Oliver stirred the fire. Drawing her chair close to it, she satthere, for a little time, without speaking; but at length sheraised her head, and looked round.。,
And so Oliver remained all that day, and for the greater part ofmany subsequent days, seeing nobody, between early morning andmidnight, and left during the long hours to commune with his ownthoughts. Which, never failing to revert to his kind friends,and the opinion they must long ago have formed of him, were sadindeed.。,
'Of course it couldn't,' replied Sikes; 'I know'd that, directlyI see him coming through Clerkenwell, with the books under hisarm. It's all right enough. They're soft-hearted psalm-singers,or they wouldn't have taken him in at all; and they'll ask noquestions after him, fear they should be obliged to prosecute,and so get him lagged. He's safe enough.'。, 'I suppose he'd better not wear his best clothes tomorrow, Fagin,had he?' inquired Charley Bates.
'Go!' exclaimed the Dodger. 'Why, where's your spirit?' Don'tyou take any pride out of yourself? Would you go and bedependent on your friends?'。, She caught the hand which Oliver instinctively placed in hers,and, blowing out the light, drew him after her up the stairs. Thedoor was opened, quickly, by some one shrouded in the darkness,and was as quickly closed, when they had passed out. Ahackney-cabriolet was in waiting; with the same vehemence whichshe had exhibited in addressing Oliver, the girl pulled him inwith her, and drew the curtains close. The driver wanted nodirections, but lashed his horse into full speed, without thedelay of an instant.
Their eyes met, and the Jew scrutinised her, narrowly. There wasno flinching about the girl. She was as true and earnest in thematter as Toby Crackit himself could be.。,
。, 'Hush!' said the girl, stooping over him, and pointing to thedoor as she looked cautiously round. 'You can't help yourself. Ihave tried hard for you, but all to no purpose. You are hedgedround and round. If ever you are to get loose from here, this isnot the time.'
OLIVER'S DESTINY CONTINUING UNPROPITIOUS, BRINGS A GREAT MAN TOLONDON TO INJURE HIS REPUTATION。, They held their course at this rate, until they had passed HydePark corner, and were on their way to Kensington: when Sikesrelaxed his pace, until an empty cart which was at some littledistance behind, came up. Seeing 'Hounslow' written on it, heasked the driver with as much civility as he could assume, if hewould give them a lift as far as Isleworth.
。, 'They belong to the old gentleman,' said Oliver, wringing hishands; 'to the good, kind, old gentleman who took me into hishouse, and had me nursed, when I was near dying of the fever.Oh, pray send them back; send him back the books and money. Keepme here all my life long; but pray, pray send them back. He'llthink I stole them; the old lady: all of them who were so kindto me: will think I stole them. Oh, do have mercy upon me, andsend them back!'
。, Oliver saw that she was very pale, and gently inquired if shewere ill. The girl threw herself into a chair, with her backtowards him: and wrung her hands; but made no reply.
'Why, Nancy!' said the Jew, in a soothing tone; after a pause,during which he and Mr. Sikes had stared at one another in adisconcerted manner; 'you,--you're more clever than everto-night. Ha! ha! my dear, you are acting beautifully.'。, The Jew started. Oliver started too, though from a verydifferent cause; for he hoped that the dispute might really endin his being taken back.
Neither his brief consideration, nor its purport, was lost on hiscompanion. She eyed him narrowly, while he spoke; and cast uponhim a look of intelligence which sufficiently showed that sheguessed what had been passing in his thoughts.。,