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immediately afterwards； the two men were heard descending。
Monks went at once into the street； and the Jew crawled upstairs
again for the money。 When he returned； the girl was adjusting her
shawl and bonnet； as if preparing to be gone。
“Why； Nance；” exclaimed the Jew； staring back as he put down
the candle； “how pale you are！”
“Pale！” echoed the girl； shading her eyes with her hands； as if to
look steadily at him。
“Quite horrible。 What have you been doing to yourself？”
“Nothing that I know of； except sitting in this close place for I
don’t know how long and all；” replied the girl carelessly。 “Come！
Let me get back； that’s a dear。”
With a sigh for every piece of money； Fagin told the amount
into her hand。 They parted without more conversation； merely
interchanging a “good…night。”
When the girl got into the open street； she sat down upon a
doorstep； and seemed； for a few moments； wholly bewildered and
unable to pursue her way。 Suddenly she arose； and hurrying on； in
a direction quite opposite to that in which Sikes was awaiting her
return； quickened her pace； until it gradually resolved into a
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violent run。 After completely exhausting herself； she stopped to
take breath； and； as if suddenly recollecting herself； and deploring
her inability to do something she was bent upon； wrung her hands；
and burst into tears。
It might be that her tears relieved her； or that she felt the full
hopelessness of her condition； but she turned back； and hurrying
with nearly as great rapidity in the contrary direction； partly to
recover lost time； and partly to keep pace with the violent current
of her own thoughts； soon reached the dwelling where she had left
the housebreaker。
If she betrayed any agitation； when she presented herself to Mr。
Sikes； he did not observe it； for merely inquiring if she had
brought the money； and receiving a reply in the affirmative； he
uttered a growl of satisfaction； and replacing his head upon the
pillow； resumed the slumbers which her arrival had interrupted。
It was fortunate for her that the possession of money
occasioned him so much employment next day in the way of eating
and drinking； and withal had so beneficial an effect in smoothing
down the asperities of his temper； that he had neither time nor
inclination to be very critical upon her behaviour and deportment。
That she had all the abstracted and nervous manner of one who is
on the eve of some bold and hazardous step； which it has required
no common struggle to resolve upon； would have been obvious to
the lynx…eyed Fagin； who would most probably have taken the
alarm at once； but Mr。 Sikes； lacking the niceties of
discrimination； and being troubled with no more subtle misgivings
than those which resolve themselves into a dogged roughness of
behaviour towards everybody； and being； furthermore； in an
unusually amiable condition； as has been already observed； saw
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nothing unusual in her demeanour； and indeed； troubled himself
so little about her； that； had her agitation been or more perceptible
than it was； it would have been very unlikely to have awakened his
suspicions。
As that day closed in； the girl’s excitement increased； and； when
night came on； and she sat by； watching until the housebreaker
should drink himself asleep； there was an unusual paleness in her
cheek； and a fire in her eye； that even Sikes observed with
astonishment。
Mr。 Sikes being weak from the fever； was lying in bed； taking
hot water with his gin to render it less inflammatory； and had
pushed his glass towards Nancy to be replenished for the third or
fourth time； when these symptoms first struck him。
“Why； burn my body！” said the man； raising himself on his
hands as he stared the girl in the face。 “You look like a corpse
come to life again。 What’s the matter？”
“Matter！” replied the girl。 “Nothing。 What do you look at me so
hard for？”
“What foolery is this？” demanded Sikes； grasping her by the
arm； and shaking her roughly。 “What is it？ What do you mean？
What are you thinking of？”
“Of many things； Bill；” replied the girl； shivering； and as she did
so； pressing her hands upon her eyes。 “But； Lord！ What odds in
that？”
The tone of forced gaiety in which the last words were spoken；
seemed to produce a deeper impression on Sikes than the wild
and rigid look which had preceded them。
“I tell you wot it is；” said Sikes； “if you haven’t caught the fever；
and got it comin’ on； now； there’s something more than usual in
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the wind； and something dangerous； too。 You’re not a…going to No；
damme！ you wouldn’t do that！”
“Do what？” asked the girl。
“There ain’t；” said Sikes； fixing his eyes upon her； and
muttering the words to himself—“there ain’t a stauncher…hearted
gal going； or I’d have cut her throat three months ago。 She’s got
the fever coming on； that’s it。”
Fortifying himself with this assurance； Sikes drained the glass
to the bottom； and then； with many grumbling oaths； called for his
physic。 The girl jumped up； with great alacrity； poured it quickly
out； but with her back towards him； and held the vessel to his lips；
while he drank off the contents。
“Now；” said the robber； “come and sit aside of me； and put on
your own face； or I’ll alter it so； that you won’t know it again when
you do want it。”
The girl obeyed。 Sikes； locking her hand in his； fell back upon
the pillow； turning his eyes upon her face。 They closed； opened
again； closed once more； again opened。 He shifted his position
restlessly； and； after dozing again； and again； for two or three
minutes； and as often springing up with a look of terror； and
gazing vacantly about him； was suddenly stricken； as it were；
while in the very attitude of rising； into a deep and heavy sleep。
The grasp of his hand relaxed； the upraised arm fell languidly by
his side； and he lay like one in a profound trance。
“The laudanum has taken effect at last；” murmured the girl； as
she rose from the bedside。 “I may be too late； even now。”
She hastily dressed herself in her bonnet and shawl； looking
fearfully round； from time to time； as if； despite the sleeping
draught； she expected every moment to feel the pressure of Sikes’
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heavy hand upon her shoulders； then stooping softly over the bed；
she kissed the robber’s lips； and then opening and closing the
room door with noiseless touch； hurried from the house。
A watchman was crying half…past nine； down a dark passage
through which she had to pass； in gaining the main thoroughfare。
“Has it long gone the half…hour？” asked the girl。
“It’ll strike the hour in another quarter；” said the man； raising
the lantern to her face。
“And I cannot get there in less than an hour or more；” muttered
Nancy； brushing swiftly past him； and gliding rapidly down the
street。
Many of the shops were already closing in the back lanes and
avenues through which she tracked her way； in making from
Spitalfields towards the west end of London。 The clock struck ten；
increasing her impatience。 She tore along the narrow pavement；
elbowing the passengers from side to side； and darting almost
under the horses’ heads； crossed crowded streets； where clusters
of persons were eagerly watching their opportunity to do the like。
“‘The woman is mad！” said the people； turning to look after her
as she rushed away。
When she reached the more wealthy quarter of the town； the
streets were comparatively deserted； and here her headlong
progress excited a still greater curiosity in the stragglers whom
she hurried past。 Some quickened their pace behind； as though to
see whither she was hastening at such an unusual rate； and a few
made head upon her； and looked back； surprised at her
undiminished speed； but they fell off one by one； and when she
neared her place of destination； she was alone。
It was a family hotel in a quiet but handsome street near Hyde
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Park。 As the brilliant light of the lamp which burned before its
door； guided her to the spot； the clock struck eleven。 She had
loitered for a few paces as though irresolute； and making up her
mind to advance； but the sound determined her； and she stepped
into the hall。 The porter’s seat was vacant。 She looked round with
an air of incertitude； and advanced towards the stairs。
“Now； young woman！” said a smartly…dressed female； looking
out from a door behind her； “who do you want here ？”
“A lady who is stopping in this house；” answered the girl。
“A lady！” was the reply； accompanied with a scornful look。
“What lady？”
“Miss Maylie；” said Nancy。
The young woman； who had by this time noted her appearance；
replied only by a look of virtuous disdain； and summoned a man to
answer her。