CHAPTER XX. WHEREIN OLIVER IS DELIVERED OVER TO MR. WILLIAM SIKES

WhenOliverawokeinthemorning,hewasagooddealsurprisedtofindthatanewpairofshoes,withstrongthicksoles,hadbeenplacedathisbedsideandthathisoldshoeshadbeenremoved.Atfirst,hewaspleasedwiththediscovery:hopingthatitmightbetheforerunnerofhisreleasebutsuchthoughtswerequicklydispelled,onhissittingdowntobreakfastalongwiththeJew,whotoldhim,inatoneandmannerwhichincreasedhisalarm,thathewastobetakentotheresidenceofBillSikesthatnight. “To—to—stopthere,sir?”askedOliver,anxiously. “No,no,mydear.Nottostopthere,”repliedtheJew.“Weshouldn’tliketoloseyou.Don’tbeafraid,Oliver,youshallcomebacktousagain.Ha!ha!ha!Wewon’tbesocruelastosendyouaway,mydear.Ohno,no!” Theoldman,whowasstoopingoverthefiretoastingapieceofbread,lookedroundashebanteredOliverthusandchuckledasiftoshowthatheknewhewouldstillbeverygladtogetawayifhecould. “Isuppose,”saidtheJew,fixinghiseyesonOliver,“youwanttoknowwhatyou’regoingtoBill’sfor—-eh,mydear?” Olivercoloured,involuntarily,tofindthattheoldthiefhadbeenreadinghisthoughtsbutboldlysaid,Yes,hedidwanttoknow. “Why,doyouthink?”inquiredFagin,parryingthequestion. “IndeedIdon’tknow,sir,”repliedOliver. “Bah!”saidtheJew,turningawaywithadisappointedcountenancefromacloseperusaloftheboy’sface.“WaittillBilltellsyou,then.” TheJewseemedmuchvexedbyOliver’snotexpressinganygreatercuriosityonthesubjectbutthetruthis,that,althoughOliverfeltveryanxious,hewastoomuchconfusedbytheearnestcunningofFagin’slooks,andhisownspeculations,tomakeanyfurtherinquiriesjustthen.Hehadnootheropportunity:fortheJewremainedverysurlyandsilenttillnight:whenhepreparedtogoabroad. “Youmayburnacandle,”saidtheJew,puttingoneuponthetable.“Andhere’sabookforyoutoread,tilltheycometofetchyou.Good-night!” “Good-night!”repliedOliver,softly. TheJewwalkedtothedoor:lookingoverhisshoulderattheboyashewent.Suddenlystopping,hecalledhimbyhisname. OliverlookeduptheJew,pointingtothecandle,motionedhimtolightit.Hedidsoand,asheplacedthecandlestickuponthetable,sawthattheJewwasgazingfixedlyathim,withloweringandcontractedbrows,fromthedarkendoftheroom. “Takeheed,Oliver!takeheed!”saidtheoldman,shakinghisrighthandbeforehiminawarningmanner.“He’saroughman,andthinksnothingofbloodwhenhisownisup.Whateverfallsout,saynothinganddowhathebidsyou.Mind!”Placingastrongemphasisonthelastword,hesufferedhisfeaturesgraduallytoresolvethemselvesintoaghastlygrin,and,noddinghishead,lefttheroom. Oliverleanedhisheaduponhishandwhentheoldmandisappeared,andpondered,withatremblingheart,onthewordshehadjustheard.ThemorehethoughtoftheJew’sadmonition,themorehewasatalosstodivineitsrealpurposeandmeaning. HecouldthinkofnobadobjecttobeattainedbysendinghimtoSikes,whichwouldnotbeequallywellansweredbyhisremainingwithFaginandaftermeditatingforalongtime,con