Stranica 45 [45]
OCR
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. Limbkins 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 memrs. As Mr. Gamfield did happen to labour under the slight imputation of having bruised three or four boys to death, already, it occurred to him that the board had perhaps, in some unaccountable freak, taken it into their heads that this extraneous 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 particular 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’lrhe 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 premium 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. Limbkins, firmly. “Come, 1711 split the difference, gen’lmen," 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 1men,” 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 afternoon. 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 performance, 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 Oliver 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, treming. 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 expense to the parish is three pound ten !— three pound ten, Oliver !—seventy shillin’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 eloquence 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.
