oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第59章

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me　see　any　man；　porochial　or　extra…porochial；　as　would　presume　
to　do　it；　and　I　can　tell　him　that　he　wouldn’t　do　it　a　second　time！”　

Unembellished　by　any　violence　of　gesticulation；　this　might　have　
seemed　no　very　high　compliment　to　the　lady’s　charms；　but；　as　Mr。　
Bumble　accompanied　the　threat　with　many　warlike　gestures；　she　
was　much　touched　with　this　proof　of　his　devotion；　and　protested；　
with　great　admiration；　that　he　was　indeed　a　dove。　

The　dove　then　turned　up　his　coat　collar；　and　put　on　his　cocked　
hat；　and；　having　exchanged　a　long　and　affectionate　embrace　with　
his　future　partner；　once　again　braved　the　cold　wind　of　the　night；　
merely　pausing；　for　a　few　minutes；　in　the　male　paupers’　ward；　to　
abuse　them　a　little；　with　the　view　of　satisfying　himself　that　he　
could　fill　the　office　of　workhouse…master　with　needful　acerbity。　
Assured　of　his　qualifications；　Mr。　Bumble　left　the　building　with　a　
light　heart；　and　bright　visions　of　his　future　promotion；　which　
served　to　occupy　his　mind　until　he　reached　the　shop　of　the　
undertaker。　

Now；　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Sowerberry　having　gone　out　to　tea　and　
supper；　and　Noah　Claypole　not　being　at　any　time　disposed　to　take　
upon　himself　a　greater　amount　of　physical　exertion　than　is　
necessary　to　a　convenient　performance　of　the　two　functions　of　
eating　and　drinking；　the　shop　was　not　closed；　although　it　was　past　

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the　usual　hour　of　shutting　up。　Mr。　Bumble　tapped　with　his　cane　on　
the　counter　several　times；　but；　attracting　no　attention；　and　
beholding　a　light　shining　through　the　glass　window　of　the　little　
parlour　at　the　back　of　the　shop；　he　made　bold　to　peep　in　and　see　
what　was　going　forward；　and　when　he　saw　what　was　going　
forward；　he　was　not　a　little　surprised。　

The　cloth　was　laid　for　supper；　the　table　was　covered　with　bread…
and…butter；　plates　and　glasses；　a　porter　pot　and　a　wine…bottle。　At　
the　upper　end　of　the　table；　Mr。　Noah　Claypole　lolled　negligently　in　
an　easy…chair；　with　his　legs　thrown　over　one　of　the　arms；　an　open　
clasp…knife　in　one　hand；　and　a　mass　of　buttered　bread　in　the　other。　
Close　beside　him　stood　Charlotte；　opening　oysters　from　a　barrel；　
which　Mr。　Claypole　condescended　to　swallow；　with　remarkable　
avidity。　A　more　than　ordinary　redness　in　the　region　of　the　young　
man’s　nose；　and　a　kind　of　fixed　wink　in　his　right　eye；　denoted　that　
he　was　in　a　slight　degree　intoxicated；　these　symptoms　were　
confirmed　by　the　intense　relish　with　which　he　took　his　oysters；　for　
which　nothing　but　a　strong　appreciation　of　their　cooling　properties　
in　cases　of　internal　fever；　could　have　sufficiently　accounted。　

“Here’s　a　delicious　fat　one；　Noah；　dear！”　said　Charlotte；　“try　
him；　do；　only　this　one。”　

“What　a　delicious　thing　is　a　oyster！”　remarked　Mr。　Claypole；　
after　he　had　swallowed　it。　“What　a　pity　it　is；　a　number　of　’em　
should　ever　make　you　feel　uncomfortable；　isn’t　it；　Charlotte？”　

“It’s　quite　a　cruelty；”　said　Charlotte。　

“So　it　is；”　acquiesced　Mr。　Claypole。　“Ain’t　yer　fond　of　oysters？”　

“Not　overmuch；”　replied　Charlotte。　“I　like　to　see　you　eat　’em；　
Noah；　dear；　better　than　eating　’em　myself。”　

“Lord！”　said　Noah　reflectively；　“how　queer！”　

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“Have　another；”　said　Charlotte。　“Here’s　one　with　such　a　
beautiful；　delicate　beard！”　

“I　can’t　manage　any　more；”　said　Noah。　“I’m　very　sorry。　Come　
here；　Charlotte；　and　I’ll　kiss　yer。”　

“What！”　said　Mr。　Bumble；　bursting　into　the　room。　“Say　that　
again；　sir。”　

Charlotte　uttered　a　scream；　and　hid　her　face　in　her　apron。　Mr。　
Claypole；　without　making　any　further　change　in　his　position　than　
suffering　his　legs　to　reach　the　ground；　gazed　at　the　beadle　in　
drunken　terror。　

“Say　it　again；　you　wile；　owdacious　fellow！”　said　Mr。　Bumble。　
“How　dare　you　mention　such　a　thing；　sir？　And　how　dare　you　
encourage　him；　you　insolent　minx？　Kiss　her！”　exclaimed　Mr。　
Bumble；　in　strong　indignation。　“Faugh！”　

“I　didn’t　mean　to　do　it！”　said　Noah；　blubbering。　“She’s　always　a…
kissing　of　me；　whether　I　like　it；　or　not。”　

“Oh；　Noah；”　cried　Charlotte　reproachfully。　

“Yer　are；　yer　know　yer　are！”　retorted　Noah。　“She’s　always　adoin’　of　it。　Mr。　Bumble；　sir；　she　chucks　me　under　the　chin；　please；　
sir；　and　makes　all　manner　of　love！”　

“Silence！”　cried　Mr。　Bumble　sternly。　“Take　yourself　downstairs；　
ma’am。　Noah；　you　shut　up　the　shop；　say　another　word　till　your　
master　comes　home；　at　your　peril；　and；　when　he　does　come　home；　
tell　him　that　Mr。　Bumble　said　he　was　to　send　a　old　woman’s　shell　
after　breakfast　tomorrow　morning。　Do　you　hear；　sir？　Kissing！”　
cried　Mr。　Bumble；　holding　up　his　hands。　“The　sin　and　wickedness　
of　the　lower　orders　in　this　porochial　district　is　frightful！　If　
Parliament　don’t　take　their　abominable　courses　under　
consideration；　this　country’s　ruined；　and　the　character　of　the　

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peasantry　gone　for　ever！”　With　these　words；　the　beadle　strode；　
with　a　lofty　and　gloomy　air；　from　the　undertaker’s　premises。　

And　now　that　we　have　accompanied　him　so　far　on　his　road　
home；　and　have　made　all　necessary　preparations　for　the　old　
woman’s　funeral；　let　us　set　on　foot　a　few　inquiries　after　young　
Oliver　Twist；　and　ascertain　whether　he　be　still　lying　in　the　ditch　
where　Toby　Crackit　left　him。　

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Chapter　28　

Looks　After　Oliver；　And　Proceeds　With　His
Adventures。


“W　olves　tear　your　throats！”　muttered　Sikes；　grinding　
his　teeth。　“I　wish　I　was　among　some　of　you；　you’d　
howl　the　hoarser　for　it。”　

As　Sikes　growled　forth　this　imprecation；　with　the　most　
desperate　ferocity　that　his　desperate　nature　was　capable　of；　he　
rested　the　body　of　the　wounded　boy　across　his　bended　knee；　and　
turned　his　head；　for　an　instant；　to　look　back　at　his　pursuers。　

There　was　little　to　be　made　out；　in　the　mist　and　darkness；　but　
the　loud　shouting　of　men　vibrated　through　the　air；　and　the　barking　
of　the　neighbouring　dogs；　roused　by　the　sound　of　the　alarm…bell；　
resounded　in　every　direction。　

“Stop；　you　white…livered　hound！”　cried　the　robber；　shouting　
after　Toby　Crackit；　who；　making　the　best　use　of　his　long　legs；　was　
already　ahead。　“Stop！”　

The　repetition　of　the　word　brought　Toby　to　a　dead　standstill。　
For　he　was　not　quite　satisfied　that　he　was　beyond　the　range　of　
pistol…shot；　and　Sikes　was　in　no　mood　to　be　played　with。　

“Bear　a　hand　with　the　boy；”　cried　Sikes；　beckoning　furiously　to　
his　confederate。　“Come　back！”　

Toby　made　a　show　of　returning；　but　ventured；　in　a　low　voice；　
broken　for　want　of　breath；　to　intimate　considerable　reluctance　as　
he　came　slowly　along。　

“Quicker！”　cried　Sikes；　laying　the　boy　in　a　dry　ditch　at　his　feet；　

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and　drawing　a　pistol　from　his　pocket。　“Don’t　play　booty　with　me。”　

At　this　moment　the　noise　grew　louder。　Sikes；　again　looking　
round；　could　discern　that　the　men　who　had　given　chase　were　
already　climbing　the　gate　of　the　field　in　which　he　stood；　and　that　a　
couple　of　dogs　were　some　paces　in　advance　of　them。　

“It’s　all　up；　Bill！”　cried　Toby；　“drop　the　kid；　and　show　’em　your　
heels。”　With　this　parting　advice；　Mr。　Crackit；　preferring　the　
chance　of　being　shot　by　his　friend；　to　the　certainty　of　being　taken　
by　his　enemies；　fairly　turned　tail；　and　darted　off　at　full　speed。　Sikes　
clenched　his　teeth；　took　one　look　around；　threw　over　the　prostrate　
form　of　Oliver　the　cape　in　which　he　had　been　hurriedly　muffled；　
ran　along　the　front　of　the　hedge；　as　if　to　distract　the　attention　of　
those　behind；　from　the　spot　where　the　boy　lay；　paused；　for　a　
second；　before　another　hedge　which　met　it　at　right　angles；　and　
whirling　his　pistol　high　in　the　air；　cleared　it　at　a　bound；　and　was　
gone。　

“Ho；　ho；　there！”　cried　a　tremulous　voice　in　the　rear。　“Pincher！　
Neptune！　Come　here；　come　here！”　

The　dogs；　who；　in　common　with　their　masters；　seemed　to　have　
no　particular　relish　for　the　sport　in　which　they　were　engaged；　
readily　answered　t