CHAPTER XLIV. THE TIME ARRIVES FOR NANCY TO REDEEM HER PLEDGE TO ROSE MAYLIE. SHE FAILS.

e’snonequitereadytobedone.” “You’rerightforonce,”repliedSikesgruffly.“Itisapity,forI’minthehumourtoo.” Faginsighed,andshookhisheaddespondingly. “Wemustmakeupforlosttimewhenwe’vegotthingsintoagoodtrain.That’sallIknow,”saidSikes. “That’sthewaytotalk,mydear,”repliedFagin,venturingtopathimontheshoulder.“Itdoesmegoodtohearyou.” “Doesyougood,doesit!”criedSikes.“Well,sobeit.” “Ha!ha!ha!”laughedFagin,asifhewererelievedbyeventhisconcession.“You’relikeyourselfto-night,Bill.Quitelikeyourself.” “Idon’tfeellikemyselfwhenyoulaythatwitheredoldclawonmyshoulder,sotakeitaway,”saidSikes,castingofftheJew’shand. “Itmakeyounervous,Bill,—remindsyouofbeingnabbed,doesit?”saidFagin,determinednottobeoffended. “Remindsmeofbeingnabbedbythedevil,”returnedSikes.“Thereneverwasanothermanwithsuchafaceasyours,unlessitwasyourfather,andIsupposeheissingeinghisgrizzledredbeardbythistime,unlessyoucamestraightfromtheold’unwithoutanyfatheratallbetwixtyouwhichIshouldn’twonderat,abit.” Faginofferednoreplytothiscompliment:but,pullingSikesbythesleeve,pointedhisfingertowardsNancy,whohadtakenadvantageoftheforegoingconversationtoputonherbonnet,andwasnowleavingtheroom. “Hallo!”criedSikes.“Nance.Where’sthegalgoingtoatthistimeofnight?” “Notfar.” “Whatanswer’sthat?”retortedSikes.“Doyouhearme?” “Idon’tknowwhere,”repliedthegirl. “ThenIdo,”saidSikes,moreinthespiritofobstinacythanbecausehehadanyrealobjectiontothegirlgoingwhereshelisted.“Nowhere.Sitdown.” “I’mnotwell.Itoldyouthatbefore,”rejoinedthegirl.“Iwantabreathofair.” “Putyourheadoutofthewinder,”repliedSikes. “There’snotenoughthere,”saidthegirl.“Iwantitinthestreet.” “Thenyouwon’thaveit,”repliedSikes.Withwhichassuranceherose,lockedthedoor,tookthekeyout,andpullingherbonnetfromherhead,flungituptothetopofanoldpress.“There,”saidtherobber.“Nowstopquietlywhereyouare,willyou?” “It’snotsuchamatterasabonnetwouldkeepme,”saidthegirlturningverypale.“Whatdoyoumean,Bill?Doyouknowwhatyou’redoing?” “KnowwhatI’m—Oh!”criedSikes,turningtoFagin,“she’soutofhersenses,youknow,orshedaren’ttalktomeinthatway.” “You’lldrivemeonthesomethingdesperate,”mutteredthegirlplacingbothhandsuponherbreast,asth