Oldal 207 [207]
OCR
Mr. Sikes himself would have fully confirmed these symptoms if they had stood in need of corroboration. The housebreaker was lying on the bed wrapped in his white (metert by way of dressing-gown, and displaying a set of features in no degree improved by the cadaverous hue of illness, and the addition of a soiled nightcap, and a stiff, black beard of a week"s growth. The dog sat at the bedside, now eyeing his master with a wistful look, and now pricking his ears, and uttering a low growl as some noise in the street, or in the lower part of the house, attracted his attention. Seated by the window, busily en in patching an old waistcoat which formed a portion of the robber’s ordinary dress, was a female, so pale and reduced with watching and privation that there would have been considerable difficulty in recognizing her as the same Nancy who has already figured in this tale, but for the voice in which she replied to Mr. Sikes’s question. “ Not long gone seven,” said the girl. 4 How do you feel to-night, Bill?" s As weak as water,” replied Mr. Sikes, with an imprecation on his eyes and limbs. “Here; lend usa hand, and let me get off this thundering bed, anylhiow.” Illness had not improved Mr. Sikes’s temper, for, as the girl raised him up, and led him to a chair, he muttered various — upon her awkwardness, and struck r, “Whining, are you?" said Sikes. 6 Come; don’t stand snivelling there. If you can’t do anything better than that, cut off altogether. D’ ye hear me?” “T hear you,” replied the girl, turning her face aside, and forcing a laugh. “What fancy have you got in your head now ?" “Oh! you ’ve thought better of it, have you!" growled Sikes, marking the tear which trembled in her eye. “All the better for you, you have.” “ Why, you don’t mean to say you "d be girl, laying her hand upon his shoulder. “No!” cried Mr. Sikes. “ Why not?" “Such a number of nights,” said the girl, with a touch of woman’s tenderness, which communicated something like sweetness of tone even to her voice,— “such a number of nights as I’ve been patient with you, nursing and caring for you as if you had been a child, and this the first that I’ve seen you like yourself; you wouldn’t have served me as you did just now, if you’d thought of that, would you? Come, come; say you wouldn't.” sc Well, then,” rejoined Mr. Sikes, “1 wouldn’t. Why, damme, now, the girl’s whining again !” “It’s nothing,” said the girl, throwing herself into a chair. “ Don’t you seem to mind me, and it’ll soon be over.” c What’ll be over?” demanded Mr. Sikes in a savage voice. ‘ What foolery are you up to now again? Get up, and bustle about, and don’t come over me with your woman’s nonsense.” At any other time this remonstrance, and the tone in which it was delivered, would have had the desired effect; but the girl being really weak and exhausted, dropped her head over the back of the chair, and fainted, before Mr. Sikes could get out a few of the appropriate oaths with which on similar occasions he was accustomed to garnish his threats. Not knowing very well what to do in this uncommon emergency, for Miss Nancy’s hysterics were usually of that violent kind which the patient fights and struggles out of without much assistance, Mr. Sikes tried a little blasphemy, and, finding that mode of treatment wholly ineffectual, called for assistance. “What’s the matter here, my dear?" said the Jew, looking in. s Lend a hand to the girl, can’t you?’ replied Sikes impatiently, "and don’t stand chattering and grinning at me!” With an exclamation of surprise, Fagin hastened to the girl’s assistance, while Mr. John Dawkins, (otherwise the Artful Dodger,) who had followed his venerable friend into the room, hastily deposited on the floor a bundle with which he was laden, and, snatching a bottle from the grasp of Master Charles Bates who came ling with his teeth, and poured a portion of its contents down the patient’s throat; previously taking a taste himself to prevent mistakes, “Give her a whiff of fresh air with the bellows, Charley,” said Mr. Dawkins; “and you slap her hands, Fagin, while Bill undoes the petticuts.” These united restoratives, administered with great energy, especially that department consigned to Master Bates, who ap peared to consider his share in the proceeding a piece of unexampled pleasantry, were not long in producing the desired effect. The girl gradually recovered her senses, and, staggering to a chair by the bedside, hid her face upon the pillow, leaving Mr. Sikes to confront the newcomers, in some astonishment at their un looked-for appearance.
