oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第7章
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and； turning to the undertaker； said in a calmer voice：
“Well； what about the boy？”
“Oh！” replied the undertaker； “why； you know Mr。 Bumble； I
pay a good deal towards the poor’s rates。”
“Hem！” said Mr。 Bumble； “Well？”
“Well；” replied the undertaker； “I was thinking that if I pay so
much towards ’em； I’ve a right to get as much out of ’em as I can；
Mr。 Bumble； and so—and so—I think I’ll take the boy myself。”
Mr。 Bumble grasped the undertaker by the arm； and led him
into the building。 Mr。 Sowerberry was closeted with the Board for
five minutes； and it was arranged that Oliver should go to him that
evening “upon liking”—a phrase which means； in the case of a
parish apprentice； that if the master find； upon a short trial； that
he can get enough work out of a boy without putting too much
food into him； he shall have him for a term of years； to do what he
likes with。
When little Oliver was taken before “the gentlemen” that
evening； and informed that he was to go； that night； as general
house…lad to a coffin…maker’s； and that if he complained of his
situation； or ever came back to the parish again； he would be sent
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
to sea； there to be drowned or knocked on the head； as the case
might be； he evinced so little emotion； that they by common
consent pronounced him a hardened young rascal； and ordered
Mr。 Bumble to remove him forthwith。
Now； although it was very natural that the Board； of all people
in the world； should feel in a great state of virtuous astonishment
and horror at the smallest tokens of want of feeling on the part of
anybody； they were rather out； in this particular instance。 The
simple fact was； that Oliver； instead of possessing too little feeling；
possessed rather too much； and was in a fair way of being reduced；
for life； to a state of brutal stupidity and sullenness by the ill…usage
he had received。 He heard the news of his destination； in perfect
silence； and； having had his luggage put into his hand—which was
not very difficult to carry； inasmuch as it was all comprised within
the limits of a brown…paper parcel； about half a foot square by
three inches deep—he pulled his cap over his eyes； and once more
attaching himself to Mr。 Bumble’s coat cuff； was led away by that
dignitary to a new scene of suffering。
For some time； Mr。 Bumble drew Oliver along； without notice
or remark； for the beadle carried his head very erect； as a beadle
always should： and； it being a windy day； little Oliver was
completely enshrouded by the skirts of Mr。 Bumble’s coat as they
blew open； and disclosed to great advantage his flapped waistcoat
and drab plush knee…breeches。 As they drew near to their
destination； however； Mr。 Bumble thought it expedient to look
down； and see that the boy was in good order for inspection by his
new master； which he accordingly did； with a fit and becoming air
of gracious patronage。
“Oliver！” said Mr。 Bumble。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Yes； sir；” replied Oliver； in a low； tremulous voice。
“Pull that cap off your eyes； and hold up your head； sir。”
Although Oliver did as he was desired； at once； and passed the
back of his unoccupied hand briskly across his eyes； he left a tear
in them when he looked up at his conductor。 As Mr。 Bumble gazed
sternly upon him； it rolled down his cheek。 It was followed by
another； and another。 The child made a strong effort； but it was an
unsuccessful one。 Withdrawing his other hand from Mr。 Bumble’s；
he covered his face with both； and wept until the tears sprang out
from between his chin and bony fingers。
“Well！” exclaimed Mr。 Bumble； stopping short； and darting at
his little charge a look of intense malignity。 “Well！ Of all the
ungratefullest； and worst…disposed boys as ever I see； Oliver； you
are the—”
“No； no； sir；” sobbed Oliver； clinging to the hand which held the
well…known cane； “no； no； sir； I will be good indeed； indeed；
indeed I will； sir！ I am a very little boy； sir； and it is so—so—”
“So what？” inquired Mr。 Bumble in amazement。
“So lonely； sir！ So very lonely！” cried the child。 “Everybody
hates me。 Oh！ sir； don’t； don’t pray be cross with me！” The child
beat his hand upon his heart； and looked in his companion’s face；
with tears of real agony。
Mr。 Bumble regarded Oliver’s piteous and helpless look； with
some astonishment； for a few seconds； hemmed three or four
times in a husky manner； and； after muttering something about
“that troublesome cough；” bade Oliver dry his eyes and be a good
boy。 Then； once more taking his hand； he walked on with him in
silence。
The undertaker； who had just put up the shutters of his shop；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
was making some entries in his day…book by the light of a most
appropriate dismal candle； when Mr。 Bumble entered。
“Aha！” said the undertaker； looking up from the book and
pausing in the middle of a word； “is that you； Bumble？”
“No one else； Mr。 Sowerberry；” replied the beadle。 “Here！ I’ve
brought the boy。” Oliver made a bow。
“Oh！ that’s the boy； is it？” said the undertaker； raising the
candle above his head； to get a better view of Oliver。 “Mrs。
Sowerberry！ will you have the goodness to come here a moment；
my dear？”
Mrs。 Sowerberry emerged from a little room behind the shop；
and presented the form of a short； thin； squeezed…up woman； with
a vixenish countenance。
“My dear；” said Mr。 Sowerberry deferentially； “this is the boy
from the workhouse that I told you of。” Oliver bowed again。
“Dear me！” said the undertaker’s wife； “he’s very small。”
“Why； he is rather small；” replied Mr。 Bumble； looking at Oliver
as if it were his fault that he was no bigger； “he is small。 There’s no
denying it。 But he’ll grow； Mrs。 Sowerberry—he’ll grow。”
“Ah！ I dare say he will；” replied the lady pettishly； “on our
victuals and our drink。 I see no saving in parish children； not I； for
they always cost more to keep； than they’re worth。 However； men
always think they know best。 There！ Get downstairs； little bag o’
bones。” With this； the undertaker’s wife opened a side door； and
pushed Oliver down a steep flight of stairs into a stone cell； damp
and dark； forming the ante…room to the coal…cellar； and
denominated “kitchen”： wherein sat a slatternly girl； in shoes
down at heel； and blue worsted stockings very much out of repair。
“Here； Charlotte；” said Mrs。 Sowerberry； who had followed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
Oliver down； “give the boy some of the cold bits that were put by
for Trip。 He hasn’t come home since the morning； so he may go
without ’em。 I dare say the boy isn’t too dainty to eat ’em—are you；
boy？”
Oliver； whose eyes had glistened at the mention of meat； and
who was trembling with eagerness to devour it； replied in the
negative； and a plateful of coarse broken victuals was set before
him。
I wish some well…fed philosopher； whose meat and drink turn to
gall within him； whose blood is ice； whose heart is iron； could have
seen Oliver Twist clutching at the dainty viands that the dog had
neglected。 I wish he could have witnessed the horrible avidity with
which Oliver tore the bits asunder with all the ferocity of famine。
There is only one thing I should like better； and that would be to
see the philosopher making the same sort of meal himself； with the
same relish。
“Well；” said the undertaker’s wife； when Oliver had finished his
supper； which she had regarded in silent horror； and with fearful
auguries of his future appetite； “have you done？”
There being nothing eatable within his reach； Oliver replied in
the affirmative。
“Then come with me；” said Mrs。 Sowerberry； taking up a dim
and dirty lamp； and leading the way upstairs； “your bed’s under
the counter。 You don’t mind sleeping among the coffins； I
suppose？ But it doesn’t much matter whether you do or don’t； for
you can’t sleep anywhere else。 Come； don’t keep me here all
night！”
Oliver lingered no longer； but meekly followed his new
mistress。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
Chapter 5
Oliver Mingles With New Associates—Going To A
Funeral For The First Time； He Forms An
Unfavourable Notion Of His Master’s Business。
O liver； being left to himself in the undertaker’s shop； set the
lamp down on a workman’s bench； and gazed timidly
about him with a feeling of awe and dread； which many
people a good deal older than he will be at no loss to understand。
An unfinished coffin on black trestles； which stood in the middle of
the shop； looked so gloomy and death…like that a cold tremble
came over him； every time his eyes wandered in the direction of
the dismal object； from which he almost expected to see some
frightful form slowly rear its head； to drive him mad with terror。
Against the wall were ranged； in regular array； a long row of elm
boards cut into the same shape： looking in the dim light； like high…
shouldered ghosts with their hands in their breeches pockets。
Coffin plates； elm chips； bright…headed nails； and shreds of black
cloth； lay scattered on the floor； and the wall behind the counter
was ornamented with a lively representation of two mutes in very
stiff neckcloths； on duty at a large private door； with a hearse
drawn by four black steeds； approaching in the distance。 The shop
was close and hot； and the atmosphere seemed tainted with the
smell of coffins。 The recess beneath the counter in which his flock
mattress was thrust； looked like a grave。
Nor were these the only dismal feelings which depressed
Oliver。 He was alone in a strange place； and we all know how
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
chilled and desolate the best of us will sometimes feel in such a
situation。 The boy had no friends to care for； or to care for him。
The regret of no recent separation was fresh in his mind； the
absence of no loved and well…remembered face sank heavily into
his heart。 But his heart was heavy； notwithstanding； and he
wished； as he crept into his narrow bed； that that were his coffin；
and that he could be lain in a calm and lasting sleep in the
churchyard ground； with the tall grass waving gently above his
head； and the sound of the old deep bell to soothe him in his sleep。
Oliver was awakened in the morning by a loud kicking at the
outside of the shop door； which； before he could huddle on his
clothes； was repeated； in an angry and impetuous manner； about
twenty…five times。 When he began to undo the chain； the legs
desisted； and a voice began。 “Open the door； will yer？” cried the
voice which belonged to the legs which had kicked at the door。
“I will； directly； sir；” replied Oliver； undoing the chain and
turning the key。
“Yes； sir；’ replied Oliver。
“How old are yer？’ inquired the voice。
“Ten； sir；” replied Oliver。
“Then I’ll whop yer when I get in；�
