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

wakenedhismerriment. “Hallo,what’sthat?”inquiredSikes,steppingforwardastheJewseizedthenote.“That’smine,Fagin.” “No,no,mydear,”saidtheJew.“Mine,Bill,mine.Youshallhavethebooks.” “Ifthatain’tmine!”saidBillSikes,puttingonhishatwithadeterminedair“mineandNancy’sthatisI’lltaketheboybackagain.” TheJewstarted.Oliverstartedtoo,thoughfromaverydifferentcauseforhehopedthatthedisputemightreallyendinhisbeingtakenback. “Come!Handover,willyou?”saidSikes. “Thisishardlyfair,Billhardlyfair,isit,Nancy?”inquiredtheJew. “Fair,ornotfair,”retortedSikes,“handover,Itellyou!DoyouthinkNancyandmehasgotnothingelsetodowithourprecioustimebuttospenditinscoutingarter,andkidnapping,everyyoungboyasgetsgrabbedthroughyou?Giveithere,youavariciousoldskeleton,giveithere!” Withthisgentleremonstrance,Mr.SikespluckedthenotefrombetweentheJew’sfingerandthumbandlookingtheoldmancoollyintheface,foldeditupsmall,andtieditinhisneckerchief. “That’sforourshareofthetrouble,”saidSikes“andnothalfenough,neither.Youmaykeepthebooks,ifyou’refondofreading.Ifyouain’t,sell’em.” “They’reverypretty,”saidCharleyBates:who,withsundrygrimaces,hadbeenaffectingtoreadoneofthevolumesinquestion“beautifulwriting,isn’tis,Oliver?”AtsightofthedismayedlookwithwhichOliverregardedhistormentors,MasterBates,whowasblessedwithalivelysenseoftheludicrous,fellintoanotherectasy,moreboisterousthanthefirst. “Theybelongtotheoldgentleman,”saidOliver,wringinghishands“tothegood,kind,oldgentlemanwhotookmeintohishouse,andhadmenursed,whenIwasneardyingofthefever.Oh,praysendthembacksendhimbackthebooksandmoney.Keepmehereallmylifelongbutpray,praysendthemback.He’llthinkIstolethemtheoldlady:allofthemwhoweresokindtome:willthinkIstolethem.Oh,dohavemercyuponme,andsendthemback!” Withthesewords,whichwereutteredwithalltheenergyofpassionategrief,OliverfelluponhiskneesattheJew’sfeetandbeathishandstogether,inperfectdesperation. “Theboy’sright,”remarkedFagin,lookingcovertlyround,andknittinghisshaggyeyebrowsintoahardknot.“You’reright,Oliver,you’rerighttheywillthinkyouhavestolen’em.Ha!ha!”chuckledtheJew,rubbinghishands,“itcouldn’thavehappenedbetter,ifwehadchosenourtime!” “Ofcourseitcouldn’t,”repliedSikes“Iknow’dthat,directlyIseehimcomingthroughClerkenwell,withthebooksunderhisarm.It’sallrightenough.They’resoft-heartedpsalm-singers,ortheywouldn’thavetakenhiminatallandthey’llasknoquestionsafterhim,feartheyshouldbeobligedtoprosecute,andsogethimlagged.He’ssafeenough.” Oliverhadlookedfromonetotheother,whilethesewordswerebeingspoken,asifhewerebewildered,andcouldscarecelyunderstandwhatpassedbutwhenBillSikesconcluded,hejumpedsuddenlytohisfeet,andtorewildlyfromtheroom:utteringshrieksforhelp,whichmadethebareoldhouseechototheroof. “Keepbackthedog,Bill!”criedNancy,springingbeforethedoor,andclosingit,astheJewandhistwopupilsdartedoutinpursuit.“Keepbackthedoghe’llteartheboytopieces.” “Servehimright!”criedSikes,strugglingtodisengagehimselffromthegirl’sgrasp.“Standofffromme,orI’llsplityourheadagainstthewall.” “Idon’tcareforthat,Bill,Idon’tcareforthat,”screamedthegirl,strugglingviolentlywiththeman,“thechildshan’tbetorndownbythedog,unlessyoukillmefirst.” “Shan’the!”saidSikes,settinghisteeth.“I’llsoondothat,ifyoudon’tkeepoff.” Thehousebreakerflungthegirlfromhimtothefurtherendoftheroom,jus