oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第35部分

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The　old　man；　who　was　stooping　over　the　fire　toasting　a　piece　of　
bread；　looked　round　as　he　bantered　Oliver　thus；　and　chuckled　as　if　
to　show　that　he　knew　he　would　still　be　very　glad　to　get　away　if　he　
could。　

“I　suppose；”　said　the　Jew；　fixing　his　eyes　on　Oliver；　“you　want　
to　know　what　you’re　going　to　Bill’s　for—eh；　my　dear？”　

Oliver　coloured；　involuntarily；　to　find　that　the　old　thief　had　
been　reading　his　thoughts；　but　boldly　said；　Yes；　he　did　want　to　
know。　

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Oliver　Twist　209　

“Why；　do　you　think？”　inquired　Fagin；　parrying　the　question。　

“Indeed　I　don’t　know；　sir；”　replied　Oliver。　

“Bah！”　said　the　Jew；　turning　away　with　a　disappointed　
countenance　from　a　close　perusal　of　the　boy’s　face。　“Wait　till　Bill　
tells　you；　then。”　

The　Jew　seemed　much　vexed　by　Oliver’s　not　expressing　any　
greater　curiosity　on　the　subject；　but　the　truth　is；　that；　although　
Oliver　felt　very　anxious；　he　was　too　much　confused　by　the　earnest　
cunning　of　Fagin’s　looks；　and　his　own　speculations；　to　make　any　
further　inquiries　just　then。　He　had　no　other　opportunity；　for　the　
Jew　remained　very　surly　and　silent　till　night；　when　he　prepared　to　
go　abroad。　

“You　may　burn　a　candle；”　said　the　Jew；　putting　one　upon　the　
table。　“And　here’s　a　book　for　you　to　read；　till　they　come　to　fetch　
you。　Good…night！”　

“Good…night！”　replied　Oliver　softly。　

The　Jew　walked　to　the　door；　looking　over　his　shoulder　at　the　
boy　as　he　went。　Suddenly　stopping；　he　called　him　by　his　name。　

Oliver　looked　up；　the　Jew；　pointing　to　the　candle；　motioned　him　
to　light　it。　He　did　so；　and；　as　he　placed　the　candlestick　upon　the　
table；　saw　that　the　Jew　was　gazing　fixedly　at　him；　with　lowering　
and　contracted　brows；　from　the　dark　end　of　the　room。　

“Take　heed；　Oliver！　take　heed！”　said　the　old　man；　shaking　his　
right　hand　before　him　in　a　warning　manner。　“He’s　a　rough　man；　
and　thinks　nothing　of　blood　when　his　Own　is　up。　Whatever　falls　
out；　say　nothing；　and　do　what　he　bids　you。　Mind！”　Placing　a　strong　
emphasis　on　the　last　word；　he　suffered　his　features　gradually　to　
resolve　themselves　into　a　ghastly　grin；　and；　nodding　his　head；　left　
the　room。　

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Oliver　Twist　210　

Oliver　leaned　his　head　upon　his　hand　when　the　old　man　
disappeared；　and　pondered；　with　a　trembling　heart；　on　the　words　
he　had　just　heard。　The　more　he　thought　of　the　Jew’s　admonition；　
the　more　he　was　at　a　loss　to　divine　its　real　purpose　and　meaning。　
He　could　think　of　no　bad　object　to　be　attained　by　sending　him　to　
Sikes；　which　would　not　be　equally　well　answered　by　his　remaining　
with　Fagin；　and　after　meditating　for　a　long　time；　concluded　that　he　
had　been　selected　to　perform　some　ordinary　menial　offices　for　the　
housebreaker；　until　another　boy；　better　suited　for　his　purpose；　
could　be　engaged。　He　was　too　well　accustomed　to　suffering；　and　
had　suffered　too　much　where　he　was；　to　bewail　the　prospect　of　
change　very　severely。　He　remained　lost　in　thought　for　some　
minutes；　and　then；　with　a　heavy　sigh；　snuffed　the　candle；　and；　
taking　up　the　book　which　the　Jew　had　left　with　him；　began　to　read。　

He　turned　over　the　leaves　carelessly　at　first；　but；　lighting　on　a　
passage　which　attracted　his　attention　he　soon　became　intent　upon　
the　volume。　It　was　a　history　of　the　lives　and　trials　of　great　
criminals；　and　the　pages　were　soiled　and　thumbed　with　use。　Here；　
he　read　of　dreadful　crimes　that　made　the　blood　run　cold；　of　secret　
murders　that　had　been　committed　by　the　lonely　wayside；　of　bodies　
hidden　from　the　eye　of　man　in　deep　pits　and　wells：　which　would　
not　keep　them　down；　deep　as　they　were；　but　had　yielded　them　up　
at　last；　after　many　years；　and　so　maddened　the　murderers　with　the　
sight；　that　in　their　horror　they　had　confessed　their　guilt；　and　yelled　
for　the　gibbet　to　end　their　agony。　Here；　too；　he　read　of　men　who；　
lying　in　their　beds　at　dead　of　night；　had　been　tempted　（as　they　
said）　and　led　on；　by　their　own　bad　thoughts；　to　such　dreadful　
bloodshed　as　it　made　the　flesh　creep；　and　the　limbs　quail；　to　think　
of。　The　terrible　descriptions　were　so　real　and　vivid；　that　the　sallow　

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Oliver　Twist　211　

pages　seemed　to　turn　red　with　gore；　and　the　words　upon　them；　to　
be　sounded　in　his　ears；　as　if　they　were　whispered；　in　hollow　
murmurs；　by　the　spirits　of　the　dead。　

In　a　paroxysm　of　fear；　the　boy　closed　the　book；　and　thrust　it　
from　him。　Then；　falling　upon　his　knees；　he　prayed　Heaven　to　spare　
him　from　such　deeds；　and　rather　to　will　that　he　should　die　at　once；　
than　be　reserved　for　crimes　so　fearful　and　appalling。　By　degrees；　
he　grew　more　calm；　and　besought　in　a　low　and　broken　voice；　that　
he　might　be　rescued　from　his　present　dangers；　and　that　if　any　aid　
were　to’　be　raised　up　for　a　poor；　outcast　boy；　who　had　never　
known　the　love　of　friends　or　kindred；　it　might　come　to　him　now；　
when；　desolate　and　deserted；　he　stood　alone　in　the　midst　of　
wickedness　and　guilt。　

He　had　concluded　his　prayer；　but　still　remained　with　his　head　
buried　in　his　hands；　when　a　rustling　noise　aroused　him。　

“What’s　that？”　he　cried；　starting　up；　and　catching　sight　of　a　
figure　standing　by　the　door。　“Who’s　there？”　

“Me。　Only　me；”　replied　a　tremulous　voice。　

Oliver　raised　the　candle　above　his　head；　and　looked　towards　the　
door。　It　was　Nancy。　

“Put　down　the　light；”　said　the　girl；　turning　away　her　head；　“it　
hurts　my　eyes。”　

Oliver　saw　that　she　was　very　pale；　and　gently　inquired　if　she　
were　ill。　The　girl　threw　herself　into　a　chair；　with　her　back　towards　
him；　and　wrung　her　hands；　but　made　no　reply。　

“God　forgive　me！”　she　cried；　after　a　while；　“I　never　thought　of　
this。”　

“Has　anything　happened？”　asked　Oliver。　“Can　I　help　you？　I　will　
if　I　can。　I　will；　indeed。　

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She　rocked　herself　to　and　fro；　caught　her　throat；　and；　uttering　a　
gurgling　sound；　gasped　for　breath。　

“Nancy！”　cried　Oliver；　“what　is　it？”　

The　girl　beat　her　hands　upon　her　knees；　and　her　feet　upon　the　
ground；　and；　suddenly　stopping；　drew　her　shawl　close　round　her；　
and　shivered　with　cold。　

Oliver　stirred　the　fire。　Drawing　her　chair　close　to　it；　she　sat　
there；　for　a　little　time；　without　speaking；　but　at　length　she　raised　
her　head；　and　looked　round。　

“I　don’t　know　what　comes　over　me　sometimes；”　said　she；　
affecting　to　busy　herself　in　arranging　her　dress；　“it’s　this　damp；　
dirty　room；　I　think。　Now；　Nolly；　dear；　are　you　ready？”　

“Am　I　to　go　with　you？”　asked　Oliver。　

“Yes；　I　have　come　from　Bill；”　replied　the　girl。　“You　are　to　go　
with　me。”　

“What　for？”　asked　Oliver；　recoiling。　

“What　for？”　echoed　the　girl；　raising　her　eyes；　and　averting　them　
again；　the　moment　they　encountered　the　boy’s　face。　“Oh！　For　no　
harm。”　

“I　don’t　believe　it；”　said　Oliver；　who　had　watched　her　closely。　

“Have　it　your　own　way；”　rejoined　the　girl；　affecting　to　laugh。　
“For　no　good；　then。”　

Oliver　could　see　that　he　had　some　power　over　the　girl’s　better　
feelings；　and；　for　an　instant；　thought　of　appealing　to　her　
compassion　for　his　helpless　state。　But；　then；　the　thought　darted　
across　his　mind　that　it　was　barely　eleven　o’clock；　and　that　many　
people　were　still　in　the　streets；　of　whom　surely　some　might　be　
found　to　give　credence　to　his　tale。　As　the　reflection　occurred　to　
him；　he　stepped　forward；　and　said；　somewhat　hastily；　that　he　was　

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Oliver　Twist　213　

ready。　

Neither　his　brief　consideration；　nor　its　purport；　was　lost　on　his　
companion。　She　eyed　him　narrowly；　while　he　spoke　and　cast　upon　
him　a　look　of　intelligence　which　sufficiently　showed　that　she　
guessed　what　had　been　passing　in　his　thoughts。　

“Hush！”　said　the　girl；　stooping　over　him；　and　pointing　to　the　
door　as　she　looked　cautiously　round。　“You　can’t　help　yourself。　I　
have　tried　hard　for　you；　but　all　to　no　purpose。　You　are　hedged　
round　and　round。　If　ever　you　are　to　get　loose　from　here；　this　is　not　
the　time。”　

Struck　by　the　energy　of　her　manner；　Oliver　looked　up　in　her　
face　with　great　surprise。　She　seemed　to　speak　the　truth；　her　
countenance　was　white　and　agitated；　and　she　trembled　with　very　
earnestness。　

“I　have　saved　you　from　being　ill…used　once；　and　I　will　again；　and　
I　do　now；”　continued　the　girl　aloud；　“for　those　who　would　have　
fetched　you；　if　I　had　not；　would　have　been　far　more　rough　than　me。　
I　have　promised　for　your　being　quiet　and　silent；　if　you　are　not；　you　
will　only　do　harm　to　yourself　and　me　too；　and　perhaps　be　my　
death。　See　here！　I　have　borne　all　this　for　you　already；　as　true　as　
God　sees　me　show　it。”　

She　pointed；　hastily；　to　some　livid　bruises　on　her　neck　and　
arms；　and　continued；　with　great　rapidity：　

“Remember　this！　And　don’t　let　me　suffer　more　for　you；　just　
now。　If　I　could　help　you；　I　would；　but　I　have　not　the　power。　They　
don’t　mean　to　harm　you；　whatever　they　make　you　do；　is　no　fault　of　
yours。　Hush！　Every　word　from　you　is　a　blow　for　me。　Give　me　your　
hand。　Make　haste！　Your　hand！”　

She　caught　the　hand　which　Oliver　instinctively　placed　in　hers；　

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Oliver　Twist　214　

and；　blowing　out　the　light；　drew　him　after　her　up　the　stairs。　The　
door　was　opened；　quickly；　by　some　one　shrouded　in　the　darkness；　
and　was　as　quickly　closed；　when　they　had　passed　out。　A　hackney…
cabriolet　was　in　waiting；　with　the　same　vehemence　which　she　had　
exhibited　in　addressing　Oliver；　the　girl　pulled　him　in　with　her；　and　
drew　the　curtains　close。　The　driver　wanted　no　directions；　but　
lashed　his　horse　into　full　speed；　without　the　delay　of　an　instant。　

The　girl　still　held　Oliver　fast　by　the　hand；　and　continued　to　pour　
into　his　ear；　the　warnings　and　assurances　she　had　already　
imparted。　All　was　so　quick　and　hurried；　that　he　had　scarcely　time　
to　recollect　where　he　was；　or　how　he　came　there；　when　the　
carriage　stopped　at　the　house　to　which　the　Jew’s　steps　had　been　
directed　on　the　previous　evening。　

For　one　brief　moment；　Oliver　cast　a　hurried　glance　along　the　
empty　street；　and　a　cry　for　help　hung　upon　his　lip