Stranica 62 [62]
34
sented such a rueful face to the aged pau¬
per who opened it, that even he, who saw
nothing but rueful faces about him at the
best of times, started back in astonishment.
“Why, what’s the matter with the
boy ?” said the old pauper.
c Mr. Bumble! Mr. Bumble!" cried
Noah, with well-affected dismay, and in
tones so loud and agitated that they not
only caught the ear of Mr. Bumble him¬
self, who happened to be hard by, but
alarmed him so much that he rushed into
the yard without his cocked-hat,—which
is a very curious and remarkable circum¬
stance, as showing that even a beadle,
acted upon by a sudden and powerful im¬
pulse, may be afflicted with a momentary
visitation of loss of self-possession, and
forgetfulness of personal dignity
6 Oh, Mr. Bumble, sir!” said Noah;
“ Oliver, sir,—Oliver has——”
6 What? what?’ interposed Mr. Bum¬
ble, with a gleam of pleasure in his metal¬
hic eyes. § Not run away? he hasn’t run
away; has he, Noah ?”’
ss No, sir, no; not run away, sir, but he’s
turned wicious,”’ replied Noah. “He
tried to murder me, sir; and then he tried
to murder Charlotte, and then missis. Oh,
what dreadful pain it is! such agony,
please sir!” and here Noah writhed and
twisted his body into an extensive variety
of eel-like positions; thereby giving Mr.
Bumble to understand that, from the vio¬
lent and sanguinary onset of Oliver Twist,
he had sustained severe internal injury
and damage, from which he was at that
speaking suffering the acutest torture.
When Noah saw that the intelligence
he communicated perfectly paralysed Mr.
Bumble, he imparted additional effect
thereunto, by bewailing his dreadful
wounds ten times louder than before: and,
when he observed a gentleman in a white
waistcoat crossing the yard, he was more
tragic in his lamentations than ever, right¬
ly conceiving it highly expedient to attract
the gentleman aforesaid.
The gentleman’s notice was very soon
attracted; for he had not walked three
paces when he turned angrily round, and
nig for, and why Mr. Bumble did not fa¬
vour him with something which would
render the series of vocular exclamations
so designated, an involuntary process.
“It’s a poor boy from the free-school,
sir,” replied Mr. Bumble, “ who has been
nearly murdered—all but murdered, sir—
vy young Twist.”
“T knew it! I felt a strange presenti¬
ment from the very first, that that auda¬
cious young savage would come to be
hung!”
c He has likewise attempted, sir, to
murder the female servant,” said Mr.
Bumble, with a face of ashy paleness.
i And his missis,” interposed Mr. Clay¬
pole.
“ And his master, too, I think you said,
Noah?" added Mr. Bumble.
* No, he’s out, or he would have mur¬
dered him,” replied Noah. “He said he
wanted to——” |
s Ah! said he wanted to—did he, my
boy?" inquired the gentleman in the white
waistcoat.
s Yes, sir,” replied Noah; “ and, please
sir, missis wants to know whether Mr.
Bumble can spare time to step up there
directly, and flog him, ’cause master’s out.”
“Certainly, my boy; certainly,” said
the gentleman in the white waistcoat,
smiling benignly, and patting Noah’s head,
which was about three inches higher than
his own. ‘“ You’re a good boy—a very
good boy. Here’s a penny for you. Bum¬
ble, just step up to Sowerberry’s with
your cane, and see what’s best to be done.
Don’t spare him, Bumble.”
6 No, I will not, sir,” replied the beadle,
adjusting the wax-end which was twisted
round the bottom of his cane for purposes
of parochial flagellation.
s Tell Sowerberry not to spare him,
either. They'll never do anything with
him, without stripes and bruises,” said the
gentleman in the white waistcoat.
cc [7II. take care, sir,” replied the beadle.
And, the cocked-hat and cane having been
by this time adjusted to their owner’s
satisfaction, Mr. Bumble and Noah Clay¬
pole betook themselves with all speed to
the undertaker’s shop.
Here the position of affairs had not a!
all improved, for Sowerberry had not yet
returned, and Oliver continued to kick
with undiminished vigour at-the cellar¬
door. ‘The accounts of his ferocity, as
related by Mrs. Sowerberry and Charlotte,
were of so startling a nature that Mr.
Bumble judged it prudent to parley before
opening the door: with this view, he gave
a kick at the outside, by way of prelude;
and then, applying his mouth to the key¬
hole, said, in a deep and impressive tone,
“ Oliver!”
“Come; you let me out!” replied Oli¬
ver, from the inside.
“ Do you know this here voice, Oliver? *