友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
九色书籍 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第40章

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!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



the room; closing the door as he spoke。 

“Yes; here he is;” replied Nancy。 

“Did he come quiet?” inquired Sikes。 

“Like a lamb;” rejoined Nancy。 

“I’m glad to hear it;” said Sikes; looking grimly at Oliver; “for 
the sake of his young carcass; as would otherways have suffered 
for it。 Come here; young ’un; and let me read you a lecture; which 
is as well got over at once。” 

Thus addressing his new pupil; Mr。 Sikes pulled off Oliver’s cap 
and threw it into a corner; and then taking him by the shoulder; 
sat himself down by the table; and stood the boy in front of him。 

“Now; first; do you know wot this is?” inquired Sikes; taking up 
a pocket…pistol which lay on the table。 

Oliver replied in the affirmative。 

“Well; then; look here;” continued Sikes。 “This is powder; that 
’ere’s a bullet; and this is a little bit of a old hat for waddin’。” 

Oliver murmured his comprehension of the different bodies 
referred to; and Mr。 Sikes proceeded to load the pistol; with great 
nicety and deliberation。 

“Now it’s loaded;” said Mr Sikes; when he had finished。 

“Yes; I see it is; sir;” replied Oliver。 

“Well;” said the robber; grasping Oliver’s wrist tightly; and 
putting the barrel so close to his temple that they touched; at 
which moment the boy could not repress a start; “if you speak a 
word when you’re out o’ doors with me; except when I speak to 
you; that loading will be in your head without notice。 So; if you do 
make up your mind to speak without leave; say your prayers first。” 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 216 

Having bestowed a scowl upon the object of this warning; to 
increase its effect; Mr。 Sikes continued: 

“As near as I know; there isn’t anybody as would be asking very 
partickler arter you; if you was disposed of; so I needn’t take this 
devil…and…all of trouble to explain matters to you; if it warn’t for 
your own good。 D’ye hear me?” 

“The short and the long of what you mean;” said Nancy; 
speaking very emphatically; and slightly frowning at Oliver as if to 
bespeak his serious attention to her words; “is; that if you’re 
crossed by him in this job you have on hand; you’ll prevent his 
ever telling tales afterwards; by shooting him through the head; 
and will take your chance of swinging for it; as you do for a great 
many other things in the way of business; every month of your 
life。” 

“That’s it!” observed Mr。 Sikes approvingly; “women can 
always put things in fewest words。—Except when it’s blowing up; 
and then they lengthens it out。 And now that he’s thoroughly up to 
it; let’s have some supper; and get a snooze before starting。” 

In pursuance of this request; Nancy quickly laid the cloth; and; 
disappearing for a few minutes; presently returned with a pot of 
porter and a dish of sheep’s heads; which gave occasion to several 
pleasant witticisms on the part of Mr。 Sikes; founded upon the 
singular coincidence of “jemmies” being a cant name; common to 
them。 and also to an ingenious implement much used in his 
profession。 Indeed; the worthy gentleman; stimulated perhaps by 
the immediate prospect of being on active service; was in great 
spirits and good…humour; in proof whereof; it may be here 
remarked; that he humorously drank all the beer at a draught; and 
did not utter; on a rough calculation; more than fourscore oaths 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 217 

during the whole progress of the meal。 

Supper being ended—it may be easily conceived that Oliver 
had no great appetite for it—Mr。 Sikes disposed of a couple of 
glasses of spirits and water; and threw himself on the bed; 
ordering Nancy; with many imprecations in case of failure; to call 
him at five precisely。 Oliver stretched himself in his clothes; by 
command of the same authority; on a mattress upon the floor; and 
the girl; mending the fire; sat before it; in readiness to rouse them 
at the appointed time。 

For a long time Oliver lay awake; thinking it not impossible that 
Nancy might seek that opportunity of whispering some further 
advice; but the girl sat brooding over the fire; without moving; 
save now and then to trim the light。 Weary with watching and 
anxiety; he at length fell asleep。 

When he awoke; the table was covered with tea…things; and 
Sikes was thrusting various articles into the pockets of his 
greatcoat; which hung over the back of a chair; while Nancy was 
busily engaged in preparing breakfast。 It was not yet daylight; for 
the candle was still burning; and it was quite dark outside。 A sharp 
rain; too; was beating against the window…panes; and the sky 
looked black and cloudy。 

“Now; then!” growled Sikes; as Oliver started up; “half…past 
five! Look sharp; or you’ll get no breakfast; for it’s late as it is。” 

Oliver was not long in making his toilet; and having taken some 
breakfast; he replied to a surly inquiry from Sikes; by saying that 
he was quite ready。 

Nancy; scarcely looked at the boy; threw him a handkerchief to 
tie round his throat; and Sikes gave him a large; rough cape to 
button over his shoulders。 Thus attired; he gave his hand to the 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 218 

robber; who; merely pausing to show him with a menacing gesture 
that he had that same pistol in a side…pocket of his greatcoat; 
clasped it firmly in his; and; exchanging a farewell with Nancy; led 
him away。 

Oliver turned; for an instant; when they reached the door; in 
the hope of meeting a look from the girl。 But she had resumed her 
old seat in front of the fire; and sat; perfectly motionless; before it。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 219 

Chapter 21 

The Expedition。 

 It was a cheerless morning when they got into the street; 
blowing and raining hard; and the clouds looking dull and 
stormy。 The night had been very wet; for large pools of 
water had collected in the road; and the kennels were overflowing。 
There was a faint glimmering of the coming day in the sky; but it 
rather aggravated than relieved the gloom of the scene: the 
sombre light only serving to pale that which the street lamps 
afforded; without shedding any warmer or brighter tints upon the 
wet housetops; and dreary streets。 There appeared to be nobody 
stirring in that quarter of the town; for the windows of the houses 
were all closely shut; and the streets through which they passed; 
were noiseless and empty。 

By the time they had turned into Bethnal Green Road; the day 
had fairly begun to break。 Many of the lamps were already 
extinguished; a few country waggons were slowly toiling on; 
towards London; and now and then; a stagecoach; covered with 
mud; rattled briskly by; the driver bestowing; as he passed; an 
admonitory lash upon the heavy waggoner who; by keeping on the 
wrong side of the road; had endangered his arriving at the office; a 
quarter of a minute after his time。 The public…houses; with gaslights burning inside; were already open。 By degrees; other shops 
began to be unclosed; and a few scattered people were met with。 
Then; came straggling groups of labourers going to their work; 
then; men and women with fish…baskets on their heads; donkey

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 220 

carts laden with vegetables; chaise…carts filled with live stock or 
whole carcasses of meat; milk…women with pails: an unbroken 
concourse of people; trudging out with various supplies to the 
eastern suburbs of the town。 As they approached the city; the 
noise and traffic gradually increased: when they threaded the 
streets between Shoreditch and Smithfield; it had swelled into a 
roar of sound and bustle。 It was as light as it was likely to be; till 
night came on again; and the busy morning of half the London 
population had begun。 

Turning down Sun Street and Crown Street; and crossing 
Finsbury Square; Mr。 Sikes struck; by way of Chiswell Street; into 
Barbican; thence into Long Lane; and so into Smithfield; from 
which latter place are a tumult of discordant sounds that filled 
Oliver Twist with amazement。 

It was market morning。 The ground was covered; nearly ankle…
deep; with filth and mire; a thick steam perpetually rising from the 
reeking bodies of the cattle; and mingling with the fog; which 
seemed to rest upon the chimney…tops; hung heavily above。 All the 
pens in the centre of the large area; and as many temporary pens 
as could be crowded into the vacant space; were filled with sheep; 
tied up to posts by the gutter side were long lines of beasts and 
oxen; three or four deep。 Countrymen; butchers; drovers; hawkers; 
boys; thieves; idlers; and vagabonds of every low grade; were 
mingled together in a mass; the whistling of drovers; the barking 
of dogs; the bellowing and plunging of oxen; the bleating of sheep; 
the grunting and squeaking of pigs; the cries of hawkers; the 
shouts; oaths; and quarrelling on all sides; the ringing of bells and 
roar of voices; that issued from every public…house; the crowding; 
pushing; driving; beating; whooping and yelling; the hideous
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 1
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!