence in anybody, it
‘When I tell yer that I don’t mean to do a thing, that’s should be observed, in justice to that gentleman, that he had
enough, without any why or because either,’ replied Mr. trusted Charlotte to this extent, in order that, if they were
Claypole with dignity. pursued, the money might be found on her: which would
‘Well, you needn’t be so cross,’ said his companion. leave him an opportunity of asserting his innocence of any
‘A pretty thing it would be, wouldn’t it to go and stop at theft, and would greatly facilitate his chances of escape. Of
the very first public-house outside the town, so that Sow- course, he entered at this juncture, into no explanation of

his motives, and they walked on very lovingly together. With these injunctions, he pushed the rattling door with
In pursuance of this cautious plan, Mr. Claypole went his shoulder, and entered the house, followed by his com-
on, without halting, until he arrived at the Angel at Isling- panion.
ton, where he wisely judged, from the crowd of passengers There was nobody in the bar but a young Jew, who, with
and numbers of vehicles, that London began in earnest. his two elbows on the counter, was reading a dirty news-
Just pausing to observe which appeared the most crowded paper. He stared very hard at Noah, and Noah stared very
streets, and consequently the most to be avoided, he crossed hard at him.
into Saint John’s Road, and was soon deep in the obscurity If Noah had been attired in his charity-boy’s dress, there
of the intricate and dirty ways, which, lying between Gray’s might have been some reason for the Jew opening his eyes
Inn Lane and Smithfield, render that part of the town one so wide; but as he had discarded the coat and badge, and
of the lowest and worst that improvement has left in the wore a short smock-frock over his leathers, there seemed no
midst of London. particular reason for his appearance exciting so much at-
Through these streets, Noah Claypole walked, drag- tention in a public-house.
ging Charlotte after him; now stepping into the kennel to ‘Is this the Three Cripples?’ asked Noah.
embrace at a glance the whole external character of some ‘That is the dabe of this ‘ouse,’ replied the Jew.
small public-house; now jogging on again, as some fancied ‘A gentleman we met on the road, coming up from the
appearance induced him to believe it too public for his pur- country, recommended us here,’ said Noah, nudging Char-
pose. At length, he stopped in front of one, more humble lotte, perhaps to call her attention to this most ingenious
in appearance and more dirty than any he had yet seen; device for attracting respect, and perhaps to warn her to
and, having crossed over and surveyed it from the opposite betray no surprise. ‘We want to sleep here to-night.’
pavement, graciously announced his intention of putting ‘I’b dot certaid you cad,’ said Barney, who was the atten-
up there, for the night. dant sprite; ‘but I’ll idquire.’
‘So give us the bundle,’ said Noah, unstrapping it from ‘Show us the tap, and give us a bit of cold meat and a drop
the woman’s shoulders, and slinging it over his own; ‘and of beer while yer inquiring, will yer?’ said Noah.
don’t yer speak, except when yer spoke to. What’s the name Barney complied by ushering them into a small back-
of the house—t-h-r—three what?’ room, and setting the required viands before them; having
‘Cripples,’ said Charlotte. done which, he informed the travellers that they could be
‘Three Cripples,’ repeated Noah, ‘and a very good sign lodged that night, and left the amiable couple to their re-
too. Now, then! Keep close at my heels, and come along.’ freshment.

Now, this back-room was immediately behind the bar, the girl already. Don’t make as much noise as a mouse, my
and some steps lower, so that any person connected with the dear, and let me hear ‘em talk—let me hear ‘em.’
house, undrawing a small curtain which concealed a single He again applied his eye to the glass, and turning his ear
pane of glass fixed in the wall of the last-named apartment, to the partition, listened attentively: with a subtle and eager
about five feet from its flooring, could not only look down look upon his face, that might have appertained to some
upon any guests in the back-room without any great haz- old goblin.
ard of being observed (the glass being in a dark angle of ‘So I mean to be a gentleman,’ said Mr. Claypole, kicking
the wall, between which and a large upright beam the ob- out his legs, and continuing a conversation, the commence-
server had to thrust himself), but could, by applying his ear ment of which Fagin had arrived too late to hear. ‘No more
to the partition, ascertain with tolerable distinctness, their jolly old coffins, Charlotte, but a gentleman’s life for me:
subject of conversation. The landlord of the house had not and, if yer like, yer shall be a lady.’
withdrawn his eye from this place of espial for five minutes, ‘I should like that well enough, dear,’ replied Charlotte;
and Barney had only just returned from making the com- ‘but tills ain’t to be emptied every day, and people to get
munication above related, when Fagin, in the course of his clear off after it.’
evening’s business, came into the bar to inquire after some ‘Tills be blowed!’ said Mr. Claypole; ‘there’s more things
of his young pupils. besides tills to be emptied.’
‘Hush!’ said Barney: ‘stradegers id the next roob.’ ‘What do you mean?’ asked his companion.
‘Strangers!’ repeated the old man in a whisper. ‘Pockets, women’s ridicules, houses, mail-coaches, banks!’
‘Ah! Ad rub uds too,’ added Barney. ‘Frob the cuttry, but said Mr. Claypole, rising with the porter.
subthig in your way, or I’b bistaked.’ ‘But you can’t do all that, dear,’ said Charlotte.
Fagin appeared to receive this communication with ‘I shall look out to get into company with them as can,’
great interest. replied Noah. ‘They’ll be able to make us useful some way
Mounting a stool, he cautiously applied his eye to the or another. Why, you yourself are worth fifty women; I nev-
pane of glass, from which secret post he could see Mr. Clay- er see such a precious sly and deceitful creetur as yer can be
pole taking cold beef from the dish, and porter from the pot, when I let yer.’
and administering homoepathic doses of both to Charlotte, ‘Lor, how nice it is to hear yer say so!’ exclaimed Char-
who sat patiently by, eating and drinking at his pleasure. lotte, imprinting a kiss upon his ugly face.
‘Aha!’ he whispered, looking round to Barney, ‘I like that ‘There, that’ll do: don’t yer be too affectionate, in case I’m
fellow’s looks. He’d be of use to us; he knows how to train cross with yer,’ said Noah, disengaging himself with great

gravity. ‘I should like to be the captain of some band, and Fagin followed up this remark by striking the side of his
have the whopping of ‘em, and follering ‘em about, unbe- nose with his right forefinger,—a gesture which Noah at-
known to themselves. That would suit me, if there was good tempted to imitate, though not with complete success, in
profit; and if we could only get in with some gentleman of consequence of his own nose not being large enough for
this sort, I say it would be cheap at that twenty-pound note the purpose. However, Mr. Fagin seemed to interpret the
you’ve got,—especially as we don’t very well know how to endeavour as expressing a perfect coincidence with his
get rid of it ourselves.’ opinion, and put about the liquor which Barney reappeared
After expressing this opinion, Mr. Claypole looked into with, in a very friendly manner.
the porter-pot with an aspect of deep wisdom; and having ‘Good stuff that,’ observed Mr. Claypole, smacking his
well shaken its contents, nodded condescendingly to Char- lips.
lotte, and took a draught, wherewith he appeared greatly ‘Dear!’ said Fagin. ‘A man need be always emptying a till,
refreshed. He was meditating another, when the sudden or a pocket, or a woman’s reticule, or a house, or a mail-
opening of the door, and the appearance of a stranger, in- coach, or a bank, if he drinks it regularly.’
terrupted him. Mr. Claypole no sooner heard this extract from his own
The stranger was Mr. Fagin. And very amiable he looked, remarks than he fell back in his chair, and looked from the
and a very low bow he made, as he advanced, and setting Jew to Charlotte with a countenance of ashy palences and
himself down at the nearest table, ordered something to excessive terror.
drink of the grinning Barney. ‘Don’t mind me, my dear,’ said Fagin, drawing his chair
‘A pleasant night, sir, but cool for the time of year,’ said closer. ‘Ha! ha! it was lucky it was only me that heard you by
Fagin, rubbing his hands. ‘From the country, I see, sir?’ chance. It was very lucky it was only me.’
‘How do yer see that?’ asked Noah Claypole. ‘I didn’t take it,’ stammered Noah, no longer stretch-
‘We have not so much dust as that in London,’ replied Fa- ing out his legs like an independent gentleman, but coiling
gin, pointing from Noah’s shoes to those of his companion, them up as well as he could under his chair; ‘it was all her
and from them to the two bundles. doing; yer’ve got it now, Charlotte, yer know yer have.’
‘Yer a sharp feller,’ said Noah. ‘Ha! ha! only hear that, ‘No matter who’s got it, or who did it, my dear,’ replied
Charlotte!’ Fagin, glancing, nevertheless, with a hawk’s eye at the girl
‘Why, one need be sharp in this town, my dear,’ replied and the two bundles. ‘I’m in that way myself, and I like you
the Jew, sinking his voice to a confidential whisper; ‘and for it.’
that’s the truth.’ ‘In what way?’ asked Mr. Claypole, a little recovering.

‘In that way of business,’ rejoined Fagin; ‘and so are the ‘She’s kept tolerably well under, ain’t she?’ he asked as he
people of the house. You’ve hit the right nail upon the head, resumed his seat: in the tone of a keeper who had tamed
and are as safe here as you could be. There is not a safer some wild animal.
place in all this town than is the Cripples; that is, when I ‘Quite perfect,’ rejoined Fagin, clapping him on the
like to make it so. And I have taken a fancy to you and the shoulder. ‘You’re a genius, my dear.’
young woman; so I’ve said the word, and you may make ‘Why, I suppose if I wasn’t, I shouldn’t be here,’ replied
your minds easy.’ Noah. ‘But, I say, she’ll be back if yer lose time.’
Noah Claypole’s mind might have been at ease after this ‘Now, what do you think?’ said Fagin. ‘If you was to like
assurance, but his body certainly was not; for he shuffled my friend, could you do better than join him?’
and writhed about, into various uncouth positions: eyeing ‘Is he in a good way of business; that’s where it is!’ re-
his new friend meanwhile with mingled fear and suspicion. sponded Noah, winking one of his little eyes.
‘I’ll tell you more,’ said Fagin, after he had reassured the ‘The top of the tree; employs a power of hands; has the
girl, by dint of friendly nods and muttered encouragements. very best society in the profession.’
‘I have got a friend that I think can gratify your darling wish, ‘Regular town-maders?’ asked Mr. Claypole.
and put you in the right way, where you can take whatever ‘Not a countryman among ‘em; and I don’t think he’d
department of the business you think will suit you best at take you, even on my recommendation, if he didn’t run
first, and be taught all the others.’ rather short of assistants just now,’ replied Fagin.
‘Yer speak as if yer were in earnest,’ replied Noah. ‘Should I have to hand over?’ said Noah, slapping his
‘What advantage would it be to me to be anything else?’ breeches-pocket.
inquired Fagin, shrugging his shoulders. ‘Here! Let me have ‘It couldn’t possibly be done without,’ replied Fagin, in a
a word with you outside.’ most decided manner.
‘There’s no occasion to trouble ourselves to move,’ said ‘Twenty pound, though—it’s a lot of money!’
Noah, getting his legs by gradual degrees abroad again. ‘Not when it’s in a note you can’t get rid of,’ retorted Fa-
‘She’ll take the luggage upstairs the while. Charlotte, see to gin. ‘Number and date taken, I suppose? Payment stopped
them bundles.’ at the Bank? Ah! It’s not worth much to him. It’ll have to go
This mandate, which had been delivered with great maj- abroad, and he couldn’t sell it for a great deal in the mar-
esty, was obeyed without the slightest demur; and Charlotte ket.’
made the best of her way off with the packages while Noah ‘When could I see him?’ asked Noah doubtfully.
held the door open and watched her out. ‘To-morrow morning.’

‘Where?’ ‘What do you think, then?’ asked Noah, anxiously re-
‘Here.’ garding him. ‘Something in the sneaking way, where it was
‘Um!’ said Noah. ‘What’s the wages?’ pretty sure work, and not much more risk than being at
‘Live like a gentleman—board and lodging, pipes and home.’
spirits free—half of all you earn, and half of all the young ‘What do you think of the old ladies?’ asked Fagin.
woman earns,’ replied Mr. Fagin. ‘There’s a good deal of money made in snatching their bags
Whether Noah Claypole, whose rapacity was none of and parcels, and running round the corner.’
the least comprehensive, would have acceded even to these ‘Don’t they holler out a good deal, and scratch sometimes?’
glowing terms, had he been a perfectly free agent, is very asked Noah, shaking his head. ‘I don’t think that would an-
doubtful; but as he recollected that, in the event of his refus- swer my purpose. Ain’t there any other line open?’
al, it was in the power of his new acquaintance to give him ‘Stop!’ said Fagin, laying his hand on Noah’s knee. ‘The
up to justice immediately (and more unlikely things had kinchin lay.’
come to pass), he gradually relented, and said he thought ‘The kinchins, my dear,’ said Fagin, ‘is the young chil-
that would suit him. dren that’s sent on errands by their mothers, with sixpences
‘But, yer see,’ observed Noah, ‘as she will be able to do a and shillings; and the lay is just to take their money away—
good deal, I should like to take something very light.’ they’ve always got it ready in their hands,—then knock ‘em
‘A little fancy work?’ suggested Fagin. into the kennel, and walk off very slow, as if there were
‘Ah! something of that sort,’ replied Noah. ‘What do you nothing else the matter but a child fallen down and hurt
think would suit me now? Something not too trying for the itself. Ha! ha! ha!’
strength, and not very dangerous, you know. That’s the sort ‘Ha! ha!’ roared Mr. Claypole, kicking up his legs in an
of thing!’ ecstasy.
‘I heard you talk of something in the spy way upon the ‘Lord, that’s the very thing!’
others, my dear,’ said Fagin. ‘My friend wants somebody ‘To be sure it is,’ replied Fagin; ‘and you can have a few
who would do that well, very much.’ good beats chalked out in Camden Town, and Battle Bridge,
‘Why, I did mention that, and I shouldn’t mind turning and neighborhoods like that, where they’re always going er-
my hand to it sometimes,’ rejoined Mr. Claypole slowly; rands; and you can upset as many kinchins as you want, any
‘but it wouldn’t pay by itself, you know.’ hour in the day. Ha! ha! ha!’
‘That’s true!’ observed the Jew, ruminating or pretending With this, Fagin poked Mr. Claypole in the side, and they
to ruminate. ‘No, it might not.’ joined in a burst of laughter both long and loud.

‘Well, that’s all right!’ said Noah, when he had recovered
himself, and Charlotte had returned. ‘What time to-mor- CHAPTER XLIII
row shall we say?’
‘Will ten do?’ asked Fagin, adding, as Mr. Claypole nod-
ded assent, ‘What name shall I tell my good friend.’
‘Mr. Bolter,’ replied Noah, who had prepared himself for WHEREIN IS SHOWN HOW
such emergency. ‘Mr. Morris Bolter. This is Mrs. Bolter.’
‘Mrs. Bolter’s humble servant,’ said Fagin, bowing with THE ARTFUL DODGER
grotesque politeness. ‘I hope I shall know her better very
shortly.’ GOT INTO TROUBLE
‘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 un-
‘A nd 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
derstand?’ day to Fagin’s house. ‘’Cod, I thought as much last night!’
‘Oh yes, I understand—perfectly,’ replied Fagin, telling ‘Every man’s his own friend, my dear,’ replied Fagin, with
the truth for once. ‘Good-night! Good-night!’ his most insinuating grin. ‘He hasn’t as good a one as him-
With many adieus and good wishes, Mr. Fagin went his self anywhere.’
way. Noah Claypole, bespeaking his good lady’s attention, ‘Except sometimes,’ replied Morris Bolter, assuming the
proceeded to enlighten her relative to the arrangement he air of a man of the world. ‘Some people are nobody’s en-
had made, with all that haughtiness and air of superiori- emies but their own, yer know.’
ty, becoming, not only a member of the sterner sex, but a ‘Don’t believe that,’ said Fagin. ‘When a man’s his own
gentleman who appreciated the dignity of a special appoint- enemy, it’s only because he’s too much his own friend; not
ment on the kinchin lay, in London and its vicinity. because he’s careful for everybody but himself. Pooh! pooh!
There ain’t such a thing in nature.’
‘There oughn’t 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. It’s inconveniently tight; and murmured an assent, qualified in
neither, my friend, neither. It’s number one. tone but not in substance.
‘Ha! ha!’ cried Mr. Bolter. ‘Number one for ever.’ ‘The gallows,’ continued Fagin, ‘the gallows, my dear, is
‘In a little community like ours, my dear,’ said Fagin, who an ugly finger-post, which points out a very short and sharp
felt it necessary to qualify this position, ‘we have a general turning that has stopped many a bold fellow’s career on the
number one, without considering me too as the same, and broad highway. To keep in the easy road, and keep it at a
all the other young people.’ distance, is object number one with you.’
‘Oh, the devil!’ exclaimed Mr. Bolter. ‘Of course it is,’ replied Mr. Bolter. ‘What do yer talk
‘You see,’ pursued Fagin, affecting to disregard this inter- about such things for?’
ruption, ‘we are so mixed up together, and identified in our ‘Only to show you my meaning clearly,’ said the Jew, rais-
interests, that it must be so. For instance, it’s your object to ing his eyebrows. ‘To be able to do that, you depend upon
take care of number one—meaning yourself.’ me. To keep my little business all snug, I depend upon you.
‘Certainly,’ replied Mr. Bolter. ‘Yer about right there.’ The first is your number one, the second my number one.
‘Well! You can’t take care of yourself, number one, with- The more you value your number one, the more careful you
out taking care of me, number one.’ must be of mine; so we come at last to what I told you at
‘Number two, you mean,’ said Mr. Bolter, who was large- first—that a regard for number one holds us all together,
ly endowed with the quality of selfishness. and must do so, unless we would all go to pieces in com-
‘No, I don’t!’ retorted Fagin. ‘I’m of the same importance pany.’
to you, as you are to yourself.’ ‘That’s true,’ rejoined Mr. Bolter, thoughtfully. ‘Oh! yer a
‘I say,’ interrupted Mr. Bolter, ‘yer a very nice man, and cunning old codger!’
I’m very fond of yer; but we ain’t quite so thick together, as Mr. Fagin saw, with delight, that this tribute to his
all that comes to.’ powers was no mere compliment, but that he had really im-
‘Only think,’ said Fagin, shrugging his shoulders, and pressed his recruit with a sense of his wily genius, which
stretching out his hands; ‘only consider. You’ve done what’s it was most important that he should entertain in the out-
a very pretty thing, and what I love you for doing; but what set of their acquaintance. To strengthen an impression so
at the same time would put the cravat round your throat, desirable and useful, he followed up the blow by acquaint-
that’s so very easily tied and so very difficult to unloose—in ing him, in some detail, with the magnitude and extent of
plain English, the halter!’ his operations; blending truth and fiction together, as best
Mr. Bolter put his hand to his neckerchief, as if he felt it served his purpose; and bringing both to bear, with so much

art, that Mr. Bolter’s respect visibly increased, and became Mr. Bolter. ‘What’s the good of talking in that way to me;
tempered, at the same time, with a degree of wholesome why don’t yer speak so as I can understand yer?’
fear, which it was highly desirable to awaken. Fagin was about to translate these mysterious expres-
‘It’s this mutual trust we have in each other that consoles sions into the vulgar tongue; and, being interpreted, Mr.
me under heavy losses,’ said Fagin. ‘My best hand was taken Bolter would have been informed that they represented that
from me, yesterday morning.’ combination of words, ‘transportation for life,’ when the di-
‘You don’t mean to say he died?’ cried Mr. Bolter. alogue was cut short by the entry of Master Bates, with his
‘No, no,’ replied Fagin, ‘not so bad as that. Not quite so hands in his breeches-pockets, and his face twisted into a
bad.’ look of semi-comical woe.
‘What, I suppose he was—‘ ‘It’s all up, Fagin,’ said Charley, when he and his new
‘Wanted,’ interposed Fagin. ‘Yes, he was wanted.’ companion had been made known to each other.
‘Very particular?’ inquired Mr. Bolter. ‘What do you mean?’
‘No,’ replied Fagin, ‘not very. He was charged with at- ‘They’ve found the gentleman as owns the box; two or
tempting to pick a pocket, and they found a silver snuff-box three more’s a coming to ‘dentify him; and the Artful’s
on him,—his own, my dear, his own, for he took snuff him- booked for a passage out,’ replied Master Bates. ‘I must
self, and was very fond of it. They remanded him till to-day, have a full suit of mourning, Fagin, and a hatband, to
for they thought they knew the owner. Ah! he was worth fif- wisit him in, afore he sets out upon his travels. To think
ty boxes, and I’d give the price of as many to have him back. of Jack Dawkins—lummy Jack—the Dodger—the Artful
You should have known the Dodger, my dear; you should Dodger—going abroad for a common twopenny-halfpen-
have known the Dodger.’ ny sneeze-box! I never thought he’d a done it under a gold
‘Well, but I shall know him, I hope; don’t yer think so?’ watch, chain, and seals, at the lowest. Oh, why didn’t he rob
said Mr. Bolter. some rich old gentleman of all his walables, and go out as a
‘I’m doubtful about it,’ replied Fagin, with a sigh. ‘If they gentleman, and not like a common prig, without no honour
don’t get any fresh evidence, it’ll only be a summary con- nor glory!’
viction, and we shall have him back again after six weeks or With this expression of feeling for his unfortunate friend,
so; but, if they do, it’s a case of lagging. They know what a Master Bates sat himself on the nearest chair with an aspect
clever lad he is; he’ll be a lifer. They’ll make the Artful noth- of chagrin and despondency.
ing less than a lifer.’ ‘What do you talk about his having neither honour nor
‘What do you mean by lagging and a lifer?’ demanded glory for!’ exclaimed Fagin, darting an angry look at his

pupil. ‘Wasn’t he always the top-sawyer among you all! Is be kept in the Stone Jug, Charley, like a gentleman. Like
there one of you that could touch him or come near him on a gentleman! With his beer every day, and money in his
any scent! Eh?’ pocket to pitch and toss with, if he can’t spend it.’
‘Not one,’ replied Master Bates, in a voice rendered husky ‘No, shall he though?’ cried Charley Bates.
by regret; ‘not one.’ ‘Ay, that he shall,’ replied Fagin, ‘and we’ll have a big-wig,
‘Then what do you talk of?’ replied Fagin angrily; ‘what Charley: one that’s got the greatest gift of the gab: to carry
are you blubbering for?’ on his defence; and he shall make a speech for himself too,
‘’Cause it isn’t on the rec-ord, is it?’ said Charley, chafed if he likes; and we’ll read it all in the papers—‘Artful Dodg-
into perfect defiance of his venerable friend by the current er—shrieks of laughter—here the court was convulsed’—eh,
of his regrets; ‘’cause it can’t come out in the ‘dictment; Charley, eh?’
‘cause nobody will never know half of what he was. How ‘Ha! ha! laughed Master Bates, ‘what a lark that would be,
will he stand in the Newgate Calendar? P’raps not be there wouldn’t it, Fagin? I say, how the Artful would bother ‘em
at all. Oh, my eye, my eye, wot a blow it is!’ wouldn’t he?’
‘Ha! ha!’ cried Fagin, extending his right hand, and turn- ‘Would!’ cried Fagin. ‘He shall—he will!’
ing to Mr. Bolter in a fit of chuckling which shook him as ‘Ah, to be sure, so he will,’ repeated Charley, rubbing his
though he had the palsy; ‘see what a pride they take in their hands.
profession, my dear. Ain’t it beautiful?’ ‘I think I see him now,’ cried the Jew, bending his eyes
Mr. Bolter nodded assent, and Fagin, after contemplat- upon his pupil.
ing the grief of Charley Bates for some seconds with evident ‘So do I,’ cried Charley Bates. ‘Ha! ha! ha! so do I. I see it
satisfaction, stepped up to that young gentleman and patted all afore me, upon my soul I do, Fagin. What a game! What
him on the shoulder. a regular game! All the big-wigs trying to look solemn, and
‘Never mind, Charley,’ said Fagin soothingly; ‘it’ll come Jack Dawkins addressing of ‘em as intimate and comfort-
out, it’ll be sure to come out. They’ll all know what a clever able as if he was the judge’s own son making a speech arter
fellow he was; he’ll show it himself, and not disgrace his old dinner—ha! ha! ha!’
pals and teachers. Think how young he is too! What a dis- In fact, Mr. Fagin had so well humoured his young
tinction, Charley, to be lagged at his time of life!’ friend’s eccentric disposition, that Master Bates, who had at
‘Well, it is a honour that is!’ said Charley, a little con- first been disposed to consider the imprisoned Dodger rath-
soled. er in the light of a victim, now looked upon him as the chief
‘He shall have all he wants,’ continued the Jew. ‘He shall actor in a scene of most uncommon and exquisite humour,

and felt quite impatient for the arrival of the time when his ‘Never mind,’ retorted Mr. Bolter; ‘and don’t yer take lib-
old companion should have so favourable an opportunity of erties with yer superiors, little boy, or yer’ll find yerself in
displaying his abilities. the wrong shop.’
‘We must know how he gets on to-day, by some handy Master Bates laughed so vehemently at this magnificent
means or other,’ said Fagin. ‘Let me think.’ threat, that it was some time before Fagin could interpose,
‘Shall I go?’ asked Charley. and represent to Mr. Bolter that he incurred no possible
‘Not for the world,’ replied Fagin. ‘Are you mad, my dear, danger in visiting the police-office; that, inasmuch as no ac-
stark mad, that you’d walk into the very place where—No, count of the little affair in which he had engaged, nor any
Charley, no. One is enough to lose at a time.’ description of his person, had yet been forwarded to the
‘You don’t mean to go yourself, I suppose?’ said Charley metropolis, it was very probable that he was not even sus-
with a humorous leer. pected of having resorted to it for shelter; and that, if he
‘That wouldn’t quite fit,’ replied Fagin shaking his head. were properly disguised, it would be as safe a spot for him to
‘Then why don’t you send this new cove?’ asked Mas- visit as any in London, inasmuch as it would be, of all places,
ter Bates, laying his hand on Noah’s arm. ‘Nobody knows the very last, to which he could be supposed likely to resort
him.’ of his own free will.
‘Why, if he didn’t mind—‘ observed Fagin. Persuaded, in part, by these representations, but over-
‘Mind!’ interposed Charley. ‘What should he have to borne in a much greater degree by his fear of Fagin, Mr.
mind?’ Bolter at length consented, with a very bad grace, to under-
‘Really nothing, my dear,’ said Fagin, turning to Mr. Bolt- take the expedition. By Fagin’s directions, he immediately
er, ‘really nothing.’ substituted for his own attire, a waggoner’s frock, velveteen
‘Oh, I dare say about that, yer know,’ observed Noah, breeches, and leather leggings: all of which articles the Jew
backing towards the door, and shaking his head with a kind had at hand. He was likewise furnished with a felt hat well
of sober alarm. ‘No, no—none of that. It’s not in my depart- garnished with turnpike tickets; and a carter’s whip. Thus
ment, that ain’t.’ equipped, he was to saunter into the office, as some coun-
‘Wot department has he got, Fagin?’ inquired Master try fellow from Covent Garden market might be supposed
Bates, surveying Noah’s lank form with much disgust. ‘The to do for the gratification of his curiousity; and as he was
cutting away when there’s anything wrong, and the eat- as awkward, ungainly, and raw-boned a fellow as need be,
ing all the wittles when there’s everything right; is that his Mr. Fagin had no fear but that he would look the part to
branch?’ perfection.

These arrangements completed, he was informed of the clining against the dock-rail, tapping his nose listlessly with
necessary signs and tokens by which to recognise the Artful a large key, except when he repressed an undue tendency to
Dodger, and was conveyed by Master Bates through dark conversation among the idlers, by proclaiming silence; or
and winding ways to within a very short distance of Bow looked sternly up to bid some woman ‘Take that baby out,’
Street. Having described the precise situation of the office, when the gravity of justice was disturbed by feeble cries,
and accompanied it with copious directions how he was to half-smothered in the mother’s shawl, from some meagre
walk straight up the passage, and when he got into the side, infant. The room smelt close and unwholesome; the walls
and pull off his hat as he went into the room, Charley Bates were dirt-discoloured; and the ceiling blackened. There was
bade him hurry on alone, and promised to bide his return an old smoky bust over the mantel-shelf, and a dusty clock
on the spot of their parting. above the dock—the only thing present, that seemed to go
Noah Claypole, or Morris Bolter as the reader pleas- on as it ought; for depravity, or poverty, or an habitual ac-
es, punctually followed the directions he had received, quaintance with both, had left a taint on all the animate
which—Master Bates being pretty well acquainted with the matter, hardly less unpleasant than the thick greasy scum
locality—were so exact that he was enabled to gain the mag- on every inaminate object that frowned upon it.
isterial presence without asking any question, or meeting Noah looked eagerly about him for the Dodger; but al-
with any interruption by the way. though there were several women who would have done
He found himself jostled among a crowd of people, chiefly very well for that distinguished character’s mother or sister,
women, who were huddled together in a dirty frowsy room, and more than one man who might be supposed to bear a
at the upper end of which was a raised platform railed off strong resemblance to his father, nobody at all answering
from the rest, with a dock for the prisoners on the left hand the description given him of Mr. Dawkins was to be seen.
against the wall, a box for the witnesses in the middle, and a He waited in a state of much suspense and uncertainty until
desk for the magistrates on the right; the awful locality last the women, being committed for trial, went flaunting out;
named, being screened off by a partition which concealed and then was quickly relieved by the appearance of another
the bench from the common gaze, and left the vulgar to prisoner who he felt at once could be no other than the ob-
imagine (if they could) the full majesty of justice. ject of his visit.
There were only a couple of women in the dock, who It was indeed Mr. Dawkins, who, shuffling into the office
were nodding to their admiring friends, while the clerk with the big coat sleeves tucked up as usual, his left hand in
read some depositions to a couple of policemen and a man his pocket, and his hat in his right hand, preceded the jailer,
in plain clothes who leant over the table. A jailer stood re- with a rolling gait altogether indescribable, and, taking his

place in the dock, requested in an audible voice to know your worship.’
what he was placed in that ‘ere disgraceful sitivation for. ‘Oh! you know me, do you?’ cried the Artful, making a
‘Hold your tongue, will you?’ said the jailer. note of the statement. ‘Wery good. That’s a case of deforma-
‘I’m an Englishman, ain’t I?’ rejoined the Dodger. ‘Where tion of character, any way.’
are my priwileges?’ Here there was another laugh, and another cry of si-
‘You’ll get your privileges soon enough,’ retorted the jail- lence.
er, ‘and pepper with ‘em.’ ‘Now then, where are the witnesses?’ said the clerk.
‘We’ll see wot the Secretary of State for the Home Affairs ‘Ah! that’s right,’ added the Dodger. ‘Where are they? I
has got to say to the beaks, if I don’t,’ replied Mr. Dawkins. should like to see ‘em.’
‘Now then! Wot is this here business? I shall thank the This wish was immediately gratified, for a policeman
madg’strates to dispose of this here little affair, and not to stepped forward who had seen the prisoner attempt the
keep me while they read the paper, for I’ve got an appoint- pocket of an unknown gentleman in a crowd, and indeed
ment with a genelman in the City, and as I am a man of my take a handkerchief therefrom, which, being a very old one,
word and wery punctual in business matters, he’ll go away he deliberately put back again, after trying in on his own
if I ain’t there to my time, and then pr’aps ther won’t be an countenance. For this reason, he took the Dodger into cus-
action for damage against them as kep me away. Oh no, cer- tody as soon as he could get near him, and the said Dodger,
tainly not!’ being searched, had upon his person a silver snuff-box, with
At this point, the Dodger, with a show of being very the owner’s name engraved upon the lid. This gentleman
particular with a view to proceedings to be had thereafter, had been discovered on reference to the Court Guide, and
desired the jailer to communicate ‘the names of them two being then and there present, swore that the snuff-box was
files as was on the bench.’ Which so tickled the spectators, his, and that he had missed it on the previous day, the mo-
that they laughed almost as heartily as Master Bates could ment he had disengaged himself from the crowd before
have done if he had heard the request. referred to. He had also remarked a young gentleman in the
‘Silence there!’ cried the jailer. throng, particularly active in making his way about, and
‘What is this?’ inquired one of the magistrates. that young gentleman was the prisoner before him.
‘A pick-pocketing case, your worship.’ ‘Have you anything to ask this witness, boy?’ said the
‘Has the boy ever been here before?’ magistrate.
‘He ought to have been, a many times,’ replied the jailer. ‘I wouldn’t abase myself by descending to hold no con-
‘He has been pretty well everywhere else. I know him well, versation with him’ replied the Dodger.

‘Have you anything to say at all?’ With these last words, the Dodger suffered himself to be
‘Do you hear his worship ask if you’ve anything to say?’ led off by the collar; threatening, till he got into the yard, to
inquired the jailer, nudging the silent Dodger with his el- make a parliamentary business of it; and then grinning in
bow. the officer’s face, with great glee and self-approval.
‘I beg your pardon,’ said the Dodger, looking up with Having seen him locked up by himself in a little cell,
an air of abstraction. ‘Did you redress yourself to me, my Noah made the best of his way back to where he had left
man?’ Master Bates. After waiting here some time, he was joined
‘I never see such an out-and-out young wagabond, your by that young gentleman, who had prudently abstained
worship,’ observed the officer with a grin. ‘Do you mean to from showing himself until he had looked carefully abroad
say anything, you young shaver?’ from a snug retreat, and ascertained that his new friend had
‘No,’ replied the Dodger, ‘not here, for this ain’t the shop not been followed by any impertinent person.
for justice: besides which, my attorney is a-breakfasting this The two hastened back together, to bear to Mr. Fagin the
morning with the Wice President of the House of Com- animating news that the Dodger was doing full justice to
mons; but I shall have something to say elsewhere, and so his bringing-up, and establishing for himself a glorious rep-
will he, and so will a wery numerous and ‘spectable circle of utation.
acquaintance as’ll make them beaks wish they’d never been
born, or that they’d got their footmen to hang ‘em up to
their own hat-pegs, afore they let ‘em come out this morn-
ing to try it on upon me. I’ll—‘
‘There! He’s fully committed!’ interposed the clerk. ‘Take
him away.’
‘Come on,’ said the jailer.
‘Oh ah! I’ll come on,’ replied the Dodger, brushing his
hat with the palm of his hand. ‘Ah! (to the Bench) it’s no
use your looking frightened; I won’t show you no mercy,
not a ha’porth of it. YOU’LL pay for this, my fine fellers. I
wouldn’t be you for something! I wouldn’t go free, now, if
you was to fall down on your knees and ask me. Here, carry
me off to prison! Take me away!’

CHAPTER XLIV ly as he merited such a fate—by her hand.
But, these were the mere wanderings of a mind unwhol-
ly to detach itself from old companions and associations,
though enabled to fix itself steadily on one object, and re-
THE TIME ARRIVES FOR solved not to be turned aside by any consideration. Her fears
for Sikes would have been more powerful inducements to
NANCY TO REDEEM recoil while there was yet time; but she had stipulated that
her secret should be rigidly kept, she had dropped no clue
HER PLEDGE TO ROSE which could lead to his discovery, she had refused, even for
his sake, a refuge from all the guilt and wretchedness that
MAYLIE. SHE FAILS. encompasses her—and what more could she do! She was
resolved.
Though all her mental struggles terminated in this con-
clusion, they forced themselves upon her, again and again,
and left their traces too. She grew pale and thin, even within
A dept as she was, in all the arts of cunning and dissimula-

tion, the girl Nancy could not wholly conceal the effect
which the knowledge of the step she had taken, wrought
a few days. At times, she took no heed of what was pass-
ing before her, or no part in conversations where once, she
would have been the loudest. At other times, she laughed
upon her mind. She remembered that both the crafty Jew without merriment, and was noisy without a moment after-
and the brutal Sikes had confided to her schemes, which wards—she sat silent and dejected, brooding with her head
had been hidden from all others: in the full confidence that upon her hands, while the very effort by which she roused
she was trustworthy and beyond the reach of their suspi- herself, told, more forcibly than even these indications, that
cion. Vile as those schemes were, desperate as were their she was ill at ease, and that her thoughts were occupied with
originators, and bitter as were her feelings towards Fagin, matters very different and distant from those in the course
who had led her, step by step, deeper and deeper down into of discussion by her companions.
an abyss of crime and misery, whence was no escape; still, It was Sunday night, and the bell of the nearest church
there were times when, even towards him, she felt some re- struck the hour. Sikes and the Jew were talking, but they
lenting, lest her disclosure should bring him within the iron paused to listen. The girl looked up from the low seat on
grasp he had so long eluded, and he should fall at last—rich- which she crouched, and listened too. Eleven.

‘An hour this side of midnight,’ said Sikes, raising the had taken advantage of the foregoing conversation to put on
blind to look out and returning to his seat. ‘Dark and heavy her bonnet, and was now leaving the room.
it is too. A good night for business this.’ ‘Hallo!’ cried Sikes. ‘Nance. Where’s the gal going to at
‘Ah!’ replied Fagin. ‘What a pity, Bill, my dear, that there’s this time of night?’
none quite ready to be done.’ ‘Not far.’
‘You’re right for once,’ replied Sikes gruffly. ‘It is a pity, for ‘What answer’s that?’ retorted Sikes. ‘Do you hear me?’
I’m in the humour too.’ ‘I don’t know where,’ replied the girl.
Fagin sighed, and shook his head despondingly. ‘Then I do,’ said Sikes, more in the spirit of obstinacy
‘We must make up for lost time when we’ve got things than because he had any real objection to the girl going
into a good train. That’s all I know,’ said Sikes. where she listed. ‘Nowhere. Sit down.’
‘That’s the way to talk, my dear,’ replied Fagin, venturing ‘I’m not well. I told you that before,’ rejoined the girl. ‘I
to pat him on the shoulder. ‘It does me good to hear you.’ want a breath of air.’
‘Does you good, does it!’ cried Sikes. ‘Well, so be it.’ ‘Put your head out of the winder,’ replied Sikes.
‘Ha! ha! ha!’ laughed Fagin, as if he were relieved by even ‘There’s not enough there,’ said the girl. ‘I want it in the
this concession. ‘You’re like yourself to-night, Bill. Quite street.’
like yourself.’ ‘Then you won’t have it,’ replied Sikes. With which assur-
‘I don’t feel like myself when you lay that withered old ance he rose, locked the door, took the key out, and pulling
claw on my shoulder, so take it away,’ said Sikes, casting off her bonnet from her head, flung it up to the top of an old
the Jew’s hand. press. ‘There,’ said the robber. ‘Now stop quietly where you
‘It make you nervous, Bill,—reminds you of being nabbed, are, will you?’
does it?’ said Fagin, determined not to be offended. ‘It’s not such a matter as a bonnet would keep me,’ said
‘Reminds me of being nabbed by the devil,’ returned the girl turning very pale. ‘What do you mean, Bill? Do you
Sikes. ‘There never was another man with such a face as know what you’re doing?’
yours, unless it was your father, and I suppose HE is singe- ‘Know what I’m—Oh!’ cried Sikes, turning to Fagin,
ing his grizzled red beard by this time, unless you came ‘she’s out of her senses, you know, or she daren’t talk to me
straight from the old ‘un without any father at all betwixt in that way.’
you; which I shouldn’t wonder at, a bit.’ ‘You’ll drive me on the something desperate,’ muttered
Fagin offered no reply to this compliment: but, pulling the girl placing both hands upon her breast, as though to
Sikes by the sleeve, pointed his finger towards Nancy, who keep down by force some violent outbreak. ‘Let me go, will

you,—this minute—this instant.’ from his face. ‘Wot a precious strange gal that is!’
‘No!’ said Sikes. ‘You may say that, Bill,’ replied Fagin thoughtfully. ‘You
‘Tell him to let me go, Fagin. He had better. It’ll be better may say that.’
for him. Do you hear me?’ cried Nancy stamping her foot ‘Wot did she take it into her head to go out to-night for,
upon the ground. do you think?’ asked Sikes. ‘Come; you should know her
‘Hear you!’ repeated Sikes turning round in his chair to better than me. Wot does is mean?’
confront her. ‘Aye! And if I hear you for half a minute lon- ‘Obstinacy; woman’s obstinacy, I suppose, my dear.’
ger, the dog shall have such a grip on your throat as’ll tear ‘Well, I suppose it is,’ growled Sikes. ‘I thought I had
some of that screaming voice out. Wot has come over you, tamed her, but she’s as bad as ever.’
you jade! Wot is it?’ ‘Worse,’ said Fagin thoughtfully. ‘I never knew her like
‘Let me go,’ said the girl with great earnestness; then sit- this, for such a little cause.’
ting herself down on the floor, before the door, she said, ‘Bill, ‘Nor I,’ said Sikes. ‘I think she’s got a touch of that fever in
let me go; you don’t know what you are doing. You don’t, in- her blood yet, and it won’t come out—eh?’
deed. For only one hour—do—do!’ ‘Like enough.’
‘Cut my limbs off one by one!’ cried Sikes, seizing her ‘I’ll let her a little blood, without troubling the doctor, if
roughly by the arm, ‘If I don’t think the gal’s stark raving she’s took that way again,’ said Sikes.
mad. Get up.’ Fagin nodded an expressive approval of this mode of
‘Not till you let me go—not till you let me go—Never— treatment.
never!’ screamed the girl. Sikes looked on, for a minute, ‘She was hanging about me all day, and night too, when I
watching his opportunity, and suddenly pinioning her was stretched on my back; and you, like a blackhearted wolf
hands dragged her, struggling and wrestling with him by as you are, kept yourself aloof,’ said Sikes. ‘We was poor too,
the way, into a small room adjoining, where he sat himself all the time, and I think, one way or other, it’s worried and
on a bench, and thrusting her into a chair, held her down fretted her; and that being shut up here so long has made
by force. She struggled and implored by turns until twelve her restless—eh?’
o’clock had struck, and then, wearied and exhausted, ceased ‘That’s it, my dear,’ replied the Jew in a whisper. ‘Hush!’
to contest the point any further. With a caution, backed by As he uttered these words, the girl herself appeared and
many oaths, to make no more efforts to go out that night, resumed her former seat. Her eyes were swollen and red;
Sikes left her to recover at leisure and rejoined Fagin. she rocked herself to and fro; tossed her head; and, after a
‘Whew!’ said the housebreaker wiping the perspiration little time, burst out laughing.

‘Why, now she’s on the other tack!’ exclaimed Sikes, turn- ‘I know you well,’ replied the girls, without manifesting
ing a look of excessive surprise on his companion. the least emotion. ‘Good-night.’
Fagin nodded to him to take no further notice just then; She shrank back, as Fagin offered to lay his hand on hers,
and, in a few minutes, the girl subsided into her accustomed but said good-night again, in a steady voice, and, answering
demeanour. Whispering Sikes that there was no fear of her his parting look with a nod of intelligence, closed the door
relapsing, Fagin took up his hat and bade him good-night. between them.
He paused when he reached the room-door, and looking Fagin walked towards his home, intent upon the thoughts
round, asked if somebody would light him down the dark that were working within his brain. He had conceived the
stairs. idea—not from what had just passed though that had tend-
‘Light him down,’ said Sikes, who was filling his pipe. ‘It’s ed to confirm him, but slowly and by degrees—that Nancy,
a pity he should break his neck himself, and disappoint the wearied of the housebreaker’s brutality, had conceived an
sight-seers. Show him a light.’ attachment for some new friend. Her altered manner, her
Nancy followed the old man downstairs, with a candle. repeated absences from home alone, her comparative indif-
When they reached the passage, he laid his finger on his lip, ference to the interests of the gang for which she had once
and drawing close to the girl, said, in a whisper. been so zealous, and, added to these, her desperate im-
‘What is it, Nancy, dear?’ patience to leave home that night at a particular hour, all
‘What do you mean?’ replied the girl, in the same tone. favoured the supposition, and rendered it, to him at least,
‘The reason of all this,’ replied Fagin. ‘If HE’—he pointed almost matter of certainty. The object of this new liking was
with his skinny fore-finger up the stairs—‘is so hard with not among his myrmidons. He would be a valuable acquisi-
you (he’s a brute, Nance, a brute-beast), why don’t you—‘ tion with such an assistant as Nancy, and must (thus Fagin
‘Well?’ said the girl, as Fagin paused, with his mouth al- argued) be secured without delay.
most touching her ear, and his eyes looking into hers. There was another, and a darker object, to be gained.
‘No matter just now. We’ll talk of this again. You have Sikes knew too much, and his ruffian taunts had not galled
a friend in me, Nance; a staunch friend. I have the means Fagin the less, because the wounds were hidden. The girl
at hand, quiet and close. If you want revenge on those that must know, well, that if she shook him off, she could never
treat you like a dog—like a dog! worse than his dog, for be safe from his fury, and that it would be surely wreaked—
he humours him sometimes—come to me. I say, come to to the maiming of limbs, or perhaps the loss of life—on the
me. He is the mere hound of a day, but you know me of old, object of her more recent fancy.
Nance.’ ‘With a little persuasion,’ thought Fagin, ‘what more like-

ly than that she would consent to poison him? Women have lian; and went on his way: busying his bony hands in the
done such things, and worse, to secure the same object be- folds of his tattered garment, which he wrenched tightly in
fore now. There would be the dangerous villain: the man I his grasp, as though there were a hated enemy crushed with
hate: gone; another secured in his place; and my influence every motion of his fingers.
over the girl, with a knowledge of this crime to back it, un-
limited.’
These things passed through the mind of Fagin, dur-
ing the short time he sat alone, in the housebreaker’s 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 extract-
ing 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 com-
mon 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 vil-

CHAPTER XLV ‘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 yer’d ordered her to make some
buttered toast first. Well. Talk away. Yer won’t interrupt
NOAH CLAYPOLE IS me.’
There seemed, indeed, no great fear of anything interrupt-
EMPLOYED BY FAGIN ing him, as he had evidently sat down with a determination
to do a great deal of business.
ON A SECRET MISSION ‘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.’
‘Don’t you forget to add three pint-pots and a milk-can,’
said Mr. Bolter.
T he old man was up, betimes, next morning, and wait-

ed impatiently for the appearance of his new associate,
who after a delay that seemed interminable, at length pre-
‘No, no, my dear. The pint-pots were great strokes of ge-
nius: but the milk-can was a perfect masterpiece.’
‘Pretty well, I think, for a beginner,’ remarked Mr. Bolt-
sented himself, and commenced a voracious assault on the er complacently. ‘The pots I took off airy railings, and the
breakfast. milk-can was standing by itself outside a public-house. I
‘Bolter,’ said Fagin, drawing up a chair and seating him- thought it might get rusty with the rain, or catch cold, yer
self opposite Morris Bolter. know. Eh? Ha! ha! ha!’
‘Well, here I am,’ returned Noah. ‘What’s the matter? Fagin affected to laugh very heartily; and Mr. Bolter
Don’t yer ask me to do anything till I have done eating. having had his laugh out, took a series of large bites, which
That’s a great fault in this place. Yer never get time enough finished his first hunk of bread and butter, and assisted
over yer meals.’ himself to a second.
‘You can talk as you eat, can’t you?’ said Fagin, cursing ‘I want you, Bolter,’ said Fagin, leaning over the table, ‘to
his dear young friend’s greediness from the very bottom of do a piece of work for me, my dear, that needs great care
his heart. and caution.’
‘Oh yes, I can talk. I get on better when I talk,’ said Noah, ‘I say,’ rejoined Bolter, ‘don’t yer go shoving me into dan-
cutting a monstrous slice of bread. ‘Where’s Charlotte?’ ger, or sending me any more o’ yer police-offices. That don’t

suit me, that don’t; and so I tell yer.’ ‘Of course, of course,’ replied Noah. ‘Where is she? Where
‘That’s not the smallest danger in it—not the very small- am I to wait for her? Where am I to go?’
est,’ said the Jew; ‘it’s only to dodge a woman.’ ‘All that, my dear, you shall hear from me. I’ll point her
‘An old woman?’ demanded Mr. Bolter. out at the proper time,’ said Fagin. ‘You keep ready, and
‘A young one,’ replied Fagin. leave the rest to me.’
‘I can do that pretty well, I know,’ said Bolter. ‘I was a That night, and the next, and the next again, the spy sat
regular cunning sneak when I was at school. What am I to booted and equipped in his carter’s dress: ready to turn out
dodge her for? Not to—‘ at a word from Fagin. Six nights passed—six long weary
‘Not to do anything, but to tell me where she goes, who nights—and on each, Fagin came home with a disappoint-
she sees, and, if possible, what she says; to remember the ed face, and briefly intimated that it was not yet time. On
street, if it is a street, or the house, if it is a house; and to the seventh, he returned earlier, and with an exultation he
bring me back all the information you can.’ could not conceal. It was Sunday.
‘What’ll yer give me?’ asked Noah, setting down his cup, ‘She goes abroad to-night,’ said Fagin, ‘and on the right
and looking his employer, eagerly, in the face. errand, I’m sure; for she has been alone all day, and the
‘If you do it well, a pound, my dear. One pound,’ said Fa- man she is afraid of will not be back much before daybreak.
gin, wishing to interest him in the scent as much as possible. Come with me. Quick!’
‘And that’s what I never gave yet, for any job of work where Noah started up without saying a word; for the Jew was
there wasn’t valuable consideration to be gained.’ in a state of such intense excitement that it infected him.
‘Who is she?’ inquired Noah. They left the house stealthily, and hurrying through a lab-
‘One of us.’ yrinth of streets, arrived at length before a public-house,
‘Oh Lor!’ cried Noah, curling up his nose. ‘Yer doubtful which Noah recognised as the same in which he had slept,
of her, are yer?’ on the night of his arrival in London.
‘She had found out some new friends, my dear, and I It was past eleven o’clock, and the door was closed. It
must know who they are,’ replied Fagin. opened softly on its hinges as Fagin gave a low whistle. They
‘I see,’ said Noah. ‘Just to have the pleasure of knowing entered, without noise; and the door was closed behind
them, if they’re respectable people, eh? Ha! ha! ha! I’m your them.
man.’ Scarcely venturing to whisper, but substituting dumb
‘I knew you would be,’ cried Fagin, eleated by the success show for words, Fagin, and the young Jew who had admit-
of his proposal. ted them, pointed out the pane of glass to Noah, and signed

to him to climb up and observe the person in the adjoining pass on. She seemed to gather courage as she advanced, and
room. to walk with a steadier and firmer step. The spy preserved
‘Is that the woman?’ he asked, scarcely above his breath. the same relative distance between them, and followed:
Fagin nodded yes. with his eye upon her.
‘I can’t 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 room-door 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 girl’s
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,

CHAPTER XLVI 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
THE APPOINTMENT KEPT 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 London’s destitute population, as chanced to take
their way over the bridge that night in search of some cold
T he church clocks chimed three quarters past eleven, as

two figures emerged on London Bridge. One, which ad-
vanced with a swift and rapid step, was that of a woman
arch or doorless hovel wherein to lay their heads; they stood
there in silence: neither speaking nor spoken to, by any one
who passed.
who looked eagerly about her as though in quest of some ex- A mist hung over the river, deepening the red glare of
pected object; the other figure was that of a man, who slunk the fires that burnt upon the small craft moored off the dif-
along in the deepest shadow he could find, and, at some ferent wharfs, and rendering darker and more indistinct
distance, accommodated his pace to hers: stopping when the murky buildings on the banks. The old smoke-stained
she stopped: and as she moved again, creeping stealthily storehouses on either side, rose heavy and dull from the
on: but never allowing himself, in the ardour of his pursuit, dense mass of roofs and gables, and frowned sternly upon
to gain upon her footsteps. Thus, they crossed the bridge, water too black to reflect even their lumbering shapes. The
from the Middlesex to the Surrey shore, when the wom- tower of old Saint Saviour’s Church, and the spire of Saint
an, apparently disappointed in her anxious scrutiny of the Magnus, so long the giant-warders of the ancient bridge,
foot-passengers, turned back. The movement was sudden; were visible in the gloom; but the forest of shipping below
but he who watched her, was not thrown off his guard by it; bridge, and the thickly scattered spires of churches above,
for, shrinking into one of the recesses which surmount the were nearly all hidden from sight.
piers of the bridge, and leaning over the parapet the better The girl had taken a few restless turns to and fro—close-
to conceal his figure, he suffered her to pass on the opposite ly watched meanwhile by her hidden observer—when the
pavement. When she was about the same distance in ad- heavy bell of St. Paul’s tolled for the death of another day.
vance as she had been before, he slipped quietly down, and Midnight had come upon the crowded city. The palace, the
followed her again. At nearly the centre of the bridge, she night-cellar, the jail, the madhouse: the chambers of birth

and death, of health and sickness, the rigid face of the These stairs are a part of the bridge; they consist of three
corpse and the calm sleep of the child: midnight was upon flights. Just below the end of the second, going down, the
them all. stone wall on the left terminates in an ornamental pilaster
The hour had not struck two minutes, when a young lady, facing towards the Thames. At this point the lower steps
accompanied by a grey-haired gentleman, alighted from a widen: so that a person turning that angle of the wall, is nec-
hackney-carriage within a short distance of the bridge, and, essarily unseen by any others on the stairs who chance to be
having dismissed the vehicle, walked straight towards it. above him, if only a step. The countryman looked hastily
They had scarcely set foot upon its pavement, when the girl round, when he reached this point; and as there seemed no
started, and immediately made towards them. better place of concealment, and, the tide being out, there
They walked onward, looking about them with the air was plenty of room, he slipped aside, with his back to the
of persons who entertained some very slight expectation pilaster, and there waited: pretty certain that they would
which had little chance of being realised, when they were come no lower, and that even if he could not hear what was
suddenly joined by this new associate. They halted with an said, he could follow them again, with safety.
exclamation of surprise, but suppressed it immediately; for So tardily stole the time in this lonely place, and so ea-
a man in the garments of a countryman came close up— ger was the spy to penetrate the motives of an interview so
brushed against them, indeed—at that precise moment. different from what he had been led to expect, that he more
‘Not here,’ said Nancy hurriedly, ‘I am afraid to speak to than once gave the matter up for lost, and persuaded him-
you here. Come away—out of the public road—down the self, either that they had stopped far above, or had resorted
steps yonder!’ to some entirely different spot to hold their mysterious
As she uttered these words, and indicated, with her hand, conversation. He was on the point of emerging from his
the direction in which she wished them to proceed, the hiding-place, and regaining the road above, when he heard
countryman looked round, and roughly asking what they the sound of footsteps, and directly afterwards of voices al-
took up the whole pavement for, passed on. most close at his ear.
The steps to which the girl had pointed, were those which, He drew himself straight upright against the wall, and,
on the Surrey bank, and on the same side of the bridge as scarcely breathing, listened attentively.
Saint Saviour’s Church, form a landing-stairs from the river. ‘This is far enough,’ said a voice, which was evidently that
To this spot, the man bearing the appearance of a country- of the gentleman. ‘I will not suffer the young lady to go any
man, hastened unobserved; and after a moment’s survey of farther. Many people would have distrusted you too much
the place, he began to descend. to have come even so far, but you see I am willing to hu-

mour you.’ ‘REAL ONES,’ rejoined the girl. ‘This was not.’
‘To humour me!’ cried the voice of the girl whom he had There was something so uncommon in her manner, that
followed. the flesh of the concealed listener crept as he heard the girl
‘You’re considerate, indeed, sir. To humour me! Well, utter these words, and the blood chilled within him. He had
well, it’s no matter.’ never experienced a greater relief than in hearing the sweet
‘Why, for what,’ said the gentleman in a kinder tone, ‘for voice of the young lady as she begged her to be calm, and
what purpose can you have brought us to this strange place? not allow herself to become the prey of such fearful fancies.
Why not have let me speak to you, above there, where it is ‘Speak to her kindly,’ said the young lady to her compan-
light, and there is something stirring, instead of bringing us ion. ‘Poor creature! She seems to need it.’
to this dark and dismal hole?’ ‘Your haughty religious people would have held their
‘I told you before,’ replied Nancy, ‘that I was afraid to heads up to see me as I am to-night, and preached of flames
speak to you there. I don’t know why it is,’ said the girl, and vengeance,’ cried the girl. ‘Oh, dear lady, why ar’n’t
shuddering, ‘but I have such a fear and dread upon me to- those who claim to be God’s own folks as gentle and as kind
night that I can hardly stand.’ to us poor wretches as you, who, having youth, and beauty,
‘A fear of what?’ asked the gentleman, who seemed to pity and all that they have lost, might be a little proud instead of
her. so much humbler?’
‘I scarcely know of what,’ replied the girl. ‘I wish I did. ‘Ah!’ said the gentleman. ‘A Turk turns his face, after
Horrible thoughts of death, and shrouds with blood upon washing it well, to the East, when he says his prayers; these
them, and a fear that has made me burn as if I was on fire, good people, after giving their faces such a rub against the
have been upon me all day. I was reading a book to-night, World as to take the smiles off, turn with no less regularity,
to wile the time away, and the same things came into the to the darkest side of Heaven. Between the Mussulman and
print.’ the Pharisee, commend me to the first!’
‘Imagination,’ said the gentleman, soothing her. These words appeared to be addressed to the young lady,
‘No imagination,’ replied the girl in a hoarse voice. ‘I’ll and were perhaps uttered with the view of afffording Nancy
swear I saw ‘coffin’ written in every page of the book in time to recover herself. The gentleman, shortly afterwards,
large black letters,—aye, and they carried one close to me, addressed himself to her.
in the streets to-night.’ ‘You were not here last Sunday night,’ he said.
‘There is nothing unusual in that,’ said the gentleman. ‘I couldn’t come,’ replied Nancy; ‘I was kept by force.’
‘They have passed me often.’ ‘By whom?’

‘Him that I told the young lady of before.’ never do that.’
‘You were not suspected of holding any communication ‘You will not?’ said the gentleman, who seemed fully pre-
with anybody on the subject which has brought us here to- pared for this answer.
night, I hope?’ asked the old gentleman. ‘Never!’ returned the girl.
‘No,’ replied the girl, shaking her head. ‘It’s not very easy ‘Tell me why?’
for me to leave him unless he knows why; I couldn’t give ‘For one reason,’ rejoined the girl firmly, ‘for one reason,
him a drink of laudanum before I came away.’ that the lady knows and will stand by me in, I know she will,
‘Did he awake before you returned?’ inquired the gentle- for I have her promise: and for this other reason, besides,
man. that, bad life as he has led, I have led a bad life too; there are
‘No; and neither he nor any of them suspect me.’ many of us who have kept the same courses together, and
‘Good,’ said the gentleman. ‘Now listen to me.’ I’ll not turn upon them, who might—any of them—have
‘I am ready,’ replied the girl, as he paused for a moment. turned upon me, but didn’t, bad as they are.’
‘This young lady,’ the gentleman began, ‘has communi- ‘Then,’ said the gentleman, quickly, as if this had been
cated to me, and to some other friends who can be safely the point he had been aiming to attain; ‘put Monks into my
trusted, what you told her nearly a fortnight since. I confess hands, and leave him to me to deal with.’
to you that I had doubts, at first, whether you were to be im- ‘What if he turns against the others?’
plicitly relied upon, but now I firmly believe you are.’ ‘I promise you that in that case, if the truth is forced from
‘I am,’ said the girl earnestly. him, there the matter will rest; there must be circumstances
‘I repeat that I firmly believe it. To prove to you that I am in Oliver’s little history which it would be painful to drag
disposed to trust you, I tell you without reserve, that we before the public eye, and if the truth is once elicited, they
propose to extort the secret, whatever it may be, from the shall go scot free.’
fear of this man Monks. But if—if—‘ said the gentleman, ‘And if it is not?’ suggested the girl.
‘he cannot be secured, or, if secured, cannot be acted upon ‘Then,’ pursued the gentleman, ‘this Fagin shall not be
as we wish, you must deliver up the Jew.’ brought to justice without your consent. In such a case I
‘Fagin,’ cried the girl, recoiling. could show you reasons, I think, which would induce you
‘That man must be delivered up by you,’ said the gentle- to yield it.’
man. ‘Have I the lady’s promise for that?’ asked the girl.
‘I will not do it! I will never do it!’ replied the girl. ‘Devil ‘You have,’ replied Rose. ‘My true and faithful pledge.’
that he is, and worse than devil as he has been to me, I will ‘Monks would never learn how you knew what you do?’

said the girl, after a short pause. disfigured with the marks of teeth; for he has desperate fits,
‘Never,’ replied the gentleman. ‘The intelligence should and sometimes even bites his hands and covers them with
be brought to bear upon him, that he could never even wounds—why did you start?’ said the girl, stopping sud-
guess.’ denly.
‘I have been a liar, and among liars from a little child,’ The gentleman replied, in a hurried manner, that he was
said the girl after another interval of silence, ‘but I will take not conscious of having done so, and begged her to pro-
your words.’ ceed.
After receving an assurance from both, that she might ‘Part of this,’ said the girl, ‘I have drawn out from other
safely do so, she proceeded in a voice so low that it was of- people at the house I tell you of, for I have only seen him
ten difficult for the listener to discover even the purport of twice, and both times he was covered up in a large cloak. I
what she said, to describe, by name and situation, the pub- think that’s all I can give you to know him by. Stay though,’
lic-house whence she had been followed that night. From she added. ‘Upon his throat: so high that you can see a part
the manner in which she occasionally paused, it appeared of it below his neckerchief when he turns his face: there
as if the gentleman were making some hasty notes of the is—‘
information she communicated. When she had thoroughly ‘A broad red mark, like a burn or scald?’ cried the gentle-
explained the localities of the place, the best position from man.
which to watch it without exciting observation, and the ‘How’s this?’ said the girl. ‘You know him!’
night and hour on which Monks was most in the habit of The young lady uttered a cry of surprise, and for a few
frequenting it, she seemed to consider for a few moments, moments they were so still that the listener could distinctly
for the purpose of recalling his features and appearances hear them breathe.
more forcibly to her recollection. ‘I think I do,’ said the gentleman, breaking silence. ‘I
‘He is tall,’ said the girl, ‘and a strongly made man, but should by your description. We shall see. Many people are
not stout; he has a lurking walk; and as he walks, constantly singularly like each other. It may not be the same.’
looks over his shoulder, first on one side, and then on the As he expressed himself to this effect, with assumed
other. Don’t forget that, for his eyes are sunk in his head so carelessness, he took a step or two nearer the concealed spy,
much deeper than any other man’s, that you might almost as the latter could tell from the distinctness with which he
tell him by that alone. His face is dark, like his hair and eyes; heard him mutter, ‘It must be he!’
and, although he can’t be more than six or eight and twenty, ‘Now,’ he said, returning: so it seemed by the sound: to
withered and haggard. His lips are often discoloured and the spot where he had stood before, ‘you have given us most

valuable assistance, young woman, and I wish you to be the ‘I fear not, my dear,’ said the gentleman.
better for it. What can I do to serve you?’ ‘No sir, I do not,’ replied the girl, after a short struggle.
‘Nothing,’ replied Nancy. ‘I am chained to my old life. I loathe and hate it now, but I
‘You will not persist in saying that,’ rejoined the gentle- cannot leave it. I must have gone too far to turn back,—and
man, with a voice and emphasis of kindness that might have yet I don’t know, for if you had spoken to me so, some time
touched a much harder and more obdurate heart. ‘Think ago, I should have laughed it off. But,’ she said, looking hast-
now. Tell me.’ ily round, ‘this fear comes over me again. I must go home.’
‘Nothing, sir,’ rejoined the girl, weeping. ‘You can do ‘Home!’ repeated the young lady, with great stress upon
nothing to help me. I am past all hope, indeed.’ the word.
‘You put yourself beyond its pale,’ said the gentleman. ‘Home, lady,’ rejoined the girl. ‘To such a home as I have
‘The past has been a dreary waste with you, of youthful en- raised for myself with the work of my whole life. Let us part.
ergies mis-spent, and such priceless treasures lavished, as I shall be watched or seen. Go! Go! If I have done you any
the Creator bestows but once and never grants again, but, service all I ask is, that you leave me, and let me go my way
for the future, you may hope. I do not say that it is in our alone.’
power to offer you peace of heart and mind, for that must ‘It is useless,’ said the gentleman, with a sigh. ‘We com-
come as you seek it; but a quiet asylum, either in England, promise her safety, perhaps, by staying here. We may have
or, if you fear to remain here, in some foreign country, it detained her longer than she expected already.’
is not only within the compass of our ability but our most ‘Yes, yes,’ urged the girl. ‘You have.’
anxious wish to secure you. Before the dawn of morning, ‘What,’ cried the young lady. ‘can be the end of this poor
before this river wakes to the first glimpse of day-light, you creature’s life!’
shall be placed as entirely beyond the reach of your former ‘What!’ repeated the girl. ‘Look before you, lady. Look at
associates, and leave as utter an absence of all trace behind that dark water. How many times do you read of such as I
you, as if you were to disappear from the earth this moment. who spring into the tide, and leave no living thing, to care
Come! I would not have you go back to exchange one word for, or bewail them. It may be years hence, or it may be only
with any old companion, or take one look at any old haunt, months, but I shall come to that at last.’
or breathe the very air which is pestilence and death to you. ‘Do not speak thus, pray,’ returned the young lady, sob-
Quit them all, while there is time and opportunity!’ bing.
‘She will be persuaded now,’ cried the young lady. ‘She ‘It will never reach your ears, dear lady, and God forbid
hesitates, I am sure.’ such horrors should!’ replied the girl. ‘Good-night, good-

night!’ After a time she arose, and with feeble and tottering
The gentleman turned away. steps ascended the street. The astonished listener remained
‘This purse,’ cried the young lady. ‘Take it for my sake, motionless on his post for some minutes afterwards, and
that you may have some resource in an hour of need and having ascertained, with many cautious glances round him,
trouble.’ that he was again alone, crept slowly from his hiding-place,
‘No!’ replied the girl. ‘I have not done this for money. Let and returned, stealthily and in the shade of the wall, in the
me have that to think of. And yet—give me something that same manner as he had descended.
you have worn: I should like to have something—no, no, not Peeping out, more than once, when he reached the top,
a ring—your gloves or handkerchief—anything that I can to make sure that he was unobserved, Noah Claypole dart-
keep, as having belonged to you, sweet lady. There. Bless ed away at his utmost speed, and made for the Jew’s house
you! God bless you. Good-night, good-night!’ as fast as his legs would carry him.
The violent agitation of the girl, and the apprehension of
some discovery which would subject her to ill-usage 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.

CHAPTER XLVII 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; and utter distrust of the sincerity of her re-
FATAL CONSEQUENCES fusal 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
I t was nearly two hours before day-break; 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
of Fagin, as every evil thought and blackest purpose lay
working at his heart.
He sat without changing his attitude in the least, or ap-
sounds appear to slumber, and profligacy and riot have pearing to tkae the smallest heed of time, until his quick ear
staggered home to dream; it was at this still and silent hour, seemed to be attracted by a footstep in the street.
that Fagin sat watching in his old lair, with face so distorted ‘At last,’ he muttered, wiping his dry and fevered mouth.
and pale, and eyes so red and blood-shot, that he looked less ‘At last!’
like a man, than like some hideous phantom, moist from The bell rang gently as he spoke. He crept upstairs to the
the grave, and worried by an evil spirit. door, and presently returned accompanied by a man muf-
He sat crouching over a cold hearth, wrapped in an old fled to the chin, who carried a bundle under one arm. Sitting
torn coverlet, with his face turned towards a wasting can- down and throwing back his outer coat, the man displayed
dle that stood upon a table by his side. His right hand was the burly frame of Sikes.
raised to his lips, and as, absorbed in thought, he hit his ‘There!’ he said, laying the bundle on the table. ‘Take
long black nails, he disclosed among his toothless gums a care of that, and do the most you can with it. It’s been trou-
few such fangs as should have been a dog’s or rat’s. ble enough to get; I thought I should have been here, three
Stretched upon a mattress on the floor, lay Noah Claypole, hours ago.’
fast asleep. Towards him the old man sometimes directed Fagin laid his hand upon the bundle, and locking it in
his eyes for an instant, and then brought them back again to the cupboard, sat down again without speaking. But he
the candle; which with a long-burnt wick drooping almost did not take his eyes off the robber, for an instant, during
double, and hot grease falling down in clots upon the table, this action; and now that they sat over against each other,

face to face, he looked fixedly at him, with his lips quiv- want of breath. Open your mouth and say wot you’ve got to
ering so violently, and his face so altered by the emotions say in plain words. Out with it, you thundering old cur, out
which had mastered him, that the housebreaker involun- with it!’
tarily drew back his chair, and surveyed him with a look of ‘Suppose that lad that’s laying there—‘ Fagin began.
real affright. Sikes turned round to where Noah was sleeping, as if he
‘Wot now?’ cried Sikes. ‘Wot do you look at a man so had not previously observed him. ‘Well!’ he said, resuming
for?’ his former position.
Fagin raised his right hand, and shook his trembling ‘Suppose that lad,’ pursued Fagin, ‘was to peach—to blow
forefinger in the air; but his passion was so great, that the upon us all—first seeking out the right folks for the pur-
power of speech was for the moment gone. pose, and then having a meeting with ‘em in the street to
‘Damme!’ said Sikes, feeling in his breast with a look of paint our likenesses, describe every mark that they might
alarm. ‘He’s gone mad. I must look to myself here.’ know us by, and the crib where we might be most easily
‘No, no,’ rejoined Fagin, finding his voice. ‘It’s not—you’re taken. Suppose he was to do all this, and besides to blow
not the person, Bill. I’ve no—no fault to find with you.’ upon a plant we’ve all been in, more or less—of his own
‘Oh, you haven’t, haven’t you?’ said Sikes, looking sternly fancy; not grabbed, trapped, tried, earwigged by the parson
at him, and ostentatiously passing a pistol into a more con- and brought to it on bread and water,—but of his own fancy;
venient pocket. ‘That’s lucky—for one of us. Which one that to please his own taste; stealing out at nights to find those
is, don’t matter.’ most interested against us, and peaching to them. Do you
‘I’ve got that to tell you, Bill,’ said Fagin, drawing his hear me?’ cried the Jew, his eyes flashing with rage. ‘Sup-
chair nearer, ‘will make you worse than me.’ pose he did all this, what then?’
‘Aye?’ returned the robber with an incredulous air. ‘Tell ‘What then!’ replied Sikes; with a tremendous oath. ‘If he
away! Look sharp, or Nance will think I’m lost.’ was left alive till I came, I’d grind his skull under the iron
‘Lost!’ cried Fagin. ‘She has pretty well settled that, in her heel of my boot into as many grains as there are hairs upon
own mind, already.’ his head.’
Sikes looked with an aspect of great perplexity into the ‘What if I did it!’ cried Fagin almost in a yell. ‘I, that
Jew’s face, and reading no satisfactory explanation of the knows so much, and could hang so many besides myself!’
riddle there, clenched his coat collar in his huge hand and ‘I don’t know,’ replied Sikes, clenching his teeth and
shook him soundly. turning white at the mere suggestion. ‘I’d do something in
‘Speak, will you!’ he said; ‘or if you don’t, it shall be for the jail that ‘ud get me put in irons; and if I was tried along

with you, I’d fall upon you with them in the open court, and ‘That about—NANCY,’ said Fagin, clutching Sikes by the
beat your brains out afore the people. I should have such wrist, as if to prevent his leaving the house before he had
strength,’ muttered the robber, poising his brawny arm, heard enough. ‘You followed her?’
‘that I could smash your head as if a loaded waggon had ‘Yes.’
gone over it.’ ‘To London Bridge?’
‘You would?’ ‘Yes.’
‘Would I!’ said the housebreaker. ‘Try me.’ ‘Where she met two people.’
‘If it was Charley, or the Dodger, or Bet, or—‘ ‘So she did.’
‘I don’t care who,’ replied Sikes impatiently. ‘Whoever it ‘A gentleman and a lady that she had gone to of her own
was, I’d serve them the same.’ accord before, who asked her to give up all her pals, and
Fagin looked hard at the robber; and, motioning him to Monks first, which she did—and to describe him, which she
be silent, stooped over the bed upon the floor, and shook did—and to tell her what house it was that we meet at, and
the sleeper to rouse him. Sikes leant forward in his chair: go to, which she did—and where it could be best watched
looking on with his hands upon his knees, as if wonder- from, which she did—and what time the people went there,
ing much what all this questioning and preparation was to which she did. She did all this. She told it all every word
end in. without a threat, without a murmur—she did—did she not?’
‘Bolter, Bolter! Poor lad!’ said Fagin, looking up with an cried Fagin, half mad with fury.
expression of devilish anticipation, and speaking slowly ‘All right,’ replied Noah, scratching his head. ‘That’s just
and with marked emphasis. ‘He’s tired—tired with watch- what it was!’
ing for her so long,—watching for her, Bill.’ ‘What did they say, about last Sunday?’
‘Wot d’ye mean?’ asked Sikes, drawing back. ‘About last Sunday!’ replied Noah, considering. ‘Why I
Fagin made no answer, but bending over the sleeper told yer that before.’
again, hauled him into a sitting posture. When his assumed ‘Again. Tell it again!’ cried Fagin, tightening his grasp
name had been repeated several times, Noah rubbed his on Sikes, and brandishing his other hand aloft, as the foam
eyes, and, giving a heavy yawn, looked sleepily about him. flew from his lips.
‘Tell me that again—once again, just for him to hear,’ said ‘They asked her,’ said Noah, who, as he grew more wake-
the Jew, pointing to Sikes as he spoke. ful, seemed to have a dawning perception who Sikes was,
‘Tell yer what?’ asked the sleepy Noah, shaking himself ‘they asked her why she didn’t come, last Sunday, as she
pettishy. promised. She said she couldn’t.’

‘Why—why? Tell him that.’ be mistaken.
‘Because she was forcibly kept at home by Bill, the man ‘I mean,’ said Fagin, showing that he felt all disguise was
she had told them of before,’ replied Noah. now useless, ‘not too violent for safety. Be crafty, Bill, and
‘What more of him?’ cried Fagin. ‘What more of the man not too bold.’
she had told them of before? Tell him that, tell him that.’ Sikes made no reply; but, pulling open the door, of which
‘Why, that she couldn’t very easily get out of doors un- Fagin had turned the lock, dashed into the silent streets.
less he knew where she was going to,’ said Noah; ‘and so the Without one pause, or moment’s consideration; with-
first time she went to see the lady, she—ha! ha! ha! it made out once turning his head to the right or left, or raising his
me laugh when she said it, that it did—she gave him a drink eyes to the sky, or lowering them to the ground, but look-
of laudanum.’ ing straight before him with savage resolution: his teeth so
‘Hell’s fire!’ cried Sikes, breaking fiercely from the Jew. tightly compressed that the strained jaw seemed starting
‘Let me go!’ through his skin; the robber held on his headlong course,
Flinging the old man from him, he rushed from the nor muttered a word, nor relaxed a muscle, until he reached
room, and darted, wildly and furiously, up the stairs. his own door. He opened it, softly, with a key; strode lightly
‘Bill, Bill!’ cried Fagin, following him hastily. ‘A word. up the stairs; and entering his own room, double-locked the
Only a word.’ door, and lifting a heavy table against it, drew back the cur-
The word would not have been exchanged, but that the tain of the bed.
housebreaker was unable to open the door: on which he was The girl was lying, half-dressed, upon it. He had roused
expending fruitless oaths and violence, when the Jew came her from her sleep, for she raised herself with a hurried and
panting up. startled look.
‘Let me out,’ said Sikes. ‘Don’t speak to me; it’s not safe. ‘Get up!’ said the man.
Let me out, I say!’ ‘It is you, Bill!’ said the girl, with an expression of plea-
‘Hear me speak a word,’ rejoined Fagin, laying his hand sure at his return.
upon the lock. ‘You won’t be—‘ ‘It is,’ was the reply. ‘Get up.’
‘Well,’ replied the other. There was a candle burning, but the man hastily drew it
‘You won’t be—too—violent, Bill?’ from the candlestick, and hurled it under the grate. Seeing
The day was breaking, and there was light enough for the faint light of early day without, the girl rose to undraw
the men to see each other’s faces. They exchanged one brief the curtain.
glance; there was a fire in the eyes of both, which could not ‘Let it be,’ said Sikes, thrusting his hand before her.

‘There’s enough light for wot I’ve got to do.’ them, on my knees, to show the same mercy and goodness
‘Bill,’ said the girl, in the low voice of alarm, ‘why do you to you; and let us both leave this dreadful place, and far
look like that at me!’ apart lead better lives, and forget how we have lived, except
The robber sat regarding her, for a few seconds, with di- in prayers, and never see each other more. It is never too
lated nostrils and heaving breast; and then, grasping her late to repent. They told me so—I feel it now—but we must
by the head and throat, dragged her into the middle of the have time—a little, little time!’
room, and looking once towards the door, placed his heavy The housebreaker freed one arm, and grasped his pis-
hand upon her mouth. tol. The certainty of immediate detection if he fired, flashed
‘Bill, Bill!’ gasped the girl, wrestling with the strength across his mind even in the midst of his fury; and he beat
of mortal fear,—‘I—I won’t scream or cry—not once—hear it twice with all the force he could summon, upon the up-
me—speak to me—tell me what I have done!’ turned face that almost touched his own.
‘You know, you she devil!’ returned the robber, suppress- She staggered and fell: nearly blinded with the blood that
ing his breath. ‘You were watched to-night; every word you rained down from a deep gash in her forehead; but raising
said was heard.’ herself, with difficulty, on her knees, drew from her bosom
‘Then spare my life for the love of Heaven, as I spared a white handkerchief—Rose Maylie’s own—and holding it
yours,’ rejoined the girl, clinging to him. ‘Bill, dear Bill, you up, in her folded hands, as high towards Heaven as her fee-
cannot have the heart to kill me. Oh! think of all I have giv- ble strength would allow, breathed one prayer for mercy to
en up, only this one night, for you. You SHALL have time to her Maker.
think, and save yourself this crime; I will not loose my hold, It was a ghastly figure to look upon. The murderer stag-
you cannot throw me off. Bill, Bill, for dear God’s sake, for gering backward to the wall, and shutting out the sight with
your own, for mine, stop before you spill my blood! I have his hand, seized a heavy club and struck her down.
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 to-night
of a home in some foreign country where I could end my
days in solitude and peace. Let me see them again, and beg

CHAPTER XLVIII quivered and danced in the sunlight on the ceiling. He had
plucked it off again. And there was the body—mere flesh
and blood, nor more—but such flesh, and so much blood!
He struck a light, kindled a fire, and thrust the club into
THE FLIGHT OF SIKES 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,
O f all bad deeds that, under cover of the darkness, had

been committed with wide London’s bounds since
night hung over it, that was the worst. Of all the horrors
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
that rose with an ill scent upon the morning air, that was the dog were bloody.
the foulest and most cruel. All this time he had, never once, turned his back upon
The sun—the bright sun, that brings back, not light the corpse; no, not for a moment. Such preparations com-
alone, but new life, and hope, and freshness to man—burst pleted, he moved, backward, towards the door: dragging
upon the crowded city in clear and radiant glory. Through the dog with him, lest he should soil his feet anew and carry
costly-coloured glass and paper-mended window, through out new evidence of the crime into the streets. He shut the
cathedral dome and rotten crevice, it shed its equal ray. It door softly, locked it, took the key, and left the house.
lighted up the room where the murdered woman lay. It did. He crossed over, and glanced up at the window, to be
He tried to shut it out, but it would stream in. If the sight sure that nothing was visible from the outside. There was
had been a ghastly one in the dull morning, what was it, the curtain still drawn, which she would have opened to ad-
now, in all that brilliant light! mit the light she never saw again. It lay nearly under there.
He had not moved; he had been afraid to stir. There had HE knew that. God, how the sun poured down upon the
been a moan and motion of the hand; and, with terror add- very spot!
ed to rage, he had struck and struck again. Once he threw a The glance was instantaneous. It was a relief to have got
rug over it; but it was worse to fancy the eyes, and imagine free of the room. He whistled on the dog, and walked rap-
them moving towards him, than to see them glaring up- idly away.
ward, as if watching the reflection of the pool of gore that He went through Islington; strode up the hill at High-

gate on which stands the stone in honour of Whittington; came back to the old place. Morning and noon had passed,
turned down to Highgate Hill, unsteady of purpose, and and the day was on the wane, and still he rambled to and
uncertain where to go; struck off to the right again, almost fro, and up and down, and round and round, and still lin-
as soon as he began to descend it; and taking the foot-path gered about the same spot. At last he got away, and shaped
across the fields, skirted Caen Wood, and so came on Hamp- his course for Hatfield.
stead Heath. Traversing the hollow by the Vale of Heath, he It was nine o’clock at night, when the man, quite tired
mounted the opposite bank, and crossing the road which out, and the dog, limping and lame from the unaccustomed
joins the villages of Hampstead and Highgate, made along exercise, turned down the hill by the church of the quiet vil-
the remaining portion of the heath to the fields at North lage, and plodding along the little street, crept into a small
End, in one of which he laid himself down under a hedge, public-house, whose scanty light had guided them to the
and slept. spot. There was a fire in the tap-room, and some country-
Soon he was up again, and away,—not far into the coun- labourers were drinking before it.
try, but back towards London by the high-road—then back They made room for the stranger, but he sat down in the
again—then over another part of the same ground as he furthest corner, and ate and drank alone, or rather with his
already traversed—then wandering up and down in fields, dog: to whom he cast a morsel of food from time to time.
and lying on ditches’ brinks to rest, and starting up to make The conversation of the men assembled here, turned
for some other spot, and do the same, and ramble on again. upon the neighboring land, and farmers; and when those
Where could he go, that was near and not too public, to topics were exhausted, upon the age of some old man who
get some meat and drink? Hendon. That was a good place, had been buried on the previous Sunday; the young men
not far off, and out of most people’s way. Thither he direct- present considering him very old, and the old men pres-
ed his steps,—running sometimes, and sometimes, with a ent declaring him to have been quite young—not older, one
strange perversity, loitering at a snail’s pace, or stopping al- white-haired grandfather said, than he was—with ten or fif-
together and idly breaking the hedges with a stick. But when teen year of life in him at least—if he had taken care; if he
he got there, all the people he met—the very children at the had taken care.
doors—seemed to view him with suspicion. Back he turned There was nothing to attract attention, or excite alarm in
again, without the courage to purchase bit or drop, though this. The robber, after paying his reckoning, sat silent and
he had tasted no food for many hours; and once more he unnoticed in his corner, and had almost dropped asleep,
lingered on the Heath, uncertain where to go. when he was half wakened by the noisy entrance of a new
He wandered over miles and miles of ground, and still comer.

This was an antic fellow, half pedlar and half mounte- in loquacity.
bank, who travelled about the country on foot to vend ‘It’s all bought up as fast as it can be made,’ said the fel-
hones, stops, razors, washballs, harness-paste, medicine low. ‘There are fourteen water-mills, six steam-engines, and
for dogs and horses, cheap perfumery, cosmetics, and such- a galvanic battery, always a-working upon it, and they can’t
like wares, which he carried in a case slung to his back. make it fast enough, though the men work so hard that they
His entrance was the signal for various homely jokes with die off, and the widows is pensioned directly, with twenty
the countrymen, which slackened not until he had made pound a-year for each of the children, and a premium of fif-
his supper, and opened his box of treasures, when he inge- ty for twins. One penny a square! Two half-pence is all the
niously contrived to unite business with amusement. same, and four farthings is received with joy. One penny a
‘And what be that stoof? Good to eat, Harry?’ asked a square! Wine-stains, fruit-stains, beer-stains, water-stains,
grinning countryman, pointing to some composition-cakes paint-stains, pitch-stains, mud-stains, blood-stains! Here is
in one corner. a stain upon the hat of a gentleman in company, that I’ll
‘This,’ said the fellow, producing one, ‘this is the infal- take clean out, before he can order me a pint of ale.’
lible and invaluable composition for removing all sorts of ‘Hah!’ cried Sikes starting up. ‘Give that back.’
stain, rust, dirt, mildew, spick, speck, spot, or spatter, from ‘I’ll take it clean out, sir,’ replied the man, winking to the
silk, satin, linen, cambrick, cloth, crape, stuff, carpet, me- company, ‘before you can come across the room to get it.
rino, muslin, bombazeen, or woollen stuff. Wine-stains, Gentlemen all, observe the dark stain upon this gentleman’s
fruit-stains, beer-stains, water-stains, paint-stains, pitch- hat, no wider than a shilling, but thicker than a half-crown.
stains, any stains, all come out at one rub with the infallible Whether it is a wine-stain, fruit-stain, beer-stain, water-
and invaluable composition. If a lady stains her honour, she stain, paint-stain, pitch-stain, mud-stain, or blood-stain—‘
has only need to swallow one cake and she’s cured at once— The man got no further, for Sikes with a hideous impre-
for it’s poison. If a gentleman wants to prove this, he has cation overthrew the table, and tearing the hat from him,
only need to bolt one little square, and he has put it beyond burst out of the house.
question—for it’s quite as satisfactory as a pistol-bullet, and With the same perversity of feeling and irresolution
a great deal nastier in the flavour, consequently the more that had fastened upon him, despite himself, all day, the
credit in taking it. One penny a square. With all these vir- murderer, finding that he was not followed, and that they
tues, one penny a square!’ most probably considered him some drunken sullen fellow,
There were two buyers directly, and more of the listen- turned back up the town, and getting out of the glare of
ers plainly hesitated. The vendor observing this, increased the lamps of a stage-coach that was standing in the street,

was walking past, when he recognised the mail from Lon- The horn sounded a few cheerful notes, and the coach
don, and saw that it was standing at the little post-office. He was gone.
almost knew what was to come; but he crossed over, and Sikes remained standing in the street, apparently un-
listened. moved by what he had just heard, and agitated by no
The guard was standing at the door, waiting for the let- stronger feeling than a doubt where to go. At length he went
ter-bag. A man, dressed like a game-keeper, came up at the back again, and took the road which leads from Hatfield to
moment, and he handed him a basket which lay ready on St. Albans.
the pavement. He went on doggedly; but as he left the town behind him,
‘That’s for your people,’ said the guard. ‘Now, look alive and plunged into the solitude and darkness of the road, he
in there, will you. Damn that ‘ere bag, it warn’t ready night felt a dread and awe creeping upon him which shook him
afore last; this won’t do, you know!’ to the core. Every object before him, substance or shadow,
‘Anything new up in town, Ben?’ asked the game-keeper, still or moving, took the semblance of some fearful thing;
drawing back to the window-shutters, the better to admire but these fears were nothing compared to the sense that
the horses. haunted him of that morning’s ghastly figure following at
‘No, nothing that I knows on,’ replied the man, pulling his heels. He could trace its shadow in the gloom, supply the
on his gloves. ‘Corn’s up a little. I heerd talk of a murder, too, smallest item of the outline, and note how stiff and solemn
down Spitalfields way, but I don’t reckon much upon it.’ it seemed to stalk along. He could hear its garments rustling
‘Oh, that’s quite true,’ said a gentleman inside, who was in the leaves, and every breath of wind came laden with that
looking out of the window. ‘And a dreadful murder it was.’ last low cry. If he stopped it did the same. If he ran, it fol-
‘Was it, sir?’ rejoined the guard, touching his hat. ‘Man lowed—not running too: that would have been a relief: but
or woman, pray, sir?’ like a corpse endowed with the mere machinery of life, and
‘A woman,’ replied the gentleman. ‘It is supposed—‘ borne on one slow melancholy wind that never rose or fell.
‘Now, Ben,’ replied the coachman impatiently. At times, he turned, with desperate determination, re-
‘Damn that ‘ere bag,’ said the guard; ‘are you gone to solved to beat this phantom off, though it should look him
sleep in there?’ dead; but the hair rose on his head, and his blood stood
‘Coming!’ cried the office keeper, running out. still, for it had turned with him and was behind him then.
‘Coming,’ growled the guard. ‘Ah, and so’s the young He had kept it before him that morning, but it was behind
‘ooman of property that’s going to take a fancy to me, but I now—always. He leaned his back against a bank, and felt
don’t know when. Here, give hold. All ri—ight!’ that it stood above him, visibly out against the cold night-

sky. He threw himself upon the road—on his back upon the wind the noise of distant shouting, and the roar of voices
road. At his head it stood, silent, erect, and still—a living mingled in alarm and wonder. Any sound of men in that
grave-stone, with its epitaph in blood. lonely place, even though it conveyed a real cause of alarm,
Let no man talk of murderers escaping justice, and hint was something to him. He regained his strength and energy
that Providence must sleep. There were twenty score of vio- at the prospect of personal danger; and springing to his feet,
lent deaths in one long minute of that agony of fear. rushed into the open air.
There was a shed in a field he passed, that offered shelter The broad sky seemed on fire. Rising into the air with
for the night. Before the door, were three tall poplar trees, showers of sparks, and rolling one above the other, were
which made it very dark within; and the wind moaned sheets of flame, lighting the atmosphere for miles round,
through them with a dismal wail. He COULD NOT walk and driving clouds of smoke in the direction where he
on, till daylight came again; and here he stretched himself stood. The shouts grew louder as new voices swelled the
close to the wall—to undergo new torture. roar, and he could hear the cry of Fire! mingled with the
For now, a vision came before him, as constant and more ringing of an alarm-bell, the fall of heavy bodies, and the
terrible than that from which he had escaped. Those widely crackling of flames as they twined round some new obsta-
staring eyes, so lustreless and so glassy, that he had better cle, and shot aloft as though refreshed by food. The noise
borne to see them than think upon them, appeared in the increased as he looked. There were people there—men and
midst of the darkness: light in themselves, but giving light women—light, bustle. It was like new life to him. He darted
to nothing. There were but two, but they were everywhere. onward—straight, headlong—dashing through brier and
If he shut out the sight, there came the room with every well- brake, and leaping gate and fence as madly as his dog, who
known object—some, indeed, that he would have forgotten, careered with loud and sounding bark before him.
if he had gone over its contents from memory—each in its He came upon the spot. There were half-dressed figures
accustomed place. The body was in ITS place, and its eyes tearing to and fro, some endeavouring to drag the fright-
were as he saw them when he stole away. He got up, and ened horses from the stables, others driving the cattle from
rushed into the field without. The figure was behind him. the yard and out-houses, and others coming laden from the
He re-entered the shed, and shrunk down once more. The burning pile, amidst a shower of falling sparks, and the tum-
eyes were there, before he had laid himself along. bling down of red-hot beams. The apertures, where doors
And here he remained in such terror as none but he can and windows stood an hour ago, disclosed a mass of rag-
know, trembling in every limb, and the cold sweat starting ing fire; walls rocked and crumbled into the burning well;
from every pore, when suddenly there arose upon the night- the molten lead and iron poured down, white hot, upon the

ground. Women and children shrieked, and men encour- He hurried off, and walked till he almost dropped upon
aged each other with noisy shouts and cheers. The clanking the ground; then lay down in a lane, and had a long, but
of the engine-pumps, and the spirting and hissing of the broken and uneasy sleep. He wandered on again, irresolute
water as it fell upon the blazing wood, added to the tremen- and undecided, and oppressed with the fear of another soli-
dous roar. He shouted, too, till he was hoarse; and flying tary night.
from memory and himself, plunged into the thickest of the Suddenly, he took the desperate resolution to going back
throng. Hither and thither he dived that night: now work- to London.
ing at the pumps, and now hurrying through the smoke and ‘There’s somebody to speak to there, at all event,’ he
flame, but never ceasing to engage himself wherever noise thought. ‘A good hiding-place, too. They’ll never expect to
and men were thickest. Up and down the ladders, upon the nab me there, after this country scent. Why can’t I lie by for
roofs of buildings, over floors that quaked and trembled a week or so, and, forcing blunt from Fagin, get abroad to
with his weight, under the lee of falling bricks and stones, France? Damme, I’ll risk it.’
in every part of that great fire was he; but he bore a charmed He acted upon this impluse without delay, and choosing
life, and had neither scratch nor bruise, nor weariness nor the least frequented roads began his journey back, resolved
thought, till morning dawned again, and only smoke and to lie concealed within a short distance of the metropolis,
blackened ruins remained. and, entering it at dusk by a circuitous route, to proceed
This mad excitement over, there returned, with ten-fold straight to that part of it which he had fixed on for his des-
force, the dreadful consciousness of his crime. He looked tination.
suspiciously about him, for the men were conversing in The dog, though. If any description of him were out, it
groups, and he feared to be the subject of their talk. The dog would not be forgotten that the dog was missing, and had
obeyed the significant beck of his finger, and they drew off, probably gone with him. This might lead to his apprehen-
stealthily, together. He passed near an engine where some sion as he passed along the streets. He resolved to drown
men were seated, and they called to him to share in their re- him, and walked on, looking about for a pond: picking up a
freshment. He took some bread and meat; and as he drank a heavy stone and tying it to his handerkerchief as he went.
draught of beer, heard the firemen, who were from London, The animal looked up into his master’s face while these
talking about the murder. ‘He has gone to Birmingham, preparations were making; whether his instinct apprehend-
they say,’ said one: ‘but they’ll have him yet, for the scouts ed something of their purpose, or the robber’s sidelong look
are out, and by to-morrow night there’ll be a cry all through at him was sterner than ordinary, he skulked a little farther
the country.’ 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. CHAPTER XLIX
‘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. MONKS AND MR.
‘Come back!’ said the robber.
The dog wagged his tail, but moved not. Sikes made a BROWNLOW AT
running noose and called him again.
The dog advanced, retreated, paused an instant, and LENGTH MEET. THEIR
scoured away at his hardest speed.
The man whistled again and again, and sat down and CONVERSATION, AND
waited in the expectation that he would return. But no dog
appeared, and at length he resumed his journey. THE INTELLIGENCE
THAT INTERRUPTS IT
T he twilight was beginning to close in, when Mr. Brown-

low alighted from a hackney-coach at his own door, and
knocked softly. The door being opened, a sturdy man got
out of the coach and 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 tak-
ing 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 Monks was plainly disconcerted, and alarmed besides.
into a back-room. At the door of this apartment, Monks, He hesitated.
who had ascended with evident reluctance, stopped. The ‘You will decide quickly,’ said Mr. Brownlow, with per-
two men looked at the old gentleman as if for instructions. fect firmness and composure. ‘If you wish me to prefer my
‘He knows the alternative,’ said Mr. Browlow. ‘If he hesi- charges publicly, and consign you to a punishment the ex-
tates or moves a finger but as you bid him, drag him into tent of which, although I can, with a shudder, foresee, I
the street, call for the aid of the police, and impeach him as cannot control, once more, I say, for you know the way. If
a felon in my name.’ not, and you appeal to my forbearance, and the mercy of
‘How dare you say this of me?’ asked Monks. those you have deeply injured, seat yourself, without a word,
‘How dare you urge me to it, young man?’ replied Mr. in that chair. It has waited for you two whole days.’
Brownlow, confronting him with a steady look. ‘Are you Monks muttered some unintelligible words, but wavered
mad enough to leave this house? Unhand him. There, sir. still.
You are free to go, and we to follow. But I warn you, by all ‘You will be prompt,’ said Mr. Brownlow. ‘A word from
I hold most solemn and most sacred, that instant will have me, and the alternative has gone for ever.’
you apprehended on a charge of fraud and robbery. I am Still the man hesitated.
resolute and immoveable. If you are determined to be the ‘I have not the inclination to parley,’ said Mr. Brownlow,
same, your blood be upon your own head!’ ‘and, as I advocate the dearest interests of others, I have not
‘By what authority am I kidnapped in the street, and the right.’
brought here by these dogs?’ asked Monks, looking from ‘Is there—‘ demanded Monks with a faltering tongue,—
one to the other of the men who stood beside him. ‘is there—no middle course?’
‘By mine,’ replied Mr. Brownlow. ‘Those persons are in- ‘None.’
demnified by me. If you complain of being deprived of your Monks looked at the old gentleman, with an anxious eye;
liberty—you had power and opportunity to retrieve it as but, reading in his countenance nothing but severity and
you came along, but you deemed it advisable to remain qui- determination, walked into the room, and, shrugging his
et—I say again, throw yourself for protection on the law. I shoulders, sat down.
will appeal to the law too; but when you have gone too far to ‘Lock the door on the outside,’ said Mr. Brownlow to the
recede, do not sue to me for leniency, when the power will attendants, ‘and come when I ring.’
have passed into other hands; and do not say I plunged you The men obeyed, and the two were left alone together.
down the gulf into which you rushed, yourself.’ ‘This is pretty treatment, sir,’ said Monks, throwing down

his hat and cloak, ‘from my father’s oldest friend.’ ‘You have a brother,’ said Mr. Brownlow, rousing himself:
‘It is because I was your father’s oldest friend, young man,’ ‘a brother, the whisper of whose name in your ear when I
returned Mr. Brownlow; ‘it is because the hopes and wishes came behind you in the street, was, in itself, almost enough
of young and happy years were bound up with him, and to make you accompany me hither, in wonder and alarm.’
that fair creature of his blood and kindred who rejoined ‘I have no brother,’ replied Monks. ‘You know I was an
her God in youth, and left me here a solitary, lonely man: only child. Why do you talk to me of brothers? You know
it is because he knelt with me beside his only sisters’ death- that, as well as I.’
bed when he was yet a boy, on the morning that would—but ‘Attend to what I do know, and you may not,’ said Mr.
Heaven willed otherwise—have made her my young wife; Brownlow. ‘I shall interest you by and by. I know that of the
it is because my seared heart clung to him, from that time wretched marriage, into which family pride, and the most
forth, through all his trials and errors, till he died; it is be- sordid and narrowest of all ambition, forced your unhappy
cause old recollections and associations filled my heart, and father when a mere boy, you were the sole and most un-
even the sight of you brings with it old thoughts of him; it natural issue.’
is because of all these things that I am moved to treat you ‘I don’t care for hard names,’ interrupted Monks with
gently now—yes, Edward Leeford, even now—and blush for a jeering laugh. ‘You know the fact, and that’s enough for
your unworthiness who bear the name.’ me.’
‘What has the name to do with it?’ asked the other, after ‘But I also know,’ pursued the old gentleman, ‘the misery,
contemplating, half in silence, and half in dogged wonder, the slow torture, the protracted anguish of that ill-assorted
the agitation of his companion. ‘What is the name to me?’ union. I know how listlessly and wearily each of that wretch-
‘Nothing,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, ‘nothing to you. But it ed pair dragged on their heavy chain through a world that
was HERS, and even at this distance of time brings back to was poisoned to them both. I know how cold formalities
me, an old man, the glow and thrill which I once felt, only were succeeded by open taunts; how indifference gave place
to hear it repeated by a stranger. I am very glad you have to dislike, dislike to hate, and hate to loathing, until at last
changed it—very—very.’ they wrenched the clanking bond asunder, and retiring a
‘This is all mighty fine,’ said Monks (to retain his as- wide space apart, carried each a galling fragment, of which
sumed designation) after a long silence, during which he nothing but death could break the rivets, to hide it in new
had jerked himself in sullen defiance to and fro, and Mr. society beneath the gayest looks they could assume. Your
Brownlow had sat, shading his face with his hand. ‘But what mother succeeded; she forgot it soon. But it rusted and can-
do you want with me?’ kered at your father’s heart for years.’

‘Well, they were separated,’ said Monks, ‘and what of ‘They resided,’ said Mr. Brownlow, without seeming to
that?’ hear the interruption, ‘in a part of the country to which
‘When they had been separated for some time,’ returned your father in his wandering had repaired, and where he
Mr. Brownlow, ‘and your mother, wholly given up to conti- had taken up his abode. Acquaintance, intimacy, friend-
nental frivolities, had utterly forgotten the young husband ship, fast followed on each other. Your father was gifted as
ten good years her junior, who, with prospects blighted, few men are. He had his sister’s soul and person. As the old
lingered on at home, he fell among new friends. This cir- officer knew him more and more, he grew to love him. I
cumstance, at least, you know already.’ would that it had ended there. His daughter did the same.
‘Not I,’ said Monks, turning away his eyes and beating The old gentleman paused; Monks was biting his lips,
his foot upon the ground, as a man who is determined to with his eyes fixed upon the floor; seeing this, he immedi-
deny everything. ‘Not I.’ ately resumed:
‘Your manner, no less than your actions, assures me that ‘The end of a year found him contracted, solemnly con-
you have never forgotten it, or ceased to think of it with bit- tracted, to that daughter; the object of the first, true, ardent,
terness,’ returned Mr. Brownlow. ‘I speak of fifteen years only passion of a guileless girl.’
ago, when you were not more than eleven years old, and ‘Your tale is of the longest,’ observed Monks, moving
your father but one-and-thirty—for he was, I repeat, a boy, restlessly in his chair.
when HIS father ordered him to marry. Must I go back to ‘It is a true tale of grief and trial, and sorrow, young man,’
events which cast a shade upon the memory of your parent, returned Mr. Brownlow, ‘and such tales usually are; if it were
or will you spare it, and disclose to me the truth?’ one of unmixed joy and happiness, it would be very brief. At
‘I have nothing to disclose,’ rejoined Monks. ‘You must length one of those rich relations to strengthen whose in-
talk on if you will.’ terest and importance your father had been sacrificed, as
‘These new friends, then,’ said Mr. Brownlow, ‘were a na- others are often—it is no uncommon case—died, and to re-
val officer retired from active service, whose wife had died pair the misery he had been instrumental in occasioning,
some half-a-year before, and left him with two children— left him his panacea for all griefs—Money. It was necessary
there had been more, but, of all their family, happily but that he should immediately repair to Rome, whither this
two survived. They were both daughters; one a beautiful man had sped for health, and where he had died, leaving his
creature of nineteen, and the other a mere child of two or affairs in great confusion. He went; was seized with mor-
three years old.’ tal illness there; was followed, the moment the intelligence
‘What’s this to me?’ asked Monks. reached Paris, by your mother who carried you with her; he

died the day after her arrival, leaving no will—NO WILL— I never saw him more.’
so that the whole property fell to her and you.’ ‘I went,’ said Mr. Brownlow, after a short pause, ‘I went,
At this part of the recital Monks held his breath, and lis- when all was over, to the scene of his—I will use the term
tened with a face of intense eagerness, though his eyes were the world would freely use, for worldly harshness or favour
not directed towards the speaker. As Mr. Brownlow paused, are now alike to him—of his guilty love, resolved that if my
he changed his position with the air of one who has experi- fears were realised that erring child should find one heart
enced a sudden relief, and wiped his hot face and hands. and home to shelter and compassionate her. The family had
‘Before he went abroad, and as he passed through Lon- left that part a week before; they had called in such trifling
don on his way,’ said Mr. Brownlow, slowly, and fixing his debts as were outstanding, discharged them, and left the
eyes upon the other’s face, ‘he came to me.’ place by night. Why, or whithter, none can tell.’
‘I never heard of that,’ interrupted MOnks in a tone Monks drew his breath yet more freely, and looked round
intended to appear incredulous, but savouring more of dis- with a smile of triumph.
agreeable surprise. ‘When your brother,’ said Mr. Brownlow, drawing nearer
‘He came to me, and left with me, among some other to the other’s chair, ‘When your brother: a feeble, ragged,
things, a picture—a portrait painted by himself—a likeness neglected child: was cast in my way by a stronger hand
of this poor girl—which he did not wish to leave behind, than chance, and rescued by me from a life of vice and in-
and could not carry forward on his hasty journey. He was famy—‘
worn by anxiety and remorse almost to a shadow; talked ‘What?’ cried Monks.
in a wild, distracted way, of ruin and dishonour worked by ‘By me,’ said Mr. Brownlow. ‘I told you I should interest
himself; confided to me his intention to convert his whole you before long. I say by me—I see that your cunning as-
property, at any loss, into money, and, having settled on his sociate suppressed my name, although for ought he knew,
wife and you a portion of his recent acquisition, to fly the it would be quite strange to your ears. When he was res-
country—I guessed too well he would not fly alone—and cued by me, then, and lay recovering from sickness in my
never see it more. Even from me, his old and early friend, house, his strong resemblance to this picture I have spoken
whose strong attachment had taken root in the earth that of, struck me with astonishment. Even when I first saw him
covered one most dear to both—even from me he withheld in all his dirt and misery, there was a lingering expression
any more particular confession, promising to write and tell in his face that came upon me like a glimpse of some old
me all, and after that to see me once again, for the last time friend flashing on one in a vivid dream. I need not tell you
on earth. Alas! THAT was the last time. I had no letter, and he was snared away before I knew his history—‘

‘Why not?’ asked Monks hastily. know that a child was born of this maudlin pair; you don’t
‘Because you know it well.’ even know that.’
‘I!’ ‘I DID NOT,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, rising too; ‘but with-
‘Denial to me is vain,’ replied Mr. Brownlow. ‘I shall show in the last fortnight I have learnt it all. You have a brother;
you that I know more than that.’ you know it, and him. There was a will, which your mother
‘You—you—can’t prove anything against me,’ stam- destroyed, leaving the secret and the gain to you at her own
mered Monks. ‘I defy you to do it!’ death. It contained a reference to some child likely to be the
‘We shall see,’ returned the old gentleman with a search- result of this sad connection, which child was born, and ac-
ing glance. ‘I lost the boy, and no efforts of mine could cidentally encountered by you, when your suspicions were
recover him. Your mother being dead, I knew that you alone first awakened by his resemblance to your father. You re-
could solve the mystery if anybody could, and as when I had paired to the place of his birth. There existed proofs—proofs
last heard of you you were on your own estate in the West long suppressed—of his birth and parentage. Those proofs
Indies—whither, as you well know, you retired upon your were destroyed by you, and now, in your own words to your
mother’s death to escape the consequences of vicious cours- accomplice the Jew, ‘THE ONLY PROOFS OF THE BOY’S
es here—I made the voyage. You had left it, months before, IDENTITY LIE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER, AND
and were supposed to be in London, but no one could tell THE OLD HAG THAT RECEIVED THEM FORM THE
where. I returned. Your agents had no clue to your residence. MOTHER IS ROTTING IN HER COFFIN.’
You came and went, they said, as strangely as you had ever Unworthy son, coward, liar,—you, who hold your coun-
done: sometimes for days together and sometimes not for cils with thieves and murderers in dark rooms at night,—you,
months: keeping to all appearance the same low haunts and whose plots and wiles have brought a violent death upon the
mingling with the same infamous herd who had been your head of one worth millions such as you,—you, who from
associates when a fierce ungovernable boy. I wearied them your cradle were gall and bitterness to your own father’s
with new applications. I paced the streets by night and day, heart, and in whom all evil passions, vice, and profligacy,
but until two hours ago, all my efforts were fruitless, and I festered, till they found a vent in a hideous disease which
never saw you for an instant.’ had made your face an index even to your mind—you, Ed-
‘And now you do see me,’ said Monks, rising boldly, ‘what ward Leeford, do you still brave me!’
then? Fraud and robbery are high-sounding words—justi- ‘No, no, no!’ returned the coward, overwhelmed by these
fied, you think, by a fancied resemblance in some young accumulated charges.
imp to an idle daub of a dead man’s Brother! You don’t even ‘Every word!’ cried the gentleman, ‘every word that has

passed between you and this detested villain, is known to of evading it: torn by his fears on the one hand and his ha-
me. Shadows on the wall have caught your whispers, and tred on the other: the door was hurriedly unlocked, and a
brought them to my ear; the sight of the persecuted child gentleman (Mr. Losberne) entered the room in violent agi-
has turned vice itself, and given it the courage and almost tation.
the attributes of virtue. Murder has been done, to which ‘The man will be taken,’ he cried. ‘He will be taken to-
you were morally if not really a party.’ night!’
‘No, no,’ interposed Monks. ‘I—I knew nothing of that; I ‘The murderer?’ asked Mr. Brownlow.
was going to inquire the truth of the story when you over- ‘Yes, yes,’ replied the other. ‘His dog has been seen lurk-
took me. I didn’t know the cause. I thought it was a common ing about some old haunt, and there seems little doubt hat
quarrel.’ his master either is, or will be, there, under cover of the
‘It was the partial disclosure of your secrets,’ replied Mr. darkness. Spies are hovering about in every direction. I
Brownlow. ‘Will you disclose the whole?’ have spoken to the men who are charged with his capture,
‘Yes, I will.’ and they tell me he cannot escape. A reward of a hundred
‘Set your hand to a statement of truth and facts, and re- pounds is proclaimed by Government to-night.’
peat it before witnesses?’ ‘I will give fifty more,’ said Mr. Brownlow, ‘and proclaim
‘That I promise too.’ it with my own lips upon the spot, if I can reach it. Where
‘Remain quietly here, until such a document is drawn up, is Mr. Maylie?’
and proceed with me to such a place as I may deem most ‘Harry? As soon as he had seen your friend here, safe in
advisable, for the purpose of attesting it?’ a coach with you, he hurried off to where he heard this,’ re-
‘If you insist upon that, I’ll do that also,’ replied Monks. plied the doctor, ‘and mounting his horse sallied forth to
‘You must do more than that,’ said Mr. Brownlow. ‘Make join the first party at some place in the outskirts agreed
restitution to an innocent and unoffending child, for such upon between them.’
he is, although the offspring of a guilty and most miserable ‘Fagin,’ said Mr. Brownlow; ‘what of him?’
love. You have not forgotten the provisions of the will. Car- ‘When I last heard, he had not been taken, but he will be,
ry them into execution so far as your brother is concerned, or is, by this time. They’re sure of him.’
and then go where you please. In this world you need meet ‘Have you made up your mind?’ asked Mr. Brownlow, in
no more.’ a low voice, of Monks.
While Monks was pacing up and down, meditating with ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘You—you—will be secret with me?’
dark and evil looks on this proposal and the possibilities ‘I will. Remain here till I return. It is your only hope of

safety.
They left the room, and the door was again locked. CHAPTER L
‘What have you done?’ asked the doctor in a whisper.
‘All that I could hope to do, and even more. Coupling the
poor girl’s intelligence with my previous knowledge, and
the result of our good friend’s inquiries on the spot, I left THE PURSUIT AND ESCAPE
him no loophole of escape, and laid bare the whole villainy
which by these lights became plain as day. Write and ap-
point the evening after to-morrow, at seven, for the meeting.
We shall be down there, a few hours before, but shall re-
quire rest: especially the young lady, who MAY have greater
need of firmness than either you or I can quite foresee just
N ear 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
now. But my blood boils to avenge this poor murdered crea- dust of colliers and the smoke of close-built low-roofed
ture. Which way have they taken?’ houses, there exists the filthiest, the strangest, the most
‘Drive straight to the office and you will be in time,’ re- extraordinary of the many localities that are hidden in Lon-
plied Mr. Losberne. ‘I will remain here.’ don, wholly unknown, even by name, to the great mass of
The two gentlemen hastily separated; each in a fever of its inhabitants.
excitement wholly uncontrollable. To reach this place, the visitor has to penetrate through
a maze of close, narrow, and muddy streets, thronged by
the rougest 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 salesman’s door, and stream from the house-parapet
and windows. Jostling with unemployed labourers of the
lowest class, ballast-heavers, coal-whippers, brazen wom-
en, 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 ponder- seem too tainted even for the dirt and squalor which they
ous waggons that bear great piles of merchandise from the shelter; wooden chambers thrusting themselves out above
stacks of warehouses that rise from every corner. Arriving, the mud, and threatening to fall into it—as some have done;
at length, in streets remoter and less-frequented than those dirt-besmeared walls and decaying foundations; every re-
through which he has passed, he walks beneath tottering pulsive lineament of poverty, every loathsome indication of
house-fronts projecting over the pavement, dismantled filth, rot, and garbage; all these ornament the banks of Folly
walls that seem to totter as he passes, chimneys half crushed Ditch.
half hesitating to fall, windows guarded by rusty iron bars In Jacob’s Island, the warehouses are roofless and empty;
that time and dirt have almost eaten away, every imagin- the walls are crumbling down; the windows are windows
able sign of desolation and neglect. no more; the doors are falling into the streets; the chim-
In such a neighborhood, beyond Dockhead in the Bor- neys are blackened, but they yield no smoke. Thirty or forty
ough of Southwark, stands Jacob’s Island, surrounded by a years ago, before losses and chancery suits came upon it, it
muddy ditch, six or eight feet deep and fifteen or twenty was a thriving place; but now it is a desolate island indeed.
wide when the tide is in, once called Mill Pond, but known The houses have no owners; they are broken open, and en-
in the days of this story as Folly Ditch. It is a creek or inlet tered upon by those who have the courage; and there they
from the Thames, and can always be filled at high water by live, and there they die. They must have powerful motives
opening the sluices at the Lead Mills from which it took its for a secret residence, or be reduced to a destitute condition
old name. At such times, a stranger, looking from one of the indeed, who seek a refuge in Jacob’s Island.
wooden bridges thrown across it at Mill Lane, will see the In an upper room of one of these houses—a detached
inhabitants of the houses on either side lowering from their house of fair size, ruinous in other respects, but strongly
back doors and windows, buckets, pails, domestic utensils defended at door and window: of which house the back
of all kinds, in which to haul the water up; and when his eye commanded the ditch in manner already described—there
is turned from these operations to the houses themselves, were assembled three men, who, regarding each other ev-
his utmost astonishment will be excited by the scene before ery now and then with looks expressive of perplexity and
him. Crazy wooden galleries common to the backs of half expectation, sat for some time in profound and gloomy si-
a dozen houses, with holes from which to look upon the lence. One of these was Toby Crackit, another Mr. Chitling,
slime beneath; windows, broken and patched, with poles and the third a robber of fifty years, whose nose had been
thrust out, on which to dry the linen that is never there; almost beaten in, in some old scuffle, and whose face bore
rooms so small, so filthy, so confined, that the air would a frightful scar which might probably be traced to the same

occasion. This man was a returned transport, and his name ‘And Bet?’
was Kags. ‘Poor Bet! She went to see the Body, to speak to who it
‘I wish,’ said Toby turning to Mr. Chitling, ‘that you had was,’ replied Chitling, his countenance falling more and
picked out some other crig when the two old ones got too more, ‘and went off mad, screaming and raving, and beat-
warm, and had not come here, my fine feller.’ ing her head against the boards; so they put a strait-weskut
‘Why didn’t you, blunder-head!’ said Kags. on her and took her to the hospital—and there she is.’
‘Well, I thought you’d have been a little more glad to see ‘Wot’s come of young Bates?’ demanded Kags.
me than this,’ replied Mr. Chitling, with a melancholy air. ‘He hung about, not to come over here afore dark, but
‘Why, look’e, young gentleman,’ said Toby, ‘when a man he’ll be here soon,’ replied Chitling. ‘There’s nowhere else
keeps himself so very ex-clusive as I have done, and by that to go to now, for the people at the Cripples are all in custody,
means has a snug house over his head with nobody a pry- and the bar of the ken—I went up there and see it with my
ing and smelling about it, it’s rather a startling thing to have own eyes—is filled with traps.’
the honour of a wisit from a young gentleman (however re- ‘This is a smash,’ observed Toby, biting his lips. ‘There’s
spectable and pleasant a person he may be to play cards more than one will go with this.’
with at conweniency) circumstanced as you are.’ ‘The sessions are on,’ said Kags: ‘if they get the inquest
‘Especially, when the exclusive young man has got a over, and Bolter turns King’s evidence: as of course he will,
friend stopping with him, that’s arrived sooner than was from what he’s said already: they can prove Fagin an acces-
expected from foreign parts, and is too modest to want to sory before the fact, and get the trial on on Friday, and he’ll
be presented to the Judges on his return,’ added Mr. Kags. swing in six days from this, by G—!’
There was a short silence, after which Toby Crackit, ‘You should have heard the people groan,’ said Chitling;
seeming to abandon as hopeless any further effort to main- ‘the officers fought like devils, or they’d have torn him away.
tain his usual devil-may-care swagger, turned to Chitling He was down once, but they made a ring round him, and
and said, fought their way along. You should have seen how he looked
‘When was Fagin took then?’ about him, all muddy and bleeding, and clung to them as
‘Just at dinner-time—two o’clock this afternoon. Charley if they were his dearest friends. I can see ‘em now, not able
and I made our lucky up the wash-us chimney, and Bolter to stand upright with the pressing of the mob, and draggin
got into the empty water-butt, head downwards; but his legs him along amongst ‘em; I can see the people jumping up,
were so precious long that they stuck out at the top, and so one behind another, and snarling with their teeth and mak-
they took him too.’ ing at him; I can see the blood upon his hair and beard, and

hear the cries with which the women worked themselves Toby shook his head.
into the centre of the crowd at the street corner, and swore ‘If he had,’ said Kags, ‘the dog ‘ud want to lead us away to
they’d tear his heart out!’ where he did it. No. I think he’s got out of the country, and
The horror-stricken witness of this scene pressed his left the dog behind. He must have given him the slip some-
hands upon his ears, and with his eyes closed got up and how, or he wouldn’t be so easy.’
paced violently to and fro, like one distracted. This solution, appearing the most probable one, was ad-
While he was thus engaged, and the two men sat by in si- opted as the right; the dog, creeping under a chair, coiled
lence with their eyes fixed upon the floor, a pattering noise himself up to sleep, without more notice from anybody.
was heard upon the stairs, and Sikes’s dog bounded into the It being now dark, the shutter was closed, and a candle
room. They ran to the window, downstairs, and into the lighted and placed upon the table. The terrible events of
street. The dog had jumped in at an open window; he made the last two days had made a deep impression on all three,
no attempt to follow them, nor was his master to be seen. increased by the danger and uncertainty of their own po-
‘What’s the meaning of this?’ said Toby when they had sition. They drew their chairs closer together, starting at
returned. ‘He can’t be coming here. I—I—hope not.’ every sound. They spoke little, and that in whispers, and
‘If he was coming here, he’d have come with the dog,’ were as silent and awe-stricken as if the remains of the mur-
said Kags, stooping down to examine the animal, who lay dered woman lay in the next room.
panting on the floor. ‘Here! Give us some water for him; he They had sat thus, some time, when suddenly was heard
has run himself faint.’ a hurried knocking at the door below.
‘He’s drunk it all up, every drop,’ said Chitling after ‘Young Bates,’ said Kags, looking angrily round, to check
watching the dog some time in silence. ‘Covered with mud— the fear he felt himself.
lame—half blind—he must have come a long way.’ The knocking came again. No, it wasn’t he. He never
‘Where can he have come from!’ exclaimed Toby. ‘He’s knocked like that.
been to the other kens of course, and finding them filled Crackit went to the window, and shaking all over, drew
with strangers come on here, where he’s been many a time in his head. There was no need to tell them who it was; his
and often. But where can he have come from first, and how pale face was enough. The dog too was on the alert in an in-
comes he here alone without the other!’ stant, and ran whining to the door.
‘He’—(none of them called the murderer by his old ‘We must let him in,’ he said, taking up the candle.
name)—‘He can’t have made away with himself. What do ‘Isn’t there any help for it?’ asked the other man in a
you think?’ said Chitling. hoarse voice.

‘None. He MUST come in.’ ‘Have you nothing to say to me?’
‘Don’t leave us in the dark,’ said Kags, taking down a There was an uneasy movement among them, but no-
candle from the chimney-piece, and lighting it, with such body spoke.
a trembling hand that the knocking was twice repeated be- ‘You that keep this house,’ said Sikes, turning his face to
fore he had finished. Crackit, ‘do you mean to sell me, or to let me lie here till
Crackit went down to the door, and returned followed by this hunt is over?’
a man with the lower part of his face buried in a handker- ‘You may stop here, if you think it safe,’ returned the per-
chief, and another tied over his head under his hat. He drew son addressed, after some hesitation.
them slowly off. Blanched face, sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, Sikes carried his eyes slowly up the wall behind him:
beard of three days’ growth, wasted flesh, short thick breath; rather trying to turn his head than actually doing it: and
it was the very ghost of Sikes. said, ‘Is—it—the body—is it buried?’
He laid his hand upon a chair which stood in the middle They shook their heads.
of the room, but shuddering as he was about to drop into ‘Why isn’t it!’ he retorted with the same glance behind
it, and seeming to glance over his shoulder, dragged it back him. ‘Wot do they keep such ugly things above the ground
close to the wall—as close as it would go—and ground it for?—Who’s that knocking?’
against it—and sat down. Crackit intimated, by a motion of his hand as he left the
Not a word had been exchanged. He looked from one to room, that there was nothing to fear; and directly came
another in silence. If an eye were furtively raised and met back with Charley Bates behind him. Sikes sat opposite the
his, it was instantly averted. When his hollow voice broke door, so that the moment the boy entered the room he en-
silence, they all three started. They seemed never to have countered his figure.
heard its tones before. ‘Toby,’ said the boy falling back, as Sikes turned his eyes
‘How came that dog here?’ he asked. towards him, ‘why didn’t you tell me this, downstairs?’
‘Alone. Three hours ago.’ There had been something so tremendous in the shrink-
‘To-night’s paper says that Fagin’s took. Is it true, or a ing off of the three, that the wretched man was willing to
lie?’ propitiate even this lad. Accordingly he nodded, and made
‘True.’ as though he would shake hands with him.
They were silent again. ‘Let me go into some other room,’ said the boy, retreat-
‘Damn you all!’ said Sikes, passing his hand across his ing still farther.
forehead. ‘Charley!’ said Sikes, stepping forward. ‘Don’t you—don’t

you know me?’ and earnest conversation, the tramp of hurried footsteps—
‘Don’t come nearer me,’ answered the boy, still retreating, endless they seemed in number—crossing the nearest
and looking, with horror in his eyes, upon the murderer’s wooden bridge. One man on horseback seemed to be among
face. ‘You monster!’ the crowd; for there was the noise of hoofs rattling on the
The man stopped half-way, and they looked at each oth- uneven pavement. The gleam of lights increased; the foot-
er; but Sikes’s eyes sunk gradually to the ground. steps came more thickly and noisily on. Then, came a loud
‘Witness you three,’ cried the boy shaking his clenched knocking at the door, and then a hoarse murmur from such
fist, and becoming more and more excited as he spoke. a multitude of angry voices as would have made the bold-
‘Witness you three—I’m not afraid of him—if they come est quail.
here after him, I’ll give him up; I will. I tell you out at once. ‘Help!’ shrieked the boy in a voice that rent the air.
He may kill me for it if he likes, or if he dares, but if I am ‘He’s here! Break down the door!’
here I’ll give him up. I’d give him up if he was to be boiled ‘In the King’s name,’ cried the voices without; and the
alive. Murder! Help! If there’s the pluck of a man among hoarse cry arose again, but louder.
you three, you’ll help me. Murder! Help! Down with him!’ ‘Break down the door!’ screamed the boy. ‘I tell you
Pouring out these cries, and accompanying them with they’ll never open it. Run straight to the room where the
violent gesticulation, the boy actually threw himself, sin- light is. Break down the door!’
gle-handed, upon the strong man, and in the intensity of Strokes, thick and heavy, rattled upon the door and lower
his energy and the suddenness of his surprise, brought him window-shutters as he ceased to speak, and a loud huzzah
heavily to the ground. burst from the crowd; giving the listener, for the first time,
The three spectators seemed quite stupefied. They offered some adequate idea of its immense extent.
no interference, and the boy and man rolled on the ground ‘Open the door of some place where I can lock this
together; the former, heedless of the blows that showered screeching Hell-babe,’ cried Sikes fiercely; running to and
upon him, wrenching his hands tighter and tighter in the fro, and dragging the boy, now, as easily as if he were an
garments about the murderer’s breast, and never ceasing to empty sack. ‘That door. Quick!’ He flung him in, bolted it,
call for help with all his might. and turned the key. ‘Is the downstairs door fast?’
The contest, however, was too unequal to last long. Sikes ‘Double-locked and chained,’ replied Crackit, who, with
had him down, and his knee was on his throat, when Crack- the other two men, still remained quite helpless and bewil-
it pulled him back with a look of alarm, and pointed to the dered.
window. There were lights gleaming below, voices in loud ‘The panels—are they strong?’

‘Lined with sheet-iron.’ drop into the Folly Ditch, and clear off that way. Give me a
‘And the windows too?’ rope, or I shall do three more murders and kill myself.
‘Yes, and the windows.’ The panic-stricken men pointed to where such articles
‘Damn you!’ cried the desperate ruffian, throwing up the were kept; the murderer, hastily selecting the longest and
sash and menacing the crowd. ‘Do your worst! I’ll cheat you strongest cord, hurried up to the house-top.
yet!’ All the window in the rear of the house had been long
Of all the terrific yells that ever fell on mortal ears, none ago bricked up, except one small trap in the room where the
could exceed the cry of the infuriated throng. Some shout- boy was locked, and that was too small even for the passage
ed to those who were nearest to set the house on fire; others of his body. But, from this aperture, he had never ceased to
roared to the officers to shoot him dead. Among them all, call on those without, to guard the back; and thus, when the
none showed such fury as the man on horseback, who, murderer emerged at last on the house-top by the door in
throwing himself out of the saddle, and bursting through the roof, a loud shout proclaimed the fact to those in front,
the crowd as if he were parting water, cried, beneath the who immediately began to pour round, pressing upon each
window, in a voice that rose above all others, ‘Twenty guin- other in an unbroken stream.
eas to the man who brings a ladder!’ He planted a board, which he had carried up with him
The nearest voices took up the cry, and hundreds echoed for the purpose, so firmly against the door that it must be
it. Some called for ladders, some for sledge-hammers; some matter of great difficulty to open it from the inside; and
ran with torches to and fro as if to seek them, and still came creeping over the tiles, looked over the low parapet.
back and roared again; some spent their breath in impotent The water was out, and the ditch a bed of mud.
curses and execrations; some pressed forward with the ec- The crowd had been hushed during these few moments,
stasy of madmen, and thus impeded the progress of those watching his motions and doubtful of his purpose, but the
below; some among the boldest attempted to climb up by instant they perceived it and knew it was defeated, they
the water-spout and crevices in the wall; and all waved to raised a cry of triumphant execration to which all their pre-
and fro, in the darkness beneath, like a field of corn moved vious shouting had been whispers. Again and again it rose.
by an angry wind: and joined from time to time in one loud Those who were at too great a distance to know its mean-
furious roar. ing, took up the sound; it echoed and re-echoed; it seemed
‘The tide,’ cried the murderer, as he staggered back into as though the whole city had poured its population out to
the room, and shut the faces out, ‘the tide was in as I came curse him.
up. Give me a rope, a long rope. They’re all in front. I may On pressed the people from the front—on, on, on, in

a strong struggling current of angry faces, with here and cries and shrieks of those who were pressed almost to suf-
there a glaring torch to lighten them up, and show them out focation, or trampled down and trodden under foot in the
in all their wrath and passion. The houses on the opposite confusion, were dreadful; the narrow ways were completely
side of the ditch had been entered by the mob; sashes were blocked up; and at this time, between the rush of some to
thrown up, or torn bodily out; there were tiers and tiers of regain the space in front of the house, and the unavailing
faces in every window; cluster upon cluster of people cling- struggles of others to extricate themselves from the mass,
ing to every house-top. Each little bridge (and there were the immediate attention was distracted from the murderer,
three in sight) bent beneath the weight of the crowd upon it. although the universal eagerness for his capture was, if pos-
Still the current poured on to find some nook or hole from sible, increased.
which to vent their shouts, and only for an instant see the The man had shrunk down, thoroughly quelled by the
wretch. ferocity of the crowd, and the impossibility of escape; but
‘They have him now,’ cried a man on the nearest bridge. seeing this sudden change with no less rapidity than it had
‘Hurrah!’ occurred, he sprang upon his feet, determined to make one
The crowd grew light with uncovered heads; and again last effort for his life by dropping into the ditch, and, at
the shout uprose. the risk of being stifled, endeavouring to creep away in the
‘I will give fifty pounds,’ cried an old gentleman from the darkness and confusion.
same quarter, ‘to the man who takes him alive. I will re- Roused into new strength and energy, and stimulated by
main here, till he come to ask me for it.’ the noise within the house which announced that an en-
There was another roar. At this moment the word was trance had really been effected, he set his foot against the
passed among the crowd that the door was forced at last, stack of chimneys, fastened one end of the rope tightly and
and that he who had first called for the ladder had mounted firmly round it, and with the other made a strong running
into the room. The stream abruptly turned, as this intel- noose by the aid of his hands and teeth almost in a second.
ligence ran from mouth to mouth; and the people at the He could let himself down by the cord to within a less dis-
windows, seeing those upon the bridges pouring back, quit- tance of the ground than his own height, and had his knife
ted their stations, and running into the street, joined the ready in his hand to cut it then and drop.
concourse that now thronged pell-mell to the spot they At the very instant when he brought the loop over his
had left: each man crushing and striving with his neighbor, head previous to slipping it beneath his arm-pits, and
and all panting with impatience to get near the door, and when the old gentleman before-mentioned (who had clung
look upon the criminal as the officers brought him out. The 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— CHAPTER LI
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. AFFORDING AN
Staggering as if struck by lightning, he lost his balance
and tumbled over the parapet. The noose was on his neck. EXPLANATION OF MORE
It ran up with his weight, tight as a bow-string, and swift as
the arrow it speeds. He fell for five-and-thirty feet. There MYSTERIES THAN ONE,
was a sudden jerk, a terrific convulsion of the limbs; and
there he hung, with the open knife clenched in his stiffen- AND COMPREHENDING
ing hand.
The old chimney quivered with the shock, but stood it A PROPOSAL OF
bravely. The murderer swung lifeless against the wall; and
the boy, thrusting aside the dangling body which obscured MARRIAGE WITH NO
his view, called to the people to come and take him out, for
God’s sake. WORD OF SETTLEMENT
A dog, which had lain concealed till now, ran backwards
and forwards on the parapet with a dismal howl, and col- OR PIN-MONEY
lecting himself for a spring, jumped for the dead man’s
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.
T he events narrated in the last chapter were yet but two
days old, when Oliver found himself, at three o’clock in
the afternoon, in a travelling-carriage rolling fast towards
his native town. Mrs. Maylie, and Rose, and Mrs. Bedwin,
and the good doctor were with him: and Mr. Brownlow fol-
lowed in a post-chaise, accompanied by one other person

whose name had not been mentioned. without a friend to help him, or a roof to shelter his head.
They had not talked much upon the way; for Oliver was ‘See there, there!’ cried Oliver, eagerly clasping the hand
in a flutter of agitation and uncertainty which deprived of Rose, and pointing out at the carriage window; ‘that’s the
him of the power of collecting his thoughts, and almost stile I came over; there are the hedges I crept behind, for
of speech, and appeared to have scarcely less effect on his fear any one should overtake me and force me back! Yonder
companions, who shared it, in at least an equal degree. He is the path across the fields, leading to the old house where
and the two ladies had been very carefully made acquainted I was a little child! Oh Dick, Dick, my dear old friend, if I
by Mr. Brownlow with the nature of the admissions which could only see you now!’
had been forced from Monks; and although they knew that ‘You will see him soon,’ replied Rose, gently taking his
the object of their present journey was to complete the work folded hands between her own. ‘You shall tell him how hap-
which had been so well begun, still the whole matter was py you are, and how rich you have grown, and that in all
enveloped in enough of doubt and mystery to leave them in your happiness you have none so great as the coming back
endurance of the most intense suspense. to make him happy too.’
The same kind friend had, with Mr. Losberne’s assistance, ‘Yes, yes,’ said Oliver, ‘and we’ll—we’ll take him away
cautiously stopped all channels of communication through from here, and have him clothed and taught, and send him
which they could receive intelligence of the dreadful occur- to some quiet country place where he may grow strong and
rences that so recently taken place. ‘It was quite true,’ he well,—shall we?’
said, ‘that they must know them before long, but it might Rose nodded ‘yes,’ for the boy was smiling through such
be at a better time than the present, and it could not be at happy tears that she could not speak.
a worse.’ So, they travelled on in silence: each busied with ‘You will be kind and good to him, for you are to every
reflections on the object which had brought them togeth- one,’ said Oliver. ‘It will make you cry, I know, to hear what
er: and no one disposed to give utterance to the thoughts he can tell; but never mind, never mind, it will be all over,
which crowded upon all. and you will smile again—I know that too—to think how
But if Oliver, under these influences, had remained silent changed he is; you did the same with me. He said ‘God bless
while they journeyed towards his birth-place by a road he you’ to me when I ran away,’ cried the boy with a burst of af-
had never seen, how the whole current of his recollections fectionate emotion; ‘and I will say ‘God bless you’ now, and
ran back to old times, and what a crowd of emotions were show him how I love him for it!’
wakened up in his breast, when they turned into that which As they approached the town, and at length drove
he had traversed on foot: a poor houseless, wandering boy, through its narrow streets, it became matter of no small dif-

ficulty to restrain the boy within reasonable bounds. There Notwithstanding all this, when the hurry of the first half-
was Sowerberry’s the undertaker’s just as it used to be, only hour was over, the same silence and constraint prevailed
smaller and less imposing in appearance than he remem- that had marked their journey down. Mr. Brownlow did not
bered it—there were all the well-known shops and houses, join them at dinner, but remained in a separate room. The
with almost every one of which he had some slight incident two other gentlemen hurried in and out with anxious faces,
connected—there was Gamfield’s cart, the very cart he used and, during the short intervals when they were present, con-
to have, standing at the old public-house door—there was versed apart. Once, Mrs. Maylie was called away, and after
the workhouse, the dreary prison of his youthful days, with being absent for nearly an hour, returned with eyes swollen
its dismal windows frowning on the street—there was the with weeping. All these things made Rose and Oliver, who
same lean porter standing at the gate, at sight of whom Oli- were not in any new secrets, nervous and uncomfortable.
ver involuntarily shrunk back, and then laughed at himself They sat wondering, in silence; or, if they exchanged a few
for being so foolish, then cried, then laughed again—there words, spoke in whispers, as if they were afraid to hear the
were scores of faces at the doors and windows that he knew sound of their own voices.
quite well—there was nearly everything as if he had left it At length, when nine o’clock had come, and they began
but yesterday, and all his recent life had been but a happy to think they were to hear no more that night, Mr. Losberne
dream. and Mr. Grimwig entered the room, followed by Mr. Brown-
But it was pure, earnest, joyful reality. They drove low and a man whom Oliver almost shrieked with surprise
straight to the door of the chief hotel (which Oliver used to to see; for they told him it was his brother, and it was the
stare up at, with awe, and think a mighty palace, but which same man he had met at the market-town, and seen look-
had somehow fallen off in grandeur and size); and here was ing in with Fagin at the window of his little room. Monks
Mr. Grimwig all ready to receive them, kissing the young cast a look of hate, which, even then, he could not dissem-
lady, and the old one too, when they got out of the coach, as ble, at the astonished boy, and sat down near the door. Mr.
if he were the grandfather of the whole party, all smiles and Brownlow, who had papers in his hand, walked to a table
kindness, and not offering to eat his head—no, not once; near which Rose and Oliver were seated.
not even when he contradicted a very old postboy about the ‘This is a painful task,’ said he, ‘but these declarations,
nearest road to London, and maintained he knew it best, which have been signed in London before many gentlemen,
though he had only come that way once, and that time fast must be substance repeated here. I would have spared you
asleep. There was dinner prepared, and there were bed- the degradation, but we must hear them from your own lips
rooms ready, and everything was arranged as if by magic. before we part, and you know why.’

‘Go on,’ said the person addressed, turning away his face. Brownlow; ‘and enclosed in a few short lines to you, with an
‘Quick. I have almost done enough, I think. Don’t keep me intimation on the cover of the package that it was not to be
here.’ forwarded till after he was dead. One of these papers was a
‘This child,’ said Mr. Brownlow, drawing Oliver to him, letter to this girl Agnes; the other a will.’
and laying his hand upon his head, ‘is your half-brother; ‘What of the letter?’ asked Mr. Brownlow.
the illegitimate son of your father, my dear friend Edwin ‘The letter?—A sheet of paper crossed and crossed again,
Leeford, by poor young Agnes Fleming, who died in giving with a penitent confession, and prayers to God to help her.
him birth.’ He had palmed a tale on the girl that some secret mystery—
‘Yes,’ said Monks, scowling at the trembling boy: the to be explained one day—prevented his marrying her just
beating of whose heart he might have heard. ‘That is the then; and so she had gone on, trusting patiently to him, un-
bastard child.’ til she trusted too far, and lost what none could ever give
‘The term you use,’ said Mr. Brownlow, sternly, ‘is a re- her back. She was, at that time, within a few months of her
proach to those long since passed beyong the feeble censure confinement. He told her all he had meant to do, to hide
of the world. It reflects disgrace on no one living, except you her shame, if he had lived, and prayed her, if he died, not to
who use it. Let that pass. He was born in this town.’ curse him memory, or think the consequences of their sin
‘In the workhouse of this town,’ was the sullen reply. ‘You would be visited on her or their young child; for all the guilt
have the story there.’ He pointed impatiently to the papers was his. He reminded her of the day he had given her the
as he spoke. little locket and the ring with her christian name engraved
‘I must have it here, too,’ said Mr. Brownlow, looking upon it, and a blank left for that which he hoped one day
round upon the listeners. to have bestowed upon her—prayed her yet to keep it, and
‘Listen then! You!’ returned Monks. ‘His father being wear it next her heart, as she had done before—and then ran
taken ill at Rome, was joined by his wife, my mother, from on, wildly, in the same words, over and over again, as if he
whom he had been long separated, who went from Paris had gone distracted. I believe he had.’
and took me with her—to look after his property, for what ‘The will,’ said Mr. Brownlow, as Oliver’s tears fell fast.
I know, for she had no great affection for him, nor he for Monks was silent.
her. He knew nothing of us, for his senses were gone, and ‘The will,’ said Mr. Brownlow, speaking for him, ‘was in
he slumbered on till next day, when he died. Among the pa- the same spirit as the letter. He talked of miseries which
pers in his desk, were two, dated on the night his illness first his wife had brought upon him; of the rebellious disposi-
came on, directed to yourself’; he addressed himself to Mr. tion, vice, malice, and premature bad passions of you his

only son, who had been trained to hate him; and left you, was on the night when he returned home, assured that she
and your mother, each an annuity of eight hundred pounds. had destroyed herself, to hide her shame and his, that his
The bulk of his property he divided into two equal por- old heart broke.’
tions—one for Agnes Fleming, and the other for their child, There was a short silence here, until Mr. Brownlow took
it it should be born alive, and ever come of age. If it were a up the thread of the narrative.
girl, it was to inherit the money unconditionally; but if a ‘Years after this,’ he said, ‘this man’s—Edward Lee-
boy, only on the stipulation that in his minority he should ford’s—mother came to me. He had left her, when only
never have stained his name with any public act of dishon- eighteen; robbed her of jewels and money; gambled, squan-
our, meanness, cowardice, or wrong. He did this, he said, to dered, forged, and fled to London: where for two years he
mark his confidence in the other, and his conviction—only had associated with the lowest outcasts. She was sinking
strengthened by approaching death—that the child would under a painful and incurable disease, and wished to recov-
share her gentle heart, and noble nature. If he were disap- er him before she died. Inquiries were set on foot, and strict
pointed in this expectation, then the money was to come searches made. They were unavailing for a long time, but ul-
to you: for then, and not till then, when both children were timately successful; and he went back with her to France.
equal, would he recognise your prior claim upon his purse, ‘There she died,’ said Monks, ‘after a lingering illness;
who had none upon his heart, but had, from an infant, re- and, on her death-bed, she bequeathed these secrets to
pulsed him with coldness and aversion.’ me, together with her unquenchable and deadly hatred of
‘My mother,’ said Monks, in a louder tone, ‘did what a all whom they involved—though she need not have left me
woman should have done. She burnt this will. The letter that, for I had inherited it long before. She would not believe
never reached its destination; but that, and other proofs, that the girl had destroyed herself, and the child too, but
she kept, in case they ever tried to lie away the blot. The was filled with the impression that a male child had been
girl’s father had the truth from her with every aggrava- born, and was alive. I swore to her, if ever it crossed my path,
tion that her violent hate—I love her for it now—could add. to hunt it down; never to let it rest; to pursue it with the bit-
Goaded by shame and dishonour he fled with his children terest and most unrelenting animosity; to vent upon it the
into a remote corner of Wales, changing his very name that hatred that I deeply felt, and to spit upon the empty vaunt of
his friends might never know of his retreat; and here, no that insulting will by draggin it, if I could, to the very gal-
great while afterwards, he was found dead in his bed. The lows-foot. She was right.
girl had left her home, in secret, some weeks before; he had He came in my way at last. I began well; and, but for bab-
searched for her, on foot, in every town and village near; it bling drabs, I would have finished as I began!’

As the villain folded his arms tight together, and mut- comparison. ‘Master Oliver, my dear, you remember the
tered curses on himself in the impotence of baffled malice, blessed gentleman in the white waistcoat? Ah! he went to
Mr. Brownlow turned to the terrified group beside him, and heaven last week, in a oak coffin with plated handles, Oli-
explained that the Jew, who had been his old accomplice ver.’
and confidant, had a large reward for keeping Oliver en- ‘Come, sir,’ said Mr. Grimwig, tartly; ‘suppress your feel-
snared: of which some part was to be given up, in the event ings.’
of his being rescued: and that a dispute on this head had led ‘I will do my endeavours, sir,’ replied Mr. Bumble. ‘How
to their visit to the country house for the purpose of iden- do you do, sir? I hope you are very well.’
tifying him. This salutation was addressed to Mr. Brownlow, who
‘The locket and ring?’ said Mr. Brownlow, turning to had stepped up to within a short distance of the respectable
Monks. couple. He inquired, as he pointed to Monks,
‘I bought them from the man and woman I told you of, ‘Do you know that person?’
who stole them from the nurse, who stole them from the ‘No,’ replied Mrs. Bumble flatly.
corpse,’ answered Monks without raising his eyes. ‘You ‘Perhaps YOU don’t?’ said Mr. Brownlow, addressing her
know what became of them.’ spouse.
Mr. Brownlow merely nodded to Mr. Grimwig, who dis- ‘I never saw him in all my life,’ said Mr. Bumble.
appearing with great alacrity, shortly returned, pushing ‘Nor sold him anything, perhaps?’
in Mrs. Bumble, and dragging her unwilling consort after ‘No,’ replied Mrs. Bumble.
him. ‘You never had, perhaps, a certain gold locket and ring?’
‘Do my hi’s deceive me!’ cried Mr. Bumble, with ill- said Mr. Brownlow.
feigned enthusiasm, ‘or is that little Oliver? Oh O-li-ver, if ‘Certainly not,’ replied the matron. ‘Why are we brought
you know’d how I’ve been a-grieving for you—‘ here to answer to such nonsense as this?’
‘Hold your tongue, fool,’ murmured Mrs. Bumble. Again Mr. Brownlow nodded to Mr. Grimwig; and again
‘Isn’t natur, natur, Mrs. Bumble?’ remonstrated the work- that gentleman limped away with extraordinary readiness.
house master. ‘Can’t I be supposed to feel—I as brought But not again did he return with a stout man and wife; for
him up porochially—when I see him a-setting here among this time, he led in two palsied women, who shook and tot-
ladies and gentlemen of the very affablest description! I tered as they walked.
always loved that boy as if he’d been my—my—my own ‘You shut the door the night old Sally died,’ said the fore-
grandfather,’ said Mr. Bumble, halting for an appropriate most one, raising her shrivelled hand, ‘but you couldn’t shut

out the sound, nor stop the chinks.’ your mind to that, and think yourself well off besides.’
‘No, no,’ said the other, looking round her and wagging ‘It was all Mrs. Bumble. She WOULD do it,’ urged Mr.
her toothless jaws. ‘No, no, no.’ Bumble; first looking round to ascertain that his partner
‘We heard her try to tell you what she’d done, and saw had left the room.
you take a paper from her hand, and watched you too, next ‘That is no excuse,’ replied Mr. Brownlow. ‘You were
day, to the pawnbroker’s shop,’ said the first. present on the occasion of the destruction of these trinkets,
‘Yes,’ added the second, ‘and it was a ‘locket and gold and indeed are the more guilty of the two, in the eye of the
ring.’ We found out that, and saw it given you. We were by. law; for the law supposes that your wife acts under your di-
Oh! we were by.’ rection.’
‘And we know more than that,’ resumed the first, ‘for she ‘If the law supposes that,’ said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his
told us often, long ago, that the young mother had told her hat emphatically in both hands, ‘the law is a ass—a idiot. If
that, feeling she should never get over it, she was on her way, that’s the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst
at the time that she was taken ill, to die near the grave of the I wish the law is, that his eye may be opened by experience—
father of the child.’ by experience.’
‘Would you like to see the pawnbroker himself?’ asked Laying great stress on the repetition of these two words,
Mr. Grimwig with a motion towards the door. Mr. Bumble fixed his hat on very tight, and putting his
‘No,’ replied the woman; ‘if he—she pointed to Monks— hands in his pockets, followed his helpmate downstairs.
‘has been coward enough to confess, as I see he had, and ‘Young lady,’ said Mr. Brownlow, turning to Rose, ‘give
you have sounded all these hags till you have found the me your hand. Do not tremble. You need not fear to hear
right ones, I have nothing more to say. I DID sell them, and the few remaining words we have to say.’
they’re where you’ll never get them. What then?’ ‘If they have—I do not know how they can, but if they
‘Nothing,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, ‘except that it remains have—any reference to me,’ said Rose, ‘pray let me hear them
for us to take care that neither of you is employed in a situ- at some other time. I have not strength or spirits now.’
ation of trust again. You may leave the room.’ ‘Nay,’ returned the old gentlman, drawing her arm
‘I hope,’ said Mr. Bumble, looking about him with great through his; ‘you have more fortitude than this, I am sure.
ruefulness, as Mr. Grimwig disappeared with the two old Do you know this young lady, sir?’
women: ‘I hope that this unfortunate little circumstance ‘Yes,’ replied Monks.
will not deprive me of my porochial office?’ ‘I never saw you before,’ said Rose faintly.
‘Indeed it will,’ replied Mr. Brownlow. ‘You may make up ‘I have seen you often,’ returned Monks.

‘The father of the unhappy Agnes had TWO daughters,’ think, against us; for in spite of all our efforts she remained
said Mr. Brownlow. ‘What was the fate of the other—the there and was happy. I lost sight of her, two or three years
child?’ ago, and saw her no more until a few months back.’
‘The child,’ replied Monks, ‘when her father died in a ‘Do you see her now?’
strange place, in a strange name, without a letter, book, or ‘Yes. Leaning on your arm.’
scrap of paper that yielded the faintest clue by which his ‘But not the less my niece,’ cried Mrs. Maylie, folding the
friends or relatives could be traced—the child was taken by fainting girl in her arms; ‘not the less my dearest child. I
some wretched cottagers, who reared it as their own.’ would not lose her now, for all the treasures of the world.
‘Go on,’ said Mr. Brownlow, signing to Mrs. Maylie to ap- My sweet companion, my own dear girl!’
proach. ‘Go on!’ ‘The only friend I ever had,’ cried Rose, clinging to her.
‘You couldn’t find the spot to which these people had re- ‘The kindest, best of friends. My heart will burst. I cannot
paired,’ said Monks, ‘but where friendship fails, hatred will bear all this.’
often force a way. My mother found it, after a year of cun- ‘You have borne more, and have been, through all, the
ning search—ay, and found the child.’ best and gentlest creature that ever shed happiness on ev-
‘She took it, did she?’ ery one she knew,’ said Mrs. Maylie, embracing her tenderly.
‘No. The people were poor and began to sicken—at least ‘Come, come, my love, remember who this is who waits to
the man did—of their fine humanity; so she left it with clasp you in his arms, poor child! See here—look, look, my
them, giving them a small present of money which would dear!’
not last long, and promised more, which she never meant to ‘Not aunt,’ cried Oliver, throwing his arms about her
send. She didn’t quite rely, however, on their discontent and neck; ‘I’ll never call her aunt—sister, my own dear sister,
poverty for the child’s unhappiness, but told the history of that something taught my heart to love so dearly from the
the sister’s shame, with such alterations as suited her; bade first! Rose, dear, darling Rose!’
them take good heed of the child, for she came of bad blood;; Let the tears which fell, and the broken words which
and told them she was illegitimate, and sure to go wrong at were exchanged in the long close embrace between the or-
one time or other. The circumstances countenanced all this; phans, be sacred. A father, sister, and mother, were gained,
the people believed it; and there the child dragged on an ex- and lost, in that one moment. Joy and grief were mingled
istence, miserable enough even to satisfy us, until a widow in the cup; but there were no bitter tears: for even grief it-
lady, residing, then, at Chester, saw the girl by chance, pit- self arose so softened, and clothed in such sweet and tender
ied her, and took her home. There was some cursed spell, I recollections, that it became a solemn pleasure, and lost all

character of pain. which I stood before.’
They were a long, long time alone. A soft tap at the door, ‘You harden your heart against me, Rose,’ urged her lov-
at length announced that some one was without. Oliver er.
opened it, glided away, and gave place to Harry Maylie. ‘Oh Harry, Harry,’ said the young lady, bursting into
‘I know it all,’ he said, taking a seat beside the lovely girl. tears; ‘I wish I could, and spare myself this pain.’
‘Dear Rose, I know it all.’ ‘Then why inflict it on yourself?’ said Harry, taking her
‘I am not here by accident,’ he added after a lengthened hand. ‘Think, dear Rose, think what you have heard to-
silence; ‘nor have I heard all this to-night, for I knew it yes- night.’
terday—only yesterday. Do you guess that I have come to ‘And what have I heard! What have I heard!’ cried Rose.
remind you of a promise?’ ‘That a sense of his deep disgrace so worked upon my own
‘Stay,’ said Rose. ‘You DO know all.’ father that he shunned all—there, we have said enough,
‘All. You gave me leave, at any time within a year, to re- Harry, we have said enough.’
new the subject of our last discourse.’ ‘Not yet, not yet,’ said the young man, detaining her as
‘I did.’ she rose. ‘My hopes, my wishes, prospects, feeling: every
‘Not to press you to alter your determination,’ pursued thought in life except my love for you: have undergone a
the young man, ‘but to hear you repeat it, if you would. I change. I offer you, now, no distinction among a bustling
was to lay whatever of station or fortune I might possess crowd; no mingling with a world of malice and detraction,
at your feet, and if you still adhered to your former deter- where the blood is called into honest cheeks by aught but
mination, I pledged myself, by no word or act, to seek to real disgrace and shame; but a home—a heart and home—
change it.’ yes, dearest Rose, and those, and those alone, are all I have
‘The same reasons which influenced me then, will influ- to offer.’
ence me know,’ said Rose firmly. ‘If I ever owed a strict and ‘What do you mean!’ she faltered.
rigid duty to her, whose goodness saved me from a life of in- ‘I mean but this—that when I left you last, I left you
digence and suffering, when should I ever feel it, as I should with a firm determination to level all fancied barriers be-
to-night? It is a struggle,’ said Rose, ‘but one I am proud to tween yourself and me; resolved that if my world could not
make; it is a pang, but one my heart shall bear.’ be yours, I would make yours mine; that no pride of birth
‘The disclosure of to-night,’—Harry began. should curl the lip at you, for I would turn from it. This I
‘The disclosure of to-night,’ replied Rose softly, ‘leaves have done. Those who have shrunk from me because of this,
me in the same position, with reference to you, as that in have shrunk from you, and proved you so far right. Such

power and patronage: such relatives of influence and rank: It is a world of disappointment: often to the hopes we
as smiled upon me then, look coldly now; but there are smil- most cherish, and hopes that do our nature the greatest
ing fields and waving trees in England’s richest county; and honour.
by one village church—mine, Rose, my own!—there stands Poor Dick was dead!
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!’
*******
‘It’s a trying thing waiting supper for lovers,’ said Mr.
Grimwig, waking up, and pulling his pocket-handkerchief
from over his head.
Truth to tell, the supper had been waiting a most un-
reasonable time. Neither Mrs. Maylie, nor Harry, nor Rose
(who all came in together), could offer a word in extenua-
tion.
‘I had serious thoughts of eating my head to-night,’ said
Mr. Grimwig, ‘for I began to think I should get nothing else.
I’ll take the liberty, if you’ll 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 conta-
gious, was followed both by the doctor and Mr. Brownlow:
some people affirm that Harry Maylie had been observed to
set it, orginally, in a dark room adjoining; but the best au-
thorities 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?’

CHAPTER LII strained attitude of close attention, with his gaze ben on
him, as though he listened still.
A slight bustle in the court, recalled him to himself. Look-
ing round, he saw that the juryman had turned together, to
FAGIN’S LAST NIGHT ALIVE consider 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
T he court was paved, from floor to roof, with human fac-

es. Inquisitive and eager eyes peered from every inch of
space. From the rail before the dock, away into the sharpest
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
angle of the smallest corner in the galleries, all looks were faintest sympathy with himself, or any feeling but one of all-
fixed upon one man—Fagin. Before him and behind: above, absorbing interest that he should be condemned.
below, on the right and on the left: he seemed to stand sur- As he saw all this in one bewildered glance, the deathlike
rounded by a firmament, all bright with gleaming eyes. stillness came again, and looking back he saw that the jury-
He stood there, in all this glare of living light, with one men had turned towards the judge. Hush!
hand resting on the wooden slab before him, the other held They only sought permission to retire.
to his ear, and his head thrust forward to enable him to He looked, wistfully, into their faces, one by one when
catch with greater distinctness every word that fell from they passed out, as though to see which way the greater
the presiding judge, who was delivering his charge to the number leant; but that was fruitless. The jailed touched him
jury. At times, he turned his eyes sharply upon them to ob- on the shoulder. He followed mechanically to the end of the
serve the effect of the slightest featherweight in his favour; dock, and sat down on a chair. The man pointed it out, or he
and when the points against him were stated with terrible would not have seen it.
distinctness, looked towards his counsel, in mute appeal He looked up into the gallery again. Some of the people
that he would, even then, urge something in his behalf. Be- were eating, and some fanning themselves with handker-
yond these manifestations of anxiety, he stirred not hand or chiefs; for the crowded place was very hot. There was one
foot. He had scarcely moved since the trial began; and now young man sketching his face in a little note-book. He won-
that the judge ceased to speak, he still remained in the same dered whether it was like, and looked on when the artist

broke his pencil-point, and made another with his knife, as strength as they swelled out, like angry thunder. It was a
any idle spectator might have done. peal of joy from the populace outside, greeting the news
In the same way, when he turned his eyes towards the that he would die on Monday.
judge, his mind began to busy itself with the fashion of his The noise subsided, and he was asked if he had anything
dress, and what it cost, and how he put it on. There was to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon
an old fat gentleman on the bench, too, who had gone out, him. He had resumed his listening attitude, and looked in-
some half an hour before, and now come back. He won- tently at his questioner while the demand was made; but it
dered within himself whether this man had been to get his was twice repeated before he seemed to hear it, and then he
dinner, what he had had, and where he had had it; and pur- only muttered that he was an old man—an old man—and
sued this train of careless thought until some new object so, dropping into a whisper, was silent again.
caught his eye and roused another. The judge assumed the black cap, and the prisoner still
Not that, all this time, his mind was, for an instant, free stood with the same air and gesture. A woman in the gal-
from one oppressive overwhelming sense of the grave that lery, uttered some exclamation, called forth by this dread
opened at his feet; it was ever present to him, but in a vague solemnity; he looked hastily up as if angry at the interrup-
and general way, and he could not fix his thoughts upon it. tion, and bent forward yet more attentively. The address
Thus, even while he trembled, and turned burning hot at was solemn and impressive; the sentence fearful to hear.
the idea of speedy death, he fell to counting the iron spikes But he stood, like a marble figure, without the motion of
before him, and wondering how the head of one had been a nerve. His haggard face was still thrust forward, his un-
broken off, and whether they would mend it, or leave it as it der-jaw hanging down, and his eyes staring out before him,
was. Then, he thought of all the horrors of the gallows and when the jailer put his hand upon his arm, and beckoned
the scaffold—and stopped to watch a man sprinkling the him away. He gazed stupidly about him for an instant, and
floor to cool it—and then went on to think again. obeyed.
At length there was a cry of silence, and a breathless look They led him through a paved room under the court,
from all towards the door. The jury returned, and passed where some prisoners were waiting till their turns came,
him close. He could glean nothing from their faces; they and others were talking to their friends, who crowded
might as well have been of stone. Perfect stillness ensued— round a grate which looked into the open yard. There was
not a rustle—not a breath—Guilty. nobody there to speak to HIM; but, as he passed, the pris-
The building rang with a tremendous shout, and another, oners fell back to render him more visible to the people who
and another, and then it echoed loud groans, that gathered were clinging to the bars: and they assailed him with oppro-

brious names, and screeched and hissed. He shook his fist, men must have passed their last hours there. It was like sit-
and would have spat upon them; but his conductors hur- ting in a vault strewn with dead bodies—the cap, the noose,
ried him on, through a gloomy passage lighted by a few dim the pinioned arms, the faces that he knew, even beneath
lamps, into the interior of the prison. that hideous veil.—Light, light!
Here, he was searched, that he might not have about him At length, when his hands were raw with beating against
the means of anticipating the law; this ceremony performed, the heavy door and walls, two men appeared: one bearing
they led him to one of the condemned cells, and left him a candle, which he thrust into an iron candlestick fixed
there—alone. against the wall: the other dragging in a mattress on which
He sat down on a stone bench opposite the door, which to pass the night; for the prisoner was to be left alone no
served for seat and bedstead; and casting his blood-shot more.
eyes upon the ground, tried to collect his thoughts. After Then came the night—dark, dismal, silent night. Other
awhile, he began to remember a few disjointed fragments watchers are glad to hear this church-clock strike, for they
of what the judge had said: though it had seemed to him, at tell of life and coming day. To him they brought despair.
the time, that he could not hear a word. These gradually fell The boom of every iron bell came laden with the one, deep,
into their proper places, and by degrees suggested more: so hollow sound—Death. What availed the noise and bustle
that in a little time he had the whole, almost as it was deliv- of cheerful morning, which penetrated even there, to him?
ered. To be hanged by the neck, till he was dead—that was It was another form of knell, with mockery added to the
the end. To be hanged by the neck till he was dead. warning.
As it came on very dark, he began to think of all the men The day passed off. Day? There was no day; it was gone
he had known who had died upon the scaffold; some of as soon as come—and night came on again; night so long,
them through his means. They rose up, in such quick suc- and yet so short; long in its dreadful silence, and short in its
cession, that he could hardly count them. He had seen some fleeting hours. At one time he raved and blasphemed; and at
of them die,—and had joked too, because they died with another howled and tore his hair. Venerable men of his own
prayers upon their lips. With what a rattling noise the drop persuasion had come to pray beside him, but he had driven
went down; and how suddenly they changed, from strong them away with curses. They renewed their charitable ef-
and vigorous men to dangling heaps of clothes! forts, and he beat them off.
Some of them might have inhabited that very cell—sat Saturday night. He had only one night more to live. And
upon that very spot. It was very dark; why didn’t they bring as he thought of this, the day broke—Sunday.
a light? The cell had been built for many years. Scores of It was not until the night of this last awful day, that a

withering sense of his helpless, desperate state came in its the eyes, but, too often, and too long, from the thoughts, of
full intensity upon his blighted soul; not that he had ever men, never held so dread a spectacle as that. The few who
held any defined or positive hope of mercy, but that he had lingered as they passed, and wondered what the man was
never been able to consider more than the dim probability of doing who was to be hanged to-morrow, would have slept
dying so soon. He had spoken little to either of the two men, but ill that night, if they could have seen him.
who relieved each other in their attendance upon him; and From early in the evening until nearly midnight, little
they, for their parts, made no effort to rouse his attention. groups of two and three presented themselves at the lodge-
He had sat there, awake, but dreaming. Now, he started up, gate, and inquired, with anxious faces, whether any reprieve
every minute, and with gasping mouth and burning skin, had been received. These being answered in the negative,
hurried to and fro, in such a paroxysm of fear and wrath communicated the welcome intelligence to clusters in the
that even they—used to such sights—recoiled from him street, who pointed out to one another the door from which
with horror. He grew so terrible, at last, in all the tortures of he must come out, and showed where the scaffold would be
his evil conscience, that one man could not bear to sit there, built, and, walking with unwilling steps away, turned back
eyeing him alone; and so the two kept watch together. to conjure up the scene. By degrees they fell off, one by one;
He cowered down upon his stone bed, and thought of the and, for an hour, in the dead of night, the street was left to
past. He had been wounded with some missiles from the solitude and darkness.
crowd on the day of his capture, and his head was bandaged The space before the prison was cleared, and a few strong
with a linen cloth. His red hair hung down upon his blood- barriers, painted black, had been already thrown across the
less face; his beard was torn, and twisted into knots; his eyes road to break the pressure of the expected crowd, when Mr.
shone with a terrible light; his unwashed flesh crackled with Brownlow and Oliver appeared at the wicket, and presented
the fever that burnt him up. Eight—nine—then. If it was an order of admission to the prisoner, signed by one of the
not a trick to frighten him, and those were the real hours sheriffs. They were immediately admitted into the lodge.
treading on each other’s heels, where would he be, when ‘Is the young gentleman to come too, sir?’ said the man
they came round again! Eleven! Another struck, before the whose duty it was to conduct them. ‘It’s not a sight for chil-
voice of the previous hour had ceased to vibrate. At eight, dren, sir.’
he would be the only mourner in his own funeral train; at ‘It is not indeed, my friend,’ rejoined Mr. Brownlow; ‘but
eleven— my business with this man is intimately connected with
Those dreadful walls of Newgate, which have hidden so him; and as this child has seen him in the full career of his
much misery and such unspeakable anguish, not only from success and villainy, I think it as well—even at the cost of

some pain and fear—that he should see him now.’ dently wandering to his old life, for he continued to mutter,
These few words had been said apart, so as to be inau- without appearing conscious of their presence otherwise
dible to Oliver. The man touched his hat; and glancing at than as a part of his vision.
Oliver with some curiousity, opened another gate, opposite ‘Good boy, Charley—well done—‘ he mumbled. ‘Oliver,
to that by which they had entered, and led them on, through too, ha! ha! ha! Oliver too—quite the gentleman now—quite
dark and winding ways, towards the cells. the—take that boy away to bed!’
‘This,’ said the man, stopping in a gloomy passage where The jailer took the disengaged hand of Oliver; and, whis-
a couple of workmen were making some preparations in pering him not to be alarmed, looked on without speaking.
profound silence—‘this is the place he passes through. If ‘Take him away to bed!’ cried Fagin. ‘Do you hear me,
you step this way, you can see the door he goes out at.’ some of you? He has been the—the—somehow the cause of
He led them into a stone kitchen, fitted with coppers for all this. It’s worth the money to bring him up to it—Bolter’s
dressing the prison food, and pointed to a door. There was throat, Bill; never mind the girl—Bolter’s throat as deep as
an open grating above it, throught which came the sound you can cut. Saw his head off!’
of men’s voices, mingled with the noise of hammering, and ‘Fagin,’ said the jailer.
the throwing down of boards. There were putting up the ‘That’s me!’ cried the Jew, falling instantly, into the at-
scaffold. titude of listening he had assumed upon his trial. ‘An old
From this place, they passed through several strong man, my Lord; a very old, old man!’
gates, opened by other turnkeys from the inner side; and, ‘Here,’ said the turnkey, laying his hand upon his breast
having entered an open yard, ascended a flight of narrow to keep him down. ‘Here’s somebody wants to see you, to
steps, and came into a passage with a row of strong doors on ask you some questions, I suppose. Fagin, Fagin! Are you
the left hand. Motioning them to remain where they were, a man?’
the turnkey knocked at one of these with his bunch of keys. ‘I shan’t be one long,’ he replied, looking up with a face
The two attendants, after a little whispering, came out into retaining no human expression but rage and terror. ‘Strike
the passage, stretching themselves as if glad of the tempo- them all dead! What right have they to butcher me?’
rary relief, and motioned the visitors to follow the jailer into As he spoke he caught sight of Oliver and Mr. Brownlow.
the cell. They did so. Shrinking to the furthest corner of the seat, he demanded
The condemned criminal was seated on his bed, rocking to know what they wanted there.
himself from side to side, with a countenance more like that ‘Steady,’ said the turnkey, still holding him down. ‘Now,
of a snared beast than the face of a man. His mind was evi- sir, tell him what you want. Quick, if you please, for he

grows worse as the time gets on.’ This door first. If I shake and tremble, as we pass the gallows,
‘You have some papers,’ said Mr. Brownlow advancing, don’t you mind, but hurry on. Now, now, now!’
‘which were placed in your hands, for better security, by a ‘Have you nothing else to ask him, sir?’ inquired the
man called Monks.’ turnkey.
‘It’s all a lie together,’ replied Fagin. ‘I haven’t one—not ‘No other question,’ replied Mr. Brownlow. ‘If I hoped we
one.’ could recall him to a sense of his position—‘
‘For the love of God,’ said Mr. Brownlow solemnly, ‘do ‘Nothing will do that, sir,’ replied the man, shaking his
not say that now, upon the very verge of death; but tell me head. ‘You had better leave him.’
where they are. You know that Sikes is dead; that Monks has The door of the cell opened, and the attendants re-
confessed; that there is no hope of any further gain. Where turned.
are those papers?’ ‘Press on, press on,’ cried Fagin. ‘Softly, but not so slow.
‘Oliver,’ cried Fagin, beckoning to him. ‘Here, here! Let Faster, faster!’
me whisper to you.’ The men laid hands upon him, and disengaging Oliver
‘I am not afraid,’ said Oliver in a low voice, as he relin- from his grasp, held him back. He struggled with the power
quished Mr. Brownlow’s hand. of desperation, for an instant; and then sent up cry upon cry
‘The papers,’ said Fagin, drawing Oliver towards him, that penetrated even those massive walls, and rang in their
‘are in a canvas bag, in a hole a little way up the chimney in ears until they reached the open yard.
the top front-room. I want to talk to you, my dear. I want It was some time before they left the prison. Oliver nearly
to talk to you.’ swooned after this frightful scene, and was so weak that for
‘Yes, yes,’ returned Oliver. ‘Let me say a prayer. Do! Let an hour or more, he had not the strength to walk.
me say one prayer. Say only one, upon your knees, with me, Day was dawning when they again emerged. A great
and we will talk till morning.’ multitude had already assembled; the windows were filled
‘Outside, outside,’ replied Fagin, pushing the boy before with people, smoking and playing cards to beguile the time;
him towards the door, and looking vacantly over his head. the crowd were pushing, quarrelling, joking. Everything
‘Say I’ve gone to sleep—they’ll believe you. You can get me told of life and animation, but one dark cluster of objects in
out, if you take me so. Now then, now then!’ the centre of all—the black stage, the cross-beam, the rope,
‘Oh! God forgive this wretched man!’ cried the boy with and all the hideous apparatus of death.
a burst of tears.
‘That’s right, that’s right,’ said Fagin. ‘That’ll help us on.

CHAPTER LIII 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
AND LAST 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
T he 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.
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 Fagin’s gang.
Before three months had passed, Rose Fleming and Har- Mr. Brownlow adopted Oliver as his son. Removing with
ry Maylie were married in the village church which was him and the old housekeeper to within a mile of the par-
henceforth to be the scene of the young clergyman’s la- sonage-house, where his dear friends resided, he gratified
bours; on the same day they entered into possession of their the only remaining wish of Oliver’s warm and earnest heart,
new and happy home. and thus linked together a little society, whose condition
Mrs. Maylie took up her abode with her son and daugh- approached as nearly to one of perfect happiness as can ever
ter-in-law, to enjoy, during the tranquil remainder of her be known in this changing world.
days, the greatest felicity that age and worth can know— Soon after the marriage of the young people, the worthy
the contemplation of the happiness of those on whom the doctor returned to Chertsey, where, bereft of the presence
warmest affections and tenderest cares of a well-spent life, of his old friends, he would have been discontented if his
have been unceasingly bestowed. temperament had admitted of such a feeling; and would
It appeared, on full and careful investigation, that if have turned quite peevish if he had known how. For two
the wreck of property remaining in the custody of Monks or three months, he contented himself with hinting that
(which had never prospered either in his hands or in those he feared the air began to disagree with him; then, finding
of his mother) were equally divided between himself and that the place really no longer was, to him, what it had been,
Oliver, it would yield, to each, little more than three thou- he settled his business on his assistant, took a bachelor’s
sand pounds. By the provisions of his father’s will, Oliver cottage outside the village of which his young friend was

pastor, and instantaneously recovered. Here he took to gar- for the means of a livelihood, not burdened with too much
dening, planting, fishing, carpentering, and various other work. After some consideration, he went into business as
pursuits of a similar kind: all undertaken with his charac- an Informer, in which calling he realises a genteel subsis-
teristic impetuosity. In each and all he has since become tence. His plan is, to walk out once a week during church
famous throughout the neighborhood, as a most profound time attended by Charlotte in respectable attire. The lady
authority. faints away at the doors of charitable publicans, and the
Before his removal, he had managed to contract a strong gentleman being accommodated with three-penny worth
friendship for Mr. Grimwig, which that eccentric gentle- of brandy to restore her, lays an information next day, and
man cordially reciprocated. He is accordingly visited by Mr. pockets half the penalty. Sometimes Mr. Claypole faints
Grimwig a great many times in the course of the year. On himself, but the result is the same.
all such occasions, Mr. Grimwig plants, fishes, and carpen- Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, deprived of their situations, were
ters, with great ardour; doing everything in a very singular gradually reduced to great indigence and misery, and finally
and unprecedented manner, but always maintaining with became paupers in that very same workhouse in which they
his favourite asseveration, that his mode is the right one. had once lorded it over others. Mr. Bumble has been heard
On Sundays, he never fails to criticise the sermon to the to say, that in this reverse and degradation, he has not even
young clergyman’s face: always informing Mr. Losberne, in spirits to be thankful for being separated from his wife.
strict confidence afterwards, that he considers it an excel- As to Mr. Giles and Brittles, they still remain in their old
lent performance, but deems it as well not to say so. It is a posts, although the former is bald, and the last-named boy
standing and very favourite joke, for Mr. Brownlow to rally quite grey. They sleep at the parsonage, but divide their at-
him on his old prophecy concerning Oliver, and to remind tentions so equally among its inmates, and Oliver and Mr.
him of the night on which they sat with the watch between Brownlow, and Mr. Losberne, that to this day the villagers
them, waiting his return; but Mr. Grimwig contends that he have never been able to discover to which establishment
was right in the main, and, in proof thereof, remarks that they properly belong.
Oliver did not come back after all; which always calls forth Master Charles Bates, appalled by Sikes’s crime, fell into
a laugh on his side, and increases his good humour. a train of reflection whether an honest life was not, after
Mr. Noah Claypole: receiving a free pardon from the all, the best. Arriving at the conclusion that it certainly was,
Crown in consequence of being admitted approver against he turned his back upon the scenes of the past, resolved to
Fagin: and considering his profession not altogether as safe amend it in some new sphere of action. He struggled hard,
a one as he could wish: was, for some little time, at a loss and suffered much, for some time; but, having a contented

disposition, and a good purpose, succeeded in the end; and, becoming attached to him, more and more, as his nature
from being a farmer’s drudge, and a carrier’s lad, he is now developed itself, and showed the thriving seeds of all he
the merriest young grazier in all Northamptonshire. wished him to become—how he traced in him new traits
And now, the hand that traces these words, falters, as it of his early friend, that awakened in his own bosom old re-
approaches the conclusion of its task; and would weave, for membrances, melancholy and yet sweet and soothing—how
a little longer space, the thread of these adventures. the two orphans, tried by adversity, remembered its lessons
I would fain linger yet with a few of those among whom in mercy to others, and mutual love, and fervent thanks to
I have so long moved, and share their happiness by endea- Him who had protected and preserved them—these are all
vouring to depict it. I would show Rose Maylie in all the matters which need not to be told. I have said that they were
bloom and grace of early womanhood, shedding on her truly happy; and without strong affection and humanity
secluded path in life soft and gentle light, that fell on all of heart, and gratitude to that Being whose code is Mercy,
who trod it with her, and shone into their hearts. I would and whose great attribute is Benevolence to all things that
paint her the life and joy of the fire-side circle and the lively breathe, happiness can never be attained.
summer group; I would follow her through the sultry fields Within the altar of the old village church there stands a
at noon, and hear the low tones of her sweet voice in the white marble tablet, which bears as yet but one word: ‘AG-
moonlit evening walk; I would watch her in all her good- NES.’ There is no coffin in that tomb; and may it be many,
ness and charity abroad, and the smiling untiring discharge many years, before another name is placed above it! But, if
of domestic duties at home; I would paint her and her dead the spirits of the Dead ever come back to earth, to visit spots
sister’s child happy in their love for one another, and pass- hallowed by the love—the love beyond the grave—of those
ing whole hours together in picturing the friends whom whom they knew in life, I believe that the shade of Agnes
they had so sadly lost; I would summon before me, once sometimes hovers round that solemn nook. I believe it none
again, those joyous little faces that clustered round her knee, the less because that nook is in a Church, and she was weak
and listen to their merry prattle; I would recall the tones of and erring.
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 fo 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

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O liver, being left to himself in the undertaker’s shop, set

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T he month’s trial over, Oliver was formally apprenticed. It

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N oah Claypole ran along the streets at his swiftest pace,

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O liver reached the stile at which the by-path terminat-

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I t was late next morning when Oliver awoke, from a sound,

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F or many days, Oliver remained in the Jew’s room, pick-

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