English
Oliver,beinglefttohimselfintheundertaker’sshop,setthelampdownonaworkman’sbench,andgazedtimidlyabouthimwithafeelingofaweanddread,whichmanypeopleagooddealolderthanhewillbeatnolosstounderstand.
Anunfinishedcoffinonblacktressels,whichstoodinthemiddleoftheshop,lookedsogloomyanddeath-likethatacoldtremblecameoverhim,everytimehiseyeswanderedinthedirectionofthedismalobject:fromwhichhealmostexpectedtoseesomefrightfulformslowlyrearitshead,todrivehimmadwithterror.
Againstthewallwereranged,inregulararray,alongrowofelmboardscutinthesameshape:lookinginthedimlight,likehigh-shoulderedghostswiththeirhandsintheirbreechespockets.
Coffin-plates,elm-chips,bright-headednails,andshredsofblackcloth,layscatteredonthefloor;andthewallbehindthecounterwasornamentedwithalivelyrepresentationoftwomutesinverystiffneckcloths,ondutyatalargeprivatedoor,withahearsedrawnbyfourblacksteeds,approachinginthedistance.Theshopwascloseandhot.
Theatmosphereseemedtaintedwiththesmellofcoffins.
Therecessbeneaththecounterinwhichhisflockmattresswasthrust,lookedlikeagrave.
NorwerethesetheonlydismalfeelingswhichdepressedOliver.
Hewasaloneinastrangeplace;andweallknowhowchilledanddesolatethebestofuswillsometimesfeelinsuchasituation.
Theboyhadnofriendstocarefor,ortocareforhim.
Theregretofnorecentseparationwasfreshinhismind;theabsenceofnolovedandwell-rememberedfacesankheavilyintohisheart.
Buthisheartwasheavy,notwithstanding;andhewished,ashecreptintohisnarrowbed,thatthatwerehiscoffin,andthathecouldbelaininacalmandlastingsleepinthechurchyardground,withthetallgrasswavinggentlyabovehishead,andthesoundoftheolddeepbelltosoothehiminhissleep.
Oliverwasawakenedinthemorning,byaloudkickingattheoutsideoftheshop-door:which,beforehecouldhuddleonhisclothes,wasrepeated,inanangryandimpetuousmanner,abouttwenty-fivetimes.
Whenhebegantoundothechain,thelegsdesisted,andavoicebegan.
Openthedoor,willyer?’criedthevoicewhichbelongedtothelegswhichhadkickedatthedoor.
Iwill,directly,sir,’repliedOliver:undoingthechain,andturningthekey.
Isupposeyerthenewboy,ain’tyer?’saidthevoicethroughthekey-hole.
Yes,sir,’repliedOliver.
Howoldareyer?’inquiredthevoice.
Ten,sir,’repliedOliver.
ThenI’llwhopyerwhenIgetin,’saidthevoice;youjustseeifIdon’t,that’sall,mywork’usbrat!’andhavingmadethisobligingpromise,thevoicebegantowhistle.
Oliverhadbeentoooftensubjectedtotheprocesstowhichtheveryexpressivemonosyllablejustrecordedbearsreference,toentertainthesmallestdoubtthattheownerofthevoice,whoeverhemightbe,wouldredeemhispledge,mosthonourably.
Hedrewbacktheboltswithatremblinghand,andopenedthedoor.
Forasecondortwo,Oliverglancedupthestreet,anddownthestreet,andovertheway:impressedwiththebeliefthattheunknown,whohadaddressedhimthroughthekey-hole,hadwalkedafewpacesoff,towarmhimself;fornobodydidheseebutabigcharity-boy,sittingonapostinfrontofthehouse,eatingasliceofbreadandbutter:whichhecutintowedges,thesizeofhismouth,withaclasp-knife,andthenconsumedwithgreatdexterity.
Ibegyourpardon,sir,’saidOliveratlength:seeingthatnoothervisitormadehisappearance;didyouknock?’
Ikicked,’repliedthecharity-boy.
Didyouwantacoffin,sir?’inquiredOliver,innocently.
Atthis,thecharity-boylookedmonstrousfierce;andsaidthatOliverwouldwantonebeforelong,ifhecutjokeswithhissuperiorsinthatway.
Yerdon’tknowwhoIam,Isuppose,Work’us?’saidthecharity-boy,incontinuation:descendingfromthetopofthepost,meanwhile,withedifyinggravity.
No,sir,’rejoinedOliver.
I’mMisterNoahClaypole,’saidthecharity-boy,andyou’reunderme.
Takedowntheshutters,yeridleyoungruffian!’
Withthis,Mr.ClaypoleadministeredakicktoOliver,andenteredtheshopwithadignifiedair,whichdidhimgreatcredit.
Itisdifficultforalarge-headed,small-eyedyouth,oflumberingmakeandheavycountenance,tolookdignifiedunderanycircumstances;butitismoreespeciallyso,whensuperaddedtothesepersonalattractionsarearednoseandyellowsmalls.
Oliver,havingtakendowntheshutters,andbrokenapaneofglassinhisefforttostaggerawaybeneaththeweightofthefirstonetoasmallcourtatthesideofthehouseinwhichtheywerekeptduringtheday,wasgraciouslyassistedbyNoah:whohavingconsoledhimwiththeassurancethathe’dcatchit,’condescendedtohelphim.Mr.Sowerberrycamedownsoonafter.
Shortlyafterwards,Mrs.Sowerberryappeared.
Oliverhavingcaughtit,’infulfilmentofNoah’sprediction,followedthatyounggentlemandownthestairstobreakfast.
Comenearthefire,Noah,’saidCharlotte.
Isavedanicelittlebitofbaconforyoufrommaster’sbreakfast.
Oliver,shutthatdooratMisterNoah’sback,andtakethembitsthatI’veputoutonthecoverofthebread-pan.
There’syourtea;takeitawaytothatbox,anddrinkitthere,andmakehaste,forthey’llwantyoutomindtheshop.D’yehear?’
D’yehear,Work’us?’saidNoahClaypole.
Lor,Noah!’saidCharlotte,whatarumcreatureyouare!Whydon’tyoulettheboyalone?’
Lethimalone!’saidNoah.
Whyeverybodyletshimaloneenough,forthematterofthat.
Neitherhisfathernorhismotherwilleverinterferewithhim.
Allhisrelationslethimhavehisownwayprettywell.Eh,Charlotte?He!he!he!’
Oh,youqueersoul!’saidCharlotte,burstingintoaheartylaugh,inwhichshewasjoinedbyNoah;afterwhichtheybothlookedscornfullyatpoorOliverTwist,ashesatshiveringontheboxinthecoldestcorneroftheroom,andatethestalepieceswhichhadbeenspeciallyreservedforhim.
Noahwasacharity-boy,butnotaworkhouseorphan.
Nochance-childwashe,forhecouldtracehisgenealogyallthewaybacktohisparents,wholivedhardby;hismotherbeingawasherwoman,andhisfatheradrunkensoldier,dischargedwithawoodenleg,andadiurnalpensionoftwopence-halfpennyandanunstateablefraction.
Theshop-boysintheneighbourhoodhadlongbeeninthehabitofbrandingNoahinthepublicstreets,withtheignominiousepithetsofleathers,’charity,’andthelike;andNoahhadbournethemwithoutreply.
But,nowthatfortunehadcastinhiswayanamelessorphan,atwhomeventhemeanestcouldpointthefingerofscorn,heretortedonhimwithinterest.
Thisaffordscharmingfoodforcontemplation.
Itshowsuswhatabeautifulthinghumannaturemaybemadetobe;andhowimpartiallythesameamiablequalitiesaredevelopedinthefinestlordandthedirtiestcharity-boy.
Oliverhadbeensojourningattheundertaker’ssomethreeweeksoramonth.
Mr.andMrs.Sowerberrytheshopbeingshutupweretakingtheirsupperinthelittleback-parlour,whenMr.Sowerberry,afterseveraldeferentialglancesathiswife,said,
Mydear—’Hewasgoingtosaymore;but,Mrs.Sowerberrylookingup,withapeculiarlyunpropitiousaspect,hestoppedshort.
Well,’saidMrs.Sowerberry,sharply.
Nothing,mydear,nothing,’saidMr.Sowerberry.
Ugh,youbrute!’saidMrs.Sowerberry.
Notatall,mydear,’saidMr.Sowerberryhumbly.Ithoughtyoudidn’twanttohear,mydear.Iwasonlygoingtosay—’
Oh,don’ttellmewhatyouweregoingtosay,’interposedMrs.Sowerberry.Iamnobody;don’tconsultme,pray.
Idon’twanttointrudeuponyoursecrets.’
AsMrs.Sowerberrysaidthis,shegaveanhystericallaugh,whichthreatenedviolentconsequences.
But,mydear,’saidSowerberry,Iwanttoaskyouradvice.’
No,no,don’taskmine,’repliedMrs.Sowerberry,inanaffectingmanner:asksomebodyelse’s.’
Here,therewasanotherhystericallaugh,whichfrightenedMr.Sowerberryverymuch.
Thisisaverycommonandmuch-approvedmatrimonialcourseoftreatment,whichisoftenveryeffective.
ItatoncereducedMr.Sowerberrytobegging,asaspecialfavour,tobeallowedtosaywhatMrs.Sowerberrywasmostcurioustohear.
Afterashortduration,thepermissionwasmostgraciouslyconceded.
It’sonlyaboutyoungTwist,mydear,’saidMr.Sowerberry.Averygood-lookingboy,that,mydear.’
Heneedbe,forheeatsenough,’observedthelady.
There’sanexpressionofmelancholyinhisface,mydear,’resumedMr.Sowerberry,whichisveryinteresting.Hewouldmakeadelightfulmute,mylove.’
Mrs.Sowerberrylookedupwithanexpressionofconsiderablewonderment.Mr.Sowerberryremarkeditand,withoutallowingtimeforanyobservationonthegoodlady’spart,proceeded.
Idon’tmeanaregularmutetoattendgrown-uppeople,mydear,butonlyforchildren’spractice.
Itwouldbeverynewtohaveamuteinproportion,mydear.
Youmaydependuponit,itwouldhaveasuperbeffect.’
Mrs.Sowerberry,whohadagooddealoftasteintheundertakingway,wasmuchstruckbythenoveltyofthisidea;but,asitwouldhavebeencompromisingherdignitytohavesaidso,underexistingcircumstances,shemerelyinquired,withmuchsharpness,whysuchanobvioussuggestionhadnotpresenteditselftoherhusband’smindbefore?
Mr.Sowerberryrightlyconstruedthis,asanacquiescenceinhisproposition;itwasspeedilydetermined,therefore,thatOlivershouldbeatonceinitiatedintothemysteriesofthetrade;and,withthisview,thatheshouldaccompanyhismasterontheverynextoccasionofhisservicesbeingrequired.
Theoccasionwasnotlongincoming.Halfanhourafterbreakfastnextmorning,Mr.Bumbleenteredtheshop;andsupportinghiscaneagainstthecounter,drewforthhislargeleathernpocket-book:fromwhichheselectedasmallscrapofpaper,whichhehandedovertoSowerberry.
Aha!’saidtheundertaker,glancingoveritwithalivelycountenance;anorderforacoffin,eh?’
Foracoffinfirst,andaporochialfuneralafterwards,’repliedMr.Bumble,fasteningthestrapoftheleathernpocket-book:which,likehimself,wasverycorpulent.
Bayton,’saidtheundertaker,lookingfromthescrapofpapertoMr.Bumble.Ineverheardthenamebefore.’
Bumbleshookhishead,ashereplied,Obstinatepeople,Mr.Sowerberry;veryobstinate.Proud,too,I’mafraid,sir.’
Proud,eh?’exclaimedMr.Sowerberrywithasneer.Come,that’stoomuch.’
Oh,it’ssickening,’repliedthebeadle.Antimonial,Mr.Sowerberry!’
Soitis,’acquiescedtheundertaker.
Weonlyheardofthefamilythenightbeforelast,’saidthebeadle;andweshouldn’thaveknownanythingaboutthem,then,onlyawomanwholodgesinthesamehousemadeanapplicationtotheporochialcommitteeforthemtosendtheporochialsurgeontoseeawomanaswasverybad.
Hehadgoneouttodinner;buthisprentice(whichisaverycleverlad)sentemsomemedicineinablacking-bottle,offhand.’
Ah,there’spromptness,’saidtheundertaker.
Promptness,indeed!’repliedthebeadle.
Butwhat’stheconsequence;what’stheungratefulbehaviouroftheserebels,sir?
Why,thehusbandsendsbackwordthatthemedicinewon’tsuithiswife’scomplaint,andsosheshan’ttakeitsayssheshan’ttakeit,sir!
Good,strong,wholesomemedicine,aswasgivenwithgreatsuccesstotwoIrishlabourersandacoal-heaver,onlyaweekbeforesentemfornothing,withablackin’-bottlein,andhesendsbackwordthatsheshan’ttakeit,sir!’
AstheatrocitypresenteditselftoMr.Bumble’smindinfullforce,hestruckthecountersharplywithhiscane,andbecameflushedwithindignation.
Well,’saidtheundertaker,Ineverdid—’
Neverdid,sir!’ejaculatedthebeadle.No,nornobodyneverdid;butnowshe’sdead,we’vegottoburyher;andthat’sthedirection;andthesoonerit’sdone,thebetter.’
Thussaying,Mr.Bumbleputonhiscockedhatwrongsidefirst,inafeverofparochialexcitement;andflouncedoutoftheshop.
Why,hewassoangry,Oliver,thatheforgoteventoaskafteryou!’saidMr.Sowerberry,lookingafterthebeadleashestrodedownthestreet.
Yes,sir,’repliedOliver,whohadcarefullykepthimselfoutofsight,duringtheinterview;andwhowasshakingfromheadtofootatthemererecollectionofthesoundofMr.Bumble’svoice.
Heneedn’thaventakenthetroubletoshrinkfromMr.Bumble’sglance,however;forthatfunctionary,onwhomthepredictionofthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoathadmadeaverystrongimpression,thoughtthatnowtheundertakerhadgotOliverupontrialthesubjectwasbetteravoided,untilsuchtimeasheshouldbefirmlyboundforsevenyears,andalldangerofhisbeingreturneduponthehandsoftheparishshouldbethuseffectuallyandlegallyovercome.
Well,’saidMr.Sowerberry,takinguphishat,thesoonerthisjobisdone,thebetter.Noah,lookaftertheshop.
Oliver,putonyourcap,andcomewithme.’
Oliverobeyed,andfollowedhismasteronhisprofessionalmission.
Theywalkedon,forsometime,throughthemostcrowdedanddenselyinhabitedpartofthetown;andthen,strikingdownanarrowstreetmoredirtyandmiserablethananytheyhadyetpassedthrough,pausedtolookforthehousewhichwastheobjectoftheirsearch.
Thehousesoneithersidewerehighandlarge,butveryold,andtenantedbypeopleofthepoorestclass:astheirneglectedappearancewouldhavesufficientlydenoted,withouttheconcurrenttestimonyaffordedbythesqualidlooksofthefewmenandwomenwho,withfoldedarmsandbodieshalfdoubled,occasionallyskulkedalong.
Agreatmanyofthetenementshadshop-fronts;butthesewerefastclosed,andmoulderingaway;onlytheupperroomsbeinginhabited.
Somehouseswhichhadbecomeinsecurefromageanddecay,werepreventedfromfallingintothestreet,byhugebeamsofwoodrearedagainstthewalls,andfirmlyplantedintheroad;buteventhesecrazydensseemedtohavebeenselectedasthenightlyhauntsofsomehouselesswretches,formanyoftheroughboardswhichsuppliedtheplaceofdoorandwindow,werewrenchedfromtheirpositions,toaffordanaperturewideenoughforthepassageofahumanbody.
Thekennelwasstagnantandfilthy.
Theveryrats,whichhereandtherelayputrefyinginitsrottenness,werehideouswithfamine.
Therewasneitherknockernorbell-handleattheopendoorwhereOliverandhismasterstopped;so,gropinghiswaycautiouslythroughthedarkpassage,andbiddingOliverkeepclosetohimandnotbeafraidtheundertakermountedtothetopofthefirstflightofstairs.
Stumblingagainstadooronthelanding,herappedatitwithhisknuckles.
Itwasopenedbyayounggirlofthirteenorfourteen.
Theundertakeratoncesawenoughofwhattheroomcontained,toknowitwastheapartmenttowhichhehadbeendirected.Hesteppedin;Oliverfollowedhim.
Therewasnofireintheroom;butamanwascrouching,mechanically,overtheemptystove.
Anoldwoman,too,haddrawnalowstooltothecoldhearth,andwassittingbesidehim.
Thereweresomeraggedchildreninanothercorner;andinasmallrecess,oppositethedoor,therelayupontheground,somethingcoveredwithanoldblanket.
Olivershudderedashecasthiseyestowardtheplace,andcreptinvoluntarilyclosertohismaster;forthoughitwascoveredup,theboyfeltthatitwasacorpse.
Theman’sfacewasthinandverypale;hishairandbeardweregrizzly;hiseyeswerebloodshot.
Theoldwoman’sfacewaswrinkled;hertworemainingteethprotrudedoverherunderlip;andhereyeswerebrightandpiercing.
Oliverwasafraidtolookateitherherortheman.
Theyseemedsoliketheratshehadseenoutside.
Nobodyshallgonearher,’saidtheman,startingfiercelyup,astheundertakerapproachedtherecess.Keepback!Damnyou,keepback,ifyou’vealifetolose!’
Nonsense,mygoodman,’saidtheundertaker,whowasprettywellusedtomiseryinallitsshapes.Nonsense!’
Itellyou,’saidtheman:clenchinghishands,andstampingfuriouslyonthefloor,’ItellyouIwon’thaveherputintotheground.Shecouldn’trestthere.
Thewormswouldworryhernoteathersheissowornaway.’
Theundertakerofferednoreplytothisraving;butproducingatapefromhispocket,kneltdownforamomentbythesideofthebody.
Ah!’saidtheman:burstingintotears,andsinkingonhiskneesatthefeetofthedeadwoman;kneeldown,kneeldownkneelroundher,everyoneofyou,andmarkmywords!Isayshewasstarvedtodeath.
Ineverknewhowbadshewas,tillthefevercameuponher;andthenherboneswerestartingthroughtheskin.
Therewasneitherfirenorcandle;shediedinthedarkinthedark!
Shecouldn’tevenseeherchildren’sfaces,thoughweheardhergaspingouttheirnames.
Ibeggedforherinthestreets:andtheysentmetoprison.
WhenIcameback,shewasdying;andallthebloodinmyhearthasdriedup,fortheystarvedhertodeath.IswearitbeforetheGodthatsawit!Theystarvedher!’
Hetwinedhishandsinhishair;and,withaloudscream,rolledgrovellinguponthefloor:hiseyesfixed,andthefoamcoveringhislips.
Theterrifiedchildrencriedbitterly;buttheoldwoman,whohadhithertoremainedasquietasifshehadbeenwhollydeaftoallthatpassed,menacedthemintosilence.
Havingunloosenedthecravatofthemanwhostillremainedextendedontheground,shetotteredtowardstheundertaker.
Shewasmydaughter,’saidtheoldwoman,noddingherheadinthedirectionofthecorpse;andspeakingwithanidioticleer,moreghastlythaneventhepresenceofdeathinsuchaplace.Lord,Lord!
Well,itisstrangethatIwhogavebirthtoher,andwasawomanthen,shouldbealiveandmerrynow,andshelyingthere:socoldandstiff!Lord,Lord!
tothinkofit;it’sasgoodasaplayasgoodasaplay!’
Asthewretchedcreaturemumbledandchuckledinherhideousmerriment,theundertakerturnedtogoaway.
Stop,stop!’saidtheoldwomaninaloudwhisper.
Willshebeburiedto-morrow,ornextday,orto-night?
Ilaidherout;andImustwalk,youknow.
Sendmealargecloak:agoodwarmone:foritisbittercold.
Weshouldhavecakeandwine,too,beforewego!
Nevermind;sendsomebreadonlyaloafofbreadandacupofwater.Shallwehavesomebread,dear?’
shesaideagerly:catchingattheundertaker’scoat,asheoncemoremovedtowardsthedoor.
Yes,yes,’saidtheundertaker,’ofcourse.Anythingyoulike!’Hedisengagedhimselffromtheoldwoman’sgrasp;and,drawingOliverafterhim,hurriedaway.
Thenextday,(thefamilyhavingbeenmeanwhilerelievedwithahalf-quarternloafandapieceofcheese,leftwiththembyMr.Bumblehimself,)Oliverandhismasterreturnedtothemiserableabode;whereMr.Bumblehadalreadyarrived,accompaniedbyfourmenfromtheworkhouse,whoweretoactasbearers.
Anoldblackcloakhadbeenthrownovertheragsoftheoldwomanandtheman;andthebarecoffinhavingbeenscreweddown,washoistedontheshouldersofthebearers,andcarriedintothestreet.
Now,youmustputyourbestlegforemost,oldlady!’
whisperedSowerberryintheoldwoman’sear;weareratherlate;anditwon’tdo,tokeeptheclergymanwaiting.Moveon,mymen,asquickasyoulike!’
Thusdirected,thebearerstrottedonundertheirlightburden;andthetwomournerskeptasnearthem,astheycould.
Mr.BumbleandSowerberrywalkedatagoodsmartpaceinfront;andOliver,whoselegswerenotsolongashismaster’s,ranbytheside.
TherewasnotsogreatanecessityforhurryingasMr.Sowerberryhadanticipated,however;forwhentheyreachedtheobscurecornerofthechurchyardinwhichthenettlesgrew,andwheretheparishgravesweremade,theclergymanhadnotarrived;andtheclerk,whowassittingbythevestry-roomfire,seemedtothinkitbynomeansimprobablethatitmightbeanhourorso,beforehecame.
So,theyputthebieronthebrinkofthegrave;andthetwomournerswaitedpatientlyinthedampclay,withacoldraindrizzlingdown,whiletheraggedboyswhomthespectaclehadattractedintothechurchyardplayedanoisygameathide-and-seekamongthetombstones,orvariedtheiramusementsbyjumpingbackwardsandforwardsoverthecoffin.
Mr.SowerberryandBumble,beingpersonalfriendsoftheclerk,satbythefirewithhim,andreadthepaper.
Atlength,afteralapseofsomethingmorethananhour,Mr.Bumble,andSowerberry,andtheclerk,wereseenrunningtowardsthegrave.
Immediatelyafterwards,theclergymanappeared:puttingonhissurpliceashecamealong.
Mr.Bumblethenthrashedaboyortwo,tokeepupappearances;andthereverendgentleman,havingreadasmuchoftheburialserviceascouldbecompressedintofourminutes,gavehissurplicetotheclerk,andwalkedawayagain.
Now,Bill!’saidSowerberrytothegrave-digger.Fillup!’
Itwasnoverydifficulttask,forthegravewassofull,thattheuppermostcoffinwaswithinafewfeetofthesurface.
Thegrave-diggershovelledintheearth;stampeditlooselydownwithhisfeet:shoulderedhisspade;andwalkedoff,followedbytheboys,whomurmuredveryloudcomplaintsatthefunbeingoversosoon.
Come,mygoodfellow!’saidBumble,tappingthemanontheback.Theywanttoshutuptheyard.’
Themanwhohadneveroncemoved,sincehehadtakenhisstationbythegraveside,started,raisedhishead,staredatthepersonwhohadaddressedhim,walkedforwardforafewpaces;andfelldowninaswoon.
Thecrazyoldwomanwastoomuchoccupiedinbewailingthelossofhercloak(whichtheundertakerhadtakenoff),topayhimanyattention;sotheythrewacanofcoldwateroverhim;andwhenhecameto,sawhimsafelyoutofthechurchyard,lockedthegate,anddepartedontheirdifferentways.
Well,Oliver,’saidSowerberry,astheywalkedhome,howdoyoulikeit?’
Prettywell,thankyou,sir’repliedOliver,withconsiderablehesitation.Notverymuch,sir.’
Ah,you’llgetusedtoitintime,Oliver,’saidSowerberry.Nothingwhenyouareusedtoit,myboy.’
Oliverwondered,inhisownmind,whetherithadtakenaverylongtimetogetMr.Sowerberryusedtoit.
Buthethoughtitbetternottoaskthequestion;andwalkedbacktotheshop:thinkingoverallhehadseenandheard.
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