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57 c What now?” cried the Jew impatiently. “Ts he to be kidnapped to the other ken, Nancy says?” inquired the Dodger cautiously. c Yes,” replied the Jéw, “ wherever she lays hands on him. Find him, find him out, that "s all; and I shall know what to do next, never fear.” . The boy murmured a reply of intelligence, and hurried down stairs after his companions. “He has not peached so far,” said the Jew as he pursued his occupation. “If he means to blab us among his new friends, we may stop his windpipe yet.” CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH. Comprising further particulars of Oliver’s stay at Mr. Brownlow’s, with the remarkable prediction which one Mr. Grimwig uttered concerning him, when he went out on an errand. OLIVER soon recovered from the fainting-fit into which Mr. Brownlow’s abrupt exclamation had thrown him; and the subject of the picture was carefully avoided, both by the old gentleman and Mrs. Bedwin, in the conversation that ensued, which indeed bore no reference to Oliver’s history or prospects, but was confined to such topics as might amuse without exciting him. He wasstill too weak to get up to breakfast; but, when he came down into the housekeeper’s room the next day, his first act was to cast an eager glance at the wall, in the hope of agam looking on the face of the beautiful sey: His expectations were disappointed, however, for the picture had been removed. c Ah!” said the housekeeper, watching the direction of Oliver’s eyes. “It is gone, you see.” s] see it is, ma’am,” replied Oliver, with a sigh. “Why have they taken it away !" sc It has been taken down, child, because Mr. Brownlow said, that, as it seemed to worry you, perhaps it might prevent your getting well, you know,” rejoined the old y. “Oh, no, indeed it didn’t worry me, ‘ma’am,” said Oliver. “I liked to see it; I quite loved it.” (6 Well, well!” said the old lady, goodhumouredly; “you get well as fast as up again. now let us talk about something else.” H This was all the information that Oliver could obtain about the picture at that time, and as the old lady had been so kind to him in his illness, he endeavoured to think no more of the subject just then; so listened attentively to a great many stories she told him about an amiable and handsome daughter of hers, who was married to an amiable and handsome man, and lived in the country ; and a son, who was clerk toa merchant in the West Indies, and who was also such a good young man, and wrote such dutiful letters home four times a year, that it brought the tears into her eyes to talk about them. When the old lady had expatiated a long time on the excellences of her children, and the merits of her kind good husband besides, who had been dead and gone, poor dear soul! just six-and-twenty years, it was time to have tea; and after tea she began to teach Oliver cribbage, which he learnt as quickni as she could teach, and at which game . they played, with great interest and gravity, until it was time for the imvalid to have some warm wine and water, witha slice of dry toast, and to go cosily to bed. They were happy days those of Oliver's recovery. Everything was so quiet, and neat, and orderly, everybody so kind and gentle, that after the noise and turbulence in the midst of which he had always lived, it seemed like heaven itself. e was no sooner strong enough to put his clothes on properly, than Mr. Brownlow caused a complete new suit, and a new cap, and a new pair of shoes, to be provided for him. As Oliver was told that he might do what he liked with the old clothes, he gave them to a servant who had been very kind to him, and asked her to sell them to a Jew, and keep the money for herself. ‘This she very readily did; and, as Oliver looked out of the parlour window, and saw the Jew roll them up in his bag and walk away, he felt quite delighted to think that they were safely one, and that there was now no possible tae of his ever being able to wear them again. They were sad rags, to tell the truth; and Oliver had never had a new suit before. One evening, about a week after the affair of the picture, as Oliver was sitting talking to Mrs. Bedwin, there came a message down from Mr. Brownlow, that to see him in his study, and talk to hima little while. “Bless us, and save us! wash your for you, child,” said Mrs. Bedwin. “ Dear
