Oldal 43 [43]
OCR
OLIVER TWIST. 19 a long grace was said over the short commons. "The gruel disappeared, and the boys whispered to each other and winked at Oliver, while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table, and, ad-vancing, basin and spoon in hand, to the master, said, somewhat alarmed at his own temerity— . 46 Please, sir, I want some more.” . The master was a fat, healthy man, but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupisome seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. ‘The assistants were parac What!” said the master at length, in a faint voice. “ Please, sir,” replied Oliver, "I want some more.” | . The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle, pinioned him in his arms, and shrieked aloud for the beadle. The board were sitting in solemn. conroom in great excitement, and addressing the cee in the high chair, said, — _ Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir ; — Oliver Twist has asked for more.” . There was a general start. Horror was _depicted:on every countenance. “For more!” said Mr. Limbkins. “Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary ?” “He did, sir,’ replied Bumble. “That boy will be hung,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat; “1 know that boy will be hung.” % _ Nobody controverted the prophetic gentleman’s opinion. An animated discussion took place. Oliver was ordered into instant confinement; and a bill ‘was next morning pasted on the outside of the gate, offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish: in other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist were offered to any man or woman who wanted an apprentice to any trade, business, or calling. “J never was more convinced of. anything in my life,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and read the bill next morning,—* I never was more convinced of anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be hung.” As I propose to show in the sequel whether the white-waistcoated gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps mar the in terest of this narrative, (supposing it to possess any at all,) if I ventured to hint just yet, whether the life of Oliver Twist will be a long or a short piece of biography. a TY pa w CHAPTER THE THIRD Relates how Oliver was very near getting a place, which would not have been a sinecure. For a week after the commission of the impious and profane offence of askmg for more, Oliver remained a close prisoner in the dark and solitary room to which he had been consigned by the wisdom and mercy of the board. It appears, at first sight, not unreasonable to suppose, that, if he had entertained a becoming feeling of respect for the prediction of the gentleman in the white waistcoat, he would have: established that sage individual’s prophetic character, once and for ever, by ip bere end of his pocket-handkerchief a hook in the wall, and attaching himself to the other.. To the performance of this feat, however, there was gne obstacle, namely, that pocket-handkerchiefs being decided articles of luxury, had been, for all future times and ages, removed from the noses of paupers by the express order of the board in council assembled, solemn! given and pronounced under their hands and seals. There was a still greater obstacle in Oliver’s youth and childishness. He only cried bitterly all day; and when the long, dismal night came on, he read his little hands before his eyes to shut out the darkness, and crouching in the corner, tried to sleep, ever and anon waking with a start and tremble, and drawing himself closer and closer to the face were a protection in the gloom and loneliness which surrounded him. Let it not be supposed by the enemies of “the system,” that, during the period of his solitary incarceration, Oliver was denied ‘the benefit of exercise, the pleasure of society, or the advantages of rellgious consolation. As for exercise, it was nice cold weather, and he was allowed to perform his ablutions every morning under the pump, in a stone yard, in the presence of Mr. Bumble, who prevented his catching cold, and caused a tingling sensation to pervade his frame, by repeated applications of the cane; as for society, he was: " carried every other day into the hall where the boys dined, and there sociably flogged as a public warning and example;
