Oldal 127 [127]
OCR
a lh Lee 5 MS TE as waiter at the public-house on n Hill. “ Bister Sikes!” exclaimed Barney, with real or counterfeit joy ; " cub id, sir ; cub id." “ Here! you get on first,” said Sikes, putting Oliver in front of him. “ Quicker! or I shall tread upon your heels.” Muttering a curse upon his tardiness, Sikes pushed Oliver before him, and they entered a low dark room with a smoky fire, two or three broken chairs, a table, out with us again to-night, though not very far off.” Oliver looked at Sikes in mute and timid wonder, and, drawing a stool to the fire, sat with his" aching head upon his or what was passing around him. “ Here,” said Toby, as the young Jew placed some fragments of food and a bottle upon the table, “Success to the legs much higher than his head, a man was reposing at full length, smoking a long clay pipe. He was dressed in a smartly-cut snufi-coloured coat with large brass buttons, an orange neckerchief, a coarse, staring, shawl-pattern waistcoat, and drab breeches. Mr. Crackit (for he it was) had no very great quantity of hair, either upon his head or face; but what he had was of a reddish dye, and tortured into long, corkscrew curls, through which he occasionally thrust some very dirty fingers ornamented with large common rings. He was a trifle above the middle size, and apparently rather weak means detracted from his own admiration of his top-boots, which he contemplated in their elevated situation with lively satisfaction. * Bill, my boy!” said this figure, turning his head towards the door, " I’m glad to see you; I was almost afraid you’d given it up, in which case [ should have made a personal wentur’. Hallo!” Uttering this exclamation in a tone of great surprise as his eyes rested on Oliver, Mr. Toby Crackit brought himself into a sitting posture, and demanded who that was. s The boy—only the boy!” replied Sikes, drawing a chair towards the fire. “Wud of Bister Fagid’s lads,” exclaimed Barney, with a grin. c Fagin’s, eh!" exclaimed Toby, looking at Oliver. “ Wot an imwalable boy that "11 make for the old ladies’ pockets in chapels. His mug is a fortun’ to him.” «'There—there’s enough of that!’ interposed Sikes impatiently ; and, stooping over his recumbent friend, he whis= a few words in his ear, at which r. Crackit laughed immensely, and honoured Oliver with a long stare of astonishment. 6 Now,” said Sikes, as he resumed his seat, “if you ’ll give us something to eat and drink while we’re waiting, you 711] put some heart in us,—or in me, at all 8 * M and, carefully depositing his empty pipe in a corner, advanced to the table, filled a glass with spirits, and drank off its contents. Mr. Sikes did the same. 6 A drain for the boy,” said Toby, half filling a wine-glass. “ Down with it, innocence !" “ Indeed,” said Oliver, looking piteously up into the man’s face; "indeed I 6 Down with it!” echoed Toby. "Do you think I don’t know what "s good for out ‘Tell him to drink it, Bill.” “He had better,” said Sikes, clapping his hand upon his pocket. “ Burn my body! if he isn’t more trouble than a whole family of Dodgers. Drink it, you perwerse Imp; drink it!” Frightened by the menacing gestures of the two men, Oliver hastily swallowed the contents of the glass, and immediately fell into a violent fit of coughing, which delighted Toby Crackit and Barney, and even drew a smile from the surly Mr. Sikes. This done, and Sikes having satisfied his appetite, (Oliver could eat nothing but a small crust of bread which they made him swallow,) the two men laid themselves down on chairs for a sort nap. Oliver retained his stool by the fire; and Barney, wrapped in a blanket, stretched himself on the floor, close outside the fender. They slept, or appeared to sleep, for some time; nobody stirring but Barney, who rose once or twice to throw coals upon the fire. Oliver fell into a heavy doze, imagining himself straying alone through the gloomy lanes, or wandering about the dark churchyard, or retracing some one or other of the scenes of the past day, when he was roused by Toby Crackit’s jumping up and declaring it was half-past one. In an instant the other two were on their legs, and all were actively engaged in busy preparation. Sikes and his companion enveloped their necks and chins
