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across the middle of the ceiling； and benches； with high backs to
them； by the fire； on which were seated several rough men in
smock…frocks； drinking and smoking。 They took no notice of
Oliver； and very little of Sikes； and； as Sikes took very little notice
of them； he and his young comrade sat in a corner by themselves；
without being much troubled by their company。
They had some cold meat for dinner； and sat so long after it；
while Mr。 Sikes indulged himself with three or four pipes； that
Oliver began to feel quite certain they were not going any farther。
Being much tired with the walk； and getting up so early； he dozed
a little at first； then； quite overpowered by fatigue and the fumes of
the tobacco； fell asleep。
It was quite dark when he was awakened by a push from Sikes。
Rousing himself sufficiently to sit up and look about him； he found
that worthy in close fellowship and communication with a
labouring man； over a pint of ale。
“So； you’re going on to Lower Halliford； are you？” inquired
Sikes。
“Yes； I am；” replied the man； who seemed a little the worse—or
better； as the case might be—for drinking； “and not slow about it
neither。 My horse hasn’t got a load behind him going back； as he
had coming up in the mornin’； and he won’t be long a…doing of it。
Here’s luck to him！ Ecod！ he’s a good un。”
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“Could you give my boy and me a lift as far as there？”
demanded Sikes； pushing the ale towards his new friend。
“If you’re going directly； I can；” replied the man； looking out of
the pot。 “Are you going to Halliford？”
“Going on to Shepperton；” replied Sikes。
“I’m your man； as far I go；” replied the other。 “Is all paid；
Becky？”
“Yes； the other gentleman’s paid；” replied the girl。
“I say！” said the man； with tipsy gravity； “that won’t do； you
know。”
“Why not？” rejoined Sikes。 “You’re a…going to accommodate us；
and wot’s to prevent my standing treat for a pint or so； in return？”
The stranger reflected upon this argument； with a very
profound face； and having done so； seized Sikes by the hand； and
declared he was a real good fellow。 To which Mr。 Sikes replied； he
was joking； as； if he had been sober； there would have been strong
reason to suppose he was。
After the exchange of a few more compliments； they bade the
company good…night； and went out； the girl gathering up the pots
and glasses as they did so； and lounging out to the door； with her
hands full； to see the party start。
The horse； whose health had been drunk in his absence； was
standing outside； ready harnessed to the cart。 Oliver and Sikes got
in without any further ceremony； and the man to whom he
belonged； having lingered for a minute or two to bear him up；”
and to defy the hostler and the world to produce his equal；
mounted also。 Then； the hostler was told to give the horse his
head； and； his head being given to him； he made a very unpleasant
use of it； tossing it into the air with great disdain； and running into
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Oliver Twist 225
the parlour windows over the way； after performing those feats；
and supporting himself for a short time on his hind legs； he started
off at great speed； and rattled out of the town right gallantly。
The night was very dark。 A damp mist rose from the river and
the marshy ground about； and spread itself over the dreary fields。
It was piercing cold； too； all was gloomy and black。 Not a word was
spoken； for the driver had grown sleepy； and Sikes was in no
mood to lead him into conversation。 Oliver sat huddled together；
in a corner of the cart； bewildered with alarm and apprehension；
and figuring strange objects in the gaunt trees； whose branches
waved grimly to and fro； as if in some fantastic joy at the
desolation of the scene。
As they passed Sunbury Church； the clock struck seven。 There
was a light in the ferry…house window opposite； which streamed
across the road； and threw into more sombre shadow a dark yew…
tree with graves beneath it。 There was a dull sound of falling water
not far off； and the leaves of the old tree stirred gently in the night
wind。 It seemed like quiet music for the repose of the dead。
Sunbury was passed through； and they came again into the
lonely road。 Two or three miles more； and the cart stopped。 Sikes
alighted； took Oliver by the hand； and they once again walked on。
They turned into no house at Shepperton； as the weary boy had
expected； but still kept walking on； in mud and darkness； through
gloomy lanes and over cold open wastes； until they came within
sight of the lights of a town at no great distance。 On looking
intently forward。 Oliver saw that the water was just below them；
and that they were coming to the foot of a bridge。
Sikes kept straight on； until they were close upon the bridge；
then turned suddenly down a bank upon the left。
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“The water！” thought Oliver； turning sick with fear。 “He has
brought me to this lonely place to murder me！”
He was about to throw himself on the ground； and make one
struggle for his young life； when he saw that they stood before a
solitary house； all ruinous and decayed。 There was a window on
each side of the dilapidated entrance； and one storey above； but no
light was visible。 The building was dark； dismantled； and to； all
appearance； uninhabited。 Sikes； with Oliver’s hand still in his；
softly approached the low porch； and raised the latch。 The door
yielded to the pressure； and they passed in together。
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Oliver Twist 227
Chapter 22
The Burglary。
“H ollo！” cried a loud； hoarse voice； as soon as they set
foot in the passage。
“Don’t make such a row；” said Sikes； bolting the
door。 “Show a glim； Toby。”
“Aha！ my pal！” cried the same voice。 “A glim； Barney； a glim！
Show the gentleman in； Barney； wake up first； if convenient。”
The speaker appeared to throw a boot…jack； or some such
article； at the person he addressed； to rouse him from his
slumbers； for the noise of a wooden body； falling violently； was
heard； and then an indistinct muttering； as of a man between
asleep and awake。
“Do you hear？” cried the same voice。 “There’s Bill Sikes in the
passage with nobody to do the civil to him； and you sleeping there；
as if you took laudanum with your meals； and nothing stronger。
Are you any fresher now； or do you want the iron candlestick to
wake you thoroughly？”
A pair of slipshod feet shuffled； hastily； across the bare floor of
the room； as this interrogatory was put； and there issued； from a
door on the right hand； first； a feeble candle； and next； the form of
the same individual who has been heretofore described as
labouring under the infirmity of speaking through his nose； and
officiating as waiter at the public…house on Saffron Hill。
“Bister Sikes！” exclaimed Barney； with real or counterfeit joy；
“cub id； sir； cub id。”
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