oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第101章

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sudden；　but　he　who　watched　her；　was　not　thrown　off　his　guard　by　
it；　for；　shrinking　into　one　of　the　recesses　which　surmount　the　piers　
of　the　bridge；　and　leaning　over　the　parapet　the　better　to　conceal　
his　figure；　he　suffered　her　to　pass　by　on　the　opposite　pavement。　
When　she　was　about　the　same　distance　in　advance　as　she　had　
been　before；　he　slipped　quietly　down；　and　followed　her　again。　At　
nearly　the　centre　of　the　bridge；　she　stopped。　The　man　stopped　too。　

It　was　a　very　dark　night。　The　day　had　been　unfavourable；　and　at　
that　hour　and　place　there　were　few　people　stirring。　Such　as　there　
were；　hurried　quickly　past；　very　possibly　without　seeing；　but　
certainly　without　noticing；　either　the　woman；　or　the　man　who　kept　
her　in　view。　Their　appearance　was　not　calculated　to　attract　the　

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Oliver　Twist　489　

importunate　regards　of　such　of　London’s　destitute　population；　as　
chanced　to　take　their　way　over　the　bridge　that　night　in　search　of　
some　cold　arch　or　doorless　hovel　wherein　to　lay　their　heads；　they　
stood　there　in　silence；　neither　speaking　nor　spoken；　by　any　one　
who　passed。　

A　mist　hung　over　the　river；　deepening　the　red　glare　of　the　fires　
that　burned　upon　the　small　craft　moored　off　the　different　wharves；　
and　rendering　darker　and　more　indistinct　the　murky　buildings　on　
the　banks。　The　old　smoke…stained　storehouses　on　either　side；　rose　
heavy　and　dull　from　the　dense　mass　of　roofs　and　gables；　and　
frowned　sternly　upon　water　too　black　to　reflect　even　their　
lumbering　shapes。　The　tower　of　old　St。　Saviour’s　Church；　and　the　
spire　of　St。　Magnus；　so　long　the　giant…warders　of　the　ancient　
bridge；　were　visible　in　the　gloom；　but　the　forest　of　shipping　below　
bridge；　and　the　thickly　scattered　spires　of　churches　above　were　
nearly　all　hidden　from　the　sight。　

The　girl　had　taken　a　few　restless　turns　to　and　fro—closely　
watched　meanwhile　by　her　hidden　observer—when　the　heavy　bell　
of　St。　Paul’s　tolled　for　the　death　of　another　day。　Midnight　had　
come　upon　the　crowded　city。　The　palace；　the　night…cellar；　the　jail；　
the　madhouse；　the　chambers　of　birth　and　death；　of　health　and　
sickness；　the　rigid　face　of　the　corpse　and　the　calm　sleep　of　the　
child；　midnight　was　upon　them　all。　

The　hour　had　not　struck　two　minutes；　when　a　young　lady；　
accompanied　by　a　grey…haired　gentleman；　alighted　from　a　
hackney…carriage　within　a　short　distance　of　the　bridge；　and；　
having　dismissed　the　vehicle；　walked　straight　towards　it。　They　had　
scarcely　set　foot　upon　its　pavement；　when　the　girl　started；　and　
immediately　made　towards　them。　

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They　walked　onward；　looking　about　them　with　the　air　of　
persons　who　entertained　some　very　slight　expectation　which　had　
little　chance　of　being　realised；　when　they　were　suddenly　joined　by　
this　new　associate。　They　halted　with　an　exclamation　of　surprise；　
but　suppressed　it　immediately；　for　a　man　in　the　garments　of　a　
countryman　came　close　up—brushed　against　them　indeed—at　that　
precise　moment。　

“Not　here；”　said　Nancy　hurriedly；　“I　am　afraid　to　speak　to　you　
here。　Come　away—out　of　the　public　road—down　the　steps　
yonder！”　

As　she　uttered　these　words；　and　indicated；　with　her　hand；　the　
direction　in　which　she　wished　them　to　proceed；　the　countryman　
looked　round；　and　roughly　asking　what　they　took　up　the　whole　
pavement　for；　passed　on。　

The　steps　to　which　the　girl　had　pointed；　were　those　which；　on　
the　Surrey　bank；　and　on　the　same　side　of　the　bridge　as　St。　
Saviour’s　Church；　form　a　landing…stairs　from　the　river。　To　this　
spot；　the　man　bearing　the　appearance　of　a　countryman；　hastened　
unobserved；　and；　after　a　moment’s　survey　of　the　place；　he　began　to　
descend。　

These　stairs　are　a　part　of　the　bridge；　they　consist　of　three　
flights。　Just　below　the　end　of　the　second；　going　down；　the　stone　
wall　on　the　left　terminates　in　an　ornamental　pilaster　facing　
towards　the　Thames。　At　this　point　the　lower　steps　widen；　so　that　a　
person　turning　that　angle　of　the　wall；　is　necessarily　unseen　by　any　
others　on　the　stairs　who　chance　to　be　above　him；　if　only　a　step。　
The　countryman　looked　hastily　round；　when　he　reached　this　point；　
and；　as　there　seemed　no　better　place　of　concealment；　and　the　tide　
being　out；　there　was　plenty　of　room；　he　slipped　aside；　with　his　

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back　to　the　pilaster；　and　there　waited；　pretty　certain　that　they　
would　come　no　lower；　and　that　even　if　he　could　not　hear　what　was　
said；　he　could　follow　them　again；　with　safety。　

So　tardily　stole　the　time　in　this　lonely　place；　and　so　eager　was　
the　spy　to　penetrate　the　motives　of　an　interview　so　different　from　
what　he　had　been　led　to　expect；　that　he　more　than　once　gave　the　
matter　up　for　lost；　and　persuaded　himself；　either　that　they　had　
stopped　far　above；　or　had　resorted　to　some　entirely　different　spot　
to　hold　their　mysterious　conversation。　He　was　on　the　point　of　
emerging　from　his　hiding…place；　and　regaining　the　road　above；　
when　he　heard　the　sound　of　footsteps；　and　directly　afterwards　of　
voices　almost　close　to　his　ear。　

He　drew　himself　straight　upright　against　the　wall；　and；　scarcely　
breathing；　listened　attentively。　

“This　is　far　enough；”　said　a　voice；　which　was　evidently　that　of　a　
gentleman。　“I　will　not　suffer　the　young　lady　to　go　any　further。　
Many　people　would　have　distrusted　you　too　much　to　have　come　
even　so　far；　but　you　see　I　am　willing　to　humour　you。”　

“To　humour　me！”　cried　the　voice　of　the　girl　whom　he　had　
followed。　“You’re　considerate；　indeed；　sir。　To　humour　me！　Well；　
well；　it’s　no　matter。”　

“Why；　for　what；”　said　the　gentleman　in　a　kinder　tone；　“for　what　
purpose　can　you　have　brought　us　to　this　strange　place？　Why　not　
have　let　me　speak　to　you；　above　there；　where　it　is　light；　and　there　
is　something　stirring；　instead　of　bringing　us　to　this　dark　and　
dismal　hole？”　

“I　told　you　before；”　replied　Nancy；　“that　I　was　afraid　to　speak　to　
you　there。　I　don’t　know　why　it　is；”　said　the　girl；　shuddering；　“but　I　
have　such　a　fear　and　dread　upon　me　tonight　that　I　can　hardly　

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stand。”　

“A　fear　of　what？”　asked　the　gentleman；　who　seemed　to　pity　her。　

“I　scarcely　know　what；”　replied　the　girl。　“I　wish　I　did。　Horrible　
thoughts　of　death；　and　shrouds　with　blood　upon　them；　and　a　fear　
that　has　made　me　burn　as　if　I　was　on　fire；　have　been　upon　me　all　
day。　I　was　reading　a　book　tonight；　to　wile　the　time　away；　and　the　
same　things　came　into　the　print。”　

“Imagination；”　said　the　gentleman；　soothing　her。　

“No　imagination；”　replied　the　girl；　in　a　hoarse　voice。　“I’ll　swear　
I　saw　‘coffin’　written　in　every　page　of　the　book　in　large　black　
letters—aye；　and　they　carried　one　close　to　me；　in　the　streets　
tonight。”　

“There　is　nothing　unusual　in　that；”　said　the　gentleman。　“They　
have　passed　me　often。”　

“Real　ones；”　rejoined　the　girl。　“This　was　not。”　

There　was　something　so　uncommon　in　her　manner；　that　the　
flesh　of　the　concealed　listener　crept　as　he　heard　the　girl　utter　these　
words；　and　the　blood　chilled　within　him。　He　had　never　
experienced　a　greater　relief　than　in　hearing　the　sweet　voice　of　the　
young　lady　as　she　begged　her　to　be　calm；　and　not　allow　herself　to　
become　the　prey　of　such　fearful　fancies。　

“Speak　to　her　kindly；”　said　the　young　lady　to　her　companion。　
“Poor　creature！　She　seems　to　need　it。”　

“Your　haughty　religious　people　would　have　held　their　heads　up　
to　see　me　as　I　am　tonight；　and　preached　of　flames　and　vengeance；”　
cried　the　girl。　“Oh；　dear　lady；　why　ar’n’t　those　who　claim　to　be　
God’s　own　folks　as　gentle　and　as　kind　to　us　poor　wretches　as　you；　
who；　having　youth；　and　beauty；　and　all　that　they　have　lost；　might　
be　a　little　proud　instead　of　so　much　humbler。”　

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“Ah！”　said　the　gentleman。　“A　Turk　turns　his　face；　after　washing　
it　well；　to　the　east；　when　he　says　his　prayers；　these　good　people；　
after　giving　their　faces　such　a　rub　against　the　world　as　to　take　the　
smiles　off；　turn　with　no　les