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had a fever six times； he wasn’t recommended to mercy on that
account。 Pooh！ nonsense！”
Now； the fact was； that in the inmost recesses of his own heart；
Mr。 Grimwig was strongly disposed to admit that Oliver’s
appearance and manner were unusually prepossessing； but he
had a strong appetite for contradiction； sharpened on this occasion
by the finding of the orange…peel； and； inwardly determining that
no man should dictate to him whether a boy was well…looking or
not； he had resolved； from the first； to oppose his friend。 When Mr。
Brownlow admitted that on no one point of inquiry could he yet
return a satisfactory answer； and that he had postponed any
investigation into Oliver’s previous history until he thought the
boy was strong enough to bear it； Mr。 Grimwig chuckled
maliciously。 And he demanded； with a sneer； whether the
housekeeper was in the habit of counting the plate at night；
because； if she didn’t find a table…spoon or two missing some
sunshiny morning； why； he would be content to—and so forth。
All this； Mr。 Brownlow； although himself somewhat of an
impetuous gentleman； knowing his friend’s peculiarities； bore with
great good…humour； as Mr。 Grimwig； at tea； was graciously pleased
to express his entire approval of the muffins； matters went on very
smoothly； and Oliver； who made one of the party； began to feel
more at his ease than he had yet done in the fierce old gentleman’s
presence。
“And when are you going to hear a full； true； and particular
account of the life and adventures of Oliver Twist？” asked Mr。
Grimwig of Mr。 Brownlow； at the conclusion of the meal； looking
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Oliver Twist 146
sideways at Oliver； as he resumed the subject。
“Tomorrow morning；” replied Mr。 Brownlow。 “I would rather
he was alone with me at the time。 Come up to me tomorrow
morning at ten o’clock； my dear。”
“Yes； sir；” replied Oliver。 He answered with some hesitation
because he was confused by Mr。 Grimwig’s looking so hard at
hum。
“I’ll tell you what；” whispered that gentleman to Mr。 Brownlow；
“he won’t come up to you tomorrow morning。 I saw him hesitate。
He is deceiving you； my good friend。”
“I’ll swear he is not；” replied Mr。 Brownlow warmly。
“If he is not；” said Mr。 Grimwig； “I’ll—” and down went the
stick。
“I’ll answer for that boy’s truth with my life！” said Mr。
Brownlow； knocking the table。
“And I for his falsehood with my head！” rejoined Mr。 Grimwig；
knocking the table also。
“We shall see；” said Mr。 Brownlow； checking his rising anger。
“We will；” replied Mr。 Grimwig； with a provoking smile； “we
will。”
As fate would have it； Mrs。 Bedwin chanced to bring in； at this
moment； a small parcel of books； which Mr。 Brownlow had that
morning purchased of the identical book…stall keeper； who has
already figured in this history； having laid them on the table； she
prepared to leave the room。 “Stop the boy； Mrs。 Bedwin！” said Mr。
Brownlow； “there is something to go back。”
“He has gone； sir；” replied Mrs。 Bedwin。
“Call after him；” said Mr。 Brownlow； “it’s particular。 He is a
poor man； and they are not paid for。 There are some books to be
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Oliver Twist 147
taken back； too。”
The street door was opened。 Oliver ran one way； and the girl
ran another； and Mr。 Bedwin stood on the step and screamed for
the boy； but there was no boy in sight。 Oliver and the girl returned
in a breathless state； to report that there were no tidings of him。
“Dear me； I am very sorry for that；” exclaimed Mr。 Brownlow；
“I particularly wished those books to be returned tonight。”
“Send Oliver with them；” said Mr。 Grimwig； with an ironical
smile； “he will be sure to deliver them safely； you know。
“Yes； do let me take them； if you please； sir；” said Oliver。 “I’ll
run all the way； sir。”
The old gentleman was just going to say that Oliver should not
go out on any account； when a most malicious cough from Mr。
Grimwig determined him that he should； and that； by his prompt
discharge of the commission； he should prove to him the injustice
of his suspicions—on this head at least—at once。
“You shall go； my dear；” said the old gentleman。 “The books are
on a chair by my table。 Fetch them down。”
Oliver； delighted to be of use； brought down the books under
his arm in a great bustle； and waited； cap in hand； to hear what
message he was to take。
“You are to say；” said Mr。 Brownlow； glancing steadily at
Grimwig； “you are to say that you have brought those books back；
and that you have come to pay the four pound ten I owe him。 This
is a five…pound note so you will have to bring me back ten shillings
change。”
“I won’t be ten minutes； sir；” replied Oliver eagerly。 Having
buttoned up the bank…note in his jacket pocket； and placed the
books carefully under his arm； he made a respectful bow； and left
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Oliver Twist 148
the room。 Mrs。 Bedwin followed him to the street door； giving him
many directions about the nearest way； and the name of the
bookseller； and the name of the street； all of which Oliver said he
clearly understood； and having superadded many injunctions to
be sure and not take cold； the old lady at length permitted him to
depart。
“Bless his sweet face！” said the old lady； looking after him。 “I
can’t bear； somehow； to let him go out of my sight。”
At this moment； Oliver looked gaily round； and nodded before
he turned the corner。 The old lady smilingly returned his
salutation； and； closing the door； went back to her own room。
“Let me see； he’ll be back in twenty minutes； at the longest；”
said Mr。 Brownlow； pulling out his watch； and placing it on the
table “It will be dark by that time。”
“Oh！ you really expect him to come back； do you？” inquired Mr。
Grimwig。
“Don’t you？” asked Mr。 Brownlow； smiling。
The spirit of contradiction was strong in Mr。 Grimwig’s breast；
at the moment； and it was rendered stronger by his friend’s
confident smile。
“No；” he said； smiting the table with his fist； “I do not。 The boy
has a new suit of clothes on his back； a set of valuable books under
his arm； and a five…pound note in his pocket。 He’ll join his old
friends the thieves； and laugh at you。 If ever that boy returns to
this house。 sir； I’ll eat my head。”
With these words he drew his chair closer to the table； and
there the two friends sat； in silent expectation； with the watch
between them。
It was worthy of remark； as illustrating the importance we
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attach to our own judgments； and the pride with which we put
forth our most rash and hasty conclusions； that； although Mr。
Grimwig was not by any means a bad…hearted man； and though he
would have been unfeignedly sorry to see his respected friend
duped and deceived； he really did most earnestly and strongly
hope at that moment； that Oliver Twist might not come back。
It grew so