Stranica 58 [58]
OCR
oz of their wives with the most heroic calmness; and wives, again, put on weeds for their husbands, as if, so far from grieving in the garb of sorrow, they had made up their minds to render it as becoming and attractive as possible. It was observable, too, that ladies and gentlemen who were in passions of anguish during the cere“mony of interment, recovered almost as soon as they reached home, and became quite composed before the tea-drinking was over. All this was very pleasant and improving to see; and Oliver beheld it with great admiration. That Oliver Twist égy ate: to resionation by the example of these A I + Meat although I am his biographer, undertake to affirm with any degree of confidence; but I can most distinctly say, that for many months he continued meekly to submit to the domination and ill-treatment of Noah Claypole, who used him far worse than ever, now that his jealousy was roused by seeing the new boy promoted to the black stick and hatband, while he, the old one, remained stationary in the muffin-cap and leathers. Charlotte treated him badly because Noah did; and Mrs. Sowerberry was his decided enemy because Mr. Sowerberry was disposed to be his friend; so, between these three on one side, and a glut of funerals on the other, Oliver was not altogether as comfortable as the hungry pig was, when he was shut up by mistake in the grain department of a brewery. And now I come to a very important passage in Oliver’s history, for I have to record an act, slight and unimportant perhaps in appearance, but which indirectly produced a most material change in all his future prospects and proceedings. . One day Oliver and Noah had descended into the kitchen, at the usual dinner-hour, to banquet upon a small joint of mutton— a pound and a half of the worst end of the neck; when, Charlotte being called out of the way, there ensued a brief interval of time, which Noah Cla gry and vicious, considered he could not possibly devote to a worthier purpose than ageravating and tantalising young Oliver Twist. Intent upon this innocent amusement, pulled Oliver’s hair, and twitched his ears, and expressed his opinion that he was a ‘‘ sneak,” and furthermore announced his ever that desirable event should take place, and entered upon various other topics of petty annoyance, like a malicious and ill conditioned charity-boy as he was. But, none of these taunts producing the desired effect of making Oliver cry, Noah attempted to be more facetious still, and in this attempt did what many small wits, with far greater reputations than Noah notwithstanding, do to this day when ee want to be funny; he got rather personal. * Work’us,” said Noah, “how’s your mother ?” “ She’s dead,” replied Oliver; " don’t you say anything about her to me!” Oliver’s colour rose as he said this; he breathed quickly, and there was a curious working of the mouth and nostrils, which Mr. Claypole thought must be the immediate precursor of a violent fit of crying. Under this impression he returned to the charge. c What did she die of, work"us ?? said Noah. ; “Of a broken heart, some of our old nurses told me,” replied Oliver, more as if he were talking to himself than answering Noah. “I think I know what it must be to die of that?” “Tol de rol lol lol, right fol lairy, work’us,” said Noah, as a tear rolled down Oliver’s cheek. ‘ What’s set you a snivelling now ?” “ Not you,” replied Oliver, hastily brushing the tear away. § Don’t think it.” 6 Oh, not me, eh?’ sneered Noah. 6 No, not you,” replied Oliver, sharply. “There; that’s enough. Don’t say anything more to me about her; you’d better notre | “ Better not!” exclaimed Noah. “ Well! better not! work’us; don’t be impudent. Your mother, too! she was a nice "un, she was. Oh, Lor!” And here Noah nodded his head expressively, and curled up as much of his small red nose as muscular action could collect together for the occasion. ék (c Ver know, work’us,” continued Noah, emboldened by Oliver silence, and speaking in a jeering tone of affected pity—of tones the most annoying—* Yer know, work’us, it carn’t be helped now, and of | and pity yer very much. But yer must know, work’us, your mother was a regular right-down bad "un." | “What did you say?’ inquired Oliver, looking up very quickly. _ “A regular right-down bad "un, work"us," replied Noah, coolly; “and it’s a great deal better, work’us, that she died when she did, or else she’d have been
