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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第43部分

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But there was nobody abroad。 They had cleared the town; as the 

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Oliver Twist 232 

church bell struck two。 

Quickening their pace; they turned up a road upon the left 
hand。 After walking about a quarter of a mile; they stopped before 
a detached house surrounded by a wall; to the top of which; Toby 
Crackit; scarcely pausing to take breath; climbed in a twinkling。 

“The boy next;” said Toby。 “Hoist him up; I’ll catch hold of 
him。” 

Before Oliver had time to look round; Sikes had caught him 
under the arms; and in three or four seconds he and Toby were 
lying on the grass on the other side。 Sikes followed directly。 And 
they stole cautiously towards the house。 

And now; for the first time; Oliver; well…nigh mad with grief and 
terror; saw that housebreaking and robbery; if not murder; were 
the objects of the expedition。 He clasped his hands together; and 
involuntarily uttered a subdued exclamation of horror。 A mist 
came before his eyes; the cold sweat stood upon his ashy face; his 
limbs failed him; and he sank upon his knees。 

“Get up!” murmured Sikes; trembling with rage; and drawing 
the pistol from his pocket; “get up; or I’ll strew your brains upon 
the grass。” 

“Oh! for God’s sake let me go!” cried Oliver; “let me run away 
and die in the fields。 I will never come near London; never; never! 
Oh! pray have mercy on me; and do not make me steal。 For the 
love of all the bright angels that rest in heaven; have mercy upon 
me!” 

The man to whom this appeal was made; swore a dreadful oath; 
and had cocked the pistol; when Toby; striking it from his grasp; 
placed his hand upon the boy’s mouth; and dragged him to the 
house。 

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Oliver Twist 233 

“Hush!” cried the man; “it won’t answer here。 Say another 
word; and I’ll do your business myself with a crack on the head。 
That makes no noise; and is quite as certain; and more genteel。 
Here; Bill; wrench the shutter open。 He’s game enough now; I’ll 
engage。 I’ve seen older hands of his age took the same way; for a 
minute or two; on a cold night。” 

Sikes; invoking terrific imprecations upon Fagin’s head for 
sending Oliver on such an errand; plied the crowbar vigorously; 
but with little noise。 After some delay; and some assistance from 
Toby; the shutter to which he had referred; swung open on its 
hinges。 

It was a little lattice window; about five feet and a half above the 
ground; at the back of the house; which belonged to a scullery; or 
small brewing…place; at the end of the passage。 The aperture was 
so small; that the inmates had probably not thought it worth while 
to defend it more securely; but it was large enough to admit a boy 
of Oliver’s size nevertheless。 A very brief exercise of Mr。 Sikes’s 
art sufficed to overcome the fastening of the lattice; and it soon 
stood wide open also。 

“Now listen; you young limb;” whispered Sikes; drawing a dark 
lamp from his pocket; and throwing the glare full on Oliver’s face; 
“I’m a…going to put you through there。 Take this light; go softly up 
the steps straight afore you; and along the little hall; to the street 
door; unfasten it; and let us in。” 

“There’s a bolt at the top; you won’t be able to reach;” 
interposed Toby。 “Stand upon one of the hall chairs。 There are 
three there; Bill; with a jolly large blue unicorn and gold pitchfork 
on ’em; which is the old lady’s arms。” 

“Keep quiet; can’t you?” replied Sikes; with a threatening look。 

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Oliver Twist 234 

“The room door is open; is it?” 

“Wide;” replied Toby; after peeping into to satisfy himself。 
“That game of that is; that they always leave it open with a catch; 
so that the dog; who’s got a bed in here; may walk up and down 
the passage when he feels wakeful。 Ha! ha! Barney ‘ticed him 
away tonight。 So neat!” 

Although Mr。 Crackit spoke in a scarcely audible whisper; and 
laughed without noise; Sikes imperiously commanded him to be 
silent; and to get to work。 Toby complied; by first producing his 
lantern; and placing it on the ground; and then by planting himself 
firmly with his head against the wall beneath the window; and his 
hands upon his knees; so as to make a step of his back。 This was 
no sooner done; than Sikes; mounting upon him; put Oliver gently 
through the window with his feet first; and; without leaving hold of 
his collar; planted him safely on the floor inside。 

“Take this lantern;” said Sikes; looking into the room。 “You see 
the stairs afore you?” 

Oliver; more dead than alive; gasped out; “Yes。” Sikes; pointing 
to the street door with the pistol barrel; briefly advised him to take 
notice that he was within shot all the way; and that if he faltered; 
he would fall dead that instant。 

“It’s done in a minute;” said Sikes; in the same low whisper。 
“Directly I leave go of you; do your work。 Hark!” 

“What’s that?” whispered the other man。 

They listened intently。 

“Nothing;” said Sikes; releasing his hold of Oliver。 “Now!” 

In the short time he had had to collect his senses; the boy had 
firmly resolved that; whether he died in the attempt or not; he 
would make one effort to dart upstairs from the hall; and alarm 

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Oliver Twist 235 

the family。 Filled with this idea; he advanced at once; but 

stealthily。 

“Come back!” suddenly cried Sikes aloud。 “Back! back!” 

Scared by the sudden breaking of the dead stillness of the 
place; and by a loud cry which followed it; Oliver let his lantern 
fall; and knew not whether to advance or fly。 

The cry was repeated—a light appeared—a vision of two 
terrified; half…dressed men at the top of the stairs swam before his 
eyes—a flash—a loud noise—a smoke—a crash somewhere; but 
where he knew not—and he staggered back。 

Sikes had disappeared for an instant; but he was up again; and 
had him by the collar before the smoke had cleared away。 He fired 
his own pistol after the men; who were already retreating; and 
dragged the boy up。 

“Clasp your arm tighter;” said Sikes; as he drew him through 
the window。 “Give me a shawl here。 They’ve hit him。 Quick! 
Damnation; how the boy bleeds!” 

Then came the loud ringing of a bell; mingled with the noise of 
firearms; and the shouts of men; and the sensation of being carried 
over uneven ground at a rapid pace。 And then; the noises grew 
confused in the distance; and a cold; deadly feeling crept over the 
boy’s heart; and he saw or heard no more。 

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Oliver Twist 236 

Chapter 23 

Which Contains The Substance Of A Pleasant
Conversation Between Mr。 Bumble And A Lady;
And Shows That Even A Beadle May Be
Susceptible On Some Points。


The night was bitter cold。 The snow lay on the ground; 
frozen into a hard thick crust; so that only the heaps that 
had drifted into byways and corners were affected by the 
sharp wind that howled abroad; which; as if expending increased 
fury on such prey as it found; caught it savagely up in clouds; and; 
whirling it into a thousand misty eddies; scattered it in air。 Bleak; 
dark; and piercing cold; it was a night for the well…housed and fed 
to draw round the bright fire and thank God they were at home; 
and for the homeless; starving wretch to lay him down and die。 
Many hunger…worn outcasts close their eyes in our bare streets; at 
such times; who; let their crimes have been what they may; can 
hardly open them in a more bitter world。 

Such was the aspect of out…of…doors affairs; when Mrs。 Corney; 
the matron of the workhouse to which our readers have been 
already introduced as the birthplace of Oliver Twist; sat herself 
down before a cheerful fire in her own little room; and glanced; 
with no small degree of complacency; at a small; round table; on 
which stood a tray of corresponding size; furnished with all 
necessary materials for the most grateful meal that matrons enjoy。 
In fact; Mrs。 Corney was about to solace herself with a cup of tea。 
As she glanced from the table to the fireplace; where the smallest 

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Oliver Twist 237 

of all possible kettles was singing a small song in a small voice; her 
inward satisfaction evidently increased—so much so; indeed; that 
Mrs。 Corney smiled。 

“Well!” said the matron; leaning her elbow on the table; and 
looking reflectively at the fire; “I’m sure we have all on us a great 
deal to be grateful for! A great deal; if we did but know it。 Ah!” 

Mrs。 Corney shook her head mournfully; as if deploring he 
mental blindness of those paupers who did not know it; and 
thrusting a silver spoon (private property) into the inmost recesses 
of a two…ounce tin tea…caddy; proceeded to make the tea。 

How slight a thing will disturb the equanimity of our frail 
minds! The black teapot; being very small and easily filled; ran 
over while Mrs。 Corney was moralising; and the water slightly 
scalded Mrs。 Corney’s hand。 

“Drat the pot!” said the worthy matro
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