Stranica 221 [221]
165
difficulties and disappointments already
guite numerous enough. Come; supper
has been announced, and young Oliver,
who is all alone in the next room, will
have begun to think, by this time, that we
have wearied of his company, and entered
into some dark conspiracy to thrust him
forth upon the world."
With these words the old gentleman
gave his hand to Mrs. Maylie, and escort¬
ed her into the supper room. Mr. Los¬
berne followed, leading Rose, and the
council was for the present effectually
broken up.
CHAPTER THE FIFTH.
An old acquaintance of Oliver's exhibiting decided
marks of genius, becomes a public character in
the metropolis,
Upon the very same night when Nancy,
having lulled Mr. Sikes to sleep, hurried
on her self-imposed mission to Rose May¬
lie, there advanced towards London by
the Great North Road two persons, upon
whom it is expedient that this history
should bestow some attention.
They were a man and woman, or per¬
haps they would be better described as a
male and female; for the former was one
of those long-limbed, knock-kneed, sham¬
bling, bony figures to whom it is difficult
to assign any precise age,—lJlooking as
they do, when they are yet boys, like un¬
der-grown men, and when they are almost
men, like over-grown boys. The woman
was young, but of a robust and hardy
make, as she need have been to bear the
weight of the heavy bundle which was
strapped to her back. Her companion
was not encumbered with much luggage,
as there merely dangled from a stick
which he carried over his shoulder, a
small parcel wrapped in a common hand¬
kerchief, and apparently light enough.
This circumstance, added to the length
of his legs which were of unusual extent,
enabled him with much ease to keep some
half-dozen paces in advance of his com¬
panion, to whom he occasionally turned
with an impatient jerk of the head, as if
reproaching her tardiness, and urging her
to greater exertion.
Thus they toiled along the dusty road,
taking little heed of any object within
sight, save when they stepped aside to
allow a wider e for the mail-coach¬
es which were whirling out of town, until
they passed through Highgate Archway,
when the foremost traveller stopped, and
called impatiently to his companion,
“Come on, can’t yer? What a lazy¬
bones yer ar, Charlotte.”
“It’s a heavy load, I can tell you,”
said the female, coming up almost breath.
less with fatigue.
“Heavy! What are yer talking
about?—What are yer made for?” re¬
joined the male traveller, changing his
own little bundle as he spoke to the other
shoulder. ‘Oh, there yer are, resting
again. Well, if yer ain’t enough to tire
anybody’s patience out, I don’t know what
is.”
‘Ts it much further?” asked the wo¬
man, resting herself on a bank, and look¬
ing up, with the perspiration streaming
from her face.
6 Much further! Yer as good as there,”
said the long-legged tramper, pointing out
before him. " Look there,—those are the
lights of London." ;
“'They’re a good two miles off at least,"
said the woman despondingly.
“ Never mind whether they’re two
miles off or twenty,” said Noah Clay¬
pole, for he it was; “ but get up and come
on, or [711 kick yer; and so I give yer
notice.”
As Noah’s red nose grew redder with
anger, and as he crossed the road while
speaking, as if fully prepared to put his
threat into execution, the woman rose
without any further remark, and trudged
onward by his side.
6 Where do you mean to stop for the
night, Noah ?" she asked, after they had
walked a few hundred yards.
“ How should I know?" replied Noah,
whose temper had been considerably im¬
paired by walking.
s: Near, I hope,” said Charlotte.
“ No, not near,” replied Mr. Claypole ;
* there—not near; so don’t think it.”
“ Why not?”
“ When I tell yer that I don’t mean to
do a thing, that’s enough, without any
why, or because either,” replied Mr
Claypole with dignity.
“ Well, you needn’t be so cross,” said
his companion.