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pushing； driving； beating； whooping and yelling； the hideous and
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discordant din that resounded from every corner of the market；
and the unwashed； unshaven； squalid； and dirty figures constantly
running to and fro； and bursting in and out of the throng；
rendered it a stunning and bewildering scene； which quite
confounded the senses。
Mr。 Sikes； dragging Oliver after him； elbowed his way through
the thickest of the crowd； and bestowed very little attention on the
numerous sights and sounds； which so astonished the boy。 He
nodded； twice or thrice； to a passing friend； and； resisting as many
invitations to take a morning dram； pressed steadily onward； until
they were clear of the turmoil； and had made their way through
Hosier Lane into Holborn。
“No； young ’un！” said Sikes； looking up at the clock of St。
Andrew’s Church； “hard upon seven！ you must step out。 Come；
don’t lag beyind already； Lazylegs！”
Mr。 Sikes accompanied this speech with a jerk at his little
companion’s wrist； Oliver； quickening his pace into a kind of trot；
between a fast walk and a run； kept up with the rapid strides of
the housebreaker as well as he could。
They held their course at this rate； until they had passed Hyde
Park corner； and were on their way to Kensington； when Sikes
relaxed his pace； until an empty cart； which was at some little
distance behind； came up。 Seeing “Hounslow” written on it； he
asked the driver； with as much civility as he could assume。 if he
would give them a lift as far as Isleworth。
“Jump up；” said the man。 “Is that your boy？”
“Yes； he’s my boy；” replied Sikes； looking hard at Oliver； and
putting his hand abstractedly into the pocket where the pistol was。
“Your father walks rather too quick for you； don’t he； my man？”
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inquired the driver； seeing that Oliver was out of breath。
“Not a bit of it；” replied Sikes； interposing。 “He’s used to it。
Here； take hold of my hand； Ned。 In with you！”
Thus addressing Oliver； he helped him into the cart； and the
driver； pointing to a heap of sacks； told him to lie down there； and
rest himself。
As they passed the different mile…stones。 Oliver wondered；
more and more； where his companion meant to take him。
Kensington； Hammersmith； Chiswick； Kew Bridge； Brentford；
were all passed； and yet they went on as steadily as if they had
only just begun their journey。 At length they came to a public…
house called the Coach and Horses： a little way beyond which
another road appeared to turn off。 And here； the cart stopped。
Sikes dismounted with great precipitation； holding Oliver by
the hand all the while； and lifting him down directly； bestowed a
furious look upon him； and rapped the side…pocket with his fist； in
a significant manner。
“Good…bye； boy；” said the man。
“He’s sulky；” replied Sikes； giving him a shake； “he’s sulky。 A
young dog！ Don’t mind him。”
“Not I！” rejoined the other； getting into his cart。 “It’s a fine day
after all。” And he drove away。
Sikes waited until he had fairly gone； and then； telling Oliver he
might look about him if he wanted； once again led him onward on
his journey。
They turned round to the left； a short way past the public…
house； and then； taking a right…hand road； walked on for a long
time； passing many large gardens and gentlemen’s houses on both
sides of the way； and stopping for nothing but a little beer； until
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they reached a town。 Here against the wall of a house； Oliver saw
written up in pretty large letters “Hampton。” They lingered about；
in the fields； for some hours。 At length； they came back into the
town； and； turning into an old public…house with a defaced
signboard； ordered some dinner by the kitchen fire。
The kitchen was an old； low…roofed room； with a great beam
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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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 pl