按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
dutiful letters home four times a year； that it brought the tears into
her eyes to talk about them。 When the old lady had expatiated； a
long time； on the excellences of her children； and the merits of her
kind good husband besides； who had been dead and gone； poor
dear soul！ just six…and…twenty years； it was time to have tea。 After
tea she began to teach Oliver cribbage； which he learned as
quickly as she could teach； and at which game they played； with
great interest and gravity； until it was time for the invalid to have
some warm wine…and…water； with a slice of dry toast； and then to
go cosily to bed。
These were happy days； those of Oliver’s recovery。 Everything
was so quiet； and neat； and orderly； everybody so kind and gentle；
that after the noise and turbulence in the midst of which he had
always lived； it seemed like heaven itself。 He was no sooner strong
enough to put his clothes on； properly； than Mr。 Brownlow caused
a complete new suit； and a new cap； and a new pair of shoes； to be
provided for him。 As Oliver was told that he might do what he
liked with the old clothes； he gave them to a servant who had been
very kind to him and asked her to sell them to a Jew； and keep the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 138
money for herself。 This she very readily did； and； as Oliver looked
out of the parlour window； and saw the Jew roll them up in his bag
and walk away he felt quite delighted to think that they were
safely gone； and that there was now no possible danger of his ever
being able to wear them again。 They were sad rags； to tell the
truth； and Oliver had never had a new suit before。
One evening； about a week after the affair of the picture； as he
was sitting talking to Mrs。 Bedwin； there came a message down
from Mr。 Brownlow； that if Oliver Twist felt pretty well； he should
like to see him in his study； and talk to him a little while。
“Bless us； and save us！ Wash your hands； and let me part your
hair nicely for you； child；” said Mrs。 Bedwin。 “Dear heart alive！ If
we had known he would have asked for you we would have put
you a clean collar on； and made you as smart as sixpence！”
Oliver did as the old lady bade him； and； although she lamented
grievously； meanwhile； that there was not even time to crimp the
little frill； that bordered his shirt collar； he looked so delicate and
handsome； despite that important personal advantage； that she
went so far as to say； looking at him with great complacency； from
head to foot； that she really didn’t think it would have been
possible； on the longest notice； to have made much difference in
him for the better。
Thus encouraged； Oliver tapped at the study door。 On Mr。
Brownlow calling to him to come in； he found himself in a little；
back room； quite full of books； with a window； looking into some
pleasant little gardens。 There was a table drawn up before the
window； at which Mr。 Brownlow was seated reading。 When he saw
Oliver； he pushed the book away from him； and told him to come
near the table； and sit down。 Oliver complied； marvelling where
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 139
the people could be found to read such a great number of books as
seemed to be written to make the world wiser。 Which is still a
marvel to more experienced people than Oliver Twist； every day of
their lives。
“There are a good many books； are there not； my boy？” said
Mr。 Brownlow； observing the curiosity with which Oliver surveyed
the shelves that reached from the floor to the ceiling。
“A great number； sir；” replied Oliver。 “I never saw so many。”
“You shall read them； if you behave well；” said the old
gentleman kindly； “and you will like that； better than looking at
the outsides—that is； in some cases； because there are books of
which the backs and covers are by far the best parts。”
“I suppose they are those heavy ones； sir；” said Oliver； pointing
to some large quartos； with a good deal of gilding about the
binding。
“Not always those；” said the old gentleman； patting Oliver on
the head； and smiling as he did so； “there are other equally heavy
ones； though of a much smaller size。 How should you like to grow
up a clever man； and write books； eh？”
“I think I would rather read them； sir；” replied Oliver。
“What！ wouldn’t you like to be a book…writer？ said the old
gentleman。
Oliver considered a little while； and at last said； he should think
it would be a much better thing to be a book…seller； upon which
the old gentleman laughed heartily； and declared he had said a
very good thing。 Which Oliver felt glad to have done； though he by
no means knew what it was。
“Well； well；” said the old gentleman； composing his features。
“Don’t be afraid！ We won’t make an author of you； while there’s an
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 140
honest trade to be learned； or brick…making to turn to。”
“Thank you； sir；” said Oliver。 At the earnest manner of his
reply； the old gentleman laughed again； and said something about
a curious instinct； which Oliver； not understanding； paid no very
great attention to。
“Now；” said Mr。 Brownlow； speaking if possible in a kinder； but
at the same time in a much more serious manner than Oliver had
ever known him assume yet； “I want you to pay great attention；
my boy； to what I am going to say。 I shall talk to you without any
reserve because I am sure you are as well able to understand me；
as many older persons would be。”
“Oh； don’t tell me you are going to send me away； sir； pray！”
exclaimed Oliver； alarmed at the serious tone of the old
gentleman’s commencement。 “Don’t turn me out of doors to
wander in the streets again。 Let me stay here； and be a servant。
Don’t send me back to the wretched place I came from。 Have
mercy upon a poor boy； sir！”
“My dear child；” said the old gentleman； moved by the warmth
of Oliver’s sudden appeal； “you need not be afraid of my deserting
you； unless you give me cause。”
“I never； never will； sir；” interposed Oliver。
“I hope not；” rejoined the old gentleman。 “I do not think you
ever will。 I have been deceived； before； in the objects whom I have
endeavoured to benefit； but I feel strongly disposed to trust you；
nevertheless； and I am more interested in your behalf than I can
well account for； even to myself。 The persons on whom I have
bestowed my dearest love； lie deep in their graves； but； although
the happiness and delight of my life lie buried there too； I have not
made a coffin of my heart； and sealed it up； for ever； on my best
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 141
affections。 Deep affliction has but strengthened and refined them。”
As the old gentleman said this in a low voice； more to himself
than to his companion； and as he remained silent for a short time
afterwards； Oliver sat quite still。
“Well； well！” said the old gentleman at length； in a more
cheerful tone； “I only say this； because you have a young heart；
and knowing that I have suffered great pain and sorrow； you will
be more careful； perhaps； not to wound me again。 You say you are
an orphan； without a friend in the world； all the inquiries I have
been able to make； confirm the statement。 Let me hear your
story—where you come from； who brought you up； and how you
got into the company in which I found you。 Speak the truth； and
you shall not be friendless while I live。”
Oliver’s sobs checked his utterance for some minutes； when he
was on the point of beginning to relate how he had been brought
up at the farm； and carried to the workhouse by Mr。 Bumble； a
peculiarly impatient little double…knock was heard at the street
door； and the servant； running upstairs； announced Mr。 Grimwig。
“Is he coming up？” inquired Mr。 Brownlow。
“Yes； sir；” replied the servant。 “He asked if there were any
muffins in the house； and； when I told him yes； he said he had
come to tea。”
Mr。 Brownlow smiled； and； turning to Oliver； said that Mr。
Grimwig was an old friend of h