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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第37部分

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

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pushing; driving; beating; whooping and yelling; the hideous and 

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Oliver Twist 221 

discordant din that resounded from every corner of the market; 
and the unwashed; unshaven; squalid; and dirty figures constantly 
running to and fro; and bursting in and out of the throng; 
rendered it a stunning and bewildering scene; which quite 
confounded the senses。 

Mr。 Sikes; dragging Oliver after him; elbowed his way through 
the thickest of the crowd; and bestowed very little attention on the 
numerous sights and sounds; which so astonished the boy。 He 
nodded; twice or thrice; to a passing friend; and; resisting as many 
invitations to take a morning dram; pressed steadily onward; until 
they were clear of the turmoil; and had made their way through 
Hosier Lane into Holborn。 

“No; young ’un!” said Sikes; looking up at the clock of St。 
Andrew’s Church; “hard upon seven! you must step out。 Come; 
don’t lag beyind already; Lazylegs!” 

Mr。 Sikes accompanied this speech with a jerk at his little 
companion’s wrist; Oliver; quickening his pace into a kind of trot; 
between a fast walk and a run; kept up with the rapid strides of 
the housebreaker as well as he could。 

They held their course at this rate; until they had passed Hyde 
Park corner; and were on their way to Kensington; when Sikes 
relaxed his pace; until an empty cart; which was at some little 
distance behind; came up。 Seeing “Hounslow” written on it; he 
asked the driver; with as much civility as he could assume。 if he 
would give them a lift as far as Isleworth。 

“Jump up;” said the man。 “Is that your boy?” 

“Yes; he’s my boy;” replied Sikes; looking hard at Oliver; and 
putting his hand abstractedly into the pocket where the pistol was。 

“Your father walks rather too quick for you; don’t he; my man?” 

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inquired the driver; seeing that Oliver was out of breath。 

“Not a bit of it;” replied Sikes; interposing。 “He’s used to it。 
Here; take hold of my hand; Ned。 In with you!” 

Thus addressing Oliver; he helped him into the cart; and the 
driver; pointing to a heap of sacks; told him to lie down there; and 
rest himself。 

As they passed the different mile…stones。 Oliver wondered; 
more and 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 begun their journey。 At length they came to a public…
house called the Coach and Horses: a little way beyond which 
another road appeared to turn off。 And here; the cart stopped。 

Sikes dismounted with great precipitation; holding Oliver by 
the hand all the while; and lifting him down directly; bestowed a 
furious look upon him; and rapped the side…pocket with his fist; in 
a significant manner。 

“Good…bye; boy;” said the man。 

“He’s sulky;” replied Sikes; giving him a shake; “he’s sulky。 A 
young dog! Don’t mind him。” 

“Not I!” rejoined the other; getting into his cart。 “It’s a fine day 
after all。” And he drove away。 

Sikes waited until he had fairly gone; and then; telling Oliver he 
might look about him if he wanted; once again led him onward on 
his journey。 

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 
sides of the way; and stopping for nothing but a little beer; until 

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they reached a town。 Here against the wall of a house; Oliver saw 
written up in pretty large letters “Hampton。” They lingered about; 
in the fields; for some hours。 At length; they came back into the 
town; and; turning into an old public…house with a defaced 
signboard; ordered some dinner by the kitchen fire。 

The kitchen was an old; low…roofed room; with a great beam 
across the middle of the ceiling; and benches; with high backs to 
them; by the fire; on which were seated several rough men in 
smock…frocks; drinking and smoking。 They took no notice of 
Oliver; and very little of Sikes; and; as Sikes took very little notice 
of them; he and his young comrade sat in a corner by themselves; 
without being much troubled by their company。 

They had some cold meat for dinner; and sat so long after it; 
while Mr。 Sikes indulged himself with three or four pipes; that 
Oliver began to feel quite certain they were not going any farther。 
Being much tired with the walk; and getting up so early; he dozed 
a little at first; then; quite overpowered by fatigue and the fumes of 
the tobacco; fell asleep。 

It was quite dark when he was awakened by a push from Sikes。 
Rousing himself sufficiently to sit up and look about him; he found 
that worthy in close fellowship and communication with a 
labouring man; over a pint of ale。 

“So; you’re going on to Lower Halliford; are you?” inquired 
Sikes。 

“Yes; I am;” replied the man; who seemed a little the worse—or 
better; as the case might be—for drinking; “and not slow about it 
neither。 My horse hasn’t got a load behind him going back; as he 
had coming up in the mornin’; and he won’t be long a…doing of it。 
Here’s luck to him! Ecod! he’s a good un。” 

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“Could you give my boy and me a lift as far as there?” 
demanded Sikes; pushing the ale towards his new friend。 

“If you’re going directly; I can;” replied the man; looking out of 
the pot。 “Are you going to Halliford?” 

“Going on to Shepperton;” replied Sikes。 

“I’m your man; as far I go;” replied the other。 “Is all paid; 
Becky?” 

“Yes; the other gentleman’s paid;” replied the girl。 

“I say!” said the man; with tipsy gravity; “that won’t do; you 
know。” 

“Why not?” rejoined Sikes。 “You’re a…going to accommodate us; 
and wot’s to prevent my standing treat for a pint or so; in return?” 

The stranger reflected upon this argument; with a very 
profound face; and having done so; seized Sikes by the hand; and 
declared he was a real good fellow。 To which Mr。 Sikes replied; he 
was joking; as; if he had been sober; there would have been strong 
reason to suppose he was。 

After the exchange of a few more compliments; they bade the 
company good…night; and went out; the girl gathering up the pots 
and glasses as they did so; and lounging out to the door; with her 
hands full; to see the party start。 

The horse; whose health had been drunk in his absence; was 
standing outside; ready harnessed to the cart。 Oliver and Sikes got 
in without any further ceremony; and the man to whom he 
belonged; having lingered for a minute or two to bear him up;” 
and to defy the hostler and the world to produce his equal; 
mounted also。 Then; the hostler was told to give the horse his 
head; and; his head being given to him; he made a very unpleasant 
use of it; tossing it into the air with great disdain; and running into 

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the parlour windows over the way; after performing those feats; 
and supporting himself for a short time on his hind legs; he started 
off at great speed; and rattled out of the town right gallantly。 

The night was very dark。 A damp mist rose from the river and 
the marshy ground about; and spread itself over the dreary fields。 
It was piercing cold; too; all was gloomy and black。 Not a word was 
spoken; for the driver had grown sleepy; and Sikes was in no 
mood to lead him into conversation。 Oliver sat huddled together; 
in a corner of the cart; bewildered with alarm and apprehension; 
and figuring strange objects in the gaunt trees; whose branches 
waved grimly to and fro; as if in some fantastic joy at the 
desolation of the scene。 

As they passed Sunbury Church; the clock struck seven。 There 
was a light in the ferry…house window opposite; which streamed 
across the road; and threw into more sombre shadow a dark yew…
tree with graves beneath it。 There was a dull sound of falling water 
not far off; and the leaves of the old tree stirred gently in the night 
wind。 It seemed like quiet music for the repose of the dead。 

Sunbury was passed through; and they came again into the 
lonely road。 Two or three miles more; and the cart stopped。 Sikes 
alighted; took Oliver by the hand; and they once again walked on。 

They turned into no house at Shepperton; as the weary boy had 
expected; but still kept walking on; in mud and darkness; through 
gloomy lanes and over cold open wastes; until they came within 
sight of the lights of a town at no great distance。 On looking 
intently forward。 Oliver saw that the water was just below them; 
and that they were coming to the foot of a bridge。 

Sikes kept straight on; until they were close upon the bridge; 
then turned suddenly down a bank upon the left。 

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“The water!” thought Oliver; turning sick with fear。 “He has 
brought me to this lonely place to murder me!” 

He was about to throw himself on the ground; and make one 
struggle for his young life; when he saw that they stood before a 
solitary house; all ruinous and decayed。 There was a window on 
each side of the dilapidated entrance; and one storey above; but no 
light was visible。 The building was dark; dismantled; and to; all 
appearance; uninhabited。 Sikes; with Oliver’s hand still in his; 
softly approached the low porch; and raised the latch。 The door 
yielded to the pressure; and they passed in together。 

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Oliver Twist 227 

Chapter 22 

The Burglary。 

“H ollo!” cried a loud; hoarse voice; as soon as they set 
foot in the passage。 
“Don’t make such a row;” said Sikes; bolting the 
door。 “Show a glim; Toby。” 
“Aha! my pal!” cried the same voice。 “A glim; Barney; a glim! 
Show the gentleman in; Barney; wake up first; if convenient。” 

The speaker appeared to throw a boot…jack; or some such 
article; at the pers

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