CHAPTER XXVIII. LOOKS AFTER OLIVER, AND PROCEEDS WITH HIS ADVENTURES

openthedoor,inthepresenceofwitnesses,”saidMr.Giles,afterashortsilence,“Iamreadytomakeone.” “SoamI,”saidthetinker,wakingup,assuddenlyashehadfallenasleep. Brittlescapitulatedonthesetermsandthepartybeingsomewhatre-assuredbythediscovery(madeonthrowingopentheshutters)thatitwasnowbroadday,tooktheirwayupstairswiththedogsinfront.Thetwowomen,whowereafraidtostaybelow,broughtuptherear.BytheadviceofMr.Giles,theyalltalkedveryloud,towarnanyevil-disposedpersonoutside,thattheywerestronginnumbersandbyamaster-stokeofpolicy,originatinginthebrainofthesameingeniousgentleman,thedogs’tailswerewellpinched,inthehall,tomakethembarksavagely. Theseprecautionshavingbeentaken,Mr.Gilesheldonfastbythetinker’sarm(topreventhisrunningaway,ashepleasantlysaid),andgavethewordofcommandtoopenthedoor.Brittlesobeyedthegroup,peepingtimorouslyovereachother’sshoulders,beheldnomoreformidableobjectthanpoorlittleOliverTwist,speechlessandexhausted,whoraisedhisheavyeyes,andmutelysolicitedtheircompassion. “Aboy!”exclaimedMr.Giles,valiantly,pushingthetinkerintothebackground.“What’sthematterwiththe—eh?—Why—Brittles—lookhere—don’tyouknow?” Brittles,whohadgotbehindthedoortoopenit,nosoonersawOliver,thanheutteredaloudcry.Mr.Giles,seizingtheboybyonelegandonearm(fortunatelynotthebrokenlimb)luggedhimstraightintothehall,anddepositedhimatfulllengthonthefloorthereof. “Hereheis!”bawledGiles,callinginastateofgreatexcitement,upthestaircase“here’soneofthethieves,ma’am!Here’sathief,miss!Wounded,miss!Ishothim,missandBrittlesheldthelight.” “—Inalantern,miss,”criedBrittles,applyingonehandtothesideofhismouth,sothathisvoicemighttravelthebetter. Thetwowomen-servantsranupstairstocarrytheintelligencethatMr.GileshadcapturedarobberandthetinkerbusiedhimselfinendeavouringtorestoreOliver,lestheshoulddiebeforehecouldbehanged.Inthemidstofallthisnoiseandcommotion,therewasheardasweetfemalevoice,whichquelleditinaninstant. “Giles!”whisperedthevoicefromthestair-head. “I’mhere,miss,”repliedMr.Giles.“Don’tbefrightened,missIain’tmuchinjured.Hedidn’tmakeaverydesperateresistance,miss!Iwassoontoomanyforhim.” “Hush!”repliedtheyounglady“youfrightenmyauntasmuchasthethievesdid.Isthepoorcreaturemuchhurt?” “Woundeddesperate,miss,”repliedGiles,withindescribablecomplacency. “Helooksasifhewasa-going,miss,”bawledBrittles,inthesamemannerasbefore.“Wouldn’tyouliketocomeandlookathim,miss,incaseheshould?” “Hush,praythere’sagoodman!”rejoinedthelady.“Waitquietlyonlyoneinstant,whileIspeaktoaunt.” Withafootstepassoftandgentleasthevoice,thespeakertrippedaway.Shesoonreturned,withthedirectionthatthewoundedpersonwastobecarried,carefully,upstairstoMr.Giles’sroomandthatBrittleswastosaddletheponyandbetakehimselfinstantlytoChertsey:fromwhichplace,hewastodespatch,withallspeed,aconstableanddoctor. “Butwon’tyoutakeonelookathim,first,miss?”askedMr.Giles,withasmuchprideasifOliverweresomebirdofrareplumage,thathehadskilfullybroughtdown.“Notonelittlepeep,miss?” “Notnow,fortheworld,”repliedtheyounglady.“Poorfellow!Oh!treathimkindly,Gilesformysake!” Theoldservantlookedupatthespeaker,assheturnedaway,withaglanceasproudandadmiringasifshehadbeenhisownchild.Then,bendingoverOliver,hehelpedtocarryhimupstairs,withthecareandsolicitudeofawoman.