Page 45 [45]
ed, were alone audible: and they only
chanced to be heard on account of their
being very freguently repeated with great
. emphasis. :
At length the whispering ceased, and
the members of the board having resumed
their seats, and their solemnity, Mr. Limb¬
kins said,
4 We have considered your proposition,
and we don’t approve of it.”
“ Not at all,” said the gentleman in the
white waistcoat.
=f Decidedly not,” added the other mem¬
rs.
As Mr. Gamfield did happen to labour
under the slight imputation of having
bruised three or four boys to death, al¬
ready, it occurred to him that the board
had perhaps, in some unaccountable freak,
taken it into their heads that this ex¬
traneous circumstance ought to influence
their proceedings. It was very unlike
their general mode of doing business, if
they had; but still, as he had no particu¬
lar wish to revive the rumour, he twisted
his cap in his hands, and walked slowly
from the table.
“So you won’t let me have him, gen’l¬
rhe said Mr. Gamfield, pausing near the
oor.
__ No,” replied Mr. Limbkins; "at least,
as it’s a nasty business, we think you
ought to take something less than the pre¬
mium we offered.”
Mr. Gamfield’s countenance brightened,
as with a quick step he returned to the
table, and said,
don’t be too hard on a poor man. What’ll
you give?”
c] should say three pound ten was
plenty,” said Mr. Limbkins.
c Ten shillings too much,” said the
gentleman in the white waistcoat.
“Come,” said Gamfield; “say four
pound, gen’lmen. Say four pound, and
= "ve got rid of him for good and all.
here!” va
"Three pound ten,” repeated Mr. Limb¬
kins, firmly.
“Come, 1711 split the difference, gen’l¬
men," urged Gamfield. “Three pound
fifteen.”
6 Not a farthing more,” was the firm
reply of Mr. Limbkins.
“ You re desp’rate hard upon me, gen 1¬
men,” said Gamfield, wavering.
c Pooh ! pooh! nonsense !” said the gen.
tleman in the white waistcoat.
21
now and then; it’ll do him good; and h
board needn’t come very expensive, for
he hasn’t been overfed since he was born.
Ha! ha! ha!’ Lik 7
Mr. Gamfield gave an arch look at the
faces round the table, and, observing a
smile on all of them, gradually broke into
a smile himself. ‘The bargain was made,
and Mr. Bumble was at once instructed
that Oliver Twist and his indentures were
to be conveyed before the magistrate for
signature and approval, that very after¬
noon.
In pursuance of this determination, little
Oliver, to his excessive astonishment, was
released from bondage, and ordered to: put
himself into a clean shirt. He had hardly
achieved this very unusual gymnastic per¬
formance, when Mr. Bumble brought him
with his own hands, a basin of gruel, and
the holiday allowance of two ounces and
a quarter of bread; at sight of which Oli¬
ver began to cry very piteously, thinking,
not unnaturally, that the board must have
determined to kill him for some useful
purpose, or they never would have begun
to fatten him up in this way.
“ Don’t make your eyes red, Oliver, but
eat your food, and be thankful,” said Mr.
Bumble, in a tone of impressive pomposity.
“You ’re a-going to be made a ’prentice
of, Oliver.”
A A ’prentice, sir!” said the child, trem¬
ing.
cc Yes, Oliver,” said Mr. Bumble. “The
kind and blessed gentlemen which is so
many parents to you, Oliver, when you
have none of your own, are a-going to
’prentice you, and to set you up in life,
and make a man of you, although the ex¬
pense to the parish is three pound ten !—
three pound ten, Oliver !—seventy shil¬
lin’s !—one hundred and forty sixpences!
—and all for a naughty orphan which
nobody can love.”
As Mr. Bumble paused to take breath
after delivermg this address, in an awful
voice, the tears rolled down the poor
child’s face, and he sobbed bitterly.
* Come,” said Mr. Bumble, somewhat
less pompously; for it was gratifying to
his feelings to observe the effect his elo¬
quence had produced. “Come, Oliver,
wipe your eyes with the cuffs of your
that’s a very foolish action, Oliver.” It
water in it already.
On their way to the magistrate’s, Mr, ¬
mium. Take him, you silly fellow! He’s
have to do, would be to look very happy.