CHAPTER XXV. WHEREIN THIS HISTORY REVERTS TO MR. FAGIN AND COMPANY

kinhischairwithsuchviolence,thathelosthisbalance,andpitchedoveruponthefloorwhere(theaccidentabatingnothingofhismerriment)helayatfulllengthuntilhislaughwasover,whenheresumedhisformerposition,andbegananotherlaugh. “Nevermindhim,mydear,”saidtheJew,winkingatMr.Dawkins,andgivingMasterBatesareprovingtapwiththenozzleofthebellows.“Betsy’safinegirl.Stickuptoher,Tom.Stickuptoher.” “WhatImeantosay,Fagin,”repliedMr.Chitling,veryredintheface,“is,thatthatisn’tanythingtoanybodyhere.” “Nomoreitis,”repliedtheJew“Charleywilltalk.Don’tmindhim,mydeardon’tmindhim.Betsy’safinegirl.Doasshebidsyou,Tom,andyouwillmakeyourfortune.” “SoIdodoasshebidsme,”repliedMr.Chitling“Ishouldn’thavebeenmilled,ifithadn’tbeenforheradvice.Butitturnedoutagoodjobforyoudidn’tit,Fagin!Andwhat’ssixweeksofit?Itmustcome,sometimeoranother,andwhynotinthewintertimewhenyoudon’twanttogoouta-walkingsomucheh,Fagin?” “Ah,tobesure,mydear,”repliedtheJew. “Youwouldn’tminditagain,Tom,wouldyou,”askedtheDodger,winkinguponCharleyandtheJew,“ifBetwasallright?” “ImeantosaythatIshouldn’t,”repliedTom,angrily.“There,now.Ah!Who’llsayasmuchasthat,Ishouldliketoknoweh,Fagin?” “Nobody,mydear,”repliedtheJew“notasoul,Tom.Idon’tknowoneof’emthatwoulddoitbesidesyounotoneof’em,mydear.” “Imighthavegotclearoff,ifI’dsplituponhermightn’tI,Fagin?”angrilypursuedthepoorhalf-witteddupe.“Awordfrommewouldhavedoneitwouldn’tit,Fagin?” “Tobesureitwould,mydear,”repliedtheJew. “ButIdidn’tblabitdidI,Fagin?”demandedTom,pouringquestionuponquestionwithgreatvolubility. “No,no,tobesure,”repliedtheJew“youweretoostout-heartedforthat.Adealtoostout,mydear!” “PerhapsIwas,”rejoinedTom,lookinground“andifIwas,what’stolaughat,inthateh,Fagin?” TheJew,perceivingthatMr.Chitlingwasconsiderablyroused,hastenedtoassurehimthatnobodywaslaughingandtoprovethegravityofthecompany,appealedtoMasterBates,theprincipaloffender.But,unfortunately,Charley,inopeninghismouthtoreplythathewasnevermoreseriousinhislife,wasunabletopreventtheescapeofsuchaviolentroar,thattheabusedMr.Chitling,withoutanypreliminaryceremonies,rushedacrosstheroomandaimedablowattheoffende