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condescending smile。 “What of him？”
“If the parish would like him to learn a right pleasant trade； in a
good ’spectable chimbley…sweepin’ bisness；” said Mr。 Gamfield； “I
wants a ’prentis； and I am ready to take him。”
“Walk in；” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat。 Mr。
Gamfield having lingered behind； to give the donkey another blow
on the head； and another wrench of the jaw； as a caution not to
run away in his absence； followed the gentleman with the white
waistcoat into the room where Oliver had first seen him。
“It’s a nasty trade；” said Mr。 Limbkins； when Gamfield had
again stated his wish。
“Young boys have been smothered in chimneys before now；”
said another gentleman。
“That’s ’cause they damped the straw afore they lit it in the
chimbley to make ’em come down agin；” said Gamfield； “that’s all
smoke； and no blaze； vereas smoke ain’t o’ no use at all in making
a boy come down； for it only sinds him to sleep； and that’s wot he
likes。 Boys is wery obstinit； and wery lazy； gen’lmen； and there’s
nothink like a good hot blaze to make ’em come down vith a run。
It’s humane too； gen’lmen； acause； even if they’ve stuck in the
chimbley； roasting their feet makes ’em struggle to hextricate
theirselves。”
The gentleman in the white waistcoat appeared very much
amused by this explanation； but his mirth was speedily checked by
a look from Mr。 Limbkins。 The Board then proceeded to converse
among themselves for a few minutes； but in so low a tone； that the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
words “saving of expenditure；” “looked well in the accounts；”
“have a printed report published；” were alone audible。 These only
chanced to be heard； indeed； on account of their being very
frequently repeated with great emphasis。 At length the whispering
ceased； and the members of the Board having resumed their seats
and their solemnity； Mr。 Limbkins said： “We have considered your
proposition； and we don’t approve of it。”
“Not at all；” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat。
“Decidedly not；” added the other members。
As Mr。 Gamfield did happen to labour under the slight
imputation of having bruised three or four boys to death already； it
occurred to him that the Board had； perhaps； in some
unaccountable freak； taken it into their heads that this extraneous
circumstance ought to influence their proceedings。 It was very
unlike their general mode of doing business； if they had； but still；
as he had no particular wish to revive the rumour； he twisted his
cap in his hands； and walked slowly from the table。
“So you won’t let me have him； gen’lmen？” said Mr。 Gamfield；
pausing near the door。
“No；” replied Mr。 Limbkins； “at least； as it’s a nasty business；
we think you ought to take something less than the premium we
offered。”
Mr。 Gamfield’s countenance brightened； as； with a quick step；
he returned to the table； and said：
“What’ll you give； gen’lmen？ Come！ Don’t be too hard on a poor
man。 What’ll you give？”
“I should say； three pounds ten was plenty；” said Mr。 Limbkins。
“Ten shillings too much；” said the gentleman in the white
waistcoat。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Come！” said Gamfield； “say four pound； gen’lmen。 Say four
pound； and you’ve got rid on him for good and all。 There！
“Three pound ten；” repeated Mr。 Limbkins firmly。
“Come！ I’ll split the difference； gen’lmen；” urged Gamfield。
Three pound fifteen。”
“Not a farthing more；” said the firm reply of Mr。 Limbkins。
“You’re desperate hard upon me； gen’lmen；” said Gamfield；
wavering。
“Pooh！ pooh！ nonsense！” said the gentleman in the white
waistcoat。 “He’d be cheap with nothing at all； as a premium。 Take
him； you silly fellow！ He’s just the boy for you。 He wants the stick；
now and then： it’ll do him good； and his board needn’t come very
expensive； for he hasn’t been overfed since he was born。 Ha！ ha！
ha！”
Mr。 Gamfield gave an arch look at the faces round the table；
and； observing a smile on all of them； gradually broke into a smile
himself。 The bargain was made。 Mr。 Bumble was at once
instructed that Oliver Twist and his indentures were to be
conveyed before the magistrate for signature and approval； that
very afternoon。 In pursuance of this determination； little Oliver； to
his excessive astonishment； was released from bondage； and
ordered to put himself into a clean shirt。 He had hardly achieved
this very unusual gymnastic performance； when Mr。 Bumble
brought him； with his own hands； a basin of gruel； and the holiday
allowance of two ounces and a quarter of bread。 At this
tremendous sight； Oliver began to cry very piteously： thinking； not
unnaturally； that the Board must have determined to kill him for
some useful purpose； or they never would have begun to fatten
him up in that way。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Don’t make your eyes red； Oliver； but eat your food and be
thankful；” said Mr。 Bumble； in a tone of impressive pomposity。
“You’re a…going to be made a ’prentice of； Oliver。”
“A ’prentice； sir！” said the child； trembling。
“Yes； Oliver；” said Mr。 Bumble。 “The kind and blessed
gentlemen which is so many parents to you； Oliver； when you have
none of your own； are a…going to ’prentice you； and to set you up in
life； and make a man of you； although the expense to the parish is
three pound ten！—three pound ten； Oliver！—seventy shillins one
hundred and forty sixpences！—and all for a naughty orphan which
nobody can’t love。”
As Mr。 Bumble paused to take breath； after delivering this
address in an awful voice； the tears rolled down the poor child’s
face； and he sobbed bitterly。
“Come；” said Mr。 Bumble； somewhat less pompously； for It was
gratifying to his feelings to observe the effect his eloquence had
produced； “come； Oliver！ Wipe your eyes with the cuffs of your
jacket； and don’t cry into your gruel； that’s a very foolish action；
Oliver。” It certainly was； for there was quite enough water in it
already。
On their way to the magistrate； Mr。 Bumble instructed Oliver
that all he would have to do； would be to look very happy； and say；
when the gentleman asked him if he wanted to be apprenticed；
that he should like it very much indeed； both of which injunctions
Oliver promised to obey： the rather as Mr。 Bumble threw in a
gentle hint； that if he failed in either particular； there was no
telling what would be done to him。 When they arrived at the office；
he was shut up in a little room by himself； and admonished by Mr。
Bumble to stay there； until he came back to fetch him。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
There the boy remained； with a palpitating heart； for half an
hour。 At the expiration of which time Mr。 Bumble thrust in his
head； unadorned with the cocked hat； and said aloud：
“Now； Oliver； my dear； come to the gentleman。” As Mr。 Bumble
said this； he put on a grim and threatening look； and added； in a
low voice； “Mind what I told you； you young rascal！”
Oliver stared innocently in Mr。 Bumble’s face at this somewhat
contradictory style of address； but that gentleman prevented his
offering any remark thereupon； by leading him at once into an
adjoining room； the door of which was open。 It was a large room；
with a great window。 Behind a desk； sat two gentlemen with
powdered heads： one of whom was reading the newspaper； while
the other was perusing； with the aid of a pair of tortoise…shell
spectacles； a small piece of parchment which lay before him。 Mr。
Limbkins was standing in front of the desk on one side； and Mr。
Gamfield； with a partially washed face on the other； while two or
three bluff…looking men； in top…boots； were lounging about。
The old gentleman with the spectacles gradually dozed off over
the little bit of parchment； and there was a short pause； after
Oliver had been stationed by Mr。 Bumble in front of the desk。
“This is the boy； your worship；” said Mr。 Bumble。
The old gentleman who was reading the newspaper raised his
head for a moment； and pulled the other old gentleman by the
sleeve； whereupon； the last…mentioned old gentleman woke up。
“Oh； is this the boy？” said the old gentleman。
“This is him； sir；” replied Mr。 Bumble。 “Bow to the magistrate；
my dear。”
Oliver roused himself； and made his best obeisance。 He had
been wondering； with his eyes fixed on the magistrates’ powder；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
whether all Boards were born with that white stuff on their heads；
and were Boards from thenceforth on that account。
“Well；” said the old gentleman； “I suppose he’s fond of
chimney…sweeping？”
“He dotes on it； your worship；” replied Bumble； giving Oliver a
sly pinch； to intimate that he had better not say he didn’t。
“And he will be a sweep； will he？” inquired the old gentleman。
“If we was to bind him to any other trade tomorrow； he’d run
away simultaneous； y