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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 only serving to pale that which the street lamps
afforded； without shedding any warmer or brighter tints upon the
wet housetops； and dreary streets。 There appeared to be nobody
stirring in that quarter of the town； for the windows of the houses
were all closely shut； and the streets through which they passed；
were noiseless and empty。
By the time they had turned into Bethnal Green Road； the day
had fairly begun to break。 Many of the lamps were already
extinguished； a few country waggons were slowly toiling on；
towards London； and now and then； a stagecoach； covered with
mud； rattled briskly by； the driver bestowing； as he passed； an
admonitory lash upon the heavy waggoner who； by keeping on the
wrong side of the road； had endangered his arriving at the office； a
quarter of a minute after his time。 The public…houses； with gaslights burning inside； were already open。 By degrees； other shops
began to be unclosed； and a few scattered people were met with。
Then； came straggling groups of labourers going to their work；
then； men and women with fish…baskets on their heads； donkey
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carts laden with vegetables； chaise…carts filled with live stock or
whole carcasses of meat； milk…women with pails： an unbroken
concourse of people； trudging out with various supplies to the
eastern suburbs of the town。 As they approached the city； the
noise and traffic gradually increased： when they threaded the
streets between Shoreditch and Smithfield； it had swelled into a
roar of sound and bustle。 It was as light as it was likely to be； till
night came on again； and the busy morning of half the London
population had begun。
Turning down Sun Street and Crown Street； and crossing
Finsbury Square； Mr。 Sikes struck； by way of Chiswell Street； into
Barbican； thence into Long Lane； and so into Smithfield； from
which latter place are a tumult of discordant sounds that filled
Oliver Twist with amazement。
It was market morning。 The ground was covered； nearly ankle…
deep； with filth and mire； a thick steam perpetually rising from the
reeking bodies of the cattle； and mingling with the fog； which
seemed to rest upon the chimney…tops； hung heavily above。 All the
pens in the centre of the large area； and as many temporary pens
as could be crowded into the vacant space； were filled with sheep；
tied up to posts by the gutter side were long lines of beasts and
oxen； three or four deep。 Countrymen； butchers； drovers； hawkers；
boys； thieves； idlers； and vagabonds of every low grade； were
mingled together in a mass； the whistling of drovers； the barking
of dogs； the bellowing and plunging of oxen； the bleating of sheep；
the grunting and squeaking of pigs； the cries of hawkers； the
shouts； oaths； and quarrelling on all sides； the ringing of bells and
roar of voices； that issued from every public…house； the crowding；
pushing； driving； beating； whooping and yelling； the hideous and
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discordant din that resounded from every corner of the market；
and the unwashed； unshaven； squalid； and dirty figures constantly
running to and fro； and bursting in and out of the throng；
rendered it a stunning and bewildering scene； which quite
confounded the senses。
Mr。 Sikes； dragging Oliver after him； elbowed his way through
the thickest of the crowd； and bestowed very little attention on the
numerous sights and sounds； which so astonished the boy。 He
nodded； twice or thrice； to a passing friend； and； resisting as many
invitations to take a morning dram； pressed steadily onward； until
they were clear of the turmoil； and had made their way through
Hosier Lane into Holborn。
“No； young ’un！” said Sikes； looking up at the clock of St。
Andrew’s Church； “hard upon seven！ you must step out。 Come；
don’t lag beyind already； Lazylegs！”
Mr。 Sikes accompanied this speech with a jerk at his little
companion’s wrist； Oliver； quickening his pace into a kind of trot；
between a fast walk and a run； kept up with the rapid strides of
the housebreaker as well as he could。
They held their course at this rate； until they had passed Hyde
Park corner； and were on their way to Kensington； when Sikes
relaxed his pace； until an empty cart； which was at some little
distance behind； came up。 Seeing “Hounslow” written on it； he
asked the driver； with as much civility as he could assume。 if he
would give them a lift as far as Isleworth。
“Jump up；” said the man。 “Is that your boy？”
“Yes； he’s my boy；” replied Sikes； looking hard at Oliver； and
putting his hand abstractedly into the pocket where the pistol was。
“Your father walks rather too quick for you； don’t he； my man？”
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inquired the driver； seeing that Oliver was out of breath。
“Not a bit of it；” replied Sikes； interposing。 “He’s used to it。
Here； take hold of my hand； Ned。 In with you！”
Thus addressing Oliver； he helped him into the cart； and the
driver； pointing to a heap of sacks； told him to lie down there； and
rest himself。
As they passed the different mile…stones。 Oliver wondered；
more and more； where his companion meant to take him。
Kensington； Hammersmith； Chiswick； Kew Bridge； Brentford；
were all passed； and yet they went on as steadily as if they had
only just begun their journey。 At length they came to a public…
house called the Coach and Horses： a little way beyond which
another road appeared to turn off。 And here； the cart stopped。
Sikes dismounted with great precipitation； holding Oliver by
the hand all the while； and lifting him down directly； bestowed a
furious look upon him； and rapped the side…pocket with his fist； in
a significant manner。
“Good…bye； boy；” said the man。
“He’s sulky；” replied Sikes； giving him a shake； “he’s sulky。 A
young dog！ Don’t mind him。”
“Not I！” rejoined the other； getting into his cart。 “It’s a fine day
after all。” And he drove away。
Sikes waited until he had fairly gone； and then； telling Oliver he
might look about him if he wanted； once again led him onward on
his journey。
They turned round to the left； a short way past the public…
house； and then； taking a right…hand road； walked on for a long
time； passing many large gardens and gentlemen’s houses on both
sides of the way； and stopping for nothing but a little beer； until
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they reached a town。 Here against the wall of a house； Oliver saw
written up in pretty large letters “Hampton。” They lingered about；
in the fields； for some hours。 At length； they came back into the
town； and； turning into an old public…house with a defaced
signboard； ordered some dinner by the kitchen fire。
The kitchen was an old； low…roofed room； with a great beam
across the middle of the ceiling； and benches； with high backs t