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emphasis on the last word； he suffered his features gradually to
resolve themselves into a ghastly grin； and； nodding his head； left
the room。
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Oliver leaned his head upon his hand when the old man
disappeared； and pondered； with a trembling heart； on the words
he had just heard。 The more he thought of the Jew’s admonition；
the more he was at a loss to divine its real purpose and meaning。
He could think of no bad object to be attained by sending him to
Sikes； which would not be equally well answered by his remaining
with Fagin； and after meditating for a long time； concluded that he
had been selected to perform some ordinary menial offices for the
housebreaker； until another boy； better suited for his purpose；
could be engaged。 He was too well accustomed to suffering； and
had suffered too much where he was； to bewail the prospect of
change very severely。 He remained lost in thought for some
minutes； and then； with a heavy sigh； snuffed the candle； and；
taking up the book which the Jew had left with him； began to read。
He turned over the leaves carelessly at first； but； lighting on a
passage which attracted his attention he soon became intent upon
the volume。 It was a history of the lives and trials of great
criminals； and the pages were soiled and thumbed with use。 Here；
he read of dreadful crimes that made the blood run cold； of secret
murders that had been committed by the lonely wayside； of bodies
hidden from the eye of man in deep pits and wells： which would
not keep them down； deep as they were； but had yielded them up
at last； after many years； and so maddened the murderers with the
sight； that in their horror they had confessed their guilt； and yelled
for the gibbet to end their agony。 Here； too； he read of men who；
lying in their beds at dead of night； had been tempted （as they
said） and led on； by their own bad thoughts； to such dreadful
bloodshed as it made the flesh creep； and the limbs quail； to think
of。 The terrible descriptions were so real and vivid； that the sallow
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pages seemed to turn red with gore； and the words upon them； to
be sounded in his ears； as if they were whispered； in hollow
murmurs； by the spirits of the dead。
In a paroxysm of fear； the boy closed the book； and thrust it
from him。 Then； falling upon his knees； he prayed Heaven to spare
him from such deeds； and rather to will that he should die at once；
than be reserved for crimes so fearful and appalling。 By degrees；
he grew more calm； and besought in a low and broken voice； that
he might be rescued from his present dangers； and that if any aid
were to’ be raised up for a poor； outcast boy； who had never
known the love of friends or kindred； it might come to him now；
when； desolate and deserted； he stood alone in the midst of
wickedness and guilt。
He had concluded his prayer； but still remained with his head
buried in his hands； when a rustling noise aroused him。
“What’s that？” he cried； starting up； and catching sight of a
figure standing by the door。 “Who’s there？”
“Me。 Only me；” replied a tremulous voice。
Oliver raised the candle above his head； and looked towards the
door。 It was Nancy。
“Put down the light；” said the girl； turning away her head； “it
hurts my eyes。”
Oliver saw that she was very pale； and gently inquired if she
were ill。 The girl threw herself into a chair； with her back towards
him； and wrung her hands； but made no reply。
“God forgive me！” she cried； after a while； “I never thought of
this。”
“Has anything happened？” asked Oliver。 “Can I help you？ I will
if I can。 I will； indeed。
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She rocked herself to and fro； caught her throat； and； uttering a
gurgling sound； gasped for breath。
“Nancy！” cried Oliver； “what is it？”
The girl beat her hands upon her knees； and her feet upon the
ground； and； suddenly stopping； drew her shawl close round her；
and shivered with cold。
Oliver stirred the fire。 Drawing her chair close to it； she sat
there； for a little time； without speaking； but at length she raised
her head； and looked round。
“I don’t know what comes over me sometimes；” said she；
affecting to busy herself in arranging her dress； “it’s this damp；
dirty room； I think。 Now； Nolly； dear； are you ready？”
“Am I to go with you？” asked Oliver。
“Yes； I have come from Bill；” replied the girl。 “You are to go
with me。”
“What for？” asked Oliver； recoiling。
“What for？” echoed the girl； raising her eyes； and averting them
again； the moment they encountered the boy’s face。 “Oh！ For no
harm。”
“I don’t believe it；” said Oliver； who had watched her closely。
“Have it your own way；” rejoined the girl； affecting to laugh。
“For no good； then。”
Oliver could see that he had some power over the girl’s better
feelings； and； for an instant； thought of appealing to her
compassion for his helpless state。 But； then； the thought darted
across his mind that it was barely eleven o’clock； and that many
people were still in the streets； of whom surely some might be
found to give credence to his tale。 As the reflection occurred to
him； he stepped forward； and said； somewhat hastily； that he was
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ready。
Neither his brief consideration； nor its purport； was lost on his
companion。 She eyed him narrowly； while he spoke and cast upon
him a look of intelligence which sufficiently showed that she
guessed what had been passing in his thoughts。
“Hush！” said the girl； stooping over him； and pointing to the
door as she looked cautiously round。 “You can’t help yourself。 I
have tried hard for you； but all to no purpose。 You are hedged
round and round。 If ever you are to get loose from here； this is not
the time。”
Struck by the energy of her manner； Oliver looked up in her
face with great surprise。 She seemed to speak the truth； her
countenance was white and agitated； and she trembled with very
earnestness。
“I have saved you from being ill…used once； and I will again； and
I do now；” continued the girl aloud； “for those who would have
fetched you； if I had not； would have been far more rough than me。
I have promised for your being quiet and silent； if you are not； you
will only do harm to yourself and me too； and perhaps be my
death。 See here！ I have borne all this for you already； as true as
God sees me show it。”
She pointed； hastily； to some livid bruises on her neck and
arms； and continued； with great rapidity：
“Remember this！ And don’t let me suffer more for you； just
now。 If I could help you； I would； but I have not the power。 They
don’t mean to harm you； whatever they make you do； is no fault of
yours。 Hush！ Every word from you is a blow for me。 Give me your
hand。 Make haste！ Your hand！”
She caught the hand which Oliver instinctively placed in hers；
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and； blowing out the light； drew him after her up the stairs。 The
door was opened； quickly； by some one shrouded in the darkness；
and was as quickly closed； when they had passed out。 A hackney…
cabriolet was in waiting； with the same vehemence which she had
exhibited in addressing Oliver； the girl pulled him in with her； and
drew the curtains close。 The driver wanted no directions； but
lashed his horse into full speed； without the delay of an instant。
The girl still held Oliver fast by the hand； and continued to pour
into his ear； the warnings and assurances she had already
imparted。 All was so quick and hurried； that he had scarcely time
to recollect where he was； or how he came there； when the
carriage stopped at the house to which the Jew’s steps had been
directed on the previous evening。
For one brief moment； Oliver cast a hurried glance along the
empty street； and a cry for help hung upon his lips。 But the girl’s
voice was in his ear； beseeching him in such tones of agony to
remember her； that he had not the heart to utter it。 While he
hesitated； the opportunity was gone； for he was already in the
house； and the door was shut。
“This way；” said the girl； releasing her hold for the first time。
“Bill！”
“Hallo！” replied Sikes； appearing at the head of the stairs； with
a candle。 “Oh！ That’s the time of day。 Come on！”
This was a very strong expression of approbation； an
uncommonly hearty welcome； from a person of Mr。 Sikes’s
temperament。 Nancy； appearing much gratified thereby； saluted
him cordially。
“Bull’s…eye’s gone home with Tom；” observed Sikes； as he
lighted them up。 “He’d have been in the way。”
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“That’s right；” rejoined Nancy。
“So you’ve got the kid；” said Sikes； when they had all reached
the room； closing the door as he spoke。
“Yes； here he is；” replied Nancy。
“Did he come quiet？” inquired Sikes。
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