Charles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 406waistcoat, by way of dressing-gown, and displaying a set offeatures in no degree improved by the cadaverous hue of illness,and the addition of a soiled night-cap, and a stiff, black beard of aweek’s growth. The dog sat at the bedside, now eyeing his masterwith a wistful look, and now pricking his ears, and uttering a lowgrowl as some noise in the street, or in the lower part of the house,attracted his attention. Seated by the window, busily engaged inpatching an old waistcoat which formed a portion of the robber’sordinary dress, was a female, so pale and reduced with watchingand privation, that there would have been considerable difficultyin recognising her as the same Nancy who has already figured inthis tale, but for the voice in which she replied to Mr. Sikes’squestion.“Not long gone seven,” said the girl. “How do you feel tonight,Bill?”“As weak as water,” replied Mr. Sikes, with an imprecation onhis eyes and limbs. “Here; lend us a hand, and let me get off thisthundering bed anyhow.”This had not improved Mr. Sikes’s temper; for, as the girl raisedhim up and led him to a chair, he muttered various curses on herawkwardness, and struck her.“Whining, are you?” said Sikes. “Come! Don’t stand snivellingthere. If you can’t do anything better than that, cut off altogether.D’ye hear me?”“I hear you,” replied the girl, turning her face aside, and forcinga laugh. “What fancy have you got in your head now?”“Oh! you’ve thought better of it, have you?” growled Sikes,marking the tear which trembled in her eye. “All the better foryou, you have.”Charles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 407“Why, you don’t mean to say, you’d be hard upon me tonight,Bill,” said the girl, laying her hand upon his shoulder.“No!” cried Sikes. “Why not?”“Such a number of nights,” said the girl, with a touch ofwoman’s tenderness, which communicated something likesweetness of tone, even to her voice—“such a number of nights asI’ve been patient with you, nursing and caring for you, as if youhad been a child; and this the first that I’ve seen you like yourself;you wouldn’t have served me as you did just now, if you’d thoughtof that, would you? Come, come; say you wouldn’t.”“Well, then,” rejoined Mr. Sikes. “I wouldn’t. Why, damme,now, the girl’s whining again!”“It’s nothing,” said the girl, throwing herself into a chair. “Don’tyou seem to mind me. It’ll soon be over.”“What’ll be over?” demanded Mr. Sikes, in a savage voice.“What foolery are you up to, now, again? Get up and bustle about,and don’t come over me with your woman’s nonsense.”At any other time, this remonstrance, and the tone in which itwas delivered, would have had the desired effect; but the girlbeing really weak and exhausted, dropped her head over the backof the chair, and fainted, before Mr. Sikes could get out a few ofthe appropriate oaths with which, on similar occasions, he wasaccustomed to garnish his threats. Not knowing, very well, what todo, in this uncommon emergency—for Miss Nancy’s hystericswere usually of that violent kind which the patient fights andstruggles out of, without much assistance—Mr. Sikes tried a littleblasphemy; and finding that mode of treatment wholly ineffectual,called for assistance.“What’s the matter here, my dear?” said Fagin, looking in.Charles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 408“Lend a hand to the girl, can’t you?” replied Sikes impatiently.“Don’t stand chattering and grinning at me!”With an exclamation of surprise, Fagin hastened to the girl’sassistance, while Mr. John Dawkins (otherwise the artful Dodger),who had followed his venerable friend into the room, hastilydeposited on the floor a bundle with which he was laden, andsnatching a bottle from the grasp of Master Charles Bates whocame close at his heels, uncorked it in a twinkling with his teeth,and poured a portion of its contents down the patient’s throat;previously taking a taste, himself, to prevent mistakes.“Give her a whiff of fresh air with the bellows, Charley,” saidMr. Dawkins; “and you slap her hands, Fagin, while Bill undoesthe petticuts.”These united restoratives, administered with great energy,especially that department consigned to Master Bates, whoappeared to consider his share in the proceedings, a piece ofunexampled pleasantry, were not long in producing the desiredeffect. The girl gradually recovered her senses; and, staggering toa chair by the bedside, hid her face upon the pillow; leaving Mr.Sikes to confront the newcomers, in some astonishment at theirunlooked-for appearance.“Why, what evil wind has blowed you here?” he asked Fagin.“No evil wind at all, my dear, for evil winds blow nobody anygood; and I’ve brought something good with me, that you’ll be gladto see. Dodger, my dear, open the bundle; and give Bill the littletrifles that we spent all our money on, this morning.In compliance with Mr. Fagin’s request, the Artful untied hisbundle, which was of large size, and formed of an old tablecloth;and handed the articles it contained, one by one, to Charley Bates;Charles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 409who placed them on the table, with various encomiums on theirrarity and excellence.“Sitch a rabbit-pie, Bill,” exclaimed that young gentleman,disclosing to view a huge pasty; “sitch delicate creeturs, with sitchtender limbs, Bill, that the wery bones melt in your mouth, andthere’s no occasion to pick ’em; half a pound of seven-andsixpenny green, so precious strong that if you mix it with bilingwater, it’ll go nigh to blow the lid of the tea-pot off; a pound and ahalf of moist sugar that the niggers didn’t work at all at, beforethey got it up to sitch a pitch of goodness—oh no! Two halfquartern brans; pound of best fresh; piece of double Glo’ster; and,to wind up all, some of the richest sort you ever lushed!”Uttering this last panegyric, Master Bates produced, from oneof his extensive pockets, a full-sized wine bottle, carefully corked;while Mr. Dawkins, at the same instant, poured out a wine-glassfulof raw spirits from the bottle he carried, which the invalid tosseddown his throat without a moment’s hesitation.“Ah!” said Fagin, rubbing his hands with great satisfaction.“You’ll do, Bill; you’ll do now.”“So!” exclaimed Mr. Sikes; “I might have been done for, twentytimes over, afore you’d have done anything to help me. What doyou mean by leaving a man in this state, three weeks and more,you false-hearted wagabond?”“Only hear him, boy!” said Fagin, shrugging his shoulders.“And us come to bring him all these beau-ti-ful things.”“The things is well enough in their way,” observed Mr. Sikes,“little soothed as he glanced over the table; “but what have you gotto say for yourself, why you should leave me here, down in themouth, health, blunt and everything else; and take no more noticeCharles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 410of me, all this mortal time, than if I was that ’ere dog.—Drive himdown, Charley!”“I never see such a jolly dog as that,” cried Master Bates, doingas he was desired. “Smelling the grub like a old lady a-going tomarket! He’d make his fortun’ on the stage that dog would, and—rewive the drayma besides.”“Hold your din,” cried Sikes, as the dog retreated under thebed, still growling angrily. “What have you got to say for yourself,you withered old fence, eh?”“I was away from London, a week and more, my dear, on aplant,” replied the Jew.“And what about the other fortnight?” demanded Sikes. “Whatabout the other fortnight that you’ve left me lying here, like a sickrat in his hole?”“I couldn’t help it, Bill,” replied Fagin, “I can’t go into a longexplanation before company; but I couldn’t help it, upon myhonour.”“Upon your what?” growled Sikes, with excessive disgust.“Here! Cut me off a piece of that pie, one of you boys, to take thetaste of that out of my mouth, or it’ll choke me dead.”“Don’t be out of temper, my dear,” urged Fagin submissively. “Ihave never forgot you, Bill; never once.”“No! I’ll pound it that you ha’n’t,” replied Sikes, with a bittergrin. “You’ve been scheming and plotting away, every hour that Ihave laid shivering and burning here; and Bill was to do this; andBill was to do that; and Bill was to do it all, dirt cheap, as soon ashe got well, and was quite poor enough for your work. If it hadn’tbeen for the girl, I might have died.”“There now, Bill,” remonstrated Fagin, eagerly catching at theCharles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 411word. “If it hadn’t been for the girl! Who but poor ould Fagin wasthe means of your having such a handy girl about you?”“He says true enough there!” said Nancy, coming hastilyforward. “Let him be; let him be.”Nancy’s appearance gave a new turn to the conversation; forthe boys, receiving a sly wink from the wary old Jew, began to plyher with liquor, of which, however, she took very sparingly; whileFagin, assuming an unusual flow of spirits, gradually brought Mr.Sikes into a better temper, by affecting to regard his threats as alittle pleasant banter; and, moreover, by laughing very heartily atone or two rough jokes, which, after repeated applications to thespirit-bottle, he condescended to make.“It’s all very well,” said Mr. Sikes; “but I must have some bluntfrom you tonight.”“I haven’t a piece of coin about me,” replied the Jew.“Then you’ve got lots at home,” retorted Sikes; “and I musthave some from there.”“Lots!” cried Fagin, holding up his hands. “I haven’t so much aswould—”“I don’t know how much you’ve got, and I dare say you hardlyknow yourself, as it would take a pretty long time to count it,” saidSikes; “but I must have some tonight; and that’s flat.”“Well, well,” said Fagin, with a sigh, “I’ll send the Artful roundpresently.”“You won’t do nothing of the kind,” rejoined Mr. Sikes. “TheArtful’s a deal too artful, and would forget to come, or lose his way,or get dodged by traps and so be prewented, or anything for anexcuse, if you put him up to it. Nancy shall go to the ken and fetchit, to make all sure; and I’ll lie down and have a snooze while she’sCharles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 412gone.”After a great deal of haggling and squabbling, Fagin beat downthe amount of the required advance from five pounds to threepounds four and sixpence; protesting with many solemnasservations that would only leave eighteenpence to keep housewith; Mr. Sikes sullenly remarking that if he couldn’t get any morehe must be content with that, Nancy prepared to accompany himhome; while the Dodger and Master Bates put the eatables in thecupboard. The Jew then, taking leave of his affectionate friend,returned homeward, attended by Nancy and the boys; Mr. Sikes,meanwhile, flinging himself on the bed, and composing himself tosleep away the time until the young lady’s return.In due course they arrived at Fagin’s abode, where they foundToby Crackit and Mr. Chitling intent upon their fifteenth game atcribbage, which it is scarcely necessary to say the latter gentlemanlost, and with it, his fifteenth and last sixpence, much to theamusement of his young friends. Mr. Crackit, apparentlysomewhat ashamed at being found relaxing himself with agentleman so much his inferior in station and mentalendowments, yawned, and inquiring after Sikes, took up his hat togo.“Has nobody been, Toby?” asked Fagin.“Not a living leg,” answered Mr. Crackit, pulling up his collar;“it’s been as dull as swipes. You ought to stand somethinghandsome, Fagin, to recompense me for keeping house so long.Damme, I’m as flat as a juryman; and should have gone to sleep, asfast as Newgate, if I hadn’t had the good-natur’ to amuse thisyoungster. Horrid dull, I’m blessed if I ain’t!”With these and other ejaculations of the same kind, Mr. TobyCharles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 413Crackit swept up his winnings, and crammed them into hiswaistcoat pocket with a haughty air, as though such small piecesof silver were wholly beneath the consideration of a man of hisfigure; this done, he swaggered out of the room, with so muchelegance and gentility, that Mr. Chitling, bestowing numerousadmiring glances on his legs and boots till they were out of sight,assured the company that he considered his acquaintance cheapat fifteen sixpences an interview, and that he didn’t value hislosses the snap of his little finger.“Wot a rum chap you are, Tom!” said Master Bates, highlyamused by this declaration.“Not a bit of it,” replied Mr. Chitling. “Am I, Fagin?”“A very clever fellow, my dear,” said Fagin, patting him on theshoulder, and winking to his other pupils.“And Mr. Crackit is a heavy swell; ain’t he, Fagin?” asked Tom.“No doubt at all of that, my dear.”“And it is a creditable thing to have his acquaintance; ain’t it,Fagin?” pursued Tom.“Very much so, indeed, my dear. They’re only jealous, Tom,because he won’t give it to them.”“Ah!” cried Tom triumphantly, “that’s where it is! He hascleaned me out. But I can go and earn some more, when I like;can’t I, Fagin?”“To be sure you can,” replied Fagin; “and the sooner you go thebetter, Tom; so make up your loss at once, and don’t lose any moretime. Dodger! Charley! It’s time you were on the lay. Come! It’snear ten, and nothing done yet.”In obedience to this hint, the boys, nodding to Nancy, took uptheir hats, and left the room; the Dodger and his vivacious friendCharles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 414indulging, as they went, in many witticisms at the expense of Mr.Chitling; in whose conduct, it is but justice to say, there wasnothing very conspicuous or peculiar, inasmuch as there are agreat number of spirited young bloods about town, who pay amuch higher price than Mr. Chitling for being seen in good societyand a great number of fine gentlemen (composing the good societyaforesaid) who establish their reputation upon very much thesame footing as flash Toby Crackit.“Now,” said Fagin, when they had left the room, “I’ll go and getyou that cash, Nancy. This is only the key of a little cupboardwhere I keep a few odd things the boys get, my dear. I never lockup my money, for I’ve got none to lock up, my dear—ha! ha! ha!—none to lock up. It’s a poor trade, Nancy, and no thanks; but I’mfond of seeing the young people about me; and I bear it all; I bearit all. Hush!” he said, hastily concealing the key in his breast,“who’s that? Listen!”The girl, who was sitting at the table with her arms folded,appeared in no way interested in the arrival, or to care whetherthe person, whoever he was, came or went, until the murmur of aman’s voice reached her ears. The instant she caught the sound,she tore off her bonnet and shawl, with the rapidity of lightning,and thrust them under the table. The Jew, turning roundimmediately afterwards, she muttered a complaint of the heat, in atone of languor that contrasted, very remarkably, with the extremehaste and violence of this action, which, however, had beenunobserved by Fagin, who had his back towards her at the time.“Bah!” whispered the Jew, as though nettled by theinterruption; “it’s the man I expected before; he’s comingdownstairs. Not a word about the money while he’s here, Nance.Charles Dickens ElecBook ClassicsOliver Twist 415He won’t stop long. Not ten minutes, my dear.”Laying his skinny forefinger upon his lip, the Jew carried acandle to the door, as a man’s step was heard upon the stairswithout. He reached it, at the same moment as the visitor, who,coming hastily into the room, was close upon the girl before heobserved her.It was Monks.“Only one of my young people,” said Fagin, observing thatMonks drew back, on beholding a stranger. “Don’t move, Nancy.”The girl drew closer to the table, and glancing at Monks with anair of careless levity, withdrew her eyes; but as he turned histowards Fagin, she stole another look, so keen and searching, andfull of purpose, that if there had been any bystander to observe thechange, he could hardly have believed the two looks to haveproceeded from the same person.