Stranica 221 [221]
OCR
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 escorted her into the supper room. Mr. Losberne 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 Maylie, 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 perhaps they would be better described as a male and female; for the former was one of those long-limbed, knock-kneed, shambling, bony figures to whom it is difficult to assign any precise age,—lJlooking as they do, when they are yet boys, like under-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 handkerchief, 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 companion, 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-coaches 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 lazybones 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?” rejoined 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 woman, resting herself on a bank, and looking 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 Claypole, 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 impaired 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.
