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said； that that mother of his made her way here； against difficulties
and pain that would have killed any well…disposed woman； weeks
before。”
At this point of Mr。 Bumble’s discourse； Oliver； just hearing
enough to know that some new allusion was being made to his
mother； recommenced kicking； with a violence that rendered
every other sound inaudible。 Sowerberry returned at this
juncture。 Oliver’s offence having been explained to him； with such
exaggerations as the ladies thought best calculated to rouse his ire；
he unlocked the cellar…door in a twinkling； and dragged his
rebellious apprentice out； by the collar。 Oliver’s clothes had been
torn in the beating he had received； his face was bruised and
scratched； and his hair scattered over his forehead。 The angry
flush had not disappeared； however； and when he was pulled out
of his prison； he scowled boldly on Noah； and looked quite
undismayed。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Now； you are a nice young fellow； ain’t you？” said Sowerberry；
giving Oliver a shake； and a box on the ear。
“He called my mother names；” replied Oliver。
“Well； and what if he did； you little； ungrateful wretch？” said
Mrs。 Sowerberry。 “She deserved what he said； and worse。”
“She didn’t；” said Oliver。
“She did；” said Mrs。 Sowerberry。
“It’s a lie！” said Oliver。
Mrs。 Sowerberry burst into a flood of tears。
This flood of tears left Mr。 Sowerberry no alternative。 If he had
hesitated for one instant to punish Oliver most severely； it must be
quite clear to every experienced reader that he would have been；
according to all precedents in disputes of matrimony established； a
brute； an unnatural husband； an insulting creature； a base
imitation of a man； and various other agreeable characters too
numerous for recital within the limits of this chapter。 To do him
justice； he was； as far as his power went—it was not very
extensive—kindly disposed towards the boy； perhaps； because it
was his interest to do so； perhaps； because his wife disliked him。
The flood of tears； however； left him no resource； so he at once
gave him a drubbing； which satisfied even Mrs。 Sowerberry
herself； and rendered Mr。 Bumble’s subsequent application of the
parochial cane； rather unnecessary。 For the rest of the day； he was
shut up in the back kitchen； in company with a pump and a slice of
bread； and； at night； Mrs。 Sowerberry； after making various
remarks outside the door； by no means complimentary to the
memory of his mother； looked into the room； and； amidst the jeers
and pointings of Noah and Charlotte； ordered him upstairs to his
dismal bed。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
It was not until he was left alone in the silence and stillness of
the gloomy workshop of the undertaker； that Oliver gave way to
the feelings which the day’s treatment may be supposed likely to
have awakened in a mere child。 He had listened to their taunts
with a look of contempt； he had borne the lash without a cry； for
he felt that pride swelling in his heart which would have kept
down a shriek to the last； though they had roasted him alive。 But
now； when there were none to see or hear him； he fell upon his
knees on the floor； and； hiding his face in his hands； wept such
tears as—God send for the credit of our nature—few so young may
ever have cause to pour out before Him！
For a long time； Oliver remained motionless in this attitude。
The candle was burning low in the socket when he rose to his feet。
Having gazed curiously round him and listened intently； he gently
undid the fastenings of the door； and looked abroad。
It was a cold； dark night。 The stars seemed； to the boy’s eyes；
farther from the earth than he had ever seen them before； there
was no wind； and the sombre shadows thrown by the trees upon
the ground； looked sepulchral and death…like； from being so still。
He softly reclosed the door。 Having availed himself of the expiring
light of the candle to tie up in a handkerchief the few articles of
wearing apparel he had； sat himself down upon a bench； to wait
for morning。
With the first ray of light that struggled through the crevices in
the shutters； Oliver arose； and again unbarred the door。 One timid
look around—one moment’s pause of hesitation—he had closed it
behind him； and was in the open street。
He looked to the right and to the left； uncertain whither to fly。
He remembered to have seen the wagons； as they went out； toiling
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
up the hill。 He took the same route； and； arriving at a footpath
across the fields； which he knew； after some distance； led out again
into the road； struck into it； and walked quickly on。
Along the same footpath； Oliver well remembered he had
trotted beside Mr。 Bumble； when he first carried him to the
workhouse from the farm。 His way lay directly in front of the
cottage。 His heart beat quickly when he bethought himself of this；
and he half…resolved to turn back。 He had come a long way though；
and should lose a great deal of time by doing so。 Besides； it was so
early that there was very little fear of his being seen； so he walked
on。
He reached the house。 There was no appearance of its inmates
stirring at that early hour。 Oliver stopped； and peeped into the
garden。 A child was weeding one of the little beds； as he stopped；
he raised his pale face and disclosed the features of one of his
former companions。 Oliver felt glad to see him； before he went；
for； though younger than himself； he had been his little friend and
playmate。 They had been beaten； and starved； and shut up
together； many and many a time。
“Hush； Dick！” said Oliver； as the boy ran to the gate； and thrust
his thin arm between the rails to greet him。 “Is any one up？”
“Nobody but me；” replied the child。
“You mustn’t say you saw me； Dick；” said Oliver。 “I am running
away。 They beat and ill…use me； Dick； and I am going to seek my
fortune； some long way off。 I don’t know where。 How pale you
are！”
“I heard the doctor tell them I was dying；” replied the child；
with a faint smile。 “I am very glad to see you； dear； but don’t stop；
don’t stop！”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Yes； yes； I will； to say good…bye to you；” replied Oliver。 “I shall
see you again； Dick。 I know I shall！ You will be well and happy！”
“I hope so；” replied the child。 “After I am dead； but not before。 I
know the doctor must be right； Oliver； because I dream so much of
heaven； and angels； and kind faces that I never see when I am
awake。 Kiss me；” said the child； climbing up the low gate； and
flinging his little arms round Oliver’s neck。 “Good…bye； dear！ God
bless you！”
The blessing was from a young child’s lips； but it was the first
that Oliver had ever heard invoked upon his head； and through
the struggles and sufferings； and troubles and changes； of his after
life； he never once forgot it。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
Chapter 8
Oliver Walks To London—He Encounters On The
Road A Strange Sort Of Young Gentleman。
O liver reached the stile； at which the by…path terminated；
and once more gained the high…road。 It was eight o’clock
now。 Though he was nearly five miles away from the
town； he ran； and hid behind the hedges； by turns； till noon；
fearing that he might be pursued and overtaken。 Then he sat
down to rest by the side of the milestone； and began to think； for
the first time； where he had better go and try to live。
The stone by which he was seated； bore； in large characters； an
intimation that it was just seventy miles from that spot to London。
The name awakened a new train of ideas in the boy’s mind。
London！—that great large place！—nobody—not even Mr。
Bumble—could ever find him there！ He had often heard the old
men in the workhouse； too； say that no lad of spirit need want in
London； and that there were ways of living in that vast city； which
those who had been bred up in country parts had no idea of。 It was
the very place for a homeless boy； who must die in the streets
unless some one helped him。 As these things passed through his
thoughts； he jumped upon his feet； and again walked forward。
He had diminished the distance between himself and London
by full four miles more； before he recollected how much he must
undergo ere he could hope to reach his place of destination。 As
this consideration forced itself upon him； he slackened his pace a
little； and meditated upon his means of getting there。 He had a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
crust of bread； a coarse shirt； and two pairs of stockings； in his
bundle。 He had a penny too—a gift of Sowerberry’s after some
funeral in which he had acquitted himself more than ordinarily
well—in his pocket。 “A clean shirt；” thought Oliver； “is a very
comfortable thing； very； and so are two pairs of darned stockings；
and so is a penny； but they are small helps to a sixty…five miles’
wal