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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第47部分

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

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general principle。 

“So we are;” said the beadle。 

Nothing was said; on either side; for a minute or two 
afterwards。 By the expiration of that time; Mr。 Bumble had 
illustrated the position by removing his left arm from the back of 
Mrs。 Corney’s chair; where it had previously rested; to Mrs。 
Corney’s apron string; round which it gradually became entwined。 

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“We are all weak creeturs;” said Mr。 Bumble。 

Mrs。 Corney sighed。 

“Don’t sigh; Mrs。 Corney;” said Mr。 Bumble。 

“I can’t help it;” said Mrs。 Corney。 And she sighed again。 

“This is a very comfortable room; ma’am;” said Mr。 Bumble; 
looking round。 “Another room; and this; ma’am; would be a 
complete thing。” 

“It would be too much for one;” murmured the lady。 

“But not for two; ma’am;” replied Mr。 Bumble; in soft accents。 
“Eh; Mrs。 Corney?” 

Mrs。 Corney drooped her head when the beadle said this; the 
beadle drooped his; to get a view of Mrs。 Corney’s face。 Mrs。 
Corney; with great propriety; turned her head away; and released 
her hand to get at her pocket…handkerchief; but insensibly 
replaced it in that of Mr。 Bumble。 

“The Board allow you coals; don’t they; Mrs。 Corney?” inquired 
the beadle; affectionately pressing her hand。 

“And candles;” replied Mrs。 Corney; slightly returning the 
pressure。 

“Coals; candle; and house…rent free;” said Mr。 Bumble。 “Oh; 
Mrs。 Corney; what an angel you are!” 

The lady was not proof against this burst of feeling。 She sank 
into Mr。 Bumble’s arms; and that gentleman in his agitation; 
imprinted a passionate kiss upon her chaste nose。 

“Such porochial perfection!” exclaimed Mr。 Bumble 
rapturously。 “You know that Mr。 Slout is worse tonight; my 
fascinator?” 

“Yes;” replied Mrs。 Corney bashfully。 

“He can’t live a week; the doctor says;” pursued Mr。 Bumble。 

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Oliver Twist 283 

“He is the master of this establishment; his death will cause a 
wacancy; that wacancy must be filled up。 Oh; Mrs。 Corney; what a 
prospect this opens! What a opportunity for a jining of hearts and 
housekeepings!” 

Mrs。 Corney sobbed。 

“The little word?” said Mr。 Bumble; bending over the bashful 
beauty。 “The one little; little; little word; my blessed Corney?” 

“Ye—ye—yes!” sighed out the matron。 

“One more;” pursued the beadle; “compose your darling 
feelings for only one more。 When is it to come off?” Mrs。 Corney 
twice essayed to speak: and twice failed。 At length summoning up 
courage; she threw her arms round Mr。 Bumble’s neck; and said; it 
might be as soon as ever he pleased; and that he was “a irresistible 
duck。” 

Matters being thus amicably and satisfactorily arranged; the 
contract was solemnly ratified in another tea…cupful of the 
peppermint mixture; which was rendered the more necessary; by 
the flutter and agitation of the lady’s spirits。 While it was being 
disposed of; she acquainted Mr。 Bumble with the old woman’s 
decease。 

“Very good;” said that gentleman; sipping his peppermint; “I’ll 
call at Sowerberry’s as I go home; and tell him to send tomorrow 
morning。 Was it that as frightened you; love?” 

“It wasn’t anything particular; dear;” said the lady evasively。 

“It must have been something; love;” urged Mr。 Bumble。 
“Won’t you tell your own B。?” 

“Not now;” rejoined the lady; “one of these days。 After we’re 
married; dear。” 

“After we’re married!” exclaimed Mr。 Bumble。 “It wasn’t any 

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impudence from any of them male paupers as—” 

“No; no; love!” interposed the lady hastily。 

“If I thought it was;” continued Mr。 Bumble; “if I thought as 
any of ’em dared to lift his wulgar eyes to that lovely 
countenance—” 

“They wouldn’t have dared to do it; love;” responded the lady。 

“They had better not!” said Mr。 Bumble; clenching his fist。 “Let 
me see any man; porochial or extra…porochial; as would presume 
to do it; and I can tell him that he wouldn’t do it a second time!” 

Unembellished by any violence of gesticulation; this might have 
seemed no very high compliment to the lady’s charms; but; as Mr。 
Bumble accompanied the threat with many warlike gestures; she 
was much touched with this proof of his devotion; and protested; 
with great admiration; that he was indeed a dove。 

The dove then turned up his coat collar; and put on his cocked 
hat; and; having exchanged a long and affectionate embrace with 
his future partner; once again braved the cold wind of the night; 
merely pausing; for a few minutes; in the male paupers’ ward; to 
abuse them a little; with the view of satisfying himself that he 
could fill the office of workhouse…master with needful acerbity。 
Assured of his qualifications; Mr。 Bumble left the building with a 
light heart; and bright visions of his future promotion; which 
served to occupy his mind until he reached the shop of the 
undertaker。 

Now; Mr。 and Mrs。 Sowerberry having gone out to tea and 
supper; and Noah Claypole not being at any time disposed to take 
upon himself a greater amount of physical exertion than is 
necessary to a convenient performance of the two functions of 
eating and drinking; the shop was not closed; although it was past 

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the usual hour of shutting up。 Mr。 Bumble tapped with his cane on 
the counter several times; but; attracting no attention; and 
beholding a light shining through the glass window of the little 
parlour at the back of the shop; he made bold to peep in and see 
what was going forward; and when he saw what was going 
forward; he was not a little surprised。 

The cloth was laid for supper; the table was covered with bread…
and…butter; plates and glasses; a porter pot and a wine…bottle。 At 
the upper end of the table; Mr。 Noah Claypole lolled negligently in 
an easy…chair; with his legs thrown over one of the arms; an open 
clasp…knife in one hand; and a mass of buttered bread in the other。 
Close beside him stood Charlotte; opening oysters from a barrel; 
which Mr。 Claypole condescended to swallow; with remarkable 
avidity。 A more than ordinary redness in the region of the young 
man’s nose; and a kind of fixed wink in his right eye; denoted that 
he was in a slight degree intoxicated; these symptoms were 
confirmed by the intense relish with which he took his oysters; for 
which nothing but a strong appreciation of their cooling properties 
in cases of internal fever; could have sufficiently accounted。 

“Here’s a delicious fat one; Noah; dear!” said Charlotte; “try 
him; do; only this one。” 

“What a delicious thing is a oyster!” remarked Mr。 Claypole; 
after he had swallowed it。 “What a pity it is; a number of ’em 
should ever make you feel uncomfortable; isn’t it; Charlotte?” 

“It’s quite a cruelty;” said Charlotte。 

“So it is;” acquiesced Mr。 Claypole。 “Ain’t yer fond of oysters?” 

“Not overmuch;” replied Charlotte。 “I like to see you eat ’em; 
Noah; dear; better than eating ’em myself。” 

“Lord!” said Noah reflectively; “how queer!” 

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“Have another;” said Charlotte。 “Here’s one with such a 
beautiful; delicate beard!” 

“I can’t manage any more;” said Noah。 “I’m very sorry。 Come 
here; Charlotte; and I’ll kiss yer。” 

“What!” said Mr。 Bumble; bursting into the room。 “Say that 
again; sir。” 

Charlotte uttered a scream; and hid her face in her apron。 Mr。 
Claypole; without making any further change in his position than 
suffering his legs to reach the ground; gazed at the beadle in 
drunken terror。 

“Say it again; you wile; owdacious fellow!” said Mr。 Bumble。 
“How dare you mention such a thing; sir? And how dare you 
encourage him; you insolent minx? Kiss her!” exclaimed Mr。 
Bumble; in strong indignation。 “Faugh!” 

“I didn’t mean to do it!” said Noah; blubbering。 “She’s always a…
kissing of me; whether I like it; or not。” 

“Oh; Noah;” cried Charlotte reproachfully。 

“Yer are; yer know yer are!” retorted Noah。 “She’s always adoin’ of it。 Mr。 Bumble; sir; she chucks me under the chin; please; 
sir; and makes all manner of love!” 

“Silence!” cried Mr。 Bumble sternly。 “Take yourself downstairs; 
ma’am。 Noah; you shut up the shop; say another word till your 
master comes home; at your peril; and; when he does come home; 
tell him that Mr。 Bumble said he was to send a old woman’s shell 
after breakfast tomorrow morning。 Do you hear; sir? Kissing!” 
cried Mr。 Bumble; holding up his hands。 “The sin and wickedness 
of the lower orders in this porochial district is frightful! If 
Parliament don’t take their abominable courses under 
consideration; this country’s ruined; and the character of the 

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peasantry gone for ever!” With these words; the beadle strode; 
with a lofty and gloomy air; from the undertaker’s premises。 

And now that we have accompanied him so far on his road 
home; and have made all necessary preparations for the old 
woman’s funeral; let us set on foot a few inquiries after young 
Oliver Twist; and ascertain whether he be still lying in the ditch 
where Toby Crackit left him。 

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Oliver Twist 288 

Chapter 28 

Looks After Oliver; And Proceeds With His
Adventures。


“W olves tear your throats!” muttered Sikes; grinding 
his teeth。 “I wish I was among some of you; you’d 
howl the hoarser for it。” 

As Sikes growled forth this imprecation; with the most 
desperate ferocity that his desperate nature was capable of; he 
rested the body of the wounded boy across his bended knee; and 
turned his head; for an instant; to look back at his pursuers。 

There was little to be made out; in the mist and darkness; but 
the loud shouting of men vibrated through the air; and the barking 
of the neighbouring dogs; roused by the sound of the alarm…bell; 
res

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