Stranica 209 [209]
OCR
“Tt’s all very night.” “T haven’t a piece of coin about me,” replied the Jew. “Then you "ve there.” “ Lots!” cried the Jew, holding up his hands. “I haven’t so much as would—” “JT don’t know how much you’ve got, and I dare say you hardly know yourself, count it,” said Sikes; “ but I must have some to-night, and that’s flat.” “Well, well,” said the Jew with a ently.” “You won’t do nothing of the kind,” rejoined Mr. Sikes. “The Artful’s a deal too artful, and would forget to come, or lose his way, or get dodged by traps and so be perwented, or anything for an excuse, if you put him up toit. Nancy shall go to the ken and fetch it, to make all sure, and I] lie down and have a snooze while she’s gone.” After a great deal of haggling and squabbling, the Jew beat down the amount of the required advance from five pounds to three pounds four and sixpence, protesting with many solemn asseverations that that would only leave him eighteennce to keep house with; Mr. Sikes, sulenly remarking that if he couldn’t get any more he must be content with that, Nancy prepared to accompany him home, while the Dodger and Master Bates put the eatables in the cupboard. The Jew then, taking leave of his affectionate friend, returned homewards, attended by Nancy and the boys, Mr. Sikes meanwhile flinging himself on the bed, and composing himself to sleep away the time until the young lady’s return. abode, where they found Toby Crackit and Mr. Chitling, intent upon their fifteenth game at cribbage, which it is scarcely necessary to say the latter gentleman lost, and with it his fifteenth and last sixpence, much to the amusement of his young friends. Mr. Crackit, apparently somewhat ashamed at being found relaxing himself with a gentleman so much his inferior in station and mental endowments, yawned heavily, and, inquiring after Sikes, took up his hat to go. F “Has nobody been, Toby?” asked the ew. “Not a living leg, answered Mr. Crackit, pulling up oe collar: “it’s been 153 agin, to recomnse me for keeping house so long. amme, [Im as flat as a juryman, and should have gone to sleep as fast as Newgood natur" to Horrid dull, Im blessed if I an’t.” With these and other ejaculations of up his winnings, and crammed them into pocket with a haughty air, as though such small pieces of silver were wholly beneath the consideration of a man room with so much elegance and gentility, that Mr. Chitling, bestowing numerous admiring glances on his legs and boots till they were out of sight, assured the company that he considered his acquaintance cheap at fifteen sixpences an interview, and that he didn’t value his losses the snap of a little finger. “ Wot a rum chap you are, Tom," said Master Bates, highly amused by this declaration. * Not a bit of it,” replied Mr. Chitling : “am I, Fagin?" 6 A very clever fellow, my dear,” said the Jew, patting him on the shoulder, and winking to his other pupils. “And Mr. Crackit is a heavy swell, an’t he, Fagin?’ asked Tom. “ No doubt at all of that, my dear,” replied the Jew. * And it is a creditable thing to have his acquaintance, ant it, Fagin?" pursued Tom. “Very much so indeed, my dear,” relied the Jew. ‘“They’re only jealous, om, because he won’t give it to them.” “Ah!” cried Tom triumphantly, “that’s where it is. He has cleaned me out; but I can go and earn some more when I like, —can’t I, Fagin?” , To be sure you can,” replied the Jew; and the sooner you go, the better, Tom; so make up your loss at once, and don’t lose any more time. Dodger, Charley, it’s time you were on the lay:—come, it’s near ten, and nothing done yet.” In obedience to this hint, the boys nodding to Nancy, took up their hats and left the room; the Dodger and his vivacious friend indulging as they went in many witticisms at the expense of Mr. Chitling, in whose conduct, it is but justice to say, there was nothing very conspicuous or peculiar, inasmuch as there are a great number of spirited young bloods upon town who pay a much higher price than Mr. Chitling for being seen in good soci
