oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第29部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　154　

came　from　the　heart　or　not；　made　their　way　through　the　nose。　

“Nobody？”　inquired　Fagin；　in　a　tone　of　surprise；　which　perhaps　
might　mean　that　Barney　was　at　liberty　to　tell　the　truth。　

“Dobody　but　Biss　Dadsy；”　replied　Barney。　

“Nancy！”　exclaimed　Sikes。　“Where？　Strike　me　blind；　if　I　don’t　
honour　that　’ere　girl；　for　her　native　talents。”　

“She’s　bid　havid　a　plate　of　boiled　beef　id　the　bar；”　replied　
Barney。　

“Send　her　here；”　said　Sikes；　pouring　out　a　glass　of　liquor。　
“Send　her　here。”　

Barney　looked　timidly　at　Fagin；　as　if　for　permission；　the　Jew　
remaining　silent；　and　not　lifting　his　eyes　from　the　ground；　he　
retired；　and　presently　returned；　ushering　in　Nancy；　who　was　
decorated　with　the　bonnet；　apron；　basket；　and　street　door　key；　
complete。　

“You　are　on　the　scent；　are　you；　Nancy？”　inquired　Sikes；　
proffering　the　glass。　

“Yes；　I　am；　Bill；”　replied　the　young　lady；　disposing　of　its　
contents；　“and　tired　enough　of　it　I　am；　too。　The　young　brat’s　been　
ill　and　confined　to　the　crib；　and—”　

“Ah；　Nancy　dear！”　said　Fagin；　looking　up。　

Now；　whether　a　peculiar　contraction　of　the　Jew’s　red　eyebrows；　
and　a　half…closing　of　his　deeply…set　eyes；—warned　Miss　Nancy　that　
she　was　disposed　to　be　too　communicative；　is　not　a　matter　of　much　
importance。　The　fact　is　all　we　need　care　for　here；　and　the　fact　is；　
that　she　suddenly　checked　herself；　and　with　several　gracious　
smiles　upon　Mr；　Sikes；　turned　the　conversation　to　other　matters。　
In　about　ten　minutes’　time；　Mr。　Fagin　was　seized　with　a　fit　of　
coughing；　upon　which　Nancy　pulled　her　shawl　over　her　shoulders；　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　155　

and　declared　it　was　time　to　go。　Mr。　Sikes；　finding　that　he　was　
walking　a　short　part　of　her　way　himself；　expressed　his　intention　of　
accompanying　her；　and　they　went　away　together；　followed；　at　a　
little　distance；　by　the　dog；　who　slunk　out　of　a　back…yard　as　soon　as　
his　master　was　out　of　sight。　

The　Jew　thrust　his　head　out　of　the　room　door　when　Sikes　had　
left　it；　looked　after　him　as　he　walked　up　the　dark　passage；　shook　
his　clenched　fist；　muttered　a　deep　curse；　and　then；　with　a　horrible　
grin；　reseated　himself　at　the　table；　where　he　was　soon　deeply　
absorbed　in　the　interesting　pages　of　the　Hue…and…Cry。　

Meanwhile；　Oliver　Twist；　little　dreaming　that　he　was　within　so　
very　short　a　distance　of　the　merry　old　gentleman；　was　on　his　way　
to　the　bookstall。　When　he　got　into　Clerkenwell；　he　accidentally　
turned　down　a　by…street　which　was　not　exactly　in　his　way：　but　not　
discovering　his　mistake　until　he　had　got　half…way　down　it；　and　
knowing　it　must　lead　in　the　right　direction；　he　did　not　think　it　
worth　while　to　turn　back；　and　so　marched　on；　as　quickly　as　he　
could；　with　the　books　under　his　arm。　

He　was　walking　along；　thinking　how　happy　and　contented　he　
ought　to　feel；　and　how　much　he　would　give　for　only　one　look　at　
poor　little　Dick；　who；　starved　and　beaten；　might　be　weeping　
bitterly　at　that　very　moment；　when　he　was　startled　by　a　young　
woman　screaming　out　very　loud；　“Oh；　my　dear　brother！”　And　he　
had　hardly　looked　up　to　see　what　the　matter　was；　when　he　was　
stopped　by　having　a　pair　of　arms　thrown　right　round　his　neck。　

“Don’t；”　cried　Oliver；　struggling。　“Let　go　of　me。　Who　is　it？　What　
are　you　stopping　me　for？”　

The　only　reply　to　this；　was　a　great　number　of　loud　lamentations　
from　the　young　woman　who　had　embraced　him；　and　who　had　a　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　156　

little　basket　and　a　street　door　key　in　her　hand。　

“Oh；　my　gracious！”　said　the　young　woman。　“I’ve　found　him！　Oh！　
Oliver！　Oliver！　Oh；　you　naughty　boy；　to　make　me　suffer　such　
distress　on　your　account！　Come　home；　dear；　come。　Oh；　I’ve　found　
him。　Thank　gracious　goodness　heavins；　I’ve　found　him！”　With　
these　incoherent　exclamations；　the　young　woman　burst　into　
another　fit　of　crying；　and　got　so　dreadfully　hysterical；　that　a　couple　
of　women　who　came　up　at　the　moment　asked　a　butcher’s　boy　with　
a　shiny　head　of　hair　anointed　with　suet；　who　was　also　looking　on；　
whether　he　didn’t　think　he　had　better　run　for　the　doctor。　To　
which；　the　butcher’s　boy；　who　appeared　of　a　lounging；　not　to　say　
indolent　disposition；　replied　that　he　thought　not。　

“Oh；　no；　no；　never　mind；”　said　the　young　woman；　grasping　
Oliver’s　hand；　“I’m　better　now。　Come　home　directly；　you　cruel　
boy！　Come！”　

“What’s　the　matter；　ma’am？”　inquired　one　of　the　women。　

“Oh；　ma’am；”　replied　the　young　woman；　“he　ran　away；　near　a　
month　ago；　from　his　parents；　who　are　hard…working　and　
respectable　people；　and　went　and　joined　a　set　of　thieves　and　bad　
characters；　and　almost　broke　his　mother’s　heart。”　

“Young　wretch！”　said　the　woman。　

“Go　home；　do；　you　little　brute；”　said　the　other。　

“I’m　not；”　replied　Oliver；　greatly　alarmed。　“I　don’t　know　her。　I　
haven’t　any　sister；　or　father　and　mother　either。　I’m　an　orphan；　I　
live　at　Pentonville。”　

“Only　hear　him；　how　he　braves　it　out！”　cried　the　young　woman。　

“Why；　it’s　Nancy！”　exclaimed　Oliver；　who　now　saw　her　face　for　
the　first　time；　and　started　back；　in　irrepressible　astonishment。　

“You　see　he　knows　me！”　cried　Nancy；　appealing　to　the　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　157　

bystanders。　“He　can’t　help　himself。　Make　him　come　home；　there’s　
good　people；　or　he’ll　kill　his　dear　mother　and　father；　and　break　my　
heart！”　

“What　the　devil’s　this？”　said　a　man；　bursting　out　of　a　beer…shop；　
with　a　white　dog　at　his　heels；　“young　Oliver！　Come　home　to　your　
poor　mother；　you　young　dog！　Come　home　directly。”　

“I　don’t　belong　to　them。　I　don’t　know　them。　Help！　help！”　cried　
Oliver；　struggling　in　the　man’s　powerful　grasp。　

“Help！”　repeated　the　man。　“Yes；　I’ll　help　you；　you　young　rascal！　
What　books　are　these？　You’ve　been　a…stealin’　’em；　have　you？　Give　
’em　here。”　With　these　words；　the　man　tore　the　volumes　from　his　
grasp；　and　struck　him　on　the　head。　

“That’s　right！”　cried　a　looker…on；　from　a　garret　window。　“That’s　
the　only　way　of　bringing　him　to　his　senses！”　

“To　be　sure！”　cried　a　sleepy…faced　carpenter；　casting　an　
approving　look　at　the　garret　window。　

“It’ll　do　him　good！”　said　the　two　women。　

“And　he　shall　have　it；　too！”　rejoined　the　man；　administering　
another　blow；　and　seizing　Oliver　by　the　collar。　“Come　on；　you　
young　villain！　Here；　Bull’s…eye；　mind　him；　boy！　Mind　him！”　

Weak　with　recent　illness；　stupefied　by　the　blows　and　the　
suddenness　of　the　attack；　terrified　by　the　fierce　growling　of　the　
dog；　and　the　brutality　of　the　man；　overpowered　by　the　conviction　
of　the　bystanders　that　he　really　was　the　hardened　little　wretch　he　
was　described　to　be；　what　could　one　poor　child　do！　Darkness　had　
set　in；　it　was　a　low　neighbourhood；　no　help　was　near；　resistance　
was　useless。　In　another　moment；　he　was　dragged　into　a　labyrinth　
of　dark；　narrow　courts；　and　was　forced　along　them　at　a　pace　which　
rendered　the　few　cries　he　dared　to　give　utterance　to；　wholly　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　158　

unintelligible。　It　was　of　little　moment；　indeed；　whether　they　were　
intelligible　or　no；　for　there　was　nobody　to　care　for　them；　had　they　
been　ever　so　plain。　

*****　

The　gas…lamps　were　lighted；　Mrs。　Bedwin　was　waiting　
anxiously　at　the　open　door；—the　servant　had　run　up　the　street　
twenty　times　to　see　if　there　were　any　traces　of　Oliver；　and　still　the　
two　old　gentlemen　sat；　perseveringly；　in　the　dark　parlour；　with　the　
watch　between　them。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist　159　

Chapter　16　

Relates　What　Became　Of　Oliver　Twist；　After　He　Had
Been　Claimed　By　Nancy。


The　narrow　streets　and　courts；　at　length；　terminated　in　a　
large　open　space；　scattered　about　which；　were　pens　for　
beasts；　and　other　indications　of　a　cattle…market。　Sikes　
slackened　his　pace　when　they　reached　this　spot；　the　girl　being　
quite　unable　to　support　any　longer　the　rapid　rate　at　which　they　
had　hitherto　walked。　Turning　to　Oliver；　he　roughly　commanded　
him　to　take　hold　of　Nancy’s　hand。　

“Do　you　hear？”　growled　Sikes；　as　Oliver　hesitated；　and　looked　
round。　

They　were　in　a　dark　corner；　quite　out　of　the　track　of　passengers。　
Oliver　saw；　but　too　plainly；　that　resistance　would　be　of　no　avail。　He　
held　out　his　hand；　which　Nancy　clasped　tight　in　hers。　

“Give　me　the　other；”　said　Sikes；　seizing　Oliver’s　unoccupied　
hand。　“Here；　Bull’s…Eye！”　

The　dog　looked　up；　and　growled。　

“See　here；　boy！”　said　Sikes；　putting　his　other　hand　to　Oliver’s　
throat；　“if　he　speaks　ever　so　soft　a　word；　hold　him！　D’ye　mind！”　

The　dog　growled　again；　and　licking　his　lips；　eyed　Oliver　as　if　he　
were　anxious　to　attach　himself　to　his　windpipe　without　delay。　

“He’s　as　willing　as　a　Christian；　strike　me　blind　if　he　isn’t！”　said　
Sikes；　regarding　the　animal　with　a　kind　of　grim　and　ferocious　
approval。　“Now；　you　know　what　you’ve　got　to　expect；　master；　so　
call　away　as　quick　as　you　like；　the　dog　will　soon　stop　that　game。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


Oliver　Twist