CHAPTER II. TREATS OF OLIVER TWIST’S GROWTH, EDUCATION, AND BOARD

lutteredlooselyontheirwasted,shrunkenforms,afteraweekortwo’sgruel.Butthenumberofworkhouseinmatesgotthinaswellasthepaupersandtheboardwereinecstasies. Theroominwhichtheboyswerefed,wasalargestonehall,withacopperatoneend:outofwhichthemaster,dressedinanapronforthepurpose,andassistedbyoneortwowomen,ladledthegruelatmealtimes.Ofthisfestivecompositioneachboyhadoneporringer,andnomore—exceptonoccasionsofgreatpublicrejoicing,whenhehadtwoouncesandaquarterofbreadbesides. Thebowlsneverwantedwashing.Theboyspolishedthemwiththeirspoonstilltheyshoneagainandwhentheyhadperformedthisoperation(whichnevertookverylong,thespoonsbeingnearlyaslargeasthebowls),theywouldsitstaringatthecopper,withsucheagereyes,asiftheycouldhavedevouredtheverybricksofwhichitwascomposedemployingthemselves,meanwhile,insuckingtheirfingersmostassiduously,withtheviewofcatchingupanystraysplashesofgruelthatmighthavebeencastthereon.Boyshavegenerallyexcellentappetites.OliverTwistandhiscompanionssufferedthetorturesofslowstarvationforthreemonths:atlasttheygotsovoraciousandwildwithhunger,thatoneboy,whowastallforhisage,andhadn’tbeenusedtothatsortofthing(forhisfatherhadkeptasmallcook-shop),hinteddarklytohiscompanions,thatunlesshehadanotherbasinofgruelperdiem,hewasafraidhemightsomenighthappentoeattheboywhosleptnexthim,whohappenedtobeaweaklyyouthoftenderage.Hehadawild,hungryeyeandtheyimplicitlybelievedhim.Acouncilwasheldlotswerecastwhoshouldwalkuptothemasteraftersupperthatevening,andaskformoreanditfelltoOliverTwist. Theeveningarrivedtheboystooktheirplaces.Themaster,inhiscook’suniform,stationedhimselfatthecopperhispauperassistantsrangedthemselvesbehindhimthegruelwasservedoutandalonggracewassaidovertheshortcommons.Thegrueldisappearedtheboyswhisperedeachother,andwinkedatOliverwhilehisnextneighborsnudgedhim.Childashewas,hewasdesperatewithhunger,andrecklesswithmisery.Herosefromthetableandadvancingtothemaster,basinandspooninhand,said:somewhatalarmedathisowntemerity: “Please,sir,Iwantsomemore.” Themasterwasafat,healthymanbutheturnedverypale.Hegazedinstupefiedastonishmentonthesmallrebelforsomeseconds,andthenclungforsupporttothecopper.Theassistantswereparalysedwithwondertheboyswithfear. “What!”saidthemasteratlength,inafaintvoice. “Please,sir,”repliedOliver,“Iwantsomemore.” ThemasteraimedablowatOliver’sheadwiththeladlepinionedhiminhisarmandshriekedaloudforthebeadle. Theboardweresittinginsolemnconclave,whenMr.Bumblerushedintotheroomingreatexcitement,andaddressingthegentlemaninthehighchair,said, “Mr.Limbkins,Ibegyourpardon,sir!OliverTwisthasaskedformore!” Therewasageneralstart.Horrorwasdepictedoneverycountenance. “Formore!”saidMr.Limbkins.“Composeyourself,Bumble,andanswermedistinctly.DoIunderstandthatheaskedformore,afterhehadeatenthesupperallottedbythedietary?” “Hedid,sir,”repliedBumble. “Thatboywillbehung,”saidthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat.“Iknowthatboywillbehung.” Nobodycontrovertedthepropheticgentleman’sopinion.Ananimateddiscussiontookplace.Oliverwasorderedintoinstantconfinementandabillwasnextmorningpastedontheoutsideofthegate,offeringarewardoffivepoundstoanybodywhowouldtakeOliverTwistoffthehandsoftheparish.Inotherwords,fivepoundsandOliverTwistwereofferedtoanymanorwomanwhowantedanapprenticetoanytrade,business,orcalling. “Ineverwasmoreconvincedofanythinginmylife,”saidthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat,asheknockedatthegateandreadthebillnextmorning:“Ineverwasmoreconvincedofanythinginmylife,thanIamthatthatboywillcometobehung.” AsIpurposetoshowinthesequelwhetherthewhitewaistcoatedgentlemanwasrightornot,Ishouldperhapsmartheinterestofthisnarrative(supposingittopossessanyatall),ifIventuredtohintjustyet,whetherthelifeofOliverTwisthadthisviolentterminationorno.