oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第49部分

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bent　his　faltering　steps　towards　it。　As　he　drew　nearer　to　this　house；　
a　feeling　came　over　him　that　he　had　seen　it　before。　He　
remembered　nothing　of　its　details；　but　the　shape　and　aspect　of　the　
building　seemed　familiar　to　him。　

That　garden　wall！　On　the　grass　inside；　he　had　fallen　on　his　
knees　last　night；　and　prayed　the　two　men’s　mercy。　It　was　the　very　
house　they　had　attempted　to　rob。　

Oliver　felt　such　fear　come　over　him　when　he　recognised　the　
place；　that；　for　the　instant；　he　forgot　the　agony　of　his　wound；　and　
thought　only　of　flight。　Flight！　He　could　scarcely　stand；　and　if　he　
were　in　full　possession　of　all　the　best　powers　of　his　slight　and　
youthful　frame；　whither　could　he　fly？　He　pushed　against　the　
garden　gate；　it　was　unlocked；　and　swung　open　on　its　hinges。　He　
tottered　across　the　lawn；　climbed　the　steps；　knocked　faintly　at　the　
door；　and；　his　whole　strength　failing　him；　sank　down　against　one　
of　the　pillars　of　the　little　portico。　

It　happened　that　about　this　time；　Mr。　Giles；　Brittles；　and　the　
tinker　were　recruiting　themselves；　after　the　fatigues　and　terrors　of　
the　night；　with　tea　and　sundries；　in　the　kitchen。　Not　that　it　was　Mr。　
Giles’s　habit　to　admit　to　too　great　familiarity　the　humbler　servants；　
towards　whom　it　was　rather　his　wont　to　deport　himself　with　a　lofty　
affability；　which；　while　it　gratified；　could　not　fail　to　remind　them　of　
his　superior　position　in　society。　But　death；　fires；　and　burglary；　

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make　all　men　equals；　so　Mr。　Giles　sat　with　his　legs　stretched　out　
before　the　kitchen　fender；　leaning　his　left　arm　on　the　table；　while；　
with　his　right；　he　illustrated　a　circumstantial　and　minute　account　
of　the　robbery；　to　which　his　hearers　（but　especially　the　cook　and　
housemaid；　who　were　of　the　party）　listened　with　breathless　
interest。　

“It　was　about　half…past　two；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　“or　I　wouldn’t　
swear　that　it　mightn’t　have　been　a　little　nearer　three；　when　I　woke　
up；　and；　turning　round　in　my　bed；　as　it　might　be　so　（here　Mr。　Giles　
turned　round　in　his　chair；　and　pulled　the　corner　of　the　table…cloth　
over　him　to　imitate　bed…clothes）；　I　fancied　I　heerd　a　noise。”　

At　this　point　of　the　narrative　the　cook　turned　pale；　and　asked　
the　housemaid　to　shut　the　door；　who　asked　Brittles；　who　asked　the　
tinker；　who　pretended　not　to　hear。　

“—Heerd　a　noise；”　continued　Mr。　Giles。　“I　says；　at　first；　‘This　is　
illusion’；　and　was　composing　myself　off　to　sleep；　when　I　heerd　the　
noise　again；　distinct。”　

“What　sort　of　a　noise？”　asked　the　cook。　

“A　kind　of　a　busting　noise；”　replied　Mr。　Giles；　looking　round　
him。　

“More　like　the　noise　of　powdering　a　iron　bar　on　a　nutmeg…
grater；”　suggested　Brittles。　

“It　was；　when　you　heerd　it；　sir；”　rejoined　Mr。　Giles；　“but；　at　this　
time；　it　had　a　busting　sound。　I　turned　down　the　clothes；”　
continued　Giles；　rolling　back　the　tablecloth；　“sat　up　in　bed；　and　
listened。”　

The　cook　and　housemaid　simultaneously　ejaculated；　“Lor！”　and　
drew　their　chairs　closer　together。　

“I　heerd　it　now；　quite　apparent；”　resumed　Mr。　Giles。　

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“‘Somebody；’　I　says；　‘is　forcing　of　a　door；　or　window；　what’s　to　be　
done？　I’ll　call　up　that　poor　lad；　Brittles；　and　save　him　from　being　
murdered　in　his　bed；　or　his　throat；’　I　says；　‘may　be　cut；　from　his　
right　ear　to　his　left；　without　his　ever　knowing　it’。”　

Here；　all　eyes　were　turned　upon　Brittles；　who　fixed　his　upon　the　
speaker；　and　stared　at　him；　with　his　mouth　wide　open；　and　his　face　
expressive　of　the　most　unmitigated　horror。　

“I　tossed　off　the　clothes；”　said　Giles；　throwing　away　the　tablecloth；　and　looking　very　hard　at　the　cook　and　housemaid；　“got　softly　
out　of　bed；　drew　on　a　pair　of—”　

“Ladies　present；　Mr。　Giles；”　murmured　the　tinker。　

“Of　shoes；　sir；”　said　Giles；　turning　upon　him；　and　laying　great　
emphasis　on　the　word；　“seized　the　loaded　pistol　that　always　goes　
upstairs　with　the　plate…basket；　and　walked　on　tiptoes　to　his　room。　
‘Brittles；’　I　says；　when　I　had　woke　him；　‘don’t　be　frightened！’”　

“So　you　did；”　observed　Brittles；　in　a　low　voice。　

“‘We’re　dead　men；　I　think；　Brittles；’　I　says；”　continued　Giles；　
“‘but　don’t　be　frightened。’”　

“Was　he　frightened？”　asked　the　cook。　

“Not　a　bit　of　it；”　replied　Mr。　Giles。　“He　was　as　firm—ah！　pretty　
near　as　firm　as　I　was。”　

“I　should　have　died　at　once；　I’m　sure；　if　it　had　been　me；”　
observed　the　housemaid。　

“You’re　a　woman；”　retorted　Brittles；　plucking　up　a　little。　

“Brittles　is　right；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　nodding　his　head　approvingly；　
“from　a　woman；　nothing　else　was　to　be　expected。　We；　being　men；　
took　a　dark　lantern　that　was　standing　on　Brittles’s　hob；　and　
groped　our　way　downstairs　in　the　pitch　dark—as　it　might　be　so。”　

Mr。　Giles　had　risen　from　his　seat；　and　taken　two　steps　with　his　

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eyes　shut；　to　accompany　his　description　with　appropriate　action；　
when　he　started　violently；　in　common　with　the　rest　of　the　
company；　and　hurried　back　to　his　chair。　The　cook　and　housemaid　
screamed。　

“It　was　a　knock；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　assuming　perfect　serenity。　
“Open　the　door；　somebody。”　

Nobody　moved。　

“It　seems　a　strange　sort　of　a　thing；　a　knock　coming　at　such　a　
time　in　the　morning；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　surveying　the　pale　faces　
which　surrounded　him；　and　looking　very　blank　himself；　“but　the　
door　must　be　opened。　Do　you　hear；　somebody？”　

Mr。　Giles；　as　he　spoke；　looked　at　Brittles；　but　that　young　man；　
being　naturally　modest；　probably　considered　himself　nobody；　and　
so　held　that　the　inquiry　could　not　have　any　application　to　him；　at　
all　events；　he　tendered　no　reply。　Mr。　Giles　directed　an　appealing　
glance　at　the　tinker；　but　he　had　suddenly　fallen　asleep。　The　
women　were　out　of　the　question。　

“If　Brittles　would　rather　open　the　door；　in　the　presence　of　
witnesses；”　said　Mr。　Giles；　after　a　short　silence；　“I　am　ready　to　
make　one。”　

“So　am　I；”　said　the　tinker；　waking　up；　as　suddenly　as　he　had　
fallen　asleep。　

Brittles　capitulated　on　these　terms；　and　the　party　being　
somewhat　reassured　by　the　discovery　（made　on　throwing　open　the　
shutters）　that　it　was　now　broad　day；　took　their　way　upstairs；　with　
the　dogs　in　front；　and　the　two　women；　who　were　afraid　to　stay　
below；　bringing　up　the　rear。　By　the　advice　of　Mr。　Giles；　they　all　
talked　very　loud；　to　warn　any　evil…disposed　person　outside；　that　
they　were　strong　in　numbers；　and　by　a　master…stroke　of　policy；　

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originating　in　the　brain　of　the　same　ingenious　gentleman；　the　
dogs’　tails　were　well　pinched；　in　the　hall；　to　make　them　bark　
savagely。　

These　precautions　having　been　taken；　Mr。　Giles　held　on　fast　by　
the　tinker’s　arm　（to　prevent　his　running　away；　as　he　pleasantly　
said）；　and　gave　the　word　of　command　to　open　the　door。　Brittles　
obeyed；　the　group；　peeping　timorously　over　each　other’s　
shoulders；　beheld　no　more　formidable　object　than　poor　little　
Oliver　Twist；　speechless　and　exhausted；　who　raised　his　heavy　eyes；　
and　mutely　solicited　their　compassion。　

“A　boy！”　exclaimed　Mr。　Giles；　valiantly　pushing　the　tinker　into　
the　background。　“What’s　the　matter　with　the　Eh？—Why—　
Brittles—look　here—don’t　you　know？”　

Brittles；　who　had　got　behind　the　door　to　open　it；　no　sooner　saw　
Oliver；　than　he　uttered　a　loud　cry。　Mr。　Giles；　seizing　the　boy　by　one　
leg　and　one　arm　（fortunately　not　the　broken　limb）　lugged　him　
straight　into　the　hall；　and　deposited　him　at　full　length　on　the　floor　
thereof。　

“Here　he　is！”　bawled　Giles；　calling；　in　a　state　of　great　
excitement；　up　the　staircase；　“here’s　one　of　the　thieves；　ma’am！　
Here’s　a　thief；　miss！　Wounded；　miss！　I　shot　him；　miss；　and　Brittles　
held　the　light。”　

“In　a　lantern；　miss；”　cried　Brittles；　applying　one　hand　to　the　
side　of　his　mouth；　so　that　his　voice　might　travel　the　better。　

The　two　women…servants　ran　upstairs　to　carry　the　intelligence　
that　Mr。　Giles　had　captured　a　robber；　and　the　tinker　busied　
himself　in　endeavouring　to　restore　Oliver；　lest　he　should　die　before　
he　could　be　hanged。　In　the　midst　of　all　this　noise　and　commotion　
there　was　heard　a　sweet　female　voice；　which　quelled　it　in　an　

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instant。　

“Giles！”　whispered　the　voice　from　the　stair…head。　

“I’m　here；　miss；”　replied　Mr。　Giles。　“Don’t　be　frightened；　miss；　I　
ain’t　much　injured。　He　didn’t　make　a　very　desperate　resistance；　
miss！　I　was　soon　too　many　for　him。”　

“Hush！”　replied　the　young　lady；　“you　frighten　my　aunt　as　much　
as　the　thieves　did。　Is　the　poor　creature　much　hurt？”　

“Wounded　desperate；　miss；”　replied　Giles；　with　indescribable　
complacency。　

“He　looks　as　if　he　was　a…going；　miss；”　bawled　Brittles；　in　the　
same　manner　as　before。　“Wouldn’t　you　like　to　come　and　look　at　
him；　miss；　in　case　he　should　？”　

“Hush；　pray；　there’s　a　good　man！”　rejoined　the　lady。　“Wait　
quietly　only　one　instant；　while　I　speak　to　aunt。”　

With　a　footstep　as　soft　and　gentle　as　the　voice；　the　speaker　
tripped　away。　She　soon　returned；　with　the　direction　that　the　
wounded　person　was　to　be　carried；　carefully；　upstairs　to　Mr。　
Giles’s　room；　and　that　Brittles　was　to　saddle　the　pony　and　betake　
himself　instantly　to　Chertsey；　from　which　place；　he　was　to　
despatch；　with　all　speed；　a　constable　and　doctor。　

“But　won’t　you　take　one　look　at　him　first；　miss？”　asked　Mr。　
Giles；　with　as　much　pride　as　if　Oliver　were　some　bird　of　rare　
plumage；　that　he　had　skilfully　brought　down。　“Not　one　little　peep；　
miss？”　

“Not　now；　for　the　world；”　replied　the　young　lady。　“Poor　fellow！　
Oh！　treat　him　kindly；　Giles；　for　my　sake！”　

The　old　servant　looked　up　at　the　speaker；　as　she　turned　away；　
with　a　glance　as　proud　and　admiring　as　if　she　had　been　his　own　
child。　Then；　bending　over　Oliver；　he　helped　to　carry　him　upstairs；　

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with　the　care　and　solicitude　of　a　woman。　

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