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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第16部分

小说: oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) 字数: 每页4000字

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himself to the Dodger; “I hope you’ve been at work this morning; 
my dears?” 

“Hard;” replied the Dodger。 

“As nails;” added Charley Bates。 

“Good boys; good boys!” said the Jew。 “What have you got; 
Dodger?” 

“A couple of pocket…books;” replied that young gentleman。 

“Lined?” inquired the Jew; with eagerness。 

“Pretty well;” replied the Dodger; producing two pocket…books; 
one green; and the other red。 

“Not so heavy as they might be;” said the Jew; after looking at 
the insides carefully; “but very neat and nicely made。 Ingenious 
workman; ain’t he; Oliver?” 

“Very; indeed; sir;” said Oliver。 At which Mr。 Charles Bates 
laughed uproariously; very much to the amazement of Oliver; who 
saw nothing to laugh at; in anything that had passed。 

“And what have you got; my dear?” said Fagin to Charley 
Bates。 

“Wipes;” replied Master Bates; at the same time producing four 
pocket…handkerchiefs。 

“Well;” said the Jew; inspecting them closely; “they’re very 
good ones—very。 You haven’t marked them well; though; Charley; 
so the marks shall be picked out with a needle; and we’ll teach 
Oliver how to do it。 Shall us; Oliver; eh? Ha! ha! ha!” 

“If you please; sir;” said Oliver。 

“You’d like to be able to make pocket…handkerchiefs as easy as 
Charley Bates; wouldn’t you; my dear?” said the Jew。 

“Very much; indeed; if you’ll teach me; sir;” replied Oliver。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 

Master Bates saw something so exquisitely ludicrous in this 
reply; that he burst into another laugh; which laugh; meeting the 
coffee he was drinking; and carrying it down some wrong channel; 
very nearly terminated in his premature suffocation。 

“He is so jolly green!” said Charley when he recovered; as an 
apology to the company for his unpolite behaviour。 

The Dodger said nothing; but he smoothed Oliver’s hair over 
his eyes; and said he’d know better; by and by; upon which the old 
gentleman; observing Oliver’s colour mounting; changed the 
subject by asking whether there had been much of a crowd at the 
execution that morning。 This made him wonder more and more; 
for it was plain from the replies of the two boys that they had both 
been there; and Oliver naturally wondered how they could 
possibly have found time to be so very industrious。 

When the breakfast was cleared away; the merry old gentleman 
and the two boys played at a very curious and uncommon game; 
which was performed in this way。 The merry old gentleman; 
placing a snuff…box in one pocket of his trousers; a note…case in the 
other; and a watch in his waistcoat pocket; with a guard…chain 
round his neck; and sticking a mock diamond pin in his shirt; 
buttoned his coat tightly round him; and putting his spectacle…case 
and handkerchief in his pockets; trotted up and down the room 
with a stick; in imitation of the manner in which old gentlemen 
walk about the streets any hour in the day。 Sometimes he stopped 
at the fireplace; and sometimes at the door; making believe that he 
was staring with all his might into shop…windows。 At such times; 
he would look constantly round him; for fear of thieves; and would 
keep slapping all his pockets in turn; to see that he hadn’t lost 
anything; in such a very funny and natural manner; that Oliver 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 

laughed till the tears ran down his face。 All this time; the two boys 
followed him closely about; getting out of his sight; so nimbly; 
every time he turned round that it was impossible to follow their 
motions。 At last; the Dodger trod upon his toes; or ran upon his 
boot accidentally; while Charley Bates stumbled up against him 
behind; and in that one moment they took from him; with the most 
extraordinary rapidity; snuff…box; note…case; watch…guard; chain; 
shirt…pin; pocket…handkerchief—even the spectacle…case。 If the old 
gentleman felt a hand in any of his pockets; he cried out where it 
was; and then the game began all over again。 

When this game had been played a great many times; a couple 
of young ladies called to see the young gentlemen; one of whom 
was named Bet; and the other Nancy。 They wore a good deal of 
hair; not very neatly turned up behind; and were rather untidy 
about the shoes and stockings。 They were not exactly pretty; 
perhaps; but they had a great deal of colour in their faces; and 
looked quite stout and hearty。 Being remarkably free and 
agreeable in their manners; Oliver thought them very nice girls 
indeed。 As there is no doubt they were。 

These visitors stopped a long time。 Spirits were produced; in 
consequence of one of the young ladies complaining of a coldness 
in her inside; and the conversation took a very convivial and 
improving turn。 At length; Charley Bates expressed his opinion 
that it was time to pad the hoof。 This; it occurred to Oliver; must 
be French for going out; for; directly afterwards; the Dodger; and 
Charley; and the two young ladies; went away together; having 
been kindly furnished by the amiable old Jew with money to 
spend。 

“There; my dear;” said Fagin。 “That’s a pleasant life; isn’t it? 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 

They have gone out for the day。” 

“Have they done work; sir?” inquired Oliver。 

“Yes;” said the Jew; “that is; unless they should unexpectedly 
come across any; when they are out; and they won’t neglect it; if 
they do; my dear; depend upon it。 Make ’em your models; my dear。 
Make ’em your models;” tapping the fire…shovel on the hearth to 
add force to his words; “do everything they bid you; and take their 
advice in all manners—especially the Dodger’s; my dear。 He’ll be a 
great man himself; and will make you one; too; if you take pattern 
by him。—Is my handkerchief hanging out of my pocket; my dear?” 
said the Jew; stopping short。 

“Yes; sir;” said Oliver。 

“See if you can take it out; without my feeling it; as you saw 
them do; when we were at play this morning。” 

Oliver held up the bottom of the pocket with one hand; as he 
had seen the Dodger hold it; and drew the handkerchief lightly out 
of it with the other。 

“Is it gone?” cried the Jew。 

“Here it is; sir;” said Oliver; showing it in his hand。 

“You’re a clever boy; my dear;” said the playful old gentleman; 
patting Oliver on the head approvingly。 “I never saw a sharper lad。 
Here’s a shilling for you。 If you go on; in this way; you’ll be the 
greatest man of the time。 And now come here; and I’ll show you 
how to take the marks out of the handkerchiefs。” 

Oliver wondered what picking the old gentleman’s pocket in 
play had to do with his chances of being a great man。 But; thinking 
that the Jew; being so much his senior; must know best; he 
followed him quietly to the table; and was soon deeply involved in 
his new study。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 

Chapter 10 

Oliver Becomes Better Acquainted With The
Characters Of His New Associates; And Purchases
Experience At A High Price—Being A Short But
Very Important Chapter In This History


For many days; Oliver remained in the Jew’s room; picking 
the marks out of the pocket…handkerchiefs (of which a 
great number were brought home); and sometimes taking 
part in the game already described; which the two boys and the 
Jew played; regularly; every morning。 At length; he began to 
languish for fresh air; and took many occasions of earnestly 
entreating the old gentleman to allow him to go out to work; with 
his two companions。 

Oliver was rendered the more anxious to be actively employed; 
by what he had seen of the stern morality of the old gentleman’s 
character。 Whenever the Dodger or Charley Bates came home at 
night; empty…handed; he would expatiate with great vehemence on 
the misery of idle and lazy habits; and would enforce upon them 
the necessity of an active life; by sending them supperless to bed。 
On one occasion; indeed; he even went so far as to knock them 
both down a flight of stairs; but this was carrying out his virtuous 
precepts to an unusual extent。 

At length; one morning; Oliver obtained the permission he had 
so eagerly sought。 There had been no handkerchiefs to work upon; 
for two or three days; and the dinners had been rather meagre。 
Perhaps these were reasons for the old gentleman’s giving his 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 

assent; but; whether they were or no; he told Oliver he might go; 
and placed him under the joint guardianship of Charley Bates; and 
his friend the Dodger。 

The three boys sallied out; the Dodger with his coat sleeves 
tucked up; and his hat cocked; as usual; Master Bates sauntering 
along with his hands in his pockets; and Oliver between them; 
wondering where they were going; and what branch of 
manufacture he would be instructed in; first。 

The pace at which they went; was such a very lazy; ill…looking 
saunter; that Oliver soon began to think his companions were 
going to deceive the old gentleman; by not going to work at all。 
The Dodger had a vicious propensity; too; of pulling the caps from 
the heads of small boys and tossing them down areas; while 
Charley Bates exhibited some very loose notions concerning the 
rights of property; by pilfering divers apples and onions from the 
stalls at the kennel sides; and thrusting them into pockets which 
were so surprisingly capacious; that they seemed to undermine his 
whole suit of clothes in every direction。 These things looked so 
bad; that Oliver was on the point of declaring his intention of 
seeking his way back; in the best way he could; when his thoughts 
were suddenly directed into another channel; by a very mysterious 
change of behaviour on the part of the Dodger。 

They were just emerging from a narrow court not far from the 
open square in Clerkenwell; which is yet called; by some strange 
perversion of terms。 “The Green;” when the Dodger made a 
sudden stop; and; laying his finger on his lip; drew his companions 
back again; with the greatest caution and circumspection。 


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