oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第5部分

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gentle。　man　in　the　white　waistcoat；　he　would　have　established　that　
sage　individual’s　prophetic　character；　once　and　for　ever；　by　tying　
one　end　of　his　pocket　handkerchief　to　a　hook　in　the　wall；　and　
attaching　himself　to　the　other。　To　the　performance　of　this　feat；　
however；　there　was　one　obstacle；　namely；　that　pocket　
handkerchiefs　being　decided　articles　of　luxury；　had　been　for　all　
future　times　and　ages；　removed　from　the　noses　of　paupers　by　the　
express　order　of　the　Board；　in　council　assembled：　solemnly　given　
and　pronounced　under　their　hands　and　seals。　There　was　a　still　
greater　obstacle　in　Oliver’s　youth　and　childishness。　He　only　cried　
bitterly　all　day；　and；　when　the　long；　dismal　night　came　on；　spread　
his　little　hands　before　his　eyes　to　shut　out　the　darkness；　and　
crouching　in　the　corner；　tried　to　sleep：　ever　and　anon　waking　with　
a　start　and　tremble；　and　drawing　himself　closer　and　closer　to　the　
wall；　as　if　to　feel　even　its　cold；　hard　surface　were　a　protection　in　
the　gloom　and　loneliness　which　surrounded　him。　
Let　it　not　be　supposed　by　the　enemies　of　“the　system；”　that；　

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Oliver　Twist　

during　the　period　of　his　solitary　incarceration；　Oliver　was　denied　
the　benefit　of　exercise；　the　pleasure　of　society；　or　the　advantages　of　
religious　consolation。　As　for　exercise；　it　was　nice　cold　weather；　and　
he　was　allowed　to　perform　his　ablutions　every　morning　under　the　
pump；　in　a　stone　yard；　in　the　presence　of　Mr。　Bumble；　who　
prevented　his　catching　cold；　and　caused　a　tingling　sensation　to　
pervade　his　frame；　by　repeated　applications　of　the　cane。　As　for　
society；　he　was　carried　every　other　day　into　the　hall　where　the　
boys　dined；　and　there　sociably　flogged　as　a　public　warning　and　
example。　And　so　far　from　being　denied　the　advantages　of　religious　
consolation；　he　was　kicked　into　the　same　apartment　every　evening　
at　prayer…time；　and　there　permitted　to　listen　to；　and　console　his　
mind　with；　a　general　supplication　of　the　boys；　containing　a　special　
clause；　therein　inserted　by　authority　of　the　Board；　in　which　they　
entreated　to　be　made　good；　virtuous；　contented；　and　obedient；　and　
to　be　guarded　from　the　sins　and　vices　of　Oliver　Twist：　whom　the　
supplication　distinctly　set　forth　to　be　under　the　exclusive　
patronage　and　protection　of　the　powers　of　wickedness；　and　an　
article　direct　from　the　manufactory　of　the　very　devil　himself。　

It　chanced　one　morning；　while　Oliver’s　affairs　were　in　this　
auspicious　and　comfortable　state；　that　Mr。　Gamfield；　chimney…
sweep；　was　wending　his　way　down　the　High　Street；　deeply　
cogitating　in　his　mind　his　ways　and　means　of　paying　certain　
arrears　of　rent；　for　which　his　landlord　had　become　rather　pressing。　
Mr。　Gamfield’s　most　sanguine　estimate　of　his　finances　could　not　
raise　them　within　full　five　pounds　of　the　desired　amount；　and；　in　a　
species　of　arithmetical　desperation；　he　was　alternately　cudgelling　
his　brains　and　his　donkey；　when；　passing　the　workhouse；　his　eyes　
encountered　the　bill　on　the　gate。　

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“Wo…o！”　said　Mr。　Gamfield　to　the　donkey。　

The　donkey　was　in　a　state　of　profound　abstraction：　wondering；　
probably；　whether　he　was　destined　to　be　regaled　with　a　cabbage…
stalk　or　two　when　he　had　disposed　of　the　two　sacks　of　soot　with　
which　the　little　cart　was　laden；　so；　without　noticing　the　word　of　
command；　he　jogged　onward。　

Mr。　Gamfield　growled　a　fierce　imprecation　on　the　donkey　
generally；　but　more　particularly　on　his　eyes；　and；　running　after　
him；　bestowed　a　blow　on　his　head；　which　would　inevitably　have　
beaten　in　any　skull　but　a　donkey’s。　Then；　catching　hold　of　the　
bridle；　he　gave　his　jaw　a　sharp　wrench；　by　way　of　gentle　reminder　
that　he　was　not　his　own　master；　and　by　these　means　turned　him　
round。　He　then　gave　him　another　blow　on　the　head；　just　to　stun　
him　till　he　came　back　again。　Having　completed　these　
arrangements；　he　walked　up　to　the　gate；　to　read　the　bill　The　
gentleman　with　the　white　waistcoat　was　standing　at　the　gate　with　
his　hands　behind　him；　after　having　delivered　himself　of　some　
profound　sentiments　in　the　board…room。　Having　witnessed　the　
little　dispute　between　Mr。　Gamfield　and　the　donkey；　he　smiled　
joyously　when　that　person　came　up　to　read　the　bill；　for　he　saw　at　
once　that　Mr。　Gamfield　was　exactly　the　sort　of　master　Oliver　Twist　
wanted。　Mr。　Gamfield　smiled；　too；　as　he　perused　the　document；　for　
five　pounds　was　just　the　sum　he　had　been　wishing　for；　and；　as　the　
boy　with　which　it　was　encumbered；　Mr。　Gamfield；　knowing　what　
the　dietary　of　the　workhouse　was；　well　knew　he　would　be　a　nice　
small　pattern；　just　the　very　thing　for　register　stoves。　So；　he　spelt　
the　bill　through　again；　from　beginning　to　end；　and　then；　touching　
his　fur　cap　in　token　of　humility；　accosted　the　gentleman　in　the　
white　waistcoat。　

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“This　here　boy；　sir；　wot　the　parish　wants　to　’prentis；”　said　Mr。　
Gamfield。　

“Ay；　my　man；”　said　the　gentleman　in　the　white　waistcoat；　with　a　
condescending　smile。　“What　of　him？”　

“If　the　parish　would　like　him　to　learn　a　right　pleasant　trade；　in　a　
good　’spectable　chimbley…sweepin’　bisness；”　said　Mr。　Gamfield；　“I　
wants　a　’prentis；　and　I　am　ready　to　take　him。”　

“Walk　in；”　said　the　gentleman　in　the　white　waistcoat。　Mr。　
Gamfield　having　lingered　behind；　to　give　the　donkey　another　blow　
on　the　head；　and　another　wrench　of　the　jaw；　as　a　caution　not　to　
run　away　in　his　absence；　followed　the　gentleman　with　the　white　
waistcoat　into　the　room　where　Oliver　had　first　seen　him。　

“It’s　a　nasty　trade；”　said　Mr。　Limbkins；　when　Gamfield　had　
again　stated　his　wish。　

“Young　boys　have　been　smothered　in　chimneys　before　now；”　
said　another　gentleman。　

“That’s　’cause　they　damped　the　straw　afore　they　lit　it　in　the　
chimbley　to　make　’em　come　down　agin；”　said　Gamfield；　“that’s　all　
smoke；　and　no　blaze；　vereas　smoke　ain’t　o’　no　use　at　all　in　making　
a　boy　come　down；　for　it　only　sinds　him　to　sleep；　and　that’s　wot　he　
likes。　Boys　is　wery　obstinit；　and　wery　lazy；　gen’lmen；　and　there’s　
nothink　like　a　good　hot　blaze　to　make　’em　come　down　vith　a　run。　
It’s　humane　too；　gen’lmen；　acause；　even　if　they’ve　stuck　in　the　
chimbley；　roasting　their　feet　makes　’em　struggle　to　hextricate　
theirselves。”　

The　gentleman　in　the　white　waistcoat　appeared　very　much　
amused　by　this　explanation；　but　his　mirth　was　speedily　checked　by　
a　look　from　Mr。　Limbkins。　The　Board　then　proceeded　to　converse　
among　themselves　for　a　few　minutes；　but　in　so　low　a　tone；　that　the　

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Oliver　Twist　

words　“saving　of　expenditure；”　“looked　well　in　the　accounts；”　
“have　a　printed　report　published；”　were　alone　audible。　These　only　
chanced　to　be　heard；　indeed；　on　account　of　their　being　very　
frequently　repeated　with　great　emphasis。　At　length　the　whispering　
ceased；　and　the　members　of　the　Board　having　resumed　their　seats　
and　their　solemnity；　Mr。　Limbkins　said：　“We　have　considered　your　
proposition；　and　we　don’t　approve　of　it。”　

“Not　at　all；”　said　the　gentleman　in　the　white　waistcoat。　

“Decidedly　not；”　added　the　other　members。　

As　Mr。　Gamfield　did　happen　to　labour　under　the　slight　
imputation　of　having　bruised　three　or　four　boys　to　death　already；　it　
occurred　to　him　that　the　Board　had；　perhaps；　in　some　
unaccountable　freak；　taken　it　into　their　heads　that　this　extraneous　
circumstance　ought　to　influence　their　proceedings。　It　was　very　
unlike　their　general　mode　of　doing　business；　if　they　had；　but　still；　
as　he　had　no　particular　wish　to　revive　the　rumour；　he　twisted　his　
cap　in　his　hands；　and　walked　slowly　from　the　table。　

“So　you　won’t　let　me　have　him；　gen’lmen？”　said　Mr。　Gamfield；　
pausing　near　the　door。　

“No；”　replied　Mr。　Limbkins；　“at　least；　as　it’s　a　nasty　business；　
we　think　you　ought　to　take　something　less　than　the　premium　we　
offered。”　

Mr。　Gamfield’s　countenance　brightened；　as；　with　a　quick　step；　
he　returned　to　the　table；　and　said：　

“What’ll　you　give；　gen’lmen？　Come！　Don’t　be　too　hard　on　a　poor　
man。　What’ll　you　give？”　

“I　should　say；　three　pounds　ten　was　plenty；”　said　Mr。　Limbkins。　

“Ten　shillings　too　much；”　said　the　gentleman　in　the　white　
waistcoat。　

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“Come！”　said　Gamfield；　“say　four　pound；　gen’lmen。　Say　four　
pound；　and　you’ve　got　rid　on　him　for　good　and　all。　There！　

“Three　pound　ten；”　repeated　Mr。　Limbkins　firmly。　

“Come！　I’ll　split　the　difference；　gen’lmen；”　urged　Gamfield。　
Three　pound　fifteen。”　

“Not　a　farthing　more；”　said　the　firm　reply　of　Mr。　Limbkins。　

“You’re　desperate　hard　upon　me；　gen’lmen；”　said　Gamfield；　
wavering。　

“Pooh！　pooh！　nonsense！”　said　the　gentleman　in　the　white　
waistcoat。　“He’d　be　cheap　with　nothing　at　all；　as　a　premium。　Take　
him；　you　silly　fellow！　He’s　just　the　boy　for　you。　He　wants　the　stick；　
now　and　then：　it’ll　do　him　good；　and　his　board　needn’t　come　very　
expensive；　for　he　hasn’t　been　overfed　since　he　was　born。　Ha！　ha！　
ha！”　

Mr。　Gamfield　gave　an　arch　look　at　the　faces　round　the　table；　
and；　observing　a　smile　on　all　of　them；　gradually　broke　into　a　smile　
himself。　The　bargain　was　made。　Mr。　Bumble　was　at　once　
instructed　that　Oliver　Twist　and　his　indentures　were　to　be　
conveyed　before　the　magistrate　for　signature　and　approval；　that　
very　afternoon。　In　pursuance　of　this　determination；　little　Oliver；　to　
his　excessive　astonishment；　was　released　from　bondage；　and　
ordered　to　put　himself　into　a　clean　shirt。　He　had　hardly　achieved　
this　very　unusual　gymnastic　performance；　when　Mr。　Bumble　
brought　him；　with　his　own　hands；　a　basin　of　gruel；　and　the　holiday　
allowance　of　two　ounces　and　a　quarter　of　bread。　At　this　
tremendous　sight；　Oliver　began　to　cry　very　piteously：　thinking；　not　
unnaturally；　that　the　Board　must　have　determined　to　kill　him　for　
some　useful　purpose；　or　they　never　would　have　begun　to　fatten　
him　up　in　that　way。　

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“Don’t　make　your　eyes　red；　Oliver；　but　eat　your　food　and　be　
thankful；”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　i