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never mind that。 How do you feel； my dear？”
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Oliver Twist 120
‘“Very happy； sir；” replied Oliver。 “And very grateful indeed；
sir； for your goodness to me。”
“Good boy；” said Mr。 Brownlow stoutly。 “Have you given him
any nourishment； Bedwin？ Any slops； eh？”
“He had just had a basin of beautiful strong broth； sir；” replied
Mrs。 Bedwin； drawing herself up slightly； and laying a strong
emphasis on the last word； to intimate that between slops； and
broth well compounded； there existed no affinity or connection
whatsoever。
“Ugh！” said Mr。 Brownlow； with a slight shudder； “a couple of
glasses of port wine would have done him a great deal more good。
Wouldn’t they； Tom White； eh？”
“My name is Oliver； sir；” replied the little invalid； with a look of
great astonishment。
“Oliver；” said Mr。 Brownlow； “Oliver what？ Oliver White； eh？”
“No； sir； Twist—Oliver Twist。”
“Queer name！” said the old gentleman。 “What made you tell the
magistrate your name was White？”
“I never told him so； sir；” returned Oliver； in amazement This
sounded so like a falsehood； that the old gentleman looked
somewhat sternly in Oliver’s face。 It was impossible to doubt him；
there was truth in every one of its thin and sharpened lineaments。
“Some mistake；” said Mr。 Brownlow。 But； although his motive
for looking steadily at Oliver no longer existed； the old idea of the
resemblance between his features and some familiar face came
upon him so strongly； that he could not withdraw his gaze。
“I hope you are not angry with me； sir？” said Oliver； raising his
eyes beseechingly。
“No； no；” replied the old gentleman。 “Why！ what’s this？
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Bedwin； look there！”
As he spoke； he pointed hastily to the picture above Oliver’s
head； and then to the boy’s face。 There was its living copy。 The
eyes； the head； the mouth； every feature was the same。 The
expression was； for the instant； so precisely alike； that the
minutest line seemed copied with startling accuracy！
Oliver knew not the cause of this sudden exclamation； for； not
being strong enough to bear the start it gave him； he fainted away。
A weakness on his part； which affords the narrative an
opportunity of relieving the reader from suspense in behalf of the
two young pupils of the merry old gentleman； and of recording。
That when the Dodger； and his accomplished friend Master
Bates； joined in the hue…and…cry which was raised at Oliver’s
heels； in consequence of their executing an illegal conveyance of
Mr。 Brownlow’s personal property； as has been already described；
they were actuated by a very laudable and becoming regard for
themselves； and for as much as the freedom of the subject and the
liberty of the individual are among the first and proudest boasts of
a true…hearted Englishman； so I need hardly beg the reader to
observe； that this action should tend to exalt them in the opinion
of all public and patriotic men in almost as great a degree as this
strong proof of their anxiety； for their own preservation and safety
goes to corroborate and confirm the little code of laws which
certain profound and sound…judging philosophers have laid down
as the mainsprings of all Nature’s deeds and actions—the said
philosophers very wisely reducing the good lady’s proceedings to
matters of maxim and theory； and； by a very neat and pretty
compliment to her exalted wisdom and understanding； putting
entirely out of sight any considerations of heart； or generous
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impulse and feeling。 For these are matters totally beneath a female
who is acknowledged by universal admission to be far above the
numerous little foibles and weaknesses of her sex。
If I wanted any further proof of the strictly philosophical nature
of the conduct of these young gentlemen in their very delicate
predicament； I should at once find it in the fact （also recorded in a
foregoing part of this narrative）； of their quitting the pursuit； when
the general attention was fixed upon Oliver； and making
immediately for their home by the shortest possible cut。 Although
I do not mean to assert that it is usually the practice of renowned
and learned sages to shorten the road to any great conclusion
（their course indeed being rather to lengthen the distance； by
various circumlocutions and discursive staggerings； like unto
those in which drunken men under the pressure of a too mighty
flow of ideas are prone to indulge）； still； I do mean to say； and do
say distinctly； that it is the invariable practice of many mighty
philosophers； in carrying out their theories； to evince great
wisdom and foresight in providing against every possible
contingency which can be supposed at all likely to affect
themselves。 Thus； to do a great right； you may do a little wrong；
and you may take any means which the end to be attained； will
justify； the amount of the right； or the amount of the wrong； or
indeed the distinction between the two； being left entirely to the
philosopher concerned； to be settled and determined by his clear；
comprehensive； and impartial view of his own particular case。
It was not until the two boys had scoured； with great rapidity；
through a most intricate maze of narrow streets and courts； that
they ventured to halt beneath a low and dark archway。 Having
remained silent here； just long enough to recover breath to speak；
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Oliver Twist 123
Master Bates uttered an exclamation of amusement and delight；
and； bursting into an uncontrollable fit of laughter； flung himself
upon a door…step； and rolled thereon in a transport of mirth。
“What’s the matter？” inquired the Dodger。
“Ha！ ha！ ha！” roared Charley Bates。
“Hold your noise；” remonstrated the Dodger； looking cautiously
round。 “Do you want to be grabbed； stupid？”
“I can’t help it；” said Charley。 “I can’t help it！ To see him
splitting away at that pace； and cutting round the corners； and
knocking up again the posts； and starting on again as if he was
made of iron as well as them； and me with the wipe in my pocket；
singing out arter him—oh； my eye！” The vivid imagination of
Master Bates presented the scene before him in too strong
colours。 As he arrived at this apostrophe； he again rolled upon the
door…step； and laughed louder than before。
“What’ll Fagin say？” inquired the Dodger； taking advantage of
the next interval of breathlessness on the part of his friend to
propound the question。
“What？” repeated Charley Bates。
“Ah； what？” said the Dodger。 “Why； what should he say？”
inquired Charley； stopping rather suddenly in his merriment； for
the Dodger’s manner was impressive。 “What should he say？”
Mr。 Dawkins whistled for a couple of minutes； then； taking off
his hat； scratched his head； and nodded thrice。
“What do you mean？” said Charley。
“Toor rul lol loo； gammon and spinnage； the frog he wouldn’t；
a