oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第45部分

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Corney’s　little　finger　as　she　took　it；　and　inflicting　two　open…handed　
slaps　upon　his　laced　waistcoat；　gave　a　mighty　sigh；　and　hitched　his　
chair　a　very　little　morsel　farther　from　the　fire。　

It　was　a　round　table；　and　as　Mrs。　Corney　and　Mr。　Bumble　had　
been　sitting　opposite　each　other；　with　no　great　space　between　
them；　and　fronting　the　fire；　it　will　be　seen　that　Mr。　Bumble；　in　
receding　from　the　fire；　and　still　keeping　at　the　table；　increased　the　
distance　between　himself　and　Mrs。　Corney；　which　proceeding　
some　prudent　readers　will　doubtless　be　disposed　to　admire；　and　to　
consider　an　act　of　great　heroism　on　Mr。　Bumble’s　part：　he　being　in　
some　sort　tempted　by　time；　place；　and　opportunity；　to　give　

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utterance　to　certain　soft　nothings；　which；　however　well　they　may　
become　the　lips　of　the　light　and　thoughtless；　so　seem　
immeasurably　beneath　the　dignity　of　judges　of　the　land；　members　
of　parliament；　ministers　of　state；　lord　mayors；　and　other　great　
public　functionaries　but　more　particularly　beneath　the　stateliness　
and　gravity　of　a　beadle；　who　（as　is　well　known）　should　be　the　
sternest　and　most　inflexible　among　them　all。　

Whatever　were　Mr。　Bumble’s　intentions；　however　（and　no　
doubt　they　were　of　the　best）；　it　unfortunately　happened；　as　has　
been　twice　before　remarked；　that　the　table　was　a　round　one；　
consequently　Mr。　Bumble；　moving　his　chair　by　little　and　little；　
soon　began　to　diminish　the　distance　between　himself　and　the　
matron；　and；　continuing　to　travel　round　the　outer　edge　of　the　
circle；　brought　his　chair；　in　time；　close　to　that　in　which　the　matron　
was　seated。　Indeed；　the　two　chairs　touched；　and　when　they　did　so；　
Mr。　Bumble　stopped。　

Now；　if　the　matron　had　moved　her　chair　to　the　right；　she　would　
have　been　scorched　by　the　fire；　and　if　to　the　left；　she　must　have　
fallen　into　Mr。　Bumble’s　arms；　so　（being　a　discreet　matron；　and　no　
doubt　foreseeing　these　consequences　at　a　glance）　she　remained　
where　she　was；　and　handed　Mr。　Bumble　another　cup　of　tea。　

“Hard…hearted；　Mrs。　Corney？”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　stirring　his　tea；　
and　looking　up　into　the　matron’s　face；　“are　you　hardhearted；　Mrs。　
Corney？”　

“Dear　me！”　exclaimed　the　matron；　“what　a　very　curious　
question　from　a　single　man。　What　can　you　want　to　know　for；　Mr。　
Bumble？”　

The　beadle　drank　his　tea　to　the　last　drop；　finished　a　piece　of　
toast；　whisked　the　crumbs　off　his　knees；　wiped　his　lips；　and　

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deliberately　kissed　the　matron。　

“Mr。　Bumble！”　cried　that　discreet　lady　in　a　whisper；　for　the　
fright　was　so　great；　that　she　had　quite　lost　her　voice：　“Mr。　Bumble；　
I　shall　scream！”　Mr。　Bumble　made　no　reply；　but　in　a　slow　and　
dignified　manner；　put　his　arm　round　the　matron’s　waist。　

As　the　lady　had　stated　her　intention　of　screaming；　of　course　she　
would　have　screamed　at　this　additional　boldness；　but　that　the　
exertion　was　rendered　unnecessary　by　a　hasty　knocking　at　the　
door；　which　was　no　sooner　heard；　than　Mr。　Bumble　darted；　with　
much　agility；　to　the　wine　bottles；　and　began　dusting　them　with　
great　violence；　while　the　matron　sharply　demanded　who　was　
there。　It　is　worthy　of　remark；　as　a　curious　physical　instance　of　the　
efficacy　of　a　sudden　surprise　in　counteracting　the　effects　of　
extreme　fear；　that　her　voice　had　quite　recovered　all　its　official　
asperity。　

“If　you　please；　mistress；”　said　a　withered　old　female　pauper；　
hideously　ugly；　putting　her　head　in　at　the　door；　“old　Sally　is　a…
going　fast。”　

“Well；　what’s　that　to　me？”　angrily　demanded　the　matron。　“I　
can’t　keep　her　alive；　can　I？”　

“No；　no；　mistress；”　replied　the　old　woman；　“nobody　can；　she’s　
far　beyond　the　reach　of　help。　I’ve　seen　a　many　people　die；　little　
babies　and　great　strong　men；　and　I　know　when　death’s　a…coming；　
well　enough。　But　she’s　troubled　in　her　mind；　and　when　the　fits　are　
not　on　her；　and　that’s　not　often；　for　she　is　dying　very　hard—she　
says　she　has　got　something　to　tell；　which　you　must　hear。　She’ll　
never　die　quiet　till　you　come；　mistress。”　

At　this　intelligence；　the　worthy　Mrs。　Corney　muttered　a　variety　
of　invectives　against　old　women　who　couldn’t　even　die　without　

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purposely　annoying　their　betters；　and；　muffling　herself　in　a　thick　
shawl　which　she　hastily　caught　up；　briefly　requested　Mr。　Bumble　
to　stay　till　she　came　back；　lest　anything　particular　should　occur；　
and　bidding　the　messenger　walk　fast；　and　not　be　all　night　hobbling　
up　the　stairs；　she　followed　her　from　the　room　with　a　very　ill　grace；　
scolding　all　the　way。　

Mr。　Bumble’s　conduct　on　being　left　to　himself；　was　rather　
inexplicable。　He　opened　the　closet；　counted　the　teaspoons；　
weighed　the　sugar…tongs；　closely　inspected　a　silver　milk…pot　to　
ascertain　that　it　was　of　the　genuine　metal；　and；　having　satisfied　his　
curiosity　on　these　points；　put　on　his　cocked　hat　corner…wise；　and　
danced　with　much　gravity　four　distinct　times　round　the　table。　
Having　gone　through　this　very　extraordinary　performance；　he　
took　off　the　cocked　hat　again；　and；　spreading　himself　before　the　
fire　with　his　back　towards　it；　seemed　to　be　mentally　engaged　in　
taking　an　exact　inventory　of　the　furniture。　

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Chapter　24　

Treats　Of　A　Very　Poor　Subject—But　Is　A　Short　One；
And　May　Be　Found　Of　Importance　In　This　History。


It　was　no　unfit　messenger　of　death；　who　had　disturbed　the　
quiet　of　the　matron’s　room。　Her　body　was　bent　by　age；　her　
limbs　trembled　with　palsy；　her　face；　distorted　into　a　
mumbling　leer；　resembled　more　the　grotesque　shaping　of　some　
wild　pencil；　than　the　work　of　Nature’s　hand。　

Alas！　How　few　of　Nature’s　faces　are　left　alone　to　gladden　us　
with　their　beauty！　The　cares；　and　sorrows；　and　hungerings；　of　the　
world；　change　them　as　they　change　hearts；　and　it　is　only　when　
those　passions　sleep；　and　have　lost　their　hold　for　ever；　that　the　
troubled　clouds　pass　off；　and　leave　Heaven’s　surface　clear。　It　is　a　
common　thing　for　the　countenances　of　the　dead；　even　in　that　fixed　
and　rigid　state；　to　subside　into　the　long…forgotten　expression　of　
sleeping　infancy；　and　settle　into　the　very　look　of　early　life；　so　calm；　
so　peaceful；　do　they　grow　again；　that　those　who　knew　them　in　their　
happy　childhood；　kneel　by　the　coffin’s　side　in　awe；　and　see　the　
angel　even　upon　earth。　

The　old　crone　tottered　along　the　passages；　and　up　the　stairs；　
muttering　some　indistinct　answers　to　the　chidings　of　her　
companion；　and　being　at　length　compelled　to　pause　for　breath；　
gave　the　light　into　her　hand；　and　remained　behind　to　follow　as　she　
might；　while　the　more　nimble　superior　made　her　way　to　the　room　
where　the　sick　woman　lay。　

It　was　a　bare　garret…room；　with　a　dim　light　burning　at　the　

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farther　end。　There　was　another　old　woman　watching　by　the　bed；　
the　parish　apothecary’s　apprentice　was　standing　by　the　fire；　
making　a　toothpick　out　of　a　quill。　

“Cold　night；　Mrs。　Corney；”　said　this　young　gentleman；　as　the　
matron　entered。　

“Very　cold；　indeed；　sir；”　replied　the　mistress；　in　her　most　civil　
tones；　and　dropping　a　curtsey　as　she　spoke。　

“You　should　get　better　coals　out　of　your　contractors；”　said　the　
apothecary’s　deputy；　breaking　a　lump　on　the　top　of　the　fire　with　
the　rusty　poker；　“these　are　not　at　all　the　sort　of　thing　for　a　cold　
night。”　

“They’re　the　Board’s　choosing；　sir；”　returned　the　matron。　“The　
least　they　could　do；　would　be　to　keep　us　pretty　warm；　for　our　
places　are　hard　enough。”　

The　conversation　was　here　interrupted　by　a　moan　from　the　sick　
woman。　

“Oh！”　said　the　young　man；　turning　his　face　towards　the　bed；　as　
if　he　had　previously　quite　forgotten　the　patient；　“it’s　all　U。　P。　there；　
Mrs。　Corney。”　

“It　is；　is　it；　sir？”　asked　the　matron。　

“If　she　lasts　a　couple　of　hours；　I　shall　be　surprised；”　said　the　
apothecary’s　apprentice；　intent　upon　the　toothpick’s　point。　“It’s　a　
break…up　of　the　system　altogether。　Is　she　dozing；　old　lady？”　

The　attendant　stooped　over　the　bed；　to　ascertain；　and　nodded　
in　the　affirmative。　

“Then　perhaps　she’ll　go　off　in　that　way；　if　you　don’t　make　a　
row；”　said　the　young　man。　“Put　the　light　on　the　floor。　She　won’t　
see　it　there。”　

The　attendant　did　as　she　was　told；　shaking　her　head　mean　

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while；　to　intimate　that　the　woman　would　not　die　so　easily；　having　
done　so；　she　resumed　her　seat　by　the　side　of　the　other　nurse；　who　
had　by　this　time　returned。　The　mistress；　with　an　expression　of　
impatience；　wrapped　herself　in　her　shawl；　and　sat　at　the　foot　of　the　
bed。　

The　apothecary’s　apprentice；　having　completed　the　
manufacture　of　the　toothpick；　planted　himself　in　front　of　the　fire；　
and　made　good　use　of　it　for　ten　minutes　or　so；　when；　apparently　
growing　rather　dull；　he　wished　Mrs。　Corney　joy　of　her　job；　and　
took　himself　off　on　tiptoe。　

When　they　had　sat　in　silence　for　some　time；　the　two　old　women　
rose　from　the　bed；　and　crouching　ove