CHAPTER XVI. RELATES WHAT BECAME OF OLIVER TWIST, AFTER HE HAD BEEN CLAIMED BY NANCY

Thenarrowstreetsandcourts,atlength,terminatedinalargeopenspacescatteredaboutwhich,werepensforbeasts,andotherindicationsofacattle-market.Sikesslackenedhispacewhentheyreachedthisspot:thegirlbeingquiteunabletosupportanylonger,therapidrateatwhichtheyhadhithertowalked.TurningtoOliver,heroughlycommandedhimtotakeholdofNancy’shand. “Doyouhear?”growledSikes,asOliverhesitated,andlookedround. Theywereinadarkcorner,quiteoutofthetrackofpassengers. Oliversaw,buttooplainly,thatresistancewouldbeofnoavail.Heheldouthishand,whichNancyclaspedtightinhers. “Givemetheother,”saidSikes,seizingOliver’sunoccupiedhand.“Here,Bull’s-Eye!” Thedoglookedup,andgrowled. “Seehere,boy!”saidSikes,puttinghisotherhandtoOliver’sthroat“ifhespeakseversosoftaword,holdhim!D’yemind!” Thedoggrowledagainandlickinghislips,eyedOliverasifhewereanxioustoattachhimselftohiswindpipewithoutdelay. “He’saswillingasaChristian,strikemeblindifheisn’t!”saidSikes,regardingtheanimalwithakindofgrimandferociousapproval.“Now,youknowwhatyou’vegottoexpect,master,socallawayasquickasyoulikethedogwillsoonstopthatgame.Geton,young’un!” Bull’s-eyewaggedhistailinacknowledgmentofthisunusuallyendearingformofspeechand,givingventtoanotheradmonitorygrowlforthebenefitofOliver,ledthewayonward. ItwasSmithfieldthattheywerecrossing,althoughitmighthavebeenGrosvenorSquare,foranythingOliverknewtothecontrary.Thenightwasdarkandfoggy.Thelightsintheshopscouldscarecelystrugglethroughtheheavymist,whichthickenedeverymomentandshroudedthestreetsandhousesingloomrenderingthestrangeplacestillstrangerinOliver’seyesandmakinghisuncertaintythemoredismalanddepressing. Theyhadhurriedonafewpaces,whenadeepchurch-bellstruckthehour.Withitsfirststroke,histwoconductorsstopped,andturnedtheirheadsinthedirectionwhencethesoundproceeded. “Eighto’clock,Bill,”saidNancy,whenthebellceased. “What’sthegoodoftellingmethatIcanhearit,can’tI!”repliedSikes. “Iwonderwhethertheycanhearit,”saidNancy. “Ofcoursetheycan,”repliedSikes.“ItwasBartlemytimewhenIwasshoppedandtherewarn’tapennytrumpetinthefair,asIcouldn’thearthesqueakingon.ArterIwaslockedupforthenight,therowanddinoutsidemadethethunderingoldjailsosilent,thatIcouldalmosthavebeatmybrainsoutagainsttheironplatesofthedoor.” “Poorfellow!”saidNancy,whostillhadherfaceturnedtowardsthequarterinwhichthebellhadsounded.“Oh,Bill,suchfineyoungchapsasthem!” “Yesthat’sallyouwomenthinkof,”answeredSikes.“Fineyoungchaps!Well,they’reasgoodasdead,soitdon’tmuchmatter.” Withthisconsolation,Mr.Sikesappearedtorepressarisingtendencytojealousy,and,claspingOliver’swristmorefirmly,toldhimtostepoutagain. “Waitaminute!”saidthegirl:“Iwouldn’thurryby,ifitwasyouthatwascomingouttobehung,thenexttimeeighto’clockstruck,Bill.I’dwalkroundandroundtheplacetillIdropped,ifthesnowwasontheground,andIhadn’tashawltocoverme.” “Andwhatgoodwouldthatdo?”inquiredtheunsentimentalMr.Sikes.“Unlessyoucouldpitchoverafileandtwentyyardsofgoodstoutrope,youmightaswellbewalkingfiftymileoff,ornotwalkingatall,forallthegooditwoulddome.Comeon,anddon’tstandpreachingthere.” Thegirlburstintoalaughdrewhershawlmorecloselyroundherandtheywalkedaway.ButOliverfeltherhandtremble,and,lookingupinherfaceastheypassedagas-lamp,sawthatithadturnedadeadlywhite. Theywalkedon,bylittle-frequentedanddirtyways