oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第7部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
workhouse to communicate the result of his mission; when he
encountered at the gate; no less a person than Mr。 Sowerberry; the
parochial undertaker。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
Mr Sowerberry was a tall; gaunt; large…jointed man; attired in a
suit of threadbare black with darned cotton stockings of the same
colour; and shoes to answer。 His features were not naturally
intended to wear a smiling aspect; but he was in general rather
given to professional jocosity。 His step was elastic; and his face
betokened inward pleasantry; as he advanced to Mr。 Bumble; and
shook him cordially by the hand。
“I have taken the measure of the two women that died last
night; Mr。 Bumble;” said the undertaker。
“You’ll make your fortune; Mr。 Sowerberry;” said the beadle; as
he thrust his thumb and forefinger into the proffered snuff…box of
the undertaker: which was an ingenious little model of a patent
coffin。 “I say you’ll make your fortune; Mr。 Sowerberry;” repeated
Mr。 Bumble; tapping the undertaker on the shoulder; in a friendly
manner; with his cane。
“Think so?” said the undertaker; in a tone which half…admitted
and half…disputed the probability of the event。 “The prices allowed
by the Board are very small; Mr。 Bumble。”
“So are the coffins;” replied the beadle; with precisely as near
the approach to a laugh as a great official ought to indulge in。
Mr。 Sowerberry was much tickled at this—as of course he ought
to be…and laughed a long time without cessation。 “Well; well; Mr。
Bumble;” he said at length; “there’s no denying that; since the new
system of feeding has come in; the coffins are something narrower
and more shallow than they used to be; but we must have some
profit; Mr。 Bumble。 Well…seasoned timber is an expensive article;
sir; and all the iron handles come; by canal; from Birmingham。”
“Well; well;” said Mr。 Bumble; “every trade has its drawbacks。
A fair profit is; of course; allowable。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Of course; of course;” replied the undertaker; “and if I don’t
get a profit upon this or that particular article; why; I make it up in
the long run; you see—he! he! he!”
“Just so;” said Mr。 Bumble。
“Though I must say;” continued the undertaker; resuming the
current of observations which the beadle had interrupted; “though
I must say; Mr。 Bumble; that I have to contend against one very
great disadvantage: which is; that all the stout people go off the
quickest。 The people who have been better off; and have paid rates
for many years; are the first to sink when they come into the
house; and let me tell you; Mr。 Bumble; that three or four inches
over one’s calculation makes a great hole in one’s profits:
especially when one has a family to provide for; sir。”
As Mr。 Sowerberry said this; with the becoming indignation of
an ill…used man; and as Mr。 Bumble felt that it rather tended to
convey a reflection on the honour of the parish; the latter
gentleman thought it advisable to change the subject。 Oliver Twist
being uppermost in his mind; he made him his theme。
“By the bye; said Mr。 Bumble; “you don’t know anybody who
wants a boy; do you? A porochial ’prentis; who is at present a
dead…weight; a millstone; as I may say; round the porochial throat?
Liberal terms; Mr。 Sowerberry; liberal terms!”
As Mr。 Bumble spoke; he raised his cane to the bill above him;
and gave three distinct raps upon the words “five pounds”: which
were printed thereon in Roman capitals of gigantic size。
“Gadso!” said the undertaker; taking Mr。 Bumble by the gilt…
edged lapel of his official coat; “that’s just the very thing I wanted
to speak to you about。 You know—dear me; what a very elegant
button this is; Mr。 Bumble! I never noticed it before。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Yes; I think it is rather pretty;” said the beadle; glancing
proudly downwards at the large brass buttons which embellished
his coat。 “The die is the same as the porochial seal—the Good
Samaritan healing the sick; and bruised man。 The Board
presented it to me on New Year s morning; Mr。 Sowerberry。 I put
it on; I remember; for the first time; to attend the inquest on that
reduced tradesman; who died in a doorway at midnight。”
“I recollect;” said the undertaker。 “The jury brought it in; ‘Died
from exposure to the cold; and want of the common necessaries of
life; didn’t they?”
Mr。 Bumble nodded。
“And they made it a special verdict; I think;” said the
undertaker; “by adding some words to the effect; that if the
relieving officer had—”
“Tush! Foolery!” interposed the beadle。 “If the Board attended
to all the nonsense that ignorant jurymen talk; they’d have enough
to do。”
“Very true;” said the undertaker; “they would indeed。”
“Juries;” said Mr。 Bumble; grasping his cane tightly; as was his
wont when working into a passion; “juries is ineddicated; vulgar;
grovelling wretches。”
“So they are;” said the undertaker。
“They haven’t no more philosophy nor political economy about
’em than that;” said the beadle; snapping his fingers
contemptuously。
“No more they have;” acquiesced the undertaker。
“I despise ’em;” said the beadle; growing very red in the face。
“So do I;” rejoined the undertaker。
“And I only wish we’d a jury of the independent sort in the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
house for a week or two;” said the beadle; “the rules and
regulations of the Board would soon bring their spirit down for
’em。”
“Let ’em alone for that;” replied the undertaker。 So saying; he
smiled approvingly; to calm the rising wrath of the indignant
parish officer。
Mr。 Bumble lifted off his cocked hat; took a handkerchief from
the inside of the crown; wiped from his forehead the perspiration
which his rage had engendered; fixed the cocked hat on again;
and; turning to the undertaker; said in a calmer voice:
“Well; what about the boy?”
“Oh!” replied the undertaker; “why; you know Mr。 Bumble; I
pay a good deal towards the poor’s rates。”
“Hem!” said Mr。 Bumble; “Well?”
“Well;” replied the undertaker; “I was thinking that if I pay so
much towards ’em; I’ve a right to get as much out of ’em as I can;
Mr。 Bumble; and so—and so—I think I’ll take the boy myself。”
Mr。 Bumble grasped the undertaker by the arm; and led him
into the building。 Mr。 Sowerberry was closeted with the Board for
five minutes; and it was arranged that Oliver should go to him that
evening “upon liking”—a phrase which means; in the case of a
parish apprentice; that if the master find; upon a short trial; that
he can get enough work out of a boy without putting too much
food into him; he shall have him for a term of years; to do what he
likes with。
When little Oliver was taken before “the gentlemen” that
evening; and informed that he was to go; that night; as general
house…lad to a coffin…maker’s; and that if he complained of his
situation; or ever came back to the parish again; he would be sent
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
to sea; there to be drowned or knocked on the head; as the case
might be; he evinced so little emotion; that they by common
consent pronounced him a hardened young rascal; and ordered
Mr。 Bumble to remove him forthwith。
Now; although it was very natural that the Board; of all people
in the world; should feel in a great state of virtuous astonishment
and horror at the smallest tokens of want of feeling on the part of
anybody; they were rather out; in this particular instance。 The
simple fact was; that Oliver; instead of possessing too little feeling;
possessed rather too much; and was in a fair way of being reduced;
for life; to a state of brutal stupidity and sullenness by the ill…usage
he had received。 He heard the news of his destination; in perfect
silence; and; having had his luggage put into his hand—which was
not very difficult to carry; inasmuch as it was all comprised within
the limits of a brown…paper parcel; about half a foot square by
three inches deep—he pulled his cap over his eyes; and once more
attaching himself to Mr。 Bumble’s coat cuff; was led away by that
dignitary to a new scene of suffering。
For some time; Mr。 Bumble drew Oliver along; without notice
or remark; for the beadle carried his head very erect; as a beadle
always should: and; it being a windy day; little Oliver was
completely enshrouded by the skirts of Mr。 Bumble’s coat as they
blew open; and disclosed to great advantage his flapped waistcoat
and drab plush knee…breeches。 As they drew near to their
destination; however; Mr。 Bumble thought it expedient to look
down; and see that the boy was in good order for inspection by his
new master; which he accordingly did; with a fit and becoming air
of gracious patronage。
“Oliver!” said Mr。 Bumble。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Yes; sir;” replied Oliver; in a low; tremulous voice。
“Pull that cap off your eyes; and hold up your head; sir。”
Although Oliver did as he was desired; at once; and passed the
back of his unoccupied hand briskly across his eyes; he left a tear
in them when he looked up at his conductor。 As Mr。 Bumble gazed
sternly upon him; it rolled down his cheek。 It was followed by
another; and another。 The child made a strong effort; but it was an
unsuccessful one。 Withdrawing his other hand from Mr。 Bumble’s;
he covered his face with both; and wept until the tears sprang out
from between his chin and bony fingers。
“Well!” exclaimed Mr。 Bumble; stopping short; and darting at
his little charge a look of intense malignity。 “Well! Of all the
ungratefullest; and worst…disposed boys as ever I see; Oliver; you
are the—”
“No; no; sir;” sobbed Oliver; clinging to the hand which held the
well…known cane; “no; no; sir; I will be good indeed; indeed;
indeed I will; sir! I am a very little boy; sir; and it is so—so