oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第6部分

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Oliver　Twist　

“Don’t　make　your　eyes　red；　Oliver；　but　eat　your　food　and　be　
thankful；”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　in　a　tone　of　impressive　pomposity。　
“You’re　a…going　to　be　made　a　’prentice　of；　Oliver。”　

“A　’prentice；　sir！”　said　the　child；　trembling。　

“Yes；　Oliver；”　said　Mr。　Bumble。　“The　kind　and　blessed　
gentlemen　which　is　so　many　parents　to　you；　Oliver；　when　you　have　
none　of　your　own；　are　a…going　to　’prentice　you；　and　to　set　you　up　in　
life；　and　make　a　man　of　you；　although　the　expense　to　the　parish　is　
three　pound　ten！—three　pound　ten；　Oliver！—seventy　shillins　one　
hundred　and　forty　sixpences！—and　all　for　a　naughty　orphan　which　
nobody　can’t　love。”　

As　Mr。　Bumble　paused　to　take　breath；　after　delivering　this　
address　in　an　awful　voice；　the　tears　rolled　down　the　poor　child’s　
face；　and　he　sobbed　bitterly。　

“Come；”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　somewhat　less　pompously；　for　It　was　
gratifying　to　his　feelings　to　observe　the　effect　his　eloquence　had　
produced；　“come；　Oliver！　Wipe　your　eyes　with　the　cuffs　of　your　
jacket；　and　don’t　cry　into　your　gruel；　that’s　a　very　foolish　action；　
Oliver。”　It　certainly　was；　for　there　was　quite　enough　water　in　it　
already。　

On　their　way　to　the　magistrate；　Mr。　Bumble　instructed　Oliver　
that　all　he　would　have　to　do；　would　be　to　look　very　happy；　and　say；　
when　the　gentleman　asked　him　if　he　wanted　to　be　apprenticed；　
that　he　should　like　it　very　much　indeed；　both　of　which　injunctions　
Oliver　promised　to　obey：　the　rather　as　Mr。　Bumble　threw　in　a　
gentle　hint；　that　if　he　failed　in　either　particular；　there　was　no　
telling　what　would　be　done　to　him。　When　they　arrived　at　the　office；　
he　was　shut　up　in　a　little　room　by　himself；　and　admonished　by　Mr。　
Bumble　to　stay　there；　until　he　came　back　to　fetch　him。　

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Oliver　Twist　

There　the　boy　remained；　with　a　palpitating　heart；　for　half　an　
hour。　At　the　expiration　of　which　time　Mr。　Bumble　thrust　in　his　
head；　unadorned　with　the　cocked　hat；　and　said　aloud：　

“Now；　Oliver；　my　dear；　come　to　the　gentleman。”　As　Mr。　Bumble　
said　this；　he　put　on　a　grim　and　threatening　look；　and　added；　in　a　
low　voice；　“Mind　what　I　told　you；　you　young　rascal！”　

Oliver　stared　innocently　in　Mr。　Bumble’s　face　at　this　somewhat　
contradictory　style　of　address；　but　that　gentleman　prevented　his　
offering　any　remark　thereupon；　by　leading　him　at　once　into　an　
adjoining　room；　the　door　of　which　was　open。　It　was　a　large　room；　
with　a　great　window。　Behind　a　desk；　sat　two　gentlemen　with　
powdered　heads：　one　of　whom　was　reading　the　newspaper；　while　
the　other　was　perusing；　with　the　aid　of　a　pair　of　tortoise…shell　
spectacles；　a　small　piece　of　parchment　which　lay　before　him。　Mr。　
Limbkins　was　standing　in　front　of　the　desk　on　one　side；　and　Mr。　
Gamfield；　with　a　partially　washed　face　on　the　other；　while　two　or　
three　bluff…looking　men；　in　top…boots；　were　lounging　about。　

The　old　gentleman　with　the　spectacles　gradually　dozed　off　over　
the　little　bit　of　parchment；　and　there　was　a　short　pause；　after　
Oliver　had　been　stationed　by　Mr。　Bumble　in　front　of　the　desk。　

“This　is　the　boy；　your　worship；”　said　Mr。　Bumble。　

The　old　gentleman　who　was　reading　the　newspaper　raised　his　
head　for　a　moment；　and　pulled　the　other　old　gentleman　by　the　
sleeve；　whereupon；　the　last…mentioned　old　gentleman　woke　up。　

“Oh；　is　this　the　boy？”　said　the　old　gentleman。　

“This　is　him；　sir；”　replied　Mr。　Bumble。　“Bow　to　the　magistrate；　
my　dear。”　

Oliver　roused　himself；　and　made　his　best　obeisance。　He　had　
been　wondering；　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　magistrates’　powder；　

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Oliver　Twist　

whether　all　Boards　were　born　with　that　white　stuff　on　their　heads；　
and　were　Boards　from　thenceforth　on　that　account。　

“Well；”　said　the　old　gentleman；　“I　suppose　he’s　fond　of　
chimney…sweeping？”　

“He　dotes　on　it；　your　worship；”　replied　Bumble；　giving　Oliver　a　
sly　pinch；　to　intimate　that　he　had　better　not　say　he　didn’t。　

“And　he　will　be　a　sweep；　will　he？”　inquired　the　old　gentleman。　

“If　we　was　to　bind　him　to　any　other　trade　tomorrow；　he’d　run　
away　simultaneous；　your　worship；”　replied　Bumble　

“And　this　man　that’s　to　be　his　master—you；　sir—you’ll　treat　
him　well；　and　feed　him；　and　do　all　that　sort　of　thing；　will　you？”　
said　the　old　gentleman。　

“When　I　says　I　will；　I　means　I　will；”　replied　Mr。　Gamfield　
doggedly。　

“You’re　a　rough　speaker；　my　friend；　but　you　look　an　honest；　
open…hearted　man；”　said　the　old　gentleman；　turning　his　spectacles　
in　the　direction　of　the　candidate　for　Oliver’s　premium；　whose　
villainous　countenance　was　a　regular　stamped　receipt　for　cruelty。　
But　the　magistrate　was　half…blind　and　half…childish；　so　he　couldn’t　
reasonably　be　expected　to　discern　what　other　people　did。　

“I　hope　I　am；　sir；”　said　Mr。　Gamfield；　with　an　ugly　leer。　

“I　have　no　doubt　you　are；　my　friend；”　replied　the　old　
gentleman；　fixing　his　spectacles　more　firmly　on　his　nose；　and　
looking　about　him　for　the　ink…stand。　

It　was　the　critical　moment　of　Oliver’s　fate。　If　the　ink…stand　had　
been　where　the　old　gentleman　thought’　it　was；　he　would　have　
dipped　his　pen　into　it；　and　signed　the　indentures；　and　Oliver　
would　have　been　straightway　hurried　off。　But；　as　it　chanced　to　be　
immediately　under　his　nose；　it　followed；　as　a　matter　of　course；　that　

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Oliver　Twist　

he　looked　all　over　his　desk　for　it；　without　finding　it；　and　happening　
in　the　course　of　his　speech　to　look　straight　before　him；　his　gaze　
encountered　the　pale　and　terrified　face　of　Oliver　Twist；　who；　
despite　all　the　admonitory　looks　and　pinches　of　Bumble；　was　
regarding　the　repulsive　countenance　of　his　future　master；　with　a　
mingled　expression　of　horror　and　fear；　too　palpable　to　be　
mistaken；　even　by　a　half…blind　magistrate。　

The　old　gentleman　stopped；　laid　down　his　pen；　and　looked　from　
Oliver　to　Mr。　Limbkins；　who　attempted　to　take　snuff　with　a　
cheerful　and　unconcerned　aspect。　

“My　boy！”　said　the　old　gentleman；　leaning　over　the　desk。　Oliver　
started　at　the　sound。　He　might　be　excused　for　doing　so；　for　the　
words　were　kindly　said；　and　strange　sounds　frighten　one。　He　
trembled　violently；　and　burst　into　tears。　

“My　boy！”　said　the　old　gentleman；　“you　look　pale　and　alarmed。　
What　is　the　matter？”　

“Stand　a　little　away　from　him；　beadle；”　said　the　other　
magistrate；　laying　aside　the　paper；　and　leaning　forward　with　an　
expression　of　interest。　“Now；　boy；　tell　us　what’s　the　matter—don’t　
be　afraid。”　

Oliver　fell　on　his　knees；　and　clasped　his　hands　together；　prayed　
that　they　would　order　him　back　to　the　dark　room—that　they　would　
starve　him—beat　him—kill　him　if　they　pleased—rather　than　send　
him　away　with　that　dreadful　man。　

“Well！”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　raising　his　hands　and　eyes　with　most　
impressive　solemnity。　“Well！　of　all　the　artful　and　designing　
orphans　that　ever　I　see；　Oliver；　you　are　one　of　the　most　barefacedest。”　

“Hold　your　tongue；　beadle；”　said　the　second　old　gentleman；　

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Oliver　Twist　

when　Mr。　Bumble　had　given　vent　to　this　compound　adjective。　

“I　beg　your　worship’s　pardon；”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　incredulous　of　
his　having　heard　aright。　“Did　your　worship　speak　to　me？　

“Yes。　Hold　your　tongue。”　

Mr。　Bumble　was　stupefied　with　astonishment。　A　beadle　ordered　
to　hold　his　tongue！　A　moral　revolution！　The　old　gentleman　in　the　
tortoise…shell　spectacles　looked　at　his　companion；　he　nodded　
significantly。　

“We　refuse　to　sanction　these　indentures；”　said　the　old　
gentleman；　tossing　aside　the　piece　of　parchment　as　he　spoke。　

“I　hope；”　stammered　Mr。　Limbkins；　“I　hope　the　magistrates　will　
not　form　the　opinion　that　the　authorities　have　been　guilty　of　any　
improper　conduct；　on　the　unsupported　testimony　of　a　mere　child。”　

“The　magistrates　are　not　called　upon　to　pronounce　any　opinion　
on　the　matter；”　said　the　second　old　gentleman　sharply。　“Take　the　
boy　back　to　the　workhouse；　and　treat　him　kindly。　He　seems　to　
want　it。”　

That　same　evening；　the　gentleman　in　the　white　waistcoat　most　
positively　and　decidedly　affirmed；　not　only　that　Oliver　would　be　
hung；　but　that　he　would　be　drawn　and　quartered　into　the　bargain。　
Mr。　Bumble　shook　his　head　with　gloomy　mystery；　and　said　he　
wished　he　might　come　to　good；　whereunto　Mr。　Gamfield　replied　
that　he　wished　he　might　come　to　him；　which；　although　he　agreed　
with　the　beadle　in　most　matters；　would　seem　to　be　a　wish　of　a　
totally　opposite　description。　The　next　morning；　the　public　were　
once　more　informed　that　Oliver　Twist　was　again　To　Let；　and　that　
five　pounds　would　be　paid　to　anybody　who　would　take　possession　
of　him。　

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Oliver　Twist　

Chapter　4　

Oliver；　Being　Offered　Another　Place；　Makes　His
First　Entry　Into　Public　Life。


In　great　families；　when　an　advantageous　place　cannot　be　
obtained；　either　in　possession；　reversion；　remainder；　or　
expectancy；　for　the　young　man　who　is　growing　up；　it　is　a　very　
general　custom　to　send　him　to　sea。　The　Board；　in　imitation　of　so　
wise　and　salutary　an　example；　took　counsel　together　on　the　
expediency　of　shipping　off　Oliver　Twist；　in　some　small　trading　
vessel　bound　to　a　good　unhealthy　port；　which　suggested　itself　as　
the　very　best　thing　that　could　possibly　be　done　with　him：　the　
probability　being；　that　the　skipper　would　flog　him　to　death；　in　a　
playful　mood；　some　day　after　dinner；　or　would　knock　his　brains　
out　with　an　iron　bar；　both　pastimes　being；　as　is　pretty　generally　
known；　very　favourite　and　common　recreations　among　gentlemen　
of　that　class。　The　more　the　case　presented　itself　to　the　Board；　in　
this　point　of　view；　the　more　manifold　the　advantages　of　the　step　
appeared；　so；　they　come　to　the　conclusion　that　the　only　way　of　
providing　for　Oliver　effectually；　was　to　send　him　to　sea　without　
delay。　

Mr。　Bumble　had　been　despatched　to　make　various　preliminary　
inquiries；　with　the　view　of　finding　out　some　captain　or　other　who　
wanted　a　cabin…boy　without　any　friends；　and　was　returning　to　the　
workhouse　to　communicate　the　result　of　his　mission；　when　he　
enc