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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第29章

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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; 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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。 

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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 
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