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

topourintohisear,thewarningsandassurancesshehadalreadyimparted.Allwassoquickandhurried,thathehadscarcelytimetorecollectwherehewas,orhowhecamethere,whenthecarriagestoppedatthehousetowhichtheJew’sstepshadbeendirectedonthepreviousevening. Foronebriefmoment,Olivercastahurriedglancealongtheemptystreet,andacryforhelphunguponhislips.Butthegirl’svoicewasinhisear,beseechinghiminsuchtonesofagonytorememberher,thathehadnotthehearttoutterit.Whilehehesitated,theopportunitywasgonehewasalreadyinthehouse,andthedoorwasshut. “Thisway,”saidthegirl,releasingherholdforthefirsttime.“Bill!” “Hallo!”repliedSikes:appearingattheheadofthestairs,withacandle.“Oh!That’sthetimeofday.Comeon!” Thiswasaverystrongexpressionofapprobation,anuncommonlyheartywelcome,fromapersonofMr.Sikes’temperament.Nancy,appearingmuchgratifiedthereby,salutedhimcordially. “Bull’s-eye’sgonehomewithTom,”observedSikes,ashelightedthemup.“He’dhavebeenintheway.” “That’sright,”rejoinedNancy. “Soyou’vegotthekid,”saidSikeswhentheyhadallreachedtheroom:closingthedoorashespoke. “Yes,hereheis,”repliedNancy. “Didhecomequiet?”inquiredSikes. “Likealamb,”rejoinedNancy. “I’mgladtohearit,”saidSikes,lookinggrimlyatOliver“forthesakeofhisyoungcarcase:aswouldotherwayshavesufferedforit.Comehere,young’unandletmereadyoualectur’,whichisaswellgotoveratonce.” Thusaddressinghisnewpupil,Mr.SikespulledoffOliver’scapandthrewitintoacornerandthen,takinghimbytheshoulder,sathimselfdownbythetable,andstoodtheboyinfrontofhim. “Now,first:doyouknowwotthisis?”inquiredSikes,takingupapocket-pistolwhichlayonthetable. Oliverrepliedintheaffirmative. “Well,then,lookhere,”continuedSikes.“Thisispowderthat’ere’sabulletandthisisalittlebitofaoldhatforwaddin’.” OlivermurmuredhiscomprehensionofthedifferentbodiesreferredtoandMr.Sikesproceededtoloadthepistol,withgreatnicetyanddeliberation. “Nowit’sloaded,”saidMr.Sikes,whenhehadfinished. “Yes,Iseeitis,sir,”repliedOliver. “Well,”saidtherobber,graspingOliver’swrist,andputtingthebarrelsoclosetohistemplethattheytouchedatwhichmomenttheboycouldnotrepressastart“ifyouspeakawordwhenyou’reouto’doorswithme,exceptwhenIspeaktoyou,thatloadingwillbeinyourheadwithoutnotice.So,ifyoudomakeupyourmindtospeakwithoutleave,sayyourprayersfirst.” Havingbestowedascowlupontheobjectofthiswarning,toincreaseitseffect,Mr.Sikescontinued. “AsnearasIknow,thereisn’tanybodyaswouldbeaskingveryparticklerarteryou,ifyouwasdisposedofsoIneedn’ttakethisdevil-and-alloftroubletoexplainmatterstoyou,ifitwarn’tforyourowngood.D’yehearme?” “Theshortandthelongofwhatyoumean,”saidNancy:speakingveryemphatically,andslightlyfrowningatOliverasiftobespeakhisseriousattentiontoherwords:“is,thatifyou’recrossedbyhiminthis