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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 158
unintelligible。 It was of little moment； indeed； whether they were
intelligible or no； for there was nobody to care for them； had they
been ever so plain。
*****
The gas…lamps were lighted； Mrs。 Bedwin was waiting
anxiously at the open door；—the servant had run up the street
twenty times to see if there were any traces of Oliver； and still the
two old gentlemen sat； perseveringly； in the dark parlour； with the
watch between them。
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Oliver Twist 159
Chapter 16
Relates What Became Of Oliver Twist； After He Had
Been Claimed By Nancy。
The narrow streets and courts； at length； terminated in a
large open space； scattered about which； were pens for
beasts； and other indications of a cattle…market。 Sikes
slackened his pace when they reached this spot； the girl being
quite unable to support any longer the rapid rate at which they
had hitherto walked。 Turning to Oliver； he roughly commanded
him to take hold of Nancy’s hand。
“Do you hear？” growled Sikes； as Oliver hesitated； and looked
round。
They were in a dark corner； quite out of the track of passengers。
Oliver saw； but too plainly； that resistance would be of no avail。 He
held out his hand； which Nancy clasped tight in hers。
“Give me the other；” said Sikes； seizing Oliver’s unoccupied
hand。 “Here； Bull’s…Eye！”
The dog looked up； and growled。
“See here； boy！” said Sikes； putting his other hand to Oliver’s
throat； “if he speaks ever so soft a word； hold him！ D’ye mind！”
The dog growled again； and licking his lips； eyed Oliver as if he
were anxious to attach himself to his windpipe without delay。
“He’s as willing as a Christian； strike me blind if he isn’t！” said
Sikes； regarding the animal with a kind of grim and ferocious
approval。 “Now； you know what you’ve got to expect； master； so
call away as quick as you like； the dog will soon stop that game。
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Oliver Twist 160
Get on； young ’un！”
Bull’s…eye wagged his tail in acknowledgement of this unusually
endearing form of speech； and； giving vent to another admonitory
growl for the benefit of Oliver； led the way onward。
It was Smithfield that they were crossing； although it might
have been Grosvenor Square； for anything Oliver knew to the
contrary。 The night was dark and foggy。 The lights in the shops
could scarcely struggle through the heavy mist； which thickened
every moment and shrouded the streets and houses in gloom；
rendering the strange place still stranger in Oliver’s eyes； and
making his uncertainty the more dismal and depressing。
They had hurried on a few paces； when a deep church…bell
struck the hour。 With its first stroke； his two conductors stopped；
and turned their heads in the direction whence the sound
proceeded。
“Eight o’clock； Bill；” said Nancy； when the bell ceased。
“What’s the good of telling me that； I can hear it； can’t I！”
replied Sikes。
“I wonder whether they can hear it；” said Nancy。
“Of course they can；” replied Sikes。 “It was Bartlemy time
when I was shopped； and there warn’t a penny trumpet in the fair；
as I couldn’t hear the squeaking on。 Arter I was locked up for the
night； the row and din outside made the thundering old jail so
silent； that I could almost have beat my brains out against the iron
plates of the door。”
“Poor fellows！” said Nancy； who still had her face turned
towards the quarter in which the bell had sounded。 “Oh； Bill； such
fine young chaps as them！”
“Yes； that’s all you women think of；” answered Sikes。 “Fine
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Oliver Twist 161
young chaps！ Well； they’re as good as dead； so it don’t matter
much。”
With this consolation； Mr。 Sikes appeared to repress a rising
tendency to jealousy？ and； clasping Oliver’s wrist more firmly； told
him to step out again。
“Wait a minute！” said the girl； “I wouldn’t hurry by； if it was
you that was coming out to be hung； the next time eight o’clock
struck； Bill。 I’d walk round and round the place till I dropped； if
the snow was on the ground； and I haven’t a shawl to cover me。”
“And what good would that do？” inquired the unsentimental
Mr。 Sikes。 “Unless you could pitch over a file and twenty yards of
good stout rope； you might as well be walking fifty mile off； or not
walking at all； for all the good it would do me。 Come on； and don’t
stand preaching there。”
The girl burst into a laugh； drew her shawl more closely round
her； and they walked away。 But Oliver felt her hand tremble； and；
looking up in her face as they passed a gas lamp saw that it had
turned a deadly white。
They walked on； by little frequented and dirty ways； for a full
half…hour； meeting very few people； and those appearing from
their looks to hold much the same position in society as Mr。 Sikes
himself。 At length they turned into a very filthy narrow street；
nearly full of old…clothes shops： the dog running forward； as if
conscious that there was no further occasion for his keeping on
guard； stopped before the door of a shop that was closed and
apparently untenanted。 The house was in a ruinous condition； and
on the door was nailed a board； intimating that it was to let； which
looked as if it had hung there for many years。
“All right；” cried Sikes； glancing cautiously about。
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Oliver Twist 162
Nancy stooped below the shutters； and Oliver heard the sound
of a bell。 They crossed to the opposite side of the street and stood
for a few moments under a lamp。 A noise； as if a sash…window
were gently raised； was heard； and soon afterwards the door softly
opened。 Mr。 Sikes then seized the terrified boy by the collar with
very little ceremony； and all three were quickly inside the house。
The passage was perfectly dark。 They waited； while the person
who had let him in chained and barred the door。
“Anybody here？” inquired Sikes。
“No；” replied a voice； which Oliver thought he had heard
before。
“Is the old ’un here？” asked the robber。
“Yes；” replied the voice； “and precious down in the mouth he
has been。 Won’t he be glad to see you？ Oh； no！” The style of this
reply； as well as the voice which delivered it； seemed familiar to
Oliver’s ears； but it was impossible to distinguish even the form of
the speaker in the darkness。
“Let’s have a glim；” said Sikes； “or we shall go breaking our
necks； or treading on the dog。 Look after your legs if you do！
That’s all。”
“Stand still a moment； and I’ll get you one；” replied the voice
The receding footsteps of the speaker were heard； and； in another
minute； the form of Mr。 John Dawkins； otherwise the Artful
Dodger； appeared。 He bore in his right hand a tallow candle stuck
in the end of a cleft stick。
The young gentleman did not stop to bestow any other mark of
recognition upon Oliver than a humorous grin； but； turning away；
beckoned the visitors to follow him d