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

jobyouhaveonhand,you’llpreventhisevertellingtalesafterwards,byshootinghimthroughthehead,andwilltakeyourchanceofswingingforit,asyoudoforagreatmanyotherthingsinthewayofbusiness,everymonthofyourlife.” “That’sit!”observedMr.Sikes,approvingly“womencanalwaysputthingsinfewestwords.—Exceptwhenit’sblowingupandthentheylengthensitout.Andnowthathe’sthoroughlyuptoit,let’shavesomesupper,andgetasnoozebeforestarting.” Inpursuanceofthisrequest,Nancyquicklylaidtheclothdisappearingforafewminutes,shepresentlyreturnedwithapotofporterandadishofsheep’sheads:whichgaveoccasiontoseveralpleasantwitticismsonthepartofMr.Sikes,foundeduponthesingularcoincidenceof“jemmies”beingacanname,commontothem,andalsotoaningeniousimplementmuchusedinhisprofession.Indeed,theworthygentleman,stimulatedperhapsbytheimmediateprospectofbeingonactiveservice,wasingreatspiritsandgoodhumourinproofwhereof,itmaybehereremarked,thathehumourouslydrankallthebeeratadraught,anddidnotutter,onaroughcalculation,morethanfour-scoreoathsduringthewholeprogressofthemeal. Supperbeingended—itmaybeeasilyconceivedthatOliverhadnogreatappetiteforit—Mr.Sikesdisposedofacoupleofglassesofspiritsandwater,andthrewhimselfonthebedorderingNancy,withmanyimprecationsincaseoffailure,tocallhimatfiveprecisely.Oliverstretchedhimselfinhisclothes,bycommandofthesameauthority,onamattressuponthefloorandthegirl,mendingthefire,satbeforeit,inreadinesstorousethemattheappointedtime. ForalongtimeOliverlayawake,thinkingitnotimpossiblethatNancymightseekthatopportunityofwhisperingsomefurtheradvicebutthegirlsatbroodingoverthefire,withoutmoving,savenowandthentotrimthelight.Wearywithwatchingandanxiety,heatlengthfellasleep. Whenheawoke,thetablewascoveredwithtea-things,andSikeswasthrustingvariousarticlesintothepocketsofhisgreat-coat,whichhungoverthebackofachair.Nancywasbusilyengagedinpreparingbreakfast.Itwasnotyetdaylightforthecandlewasstillburning,anditwasquitedarkoutside.Asharprain,too,wasbeatingagainstthewindow-panesandtheskylookedblackandcloudy. “Now,then!”growledSikes,asOliverstartedup“half-pastfive!Looksharp,oryou’llgetnobreakfastforit’slateasitis.” Oliverwasnotlonginmakinghistoilethavingtakensomebreakfast,herepliedtoasurlyinquiryfromSikes,bysayingthathewasquiteready. Nancy,scarcelylookingattheboy,threwhimahandkerchieftotieroundhisthroatSikesgavehimalargeroughcapetobuttonoverhisshoulders.Thusattired,hegavehishandtotherobber,who,merelypausingtoshowhimwithamenacinggesturethathehadthatsamepistolinaside-pocketofhisgreat-coat,claspeditfirmlyinhis,and,exchangingafarewellwithNancy,ledhimaway. Oliverturned,foraninstant,whentheyreachedthedoor,inthehopeofmeetingalookfromthegirl.Butshehadresumedheroldseatinfrontofthefire,andsat,perfectlymotionlessbeforeit.