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

redonthestairstoexchangeafewgallantrieswiththelady,nowmadehisappearance. Mr.ChitlingwasolderinyearsthantheDodger:havingperhapsnumberedeighteenwintersbuttherewasadegreeofdeferenceinhisdeportmenttowardsthatyounggentlemanwhichseemedtoindicatethathefelthimselfconsciousofaslightinferiorityinpointofgeniusandprofessionalaquirements.Hehadsmalltwinklingeyes,andapock-markedfaceworeafurcap,adarkcorduroyjacket,greasyfustiantrousers,andanapron.Hiswardrobewas,intruth,ratheroutofrepairbutheexcusedhimselftothecompanybystatingthathis“time”wasonlyoutanhourbeforeandthat,inconsequenceofhavingworntheregimentalsforsixweekspast,hehadnotbeenabletobestowanyattentiononhisprivateclothes.Mr.Chitlingadded,withstrongmarksofirritation,thatthenewwayoffumigatingclothesupyonderwasinfernalunconstitutional,foritburntholesinthem,andtherewasnoremedyagainsttheCounty.Thesameremarkheconsideredtoapplytotheregulationmodeofcuttingthehair:whichheheldtobedecidedlyunlawful.Mr.Chitlingwounduphisobservationsbystatingthathehadnottouchedadropofanythingforforty-twomorallonghard-workingdaysandthathe“wishedhemightbebustedifhewarn’tasdryasalime-basket.” “Wheredoyouthinkthegentlemanhascomefrom,Oliver?”inquiredtheJew,withagrin,astheotherboysputabottleofspiritsonthetable. “I—I—don’tknow,sir,”repliedOliver. “Who’sthat?”inquiredTomChitling,castingacontemptuouslookatOliver. “Ayoungfriendofmine,mydear,”repliedtheJew. “He’sinluck,then,”saidtheyoungman,withameaninglookatFagin.“NevermindwhereIcamefrom,young’unyou’llfindyourwaythere,soonenough,I’llbetacrown!” Atthissally,theboyslaughed.Aftersomemorejokesonthesamesubject,theyexchangedafewshortwhisperswithFaginandwithdrew. AftersomewordsapartbetweenthelastcomerandFagin,theydrewtheirchairstowardsthefireandtheJew,tellingOlivertocomeandsitbyhim,ledtheconversationtothetopicsmostcalculatedtointeresthishearers.Thesewere,thegreatadvantagesofthetrade,theproficiencyoftheDodger,theamiabilityofCharleyBates,andtheliberalityoftheJewhimself.AtlengththesesubjectsdisplayedsignsofbeingthoroughlyexhaustedandMr.Chitlingdidthesame:forthehouseofcorrectionbecomesfatiguingafteraweekortwo.MissBetsyaccordinglywithdrewandleftthepartytotheirrepose. Fromthisday,Oliverwasseldomleftalonebutwasplacedinalmostconstantcommunicationwiththetwoboys,whoplayedtheoldgamewiththeJeweveryday:whetherfortheirownimprovementorOliver’s,Mr.Faginbestknew.Atothertimestheoldmanwouldtellthemstoriesofrobberieshehadcommittedinhisyoungerdays:mixedupwithsomuchthatwasdrollandcurious,thatOlivercouldnothelplaughingheartily,andshowingthathewasamusedinspiteofallhisbetterfeelings. Inshort,thewilyoldJewhadtheboyinhistoils.Havingpreparedhismind,bysolitudeandgloom,topreferanysocietytothecompanionshipofhisownsadthoughtsinsuchadrearyplace,hewasnowslowlyinstillingintohissoulthepoisonwhichhehopedwouldblackenit,andchangeitshueforever.