oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第15章
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When this game had been played a great many times； a couple
of young ladies called to see the young gentlemen； one of whom
was named Bet； and the other Nancy。 They wore a good deal of
hair； not very neatly turned up behind； and were rather untidy
about the shoes and stockings。 They were not exactly pretty；
perhaps； but they had a great deal of colour in their faces； and
looked quite stout and hearty。 Being remarkably free and
agreeable in their manners； Oliver thought them very nice girls
indeed。 As there is no doubt they were。
These visitors stopped a long time。 Spirits were produced； in
consequence of one of the young ladies complaining of a coldness
in her inside； and the conversation took a very convivial and
improving turn。 At length； Charley Bates expressed his opinion
that it was time to pad the hoof。 This； it occurred to Oliver； must
be French for going out； for； directly afterwards； the Dodger； and
Charley； and the two young ladies； went away together； having
been kindly furnished by the amiable old Jew with money to
spend。
“There； my dear；” said Fagin。 “That’s a pleasant life； isn’t it？
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They have gone out for the day。”
“Have they done work； sir？” inquired Oliver。
“Yes；” said the Jew； “that is； unless they should unexpectedly
come across any； when they are out； and they won’t neglect it； if
they do； my dear； depend upon it。 Make ’em your models； my dear。
Make ’em your models；” tapping the fire…shovel on the hearth to
add force to his words； “do everything they bid you； and take their
advice in all manners—especially the Dodger’s； my dear。 He’ll be a
great man himself； and will make you one； too； if you take pattern
by him。—Is my handkerchief hanging out of my pocket； my dear？”
said the Jew； stopping short。
“Yes； sir；” said Oliver。
“See if you can take it out； without my feeling it； as you saw
them do； when we were at play this morning。”
Oliver held up the bottom of the pocket with one hand； as he
had seen the Dodger hold it； and drew the handkerchief lightly out
of it with the other。
“Is it gone？” cried the Jew。
“Here it is； sir；” said Oliver； showing it in his hand。
“You’re a clever boy； my dear；” said the playful old gentleman；
patting Oliver on the head approvingly。 “I never saw a sharper lad。
Here’s a shilling for you。 If you go on； in this way； you’ll be the
greatest man of the time。 And now come here； and I’ll show you
how to take the marks out of the handkerchiefs。”
Oliver wondered what picking the old gentleman’s pocket in
play had to do with his chances of being a great man。 But； thinking
that the Jew； being so much his senior； must know best； he
followed him quietly to the table； and was soon deeply involved in
his new study。
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Oliver Twist
Chapter 10
Oliver Becomes Better Acquainted With The
Characters Of His New Associates； And Purchases
Experience At A High Price—Being A Short But
Very Important Chapter In This History
For many days； Oliver remained in the Jew’s room； picking
the marks out of the pocket…handkerchiefs （of which a
great number were brought home）； and sometimes taking
part in the game already described； which the two boys and the
Jew played； regularly； every morning。 At length； he began to
languish for fresh air； and took many occasions of earnestly
entreating the old gentleman to allow him to go out to work； with
his two companions。
Oliver was rendered the more anxious to be actively employed；
by what he had seen of the stern morality of the old gentleman’s
character。 Whenever the Dodger or Charley Bates came home at
night； empty…handed； he would expatiate with great vehemence on
the misery of idle and lazy habits； and would enforce upon them
the necessity of an active life； by sending them supperless to bed。
On one occasion； indeed； he even went so far as to knock them
both down a flight of stairs； but this was carrying out his virtuous
precepts to an unusual extent。
At length； one morning； Oliver obtained the permission he had
so eagerly sought。 There had been no handkerchiefs to work upon；
for two or three days； and the dinners had been rather meagre。
Perhaps these were reasons for the old gentleman’s giving his
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Oliver Twist
assent； but； whether they were or no； he told Oliver he might go；
and placed him under the joint guardianship of Charley Bates； and
his friend the Dodger。
The three boys sallied out； the Dodger with his coat sleeves
tucked up； and his hat cocked； as usual； Master Bates sauntering
along with his hands in his pockets； and Oliver between them；
wondering where they were going； and what branch of
manufacture he would be instructed in； first。
The pace at which they went； was such a very lazy； ill…looking
saunter； that Oliver soon began to think his companions were
going to deceive the old gentleman； by not going to work at all。
The Dodger had a vicious propensity； too； of pulling the caps from
the heads of small boys and tossing them down areas； while
Charley Bates exhibited some very loose notions concerning the
rights of property； by pilfering divers apples and onions from the
stalls at the kennel sides； and thrusting them into pockets which
were so surprisingly capacious； that they seemed to undermine his
whole suit of clothes in every direction。 These things looked so
bad； that Oliver was on the point of declaring his intention of
seeking his way back； in the best way he could； when his thoughts
were suddenly directed into another channel； by a very mysterious
change of behaviour on the part of the Dodger。
They were just emerging from a narrow court not far from the
open square in Clerkenwell； which is yet called； by some strange
perversion of terms。 “The Green；” when the Dodger made a
sudden stop； and； laying his finger on his lip； drew his companions
back again； with the greatest caution and circumspection。
“What’s the matter？” demanded Oliver。
“Hush！” replied the Dodger。 “Do you see that old cove at the
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Oliver Twist
book…stall？”
“The old gentleman over the way？” said Oliver。 “Yes； I see
him。”
“He’ll do；” said the Dodger。
“A prime plant；” observed Master Charley Bates。
Oliver looked from one to the other； with the greatest surprise；
but he was not permitted to make any inquiries； for the two boys
walked stealthily across the road； and slunk close behind the old
gentleman towards whom his attention had been directed。 Oliver
walked a few paces after them； and； not knowing whether to
advance or retire； stood looking on in silent amazement。
The old gentleman was a very respectable…looking personage；
with a powdered head and gold spectacles。 He was dressed in a
bottle…green coat with a black velvet collar； wore white trousers；
and carried a smart bamboo cane under his arm。 He had taken up
a book from the stall； and there he stood； reading away； as hard as
if he were in his elbow…chair； in his own study。 It is very possible
that he fancied himself there； indeed； for it was plain； from his
abstraction； that he saw not the bookstall； nor the street； nor the
boys； nor； in short； anything but the book itself； which he was
reading straight through； turning over the leaf when he got to the
bottom of a page； beginning at the top line of the next one； and
going regularly on； with the greatest interest and eagerness。
What was Oliver’s horror and alarm as he stood a few paces off；
looking on with his eyelids as wide open as they would possibly go；
to see the Dodger plunge his hand into the old gentleman’s pocket；
and draw from thence a handkerchief！ To see him hand the same
to Charley Bates； and finally to behold them； both； running away
round the corner at full speed！
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Oliver Twist
In an instant the whole mystery of the handkerchiefs； and the
watches； and the jewels； and the Jew； rushed upon the boy’s mind。
He stood； for a moment； with the blood so tingling through all his
veins from terror； that he felt as if he were in a burning fire； then；
confused and frightened； he took to his heels； and； not knowing
what he did； made off as fast as he could lay his feet to the ground。
This was all done in a minute’s space。 In the very instant when
Oliver began to run； the old gentleman； putting his hand to his
pocket； and missing his handkerchief； turned sharp round。 Seeing
the boy scudding away at such a rapid pace； he very naturally
concluded him to be the depredator； and； shouting “Stop thief！”
with all his might； made off after him； book in hand。
But the old gentleman was not the only person who raised the
hue…and…cry。 The Dodger and Master Bates； unwilling to attract
public attention by running down the open street； had merely
retired into the very first doorway round the corner。 They no
sooner heard the cry； and saw Oliver running； than； guessing
exactly how the matter stood； they issued forth with great
promptitude； and； shouting “Stop thief！” too； joined in the pursuit
like good citizens。
Although Oliver had been brought up by philosophers； he was
not theoretically acquainted with the beautiful axiom that self…
preservation is the first law of nature。 If he had been； perhaps he
would have been prepared for this。 Not being prepared； however；
it alarmed him the more； so away he went like the wind； with the
old gentleman and the two boys roaring and shouting behind him。
“Stop thief！ Stop thief！” There is magic in the sound。 The
tradesman leaves his counter； and the carman his wagon； the
butcher throws down his tray； the baker his basket； the milkman
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his pail； the errand…boy his parcels； the schoolboy his marbles； the
pavior his pickaxe； the child his battledore。 Away they run； pellmell； helter…skelter； slap…dash； tearing； yelling； screaming；
knocking down the passengers； as they turn the corners； rousing
up the dogs； and astonishing the fowls； and streets； squares； and
courts re…echo with the sound。
“Stop thief！ Stop thief！” The cry is taken up by a hundred
voices； and the crowd accumulate at every turning。 Away they fly；
splashing through the mud； and rattling along the pavements； up
go the windows； out run the people； onward bear the mob； a whole
audience desert Punch in the very thickest of the plot； and； joining
the rushing throng； swell the shout； and lend fresh vigour to the
cry； “Stop thief！ Stop thief！”
“Stop thief！ Stop thief！” There is a passion for hunting
something deeply implanted in the human breast。 One wretched
breathless child； panting with exhaustion； terror in his looks；
agony in his eyes； large drops of perspiration streaming down his
face； strains every nerve to make head upon his pursuers； and as
they follow on his track； and gain upon him every instant； they hail
his decreasing strength with st
