雾都孤儿-第7章

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Suddenly；　the　re　was　a　loud　noise　from　the　hall。　

'Come　back！　'　shouted　Sikes。　'Back！　Back！　'

O　liver　stood　still；　frozen　with　fear。　A　light　appeared；　the　n　two　men　on　the　stairs；　the　m　a　sudden　bright　flash；　and　a　loud　bang。　O　liver　staggered　back。　Sikes　seized　the　boy's　collar　through　the　window　and　pulled　him　back　out　into　the　garden。　

'They've　　hit　　him！　'　　shouted　　Sikes。　'He's　　bleeding。　'

A　bell　　rang　loudly；　above　the　noise　of　more　gunshots　and　the　shouts　of　men。　O　liver　felt　himself　being　carried　across　rough　ground；　and　the　n　he　saw　and　heard　no　　more　



　



8　　After　the　robbery

　　

The　night　was　bitterly　cold。　A　sharp　wind　whipped　the　fallen　snow　up　into　the　air　and　blew　it　into　every　hole　and　corner。　It　was　a　night　for　the　homeless　to　lie　down　and　die；　and　　for　　luckier　　people　　to　　sit　　close　　to　　their　　fires　　and　　thank　God　They　were　at　home。　

In　the　workhouse　where　O　liver　was　born；　Mrs　Corney　…the　widow　in　charge…　was　making　tea　by　her　fire。　When　she　heard　a　knock　at　her　door；　she　frowned　and　called　out　sharply；　'Come　in。　'　The　frown；　however；　was　quickly　changed　to　a　sweet　smile　when　she　saw　Mr　Bumble　enter。　

'Hard　weather；　Mr　Bumble；　'said　the　widow。　

'Yes；　indeed；　ma'am；　'　replied　the　beadle。　'We've　had　to　give　out　to　the　poor　people　in　this　town　great　quantities　of　bread　and　cheese　today；　and　They'　re　still　complaining。　　Why；　one　man　even　came　back　and　demanded　some　free　fire…wood！　

What　does　he　want　that　for？　People　are　never　satisfied。　　Give　the　m　one　thing　today；　and　tomorrow　They'll　ask　for　something　else！　'

Mrs　Corney　agreed　that　it　was　very　shocking。　　They　discussed　some　workhouse　business　togethe　r；　and　the　n　Mr　

Bumble　looked　hopefully　at　the　teapot。　Mrs　Corney　offered　him　some　tea。　Instantly；　Mr　Bumble　sat　down　by　the　fire　and　gave　the　widow　such　a　warm　smile　that　her　face　turned　a　delicate　pink。　She　passed　Mr　Bumble　the　tea－cup；　and　as　he　took　it；　he　managed　to　give　her　hand　　a　little　stroke。　'You're　a　kind－hearted　woman；　Mrs　Corney；　'said　the　beadle。　

'Oh；　Mr　Bumble！　'said　the　widow；　smiling　shyly。　For　a　while　the　re　was　a　friendly　silence　between　the　m；　the　n　Mr　Bumble　moved　his　chair　closer　to　the　widow's。　　Mrs　Corney；　of　course；　did　not　notice　this；　but　when　the　beadle's　arm　began　to　slide　around　her　waist；　she　felt　she　must　make　a　small　protest。　

Encouraged　by　this　response；　Mr　Bumble　immediately　gave　her　a　kiss；　but　at　this　interesting　moment　the　re　was　a　sudden　knock　at　the　door。　Mr　Bumble　jumped　to　his　feet　and　went　to　the　other　end　of　the　room。　

'Please；　Mrs　Corney；　'　said　a　voice　outside。　'Old　Sally　is　going　fast。　'

'Well；　what　can　I　do　to　help　her？　'asked　Mrs　Corney　angrily。　

'Nothing；　ma'am；　replied　　the　　old　　woman　　outside。　But　she　says　she　has　something　to　tell　you；　which　you　must　hear。　She　won't　die　quietly　till　you　come。　'

Complaining　loudly；　Mrs　Corney　asked　Mr　Bumble　to　wait　until　she　came　back。　The　n　she　followed　the　old　woman　up　the　stairs。　

Old　Sally　lay　in　bed　in　a　freezing　cold　room。　　The　fire　was　so　　small　and　mean　that　it　gave　　no　warmth　at　all。　

Mrs　Corney　bent　over　the　bed；　and　the　　dying　　woman　opened　her　　eyes。　'Come　　closer；　'she　　murmured。　'Let　　me　whisper　in　your　ear。　'　She　held　onto　Mrs　Corney's　arm　and　pulled　her　down　towards　her　'In　this　same　room　I　once　helped　a　pretty　young　woman　who　came　in　with　cut　and　bleeding　feet；　who　gave　birth　to　a　boy　and　the　n　died。　'

'Well？　'　asked　Mrs　Corney　impatiently。　

'I　robbed　her。　She　was　hardly　dead　before　I　stole　it！　'

'Stole　what？　'

'It！　The　only　thing　she　had。　　It　was　gold。　It　could　have　saved　her　life！　'

'Gold？　Who　was　this　mother？　Tell　me！　'

'She　told　me　to　look　after　it　when　she　died。　'　The　old　woman's　mind　was　getting　confused。　'She　trusted　me；　poor　girl；　and　I　stole　　it。　'

'Quick；　tell　　me　or　it　may　be　too　late！　'　said　Mrs　Corney　greedily。　'　What　was　it；　and　what　was　the　boy's　name？　'　

The　old　woman　could　hardly　speak．'O　liver。　The　gold　I　stole　was—'

'Yes；　yes！　What？　'

The　old　woman　fell　back　onto　the　bed；　dead。　

Mrs　Corney　hurried　back　to　her　room；　where　Mr　Bumble　was　still　admiring　her　furniture　and　counting　her　silver　tea…spoons。　They　sat　down　again　by　the　fire；　and　soon　Mr　Bumble's　arm　returned　to　its　previous　position　round　Mrs　Corney's　waist。　It　was　not　long　before　he　asked　her　to　marry　him；　and　the　widow　happily　accepted　him。　While　They　drank　to　celebrate　the　arrangement；　Mrs　Corney　told　Mr　Bumble　about　old　Sally's　death；　and　the　unknown　gold　object　which　she　had　stolen　from　the　dead　body　of　The　young　woman。　

After　many　expressions　of　undying　love；　Mr　Bumble　finally　left　the　room　and　returned　home；　with　bright　visions　of　his　future。　

While　the　se　events　were　happening　in　the　workhouse；　the　Artful　Dodger　and　Charley　Bates　were　playing　cards　in　Fagin's　house。　The　Dodger；　as　usual；　was　winning　easily；　somehow；　he　always　seemed　to　know　exactly　what　cards　the　other　players　had　in　their　hand　s。　　Suddenly　the　re　was　a　faint　ring　on　the　bell　downstairs；　and　Toby　came　in…the　man　who　had　gone　with　Bill　Sikes　and　O　liver　to　rob　the　house　in　Chertsey。　Fagin　jumped　to　his　feet。　

'Where　are　They？　'　he　screamed。　'Sikes　and　the　boy！　Where　are　They　hiding？　'

'We　failed；　'　said　the　robber。　

'　What　happened？　'

'They　fired　and　hit　the　boy。　　We　ran　away　with　O　liver　between　us；　and　They　chased　us　with　dogs。　'

'And　the　boy？　What　about　the　boy？　'gasped　Fagin。　

'His　head　was　hanging　down；　and　he　was　cold。　We　needed　to　go　faster　so　we　left　him　in　a　field；　alive　or　dead　That's　all　I　know　about　him。　'

Fagin　did　not　wait　to　hear　any　more。　He　gave　an　angry　scream；　ran　out　of　the　house　and　hurried　through　the　streets　until　he　reached　Bill　Sikes'　house．　As　he　climbed　the　stairs；　he　thought；　'Well；　Nancy；　if　　the　re'　s　anything　　going　on　here；　I'll　find　out　about　it…however　clever　you　are。　'

Nancy　was　alone　upstairs　in　her　room；　her　head　on　the　table。　

'She's　been　drinking　again；　'thought　Fagin。　As　he　closed　the　door；　she　woke　up。　He　told　her　what　had　happened　during　the　robbery；　she　said　nothing　and　her　head　returned　to　the　table。　'And　where　do　you　think　the　boy　is　now；　my　dear？　'Fagin　asked　her；　trying　hard　to　see　her　face。　'Poor　little　child！　Left　　alone　　like　　that．'

Nancy　looked　up。　'I　hope　the　child's　dead。　The　n　he'd　be　happier　than　any　of　us。　'

'What！　'said　Fagin；　in　amazement。　

'It's　better　like　that。　The　sight　of　　the　boy　turns　me　against　myself；　and　all　of　you。　'

'You're　drunk。　Fagin　suddenly　lost　his　temper。　'The　boy's　worth　a　fortune　to　me…and　now　a　drunken　gang　has　lost　him。　And　if　Sikes　doesn't　return　that　boy　to　me；　dead　or　alive；　I'll　tell　the　police　about　him　and　I'll　get　Sikes　hanged。　Just　remember　that！　'

When　Fagin　left　her；　Nancy　was　already　back　in　a　drunken　sleep；　her　head　lying　on　the　table　once　more。　Fagin　went　out　into　the　blackness　of　the　night　and　walked　home。　He　had　reached　the　corner　of　his　street　and　was　searching　in　his　pocket　for　his　key；　when　a　dark　figure　came　out　of　the　shadows　and　crossed　the　road　towards　him。　

I've　been　waiting　here　for　two　hours；　Fagin。　'　said　the　stranger。　'Where　have　you　been？　'

'On　your　business；　my　dear；　'　said　Fagin；　glancing　at　him　uneasily。　

'We'd　better　talk　inside。　'

The　door　closed　behind　the　m　and　They　crept　quietly　up　to　the　top　floor　in　order　not　to　wake　the　sleeping　boys　downstairs。　　They　sat　in　a　dark　room；　the　only　light　coming　from　a　candle　burning　in　the　passage　outside。　

The　　stranger's　name　was　Monks；　and　he　was　in　an　evil　mood。　

He　listened　to　Fagin　for　a　while；　frowning　heavily。　'It　was　badly　planned；　he　said　angrily。　'Couldn't　you　have　made　the　boy　into　an　ordinary　thief；　and　the　n　got　him　arrested　and　sent　out　of　the　country　for　the　rest　of　his　life？　'

'But　he　isn't　like　the　other　boys　here；　'　Fagin　said。　'I　had　nothing　to　frighten　him　with。　　Anyway；　I've　already　helped　you。　After　he　was　caught　by　the　police；　stealing　from　the　book　shop；　I　got　Nancy　to　get　him　back。　And　the　n　she　felt　sorry　for　him。　'

'Kill　　her！　'　Monks　said　　impatiently。　

'We　can't　afford　to　do　that　kind　of　thing；　'　said　Fagin。　

'But　I　can　turn　the　boy　into　an　ordinary　thief　now。　　　And　the　n　Nancy　will　harden　her　heart　against　him。　I　know　how　women　are。　But　if　he's　already　dead—'　

'That's　not　my　fault！　'　said　Monks　quickly。　'I　always　said　to　you…　do　anything　you　want　to　him；　but　don't　kill　him。　　I　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　forget　it；　if　you　had。　'

Suddenly　he　jumped　to　his　feet；　staring　at　the　wall　opposite　the　door。　'What's　that？　'he　whispered；　terrified。　

'What？　Where？　'　cried　Fagin。　

'The　shadow！　I　　saw　the　shadow　of　a　woman　pass　along　　that　wall！　'

White－faced；　They　both　ran　from　the　room　into　the　passage。　The　candle　threw　long　shadows　down　the　stairs；　but　the　re　was　no　one　the　re。　They　listened。　　Only　silence　filled　the　house。　

'It　was　your　imagination；　'　said　Fagin；　softly。　

'I　swear　I　saw　it！　replied　Monks。　They　searched　all　the　upstairs　rooms。　They　were　empty；　and　as　quiet　as　death。　Monks　grew　calmer；　and　eventually　left　the　house　at　one　o'clock　in　the　morning。　

The　chase　down　at　Chertsey　the　previous　night　had　not　lasted　long。　The　re　was　a　lot　of　noise　of　men　shouting　and　dogs　barking；　as　the　servants　from　the　house　pursued　the　robbers　across　the　fields。　But　Sikes　and　Toby　wasted　no　time。　They　dropped　O　liver's　unconscious　body　in　a　field；　and　disappeared　into　the　fog　and　the　darkness　in　different　directions。　The　three　pursuers　lost　enthusiasm　for　the　chase　and　agreed　among　themselves　that　it　was　much　too　dangerous　to　continue。　They　returned　to　the　house；　keeping　close　together　and　trying　to　look　brave。　

Morning　came；　but　O　liver　still　lay　in　the　field　as　if　dead。　It　began　to　rain　heavily；　and　after　a　while　O　liver　opened　his　eyes。　His　left　arm　was　covered　in　blood　and　hurting　badly。　He　felt　so　weak　he　could　hardly　stand；　but　he　knew　that　if　he　stayed　where　he　was；　he　would　die。　Gasping　with　pain；　he　forced　himself　to　his　feet　and　with　slow；　shaky　steps；　began　to　walk。　He　had　no　idea　where　he　was　going；　and　moved　forward　mechanically；　as　though　in　a　dream。　

After　a　while　his　feet　found　a　road；　and　he　looked　round　and　saw　a　house　in　the　distance。　He　decided　he　would　rather　die　near　human　beings　than　in　a　cold　field；　so　he　turned　his　steps　towards　　　the　　　house。　As　　he　came　nearer；　he　realized　that　　　the　house　was　familiar　and　he　felt　faint　with　terror。　But　where　else　could　he　go？　With　a　last　effort；　he　crawled　up　the　path　and　knocked　on　the　door；　the　n　fell　exhausted　on　the　step。　

It　was　now　mid－morning。　Inside　the　house　the　men　servants　were　still　describing　the　night's　adventures　to　the　cook　and　the　servant　girl；　who　gasped　with　appreciative　horror　at　every　exciting　　　moment。　They　　were　　all　　　　enjoying　　themselves　　　very　much…　when　the　re　came　a　knock　at　the　door。　Pale　with　fright；　They　all　stared　at　each　other。　Nobody　was　keen　to　answer　the　knock；　so　eventually　They　all　went；　including　the　dogs。　Very　cautiously；　They　opened　the　door；　and　saw　nothing　more　alarming　than　poor　O　liver；　curled　up　in　a　sad　little　heap　on　　the　　step。　

The　n　one　of　the　men　gave　a　shout；　seized　the　boy　by　a　leg　and　　pulled　him　　into　the　hall。　'Here　he　is！　'　he　　cried　excitedly。　'Here's　the　thief！　I　shot