Stranica 120 [120]
82
earnest in the matter as Toby Crackit
himself could be. a
The Jew again bade her good night,
and, bestowing a sly kick upon the pros¬
trate form of Mr. Sikes while her back
was turned, groped down stairs.
c Always the way," muttered the Jew
to himself as he turned homewards. " The
worst of these women is, that a very lit¬
tle thing serves to call up some long-for¬
gotten feeling ; and the best of them 1s,
that it never lasts). Ha! ha! The man
against the child, for a bag of gold !”
Beguiling the time with these pleasant
reflections, Mr. Fagin wended his way
through mud and mire to his gloomy
abode, where the Dodger was sitting up,
impatiently awaiting his return.
“Ts Oliver a-bed? I want to speak to
him,” was his first remark, as they as¬
cended the stairs.
“Hours ago,” replied the Dodger,
throwing open a door. “ Here he is!”
The boy was lying fast asleep on a
rude bed upon the floor, so pale with
anxiety, and sadness, and the closeness
of his prison, that he looked like death ;
not death as it shows in shroud and coffin,
but in the guise it wears when life has
just departed: when a young and gentle
spirit has but an instant fled to heaven,
and the gross air of the world has not had
time to breathe upon the changing dust
it hallowed.
s Not now,” said the Jew turning soft¬
ly away. § To-morrow. To-morrow.”
CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH.
Wherein Oliver is delivered over to Mr. William
Sikes.
WHEN Oliver awoke in the morning,
he was a good deal surprised to find that
a new pair of shoes with strong thick
first he was pleased with the discovery,
shall come back tous again. Ha! ha!
ha! We won’t be so cruel as to send
you away, my dear. Oh no, no!”
The old man, who was stooping over
the fire toasting a piece of bread, looked
round as he bantered Oliver thus, and
chuckled as if to show that he knew he
would still be very glad to get away if he
could.
“T suppose,” said the Jew, fixing his
eyes on Oliver, § you want to know what
you "re going to Bill’s for— eh, my dear ?"
Oliver coloured involuntarily to find
that the old thief had been readmg his
thoughts; but boldly said, Yes, he did
c Why, do you think ?” inquired Fagin,
parrying the question.
“Indeed I don’t know, sir,” replied
Oliver.
s Bah!’ said the Jew, turning away
with a disappointed countenance from a
close perusal of Oliver’s face. " Wait
till Bill tells you, then.”
The Jew seemed much vexed by Oli¬
ver’s not expressing any greater curiosit
on the subject; but the truth is, that, ak
though he felt very anxious, he was too
much confused by the earnest cunning of
Fagin’s looks, and his own speculations,
to make any further imquiries just then.
He had no other opportunity ; for the Jew
remained very surly and silent till night,
when he prepared to go abroad.
s You may burn a candle,” said the
Jew, putting one upon the table; “ and
here ’s a book for you to read till they
come to fetch you. Good-night !”
(c Good-night, sir!” replied Oliver soft¬
" The Jew walked to the door, looking
over his shoulder at the boy as he went,
and, suddenly stopping, called him by his
name.
Oliver looked up ; the Jew, pointing to
the candle, motioned to him to light it.
He did so ; and, as he placed the candle¬
stick upon the table, saw that the Jew
and contracted brows from the dark en
release; but such thoughts were guickly
dispelled on his sitting down to breakfast
alone with the Jew, who told him, in a
tone and manner which increased his
alarm, that he was to be taken to the
residence of Bill Sikes that night.
6 T’o—to—stop there, sir?" asked Oli¬
ver anxiously.
s No, no, my dear, not to stop there,”
replied the Jew. “ We shouldn’t like to
“ Take heed, Oliver! take heed!” said
the old man, shaking his right hand be¬
fore him in a warning manner. “ He’s
a rough man, and thinks nothing of blood
when his own isup. Whatever falls out,
say nothing; and do what he bids you.
Mind!” Placing a strong emphasis on
the last word, he suffered his features
gradually to resolve themselves into a
e room,