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TWIST. 98 OLIVER had been removed by the girl,—brooding over a dull smoky fire. He held a pair of bellows upon his knee, with which he had apparently been endeavourmg to rouse it into more cheerful action; but he had fallen into deep thought, and with his arms folded upon them, and his chin resting on his thumbs, fixed his eyes abstractedly on the rusty bars. | At a table behind him sat the Artful Dodger, Master Charles Bates, and Mr. Chitling, all intent upon a game of whist; the Artful taking dummy against Master Bates and Mr. Chitling. The countenance of the first-named gentleman, peculiarly intelligent at all times, acquired great additional interest from his close observance of the game, and his attentive perusal of Mr. Chitline’s hand, upon which, from time to time, as occasion served, he bestowed a variety of earnest are wisely regulating his own play y the result of his observations upon his neighbour’s cards. It being a cold night, the Dodger wore his hat, as, indeed, was often his custom within doors. He also sustained a clay pipe between his teeth, which he only removed for a brief space, when he deemed it necessary to apply for refreshment to a quart-pot upon the table, which stood ready filled with gin and water for the accommodation of the company. 3 Master Bates was also attentive to the pluy ; but, being of a more excitable nature than his accomplished friend, it was observable that he more frequently applied lumself to the gin and water, and moreever indulged in many jests and irrelevant remarks, all highly unbecoming a scientific rubber. Indeed, the Artful, presuming upon their close attachment, more than once took occasion to reason gravely with his companion upon these improprieties: all of which remonstrances Master Bates took in extremely good part, merely requesting his friend to be “ blowed,” or to insert his hand in a sack, or replying with some other neatly-turned witticism of a similar kind, the happy application of which excited considerable admiration in the mind of Mr. Chitling. It was remarkable that the latter gentleman and his partner invariably lost; and that the “ircumstance, so far from angering Master Bates, appeared to afford him the highest amusement, inasmuch as he laughed most uproariously at the end of every deal, and such a jolly game in all his born days. “'That’s two doubles and the rub,” said Mi Chitung with a very long face, as he drew half-a-crown from his waistcoat pocket. “I never see such a feller as you, Jack; you win everything. Even when we’ve good cards, Charley and I can’t make nothing of "em." ri Either the matter or manner of this remark, which was made very ruefully, delighted Charley Bates so much, that his consequent shout of laughter roused the Jew from his reverie, and induced him to inquire what was the matter. “ Matter, Fagin!” cried Charley. “I wish you had watched the play. ‘Tommy Chitling hasn’t won a point, and I went | Seeding with him against the Artful and um.” “ Ay, ay!” said the Jew with a grin, which sufficiently demonstrated that he | was at no loss to understand the reason. | “Try "em again, Tom; try "em again.” | “No more of it for me, thankee, Fagin,” replied Mr. Chitling; “I’ve had enough. ‘That ’ere Dodger has such a run of luck, that there’s no standing again’ him.” “Ha! ha! my dear,” replied the Jew, “you must get up very early in the morning to win against the Dodger.” “ Morning !” said Charles Bates; * you must put your boots on over night, and | have a telescope at each eye, and a operaglass between your shoulders, if you want | to come over him.” Mr. Dawkins received these handsome compliments with much philosophy, and offered to cut any gentleman in company | for the first picture-card at a shilling a time. Nobody accepting the challenge, and his pipe being by this time smoked out, he proceeded to amuse himself by sketching a ground-plan of Newgate on the table with the piece of chalk which had served him in lieu of counters, whistling meantime with peculiar shrillness, 4 How precious dull you are, Tommy !" said the Dodger, stopping short when there had been a long silence, and addressing Mr. Chitling. “ What do you think he’s thinking of, Fagin?’ “ How should I know, my dear?" replied the Jew, looking round as he plied the bellows. ‘ About his losses, maybe, | —or the little retirement in the reagaa A that he’s just left, eh?—Ha! ha! that it, my dear?” “ Not a bit of it,” replied the Dodger, stopping the subject of discourse as Mr. Chitling was about to reply. ‘ What do you say, Charley ?” “I should say,” replied Master Bates with a grin, “that he was uncommon ‘sweet upon Betsy. See how he’s 999 oe
