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

ngherchairclosetoit,shesatthere,foralittletime,withoutspeakingbutatlengthsheraisedherhead,andlookedround. “Idon’tknowwhatcomesovermesometimes,”saidshe,affectingtobusyherselfinarrangingherdress“it’sthisdampdirtyroom,Ithink.Now,Nolly,dear,areyouready?” “AmItogowithyou?”askedOliver. “Yes.IhavecomefromBill,”repliedthegirl.“Youaretogowithme.” “Whatfor?”askedOliver,recoiling. “Whatfor?”echoedthegirl,raisinghereyes,andavertingthemagain,themomenttheyencounteredtheboy’sface.“Oh!Fornoharm.” “Idon’tbelieveit,”saidOliver:whohadwatchedherclosely. “Haveityourownway,”rejoinedthegirl,affectingtolaugh.“Fornogood,then.” Olivercouldseethathehadsomepoweroverthegirl’sbetterfeelings,and,foraninstant,thoughtofappealingtohercompassionforhishelplessstate.But,then,thethoughtdartedacrosshismindthatitwasbarelyeleveno’clockandthatmanypeoplewerestillinthestreets:ofwhomsurelysomemightbefoundtogivecredencetohistale.Asthereflectionoccuredtohim,hesteppedforward:andsaid,somewhathastily,thathewasready. Neitherhisbriefconsideration,noritspurport,waslostonhiscompanion.Sheeyedhimnarrowly,whilehespokeandcastuponhimalookofintelligencewhichsufficientlyshowedthatsheguessedwhathadbeenpassinginhisthoughts. “Hush!”saidthegirl,stoopingoverhim,andpointingtothedoorasshelookedcautiouslyround.“Youcan’thelpyourself.Ihavetriedhardforyou,butalltonopurpose.Youarehedgedroundandround.Ifeveryouaretogetloosefromhere,thisisnotthetime.” Struckbytheenergyofhermanner,Oliverlookedupinherfacewithgreatsurprise.Sheseemedtospeakthetruthhercountenancewaswhiteandagitatedandshetrembledwithveryearnestness. “Ihavesavedyoufrombeingill-usedonce,andIwillagain,andIdonow,”continuedthegirlaloud“forthosewhowouldhavefetchedyou,ifIhadnot,wouldhavebeenfarmoreroughthanme.Ihavepromisedforyourbeingquietandsilentifyouarenot,youwillonlydoharmtoyourselfandmetoo,andperhapsbemydeath.Seehere!Ihaveborneallthisforyoualready,astrueasGodseesmeshowit.” Shepointed,hastily,tosomelividbruisesonherneckandarmsandcontinued,withgreatrapidity: “Rememberthis!Anddon’tletmesuffermoreforyou,justnow.IfIcouldhelpyou,IwouldbutIhavenotthepower.Theydon’tmeantoharmyouwhatevertheymakeyoudo,isnofaultofyours.Hush!Everywordfromyouisablowforme.Givemeyourhand.Makehaste!Yourhand!” ShecaughtthehandwhichOliverinstinctivelyplacedinhers,and,blowingoutthelight,drewhimafterherupthestairs.Thedoorwasopened,quickly,bysomeoneshroudedinthedarkness,andwasasquicklyclosed,whentheyhadpassedout.Ahackney-cabrioletwasinwaitingwiththesamevehemencewhichshehadexhibitedinaddressingOliver,thegirlpulledhiminwithher,anddrewthecurtainsclose.Thedriverwantednodirections,butlashedhishorseintofullspeed,withoutthedelayofaninstant. ThegirlstillheldOliverfastbythehand,andcontinued