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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 prostrate 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 little thing serves to call up some long-forgotten 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 ascended 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 softly 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 Oliver’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 candlestick 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 Oliver 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 before 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,
