English
Foraweekafterthecommissionoftheimpiousandprofaneoffenceofaskingformore,Oliverremainedacloseprisonerinthedarkandsolitaryroomtowhichhehadbeenconsignedbythewisdomandmercyoftheboard.
Itappears,atfirstsightnotunreasonabletosuppose,that,ifhehadentertainedabecomingfeelingofrespectforthepredictionofthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat,hewouldhaveestablishedthatsageindividual’spropheticcharacter,onceandforever,bytyingoneendofhispocket-handkerchieftoahookinthewall,andattachinghimselftotheother.
Totheperformanceofthisfeat,however,therewasoneobstacle:namely,thatpocket-handkerchiefsbeingdecidedarticlesofluxury,hadbeen,forallfuturetimesandages,removedfromthenosesofpaupersbytheexpressorderoftheboard,incouncilassembled:solemnlygivenandpronouncedundertheirhandsandseals.
TherewasastillgreaterobstacleinOliver’syouthandchildishness.
Heonlycriedbitterlyallday;and,whenthelong,dismalnightcameon,spreadhislittlehandsbeforehiseyestoshutoutthedarkness,andcrouchinginthecorner,triedtosleep:everandanonwakingwithastartandtremble,anddrawinghimselfcloserandclosertothewall,asiftofeelevenitscoldhardsurfacewereaprotectioninthegloomandlonelinesswhichsurroundedhim.
Letitnotbesupposedbytheenemiesof‘thesystem,’that,duringtheperiodofhissolitaryincarceration,Oliverwasdeniedthebenefitofexercise,thepleasureofsociety,ortheadvantagesofreligiousconsolation.
Asforexercise,itwasnicecoldweather,andhewasallowedtoperformhisablutionseverymorningunderthepump,inastoneyard,inthepresenceofMr.Bumble,whopreventedhiscatchingcold,andcausedatinglingsensationtopervadehisframe,byrepeatedapplicationsofthecane.
Asforsociety,hewascarriedeveryotherdayintothehallwheretheboysdined,andtheresociablyfloggedasapublicwarningandexample.
Andsoforfrombeingdeniedtheadvantagesofreligiousconsolation,hewaskickedintothesameapartmenteveryeveningatprayer-time,andtherepermittedtolistento,andconsolehismindwith,ageneralsupplicationoftheboys,containingaspecialclause,thereininsertedbyauthorityoftheboard,inwhichtheyentreatedtobemadegood,virtuous,contented,andobedient,andtobeguardedfromthesinsandvicesofOliverTwist:whomthesupplicationdistinctlysetforthtobeundertheexclusivepatronageandprotectionofthepowersofwickedness,andanarticledirectfromthemanufactoryoftheveryDevilhimself.
Itchancedonemorning,whileOliver’saffairswereinthisauspiciousandcomfortablestate,thatMr.Gamfield,chimney-sweep,wenthiswaydowntheHighStreet,deeplycogitatinginhismindhiswaysandmeansofpayingcertainarrearsofrent,forwhichhislandlordhadbecomeratherpressing.
Mr.Gamfield’smostsanguineestimateofhisfinancescouldnotraisethemwithinfullfivepoundsofthedesiredamount;and,inaspeciesofarthimeticaldesperation,hewasalternatelycudgellinghisbrainsandhisdonkey,whenpassingtheworkhouse,hiseyesencounteredthebillonthegate.
‘Wo—o!’saidMr.Gamfieldtothedonkey.
Thedonkeywasinastateofprofoundabstraction:wondering,probably,whetherhewasdestinedtoberegaledwithacabbage-stalkortwowhenhehaddisposedofthetwosacksofsootwithwhichthelittlecartwasladen;so,withoutnoticingthewordofcommand,hejoggedonward.
Mr.Gamfieldgrowledafierceimprecationonthedonkeygenerally,butmoreparticularlyonhiseyes;and,runningafterhim,bestowedablowonhishead,whichwouldinevitablyhavebeateninanyskullbutadonkey’s.
Then,catchingholdofthebridle,hegavehisjawasharpwrench,bywayofgentlereminderthathewasnothisownmaster;andbythesemeansturnedhimround.
Hethengavehimanotherblowonthehead,justtostunhimtillhecamebackagain.
Havingcompletedthesearrangements,hewalkeduptothegate,toreadthebill.
Thegentlemanwiththewhitewaistcoatwasstandingatthegatewithhishandsbehindhim,afterhavingdeliveredhimselfofsomeprofoundsentimentsintheboard-room.
HavingwitnessedthelittledisputebetweenMr.Gamfieldandthedonkey,hesmiledjoyouslywhenthatpersoncameuptoreadthebill,forhesawatoncethatMr.GamfieldwasexactlythesortofmasterOliverTwistwanted.
Mr.Gamfieldsmiled,too,asheperusedthedocument;forfivepoundswasjustthesumhehadbeenwishingfor;and,astotheboywithwhichitwasencumbered,Mr.Gamfield,knowingwhatthedietaryoftheworkhousewas,wellknewhewouldbeanicesmallpattern,justtheverythingforregisterstoves.
So,hespeltthebillthroughagain,frombeginningtoend;andthen,touchinghisfurcapintokenofhumility,accostedthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat.
‘Thishereboy,sir,wottheparishwantsto‘prentis,’saidMr.Gamfield.
‘Ay,myman,’saidthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat,withacondescendingsmile.‘Whatofhim?’
‘Iftheparishvouldlikehimtolearnarightpleasanttrade,inagood‘spectablechimbley-sweepin’bisness,’saidMr.Gamfield,‘Iwantsa‘prentis,andIamreadytotakehim.’
‘Walkin,’saidthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat.
Mr.Gamfieldhavinglingeredbehind,togivethedonkeyanotherblowonthehead,andanotherwrenchofthejaw,asacautionnottorunawayinhisabsence,followedthegentlemanwiththewhitewaistcoatintotheroomwhereOliverhadfirstseenhim.
‘It’sanastytrade,’saidMr.Limbkins,whenGamfieldhadagainstatedhiswish.
‘Youngboyshavebeensmotheredinchimneysbeforenow,’saidanothergentleman.
‘That’sacausetheydampedthestrawaforetheylititinthechimbleytomake‘emcomedownagain,’saidGamfield;‘that’sallsmoke,andnoblaze;vereassmokeain’to’nouseatallinmakingaboycomedown,foritonlysindshimtosleep,andthat’swothelikes.
Boysisweryobstinit,andwerylazy,Gen’l’men,andthere’snothinklikeagoodhotblazetomake‘emcomedownvitharun.
It’shumanetoo,gen’l’men,acause,evenifthey’vestuckinthechimbley,roastingtheirfeetmakes‘emstruggletohextricatetheirselves.’
Thegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoatappearedverymuchamusedbythisexplanation;buthismirthwasspeedilycheckedbyalookfromMr.Limbkins.
Theboardthenproceededtoconverseamongthemselvesforafewminutes,butinsolowatone,thatthewords‘savingofexpenditure,’‘lookedwellintheaccounts,’‘haveaprintedreportpublished,’werealoneaudible.
Theseonlychancedtobeheard,indeed,oraccountoftheirbeingveryfrequentlyrepeatedwithgreatemphasis.
Atlengththewhisperingceased;andthemembersoftheboard,havingresumedtheirseatsandtheirsolemnity,Mr.Limbkinssaid:
‘Wehaveconsideredyourproposition,andwedon’tapproveofit.’
‘Notatall,’saidthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat.
‘Decidedlynot,’addedtheothermembers.
AsMr.Gamfielddidhappentolabourundertheslightimputationofhavingbruisedthreeorfourboystodeathalready,itoccurredtohimthattheboardhad,perhaps,insomeunaccountablefreak,takenitintotheirheadsthatthisextraneouscircumstanceoughttoinfluencetheirproceedings.
Itwasveryunliketheirgeneralmodeofdoingbusiness,iftheyhad;butstill,ashehadnoparticularwishtorevivetherumour,hetwistedhiscapinhishands,andwalkedslowlyfromthetable.
‘Soyouwon’tletmehavehim,gen’l’men?’saidMr.Gamfield,pausingnearthedoor.
‘No,’repliedMr.Limbkins;‘atleast,asit’sanastybusiness,wethinkyououghttotakesomethinglessthanthepremiumweoffered.’
Mr.Gamfield’scountenancebrightened,as,withaquickstep,hereturnedtothetable,andsaid,
‘What’llyougive,gen’l’men?Come!Don’tbetoohardonapoorman.What’llyougive?’
‘Ishouldsay,threepoundtenwasplenty,’saidMr.Limbkins.
‘Tenshillingstoomuch,’saidthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat.
‘Come!’saidGamfield;‘sayfourpound,gen’l’men.Sayfourpound,andyou’vegotridofhimforgoodandall.There!’
‘Threepoundten,’repeatedMr.Limbkins,firmly.
‘Come!I’llsplitthediff’erence,gen’l’men,’urgedGamfield.‘Threepoundfifteen.’
‘Notafarthingmore,’wasthefirmreplyofMr.Limbkins.
‘You’redesperateharduponme,gen’l’men,’saidGamfield,wavering.
‘Pooh!pooh!nonsense!’
saidthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat.
‘He’dbecheapwithnothingatall,asapremium.Takehim,yousillyfellow!He’sjusttheboyforyou.
Hewantsthestick,nowandthen:it’lldohimgood;andhisboardneedn’tcomeveryexpensive,forhehasn’tbeenoverfedsincehewasborn.Ha!ha!ha!’
Mr.Gamfieldgaveanarchlookatthefacesroundthetable,and,observingasmileonallofthem,graduallybrokeintoasmilehimself.Thebargainwasmade.
Mr.Bumble,wasatonceinstructedthatOliverTwistandhisindenturesweretobeconveyedbeforethemagistrate,forsignatureandapproval,thatveryafternoon.
Inpursuanceofthisdetermination,littleOliver,tohisexcessiveastonishment,wasreleasedfrombondage,andorderedtoputhimselfintoacleanshirt.
Hehadhardlyachievedthisveryunusualgymnasticperformance,whenMr.Bumblebroughthim,withhisownhands,abasinofgruel,andtheholidayallowanceoftwoouncesandaquarterofbread.
Atthistremendoussight,Oliverbegantocryverypiteously:thinking,notunnaturally,thattheboardmusthavedeterminedtokillhimforsomeusefulpurpose,ortheyneverwouldhavebeguntofattenhimupinthatway.
‘Don’tmakeyoureyesred,Oliver,buteatyourfoodandbethankful,’saidMr.Bumble,inatoneofimpressivepomposity.‘You’reagoingtobemadea‘prenticeof,Oliver.’
‘Aprentice,sir!’saidthechild,trembling.
‘Yes,Oliver,’saidMr.Bumble.‘Thekindandblessedgentlemanwhichissomanyparentstoyou,Oliver,whenyouhavenoneofyourown:areagoingto‘prentice’you:andtosetyouupinlife,andmakeamanofyou:althoughtheexpensetotheparishisthreepoundten!—threepoundten,Oliver!
—seventyshillins—onehundredandfortysixpences!
—andallforanaughtyorphanwhichnobodycan’tlove.’
AsMr.Bumblepausedtotakebreath,afterdeliveringthisaddressinanawfulvoice,thetearsrolleddownthepoorchild’sface,andhesobbedbitterly.
‘Come,’saidMr.Bumble,somewhatlesspompously,foritwasgratifyingtohisfeelingstoobservetheeffecthiseloquencehadproduced;‘Come,Oliver!
Wipeyoureyeswiththecuffsofyourjacket,anddon’tcryintoyourgruel;that’saveryfoolishaction,Oliver.’
Itcertainlywas,fortherewasquiteenoughwaterinitalready.
Ontheirwaytothemagistrate,Mr.BumbleinstructedOliverthatallhewouldhavetodo,wouldbetolookveryhappy,andsay,whenthegentlemanaskedhimifhewantedtobeapprenticed,thatheshouldlikeitverymuchindeed;bothofwhichinjunctionsOliverpromisedtoobey:theratherasMr.Bumblethrewinagentlehint,thatifhefailedineitherparticular,therewasnotellingwhatwouldbedonetohim.
Whentheyarrivedattheoffice,hewasshutupinalittleroombyhimself,andadmonishedbyMr.Bumbletostaythere,untilhecamebacktofetchhim.
Theretheboyremained,withapalpitatingheart,forhalfanhour.AttheexpirationofwhichtimeMr.Bumblethrustinhishead,unadornedwiththecockedhat,andsaidaloud:
‘Now,Oliver,mydear,cometothegentleman.’AsMr.Bumblesaidthis,heputonagrimandthreateninglook,andadded,inalowvoice,‘MindwhatItoldyou,youyoungrascal!’
OliverstaredinnocentlyinMr.Bumble’sfaceatthissomewhatcontradictorystyleofaddress;butthatgentlemanpreventedhisofferinganyremarkthereupon,byleadinghimatonceintoanadjoiningroom:thedoorofwhichwasopen.
Itwasalargeroom,withagreatwindow.
Behindadesk,sattwooldgentlemanwithpowderedheads:oneofwhomwasreadingthenewspaper;whiletheotherwasperusing,withtheaidofapairoftortoise-shellspectacles,asmallpieceofparchmentwhichlaybeforehim.
Mr.Limbkinswasstandinginfrontofthedeskononeside;andMr.Gamfield,withapartiallywashedface,ontheother;whiletwoorthreebluff-lookingmen,intop-boots,wereloungingabout.
Theoldgentlemanwiththespectaclesgraduallydozedoff,overthelittlebitofparchment;andtherewasashortpause,afterOliverhadbeenstationedbyMr.Bumbleinfrontofthedesk.
‘Thisistheboy,yourworship,’saidMr.Bumble.
Theoldgentlemanwhowasreadingthenewspaperraisedhisheadforamoment,andpulledtheotheroldgentlemanbythesleeve;whereupon,thelast-mentionedoldgentlemanwokeup.
‘Oh,isthistheboy?’saidtheoldgentleman.
‘Thisishim,sir,’repliedMr.Bumble.‘Bowtothemagistrate,mydear.’
Oliverrousedhimself,andmadehisbestobeisance.
Hehadbeenwondering,withhiseyesfixedonthemagistrates’powder,whetherallboardswerebornwiththatwhitestuffontheirheads,andwereboardsfromthenceforthonthataccount.
‘Well,’saidtheoldgentleman,‘Isupposehe’sfondofchimney-sweeping?’
‘Hedoatsonit,yourworship,’repliedBumble;givingOliveraslypinch,tointimatethathehadbetternotsayhedidn’t.
‘Andhewillbeasweep,willhe?’inquiredtheoldgentleman.
‘Ifwewastobindhimtoanyothertradeto-morrow,he’drunawaysimultaneous,yourworship,’repliedBumble.
‘Andthismanthat’stobehismaster—you,sir—you’lltreathimwell,andfeedhim,anddoallthatsortofthing,willyou?’saidtheoldgentleman.
‘WhenIsaysIwill,ImeansIwill,’repliedMr.Gamfielddoggedly.
‘You’rearoughspeaker,myfriend,butyoulookanhonest,open-heartedman,’saidtheoldgentleman:turninghisspectaclesinthedirectionofthecandidateforOliver’spremium,whosevillainouscountenancewasaregularstampedreceiptforcruelty.
Butthemagistratewashalfblindandhalfchildish,sohecouldn’treasonablybeexpectedtodiscernwhatotherpeopledid.
‘IhopeIam,sir,’saidMr.Gamfield,withanuglyleer.
‘Ihavenodoubtyouare,myfriend,’repliedtheoldgentleman:fixinghisspectaclesmorefirmlyonhisnose,andlookingabouthimfortheinkstand.
ItwasthecriticalmomentofOliver’sfate.
Iftheinkstandhadbeenwheretheoldgentlemanthoughtitwas,hewouldhavedippedhispenintoit,andsignedtheindentures,andOliverwouldhavebeenstraightwayhurriedoff.
But,asitchancedtobeimmediatelyunderhisnose,itfollowed,asamatterofcourse,thathelookedalloverhisdeskforit,withoutfindingit;andhappeninginthecourseofhissearchtolookstraightbeforehim,hisgazeencounteredthepaleandterrifiedfaceofOliverTwist:who,despitealltheadmonitorylooksandpinchesofBumble,wasregardingtherepulsivecountenanceofhisfuturemaster,withamingledexpressionofhorrorandfear,toopalpabletobemistaken,evenbyahalf-blindmagistrate.
Theoldgentlemanstopped,laiddownhispen,andlookedfromOlivertoMr.Limbkins;whoattemptedtotakesnuffwithacheerfulandunconcernedaspect.
‘Myboy!’saidtheoldgentleman,‘youlookpaleandalarmed.Whatisthematter?’
‘Standalittleawayfromhim,Beadle,’saidtheothermagistrate:layingasidethepaper,andleaningforwardwithanexpressionofinterest.‘Now,boy,telluswhat’sthematter:don’tbeafraid.’
Oliverfellonhisknees,andclaspinghishandstogether,prayedthattheywouldorderhimbacktothedarkroom—thattheywouldstarvehim—beathim—killhimiftheypleased—ratherthansendhimawaywiththatdreadfulman.
‘Well!’saidMr.Bumble,raisinghishandsandeyeswithmostimpressivesolemnity.‘Well!ofalltheartfulanddesigningorphansthateverIsee,Oliver,youareoneofthemostbare-facedest.’
‘Holdyourtongue,Beadle,’saidthesecondoldgentleman,whenMr.Bumblehadgivenventtothiscompoundadjective.
‘Ibegyourworship’spardon,’saidMr.Bumble,incredulousofhavingheardaright.‘Didyourworshipspeaktome?’
‘Yes.Holdyourtongue.’
Mr.Bumblewasstupefiedwithastonishment.Abeadleorderedtoholdhistongue!Amoralrevolution!
Theoldgentlemaninthetortoise-shellspectacleslookedathiscompanion,henoddedsignificantly.
‘Werefusetosanctiontheseindentures,’saidtheoldgentleman:tossingasidethepieceofparchmentashespoke.
‘Ihope,’stammeredMr.Limbkins:‘Ihopethemagistrateswillnotformtheopinionthattheauthoritieshavebeenguiltyofanyimproperconduct,ontheunsupportedtestimonyofachild.’
‘Themagistratesarenotcalledupontopronounceanyopiniononthematter,’saidthesecondoldgentlemansharply.‘Taketheboybacktotheworkhouse,andtreathimkindly.Heseemstowantit.’
Thatsameevening,thegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoatmostpositivelyanddecidedlyaffirmed,notonlythatOliverwouldbehung,butthathewouldbedrawnandquarteredintothebargain.
Mr.Bumbleshookhisheadwithgloomymystery,andsaidhewishedhemightcometogood;whereuntoMr.Gamfieldreplied,thathewishedhemightcometohim;which,althoughheagreedwiththebeadleinmostmatters,wouldseemtobeawishofatotallyoppositedescription.
Thenextmorning,thepublicwereonceinformedthatOliverTwistwasagainToLet,andthatfivepoundswouldbepaidtoanybodywhowouldtakepossessionofhim.
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