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“I don’t mean a regular mute to attend grown…up people； my
dear； but only for children’s practice。 It would be very new to have
a mute in proportion； my dear。 You may depend upon it； it would
have a superb effect。”
Mrs。 Sowerberry； who had a good deal of taste in the
undertaking way； was much struck by the novelty of this idea； but；
as it would have been compromising her dignity to have said so；
under existing circumstances； she merely inquired； with much
sharpness； why such an obvious suggestion had not presented
itself to her husband’s mind before？ Mr。 Sowerberry rightly
construed this； as an acquiescence in his proposition； it was
speedily determined； therefore； that Oliver should be at once
initiated into the mysteries of the trade； and； with this view； that
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
he should accompany his master on the very next occasion of his
services being required。
The occasion was not long in coming。 Half an hour after
breakfast next morning； Mr。 Bumble entered the shop； and
supporting his cane against the counter； drew forth his large
leathern pocket…book： from which he selected a small scrap of
paper； which he handed over to Sowerberry。
“Aha！” said the undertaker； glancing over it with a lively
countenance； “an order for a coffin； eh？”
“For a coffin first； and a porochial funeral afterwards；” replied
Mr。 Bumble； fastening the strap of the leathern pocketbook：
which； like himself； was very corpulent。
“Bayton；” said the undertaker； looking from the scrap of paper
to Mr。 Bumble。 “I never heard the name before。”
Bumble shook his head； as he replied； “Obstinate people； Mr。
Sowerberry； very obstinate。 Proud； too； I’m afraid； sir。”
“Proud； eh？” exclaimed Mr。 Sowerberry； with a sneer。 “Come；
that’s too much。”
“Oh； it’s sickening；” replied the beadle。 “Antimonial； Mr。
Sowerberry！”
“So it is；” acquiesced the undertaker。
“We only heard of the family the night before last；” said the
beadle； “and we shouldn’t have known anything about them； then；
only a woman who lodges in the same house made an application
to the porochial committee for them to send the porochial surgeon
to see a woman as was very bad。 He had gone out to dinner； but
his ’prentice （which is a very clever lad） sent ’em some medicine in
a blacking…bottle； offhand。”
“Ah； there’s promptness；” said the undertaker。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Promptness； indeed！” replied the beadle。 “But what’s the
consequence； what’s the ungrateful behaviour of these rebels； sir？
Why； the husband sends back word that the medicine won’t suit
his wife’s complaint； and so she shan’t take it—says she shan’t
take it； sir！ Good； strong； wholesome medicine； as was given with
great success to two Irish labourers and a coal…heaver； only a week
before—sent ’em for nothing； with a blackin’…bottle in—and he
sends back word that she shan’t take it； sir！”
As the atrocity presented itself to Mr。 Bumble’s mind in full
force； he struck the counter sharply with his cane； and became
flushed with indignation。
“Well；” said the undertaker； “I ne—ver—did—”
“Never did； sir！” ejaculated the beadle。 “No； nor anybody never
did； but； now she’s dead； we’ve got to bury her； and that’s the
direction； and the sooner it’s done； the better。” Thus saying； Mr。
Bumble put on his cocked hat wrong side first； in a fever of
parochial excitement； and flounced out of the shop。
“Why； he was so angry； Oliver； that he forgot even to ask after
you！” said Mr。 Sowerberry； looking after the beadle as he strode
down the street。
“Yes； sir；” replied Oliver； who had carefully kept himself out of
sight； during the interview； and who was shaking from head to
foot at the mere recollection of the sound of Mr。 Bumble’s voice。
He needn’t have taken the trouble to shrink from Mr。 Bumble’s
glance； however； for that functionary； on whom the prediction of
the gentleman in the white waistcoat had made a very strong
impression； thought that now the undertaker had got Oliver upon
trial； the subject was better avoided； until such time as he should
be firmly bound for seven years； and all danger of his being
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
returned upon the hands of the parish should be thus effectually
and legally overcome。
“Well；” said Mr。 Sowerberry； taking up his hat； “the sooner this
job is done； the better。 Noah； look after the shop。 Oliver； put on
your cap； and come with me。”
Oliver obeyed； and followed his master on his professional
mission。
They walked on； for some time； through the most crowded and
densely inhabited part of the town； and then； striking down a
narrow street more dirty and miserable than any they had yet
passed through； paused to look for the house which was the object
of their search。 The houses on either side were high and large； but
very old； and tenanted by people of the poorest class： as their
neglected appearance would have sufficiently denoted； without
the concurrent testimony afforded by the squalid looks of the few
men and women who； with folded arms and bodies half…doubled；
occasionally skulked along。 A great many of the tenements had
shop…fronts； but these were fast closed； and mouldering away； only
the upper rooms being inhabited。 Some houses which had become
insecure from age and decay； were prevented from falling into the
street by huge beams of wood reared against the walls； and firmly
planted in the road； but even these crazy dens seemed to have
been selected as the nightly haunts of some houseless wretches；
for many of the rough boards； which supplied the place of door
and window； were wrenched from their positions； to afford an
aperture wide enough for the passage of a human body。 The
kennel was stagnant and filthy。 The very rats； which here and
there lay putrefying in its rottenness； were hideous with famine。
There was neither knocker nor bell…handle at the open door
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
where Oliver and his master stopped； so； groping his way
cautiously through the dark passage； and bidding Oliver keep
close to him and not be afraid； the undertaker mounted to the top
of the first flight of stairs。 Stumbling against a door on the landing；
he rapped at it with his knuckles。
It was opened by a young girl of thirteen or fourteen。 The
undertaker at once saw enough of what the room contained； to
know it was the apartment to which he had been directed。 He
stepped in； Oliver followed him。
There was no fire in the room； but a man was crouching
mechanically over the empty stove。 An old woman； too； had drawn
a low stool to the cold hearth； and was sitting beside him。 There
were some ragged children in another corner； and in a small
recess； opposite the door； there lay upon the ground； something
covered with an old blanket。 Oliver shuddered as he cast his eyes
towards the place； and crept involuntary closer to his master； for
though i