CHAPTER VII. OLIVER CONTINUES REFRACTORY

NoahClaypoleranalongthestreetsathisswiftestpace,andpausednotonceforbreath,untilhereachedtheworkhouse-gate.Havingrestedhere,foraminuteorso,tocollectagoodburstofsobsandanimposingshowoftearsandterror,heknockedloudlyatthewicketandpresentedsucharuefulfacetotheagedpauperwhoopenedit,thatevenhe,whosawnothingbutruefulfacesabouthimatthebestoftimes,startedbackinastonishment. “Why,what’sthematterwiththeboy!”saidtheoldpauper. “Mr.Bumble!Mr.Bumble!”criedNoah,withwell-affecteddismay:andintonessoloudandagitated,thattheynotonlycaughttheearofMr.Bumblehimself,whohappenedtobehardby,butalarmedhimsomuchthatherushedintotheyardwithouthiscockedhat,—whichisaverycuriousandremarkablecircumstance:asshowingthatevenabeadle,acteduponasuddenandpowerfulimpulse,maybeafflictedwithamomentaryvisitationoflossofself-possession,andforgetfulnessofpersonaldignity. “Oh,Mr.Bumble,sir!”saidNoah:“Oliver,sir,—Oliverhas—” “What?What?”interposedMr.Bumble:withagleamofpleasureinhismetalliceyes.“Notrunawayhehasn’trunaway,hashe,Noah?” “No,sir,no.Notrunaway,sir,buthe’sturnedwicious,”repliedNoah.“Hetriedtomurderme,sirandthenhetriedtomurderCharlotteandthenmissis.Oh!whatdreadfulpainitis!Suchagony,please,sir!”Andhere,Noahwrithedandtwistedhisbodyintoanextensivevarietyofeel-likepositionstherebygivingMr.Bumbletounderstandthat,fromtheviolentandsanguinaryonsetofOliverTwist,hehadsustainedsevereinternalinjuryanddamage,fromwhichhewasatthatmomentsufferingtheacutesttorture. WhenNoahsawthattheintelligencehecommunicatedperfectlyparalysedMr.Bumble,heimpartedadditionaleffectthereunto,bybewailinghisdreadfulwoundstentimeslouderthanbeforeandwhenheobservedagentlemaninawhitewaistcoatcrossingtheyard,hewasmoretragicinhislamentationsthanever:rightlyconceivingithighlyexpedienttoattractthenotice,androusetheindignation,ofthegentlemanaforesaid. Thegentleman’snoticewasverysoonattractedforhehadnotwalkedthreepaces,whenheturnedangrilyround,andinquiredwhatthatyoungcurwashowlingfor,andwhyMr.Bumbledidnotfavourhimwithsomethingwhichwouldrendertheseriesofvocularexclamationssodesignated,aninvoluntaryprocess? “It’sapoorboyfromthefree-school,sir,”repliedMr.Bumble,“whohasbeennearlymurdered—allbutmurdered,sir,—byyoungTwist.” “ByJove!”ex