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“How old are yer？’ inquired the voice。
“Ten； sir；” replied Oliver。
“Then I’ll whop yer when I get in；” said the voice； “you just see
if I don’t； that’s all； my work’us brat！” and having made this
obliging promise； the voice began to whistle。
Oliver had been too often subjected to the process to which the
very expressive monosyllable just recorded bears reference； to
entertain the smallest doubt that the owner of the voice； whoever
he might be； would redeem his pledge； most honourably。 He drew
back the bolts with a trembling hand； and opened the door。
For a second or two； Oliver glanced up the street； and down the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
street； and over the way； impressed with the belief that the
unknown who had addressed him through the keyhole； had
walked a few paces off； to warm himself； for nobody did he see but
a big charity…boy； sitting on a post in front of the house； eating a
slice of bread…and…butter； which he cut into wedges； the size of his
mouth； with a clasp knife； and then consumed with great
dexterity。
“I beg your pardon； sir；” said Oliver； at length； seeing that no
other visitor made his appearance； “did you knock？”
“I kicked；” replied the charity…boy。
“Did you want a coffin； sir？” inquired Oliver innocently。
At this the charity…boy looked monstrous fierce； and said that
Oliver would want one before long； if he cut jokes with his
superiors in that way。
“Yer don’t know who I am； I suppose； Work’us？” said the
charity…boy； in continuation； descending from the top of the post；
meanwhile； with edifying gravity。
“No； sir；” rejoined Oliver。
“I’m Mister Noah Claypole；” said the charity…boy； “and you’re
under me。 Take down the shutters； yer idle young ruffian！” With
this； Mr。 Claypole administered a kick to Oliver； and entered the
shop with a dignified air； which did him great credit。 It is difficult
for a large…headed； small…eyed youth； of lumbering make and
heavy countenance； to look dignified under any circumstances；
but it is more especially so； when superadded to these personal
attractions are a red nose and yellow smalls。
Oliver； having taken down the shutters； and broken a pane of
glass in his efforts to stagger away beneath the weight； of the first
one； to a small court at the side of the house in which they were
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
kept during the day； was graciously assisted by Noah； who； having
consoled him with the assurance that “he’d catch it；”
condescended to help him。 Mr。 Sowerberry came down soon after。
Shortly afterwards； Mrs。 Sowerberry appeared； and Oliver having
“caught it；” in fulfilment of Noah’s prediction； followed that young
gentleman down the stairs to breakfast。
“Come near the fire； Noah；” said Charlotte。 “I saved a nice little
bit of bacon for you from master’s breakfast。 Oliver； shut that door
at Mister Noah’s back； and take them bits that I’ve put out on the
cover of the bread…pan。 There’s your tea； take it away to that box
and drink it there； and make haste； for they’ll want you to mind
the shop。 D’ye hear？”
“D’ye hear； Work’us？” said Noah Claypole。
“Lor； Noah！” said Charlotte； “what a rum creature you are！
Why don’t you let the boy alone？”
“Let him alone！” said Noah。 “Why everybody lets him alone
enough； for the matter of that。 Neither his father nor his mother
will ever interfere with him。 All his relations let him have his own
way pretty well。 Eh； Charlotte？ He！ he！ he！”
“Oh； you queer soul！” said Charlotte； bursting into a hearty
laugh； in which she was joined by Noah； after which they both
looked scornfully at poor Oliver Twist； as he was shivering on the
box in the coldest corner of the room； and ate the stale pieces
which had been specially reserved for him。
Noah was a charity…boy； but not a workhouse orphan。 No
chance—child was he； for he could trace his genealogy all the way
back to his parents； who lived hard by； his mother being a
washerwoman； and his father a drunken soldier； discharged with a
wooden leg and a diurnal pension of twopence…halfpenny and an
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
unstateable fraction。 The shop boys in the neighbourhood had
long been in the habit of branding Noah； in the public streets； with
the ignominious epithets of “leathers；” “charity；” and the like； and
Noah had borne them without reply。 But； now that fortune has
cast in his way a nameless orphan； at whom even the meanest
could point the finger of scorn； he retorted on him with interest。
This affords charming food for contemplation。 It shows us what a
beautiful thing human nature may be made to be； and how
impartially the same amiable qualities are developed in the finest
lord and the dirtiest charity…boy。
Oliver had been sojourning at the undertaker’s some three
weeks or a month。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Sowerberry—the shop being shut
up—were taking their supper in the little back parlour； when Mr。
Sowerberry； after several deferential glances at his wife； said： “My
dear—” He was going to say more； but； Mrs。 Sowerberry looking
up； with a peculiarly unpropitious aspect； he stopped short。
“Well；” said Mrs。 Sowerberry sharply。
“Nothing； my dear； nothing；” said Mr Sowerberry。
“Ugh； you brute！” said Mrs。 Sowerberry。
“Not at all； my dear；” said Mr。 Sowerberry humbly。 “I thought
you didn’t want to hear； my dear。 I was only going to say—”
“Oh； don’t tell me what you were going to say；” interposed Mrs。
Sowerberry。 “I am nobody； don’t consult me； pray。 I don’t want to
intrude upon your secrets。” As Mrs。 Sowerberry said this； she gave
an hysterical laugh； which threatened violent consequences。
“But； my dear；” said Mr。 Sowerberry； “I want to ask your
advice。’！
“No； no； don’t ask mine；” replied Mrs。 Sowerberry； in an
affecting manner； “ask somebody else’s。” Here； there was another
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
hysterical laugh； which frightened Mr。 Sowerberry very much。
This is a very common and much…approved matrimonial course of
treatment； which is often very effective。 It at once reduced Mr。
Sowerberry to begging； as a special favour； to be allowed to say
what Mrs。 Sowerberry was most curious to hear。 After a short
altercation of less than three…quarters of an hour’s duration； the
permission was most graciously conceded。
“It’s only about young Twist； my dear；” said Mr。 Sowerberry。
“A very good…looking boy； that； my dear。”
“He need be； for he eats enough；” observed the lady。
“There’s an expression of melancholy in his face； my dear；”
resumed Mr。 Sowerberry； “which is very interesting。 He would
make a delightful mute； my love。”
Mrs。 Sowerberry looked up with an expression of considerable
wonderment。 Mr。 Sowerberry remarked it； and without allowing
time for any observation on the good lady’s part； proceeded。
“I don’t mean a regular mute to attend grown…up people； my
dear； but only for child