This was merely intended as a tribute to the animal's abilities,but it was an appropriate remark in another sense, if MasterBates had only known it; for there are a good many ladies andgentlemen, claiming to be out-and-out Christians, between whom,and Mr. Sikes' dog, there exist strong and singular points ofresemblance.。, Sikes waited until he had fairly gone; and then, telling Oliverhe might look about him if he wanted, once again led him onwardon his journey.
'I fear it is all too true,' said the old gentleman sorrowfully,after looking over the papers. 'This is not much for yourintelligence; but I would gladly have given you treble the money,if it had been favourable to the boy.'。, 'Yes. I have come from Bill,' replied the girl. 'You are to gowith me.'
'Well, well,' replied the Jew, with an attempt at pacification;'and, if you have, it's your living!'。, 'And make your fortun' out of hand?' added the Dodger, with agrin.
'I am,' replied the Doger. 'I'd scorn to be anything else.' Mr.Dawkins gave his hat a ferocious cock, after delivering thissentiment, and looked at Master Bates, as if to denote that hewould feel obliged by his saying anything to the contrary.。, They turned round to the left, a short way past the public-house;and then, taking a right-hand road, walked on for a long time:passing many large gardens and gentlemen's houses on both sidesof the way, and stopping for nothing but a little beer, untilthey reached a town. Here against the wall of a house, Oliversaw written up in pretty large letters, 'Hampton.' They lingeredabout, in the fields, for some hours. At length they came backinto the town; and, turning into an old public-house with adefaced sign-board, ordered some dinner by the kitchen fire.
The Jew inflicted a smart blow on Oliver's shoulders with theclub; and was raising it for a second, when the girl, rushingforward, wrested it from his hand. She flung it into the fire,with a force that brought some of the glowing coals whirling outinto the room.。, What books are these? You've been a stealing 'em, have you?Give 'em here.' With these words, the man tore the volumes fromhis grasp, and struck him on the head.
As they passed the different mile-stones, Oliver wondered, moreand more, where his companion meant to take him. Kensington,Hammersmith, Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentford, were all passed;and yet they went on as steadily as if they had only just beguntheir journey. At length, they came to a public-house called theCoach and Horses; a little way beyond which, another roadappeared to run off. And here, the cart stopped.。, The Jew nodded his head towards Nancy, who was still gazing atthe fire; and intimated, by a sign, that he would have her toldto leave the room. Sikes shrugged his shoulders impatiently, asif he thought the precaution unnecessary; but complied,nevertheless, by requesting Miss Nancy to fetch him a jug ofbeer.
。, Supper being ended--it may be easily conceived that Oliver had nogreat appetite for it--Mr. Sikes disposed of a couple of glassesof spirits and water, and threw himself on the bed; orderingNancy, with many imprecations in case of failure, to call him atfive precisely. Oliver stretched himself in his clothes, bycommand of the same authority, on a mattress upon the floor; andthe girl, mending the fire, sat before it, in readiness to rousethem at the appointed time.
Having disposed of these evil-minded persons for the night, Mr.Bumble sat himself down in the house at which the coach stopped;and took a temperate dinner of steaks, oyster sauce, and porter.Putting a glass of hot gin-and-water on the chimney-piece, hedrew his chair to the fire; and, with sundry moral reflections onthe too-prevalent sin of discontent and complaining, composedhimself to read the paper.。, Finding she had done right, Mrs. Mann sighed again: evidently tothe satisfaction of the public character: who, repressing acomplacent smile by looking sternly at his cocked hat, said,
。, 'But I will tell you,' retorted Sikes. 'Who are you that's notto be told? I tell you that Toby Crackit has been hanging aboutthe place for a fortnight, and he can't get one of the servantsin line.'
。, The narrow streets and courts, at length, terminated in a largeopen space; scattered about which, were pens for beasts, andother indications of a cattle-market. Sikes slackened his pacewhen they reached this spot: the girl being quite unable tosupport any longer, the rapid rate at which they had hithertowalked. Turning to Oliver, he roughly commanded him to take holdof Nancy's hand.
。, 'Take heed, Oliver! take heed!' said the old man, shaking hisright hand before him in a warning manner. 'He's a rough man,and thinks nothing of blood when his own is up. W hatever fallsout, say nothing; and do what he bids you. Mind!' Placing astrong emphasis on the last word, he suffered his featuresgradually to resolve themselves into a ghastly grin, and, noddinghis head, left the room.
Little Oliver's blood ran cold, as he listened to the Jew'swords, and imperfectly comprehended the dark threats conveyed inthem. That it was possible even for justice itself to confoundthe innocent with the guilty when they were in accidentalcompanionship, he knew already; and that deeply-laid plans forthe destruction of inconveniently knowing or over-communicativepersons, had been really devised and carried out by the Jew onmore occasions than one, he thought by no means unlikely, when herecollected the general nature of the altercations between thatgentleman and Mr. Sikes: which seemed to bear reference to someforegone conspiracy of the kind. As he glanced timidly up, andmet the Jew's searching look, he felt that his pale face andtrembling limbs were neither unnoticed nor unrelished by thatwary old gentleman.。,