English
ItwaslatenextmorningwhenOliverawoke,fromasound,longsleep.
TherewasnootherpersonintheroombuttheoldJew,whowasboilingsomecoffeeinasaucepanforbreakfast,andwhistlingsoftlytohimselfashestirreditroundandround,withanironspoon.
Hewouldstopeverynowandthentolistenwhentherewastheleastnoisebelow:andwhenhehadsatisfiedhimself,hewouldgoonwhistlingandstirringagain,asbefore.
AlthoughOliverhadrousedhimselffromsleep,hewasnotthoroughlyawake.
Thereisadrowsystate,betweensleepingandwaking,whenyoudreammoreinfiveminuteswithyoureyeshalfopen,andyourselfhalfconsciousofeverythingthatispassingaroundyou,thanyouwouldinfivenightswithyoureyesfastclosed,andyoursenseswraptinperfectunconsciousness.
Atsuchtime,amortalknowsjustenoughofwhathismindisdoing,toformsomeglimmeringconceptionofitsmightypowers,itsboundingfromearthandspurningtimeandspace,whenfreedfromtherestraintofitscorporealassociate.
Oliverwaspreciselyinthiscondition.HesawtheJewwithhishalf-closedeyes;heardhislowwhistling;andrecognisedthesoundofthespoongratingagainstthesaucepan’ssides:andyettheself-samesenseswerementallyengaged,atthesametime,inbusyactionwithalmosteverybodyhehadeverknown.
Whenthecoffeewasdone,theJewdrewthesaucepantothehob.
Standing,theninanirresoluteattitudeforafewminutes,asifhedidnotwellknowhowtoemployhimself,heturnedroundandlookedatOliver,andcalledhimbyhisname.
Hedidnotanswer,andwastoallappearancesasleep.
Aftersatisfyinghimselfuponthishead,theJewsteppedgentlytothedoor:whichhefastened.
Hethendrewforth:asitseemedtoOliver,fromsometrapinthefloor:asmallbox,whichheplacedcarefullyonthetable.
Hiseyesglistenedasheraisedthelid,andlookedin.
Dragginganoldchairtothetable,hesatdown;andtookfromitamagnificentgoldwatch,sparklingwithjewels.
‘Aha!’saidtheJew,shrugginguphisshoulders,anddistortingeveryfeaturewithahideousgrin.‘Cleverdogs!Cleverdogs!Staunchtothelast!
Nevertoldtheoldparsonwheretheywere.NeverpoacheduponoldFagin!Andwhyshouldthey?
Itwouldn’thaveloosenedtheknot,orkeptthedropup,aminutelonger.No,no,no!Finefellows!Finefellows!’
Withthese,andothermutteredreflectionsofthelikenature,theJewoncemoredepositedthewatchinitsplaceofsafety.
Atleasthalfadozenmorewereseverallydrawnforthfromthesamebox,andsurveyedwithequalpleasure;besidesrings,brooches,bracelets,andotherarticlesofjewellery,ofsuchmagnificentmaterials,andcostlyworkmanship,thatOliverhadnoidea,evenoftheirnames.
Havingreplacedthesetrinkets,theJewtookoutanother:sosmallthatitlayinthepalmofhishand.
Thereseemedtobesomeveryminuteinscriptiononit;fortheJewlaiditflatuponthetable,andshadingitwithhishand,poredoverit,longandearnestly.
Atlengthheputitdown,asifdespairingofsuccess;and,leaningbackinhischair,muttered:
‘Whatafinethingcapitalpunishmentis!
Deadmenneverrepent;deadmenneverbringawkwardstoriestolight.Ah,it’safinethingforthetrade!
Fiveof‘emstrungupinarow,andnonelefttoplaybooty,orturnwhite-livered!’
AstheJewutteredthesewords,hisbrightdarkeyes,whichhadbeenstaringvacantlybeforehim,fellonOliver’sface;theboy’seyeswerefixedonhisinmutecuriousity;andalthoughtherecognitionwasonlyforaninstant—forthebriefestspaceoftimethatcanpossiblybeconceived—itwasenoughtoshowtheoldmanthathehadbeenobserved.
Heclosedthelidoftheboxwithaloudcrash;and,layinghishandonabreadknifewhichwasonthetable,startedfuriouslyup.
Hetrembledverymuchthough;for,eveninhisterror,Olivercouldseethattheknifequiveredintheair.
‘What’sthat?’saidtheJew.‘Whatdoyouwatchmefor?Whyareyouawake?Whathaveyouseen?Speakout,boy!Quick—quick!foryourlife.
‘Iwasn’tabletosleepanylonger,sir,’repliedOliver,meekly.‘IamverysorryifIhavedisturbedyou,sir.’
‘Youwerenotawakeanhourago?’saidtheJew,scowlingfiercelyontheboy.
‘No!No,indeed!’repliedOliver.
‘Areyousure?’criedtheJew:withastillfiercerlookthanbefore:andathreateningattitude.
‘UponmywordIwasnot,sir,’repliedOliver,earnestly.‘Iwasnot,indeed,sir.’
‘Tush,tush,mydear!’saidtheJew,abruptlyresuminghisoldmanner,andplayingwiththeknifealittle,beforehelaiditdown;asiftoinducethebeliefthathehadcaughtitup,inmeresport.‘OfcourseIknowthat,mydear.Ionlytriedtofrightenyou.You’reabraveboy.Ha!ha!you’reabraveboy,Oliver.’
TheJewrubbedhishandswithachuckle,butglanceduneasilyatthebox,notwithstanding.
‘Didyouseeanyoftheseprettythings,mydear?’saidtheJew,layinghishanduponitafterashortpause.
‘Yes,sir,’repliedOliver.
‘Ah!’saidtheJew,turningratherpale.‘They—they’remine,Oliver;mylittleproperty.AllIhavetoliveupon,inmyoldage.Thefolkscallmeamiser,mydear.Onlyamiser;that’sall.’
Oliverthoughttheoldgentlemanmustbeadecidedmisertoliveinsuchadirtyplace,withsomanywatches;but,thinkingthatperhapshisfondnessfortheDodgerandtheotherboys,costhimagooddealofmoney,heonlycastadeferentiallookattheJew,andaskedifhemightgetup.
‘Certainly,mydear,certainly,’repliedtheoldgentleman.‘Stay.There’sapitcherofwaterinthecornerbythedoor.Bringithere;andI’llgiveyouabasintowashin,mydear.’
Olivergotup;walkedacrosstheroom;andstoopedforaninstanttoraisethepitcher.Whenheturnedhishead,theboxwasgone.
Hehadscarcelywashedhimself,andmadeeverythingtidy,byemptyingthebasinoutofthewindow,agreeablytotheJew’sdirections,whentheDodgerreturned:accompaniedbyaverysprightlyyoungfriend,whomOliverhadseensmokingonthepreviousnight,andwhowasnowformallyintroducedtohimasCharleyBates.
Thefoursatdown,tobreakfast,onthecoffee,andsomehotrollsandhamwhichtheDodgerhadbroughthomeinthecrownofhishat.
‘Well,’saidtheJew,glancingslylyatOliver,andaddressinghimselftotheDodger,‘Ihopeyou’vebeenatworkthismorning,mydears?’
‘Hard,’repliedtheDodger.
‘Asnails,’addedCharleyBates.
‘Goodboys,goodboys!’saidtheJew.‘Whathaveyougot,Dodger?’
‘Acoupleofpocket-books,’repliedthatyounggentlman.
‘Lined?’inquiredtheJew,witheagerness.
‘Prettywell,’repliedtheDodger,producingtwopocket-books;onegreen,andtheotherred.
‘Notsoheavyastheymightbe,’saidtheJew,afterlookingattheinsidescarefully;‘butveryneatandnicelymade.Ingeniousworkman,ain’the,Oliver?’
‘Veryindeed,sir,’saidOliver.AtwhichMr.CharlesBateslaugheduproariously;verymuchtotheamazementofOliver,whosawnothingtolaughat,inanythingthathadpassed.
‘Andwhathaveyougot,mydear?’saidFagintoCharleyBates.
‘Wipes,’repliedMasterBates;atthesametimeproducingfourpocket-handkerchiefs.
‘Well,’saidtheJew,inspectingthemclosely;‘they’reverygoodones,very.
Youhaven’tmarkedthemwell,though,Charley;sothemarksshallbepickedoutwithaneedle,andwe’llteachOliverhowtodoit.Shallus,Oliver,eh?Ha!ha!ha!’
‘Ifyouplease,sir,’saidOliver.
‘You’dliketobeabletomakepocket-handkerchiefsaseasyasCharleyBates,wouldn’tyou,mydear?’saidtheJew.
‘Verymuch,indeed,ifyou’llteachme,sir,’repliedOliver.
MasterBatessawsomethingsoexquisitelyludicrousinthisreply,thatheburstintoanotherlaugh;whichlaugh,meetingthecoffeehewasdrinking,andcarryingitdownsomewrongchannel,verynearlyterminatedinhisprematuresuffocation.
‘Heissojollygreen!’saidCharleywhenherecovered,asanapologytothecompanyforhisunpolitebehaviour.
TheDodgersaidnothing,buthesmoothedOliver’shairoverhiseyes,andsaidhe’dknowbetter,byandby;uponwhichtheoldgentleman,observingOliver’scolourmounting,changedthesubjectbyaskingwhethertherehadbeenmuchofacrowdattheexecutionthatmorning?
Thismadehimwondermoreandmore;foritwasplainfromtherepliesofthetwoboysthattheyhadbothbeenthere;andOlivernaturallywonderedhowtheycouldpossiblyhavefoundtimetobesoveryindustrious.
Whenthebreakfastwasclearedaway;themerryoldgentlmanandthetwoboysplayedataverycuriousanduncommongame,whichwasperformedinthisway.
Themerryoldgentleman,placingasnuff-boxinonepocketofhistrousers,anote-caseintheother,andawatchinhiswaistcoatpocket,withaguard-chainroundhisneck,andstickingamockdiamondpininhisshirt:buttonedhiscoattightroundhim,andputtinghisspectacle-caseandhandkerchiefinhispockets,trottedupanddowntheroomwithastick,inimitationofthemannerinwhicholdgentlemenwalkaboutthestreetsanyhourintheday.
Sometimeshestoppedatthefire-place,andsometimesatthedoor,makingbelievethathewasstaringwithallhismightintoshop-windows.
Atsuchtimes,hewouldlookconstantlyroundhim,forfearofthieves,andwouldkeepslappingallhispocketsinturn,toseethathehadn’tlostanything,insuchaveryfunnyandnaturalmanner,thatOliverlaughedtillthetearsrandownhisface.
Allthistime,thetwoboysfollowedhimcloselyabout:gettingoutofhissight,sonimbly,everytimeheturnedround,thatitwasimpossibletofollowtheirmotions.
Atlast,theDodgertroduponhistoes,orranuponhisbootaccidently,whileCharleyBatesstumbledupagainsthimbehind;andinthatonemomenttheytookfromhim,withthemostextraordinaryrapidity,snuff-box,note-case,watch-guard,chain,shirt-pin,pocket-handkerchief,eventhespectacle-case.
Iftheoldgentlmanfeltahandinanyoneofhispockets,hecriedoutwhereitwas;andthenthegamebeganalloveragain.
Whenthisgamehadbeenplayedagreatmanytimes,acoupleofyoungladiescalledtoseetheyounggentleman;oneofwhomwasnamedBet,andtheotherNancy.
Theyworeagooddealofhair,notveryneatlyturnedupbehind,andwereratheruntidyabouttheshoesandstockings.
Theywerenotexactlypretty,perhaps;buttheyhadagreatdealofcolourintheirfaces,andlookedquitestoutandhearty.
Beingremarkablyfreeandagreeableintheirmanners,Oliverthoughtthemverynicegirlsindeed.Asthereisnodoubttheywere.
Thevisitorsstoppedalongtime.Spiritswereproduced,inconsequenceofoneoftheyoungladiescomplainingofacoldnessinherinside;andtheconversationtookaveryconvivialandimprovingturn.
Atlength,CharleyBatesexpressedhisopinionthatitwastimetopadthehoof.
This,itoccurredtoOliver,mustbeFrenchforgoingout;fordirectlyafterwards,theDodger,andCharley,andthetwoyoungladies,wentawaytogether,havingbeenkindlyfurnishedbytheamiableoldJewwithmoneytospend.
‘There,mydear,’saidFagin.‘That’sapleasantlife,isn’tit?Theyhavegoneoutfortheday.’
‘Havetheydonework,sir?’inquiredOliver.
‘Yes,’saidtheJew;‘thatis,unlesstheyshouldunexpectedlycomeacrossany,whentheyareout;andtheywon’tneglectit,iftheydo,mydear,dependuponit.Make‘emyourmodels,mydear.
Make‘emyourmodels,’tappingthefire-shovelonthehearthtoaddforcetohiswords;‘doeverythingtheybidyou,andtaketheiradviceinallmatters—especiallytheDodger’s,mydear.
He’llbeagreatmanhimself,andwillmakeyouonetoo,ifyoutakepatternbyhim.
—Ismyhandkerchiefhangingoutofmypocket,mydear?’saidtheJew,stoppingshort.
‘Yes,sir,’saidOliver.
‘Seeifyoucantakeitout,withoutmyfeelingit;asyousawthemdo,whenwewereatplaythismorning.’
Oliverheldupthebottomofthepocketwithonehand,ashehadseentheDodgerholdit,anddrewthehandkerchieflightlyoutofitwiththeother.
‘Isitgone?’criedtheJew.
‘Hereitis,sir,’saidOliver,showingitinhishand.
‘You’reacleverboy,mydear,’saidtheplayfuloldgentleman,pattingOliverontheheadapprovingly.‘Ineversawasharperlad.Here’sashillingforyou.
Ifyougoon,inthisway,you’llbethegreatestmanofthetime.
Andnowcomehere,andI’llshowyouhowtotakethemarksoutofthehandkerchiefs.’
Oliverwonderedwhatpickingtheoldgentleman’spocketinplay,hadtodowithhischancesofbeingagreatman.
But,thinkingthattheJew,beingsomuchhissenior,mustknowbest,hefollowedhimquietlytothetable,andwassoondeeplyinvolvedinhisnewstudy.
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