English
Thenarrowstreetsandcourts,atlength,terminatedinalargeopenspace;scatteredaboutwhich,werepensforbeasts,andotherindicationsofacattle-market.
Sikesslackenedhispacewhentheyreachedthisspot:thegirlbeingquiteunabletosupportanylonger,therapidrateatwhichtheyhadhithertowalked.
TurningtoOliver,heroughlycommandedhimtotakeholdofNancy’shand.
‘Doyouhear?’growledSikes,asOliverhesitated,andlookedround.
Theywereinadarkcorner,quiteoutofthetrackofpassengers.
Oliversaw,buttooplainly,thatresistancewouldbeofnoavail.Heheldouthishand,whichNancyclaspedtightinhers.
‘Givemetheother,’saidSikes,seizingOliver’sunoccupiedhand.‘Here,Bull’s-Eye!’
Thedoglookedup,andgrowled.
‘Seehere,boy!’saidSikes,puttinghisotherhandtoOliver’sthroat;‘ifhespeakseversosoftaword,holdhim!D’yemind!’
Thedoggrowledagain;andlickinghislips,eyedOliverasifhewereanxioustoattachhimselftohiswindpipewithoutdelay.
‘He’saswillingasaChristian,strikemeblindifheisn’t!’
saidSikes,regardingtheanimalwithakindofgrimandferociousapproval.
‘Now,youknowwhatyou’vegottoexpect,master,socallawayasquickasyoulike;thedogwillsoonstopthatgame.Geton,young’un!’
Bull’s-eyewaggedhistailinacknowledgmentofthisunusuallyendearingformofspeech;and,givingventtoanotheradmonitorygrowlforthebenefitofOliver,ledthewayonward.
ItwasSmithfieldthattheywerecrossing,althoughitmighthavebeenGrosvenorSquare,foranythingOliverknewtothecontrary.Thenightwasdarkandfoggy.
Thelightsintheshopscouldscarecelystrugglethroughtheheavymist,whichthickenedeverymomentandshroudedthestreetsandhousesingloom;renderingthestrangeplacestillstrangerinOliver’seyes;andmakinghisuncertaintythemoredismalanddepressing.
Theyhadhurriedonafewpaces,whenadeepchurch-bellstruckthehour.Withitsfirststroke,histwoconductorsstopped,andturnedtheirheadsinthedirectionwhencethesoundproceeded.
‘Eighto’clock,Bill,’saidNancy,whenthebellceased.
‘What’sthegoodoftellingmethat;Icanhearit,can’tI!’repliedSikes.
‘IwonderwhetherTHEYcanhearit,’saidNancy.
‘Ofcoursetheycan,’repliedSikes.‘ItwasBartlemytimewhenIwasshopped;andtherewarn’tapennytrumpetinthefair,asIcouldn’thearthesqueakingon.
ArterIwaslockedupforthenight,therowanddinoutsidemadethethunderingoldjailsosilent,thatIcouldalmosthavebeatmybrainsoutagainsttheironplatesofthedoor.’
‘Poorfellow!’saidNancy,whostillhadherfaceturnedtowardsthequarterinwhichthebellhadsounded.‘Oh,Bill,suchfineyoungchapsasthem!’
‘Yes;that’sallyouwomenthinkof,’answeredSikes.‘Fineyoungchaps!Well,they’reasgoodasdead,soitdon’tmuchmatter.’
Withthisconsolation,Mr.Sikesappearedtorepressarisingtendencytojealousy,and,claspingOliver’swristmorefirmly,toldhimtostepoutagain.
‘Waitaminute!’saidthegirl:‘Iwouldn’thurryby,ifitwasyouthatwascomingouttobehung,thenexttimeeighto’clockstruck,Bill.
I’dwalkroundandroundtheplacetillIdropped,ifthesnowwasontheground,andIhadn’tashawltocoverme.’
‘Andwhatgoodwouldthatdo?’inquiredtheunsentimentalMr.Sikes.
‘Unlessyoucouldpitchoverafileandtwentyyardsofgoodstoutrope,youmightaswellbewalkingfiftymileoff,ornotwalkingatall,forallthegooditwoulddome.
Comeon,anddon’tstandpreachingthere.’
Thegirlburstintoalaugh;drewhershawlmorecloselyroundher;andtheywalkedaway.
ButOliverfeltherhandtremble,and,lookingupinherfaceastheypassedagas-lamp,sawthatithadturnedadeadlywhite.
Theywalkedon,bylittle-frequentedanddirtyways,forafullhalf-hour:meetingveryfewpeople,andthoseappearingfromtheirlookstoholdmuchthesamepositioninsocietyasMr.Sikeshimself.
Atlengththeyturnedintoaveryfilthynarrowstreet,nearlyfullofold-clothesshops;thedogrunningforward,asifconsciousthattherewasnofurtheroccasionforhiskeepingonguard,stoppedbeforethedoorofashopthatwasclosedandapparentlyuntenanted;thehousewasinaruinouscondition,andonthedoorwasnailedaboard,intimatingthatitwastolet:whichlookedasifithadhungthereformanyyears.
‘Allright,’criedSikes,glancingcautiouslyabout.
Nancystoopedbelowtheshutters,andOliverheardthesoundofabell.
Theycrossedtotheoppositesideofthestreet,andstoodforafewmomentsunderalamp.
Anoise,asifasashwindowweregentlyraised,washeard;andsoonafterwardsthedoorsoftlyopened.
Mr.Sikesthenseizedtheterrifiedboybythecollarwithverylittleceremony;andallthreewerequicklyinsidethehouse.
Thepassagewasperfectlydark.Theywaited,whilethepersonwhohadletthemin,chainedandbarredthedoor.
‘Anybodyhere?’inquiredSikes.
‘No,’repliedavoice,whichOliverthoughthehadheardbefore.
‘Istheold‘unhere?’askedtherobber.
‘Yes,’repliedthevoice,‘andpreciousdowninthemouthhehasbeen.Won’thebegladtoseeyou?Oh,no!’
Thestyleofthisreply,aswellasthevoicewhichdeliveredit,seemedfamiliartoOliver’sears:butitwasimpossibletodistinguisheventheformofthespeakerinthedarkness.
‘Let’shaveaglim,’saidSikes,‘orweshallgobreakingournecks,ortreadingonthedog.Lookafteryourlegsifyoudo!’
‘Standstillamoment,andI’llgetyouone,’repliedthevoice.
Therecedingfootstepsofthespeakerwereheard;and,inanotherminute,theformofMr.JohnDawkins,otherwisetheArtfulDodger,appeared.
Heboreinhisrighthandatallowcandlestuckintheendofacleftstick.
TheyounggentlemandidnotstoptobestowanyothermarkofrecognitionuponOliverthanahumourousgrin;but,turningaway,beckonedthevisitorstofollowhimdownaflightofstairs.
Theycrossedanemptykitchen;and,openingthedoorofalowearthy-smellingroom,whichseemedtohavebeenbuiltinasmallback-yard,werereceivedwithashoutoflaughter.
‘Oh,mywig,mywig!’criedMasterCharlesBates,fromwhoselungsthelaughterhadproceeded:‘hereheis!oh,cry,hereheis!Oh,Fagin,lookathim!Fagin,dolookathim!
Ican’tbearit;itissuchajollygame,Icant’bearit.
Holdme,somebody,whileIlaughitout.’
Withthisirrepressibleebullitionofmirth,MasterBateslaidhimselfflatonthefloor:andkickedconvulsivelyforfiveminutes,inanectasyoffacetiousjoy.
Thenjumpingtohisfeet,hesnatchedthecleftstickfromtheDodger;and,advancingtoOliver,viewedhimroundandround;whiletheJew,takingoffhisnightcap,madeagreatnumberoflowbowstothebewilderedboy.
TheArtful,meantime,whowasofarathersaturninedisposition,andseldomgavewaytomerrimentwhenitinterferedwithbusiness,rifledOliver’spocketswithsteadyassiduity.
‘Lookathistogs,Fagin!’saidCharley,puttingthelightsoclosetohisnewjacketasnearlytosethimonfire.‘Lookathistogs!
Superfinecloth,andtheheavyswellcut!Oh,myeye,whatagame!Andhisbooks,too!Nothingbutagentleman,Fagin!’
‘Delightedtoseeyoulookingsowell,mydear,’saidtheJew,bowingwithmockhumility.
‘TheArtfulshallgiveyouanothersuit,mydear,forfearyoushouldspoilthatSundayone.
Whydidn’tyouwrite,mydear,andsayyouwerecoming?
We’dhavegotsomethingwarmforsupper.’
Athis,MasterBatesroaredagain:soloud,thatFaginhimselfrelaxed,andeventheDodgersmiled;butastheArtfuldrewforththefive-poundnoteatthatinstant,itisdoubtfulwhetherthesallyofthediscoveryawakenedhismerriment.
‘Hallo,what’sthat?’inquiredSikes,steppingforwardastheJewseizedthenote.‘That’smine,Fagin.’
‘No,no,mydear,’saidtheJew.‘Mine,Bill,mine.Youshallhavethebooks.’
‘Ifthatain’tmine!’saidBillSikes,puttingonhishatwithadeterminedair;‘mineandNancy’sthatis;I’lltaketheboybackagain.’
TheJewstarted.Oliverstartedtoo,thoughfromaverydifferentcause;forhehopedthatthedisputemightreallyendinhisbeingtakenback.
‘Come!Handover,willyou?’saidSikes.
‘Thisishardlyfair,Bill;hardlyfair,isit,Nancy?’inquiredtheJew.
‘Fair,ornotfair,’retortedSikes,‘handover,Itellyou!
DoyouthinkNancyandmehasgotnothingelsetodowithourprecioustimebuttospenditinscoutingarter,andkidnapping,everyyoungboyasgetsgrabbedthroughyou?
Giveithere,youavariciousoldskeleton,giveithere!’
Withthisgentleremonstrance,Mr.SikespluckedthenotefrombetweentheJew’sfingerandthumb;andlookingtheoldmancoollyintheface,foldeditupsmall,andtieditinhisneckerchief.
‘That’sforourshareofthetrouble,’saidSikes;‘andnothalfenough,neither.Youmaykeepthebooks,ifyou’refondofreading.Ifyouain’t,sell‘em.’
‘They’reverypretty,’saidCharleyBates:who,withsundrygrimaces,hadbeenaffectingtoreadoneofthevolumesinquestion;‘beautifulwriting,isn’tis,Oliver?’
AtsightofthedismayedlookwithwhichOliverregardedhistormentors,MasterBates,whowasblessedwithalivelysenseoftheludicrous,fellintoanotherectasy,moreboisterousthanthefirst.
‘Theybelongtotheoldgentleman,’saidOliver,wringinghishands;‘tothegood,kind,oldgentlemanwhotookmeintohishouse,andhadmenursed,whenIwasneardyingofthefever.
Oh,praysendthemback;sendhimbackthebooksandmoney.
Keepmehereallmylifelong;butpray,praysendthemback.
He’llthinkIstolethem;theoldlady:allofthemwhoweresokindtome:willthinkIstolethem.
Oh,dohavemercyuponme,andsendthemback!’
Withthesewords,whichwereutteredwithalltheenergyofpassionategrief,OliverfelluponhiskneesattheJew’sfeet;andbeathishandstogether,inperfectdesperation.
‘Theboy’sright,’remarkedFagin,lookingcovertlyround,andknittinghisshaggyeyebrowsintoahardknot.
‘You’reright,Oliver,you’reright;theyWILLthinkyouhavestolen‘em.Ha!ha!’
chuckledtheJew,rubbinghishands,‘itcouldn’thavehappenedbetter,ifwehadchosenourtime!’
‘Ofcourseitcouldn’t,’repliedSikes;‘Iknow’dthat,directlyIseehimcomingthroughClerkenwell,withthebooksunderhisarm.It’sallrightenough.
They’resoft-heartedpsalm-singers,ortheywouldn’thavetakenhiminatall;andthey’llasknoquestionsafterhim,feartheyshouldbeobligedtoprosecute,andsogethimlagged.He’ssafeenough.’
Oliverhadlookedfromonetotheother,whilethesewordswerebeingspoken,asifhewerebewildered,andcouldscarecelyunderstandwhatpassed;butwhenBillSikesconcluded,hejumpedsuddenlytohisfeet,andtorewildlyfromtheroom:utteringshrieksforhelp,whichmadethebareoldhouseechototheroof.
‘Keepbackthedog,Bill!’criedNancy,springingbeforethedoor,andclosingit,astheJewandhistwopupilsdartedoutinpursuit.‘Keepbackthedog;he’llteartheboytopieces.’
‘Servehimright!’criedSikes,strugglingtodisengagehimselffromthegirl’sgrasp.‘Standofffromme,orI’llsplityourheadagainstthewall.’
‘Idon’tcareforthat,Bill,Idon’tcareforthat,’screamedthegirl,strugglingviolentlywiththeman,‘thechildshan’tbetorndownbythedog,unlessyoukillmefirst.’
‘Shan’the!’saidSikes,settinghisteeth.‘I’llsoondothat,ifyoudon’tkeepoff.’
Thehousebreakerflungthegirlfromhimtothefurtherendoftheroom,justastheJewandthetwoboysreturned,draggingOliveramongthem.
‘What’sthematterhere!’saidFagin,lookinground.
‘Thegirl’sgonemad,Ithink,’repliedSikes,savagely.
‘No,shehasn’t,’saidNancy,paleandbreathlessfromthescuffle;‘no,shehasn’t,Fagin;don’tthinkit.’
‘Thenkeepquiet,willyou?’saidtheJew,withathreateninglook.
‘No,Iwon’tdothat,neither,’repliedNancy,speakingveryloud.‘Come!Whatdoyouthinkofthat?’
Mr.FaginwassufficientlywellacquaintedwiththemannersandcustomsofthatparticularspeciesofhumanitytowhichNancybelonged,tofeeltolerablycertainthatitwouldberatherunsafetoprolonganyconversationwithher,atpresent.
Withtheviewofdivertingtheattentionofthecompany,heturnedtoOliver.
‘Soyouwantedtogetaway,mydear,didyou?’saidtheJew,takingupajaggedandknottedclubwhichlawinacornerofthefireplace;‘eh?’
Olivermadenoreply.ButhewatchedtheJew’smotions,andbreathedquickly.
‘Wantedtogetassistance;calledforthepolice;didyou?’sneeredtheJew,catchingtheboybythearm.‘We’llcureyouofthat,myyoungmaster.’
TheJewinflictedasmartblowonOliver’sshoulderswiththeclub;andwasraisingitforasecond,whenthegirl,rushingforward,wresteditfromhishand.
Sheflungitintothefire,withaforcethatbroughtsomeoftheglowingcoalswhirlingoutintotheroom.
‘Iwon’tstandbyandseeitdone,Fagin,’criedthegirl.
‘You’vegottheboy,andwhatmorewouldyouhave?
—Lethimbe—lethimbe—orIshallputthatmarkonsomeofyou,thatwillbringmetothegallowsbeforemytime.’
Thegirlstampedherfootviolentlyonthefloorassheventedthisthreat;andwithherlipscompressed,andherhandsclenched,lookedalternatelyattheJewandtheotherrobber:herfacequitecolourlessfromthepassionofrageintowhichshehadgraduallyworkedherself.
‘Why,Nancy!’saidtheJew,inasoothingtone;afterapause,duringwhichheandMr.Sikeshadstaredatoneanotherinadisconcertedmanner;‘you,—you’remorecleverthaneverto-night.Ha!ha!mydear,youareactingbeautifully.’
‘AmI!’saidthegirl.‘TakecareIdon’toverdoit.Youwillbetheworseforit,Fagin,ifIdo;andsoItellyouingoodtimetokeepclearofme.’
Thereissomethingaboutarousedwoman:especiallyifsheaddtoallherotherstrongpassions,thefierceimpulsesofrecklessnessanddespair;whichfewmenliketoprovoke.
TheJewsawthatitwouldbehopelesstoaffectanyfurthermistakeregardingtherealityofMissNancy’srage;and,shrinkinginvoluntarilybackafewpaces,castaglance,halfimploringandhalfcowardly,atSikes:asiftohintthathewasthefittestpersontopursuethedialogue.
Mr.Sikes,thusmutelyappealedto;andpossiblyfeelinghispersonalprideandinfluenceinterestedintheimmediatereductionofMissNancytoreason;gaveutterancetoaboutacoupleofscoreofcursesandthreats,therapidproductionofwhichreflectedgreatcreditonthefertilityofhisinvention.
Astheyproducednovisibleeffectontheobjectagainstwhomtheyweredischarged,however,heresortedtomoretangiblearguments.
‘Whatdoyoumeanbythis?’saidSikes;backingtheinquirywithaverycommonimprecationconcerningthemostbeautifulofhumanfeatures:which,ifitwereheardabove,onlyonceoutofeveryfiftythousandtimesthatitisutteredbelow,wouldrenderblindnessascommonadisorderasmeasles:‘whatdoyoumeanbyit?Burnmybody!
Doyouknowwhoyouare,andwhatyouare?’
‘Oh,yes,Iknowallaboutit,’repliedthegirl,laughinghysterically;andshakingherheadfromsidetoside,withapoorassumptionofindifference.
‘Well,then,keepquiet,’rejoinedSikes,withagrowllikethathewasaccustomedtousewhenaddressinghisdog,‘orI’llquietyouforagoodlongtimetocome.’
Thegirllaughedagain:evenlesscomposedlythanbefore;and,dartingahastylookatSikes,turnedherfaceaside,andbitherliptillthebloodcame.
‘You’reaniceone,’addedSikes,ashesurveyedherwithacontemptuousair,‘totakeupthehumaneandgen—teelside!Aprettysubjectforthechild,asyoucallhim,tomakeafriendof!’
‘GodAlmightyhelpme,Iam!’criedthegirlpassionately;‘andIwishIhadbeenstruckdeadinthestreet,orhadchangedplaceswiththemwepassedsonearto-night,beforeIhadlentahandinbringinghimhere.
He’sathief,aliar,adevil,allthat’sbad,fromthisnightforth.
Isn’tthatenoughfortheoldwretch,withoutblows?’
‘Come,come,Sikes,’saidtheJewappealingtohiminaremonstratorytone,andmotioningtowardstheboys,whowereeagerlyattentivetoallthatpassed;‘wemusthavecivilwords;civilwords,Bill.’
‘Civilwords!’criedthegirl,whosepassionwasfrightfultosee.‘Civilwords,youvillain!Yes,youdeserve‘emfromme.
IthievedforyouwhenIwasachildnothalfasoldasthis!’pointingtoOliver.
‘Ihavebeeninthesametrade,andinthesameservice,fortwelveyearssince.Don’tyouknowit?Speakout!Don’tyouknowit?’
‘Well,well,’repliedtheJew,withanattemptatpacification;‘and,ifyouhave,it’syourliving!’
‘Aye,itis!’returnedthegirl;notspeaking,butpouringoutthewordsinonecontinuousandvehementscream.
‘Itismyliving;andthecold,wet,dirtystreetsaremyhome;andyou’rethewretchthatdrovemetothemlongago,andthat’llkeepmethere,dayandnight,dayandnight,tillIdie!’
‘Ishalldoyouamischief!’interposedtheJew,goadedbythesereproaches;‘amischiefworsethanthat,ifyousaymuchmore!’
Thegirlsaidnothingmore;but,tearingherhairanddressinatransportofpassion,madesucharushattheJewaswouldprobablyhaveleftsignalmarksofherrevengeuponhim,hadnotherwristsbeenseizedbySikesattherightmoment;uponwhich,shemadeafewineffectualstruggles,andfainted.
‘She’sallrightnow,’saidSikes,layingherdowninacorner.‘She’suncommonstronginthearms,whenshe’supinthisway.’
TheJewwipedhisforehead:andsmiled,asifitwerearelieftohavethedisturbanceover;butneitherhe,norSikes,northedog,northeboys,seemedtoconsideritinanyotherlightthanacommonoccuranceincidentaltobusiness.
‘It’stheworstofhavingtodowithwomen,’saidtheJew,replacinghisclub;‘butthey’reclever,andwecan’tgeton,inourline,without‘em.Charley,showOlivertobed.’
‘Isupposehe’dbetternotwearhisbestclothestomorrow,Fagin,hadhe?’inquiredCharleyBates.
‘Certainlynot,’repliedtheJew,reciprocatingthegrinwithwhichCharleyputthequestion.
MasterBates,apparentlymuchdelightedwithhiscommission,tookthecleftstick:andledOliverintoanadjacentkitchen,wherethereweretwoorthreeofthebedsonwhichhehadsleptbefore;andhere,withmanyuncontrollableburstsoflaughter,heproducedtheidenticaloldsuitofclotheswhichOliverhadsomuchcongratulatedhimselfuponleavingoffatMr.Brownlow’s;andtheaccidentaldisplayofwhich,toFagin,bytheJewwhopurchasedthem,hadbeentheveryfirstcluereceived,ofhiswhereabout.
‘Putoffthesmartones,’saidCharley,‘andI’llgive‘emtoFagintotakecareof.Whatfunitis!’
PoorOliverunwillinglycomplied.MasterBatesrollingupthenewclothesunderhisarm,departedfromtheroom,leavingOliverinthedark,andlockingthedoorbehindhim.
ThenoiseofCharley’slaughter,andthevoiceofMissBetsy,whoopportunelyarrivedtothrowwateroverherfriend,andperformotherfeminineofficesforthepromotionofherrecovery,mighthavekeptmanypeopleawakeundermorehappycircumstancesthanthoseinwhichOliverwasplaced.
Buthewassickandweary;andhesoonfellsoundasleep.
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