CHAPTER XVIII. HOW OLIVER PASSED HIS TIME IN THE IMPROVING SOCIETY OF HIS REPUTABLE FRIENDS

ghishead,andheavingagentlesign,said,halfinabstraction,andhalftoMasterBates: “Whatapityitisheisn’taprig!” “Ah!”saidMasterCharlesBates“hedon’tknowwhat’sgoodforhim.” TheDodgersighedagain,andresumedhispipe:asdidCharleyBates.Theybothsmoked,forsomeseconds,insilence. “Isupposeyoudon’tevenknowwhataprigis?”saidtheDodgermournfully. “IthinkIknowthat,”repliedOliver,lookingup.“It’sathe—you’reone,areyounot?”inquiredOliver,checkinghimself. “Iam,”repliedtheDodger.“I’dscorntobeanythingelse.”Mr.Dawkinsgavehishataferociouscock,afterdeliveringthissentiment,andlookedatMasterBates,asiftodenotethathewouldfeelobligedbyhissayinganythingtothecontrary. “Iam,”repeatedtheDodger.“So’sCharley.So’sFagin.So’sSikes.So’sNancy.So’sBet.Soweallare,downtothedog.Andhe’sthedowniestoneofthelot!” “Andtheleastgiventopeaching,”addedCharleyBates. “Hewouldn’tsomuchasbarkinawitness-box,forfearofcommittinghimselfno,notifyoutiedhimupinone,andlefthimtherewithoutwittlesforafortnight,”saidtheDodger. “Notabitofit,”observedCharley. “He’sarumdog.Don’thelookfierceatanystrangecovethatlaughsorsingswhenhe’sincompany!”pursuedtheDodger.“Won’thegrowlatall,whenhehearsafiddleplaying!Anddon’thehateotherdogsasain’tofhisbreed!Oh,no!” “He’sanout-and-outChristian,”saidCharley. Thiswasmerelyintendedasatributetotheanimal’sabilities,butitwasanappropriateremarkinanothersense,ifMasterBateshadonlyknownitforthereareagoodmanyladiesandgentlemen,claimingtobeout-and-outChristians,betweenwhom,andMr.Sikes’dog,thereexiststrongandsingularpointsofresemblance. “Well,well,”saidtheDodger,recurringtothepointfromwhichtheyhadstrayed:withthatmindfulnessofhisprofessionwhichinfluencedallhisproceedings.“Thishasn’tgoanythingtodowithyoungGreenhere.” “Nomoreithas,”saidCharley.“Whydon’tyouputyourselfunderFagin,Oliver?” “Andmakeyourfortun’outofhand?”addedtheDodger,withagrin. “Andsobeabletoretireonyourproperty,anddothegen-teel:asImeanto,intheverynextleap-yearbutfourthatevercomes,andtheforty-secondTuesdayinTrinity-week,”saidCharleyBates. “Idon’tlikeit,”rejoinedOliver,timidly“Iwishtheywouldletmego.I—I—wouldrathergo.” “AndFaginwouldrathernot!”rejoinedCharley. Oliverknewthistoowellbutthinkingitmightbedangeroustoexpresshisfeelingsmoreopenly,heonlysighed,andwentonwithhisboot-cleaning. “Go!”exclaimedtheDodger.“Why,where’syourspirit?Don’tyoutakeanyprideoutofyourself?Wouldyougoandbedependentonyourfriends?” “Oh,blowthat!”saidMasterBates:drawingtwoorthreesilkhandkerchiefsfromhispocket,andtossingthemintoacupboard,“that’stoomeanthatis.” “Icouldn’tdoit,”saidtheDodger,withanairofhaughtydisgust. “Youcanleaveyourfriends,though,”saidOliverwithahalfsmile“andletthembepunishedforwhatyoudid.” “That,”rejoinedtheDodger,withawaveofhispipe,“ThatwasalloutofconsiderationforFagin,’causethetrapsknowthatweworktogether,andhemigh