Oldal 94 [94]
62
the two old gentlemen continued to sit in
silence, with the watch between them.
CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH.
Showing how very fond of Oliver Twist, the merry
old Jew and Miss Nancy were,
Ir it did not come strictly within the
scope and bearing of my Jong-considered
intentions and plans regarding this prose
epic (for such Í mean it to be,) to leave
the two old gentlemen sitting with the
watch between them long after it grew
too dark to see it, and both doubting Oli¬
ver’s return, the one in triumph, and the
other in sorrow, I might take occasion to
entertain the reader with many wise re¬
flections on the obvious impolicy of ever
attempting to do good to our fellow-crea¬
tures where there is no hope of earthly
reward ; or rather on the strict policy of
betraying some slight degree of charity
or sympathy in one particularly unpromis¬
ing case, and then abandoning such weak¬
nesses for ever. [am aware that, in ad¬
vising even this slight dereliction from
the paths of prudence and worldliness, I
lay myself open to the censure of many
excellent and respectable persons, who
have long walked therein! but [ venture
to contend, nevertheless, that the advan¬
tages of the proceeding are manifold and
lasting. As thus: if the object selected
should happen most unexpectedly to turn
out well, and to thrive and amend upon
the assistance you have afiorded him, he
will, in pure gratitude and fulness of
heart, laud your goodness to the skies;
your character will be thus established,
most estimable person, who does a vast
deal of good in secret, not one-twentieth
part of which will ever see the light. If,
on the contrary, his bad character become
notorious, and his profligacy a by-word,
you place yourself in the excellent posi¬
tion of hasing attempted to bestow relief
most disinterestedly ; of having become
misanthropical in consequence of the
treachery of its object; and of having
made a rash and solemn vow, (which no
ane regrets more than yourself,) never to
nelp or relieve any man, woman, or child,
again, lest you should be similarly de¬
ceived. I know a great number of per¬
sons in both situations at this moment, and
1 can safely assert that they are the most
But, as Mr. Brownlow was not one of
these: as he obstinately persevered in do¬
in for its own sake, and the orati¬
fete of heart it yielded him; fs?
failure dispirited him, and no ingratitude
in individual cases tempted him to wreak
his vengeance on the whole human race, ©
I shall not enter into any such digression
cient reason for this determination, I have
a better, and, indeed, a wholly unanswer¬
able one, already stated; which is, that it
forms no part of my original intention se
to do.
In the obscure parlour of a Jow public¬
house, situate in the filthiest part of Little
Saffron-Hill—a dark and gloomy den,
where a flaring gas-light burnt all day in
the winter-time, and where no ray of sun
ever shone in the summer,—there sat,
brooding over a little pewter measure and
a small glass, strongly impregnated with
the smell of liquor, a man in a velveteen
coat, drab shorts, half-boots, and stockings,
whom, even by that dim light, no expe¬
rienced agent of police would have hesi¬
tated for one instant to recognise as Mr.
William Sikes. At his feet sat a white¬
coated, red-eyed dog, who occupied him¬
self alternately in winking at his master
with both eyes at the same time, and in
licking a large, fresh cut on one side of
his mouth, which appeared to be the re¬
sult of some recent conflict.
“Keep quiet, you warmint! keep
quiet!” said Mr. Sikes, suddenly breaking
silence. Whether his meditations were
so intense as to be disturbed by the dog’s
winking, or whether his feelings were so
wrought upon by his reflections that they
required all the relief derivable from
kicking an unoffending animal to alla
them, 1s matter for argument and consid¬
eration. Whatever was the cause, the
effect was a kick and a curse bestowed
upon the dog simultaneously.
Dogs are not generally apt to revenge
injuries inflicted upon them by their mas¬
ters; but Mr. Sikes’s dog, having faults
of temper in common with his owner, and
a ae perhaps, at this moment, under
a powerful sense of injury, made no more
ado but at once fixed his teeth in one of
the half-boots, and, having given it a good
hearty shake, retired, growling, under a
form: thereby just escaping the pewter
measure which Mr. Sikes levelled at his
head.
* You would, would you!” said Sikes,
seizing the poker in one hand, and de¬