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empty street； and a cry for help hung upon his lips。 But the girl’s
voice was in his ear； beseeching him in such tones of agony to
remember her； that he had not the heart to utter it。 While he
hesitated； the opportunity was gone； for he was already in the
house； and the door was shut。
“This way；” said the girl； releasing her hold for the first time。
“Bill！”
“Hallo！” replied Sikes； appearing at the head of the stairs； with
a candle。 “Oh！ That’s the time of day。 Come on！”
This was a very strong expression of approbation； an
uncommonly hearty welcome； from a person of Mr。 Sikes’s
temperament。 Nancy； appearing much gratified thereby； saluted
him cordially。
“Bull’s…eye’s gone home with Tom；” observed Sikes； as he
lighted them up。 “He’d have been in the way。”
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“That’s right；” rejoined Nancy。
“So you’ve got the kid；” said Sikes； when they had all reached
the room； closing the door as he spoke。
“Yes； here he is；” replied Nancy。
“Did he come quiet？” inquired Sikes。
“Like a lamb；” rejoined Nancy。
“I’m glad to hear it；” said Sikes； looking grimly at Oliver； “for
the sake of his young carcass； as would otherways have suffered
for it。 Come here； young ’un； and let me read you a lecture； which
is as well got over at once。”
Thus addressing his new pupil； Mr。 Sikes pulled off Oliver’s cap
and threw it into a corner； and then taking him by the shoulder；
sat himself down by the table； and stood the boy in front of him。
“Now； first； do you know wot this is？” inquired Sikes； taking up
a pocket…pistol which lay on the table。
Oliver replied in the affirmative。
“Well； then； look here；” continued Sikes。 “This is powder； that
’ere’s a bullet； and this is a little bit of a old hat for waddin’。”
Oliver murmured his comprehension of the different bodies
referred to； and Mr。 Sikes proceeded to load the pistol； with great
nicety and deliberation。
“Now it’s loaded；” said Mr Sikes； when he had finished。
“Yes； I see it is； sir；” replied Oliver。
“Well；” said the robber； grasping Oliver’s wrist tightly； and
putting the barrel so close to his temple that they touched； at
which moment the boy could not repress a start； “if you speak a
word when you’re out o’ doors with me； except when I speak to
you； that loading will be in your head without notice。 So； if you do
make up your mind to speak without leave； say your prayers first。”
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Having bestowed a scowl upon the object of this warning； to
increase its effect； Mr。 Sikes continued：
“As near as I know； there isn’t anybody as would be asking very
partickler arter you； if you was disposed of； so I needn’t take this
devil…and…all of trouble to explain matters to you； if it warn’t for
your own good。 D’ye hear me？”
“The short and the long of what you mean；” said Nancy；
speaking very emphatically； and slightly frowning at Oliver as if to
bespeak his serious attention to her words； “is； that if you’re
crossed by him in this job you have on hand； you’ll prevent his
ever telling tales afterwards； by shooting him through the head；
and will take your chance of swinging for it； as you do for a great
many other things in the way of business； every month of your
life。”
“That’s it！” observed Mr。 Sikes approvingly； “women can
always put things in fewest words。—Except when it’s blowing up；
and then they lengthens it out。 And now that he’s thoroughly up to
it； let’s have some supper； and get a snooze before starting。”
In pursuance of this request； Nancy quickly laid the cloth； and；
disappearing for a few minutes； presently returned with a pot of
porter and a dish of sheep’s heads； which gave occasion to several
pleasant witticisms on the part of Mr。 Sikes； founded upon the
singular coincidence of “jemmies” being a cant name； common to
them。 and also to an ingenious implement much used in his
profession。 Indeed； the worthy gentleman； stimulated perhaps by
the immediate prospect of being on active service； was in great
spirits and good…humour； in proof whereof； it may be here
remarked； that he humorously drank all the beer at a draught； and
did not utter； on a rough calculation； more than fourscore oaths
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during the whole progress of the meal。
Supper being ended—it may be easily conceived that Oliver
had no great appetite for it—Mr。 Sikes disposed of a couple of
glasses of spirits and water； and threw himself on the bed；
ordering Nancy； with many imprecations in case of failure； to call
him at five precisely。 Oliver stretched himself in his clothes； by
command of the same authority； on a mattress upon the floor； and
the girl； mending the fire； sat before it； in readiness to rouse them
at the appointed time。
For a long time Oliver lay awake； thinking it not impossible that
Nancy might seek that opportunity of whispering some further
advice； but the girl sat brooding over the fire； without moving；
save now and then to trim the light。 Weary with watching and
anxiety； he at length fell asleep。
When he awoke； the table was covered with tea…things； and
Sikes was thrusting various articles into the pockets of his
greatcoat； which hung over the back of a chair； while Nancy was
busily engaged in preparing breakfast。 It was not yet daylight； for
the candle was still burning； and it was quite dark outside。 A sharp
rain； too； was beating against the window…panes； and the sky
looked black and cloudy。
“Now； then！” growled Sikes； as Oliver started up； “half…past
five！ Look sharp； or you’ll get no breakfast； for it’s late as it is。”
Oliver was not long in making his toilet； and having taken some
breakfast； he replied to a surly inquiry from Sikes； by saying that
he was quite ready。
Nancy； scarcely looked at the boy； threw him a handkerchief to
tie round his throat； and Sikes gave him a large； rough cape to
button over his shoulders。 Thus attired； he gave his hand to the
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robber； who； merely pausing to show him with a menacing gesture
that he had that same pistol in a side…pocket of his greatcoat；
clasped it firmly in his； and； exchanging a farewell with Nancy； led
him away。
Oliver turned； for an instant； when they reached the door； in
the hope of meeting a look from the girl。 But she had resumed her
old seat in front of the fire； and sat； perfectly motionless； before it。
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Chapter 21
The Expedition。
It was a cheerless morning when they got into the street；
blowing and raining hard； and the clouds looking dull and
stormy。 The night had been very wet； for large pools of
water had collected in the road； and the kennels were overflowing。
There was a faint glimmering of the coming day in the sky； but it
rather aggravated than relieved the gloom of the scene： the
sombre light