English
Aboutnoonnextday,whentheDodgerandMasterBateshadgoneouttopursuetheircustomaryavocations,Mr.FagintooktheopportunityofreadingOliveralonglectureonthecryingsinofingratitude;ofwhichheclearlydemonstratedhehadbeenguilty,tonoordinaryextent,inwilfullyabsentinghimselffromthesocietyofhisanxiousfriends;and,stillmore,inendeavouringtoescapefromthemaftersomuchtroubleandexpensehadbeenincurredinhisrecovery.
Mr.FaginlaidgreatstressonthefactofhishavingtakenOliverin,andcherishedhim,when,withouthistimelyaid,hemighthaveperishedwithhunger;andherelatedthedismalandaffectinghistoryofayoungladwhom,inhisphilanthropy,hehadsuccouredunderparallelcircumstances,butwho,provingunworthyofhisconfidenceandevincingadesiretocommunicatewiththepolice,hadunfortunatelycometobehangedattheOldBaileyonemorning.
Mr.Fagindidnotseektoconcealhisshareinthecatastrophe,butlamentedwithtearsinhiseyesthatthewrong-headedandtreacherousbehaviouroftheyoungpersoninquestion,hadrendereditnecessarythatheshouldbecomethevictimofcertainevidenceforthecrown:which,ifitwerenotpreciselytrue,wasindispensablynecessaryforthesafetyofhim(Mr.Fagin)andafewselectfriends.
Mr.Faginconcludedbydrawingaratherdisagreeablepictureofthediscomfortsofhanging;and,withgreatfriendlinessandpolitenessofmanner,expressedhisanxioushopesthathemightneverbeobligedtosubmitOliverTwisttothatunpleasantoperation.
LittleOliver’sbloodrancold,ashelistenedtotheJew’swords,andimperfectlycomprehendedthedarkthreatsconveyedinthem.
Thatitwaspossibleevenforjusticeitselftoconfoundtheinnocentwiththeguiltywhentheywereinaccidentalcompanionship,heknewalready;andthatdeeply-laidplansforthedestructionofinconvenientlyknowingorover-communicativepersons,hadbeenreallydevisedandcarriedoutbytheJewonmoreoccasionsthanone,hethoughtbynomeansunlikely,whenherecollectedthegeneralnatureofthealtercationsbetweenthatgentlemanandMr.Sikes:whichseemedtobearreferencetosomeforegoneconspiracyofthekind.
Asheglancedtimidlyup,andmettheJew’ssearchinglook,hefeltthathispalefaceandtremblinglimbswereneitherunnoticednorunrelishedbythatwaryoldgentleman.
TheJew,smilinghideously,pattedOliveronthehead,andsaid,thatifhekepthimselfquiet,andappliedhimselftobusiness,hesawtheywouldbeverygoodfriendsyet.
Then,takinghishat,andcoveringhimselfwithanoldpatchedgreat-coat,hewentout,andlockedtheroom-doorbehindhim.
AndsoOliverremainedallthatday,andforthegreaterpartofmanysubsequentdays,seeingnobody,betweenearlymorningandmidnight,andleftduringthelonghourstocommunewithhisownthoughts.
Which,neverfailingtoreverttohiskindfriends,andtheopiniontheymustlongagohaveformedofhim,weresadindeed.
Afterthelapseofaweekorso,theJewlefttheroom-doorunlocked;andhewasatlibertytowanderaboutthehouse.
Itwasaverydirtyplace.Theroomsupstairshadgreathighwoodenchimney-piecesandlargedoors,withpanelledwallsandcornicestotheceiling;which,althoughtheywereblackwithneglectanddust,wereornamentedinvariousways.
FromallofthesetokensOliverconcludedthatalongtimeago,beforetheoldJewwasborn,ithadbelongedtobetterpeople,andhadperhapsbeenquitegayandhandsome:dismalanddrearyasitlookednow.
Spidershadbuilttheirwebsintheanglesofthewallsandceilings;andsometimes,whenOliverwalkedsoftlyintoaroom,themicewouldscamperacrossthefloor,andrunbackterrifiedtotheirholes.
Withtheseexceptions,therewasneithersightnorsoundofanylivingthing;andoften,whenitgrewdark,andhewastiredofwanderingfromroomtoroom,hewouldcrouchinthecornerofthepassagebythestreet-door,tobeasnearlivingpeopleashecould;andwouldremainthere,listeningandcountingthehours,untiltheJewortheboysreturned.
Inalltherooms,themoulderingshutterswerefastclosed:thebarswhichheldthemwerescrewedtightintothewood;theonlylightwhichwasadmitted,stealingitswaythroughroundholesatthetop:whichmadetheroomsmoregloomy,andfilledthemwithstrangeshadows.
Therewasaback-garretwindowwithrustybarsoutside,whichhadnoshutter;andoutofthis,Oliveroftengazedwithamelancholyfaceforhourstogether;butnothingwastobedescriedfromitbutaconfusedandcrowdedmassofhousetops,blackenedchimneys,andgable-ends.
Sometimes,indeed,agrizzlyheadmightbeseen,peeringovertheparapet-wallofadistanthouse;butitwasquicklywithdrawnagain;andasthewindowofOliver’sobservatorywasnaileddown,anddimmedwiththerainandsmokeofyears,itwasasmuchashecoulddotomakeouttheformsofthedifferentobjectsbeyond,withoutmakinganyattempttobeseenorheard,—whichhehadasmuchchanceofbeing,asifhehadlivedinsidetheballofSt.Paul’sCathedral.
Oneafternoon,theDodgerandMasterBatesbeingengagedoutthatevening,thefirst-namedyounggentlemantookitintohisheadtoevincesomeanxietyregardingthedecorationofhisperson(todohimjustice,thiswasbynomeansanhabitualweaknesswithhim);and,withthisendandaim,hecondescendinglycommandedOlivertoassisthiminhistoilet,straightway.
Oliverwasbuttoogladtomakehimselfuseful;toohappytohavesomefaces,howeverbad,tolookupon;toodesiroustoconciliatethoseabouthimwhenhecouldhonestlydoso;tothrowanyobjectioninthewayofthisproposal.
Soheatonceexpressedhisreadiness;and,kneelingonthefloor,whiletheDodgersatuponthetablesothathecouldtakehisfootinhislaps,heappliedhimselftoaprocesswhichMr.Dawkinsdesignatedas‘japanninghistrotter-cases.’
Thephrase,renderedintoplainEnglish,signifieth,cleaninghisboots.
Whetheritwasthesenseoffreedomandindependencewhicharationalanimalmaybesupposedtofeelwhenhesitsonatableinaneasyattitudesmokingapipe,swingingonelegcarelesslytoandfro,andhavinghisbootscleanedallthetime,withouteventhepasttroubleofhavingtakenthemoff,ortheprospectivemiseryofputtingthemon,todisturbhisreflections;orwhetheritwasthegoodnessofthetobaccothatsoothedthefeelingsoftheDodger,orthemildnessofthebeerthatmollifiedhisthoughts;hewasevidentlytinctured,forthenonce,withaspiceofromanceandenthusiasm,foreigntohisgeneralnature.
HelookeddownonOliver,withathoughtfulcountenance,forabriefspace;andthen,raisinghishead,andheavingagentlesign,said,halfinabstraction,andhalftoMasterBates:
‘Whatapityitisheisn’taprig!’
‘Ah!’saidMasterCharlesBates;‘hedon’tknowwhat’sgoodforhim.’
TheDodgersighedagain,andresumedhispipe:asdidCharleyBates.Theybothsmoked,forsomeseconds,insilence.
‘Isupposeyoudon’tevenknowwhataprigis?’saidtheDodgermournfully.
‘IthinkIknowthat,’repliedOliver,lookingup.‘It’sathe—;you’reone,areyounot?’inquiredOliver,checkinghimself.
‘Iam,’repliedtheDoger.‘I’dscorntobeanythingelse.’
Mr.Dawkinsgavehishataferociouscock,afterdeliveringthissentiment,andlookedatMasterBates,asiftodenotethathewouldfeelobligedbyhissayinganythingtothecontrary.
‘Iam,’repeatedtheDodger.‘So’sCharley.So’sFagin.So’sSikes.So’sNancy.So’sBet.Soweallare,downtothedog.Andhe’sthedowniestoneofthelot!’
‘Andtheleastgiventopeaching,’addedCharleyBates.
‘Hewouldn’tsomuchasbarkinawitness-box,forfearofcommittinghimself;no,notifyoutiedhimupinone,andlefthimtherewithoutwittlesforafortnight,’saidtheDodger.
‘Notabitofit,’observedCharley.
‘He’sarumdog.Don’thelookfierceatanystrangecovethatlaughsorsingswhenhe’sincompany!’pursuedtheDodger.
‘Won’thegrowlatall,whenhehearsafiddleplaying!
Anddon’thehateotherdogsasain’tofhisbreed!Oh,no!’
‘He’sanout-and-outChristian,’saidCharley.
Thiswasmerelyintendedasatributetotheanimal’sabilities,butitwasanappropriateremarkinanothersense,ifMasterBateshadonlyknownit;forthereareagoodmanyladiesandgentlemen,claimingtobeout-and-outChristians,betweenwhom,andMr.Sikes’dog,thereexiststrongandsingularpointsofresemblance.
‘Well,well,’saidtheDodger,recurringtothepointfromwhichtheyhadstrayed:withthatmindfulnessofhisprofessionwhichinfluencedallhisproceedings.
‘Thishasn’tgoanythingtodowithyoungGreenhere.’
‘Nomoreithas,’saidCharley.‘Whydon’tyouputyourselfunderFagin,Oliver?’
‘Andmakeyourfortun’outofhand?’addedtheDodger,withagrin.
‘Andsobeabletoretireonyourproperty,anddothegen-teel:asImeanto,intheverynextleap-yearbutfourthatevercomes,andtheforty-secondTuesdayinTrinity-week,’saidCharleyBates.
‘Idon’tlikeit,’rejoinedOliver,timidly;‘Iwishtheywouldletmego.I—I—wouldrathergo.’
‘AndFaginwouldRATHERnot!’rejoinedCharley.
Oliverknewthistoowell;butthinkingitmightbedangeroustoexpresshisfeelingsmoreopenly,heonlysighed,andwentonwithhisboot-cleaning.
‘Go!’exclaimedtheDodger.‘Why,where’syourspirit?’Don’tyoutakeanyprideoutofyourself?Wouldyougoandbedependentonyourfriends?’
‘Oh,blowthat!’saidMasterBates:drawingtwoorthreesilkhandkerchiefsfromhispocket,andtossingthemintoacupboard,‘that’stoomean;thatis.’
‘Icouldn’tdoit,’saidtheDodger,withanairofhaughtydisgust.
‘Youcanleaveyourfriends,though,’saidOliverwithahalfsmile;‘andletthembepunishedforwhatyoudid.’
‘That,’rejoinedtheDodger,withawaveofhispipe,‘ThatwasalloutofconsiderationforFagin,‘causethetrapsknowthatweworktogether,andhemighthavegotintotroubleifwehadn’tmadeourlucky;thatwasthemove,wasn’tit,Charley?’
MasterBatesnoddedassent,andwouldhavespoken,buttherecollectionofOliver’sflightcamesosuddenlyuponhim,thatthesmokehewasinhalinggotentangledwithalaugh,andwentupintohishead,anddownintohisthroat:andbroughtonafitofcoughingandstamping,aboutfiveminuteslong.
‘Lookhere!’saidtheDodger,drawingforthahandfulofshillingsandhalfpence.‘Here’sajollylife!What’stheoddswhereitcomesfrom?
Here,catchhold;there’splentymorewheretheyweretookfrom.Youwon’t,won’tyou?Oh,youpreciousflat!’
‘It’snaughty,ain’tit,Oliver?’inquiredCharleyBates.‘He’llcometobescragged,won’the?’
‘Idon’tknowwhatthatmeans,’repliedOliver.
‘Somethinginthisway,oldfeller,’saidCharly.
Ashesaidit,MasterBatescaughtupanendofhisneckerchief;and,holdingiterectintheair,droppedhisheadonhisshoulder,andjerkedacurioussoundthroughhisteeth;therebyindicating,byalivelypantomimicrepresentation,thatscraggingandhangingwereoneandthesamething.
‘That’swhatitmeans,’saidCharley.‘Lookhowhestares,Jack!
Ineverdidseesuchprimecompanyasthat‘ereboy;he’llbethedeathofme,Iknowhewill.’MasterCharleyBates,havinglaughedheartilyagain,resumedhispipewithtearsinhiseyes.
‘You’vebeenbroughtupbad,’saidtheDodger,surveyinghisbootswithmuchsatisfactionwhenOliverhadpolishedthem.
‘Faginwillmakesomethingofyou,though,oryou’llbethefirstheeverhadthatturnedoutunprofitable.
You’dbetterbeginatonce;foryou’llcometothetradelongbeforeyouthinkofit;andyou’reonlylosingtime,Oliver.’
MasterBatesbackedthisadvicewithsundrymoraladmonitionsofhisown:which,beingexhausted,heandhisfriendMr.Dawkinslaunchedintoaglowingdescriptionofthenumerouspleasuresincidentaltothelifetheyled,interspersedwithavarietyofhintstoOliverthatthebestthinghecoulddo,wouldbetosecureFagin’sfavourwithoutmoredelay,bythemeanswhichtheythemselveshademployedtogainit.
‘Andalwaysputthisinyourpipe,Nolly,’saidtheDodger,astheJewwasheardunlockingthedoorabove,‘ifyoudon’ttakefogelsandtickers—’
‘What’sthegoodoftalkinginthatway?’interposedMasterBates;‘hedon’tknowwhatyoumean.’
‘Ifyoudon’ttakepocket-handkechersandwatches,’saidtheDodger,reducinghisconversationtothelevelofOliver’scapacity,‘someothercovewill;sothatthecovesthatlose‘emwillbealltheworse,andyou’llbealltheworse,too,andnobodyhalfaha’p’orththebetter,exceptthechapswotgetsthem—andyou’vejustasgoodarighttothemastheyhave.’
‘Tobesure,tobesure!’saidtheJew,whohadenteredunseenbyOliver.
‘Itallliesinanutshellmydear;inanutshell,taketheDodger’swordforit.Ha!ha!ha!
Heunderstandsthecatechismofhistrade.’
Theoldmanrubbedhishandsgleefullytogether,ashecorroboratedtheDodger’sreasoningintheseterms;andchuckledwithdelightathispupil’sproficiency.
Theconversationproceedednofartheratthistime,fortheJewhadreturnedhomeaccompaniedbyMissBetsy,andagentlemanwhomOliverhadneverseenbefore,butwhowasaccostedbytheDodgerasTomChitling;andwho,havinglingeredonthestairstoexchangeafewgallantrieswiththelady,nowmadehisappearance.
Mr.ChitlingwasolderinyearsthantheDodger:havingperhapsnumberedeighteenwinters;buttherewasadegreeofdeferenceinhisdeportmenttowardsthatyounggentlemanwhichseemedtoindicatethathefelthimselfconsciousofaslightinferiorityinpointofgeniusandprofessionalaquirements.
Hehadsmalltwinklingeyes,andapock-markedface;woreafurcap,adarkcorduroyjacket,greasyfustiantrousers,andanapron.
Hiswardrobewas,intruth,ratheroutofrepair;butheexcusedhimselftothecompanybystatingthathis‘time’wasonlyoutanhourbefore;andthat,inconsequenceofhavingworntheregimentalsforsixweekspast,hehadnotbeenabletobestowanyattentiononhisprivateclothes.
Mr.Chitlingadded,withstrongmarksofirritation,thatthenewwayoffumigatingclothesupyonderwasinfernalunconstitutional,foritburntholesinthem,andtherewasnoremedyagainsttheCounty.
Thesameremarkheconsideredtoapplytotheregulationmodeofcuttingthehair:whichheheldtobedecidedlyunlawful.
Mr.Chitlingwounduphisobservationsbystatingthathehadnottouchedadropofanythingforforty-twomorallonghard-workingdays;andthathe‘wishedhemightbebustedifhewarn’tasdryasalime-basket.’
‘Wheredoyouthinkthegentlemanhascomefrom,Oliver?’inquiredtheJew,withagrin,astheotherboysputabottleofspiritsonthetable.
‘I—I—don’tknow,sir,’repliedOliver.
‘Who’sthat?’inquiredTomChitling,castingacontemptuouslookatOliver.
‘Ayoungfriendofmine,mydear,’repliedtheJew.
‘He’sinluck,then,’saidtheyoungman,withameaninglookatFagin.‘NevermindwhereIcamefrom,young‘un;you’llfindyourwaythere,soonenough,I’llbetacrown!’
Atthissally,theboyslaughed.Aftersomemorejokesonthesamesubject,theyexchangedafewshortwhisperswithFagin;andwithdrew.
AftersomewordsapartbetweenthelastcomerandFagin,theydrewtheirchairstowardsthefire;andtheJew,tellingOlivertocomeandsitbyhim,ledtheconversationtothetopicsmostcalculatedtointeresthishearers.
Thesewere,thegreatadvantagesofthetrade,theproficiencyoftheDodger,theamiabilityofCharleyBates,andtheliberalityoftheJewhimself.
Atlengththesesubjectsdisplayedsignsofbeingthoroughlyexhausted;andMr.Chitlingdidthesame:forthehouseofcorrectionbecomesfatiguingafteraweekortwo.
MissBetsyaccordinglywithdrew;andleftthepartytotheirrepose.
Fromthisday,Oliverwasseldomleftalone;butwasplacedinalmostconstantcommunicationwiththetwoboys,whoplayedtheoldgamewiththeJeweveryday:whetherfortheirownimprovementorOliver’s,Mr.Faginbestknew.
Atothertimestheoldmanwouldtellthemstoriesofrobberieshehadcommittedinhisyoungerdays:mixedupwithsomuchthatwasdrollandcurious,thatOlivercouldnothelplaughingheartily,andshowingthathewasamusedinspiteofallhisbetterfeelings.
Inshort,thewilyoldJewhadtheboyinhistoils.
Havingpreparedhismind,bysolitudeandgloom,topreferanysocietytothecompanionshipofhisownsadthoughtsinsuchadrearyplace,hewasnowslowlyinstillingintohissoulthepoisonwhichhehopedwouldblackenit,andchangeitshueforever.
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