CHAPTER XXI. THE EXPEDITION

herwalksrathertooquickforyou,don’the,myman?”inquiredthedriver:seeingthatOliverwasoutofbreath. “Notabitofit,”repliedSikes,interposing.“He’susedtoit.Here,takeholdofmyhand,Ned.Inwithyou!” ThusaddressingOliver,hehelpedhimintothecartandthedriver,pointingtoaheapofsacks,toldhimtoliedownthere,andresthimself. Astheypassedthedifferentmile-stones,Oliverwondered,moreandmore,wherehiscompanionmeanttotakehim.Kensington,Hammersmith,Chiswick,KewBridge,Brentford,wereallpassedandyettheywentonassteadilyasiftheyhadonlyjustbeguntheirjourney.Atlength,theycametoapublic-housecalledtheCoachandHorsesalittlewaybeyondwhich,anotherroadappearedtorunoff.Andhere,thecartstopped. Sikesdismountedwithgreatprecipitation,holdingOliverbythehandallthewhileandliftinghimdowndirectly,bestowedafuriouslookuponhim,andrappedtheside-pocketwithhisfist,inasignificantmanner. “Good-bye,boy,”saidtheman. “He’ssulky,”repliedSikes,givinghimashake“he’ssulky.Ayoungdog!Don’tmindhim.” “NotI!”rejoinedtheother,gettingintohiscart.“It’safineday,afterall.”Andhedroveaway. Sikeswaiteduntilhehadfairlygoneandthen,tellingOliverhemightlookabouthimifhewanted,onceagainledhimonwardonhisjourney. Theyturnedroundtotheleft,ashortwaypastthepublic-houseandthen,takingaright-handroad,walkedonforalongtime:passingmanylargegardensandgentlemen’shousesonbothsidesoftheway,andstoppingfornothingbutalittlebeer,untiltheyreachedatown.Hereagainstthewallofahouse,Oliversawwrittenupinprettylargeletters,“Hampton.”Theylingeredabout,inthefields,forsomehours.Atlengththeycamebackintothetownand,turningintoanoldpublic-housewithadefacedsign-board,orderedsomedinnerbythekitchenfire. Thekitchenwasanold,low-roofedroomwithagreatbeamacrossthemiddleoftheceiling,andbenches,withhighbackstothem,bythefireonwhichwereseatedseveralroughmeninsmock-frocks,drinkingandsmoking.TheytooknonoticeofOliverandverylittleofSikesand,asSikestookverylittlenoticeofthem,heandhisyoungcomradesatinacornerbythemselves,withoutbeingmuchtroubledbytheircompany. Theyhadsomecoldmeatfordinner,andsatsolongafter